Carmine

My fingers flicked on my knee in a rhythm. This was a long time for me to be sitting here. When was that man going to present himself?

I fluttered my eyes upward as the sea blue satin curtains danced with the tender breath of the wind that came through the window.

My body shivered and I exhaled in frustration.

The door latch clicked. I turned and saw a tall man. His hair was rather high, but well-trimmed along the edges.

Those eyes dug into mine as if searching for treasure. The chains connected to the chest badges off his dark brown jacket shook to his sudden stop. His trousers were darker and it complimented his round-mouthed shoes lined with minute green gems with a metal based top.

He smiled. "Ah, you are quite beautiful...for a witch."

He thought I was a witch? Yes, I was with a Terison. That was expected. Then again it could be my lighter skin tone. It is well known that the Ascus royal blood line got muddied from the age of the King Balo.

He was the first to start that lovely practice of marrying outside the Shyia family tribes. It's been a cornerstone of my country ever since.

Only Ascus practiced it, for elsewhere, it was a grave sin. I was not dying for the sins of my fathers and mothers, so I had to prove my innocence and get out of here.

Maybe, I could have gotten him to release Valor as well. I needed him if I was to survive, for doing this on my own was going to difficult.

Mindful of what I hid, I turned fully on the stone bench and faced him. "I am not a witch. I am, but a traveler seeking passage through your city. Nothing more."

"I find that hard to believe," he said, a wave of his hand. His wrist covered in a ruffle of white fabric. "After all, he did have tattoos." The hallmark of a witch were their tattoos.

The way he said it I knew it was likely to not be true. If such was the case, I would already be drawn up by the neck in a rope. Unless he wanted to use me; I read a book constructed from the words of scholar Hermes. He accused many nobles of consorting with witches.

That was an odd levy against the Ascus royalty.

No, I could not admit to something I knew nothing about. I needed to find out why I was not thrown in jail alongside him. How did this man know who I was?

"I know he has no tattoos. I have seen the whole of him, completely," I said.

The man's eyes widened. He looked on, mouth agape. Then he shook his head, tightened his lips together and stepped forward. "I see, hmm, where are my manners, I am the Castellan Yodan. Your name, miss?"

I looked away from his gaze. "Beckburt, Illia Beckburt." My gaze met his stark one now.

His face showed nothing, but his eyes wavered in direction. "Beautiful name, beautiful face, you are quite an interesting person."

"Me." My palm motioned at my chest when I looked away from his potent gaze. He looked feverishly at what he desired. What he desired? I feared I owned it.

"Can you release me? You have no evidence to prove your claims. I can call a magistrate and ensure my innocence, but you are a busy man, I am sure. I do not think you want it to come to that."

He made a facial shrug. With hands behind his back, he tilted from side to side. "How long are you going to lie?"

I remained silent. He continued with a low drawl on his voice, "What bothers me is the fact that your sanctity has been stolen by that insolent dog."

"I was willing," I retorted.

"Fruit skin!"

I pursed my lips in defeat. He stepped closer.

"That man should be horse whipped. A delicate flower like you—defiled by that fairy!"

"I am, but a peasant, there is nothing delicate about me."

"I told you to stop lying." He pointed at me.

"You first."

His eyes narrowed at me.

"Carmine, Princess Carmine, that is your name, no?"

Sore me.

"Bring my bodyguard to me."

"You have the audacity to ask us to release a suspected witch?"

"One, Ascus is a part of the royal tribes of Shyia. Two, I have just been acknowledged as a Princess by you. I am way above you in the pecking order. Even though I have little power right now to wield that order, be sensible Yodan.

“It would be good manners and show well on your lord that I was treated well within your walls. Three, I was not bluffing when I said I have seen him completely. I have, but I did not say I went into his bed. Rest your mind at ease. My innocence is still intact."

The features of his face lightened, but only briefly. He returned back to his stoic stare. His gay eyes watched me. "That is good to know…that he has not defiled you."

I shivered, but tried to not show it.

Why, so you can defile me yourself?

"Carmine, I mean you no harm. I am only curious as to why you would not tell me your name," Yodan said.

I scoffed. "You see me wearing something below my station trying to blend in with the common man. I am sure you have heard."

He stared for a long time then he cut his eyes away. "Yes, there are significant prices on your head."

Prices, was there more than one player revealing his hand? I needed Valor, actually, I needed to escape. Yodan confirmed my identity. I was pretty much in the palm of his hands.

Instinctively, I grabbed under my arm. The spot was still healing. A slight cut rested on the skin beneath the dark façade.

In that spot, Valor drove the knife inside. Now, it was against my stomach; the blouse and my skin kept it warm for future use. Was it time to use it even if my fidgeting fingers hesitated to use it?

"Where is your Lord Yodan?"

"He is out on a crusade. The northern tribes are spreading. They must be contained. They will be contained."

I hunched over and looked at him with the finest display of my pleading directed through eyesight I could muster. "If you were to act on his behalf what would you do to me?"

"Kill you and collect the bounty. He's a greedy Lord."

I slipped my hand further up my bosom. Breathing out, I tried to maintain eye contact.

"If it was you, what would you do?" I asked.

He just stared. A conflict in his heart, yet I held my breath. He looked away suddenly, flexed his face as if to say something, but the words could not escape. He turned his back to me. I rose, my hand moved slowly in between the lower buttons of my blouse shirt.

My fingers touched the tip of the knife's pommel.

"Do you find me fetching?"

I paused. He had not turned around, no, he was forcing himself not to. I understood one thing clearly and it sickened me to my stomach.

He was a lowly peasant in a high position and I was a Princess. A chance like that came rarely. Of course, he wanted to know whether I was betrothed. Deep in his doubt he asked such a silly question.

Unless, he knew I was being chased by assassins, but had not known the names. Someone in Ascus wanted me dead. He must not have known or he knew and was an emotional idiot. I preferred idiots and I had one to save right now. He was my lifeline out of here.

"I do, but why ask me this...are you..." I innocently spoke.

He turned, his head downward as I saw him shoot s momentary glance in my way. "I..."

A knock made me shudder at the loud and heavy thud on the door. Yodan looked back at it with some disdain. He moved back, and called, "Come!"

Two soldiers entered. Swords at their waists, they bowed swiftly and moved to the side. In walked in, a group of men, one I knew was a priest by the clothing and the others were likely Judgment.

The priest wore a white gown, gold lined, and red cassock ended at the ankles. His piercing eyes glared at me.

Behind him were the Judgment, from head to toe, they were saddled in shining armor.

They walked slowly, but the clanks of their boots echoed. My teeth crackled into each other with each step. There were a lot of them standing around us. Their eyes never left our every action.

A priest in Eathen must have served the God Erot. Wasn't that the name that assassin mentioned? But, that must have been a lie. A God would never sully their precious hands in an attempt at my life like a foolish Shyia.

"Is that her?" the priest asked in a deep voice for such a skinny straight-faced man. Yodan moved to the side and behind him.

Yodan cleared his throat. "Aye, my Holiness Bishop Kello. This is Carmine, the daughter of the now dead King of Ascus.”

Bishop, that was the highest priest in any city district of Eathen.

The Bishop narrowed his eyes at me. His face twisted into a horrible scowl. "Take her," the man said. The men came before me. Yodan motioned at me to rise, but his eyes held sadness.

I sighed and stood before those men ready for what laid ahead.