Her eyes blinked wearily open, groggily she glanced around the room. Empty, and still as modest as before. She had refused the General’s offer of a guest quarters excusing herself and her retinue claiming instead her wish to stay at the tavern of a long time family friend. The General had seemed unbothered by her decision and had freely given his leave for her to stay where she wished in the city. Truthfully she did not even remember where it had been that she had last stayed when in Carthaga but any accommodation, whatever its size and luxury was preferable to being under the same roof as Hortensia and Harfrigh. Indeed she was eager to be off, had it not already been dark by the conclusion of their meeting she would have gladly saddled up and set off. Pretty though the city may be it left a sour taste and she would be glad to watch it fade into the distance behind her.
Saoirse lay back down into the covers before closing her eyes again.
As she tried in vain to reconjure back up her pleasant dream she heard it. Vague and feint it was there nonetheless. A repeated clicking sound from just outside her door. They had bought every room on the 2nd and 3rd floors as a precaution and to the room left and right of her lay Cara and Aoife both, outside each stood a guard on night duty. All of which made the sound even more disturbing. Saoirse resisted the urge to cry out, whoever it is they are seeking access by such means it seems unlikely to be the sound of a friend.
Stealing herself from sleep she slid quietly underneath the bed. She pressed herself onto the cold, wooden floor and drew the knife which as always lay strapped to her upper thigh. She waited silently as the clicks intensified until she finally came the audible snap as the door was unlocked.
“About time, damn thing was trickier than it should have been. You ready?”
“Yes, as I have been for the last two goodman minutes. Now let’s get this madness over with before those downstairs get the bright idea to make a quick round of the rooms.”
There was no response but Saoirse had to slow her breath as the door was eased open. Into the room the delicate steps of the two entered.
“Fuck. The bitch isn’t here, we’ve been given the wrong room.”
The voice came from the man behind, it had a slight tinge of panic and fear in its tone. The other man, the man in front had no such emotions, when he spoke he did so coldy, calculated.
“Shut up a moment. It can’t be the wrong room, this is it.” He took tentative steps forward, stopping at the still warm bed. “Lock the door. She’s in here somewhe….”
His order was cut short as Saoirse dug her blade into his thigh, ripping downwards before yanking the knife free. His cry was loud, loud enough she hoped for those downstairs. She rolled to the opposite side as a boot came flying underneath, sliding out she quickly got to her knees. Unfortunately the other intruder had read her intentions and she gasped as the breath was wrenched out of her by a savage kick to her stomach as she knelt down exposed. She tried to cry out but her breath failed her, her attacker looked from her to the first man.
“Nooo, wait, we’re not supposed to, we can’t.” He tried to steady himself on the bed but only managed to collapse onto it.
The second man turned to the door as voices called out, friendly voices.
Saoirse looked up to her attacker, he glanced frantically about but seeing no way out he faced her, a look of intense anger on his rough somehow familiar features. In one swift movement he brought the cudgel above his head and slammed it down, Saoirse waited until the last moment before launching herself forward, the strike, which would have crushed her skull instead grazed off her head. Even so her head still spun with its impact and she felt an intense ringing in her ears.
The man pulled her away kicking her once again to her stomach, she lay there helplessly waiting for the final deadly blow. A shadow flashed across the doorway, her mind darkened, the room dissolved and she lay still, silent and unmoving.
What was that dream again?
The first thing she thought of when she woke up was that she wished she hadn’t. The ringing was still pounding across her mind and her head was throbbing with the pain. All of which was being made worse by the clamouring going on around her as Cara and Aoife leaned in excitedly over her.
“Gods” she muttered out weakly, “Give us a moment would you.” She raised her hand against the room’s light.
“Can someone please explain to me why and where I am?”
“Well good to see your finally awake.” Cara was first to speak, loud and brash as ever. “We weren’t sure we’d hear your complaining ever again. Your in the Pratoerium, you were brought here after the attack.”
“In Pratoerium? Why have I been moved here, I had everyone around me at the Tavern.”
Cara and Aoife exchanged looks, Aoife looked down on her with a face full of worry, “You did have everyone around you yes, and look what happened. You were in no fit state to travel and Hortsenia insisted on you being put in his care, here in the safety of the Castle.”
I bet he did. “What of my guards? Where are they now?”
“They are all still at the tavern, cept for Finn, Niamh, Earla and Shane, we demanded that they at least should remain with you. After the attack Hortensia ordered all present at the tavern to be taken in for questioning.”
Cara shook her head, “Somehow, someway those two men were able to get into your room, you could have been killed. After, everything was a mess, we didn’t know what to do, all we wanted was to make sure you would be ok.”
Aoife nodded in agreement, “Hortensia was quick to react, he had his own personal guards escort you here and he’s already begun questioning all those at the tavern to uncover how this could have happened.”
Saoirse sighed and gratefully accepted a cup of water from Aoife, she drank eagerly. She took a deep breath and was rewarded with a rattling and sharp jolt of pain to her ribs.
Cara smiled grimly, “Two of your ribs are cracked, sore but they’ll heal with time, as for your head you were lucky, you’ll have a nasty bump for awhile but nothing too serious.”
Saoirse sat up gently propping herself onto her pillows, “We should have left this city when we had the chance, this is what comes of remaining. Do we know anything?”
Aoife shook her head, “Not much. What means the men were able to access the third floor without anyone spying them is still unclear, the three guards outside our doors were all found dead, each one with an assassin’s dart to accompany them. Fortunately we heard the cries of your assailant when you gored him and Cara reached you just in time to plant one of her knives into the back of the man at the moment he was about to strike the killer blow.”
Saoirse groaned, “Right now I almost wish he had. But as usual Cara I find myself in your debt, had you not been there….”
“Then you would have found a way. Don’t mention it again, whatever I am I owe to you, a single knife is nothing in comparison.”
Saoirse smiled and tried to rub some life in through her temples, “None of it makes any sense, I have naysayers true, but this… this goes well beyond anything that has come before.” At least since my uncles were removed.
“It all seems strange to me, even my would be assassins. Why have the guards killed with expert precision and weaponry only to then enter my room with mere cudgels.”
She shook her head, “Had they blades then I would have been doomed far before Cara or anyone else got close.”
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There was a loud methodical knock on the door.
Cara swivelled immediately, hand on hilt. “No Visitors, General Hortensia’s orders.”
“Indeed orders which will be strictly adhered to. However as the man who gave the order I believe perhaps I may be excused from their confines.”
Saoirse pulled her hair back, it would be pointless refusing him, it was his keep to command after all. She urged Cara forward, tentatively she sheathed her knife and got up to unlock the bedroom door. Hortensia entered promptly with four of his Brutari in tow and made straight for the foot of her bed. He wore a sympathetic look on his face and he wore it well.
“My Lady, it gladdens my heart to see you awake and live once more. You have us all quite a scare. Truly it has shocked me to the core this outrageous attack.”
Saoirse smiled weakly, “Not as shocked as I was. I was told that Carthaga was the safest city in Aileann? Perhaps I was mistaken.”
Hortensia chuckled, “Earl Ni Chonaill I can assure you there is no safer city on this here land. It is you I fear that has brought this terror to my city, not the other way around. Perhaps had you stayed as invited in Pratoerium I would have been able to prevent it, you insisted otherwise. It seems you have paid a heavy price for your mistake. All 30 of your men proved ineffective.”
“They did. Whoever it was they must have had quite a lot of help to have been so well prepared and informed.”
His eyes narrowed, “I understand how you must be feeling, it is no easy thing to acknowledge one’s mistakes, from you or your guards. However you did make a mistake, one that troubles me deeply.”
Saoirse restrained herself from rolling her eyes. “My friends tell me that you have taken the men responsible for the attack into your custody. Have you discovered anything of these men, which so boldly targeted me? I too would like to spend some time questioning them, I believe I could learn a great deal.”
“You are welcome to, once we have sufficiently dealt with them of course, for they are my prisoners now, and I will decide what happens next.”
He paused for emphasis, “Rest assured whatever they know or say shall be then passed on for your musing. You will be glad to know we have already had success on that front.”
Saoirse took a long sip of water, perhaps that would cool her off.
“I am sure your men are asking all the right questions. So, what then is it you have discovered thus far General?”
“Much. Most interesting, and perhaps alarming of which is the fact that both men hail from Muire Street. That lies in your own dear city does it not? Which points to one of your own people conducting the attack for as you so aptly pointed out your attackers had a worrying degree of information on both you and your guards. Indeed you have 9 of said guard which were either born or claim family in Muire Street do you not?”
She closed her eyes a moment, he has done his homework on her own guard even. “Muire Street you say. It seems curious to me then that two men from mine own city would then choose a foreign unknown location to carry out an attack such as this.”
Hortensia raised a brow. “Curious? Does it not make perfect sense to seek you here with your guard down and your watch relaxed. It does to me. All of which is besides the point.”
“Which is?” Saoirse struggled to maintain the calmness in her voice.
“Which is the issue we have not one day past spoke on. That of the unrest and continued problems within your very own city Earl. This is exactly the kind of animosity we do not want in Arann, especially not now. Perhaps I was hasty in my previous decision. Perhaps three months is too much for such matters.”
Saoirse gritted her teeth, the ringing in her head seemed to get a little stronger, a little louder. She took another deep breath, closing her eyes a moment. Unfortunately Hortensia remained very much real staring expectantly at her. She resisted airing her suspicions, not now, not like this.
“I gave my word, three months. Attack or no attack that has not changed.”
Hortensia gave her a concerned smile. “If you say so. However the situation certainly has. Therefore it has been decided that one of my trusted advisors, Captain Forzar, a man of some repute, along with 30 of my finest warriors shall accompany you back to Arann. He shall sit on your council, hear your people’s complaints and be privy to all that happens in Arann’s throne room. You may think of him as a safeguard to any further attacks.”
Saoirse bristled, ‘This is not Milesia, it is not acceptable, never before has an Earl suffered such a slight. I rule Arann, any advisors I have are my own, you may keep this Captain, I am sure you can find something else to to occupy him.”
Hortensia sighed, his Brutari took a step forward menacingly. Cara and Aoife stood alert ready to defend.
“Earl Ni Chonaill, do not misunderstand. This was not a request, it is an order. This is Milesia. Look around you, you rule by my word, nothing else. You will do as told by me and my man Captain Forzar also for he speaks with my blessing and my power.” He wrapped his cloak around him, “ Now I am sure you need your rest after your ordeal, as soon as you are ready you may leave, with Forzar alongside you. The men who attacked you shall be kept here for further questioning. Once they have been properly dealt with then it may be that they can be sent to you for your judgement.”
He paused squinting his eyes at the bruise now developed by her forehead, “And so I bid you farewell once more Saoirse Ni Chonaill. I pray your recovery is swift and easy.” With that the General turned on his heel and marched out without another word, the Brutari trailing not far behind.
Saoirse felt nothing more than a child, helpless and rooted to her bed but no words came to her. She could not deny his words, whatever power she had was seemingly fast dissipating. She threw the covers off her gritting her teeth as she was exposed to the chill morning air.
“Help me get dressed.”
‘What?” Cara asked startled, “Get dressed?”
“Why?” Aoife followed up.
“Why, well if Captain Forzar is ready then so am I. We made the mistake of staying in this city longer than needed last night. I don’t intend to make that same mistake again.”
Again Cara and Aoife shared a look but wisely decided now was not the time to argue with her. As Aoife helped her dress her mind whirred, Cara stood by the door. “So we head home, what then? Any plans we have, any piece of news or information will now need to be shared with this Captain Forzar.” She shook her head, “This attack could not have come at a worse time.”
Saoirse breathed in as Aoife draped a simple dress over her. “For us, yes.”
Cara stepped in closer, lowering her voice to match Saoirse’s. “So you don’t believe the attack was from one of your enemies in Arann?”
Saoirse shook her head, “Unlikely, at least not without help, there is no one one of them with the resources for such a daring attack. No this seems far beyond any of them.”
Aoife stopped tying the corset a moment, “Who then?” She brought her head around, “The General? Harfrigh?”
“One if not both.”
“It is a good thing then that they failed.” Cara murmured.
“Did they?” Saoirse asked.
Cara looked at her confused, “You're still alive are you not?”
She grimaced, “Barely, but yes I am. Which is exactly what they wanted. Think a moment, an outright assasination here in Carthaga itself. It would be too blunt. All of Arann would be up in arms, even those who refute me would be aggrieved on behalf of Arann if not me. No better than to have me eased out, chipping away piece by piece until everyone around me thinks it wiser to have me removed as Leader. To have Harfrigh and Hortensia intervene to mediate the situation would then be seen by many to justify their involvement in Arann and its affairs.”
Aoife brushed her down gently, “You think they would go so far.”
“I do. But I believe I was not meant to be killed, only hurt or possibly even kidnapped. That’s why the two men had mere cudgels, and explains why one of the men reacted so strangely when the other struck to kill me.”
Cara laughed, “Our position becomes more and more precarious as the days pass, and now we must suffer a rat in open view in Arann’s court, yet another visible sign of Milesia's power. Another affront to our sovereignty. And for all that our options are becoming less and less. What can we do now?”
“Get back to Morbhaile as soon as we can, that’s what. Rats are always close but we have practice enough of secrets, a few more should not overly trouble us.”
She steadied herself and her head by the bed’s frame, she waved Aoife away as she moved to help her. “Come, Cara ready the men, Aoife you get me on my horse. We have work to do.”
Cara had said it true, Saoirse felt more helpless by the moment, surrounded by enemies everywhere she looked. She needed allies and she needed them sooner rather than later. It was time to seek them out.