The Death Sparrow's Shadow: The Assassin of Acreage Book One Read online

  Serena snorted, nearly tripping in her heels as she regained her balance.

  “The eyes of a hawk on me are not exactly comforting.” she returned with a huff. He smirked and shrugged.

  “Perhaps not, but I will be the only one around to cover up any missteps so the better you act the less I have to watch.”

  “You’ll be watching me regardless of what I do.” She sighed. A small smile threatened to escape on his face as he looked at her again. His eyes soft and metallic shone at her, threatening to pull her closer. She tore her eyes away, focusing on the path ahead.

  Large wooden doors opened into the garden ahead, a gentle breeze blowing through the trees. They strolled through the terrace. Sunlight illuminated the various flowers. She almost felt at ease looking at all the blossoms as if they were a comfort to her.

  They crossed the field, entering the glass doors of the grand dining hall. Inside, the walls were decorated in gold piping and molding that climbed up to the ceilings. Arches tapered upwards towards the center of the ceiling to an intricate molding of flowers. From the center hung a golden chain where a large three-tier crystal chandelier hung, illuminating the room. It seemed the Templarians had not touched the Acrean moldings at all, instead now dressing these rooms in blue. Her eyes caught the royal blue curtains that draped to the floors, held back by large golden threads. A large blue rug covered the large grey marble floor, under the table, where the finest white silk Serena ever saw was draped over the top. A small band played in the corner where a large piano sat. All the glass doors to the garden were open.

  She turned, taking in the occupants. People of high standing stood talking to each other, dressed in the finest clothes, each a spectacle of art. The women dressed in colorful silks, satins, and lace with long white gloves mirroring hers. Their expressions and laughs felt fake as the sound trilled too high or low to be true laughter. These falsehoods put her on edge as the heavy makeup on their faces reminded her more of the masks each wore.

  Smoke rising in a corner caught her attention. Under the cloud, a group of men talked amongst themselves, watching the women. Their eyes looked out with a mix of leering and amusement. The judgment felt thick as they spoke into their haze, oblivious to those outside their group. Everywhere she looked she spotted the unmistakable brand of the King on everyone. His shadow already covered them all before he even entered the room.

  The Captain led her over towards a group of women talking.

  “Lady Helen, this is my friend Lady Serena. She just arrived today. I was hoping you could be so kind as to introduce her to everyone. She’s sitting next to you.” the Captain said to a young woman. Her scarlet hair was neatly pinned to her hair as a royal blue dress with a lace neckline that drew focus to her tiny waist. Her smile rivaled the glistening sapphires on her neck.

  “So, this is your mysterious guest. You stirred up quite the trouble this morning, adding her last minute.” Lady Helen cooed, her gentle green eyes blazing with questions. The Captain took a deep breath.

  “You and the other Ladies need to find something else to do other than create scandals out of everything. She arrived late yesterday. I wasn’t sure she’d be here in time. Will you take her around or not?”

  “Of course, I will. I just don’t know why you didn’t tell me you planned on having a guest.” With that, the Captain turned to walk off but stopped. He turned back around, a grimace nearly escaping his face as he picked up Serena’s hand. She stared as he raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it.

  “Behave,”

  He then dropped Serena’s hand, clicked his heels, and walked off.

  “Do you think the ‘behave’ was to you or me?” Helen asked. Serena turned back to Helen, who smiled. “He’s rather curt with you. How long have you known my dear cousin?”

  “I make him nervous.”

  “What?”

  “I think he said behave to me. I make him nervous.”

  Helen chuckled.

  “It’s rare for him to bring anyone to dinner. He’s rarely courted anyone after his fiancé left him for another man.”

  “We’re not courting.”

  “Not yet. Men take time to make up their minds. Come along. Let me introduce you.” Helen took Serena’s arm and began to circle the room. She paused at a table full of goblets of wine. Helen took one and handed another to Serena.

  “See that woman dressed in deep blue over in the corner?” Serena nodded. “That’s Lady Mer. Her husband is a big-time noble. Owns a lot of land between here and Templaria. The woman next to her is Lady Isla. Vain woman. Positively dreadful.”

  As if hearing the words, Lady Isla looked over with her pristine blonde hair and blue eyes. She glared at Helen. Helen raised her glass to the woman as if in a toast, before taking a long drink.

  “The woman wed all three of her daughters like bargaining chips to raise her status. All three are miserable. The poor dears,” Helen explained before walking Serena off to another part of the room.

  “What kind of business are your parents in?” Helen said nimbly leading her around another group of men talking.

  “I wouldn’t know. They don’t tell a woman anything.” Serena grumbled. Helen laughed, her eyes alit.

  “You really are charming. I know how you feel. They love to act like we’re incompetent, but we’re not. You see that man with the beard over there?” She pointed slightly with her glass. Serena followed the gesture, looking at a man in a blue suit with a cigar in hand. His face was full of wrinkles, easily seen on his fair skin showing his age. Serena nodded, taking a sip of the dry wine.

  “He tried to tell me, he could tell the difference between a fake gem and a real one. Wasn’t he surprised to find out that the necklace he bought his wife was fake? If he would’ve listened to me, I could have kept him from such foolery, but don’t worry, the Captain isn’t like that. He knows to listen more than he speaks.” Helen said.

  Listen more than he speaks? Sounded more like an assassin than a simple man. She looked to the corner where he stood. He seemed to notice her look and glanced at her before returning to the conversation at hand.

  “Let me introduce you to my husband!” She rushed to pull Serena towards the group of men where the Captain stood. “He’s so handsome. You see, the one in a navy suit with the mustache.” She pointed him out as they drew closer. As they arrived, Helen rushed into the waiting arms of the man who kissed the crown of her head.

  “Hello my dear,” he cooed. As Serena watched, she caught the scent of myrrh and jasmine again turning to see the Captain watching her again.

  “It appears you’ve taken the Captain’s newest ward on a tour.” The man said, drawing her attention. She took in the young man’s light brown hair and hazel eyes. A strong jawbone jutted out, but the kindness in his face felt like a perfect match for Helen.

  “I’ve done my best. Henry, this is Lady Serena.”

  The man bowed his head to her.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Henry smiled.

  “Likewise,” Serena said giving a small curtsey.

  “The Captain spoke highly of your beauty. I can see he did not embellish a thing.”

  “You’re much too kind,” Serena said, unsure how to react to such a compliment. Helen inserted.

  “How long are you staying, Serena?”

  “I’m not sure. It depends on when the Captain gets fed up with me and sends me home.”

  “Well, Wesley, don’t get fed up with her too soon. I plan to have her over for tea as often as possible.” Helen chimed. Serena smiled, enjoying the wealth of information Helen gave. Helen was nothing like what she expected of a lady of the court. Henry cut in.

  “Dear, it’s none of our business.”

  “Oh, pish posh. She’s my friend. You do consider us friends, don’t you?” Helen took Serena’s hand.

  “Of course.” Serena smiled, the words coming easily despite the hesitation in her heart.

  A bell rang, echoing in the room as
a hush fell over everyone.

  “It’s dinner time,” Helen said, her voice softer than before. “You’re sitting next to me and Lady Georgina. She’s a tad outspoken. The less you speak to her, the less annoying she is.” Helen took Serena’s arm and led her off. Everyone walked to the large gold-encrusted seats, the backs standing at least five feet tall, and stood next to them. Looking at them, Serena felt small and wondered if that was the feeling the King wanted.

  The grand doors at the end of the room opened in a burst of movement, drawing everyone’s eyes. The Crown Prince walked in first, his blue cape trailing behind him as he strode to the smaller of the two thrones at the end of the table. The King walked in behind the Prince, his form brazen and imposing. His long blue robe draped behind him making his large figure seem even bigger. His face was covered in wrinkles and age spots that only helped to make him more intimidating. His light eyes held malice in them as he surveyed the people in attendance.

  “Don’t look at the King’s face,” Helen whispered, grabbing Serena’s hand. Serena looked away and squeezed her hand back.

  The King reached his seat and sat, pushing his blue cape back with a thunderous movement of fabric. His eyes glared out at the company, a scowl covering his lips as the Prince sat down next to him.

  “Curtsey,” Helen whispered as the whole room moved in unison to bow or curtsey in front of the King. He waved them off, his thick fingers grabbing a goblet and taking a drink.

  As if spurred from sleep servants bolted forwards helping to sit the women before the men. Serena noticed that all the women sat to the King’s left while the men sat to his right. An odd distinction. Serena and Helen sat only four seats from the King.

  Her palms grew sweaty in her gloves as the King’s presence was easy to feel from her seat. Her mind drifted back to the chorus of the kill the King game.

  “How many ways can you kill a king? One, two, three,” the song played in her head. Her eyes immediately fell to the dinner knives, and she wondered how they were weighted. Would they somersault in the air enough times to land a perfect strike? The saucers might make a large enough distraction if thrown at the Prince. No doubt any such plan would ensure chaos.

  Mindfully Serena moved the napkin from the plate and smoothed it out onto her lap, trying to quiet such thoughts. Even though the thought of killing the king sent chills up her spine, she focused on the napkin.

  Acting out of line, let alone making an attempt on the King would get her executed. It might even get the Captain executed with her. Her heart oddly stumbled over the thought before she forced the nerves away. The Captain did not matter in her plans. Only as a hurdle to the King.

  Trying to distract her thoughts, she carefully looked around out of the corners of her eyes. She noticed the Queen’s seat still sat at the table. An eerie reminder of her mysterious death years before. Some thought it was the work of an assassin, but what assassin would take out the docile queen if given an opportunity at the King? Not to mention no assassin ever claimed such a kill. Most likely something happened within the castle.

  Servants returned, laying out the first course in front of the guests. With food now in front of them, the normal bustle of a dinner commenced. Everyone talked loudly, eating and gossiping as Serena stayed silent. Their conversations dwarfed her, as she had nothing to say. The color of a dress or the late arrival of an afternoon tea did not matter to her. Instead, she focused on watching the members of the court, trying to discern secrets from their movements and words. A few faces stuck out to her as very deceptive people, and she wondered what secrets they hid.

  A nasal voice rose above the crowd, drawing Serena’s attention.

  “Everyone was so surprised to hear you brought a guest to this month’s dinner. I can’t even recall the last time. It might’ve been years ago.” Lady Georgina commented.

  The Captain remained mute.

  “You had the whole castle in an uproar this morning, Serena. The poor servants rushed around like busy bees to get an extra place setting for you. A real inconvenience I heard.”

  Serena felt the tension rise in her fingers.

  “I appreciate their diligence.”

  “I’m sure. It must be strange for them to see one of their own at the table. I mean, the Captain inviting a woman is shocking, but to see she’s an Acrean. It’s downright scandalous.”

  The Captain cut into his meat harder, his knife loudly screeching as it cut against the plate. Serena gritted her teeth, debating what to say. Honestly, she wanted to jump across the table and strangle the woman. She placed down her fork and knife to take a drink of wine in case her limbs instinctively threw a utensil as a weapon. The Death Sparrow did not take well to insults. Normally the person would pay for such cruel words.

  “What are you insinuating, dear?” Helen began. “Do you think the Captain would choose a whore to bring before the King?”

  “No, I-”

  “Good, because such an insult could be detrimental to your husband. He is still away in Templaria I hear. It would be terrible for him to return to his title tainted by unsubstantiated claims by his wife.”

  “I meant no insult, Captain.”

  “It’s not me you need to apologize to.” He gestured to Serena, who stared at him.

  “I beg your forgiveness, Lady Serena. I wasn’t thinking about my words. I think you’re a fine Lady. Much better than me.”

  “I accept your apology.” Lady Georgina took a deep breath, her shoulders notably relaxing.

  “Thank you. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll have the kitchen make us lunch one day. All the best things.”

  “It’s unnecessary.”

  “I must insist.” Serena looked to the Captain, who smirked.

  “She’d love to. She’ll be lonely with me working all the time.” She spotted the look in his eyes, telling her it was another test.

  “Perfect. I’ll set it up soon.”

  Slowly the dinner ended as the Prince drew her attention. The King whispered to his son and she tensed as she felt the King’s eyes turn to her. What did she do? Had she looked too long at that end of the table? Why was he looking at her?

  “The King wishes to know if you play, Lady Serena.” The Prince gestured to the piano in the corner of the room. Those words struck her like daggers as the threat of death hung over her head. A piano? She thought, her nerves rising at the sight of those black and white keys.

  “Poorly, I’m afraid, your highness.” Serena returned politely, keeping her head down. The King grunted in response, nearly making her jump at the harshness of the sound. Her mind quickly raced through how badly this could turn in a moment.

  “You will play for the King.” the Prince stated coldly. Her heart nearly dropped at those words. Music was not something assassins spent much time on, let alone performing in front of a King. She did not prepare for this. Her frantic eyes looked up, meeting the Captain’s who echoed her concern.

  “Lady Serena just arrived. She’s very tired, your majesty, perhaps another time.”

  The King waved him off and bellowed a warning in his tone.

  “She’ll play.” His eyes fell on the Captain harshly as if he uttered a threat aloud. The Captain bowed his head immediately in submission.

  “Of course, your Majesty.”

  She noticed his nerves rising to the surface as he shifted in his seat. Serena nodded as well, trying to control her breathing which had grown shallow. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself of what little piano skills she had. A few songs crossed her mind easing her tension knowing she could play something for the King.

  “Now,” the Prince ordered, even though his eyes looked at her sympathetically. Serena’s heart raced as her legs suddenly felt stiff.

  “Yes, your Majesty,” she said, bowing her head. The chair was suddenly pulled from the table by a servant as she forced herself to her feet. She locked her knees, gathering her strength as she walked from the table.

  Her eyes settled onto the grand
piano, her pulse rising with every step. The bench was pulled out for her, allowing her to sit with ease in front of the daunting keys. She felt the eyes of everyone on her back as she grazed her fingers over the instrument, feeling the cold wood.

  She closed her eyes, tapping into what was now a painful memory. The warm feeling of Viper’s fingers grazing hers as he taught her to play electrified her. Each touch felt like a glimpse of sunlight after a storm. The gentle words whispered into her ears, telling her how to sit tall urged her to sit up straight at this moment. The bitter memory drew forth the only song she knew by heart that might be appropriate. Regardless of how well she played, the King could kill. She took a steadying breath.

  She pushed the memory back behind the iron gate in her mind, finding the keys to start. The mellow tune began as she took a shaky breath. She needed to hope her voice would be enough to cover her rusty fingers.

  Her voice rose as she began to sing about the child bride who turned into a warrior queen. Of her strength and leadership. Of the many battles she won and her love of Templaria. Her voice rose to a crescendo and echo off the walls in the silence. A hollow sound resonating in the tense room. Before she could finish, the King spoke.

  “Enough.” he snapped as she tripped over keys, stopping. The room was soundless as the King stared at her. The tyrant King rose, his chair scraping against the ground causing her to nearly jump. He walked towards her with heavy steps, warning of his displeasure. His robe rustled as he reached her, and she sunk her eyes into the floor, daring not to look up. He smelled like danger and she was painfully unarmed.

  “I don’t play well, your majesty.” she practically whispered. She prayed to Altara, hoping if she played docile and scared, he’d let her go.

  “It was quaint,” he said, brushing it off. “Stand,”

  She stood before him, keeping her head low. His hot breath rolled off her cheeks as he reached forwards and grabbed her chin. She met the King’s eyes, hoping he only saw fear in them and not the rage slowly burning behind. He squeezed her chin tightly, his fingers biting into her skin.