The Dragon Queens (The Mystique Trilogy) (8 page)

‘That is a secret sacred to your gender, and thus I could not say.’

As it seemed I had extracted all the information I was going to get out of Albray on the topic, I rang the bell to let my appointed guide know that I was ready for my practice session.

‘Your gentlemen friends await you in the armoury hall,’ my guide informed me. ‘If you will follow me.’

The walls of the huge armoury chamber were a veritable smorgasbord of weaponry, and in the centre of the huge space two marble steps descended to a large circular practice area.

Very inspiring
, Albray commented as we beheld the selection of killing utensils.

‘The Shah has asked after your sword preference for this afternoon, my lady. What should I tell him?’ the official inquired.

I looked to Albray as I had not a clue.

The Shah’s choice,
Albray said with indifferent confidence.

I relayed the response to the Shah’s official, and he bowed. ‘Very good.’ He left us to report to the Shah.

‘You are full of surprises, Lady Suffolk,’ Taylor commented, clearly thinking I was tempting fate with my resolve—as I probably was.

‘Oh yes,’ my husband agreed, his gaze planted firmly upon the ghost at my side. ‘I do not know what possesses her at times.’

I gave a weak smile to acknowledge my lord’s attempt at humour.

Lord Devere,
Albray greeted his old rival with exaggerated warmth,
what a joy it is to see you again.

My lord acknowledged the ghost with a slight nod, knowing it was best that nobody become aware of my secret.

On our last adventure, Cingar had witnessed Albray possess the body of my sister-in-law in order that she may fight her way into the favour of a formidable foe. However, the gypsy could not see the phantom knight. Cingar did not have any psychic talent, despite the long line of female clairvoyants from which he had sprung; his talents were all physical in nature. Whether or not Cingar suspected that Albe-Ra was the force behind my own skill with a sword, he never said.

‘I am thrilled that I shall get to witness your victory this time around,’ Cingar said cheerily. My husband and Mr Taylor gave him a stern look of disdain. ‘Well, last time I was rotting in prison!’ he said defensively.

I gather you do not mind if I borrow your wife’s body for the afternoon?
Albray could not resist pushing his luck with my lord.

Do I have a choice?
my husband responded, his
jaw clenching.
That is, if I still want my wife alive this evening?

I had to admit I was savouring seeing my husband so jealous; it had been a long time since he’d had any cause to be.

At your leave, my lady.
After a deep breath I nodded and the spirit of the knight stepped into my physical form.

I tried to hide how pleasurable it was to be suddenly filled with masculine strength and valour, but felt sure that my own final expression probably betrayed my delight. Yet, it was rather perturbing to lose control of my body. The second Albray seized control of me, he made for the wall of weapons and selected two identical Saracen swords, whose huge curved blades he began to whirl around my body with death-defying speed and precision.

‘And you thought she wasn’t up to the task!’ Cingar nudged Lord Devere, but was shamed to silence by the look he received in return.

‘You are good with a sword, Devere,’ Albray challenged my husband via my vessel. ‘Or should I call you Danior Terkari?’

‘Hah!’ Cingar gave a laugh. ‘I’d forgotten all about that charade.’

‘I saw you fight off several bandits at once that night,’ Albray recalled.

‘My wedding celebration,’ Cingar said, having some recollection of the events of which Albray spoke. ‘That was one hell of a night, was it not?’

But Albray had his sights locked on Lord Devere, awaiting a response. ‘Pick a weapon, my lord,’ he baited.

Must you pick a fight with my husband?
demanded.

I warrant that he is the best swordsman here, but if it will make you feel better, I won’t be so obvious about it
, Albray thought back to me.

‘All of you, pick a weapon.’ Albray extended his challenge to the other two men present.

‘I could never fight my lady,’ Cingar said and took a seat.

‘What about you, Mr Taylor?’ Albray put it to him directly.

‘Far be it from me to beat up on another man’s wife,’ Taylor said, and stepped backwards to take a seat on the stair alongside Cingar.

Albray looked to my husband.

‘I guess that leaves me to put you through your paces,’ Lord Devere said, glaring at Albray through my eyes.

‘Shall we dance?’ Albray split my mouth into a grin of invitation as he crossed the two sword blades at my chest.

‘An engagement that is long overdue.’ Lord Devere snatched up two medium-sized broadswords and advanced to engage the knight. In a great clash of metal my workout began.

‘What an interesting relationship these two have,’ Taylor commented to Cingar as they watched the fight. ‘If I did not know better, I would honestly think they were trying to kill each other.’

‘’Tis a bit more vigorous than expected, I must say.’ Cingar cringed with every resounding clang of metal on metal. ‘Best not slay her before she gets to the Shah’s competition,’ he suggested to Lord Devere.

‘Nonsense, I have not even broken a sweat yet,’ Albray assured the gypsy on my behalf, abruptly breaking a deadlock of swords by thrusting Lord
Devere backwards. ‘Come on, Devere, put your back into it.’

Stop baiting him,
I said; it was unnerving being on the receiving end of my husband’s aggression.

After half an hour of sparring, Albray finished toying with my husband. Disarming him of both swords in one swift motion, he called, ‘Next!’

Frankly I did not think my husband cared about his defeat; he was absolutely exhausted. Once Albray had been my lover’s older rival; now the ghost was younger in valour than my lord.

‘Mighty fine show!’ Taylor gave us a standing ovation, as did Cingar, and Albray bowed graciously to accept the applause. ‘You must be proud?’ The diplomat placed a hand on my lord’s shoulder.

‘Every man’s dream,’ my husband replied sarcastically as he took a seat to catch his breath. After a moment he looked to Albray and I had never seen his expression so dark.
I want you out of her body the second this duel is done
, he ordered.

The doors to the armoury opened and the Shah’s official, accompanied by several armed guards, announced, ‘It is time.’

‘The Shah need have no fear of me forfeiting this duel, thus there is really no need for such a large escort,’ I said, replacing the swords on the wall. ‘On the contrary, I am quite looking forward to it.’

I could not help but notice how concerned the Shah’s man appeared about my enthusiasm as I approached to accompany him to the field of combat. But all he said was, ‘The Shah is also greatly looking forward to it,’ and led me through the doors of the armoury.

The guards waited for my associates to follow me into the corridor before falling in behind our party.

The Shah had chosen a large paved courtyard in which to stage the display, as it corresponded with the location that de Guise had chosen for my duel. As it was mid-afternoon, a good part of the open area was shaded.

Along the walls of all four of the courtyard’s lower-level pillared walkways stood armed guards. The Shah was seated, with his minions, on a shaded balcony on the second level of the palace that overlooked the courtyard. A stairway led from within one of the lower pillared walkways to the balcony, where, we were informed, his Majesty had provided seats for my associates.

My husband looked my way as he was led from the field.
Deliver her safe and sound, Albray.

Have I ever failed to do so?
the knight responded.

Lord Devere forced a smile as he considered Albray’s boast; the fact was that the knight had saved both our lives on more than one occasion.

The design of the courtyard floor was not unlike that in the armoury—several steps led down to a central circular platform, in the middle of which I positioned myself. I bowed to the Shah and awaited the appearance of my challenger.

Once my associates were seated, the Shah waved his hand and six warriors, all but their eyes masked in black, filed into the courtyard and took up position around me in a circle.

Assassins,
Albray observed for my benefit.

To the best of my understanding, the assassins were affiliated with the Melchi who had raised and trained Albray.
Should I be worried?

Heavens, no,
Albray replied.
They are all sporting my weapon of choice.

Predictably the Shah had chosen the local weapon, and I was presented with two Saracen swords akin to those I had just been wielding in the armoury.

I heard my husband’s voice raised in concern. ‘Is this one of the Shah’s famous practical jokes? At the court of de Guise, my lady was required to best only one swordsman!’

‘Come, come, my Lord Suffolk, this is only a friendly demonstration, not a duel to the death,’ the Shah emphasised.

Clearly, something in his tone was not very reassuring to my lord.

‘I was not aware that assassins gave friendly demonstrations,’ he retorted.

The Shah served my husband with a look that implied he was being overly dramatic. ‘Your wife is not complaining,’ he pointed out, as he observed me getting a feel for my weapons. ‘These men do not make errors, Lord Suffolk; your wife is far safer sparring with them than a novice, and they are under my specific instructions to engage the lady one at a time.’

As my husband opened his mouth again, no doubt to issue a sharp rejoinder, Taylor discreetly nudged him; a reminder that it was not wise to debate the Shah’s motives. ‘I never doubted your Majesty’s good intentions, of course,’ my lord said.

The Shah forced a smile and allowed the incident to pass. He gave a nod in his crier’s direction and the servant shouted, ‘Begin!’

The onslaught was immediate. I could feel Albray’s utter delight; he was truly in his element with a blade in his hands. Still, if I could have
closed my eyes until the frenzied assault was over, I would have happily done so. As it was, I felt as if I was riding a thoroughbred stallion over which I had no control; all I could do was hold on for dear life and hope that I was still alive when the creature came to a standstill. Nevertheless, after the first ten minutes had elapsed, I began to feel a little more confident and actually started enjoying the ride and appreciating the fact that Albray was making me look truly accomplished. Some of the locals even started barracking for my cause, including the Shah himself, who had tears of delight flowing down his cheeks. Now he too had a story to add to the legend of the Lady du Lac and the gypsy rogue, which he would take great delight in telling de Guise upon their next meeting.

‘Play me my gift, minstrel,’ the Shah requested of Cingar without looking at him.

‘Right now, your Majesty?’ Cingar had trouble dragging his attention from the spectacle I was embroiled in.

‘What better time than the present to capture the mood of this moment for posterity?’ his Highness confirmed.

Although the challenge made Cingar boggle a moment, he quickly retrieved his instrument from its case and, looking to the event in progress, began to compose.

At first the tune was one of suspense and peril, but as the gypsy observed how well I was faring against the assassins, the theme became bolder and filled with admiration. As the frenzied music began to build, Albray was fuelled anew and all present were stunned when I started adding a few punches and kicks to my repertoire.

‘And I thought my wives were a handful,’ the Shah said, laughing at my husband’s bemused face.

Lord Devere saw the humour in the situation and allowed a smile to melt his stern expression. ‘Life is never boring,’ he conceded, and the Shah laughed even harder.

Fortunately, Cingar soon realised he was setting the pace of the duel and mellowed his passion a tad. I was a fairly fit woman for thirty-nine years of age, but I had not done anything so physically strenuous in a long time; I was really going to hurt come the morrow.

The Shah gave the nod and his crier yelled, ‘Enough!’ The assassins immediately ceased their attack and Cingar wound up his composition with one long, inspired stroke of his bow.

The Shah applauded the display and, to the shock of all present, gave me a standing ovation. The court scrambled hurriedly to follow suit. ‘You must stay in the palace as my guests tonight,’ he told my associates. ‘And we shall discuss your permit.’

I’d best be going then,
Albray said, complying with my husband’s demand to make himself absent from my person as soon as the match was over. Suddenly I felt the full weight of the swords I was holding aloft; the blades dropped to the ground so hard my arms were near wrenched from their sockets. Every muscle in my body began screaming at once and, unable to cope with the onslaught of pain, turned to jelly. I fell to the floor in a faint.

The first sensation I felt on regaining consciousness was that of being buried to the neck. My immediate thought was that I had done
something to offend the Shah and he had dreamt up some horrid death for me. A moan escaped my lips as soon as I attempted to move myself, then my eyes parted to behold my husband’s smiling face. ‘I am not dying?’ I assumed, seeing he was at liberty and in good spirits.

‘No,’ he confirmed, ‘but you have seen better days.’

When I laughed all my muscles seized and then I was moaning again. ‘I should have listened to you,’ I cried. ‘It feels as if my entire body is bruised!’

Sorry about that.
Albray waved at me from behind my lord.
But we did achieve our goal—the Shah has asked you to dinner.

‘I was under the impression that the Shah never ate with anyone?’ I directed the question to Lord Devere, who appeared a little irked by Albray’s presence. I had hoped to dismiss my knight after the demonstration and avoid any more unpleasantness, but as I had not been given the opportunity, I sensed that my protector and my husband had had a clash while I was unconscious.