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Sieg and Marien - Part 6 - Blades

Like a swimmer breaching the surface, Marien's eyes flew open and she took a deep gasping breath. Suddenly the fortress, the courtyard, and Sieg were replaced by the plain white walls of a medical ward. As she tried to move, a wave of pain rolled over her body, further disorienting her already spinning mind.

"Wha-What is this?" Marien gasped.

As she struggled to sit up, a masked doctor leaned over and grabbed her shoulders, "Hey hey, please calm down."

"W-what?"

"You must stay still or you will reopen your wounds."

"Where?... How?..." As Marien gasped for breath, memories came flooding back, "There was... a fight... she attacked me... I was knocked down, she came at me again... and I fought..."

"You did. Apparently you won, though it did come at some cost."

"I felt so weak... and cold..." Marien gasped. "I thought I died."

"You very nearly did," the doctor replied. "Your wounds weren't very deep, but you had many of them and lost a great deal of blood. But thanks to your own stubbornness and my skill, you are once more among the living."

With effort, Marien was able to catch her breath, her breathing steadying quickly. "Who are you?"

"I'm Doctor Kallen Hail, I've been taking care of you."

"How long... have I been out?"

"Just over a week. Your rate of recovery has actually been quite rapid, though I have noted a few things that I would like to discuss with you."

"What about... what about Sieg... does he know I'm here? Is he worried?"

"He's fine, do not worry."

"Where is he? Is he here?" Marien pulled off her blanket and shifted to try and get out of bed, "I need to see him."

"Mrs. Kolvest, if you will stay calm I will explain everything!"

Hesitantly Marien stopped trying to stand and lay back, taking a deep breath, "Alright... alright, I'm... I'm relaxed..."

With a heavy sigh, the doctor crossed her arms, "Alright, so here's the thing..."

===

"Mmmmm, Marien, what are you doing... Oh... Oh... you naughty girl, you know that's forbidden... But it is nice..."

"Sieg Kolvest, you are an idiot!"

*FWUMP!*

Awakening from a rather pleasant dream, Sieg blinked in a surprised daze as he found himself staring up at Marien standing over him. She held a pillow tightly in her grip and raised over her head to strike him again, a plume of down feathers drifting around her.

As Marien drew back the pillow again, Kallen reached out to grab her shoulder, "Mrs. Kolvest, your wounds!"

Ignoring the doctor's pleas, her pain temporarily forgotten against her burning frustration, Marien struck Sieg with the pillow again, "You idiot!"

Sieg raised his arms to try and defend himself, "Marien, wait-"

"Do you remember what I told you? I said 'the next time you end up in the infirmary because you were trying to do something for me, I really will finish you off'! Well guess what!"

Stepping in between Sieg and Marien, Kallen spread her arms and cried out, "Mrs. Kolvest will you please stop! Not only might you actually manage to kill him, but if you reopen your wounds I will have you tied to your bed!"

Marien opened her mouth to let loose a torrent of indignation, but the look on the doctor's face, visible even through her mask made her think twice. Slowly lowering the pillow and panting hard, Marien took a few steps back, mumbling an apology.

Grumbling to herself, Kallen yanked the pillow from Marien's grasp and returned it to its place behind Sieg's head.

"May I speak to him for a moment?" Marien asked as Kallen returned to standing, arms crossed, between her and Sieg.

Kallen frowned, "Just talk? No more hitting?"

"No more hitting."

"You swear?"

"I... swear."

"Sir?"

Sieg nodded weakly, "I'd like to talk to her."

With a sigh, Kallen uncrossed her arms and stepped aside. "I suppose I can allow that for a few moments, but then you MUST return to bed. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough, please keep the physical violence to a bare minimum."

As Kallen stepped out of the room, Marien apprached Sieg's side.

Seig managed a sheepish smile as Marien sat down in the chair beside his bed, "You heard what happened?"

"The doctor told me." Marien sighed heavily, reaching out to stroke Sieg's head, "What were you thinking?"

"He said he was going to kill you," Sieg replied, taking hold of Marien's hand and clutching it tightly.

"Then he was stupid. The doctors would never have allowed it."

"He was a royal guard, I couldn't take the chance that they wouldn't stop him."

"So you put yourself in danger?" Despite herself, Marien's voice rang with irritation, "What if he had killed you? The doctor said that you were only saved because General Silver intervened!"

Even as she spoke, Marien felt a pang of guilt for her words. Of course he would stand between her and an enemy, that was his nature, it was part of why she loved him. But the realization that she had now twice nearly lost her precious Sieg filled her with a deep anxiety, which combined with her fatigue and the constant throbbing pain in her body, swiftly turned to anger.

"It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"Then you were being extremely foolish!" Marien exclaimed.

Sieg's face twisted into a scowl as Marien's tone created a fierce sense of indignation within him. After all, what right did she have to be angry? He was the one who fought to keep her safe after she was injured.

"I was protecting you!" Seig replied, a sharp edge in his voice, "But you're one to talk. You were the one who promised me that you wouldn't fight any more duels."

"I wouldn't call it a duel."

"Oh come on!" Sieg scoffed.

"She hit me from behind! What was I supposed to do, run away?

"If it's that or end up in a fight to the death again, then you are damn right I want you to run!"

Marien's ears flattened against her head and her eyes narrowed, "Now you look, I am a Captain in the third legion."

"Oh, this again!"

"I command two hundred warriors, some of whom would be very happy to have an excuse to challenge my authority. If my troops saw me running from some coward who hit me from behind, why would they trust me?"

"And what about when we have children?" Sieg demanded. "What am I supposed to say? 'Oops, sorry sweetheart, some loud mouth picked a fight and finally got lucky so your mother is never coming home'!"

The barb struck home.

"Don't you dare do that!" Marien snarled, pulling her hand free from Sieg's grip. "Don't you dare use that against me!"

"Tell me it isn't true!"

"I didn't choose to be like this! I didn't choose to be a target for every upstart cretin, ignorant fool, and stupid bastard!"

"Oh, and I suppose you NEVER pick fights?"

"You're damn right I don't pick fights!" Marien snapped, her eyes narrowing. "But unlike you, I sure as hell can end them!"

Sieg struggled to sit up, "And what's that supposed to mean?!"

"Oh come off it Sieg. You never were and never will be a fighter, we knew that even when we were children!"

Sieg's face turned red with rage and embarrassment, "At least I don't need to make my point with the blade of a sword!"

"I swear, if I hadn't promised the doctor I wouldn't, I'd break your nose!"

"Thank you for proving my point!" Sieg roared back. "The only way you know how to solve a problem is to fight it!"

"That's ridiculous and you know it!" Marien shot back. "And speaking of fighting, on your best day you're below average. And yet you charge in, sword held high, every time you think I need help! It's gotten you beaten up, spit on, almost drowned, ridiculed, demoted, and now cut to pieces by an opponent you should have known better than to fight!"

"I was fighting for you!"

"Well maybe I don't need you fighting for me!" Now Marien was yelling.

===

Outside the door, Kallen stepped away from the wall and walked back towards the staff room. She'd heard enough arguments over the years to know which ones were dangerous and which ones weren't, and she also knew when to give her patients privacy.

"They just need to get the poison out," she muttered to herself. "So long as they don't come to blows, better to leave them be and patch up the damage later."

===

Sieg was well and truly seething as he glared at Marien, all of his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. "Well maybe I wouldn't need to come to your rescue if you had the sense to stop putting yourself in situations where you needed rescuing!"

"You wanna go that way? Fine, then how's this for a twist on your little scenario," Marien snapped. " 'Oops, sorry sweetie, guess daddy didn't know when to back off and stop acting like a hero and now he's dead in a ditch somewhere!' Maybe you should stick to what you are good at, standing around on a dock with a pointed stick! Leave the fighting to me so that I won't have to raise our child without a father!"

"Assuming we can even have a child," Sieg shot back.

Marien's eyes widened, "What?!"

"You heard me! We've been through two mating cycles and nothing!" The moment after the comment left his lips, Sieg felt a hot rush of shame and regret.

"How dare you!" Marien snarled, leaping up from her chair. "If you've got something to say, say it!"

Before Sieg could speak, a voice called out from the doorway, "Excuse me."

Both Marien and Seig turned, and were surprised to see Lyon striding into the room, his servant shuffling behind him.

Sieg's eyes grew wide. In an instant his anger vanished and he threw off his blanket. "Marien, run! That's the one who I fought!" As he tried to leap out of bed, the pain of his injuries got the better of him and he crashed to the floor in a groaning, agonized heap.

"Sieg!" Thinking fast and seizing a surgical knife from the table beside Sieg's bed, Marien placed herself squarely between Sieg and Lyon.

"Touch him and I'll kill you," she snarled, her teeth bared and murder flashing in her gaze as she held the knife in front of her.

"Peace," Lyon said, holding up his hands. "Peace, please, peace, I mean no harm."

"Then get out, now!"

"I will. I merely wish to speak, and then I shall leave. But first..." Lyon's gaze flicked to Sieg's groaning, crumpled form, "Perhaps we should help him?"

Marien's gaze shifted to Sieg as he groaned and tried to lift himself to his feet. Her gaze flicked back to Lyon, "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I give you my word of honour. Besides-" Lyon spread his arms and turned around, "as you can see, I am unarmed."

After a moment's pause, Marien spoke, "Know this, I am a Captain in the Third Legion, and I do not consent to a duel. If this is a trick, and if you kill either of us, no title you have now will keep you from being tossed out of the royal guard and under the executioner's sword."

"How dare you!" Jabarian barked, tottering forward and aiming a whizened finger at Marien, "Lord Chariot would never stoop so low! You should show more respect and-"

Lyon waved his hand "Enough Jabarian." Turning back to Marien he placed a hand on his heart and bowed, "Truly madam, on my honour as a Basitin and a Royal Guard, I mean no harm. Please, allow me to help you."

Hesitantly, Marien lowered the knife and turned back to Sieg. Together, both she and Lyon were able to help Sieg back into his bed. Even as she set about tucking Sieg back in, Marien was careful to keep the knife within easy reach and one eye on Lyon.

After quickly wetting a cloth and putting it on Sieg's forehead, Marien turned back to Lyon. Her entire body was in agony, her muscles hurt and she could feel some of her wounds had opened, but still she stood as steady as she was able and met Lyon's eyes. "Now, say what you came to say and then get out."

With a small smile, Lyon bowed again. "I wish to apologize, firstly, for the actions of my mate. I have been told that it was Amber who started the fight, and in a most disgraceful manner."

"That sounds about right," Marien replied, searching Lyon's face for any sign of deception. "One moment I am walking along the canal, next thing I know I've been hit on the back of the head."

Lyon raised his left eyebrow. "And you are certain there was no... altercation prior to that? She didn't, perchance, say anything to indicate her motives?"

Marien shook her head. "No, nothing. She struck me, I fell, she attacked me with a sword, I barely fought her off."

Lyon frowned and stroked his chin. "I really can't even fathom what exactly came over Amber to make her do such a thing. I am truly shocked and horrified by such behaviour."

Behind Lyon, Jabarian stiffened slightly.

Marien's eyes narrowed, "And I am to believe you learned of the truth only after you came here with intent to kill me?"

"Well, I-"

"Don't try to deny it," Sieg growled. "I know what you said, what you threatened to do."

Lyon's eye twitched slightly, "I do not seek to deny my actions, but only acted as I did because the story Amber told me differed somewhat from what is now the official accounting of your battle. She claimed that it was you who started the fight without provocation."

"So you came here to murder me, and then you tried to kill my mate." As she spoke, Marien had to grip the bed frame to keep herself from collapsing.

"And very nearly succeeded," Lyon replied, the tiniest hint of smugness in his voice.

"Not before I knocked out a few of your teeth with your own helmet," Sieg shot back. "How's your jaw?"

Again Lyon's cheek twitched, but he did not respond to Sieg's taunt. Clearing his throat he raised a hand in a gracious gesture, "Truly, I am mortified by this entire situation. Please, rest assured, had I known the entire truth of the matter, I would have had no cause or inclination to seek vengeance. If only Amber had been honest with me from the start, all of this could have been avoided."

As Lyon spoke his practiced lines he took a moment to study Marien, only half paying attention to the words he was speaking.

"She's an impressive female," he thought, studying Marien's face and form. "She's obviously in agony, and yet she's still standing, and speaking with authority. Add to that her skills with a blade... If she was less obviously Western, she might even be a strong contender for Generalship." For a fleeting second Lyon considered the viability of having Sieg eliminated and taking Marien as a mate, but quickly banished the thought.

"The guardsman has no clue how lucky he is," Lyon smirked to himself. "Had she been born with fur just a little lighter and eyes a little greener, a female such as this would be far, far outside of his reach."

"Regardless," Lyon concluded, snapping his attention back to the present as his speech ended, "I would like to close this matter. I have no excuse for my own actions, save for the fact that I was misled." Lyon shrugged, "I suppose we all can do rash things for the ones we love."

Marien paused for a moment and looked back at Sieg. Their eyes met, and Marien sighed. "Yes..." she whispered, her eyes softening as she smiled sadly down at Sieg. "Yes we do."

"Now, obviously, words are only worth so much, which brings me to my final cause for being here." Lyon raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Jabarian shuffled forward, a long package wrapped in cloth held in his hands.

"A gift, so that you know my apology is sincere," Lyon explained as Marien took the package, her tail twitching as Jabarian shot her a scowling glare.

Bracing her shaking knees to steady herself, Marien unwrapped the package. Her eyes widened as she withdrew a pair of elegantly curved swords.

"You may or may not have heard, but I managed to break your husband's sword during our duel." Lyon watched as Marien drew one of the swords, examining its spotless, shining steel blade, "Not his fault mind you, guardsman blades are rarely of any great quality. With that in mind, I thought this an appropriate recompense. I hope you will agree."

The blades were long and narrow, with a subtle curve in the blade and a reverse curve to the handle. The hilts were braided with gold wire wrapped around a polished dark wood core. The bronze crossguard was in the shape of a four point star and marked with intricate silver scrollwork. The scabbards were fine leather, tipped with a carved silver cap.

"They were commissioned by a friend of the family during the treaty discussion with the Human Empire some fifty years back," Lyon explained. "They are the work of Kendra Legacy, a sorcerer blacksmith of some note, and a distant relation of the Grand Templar I believe."

Despite the friendly smile he had plastered on his face, smug satisfaction filled Lyon as Marien examined the swords with awe. To ordinary Basitins, such a gift would be extraordinary, a gesture of trust, faith and friendship. To be gifted a weapon was to be given something that could be turned upon the gift-giver if the occasion ever arose. To Lyon, it meant one less set of decorative blades hanging from the wall in his family dining hall, easily replaced and barely missed.

Again Marien looked back at Sieg. After a moment of unspoken understanding between them, they both nodded.

"We accept your gift," Marien said, nodding respectfully. "I consider this matter concluded. Sieg?"

Sieg nodded slowly, "It's done."

"Very good, then if you will excuse me, I have duties to attend to. Come Jabarian." With a whirl of his rich gold cape, Lyon strode out of the room, Jabarian shuffling after him.

As Lyon and Jabarian left, Marien leaned the swords against the wall, before dropping to the floor, leaning her back against the side of Sieg's bed.

"Are you alright?" Sieg asked, clearly exhausted.

"I hurt all over, and I'm exhausted."

Shifting slowly, Sieg was able to rest his chin on Marien's shoulder.

"I'm sorry for what I said," he whispered, nuzzling Marien's cheek gently. "I didn't mean it."

"Oh Sieg... I know..."

"I'm sorry I hurt you."

"Me too," Marien replied, reaching up and stroking Sieg's head. "Aside from my mother and Major Dauntless, you are the only one who ever cared enough to protect me."

"And I always will."

"I just... I've almost lost you twice now..."

"I know."

"I've lost so many people..." Marien whispered. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you too."

For a long moment both were silent, each listening to the others breathing, enjoying the precious moment of contact.

"Sieg..."

Sieg opened his eyes slowly, "Mmmm?"

"Do you think... Could there be something wrong with us?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's like you said... we've been through two mating cycles... and nothing. Is it possible that we... that we can't have children?"

"Well, last time I checked... all the bits were there..." Sieg blushed at the risque joke.

"I'm serious." Marien touched her stomach, "I know you want children, you've always wanted children."

"Well... yes, of course."

"And I want to give you a child so badly. I want to make a family with you. Truly I do. But what if... what if I can't?"

"Come on Marien, I've never heard of such a thing."

"But what if it's true? Maybe you are right... all those fights, the time I fell down Adrian's Bluff, when I accidentally ate nachtwort on that training excursion..." Marien swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes, "What if I've lost the ability to have children. What if I'm... broken."

Sieg pulled Marien closer to him and held her as tightly as he could, "You are not broken. Even if you can't have children, that does not mean you are broken."

Marien sighed heavily, her eyes stinging "But what will we do?"

"We could adopt."

Marien couldn't help but chuckle. How casually Sieg said those words, how simply and easily it came to him to love the unwanted or abandoned.

"But they wouldn't have your name, not really. Your father would-"

"My father can take a long walk off a short dock for all I care," Sieg interrupted. "Besides... I'm not... really a Kolvest anymore."

Marien blinked in surprise, "What?"

"My parents... they came to speak with me, the morning when you were hurt. When I left to come see you, my father disowned me."

"Oh Sieg..."

"It's fine... If being a Kolvest means I can't love you, or anyone else that my father doesn't 'approve of', then I don't want to be one anymore." Sieg squeezed Marien's shoulder and nuzzled against her neck, "If maintaining his precious purity means so much to my father, the Kolvest line can end with him for all I care. Although... that does bring up one important question."

"Mmm?"

"Does this make me a Gail?"

Despite the pain, Marien chuckled, "I love you Sieg."

===

"Absolutely disgraceful," Lyon snarled, tossing his cloak to a servant as he stormed through the entrance hall of the Chariot family manor.

"I agree, my lord," Jabarian said, struggling to keep pace with Lyon.

The Chariot family manor was a colossal stone and brick house just outside of Basikal city. The house was well over two hundred years old, built from thick oaken beams and rock quarried from the granite hills of the central mountain lands. While the front of the house looked rather small and conservative, the back of the house was massive, built into the side of a rolling hill overlooking Kaiser Bay.

The entrance hall was a large marble hall, with one massive staircase leading to the upper floors, and a second larger staircase leading to the lower levels. Statues of the Chariot family's greatest members, as well as a variety of generals and Kings, lined the entrance way, along with an impressive collection of weapons and armour.

"To have to apologize like that, humiliating." Lyon unclipped his armour and allowed it to fall from his shoulders. Another servant rushed forward and caught the armour before it touched the floor and quickly retreated back to the wall, head bowed.

"You acted with honour and poise, my lord."

"It should satisfy that bleeding heart General Silver at least."

"Your generosity is most notable, sir. I imagine the General will be satisfied."

"Has my sister returned yet?" Lyon demanded as another servant stepped forward and handed Lyon a steaming washcloth.

"I'm afraid Lady Shani has not returned yet," the servant replied as Lyon wiped his face. "Apparently her mission is running longer than anticipated."

Tossing the washcloth back to the servant, Lyon resumed his march towards the far end of the hall. "Let me know the moment you have word on her ship."

"As you command, Lord Chariot"

A pair of servants stepped forward and pulled open a large pair of double doors at the end of the entrance hall. Lyon and Jabarian stepped through, arriving in a large parlour. Life-sized paintings of prior members of the Chariot family lined the granite walls, and a rich scarlet carpet covered the floor.

The north end of the room was dominated by an elegant stone hearth, over which hung a colossal painting of General Tahl Chariot, the founder of the Chariot family. She was dressed in her arms-general armour, her sword held high, and her foot propped up upon the body of a tiger warlord who had tried to invade the Basitin Isles some two hundred years ago. The warlord's pelt hung beside the painting, still marked with warpaint, decorative ornaments and talismans. Tahl's sword hung on the other side of the painting, the blade still covered in the warlord's blood, long since turned to a rusty brown.

The western wall was a vast window looking out over the waters of Kaiser's bay, glittering orange in the light of the setting sun. A vast array of rare and beautiful plants sat upon a vast network of shelves pressed up against the window.

Hunched over one of the lower shelves was an old Basitin in a long coat. The man held a magnifying glass in his grip as he examined one of the plants sitting upon the shelf in a delicately carved porcelain pot.

The plant was small and unimpressive, a single stalk with long thin leaves, topped with a single flower. The flower was roughly the size of a serving spoon and ivory white except for a series of crimson splotches upon the heart-shaped petals.

"The scientific name for it is 'scarlet laceroot'," Lyon explained, striding forwards. "Though most simply call it 'templar's blood'."

The old basitin immediately straightened and bowed his head as Lyon approached. "Master Chariot, my apologies, I did not realize you had arrived."

Lyon held up a hand, "It's fine doctor, no apologies required. Do you like the collection?"

The doctor nodded, "Indeed! Herbology is something of a hobby of mine, one never knows when knowledge of a root or weed may come in useful in treatment. But I must say, some of the plants you have here are... well they beggar belief."

"The templars blood for example."

"Indeed. I thought they were extinct."

Lyon nodded, a small smile crossing his face. "According to legend, during the Human Empire's unification wars, the Grand Templar at the time was slain in battle against a wolf priest in a field full of these flowers. When the Templar's blood hit the petals, the flowers were forever stained red."

Lyon shook his head and scoffed, "The Templar spent the next century trying to eradicate this plant, which is little more than a weed. Every painting of it, every record of its existence, was wiped out. This is the last one in existence, and having it would likely be seen as an act of war by the Templar."

"The Templar were concerned about their image I suppose," the doctor replied, stroking his chin. "Having a constant reminder of your own fragility would be troubling to such an organization."

Lyon's eyes narrowed, "It was their honour they were concerned with. It is something we share."

"Mmmm, yes..."

"Have you seen to my Amber?"

The doctor nodded, '"Yes, my lord."

"And? How is she?"

"Her wounds are painful, very painful, but not life threatening, I believe she is out of danger. However, I was unable to save her right eye, and most of her left ear is gone. I also had no choice but to amputate her left arm."

Lyon turned sharply, "YOU WHAT?!"

The doctor sighed heavily, "I did warn you, my lord, the damage was extensive. I did my best, but the wound had become badly infected. All of my medicines did nothing, even burning it out didn't work. It was a choice between taking her arm, or allowing her to die."

For a moment, Lyon seemed as if he might strike the doctor, but after a few breaths he instead dropped himself into a nearby armchair.

"My poor Amber..." He squeezed the bridge of his nose, "Why... I don't understand... why did you do this..."

"She did seem quite troubled my lord. But when I tried to inquire as to what, she would not say."

"You should not inquire into Chariot family business sir!" Jabarian snapped.

"That was not my intention of course, but when my patient is-"

"How is she now?" Lyon interrupted. "When can I speak with her?"

"Soon my lord. I gave her poppy nectar to dull the pain. She will be woozy, but she should be lucid and able to speak soon."

"Fine. Maybe then I can get some answers."

"You will have to keep her bandages clean, see that she doesn't lay in one place for too long, and she will likely require more nectar from time to time. I left a supply upstairs for when the pain becomes too much for her."

"Yes yes, Jabarian can see to all that, thank you, Doctor."

"Shall I show the doctor out and then prepare your dinner, my lord?" Jabarian asked.

"Yes, please do." Lyon leaned his head against his arms and growled, "The sooner this business is dealt with the better."

"Indeed." Jabarian turned to the doctor, "This way sir."

"Of course." The doctor bowed to Lyon, "Thank you my lord. I will visit again in a day or two."

With a final bow to Lyon, Jabarian led the doctor back into the front hall and towards the front door.

"Make certain that her temperature stays steady," the doctor said, striding alongside Jabarian. "And make sure that she ingests plenty of fluids. And be careful with the poppy nectar, it is quite strong."

"Yes, thank you," Jabarian said with a curt nod. "I will do so."

As they reached the front door, the Doctor turned to Jabarian, "There is, of course, one other matter."

"Indeed." Jabarian reached into his robe and withdrew a bag of coins, "This should suffice, I should think. Count it if you must, but it is all there."

With a cursory glance into the bag as Jabarian opened the door, the doctor nodded. "I shall return in a few days around noon hour."

"Very good, sir. Farewell."

After closing the door, Jabrain turned to one of the servants standing by the door. "I will be seeing to Master Chariot's dinner personally. I do not wish to be disturbed, and neither does he. See that the others know he is not to be disturbed."

"Of course, sir."

With a gruff "Harumph", Jabarian turned and disappeared into one of the side doors leading off from the front hall.

Making his way down a narrow rocky staircase, Jabarian eventually emerged into a small cooking area, his own personal kitchen.

Closing the door behind him, Jabarian sighed in relief and tied an apron around his waist. Cooking was one of the few pleasures he indulged in, and the other servants knew better than to interrupt him while he was cooking.

His age forgotten, Jabarian whirled around the kitchen, seizing ingredients and spices, bowls and implements and depositing them on the center island. His hands were a blur as he sliced a stick of cold butter from the icebox into tiny pieces with practiced precision, before tossing the pieces into a pile of rich white flour. Next Jabarian added dash after dash of powder from half a dozen strangely shaped bottles, pausing for only a moment to sniff the spices within. His gnarled old fingers moved with long forgotten dexterity as he kneaded the dough, flattening it and rolling it out, and tossing it into a metal plate.

As he slid the pie crust into the oven, Jabarian paused, the smile fading from his face as he untied the apron and hung it up on the wall.

"Pie shell... temperature is between three hundred and fifty... I have about twenty minutes."

Striding over to a rack of wine, Jabarian reached deep inside of an empty slot and depressed a hidden switch within the wall. With a low grinding, a small door swung open, revealing a dark passage beyond.

As any good majordomo would, Jabarian had memorized the vast network of the tunnels and secret passages that ran through the Chariot manor. The manor itself was a trap, appearing to be a self indulgent dwelling of large windows and opulent furnishings from the outside, but designed to allow the occupants and the guards to move about and strike without warning from any direction. For years the Chariot family had had to fight off rivals and assassins, all of whom now lay below the dirt floors in the lower storerooms.

Moving as quickly as his old body would allow, Jabarian climbed the narrow stairs, his path lit by a tiny lantern held in front of him.

The passages were well maintained, not a single cobweb or mote of dust marred the walls and floors. As Jabarian reached the top floor of the manor and squeezed into a narrow side passage, he pressed another switch, hidden behind a loose brick. With a dull click, another hidden door slid open, revealing a far narrower and less maintained passage.

Bracing himself, Jabarian stepped inside the filthy passageway. In his youth he had been able to find the time to maintain even those passages that he reserved for himself and himself alone, but time had slowed him.

"That, and caring for that pompous brat," he muttered under his breath, pushing aside a large cobweb.

Finally, Jabarian arrived at his destination, a hidden passage that opened into a closet within one of the main bedchambers. Pushing aside a few spare uniforms, dresses and coats, Jabarian unlatched the closet door and stepped into the room.

The bedroom was large and well appointed, with a number of great widows on the south wall. The furniture was elegantly carved, the tapestries that covered the walls rich and colourful. In the center of the room was a large four poster bed with a modest curtain pulled around it.

Brushing himself off, Jabarian closed the closet door behind him and stepped forward as quietly as he was able and gently pulled the curtain aside. Lying on the bed was a Basitin female wrapped in bandages, her face pale.

Despite her injuries, Amber Chariot, formerly Amber Breakwell, was still a notably beautiful woman. Her fur was ivory, almost white, and her hair was a delicately tanned brown that framed her soft face well. She truly looked the part of a consort to the heir of a noble house.

"Shame," Jabarian thought to himself as he quietly pulled open the top drawer of the nightside table and withdrew a small glass bottle and a syringe. "Aw well, at least he didn't have a child by her."

As Jabarian set about filling the syringe, Amber stirred. Slowly her remaining eye opened.

Her voice was slurred as she spoke, her tongue feeling like a sponge in her mouth, "J...Jabarian...

"Yes my lady, it's me."

"Wha...what are you..."

"Hush hush hush," Jabarian said quietly, filling the syringe from the bottle, "Don't worry about it, just go back to sleep."

"I... I did what... what you asked..."

"You failed to kill the Western woman."

Amber's eyes opened a little wider, her alertness slowly returning, "But you promised... If I did what you said...Lyon..."

"Yes, I did indeed," Jabarain replied, setting the bottle of poppy nectar down and flicking the syringe with his finger. "But now we have a problem, and as usual, it is my job to solve it."

"What are you-" Before Amber could speak, Jabarian grabbed one of the pillows and pressed it down over her face. Immediately Amber began to fight, but the doctor's drugs made her movements slow and weak. She tried to call out, but her voice was muffled by the pillow.

"Here we go," Jabarian said calmly, inserting the needle into the side of Amber's neck and pushing the plunger down. Almost immediately Amber's struggles began to weaken.

Withdrawing the pillow from Amber's face, Jabarian replaced it neatly on the bed. "There. Now just relax, it'll be over in just a minute."

Amber's mind spun, her vision swimming as the poppy nectar flooded her body. She tried to raise her arm, to scratch Jabarian across the face, but her arm felt like it weighed a ton and refused to budge.

"W-why..." she managed. Each breath took a colossal effort.

"Failure has consequences," Jabarian replied, leaning close and pressing two fingers against the side of Amber's neck, "Well that, and you were never a fit consort for him. Imagine the scandal if your family history were to be made known. The Chariot family would be embarrassed."

"You said... if I killed her... you wouldn't... tell... Lyon." Amber's breathing was coming in short, desperate gasps now, her eyelid fluttering as she tried to stay awake.

"But you didn't kill her, did you. But no need to worry, there's no reason to tell Lyon your little secret," Jabarian replied, nodding in satisfaction as he felt Amber's pulse slow. "It would only keep him from moving on."

"Lyon!" Amber's mind raced, "Lyon please help me!"

No matter how hard she fought, Amber couldn't resist the pull of the drug. Slowly her vision darkened, she lost the ability to move her body, and her mind began to drift. Her eye slowly slid closed and she lapsed into unconsciousness.

"Ly...on..."

For a few more minutes Jabarian held his fingers against Amber's neck. Soon after she fell unconscious her breathing ceased. Moments later her heartbeat became erratic and weak. Finally, the last flutterings of her heart ceased.

After waiting for another few minutes, Jabarian got back to his feet and set to work setting his scene. First he rumpled the sheets and pillows to make it seem like Amber had been moving about in pain. With a scrap of cloth he wiped away the tiny spot of blood on the side of Amber's neck, and made a new mark on the other side where she could have reached. He set the empty bottle of poppy nectar next to her body, and knocked over the other bottles in the drawer, making it appear as if she had fumbled around for the medicine. Finally, he placed the empty syringe in Amber's still fingers and shifted her arm to make it appear that she had injected the nectar herself.

Satisfied, Jabarian retreated from the room, making certain there were no traces of his presence. After taking one final glance about, he climbed back into the closet and shut the door behind him.

As he moved through the passages, back towards his kitchen, Jabarian could smell the scent of his pie shell cooking through the walls.

"Excellent." he muttered, "Now, the larger question is... chicken or beef... Mmmmm, if he receives the news during dinner, chicken is easier to reheat... Or perhaps fish?"

End of Part 6

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