A Ward's Tale

Chapter 4

The ball starts in thirty minutes. Margaret, Lola and I are in Lola's chambers putting the finishing touches on our dresses and makeup. I made sure my necklace matched my dress for the evening, so far it has done its job. I also have avoided Gayle's house with Peter in it. As we sit, we gossip about the different suitors for Lola.

"I hear that even Reynold has come back to the castle so he can dance with his future wife." Margaret says elbowing me.

"That's not very lady-like, you know." I laugh as I elbow her back. My smile falls though as I think about Reynold. He is a nice guy and has plenty of money and land but he'll be giving up his right to live on that land by marrying me. I still, after two years, do not understand why King Charles wants to keep me so close.

Although, if he knows my secret, that could be a reason. Could he have known all this time?

"What is wrong, sister?" Lola asks, seeing my saddened face. "Are you not happy with your engagement to Reynold?"

"Yes, no, oh I don't know." I stutter. "I feel bad he is giving up living on his own land to marry me. I mean, I don't want to be a virgin and a maiden all my life but I don't want to take someone else away from their life."

"Oh, Rissa!" Margret says, "You are too kind. Reynold is doing you a great favor yes, but he is not giving up his land for you. Your children will have claim to that land and it's not like father can keep you here forever, you and Reynold can go visit his home and vacation there."

"And when father is old and gone, and Arthur is King, Arthur will surely release you to go live with Reynold on his land." Lola adds. They surround me with hugs and I am reassured.

"Unless there is another we should be aware about." Lola whispers mischievously into my ear.

"No! No one else!" I exclaim, "I swear."

"Not even that cute servant, what's his name, oh! Mickey?" Lola giggles.

I look at Lola like she's crazy, "No, goodness no. He is a servant for one, and a friend for another."

"Ooh, a friend." Margaret giggles accenting the word.

"What! No. I mean," then I realize they are just messing with me and I gently shove both of them. "You two are the meanest sisters I know."

"We are your only sisters!" The say together then we all start laughing and before we know it we are called to go downstairs to the ball.

After being announced, we enter and go to stand by Arthur and Walter who are already there. We all stand by the thrones waiting for King Charles and Queen Anne. Arthur, Margaret, Lola, and Walter stand to the King's right while I stand by myself to his left. This is the way it has been since I was little. I am the King's ward and I may act like his child sometimes but I am not by blood so at formal events like this I cannot stand with them until the King releases us.

The other ward enters and comes to stand by me. Vanessa has been a ward since she was ten. That was five years ago. Her long black hair is pulled up in intricate braids upon her head. She is kind enough but is very quiet.

A couple minutes later the King and Queen arrive. They always say they arrive late because it is fashionable and the King's subjects should wait on him, but I know it's because in some way or another King Charles was distracted by something and the time got away from him.

We are released to mingle and before I can go find anyone, Reynold finds me.

"Can I have this dance?" He asks reaching out a hand. I take it and let him lead me out onto the dance floor. As we dance we talk.

"It is so nice to see you again, Malady." Reynold starts.

"You needn't be so formal Reynold, we are to be wedded soon." I smile, "Although I am sorry you will have to leave your land, is it north of here?"

"It's more west, but yes, north too." Reynold says, "But leaving is no trouble, not when it is to marry a woman like you, Clarissa."

"You are very kind, Reynold. I am glad be in such great company."

The song ends and we part. The later it gets, the drunker the men get and we see the real side of most of the suitors for Lola's hand. Duke Henry of Canterbury was confirmed a brute unworthy of Lola, along with two other suitors. Dukes Perkin and Ralph were both gentlemen but both passed out from indulging too much.

Right as the ball was winding down and King Charles was going to dismiss everyone, a loud explosion shakes the walls. Women scream and men draw their swords, although many are too drunk to stand right. The guards all around start herding the royals and nobles to the thrones in order to form a ring to protect them.

Suddenly doors from all around the room burst open and dark figures come rushing in. More screams from women are heard as the guards ready for an attack. The enemy makes the first move then it's an all-out bloodbath. I see a nobleman fall beside me and look past him to see one of the dark dressed men looking at me like I was some kind of meal. I quickly reach down and pick up the fallen man's sword. He won't be needing it anyway.

"Look here, this girl wants to swordfight." The dark dressed man says mockingly. I hold the sword with both hands. It's a bit on the heavy side. The dark dressed man playfully taps my sword and a fire ignites within me. I push his sword away with mine then stab him in the heart. He's eyes are filled with shock as his life drains away from him. Shock that a woman had ended him. I pull my sword out.

My hands are shaking as I look down at them.

I've never killed a man before.

I've stabbed plenty of dummies and injured the man who taught me a couple times on accident but never have I killed a man. I look down at the dead man as fighting continues all around me. My stomach churns oddly. But there is no time to think about it.

"Hey! Did you just-" I look up to see another dark dressed man speaking to me. Before he finishes his sentence my blade is through his heart.

These men are attacking my home, my family, in my house.

They are going to die.

I'm blinded by rage as I run through slicing the darkly dressed men. As I'm caught in a match with one of the enemy, I see one of his friends put a cloth over Lola's mouth and drag her away.

I barely dodge the blade in time and it cuts my dress by my side. That would have been a nasty side wound, as it is I feel it scraped skin. To my left behind the man I'm fighting I see Arthur holding his own against two or three men. Then to my right I see Margaret being dragged away. I end it with this guy by pushing hard to the side, then plunging the blade into him while I'm close.

If I hadn't been trained, I would have never been able to do that move with enough force to pierce the skin and insides so that it would be a killing blow with enough time to get out of his grasp and escape death myself.

The secret training has come in handy.

Once he was down I look over at Arthur, unsure of what to do. Should I run after my sisters or stay and fight?

"Go!" Arthur shouts spotting my look. "Find them!"

That is all the courage I need. I quickly find a lighter sword from one of our fallen men then rush out the doors I last saw them take Margret.