Dark Triumph

As we reach the tower door, Julian glances back over his shoulder at the battlement then turns his unreadable gaze on me. “I will not tell anyone that you were up here,” he says.



I shrug, as if it is of no difference to me. Even so, I fear he will make me pay for this kindness of his.



Already I regret not jumping while I had the chance.



Chapter Two



I HURRY ALONGSIDE JULIAN, REFUSING to let my mind pick and fret at possibilities. I hold my head high, my scorn of those around me plain on my face. In truth, it is no act, for I loathe nearly everyone here, from d’Albret’s courtiers and attendants to the spineless Breton lordlings who showed no resistance when he seized their duchess’s castle for his own. Craven, lickspittle lackeys, the lot of them.



Julian pauses just outside the great hall, waits for a small cluster of retainers to pass, then slips in behind them, minimizing the chances that our entrance will be noted. And while I am glad he is committed to keeping my secret, I can only wonder what payment he will demand for doing so.



Inside the hall, quiet servants hurry to and fro, carrying flagons of wine, stoking the fire, trying to anticipate every need before they can be scolded or punished for not seeing to it quickly enough. Small knots of people are scattered throughout the hall, talking furtively among themselves. Clearly, word has reached them that d’Albret’s gambit has failed and he will not be returning in triumph.



The only person in the hall who does not have the good sense to cloak himself in caution is the idiot Marshal Rieux. He paces before the fireplace, railing at Madame Dinan that d’Albret has destroyed his honor by springing a trap while under Rieux’s flag of truce. He is a fine one to talk about honor as he was the duchess’s own tutor and guardian—up until the day he betrayed her and joined forces with d’Albret, certain their combined might would convince the young duchess she had no choice but to do what they wished.



But she surprised them all.



There is a deafening clatter of hooves out in the courtyard as the men return, followed by the sound of soldierly chaos—the rattle of discarded weapons, the creak of leather, the clang of mail and armor. Usually, there are shouts of victory and coarse laughter, but not today. Today the men are eerily silent.



There is a thud as a door is flung open. Quick, heavy footsteps stride down the hall accompanied by the jingle of spurs. The entire room—even Rieux—falls quiet as we await the approaching storm. Servants make themselves scarce, and a few of the more cowardly retainers find excuses to leave the hall.



The desire to be elsewhere is overwhelming. It is all I can do to keep my feet anchored to the floor and not turn on my heel and run back up the stairs to the safety of the upper chambers. But my very guilt requires that I stay and show d’Albret that I have nothing to hide. Instead of fleeing as I wish, I lean toward Julian’s ear. “Do you think Madame Dinan and Marshal Rieux are lovers?”



Even though Julian smiles in amusement, he also gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. I frown in annoyance and shrug my arm away from him. He knows me too well. Far, far too well.



And then the force of d’Albret’s presence is upon us, swirling into the room with all the heat and destruction of a firestorm. With him comes the stench of blood and mud and sweat. His face is white with fury, making his beard look all the more unnaturally black. Close on his heels is his main henchman, Bertrand de Lur, captain of the guard, followed by a dozen lords and retainers. Two of them, Barons Julliers and Vienne, were the duchess’s own vassals, but they were so eager to prove their loyalty to d’Albret that they agreed to ride with him to set this trap, even though they knew full well what he had in mind for their liege.



It therefore brings me a great joy to see that Mortain has marqued them both for death—each has a dark shadowy smear across his brow. Between that and the duchess getting away, this day has not turned out half bad.



“Why are you smiling?” Julian asks.



I pull my gaze away from the two men. “Because this should prove most entertaining,” I murmur, just before d’Albret’s voice cracks through the hall like a whip. “Get men up in all the towers. See if anyone is there who shouldn’t be. If a warning was sent, it most likely came from the north tower.”



I press my back against the wall and wish the nuns had taught us a cantrip to call down invisibility.



“Bring Pierre to me!” d’Albret continues. “His charge from the west gate should have come sooner. His laziness may well have cost me my prize.” He thrusts his hands out, and his squire darts forward and removes his right gauntlet. Before the boy can take off the left, d’Albret turns to shout another order. The squire leaps back out of reach and waits warily, afraid to draw closer but even more afraid of not being there when needed. “I also want a detail of men to ride after the duchess and report on her movements and the forces protecting her. If a chance presents itself to snatch her, do it. Any man who brings her to me will find himself richly rewarded.”



As de Lur repeats these orders to his men, a second squire hovers nearby, ready to place a goblet of wine in d’Albret’s hand before he has to ask. Without looking, d’Albret reaches for it, then we all wait in pinprick anticipation while he slakes his thirst. Madame Dinan steps forward as if to calm him, then thinks better of it.



When the count has drained the goblet, he stares at it a long moment, then hurls it into the fireplace. The violent shatter of crystal echoes in the quiet hall. Slowly, he turns back to the room, wielding the silence with as much skill and cunning as he does his sword, letting it grow until it is stretched tighter than a drum skin. “How did the soldiers from Rennes manage to arrive just then, hmm?” His voice is deceptively soft and far more terrifying than his shouting. “How is that possible? Do we have a traitor in our midst?”



The room is silent, each of us knowing better than to risk answering that question. We know we have many traitors in our midst, but it is easy enough to betray a young girl. Whether any of them dared to betray d’Albret is another matter.



Marshal Rieux clenches his fists and takes a step toward d’Albret. Dinan reaches out to stop him, but he is too quick. Mon Dieu, he is either the bravest man I have ever met or the greatest fool.



“How can you have a traitor when no one knew of your plans?” Rieux asks.



D’Albret’s gaze flicks lazily at Rieux’s clenched fists. “It was a last-minute decision.”



“Even so, I should have been told. I gave my word that the duchess would be granted safe parley.” Merde. Does the idiot not feel the sands of his life slipping through the hourglass as he taunts d’Albret?



D’Albret turns his full attention to Rieux. Beside me, Julian tenses. “That is precisely why you were not told. You had given your word and would have clucked and scolded like an old woman.”



Rieux says nothing. Whether because he is stunned by d’Albret’s answer or because he is finally wise to his danger, I do not know.



“Besides”—d’Albret’s voice takes on a mocking note—“look at how well your arguments won her over. It would be a poor commander who had only one tactic for winning a war.” Then, faster than quicksilver, the look on d’Albret’s face shifts and is no longer merely disdainful, but terrible. “You did not learn of this plan and warn her, did you? To protect your honor?”



Rieux recoils. Whatever he sees in d’Albret’s eyes has finally given him pause. “No,” he says shortly.



D’Albret holds his gaze for a long moment before turning back to the room. “How did the garrison from Rennes come to ride to her rescue? Why now? Why today, at this hour?” The count’s eyes glitter dangerously. “The only explanation is that we have a traitor in our midst.”



At least the arrival of the Rennes troops has distracted him from the north tower. For the moment.



“The duchess and Dunois brought news of the French.” Rieux changes the subject abruptly.



D’Albret cocks his head, waiting.



“They say the French have crossed the border into Brittany and have taken three Breton towns, Ancenis among them.”



Ancenis is Marshal Rieux’s own holding. D’Albret purses his mouth, studying the marshal. “No doubt Dunois wished to divert your attention.” D’Albret calls out to Bertrand de Lur. “Send a scouting party to confirm this report.”



De Lur nods, but before he can give the order, d’Albret calls out additional instructions. “When that is done, question the men. See if any have departed for Rennes in the last week. If so, be sure to bring them to me for questioning when they return.”



The men-at-arms grow silent—a few grow pale—for the methods d’Albret uses for questioning are the well-known stuff of nightmares. De Lur nods curtly, then goes to carry out his lord’s orders. On his way out of the hall, he glances at me and winks. I pretend I do not see and instead focus on my brother Pierre as he strides past the departing captain. His helmet is under his arm, his chin is raised, and he has an ugly expression on his face. The white scar through his left eyebrow stands out like a brand. “What happened?” he calls as he strips out of his gloves. “How did she get away?”



D’Albret’s head snaps up. “You were late with your men.”



The accusation stops Pierre cold, and the rush of conflicting emotions that flutter across his face would be humorous if his situation were not so dire. “We were delayed by citizens who tried to jam the gates to prevent our joining you on the field.”



D’Albret studies him a long moment, trying to see if he is lying. “You should have killed them.”



“I did,” Pierre says, his full, ripe mouth sullen.



“You should have killed them faster,” d’Albret mutters, and a bitter laugh nearly escapes my throat. My brother does not murder quickly enough for him. In the end, however, d’Albret gives a brusque nod, which is as close as he ever comes to praise.



A commotion disrupts the tense moment as the returning soldiers herd a half a dozen men into the hall, naught but the dregs of the servants, by the looks of them.



D’Albret taps a finger to his lips. “They were found in the tower?”



De Lur kicks one of the men, who is not groveling enough to suit him. “No, but they were not on duty and have no witnesses to say where they were during the attack.”



D’Albret cocks his head like a curious vulture. Slowly, he approaches the small group of the duchess’s servants. “Are you such very loyal men, then?” he asks, his voice as soft and gentle as the finest velvet.



When no one answers, he smiles. It sends chills down my back. “You can tell me, for I am a great admirer of loyalty.”



The oldest of them does his best to stand tall, but it is clear that he has been beaten and his leg will not work properly. “Aye, my lord,” he says proudly. “We have served our duchess from the moment she was born and do not intend to stop now.”



“The French were not able to buy you off with their gold?”



I close my eyes and pray briefly that the old fool will watch his tongue and look to his own safety, but he is too wrapped up in his honor. “Not us, sire.”



D’Albret takes a step closer, his great bulk towering over the man, his gaze sweeping over the group. “Which of you learned of our little surprise greeting and crept out to warn the duchess?”



“None of us knew,” the old man says, and I start to breathe a sigh of relief. But the fool is still riding high on his great loyalty and adds, “But we’d have told her if we did.”



Annoyed, d’Albret looks over at Pierre. “How did we miss this one?”



My brother shrugs. “Even the best traps don’t catch all the rats the first time, my lord.”



Without word or warning, d’Albret hauls back his steel-gauntleted hand and strikes the old man across the face. The servant’s neck snaps back with an audible crack. Julian squeezes my hand—hard—warning me to stay silent and still. And even though I want to fly at d’Albret, I do not move. Just as that last valiant knight held his position, so must I hold mine. As Death’s handmaiden, I must be in place so I may strike when the time comes. Especially now, when d’Albret’s bold treachery has assuredly earned him the very marque I have been waiting to see for six long months.



Besides, the old man is dead; my anger will do him no good. I utter a prayer for his departing soul. It is the least I can do, although it is not nearly enough.



Marshal Rieux steps forward with a look of outrage on his face, but before he can speak, d’Albret roars out, “I spared your miserable lives.” His voice reverberates through the room like thunder, and the other servants finally have the sense to cower in fright. “And this is how you repay me?” There is a ring of steel as he draws his sword. My stomach shrivels into a tight little knot and tries to crawl up my throat, but before I can so much as call out a warning, the sword cuts through the huddled men. Blood splatters over the floor, then a second blow dispatches the rest.



I do not even realize I have taken a step forward until I feel Julian’s arm snake around my waist to hold me in place. “Careful,” he murmurs.



I close my eyes and wait for the roiling in my gut to pass. Julian nudges me, and my eyes snap open, a carefully neutral expression on my face. D’Albret’s shrewd gaze is on us and I curl my lip, as if faintly amused by the carnage he has just wrought. “Fools,” I mutter. It is a good thing that I no longer have a heart, because if I did, it would surely break.



“Julian!” d’Albret calls out, and I feel Julian flinch. He steps away from my side. “Yes, my lord father?”