Assassin's Honor (51 page)

           
"Would my esteemed colleague care to explain the relevance of his statement.
As we just heard, Miss Zale stated she has no desire to break the blood bond. In fact, she insisted that my--Legatus DeLuca retract his request for the desponsatio annullatus."

           
"Indeed she did, however, the Legatus admitted to this Council that he failed to ask her permission in sealing the blood bond. This is a serious crime the Council cannot ignore."

           
He heard Emma suck in a sharp breath and her hand grabbed his arm as she leaned into him. "Is he saying you can still be punished even if I don't have any objections?"

           
"Yes," he bit out in a harsh whisper as he turned his head toward her. The fear on her face made him reach out with his thoughts to touch her face in a light stroke. "It'll be all right, carissima. Cato is no match for Atia."

           
The fear in her eyes made him capture her hand and squeeze her fingers with a reassurance he was far from feeling. To have Emma pull him back from the brink of exile, only to find himself hovering on the edge once more made his gut twist with a combination of despair and fear. If Cato had his way, he'd still be thrown out of the Order. The knowledge made him realize how much more difficult it would be to leave Emma behind knowing she loved him.

           
And despite any protests she might have, she would stay behind. It wouldn't be safe to take her with him. He'd be a marked target, and he didn't have the stomach for taking lives for money. Death was preferable to going rogue as far as he was concerned. He turned his attention back to the half circle of Council members. His godmother glanced in his direction, her mouth curling in a manner that said she was looking forward to crossing verbal swords with her opponent.

           
"I quite agree with you, Cato. However, as per our laws, we must establish that Legatus DeLuca is truly guilty."

           
"Do you deny that the Legatus openly confessed to his crime?"

           
"What I heard was a man confessing to a crime that would end his blood bond with Miss Zale. A bond, I might add, that Legatus DeLuca believed Miss Zale wanted to be freed from." Atia looked around at the Council members surrounding her. "Naturally, in order to break the bond, he would need to confess to an act that would ensure the desponsatio annullatus be granted. Don't you agree?"

           
"Are you suggesting the Legatus openly lied to this Council?"

           
"I am." The Cheshire smile on Atia's mouth widened as she watched Cato sputter with anger.

           
"That's ludicrous. The man confessed he blatantly sealed the bond without explaining the consequences to the young woman."

           
"But was it an honest confession?" Atia arched her eyebrows and turned toward the Council to ensure they could see her skepticism.

           
"You're clouding the issue, Madame Consul. The man gave a specific reason for why the blood bond between him and Miss Zale should be broken. Why would he do such a thing?"

           
"For amore, my dear Cato.
For amore."
Atia turned back to the Council, her hands spread in a dismissive manner at the charge Cato had made. "As many of you may recall, the Legatus bonded with Miss Zale to save her life. Does it not stand to reason his heart would make him even more willing to sacrifice himself one more time if he believed it would make her happy? Wouldn't you be willing to do such an honorable thing for your wife, my dear Cato?"

           
Atia smiled coolly as she turned back to face the angry, red-faced Councilman. If the man hadn't been the Prima Consul's enemy before this, there was no doubt in Ares's mind that Cato would do whatever he could to make things difficult for Atia in the future. The overweight man looked out at the tiered gallery behind Ares and offered a placating smile to someone behind him.
The worm's wife, no doubt.

           
"I would gladly sacrifice myself for my beloved Cecelia, but I am not the one standing before the Council under such serious circumstances."

           
"Then perhaps we should put it to a vote as to whether or not Legatus DeLuca's confession was a lie for the benefit of another individual." Atia didn't give Cato a chance to speak as she turned toward the men and women behind her. "Members of the Council, how say you in the matter of Legatus DeLuca? If he is guilty of fabricating a reason for breaking his blood bond with Miss Zale say aye."

           
A low chorus of ayes filled the room as Atia sent Cato a hard look. It was clear that even if every one of Cato's supporters were to rally to his side, there wouldn't be enough votes to change the outcome. Cato knew it too, and the man glared at the Prima Consul with intense dislike. Atia seemed to thrive on the man's hatred as she returned his scowl with a confident smile.

           
"Those opposed?" Silence met Atia's question and she smiled with triumph.

           
The tension holding Ares rigid slowly drained out of his body. She'd done it. Atia had managed to create doubt as to whether his confession was true or false. Frustration darkening his face, Cato turned his head to look directly at him. The sudden, malicious smile on the man's face made Ares tense for the next volley of words. Now what?

           
"Since Legatus DeLuca has been judged guilty of lying to the Council with such great speed, I believe his fate should be handed out with equal swiftness. I think it best we not leave him wondering as to his fate." Cato arched his eyebrow at Atia who frowned. Clearly she didn't like being backed into a corner.

           
"Agreed."
With a sharp nod she turned toward Ares. "Legatus DeLuca. The Council has found you guilty of lying to its members. As Prima Consul, it is my duty to decide and render a punishment for your conduct. For your crime, you will be stripped of your title of Legatus and reduced to the rank of Tirones until such time as the Council sees fit to reinstate you. You will also be fined twenty thousand lira, payable to . . . Councilman Cato, who brought the charges to the attention of the Council."

           
Tirones.
Fotte, she was thoroughly pissed. He'd expected to be demoted to the rank of Milites, but a Tirones was little more than a recruit. And that last condition--what the hell was she thinking. Forcing him to give that worm money was like cutting off her nose to spite her face. Cato's face was filled with smug satisfaction as he looked at Ares.

           
The bastard was enjoying himself, and it stung. Beside him, Emma touched his arm, and he mentally stroked her cheek in an effort to reassure her that it was going to be all right. And it would. He'd find a way to get back in Atia's good graces as well as the Council's. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Atia moving along the front row of Council members and then down onto the floor of the Assembly Room. When she reached him, she narrowed her gaze at him.

           
"Your sword, Legatus."

           
The sharp command made him stare at his godmother in surprise. Christus, she meant to make this really hurt. It was rare that a Sicari was asked to surrender their sword when demoted, but Atia was obviously intent on making it clear she was unhappy with him. No doubt for not listening to her over the past week and forcing her into a sparring match with Cato to save his ass.

           
He reached behind him and gripped the hilt of the Condottiere on his back that had been passed down from his great-grandfather. The blade whispered softly against the leather as he pulled it out of its sheath. With the sword resting in the palms of his hands, he held it out in front of him. His jaw tightened as he stared at the blade.

           
The sword was a connection to his father and others in his family. He would miss it. He swallowed hard as he met his godmother's stern look. The Prima Consul took the sword then without another word, she turned and walked away from him. Beside him, Emma's tension was almost palpable, and he reached for her hand.

           
"It's all right, carissima. It's just a sword. It can be replaced."

           
The moment he whispered the words, he knew it was true. He had Emma, and nothing else mattered. Everything he'd done had been worth it because she loved him. The moment Atia reached her seat, she sent Cato a hard stare, and the man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Turning to face Ares, she laid his sword on the polished wood railing in front of her.

           
"Ares DeLuca, you've been stripped of rank and possession.
Report to Legatus Condellaire immediately after your honeymoon.
These proceedings are now closed."

           
He barely heard Atia's words as he turned and wrapped Emma in his arms. For a man just stripped of his rank and a sizeable chunk of change, he was feeling pretty good. The sweetness of Emma's mouth brushed against his, and he reveled in the fact that she was here with him. Suddenly, Atia's command sank into his consciousness.
Honeymoon.
Maybe his godmother wasn't quite that angry after all. And he knew just the place. Emma was going to love exploring Rennes le Chateau.

Chapter 21

           
"DULCIS Mater Dei, have you lost your mind, Emma?" The violence of the exclamation that came from several feet below her made her peer over the ledge she was sitting on.

           
At that point, Ares was already sliding his body upward along the rock face and her heart slammed into her chest as she realized just how narrow and steep the path she'd climbed was. He was right. She had lost her mind. She grinned. But he'd forgive her the minute she kissed him.

           
Her gaze returned to the view in front of her. About a mile away from where she sat, the medieval fortress was still an imposing sight, despite its deteriorated state. Bright sunshine highlighted the colorful fall foliage, while the wind rustled through the trees shaking loose a leaf here and there. It was a scene straight out of a tourism book.

           
For the past two weeks, they'd enjoyed the luxury and security of Rennes le Chateau, one of the Order's smaller properties in southern France. They'd spent most of their time in their room the first week making love, talking, and just holding each other. The second week they'd explored the grounds, had romantic picnics at the foot of a small stream, and enjoyed gorgeous sunsets from the balcony of their suite. Today was the first time they'd been past the gates of the estate.

           
It was the first time she'd been to the Languedoc region of France, and when she'd seen the two towers from the balcony of their suite, they'd captured her imagination. She was certain she recognized them, but couldn't remember where. The memory had teased her enough to Google their images one morning while Ares was in the shower, but she'd come up with nothing.

           
It wasn't until she was flipping through her father's notebook one night while Ares slept beside her that she found the image she'd been looking for. Determined to get a closer look, she'd convinced Ares to visit one set of ruins. Rock slid against rock as Ares reached the ledge and sank down beside her, his frustration evident.

           
"Christus, what the hell are you doing up here?" He growled as she leaned forward and kissed him. It didn't totally appease him, but his voice grew husky. "And don't tell me it's for the view either."

           
"You're right--it's not for the view. Look." She pointed toward the tower on the steep slope a half mile away from them. He obeyed her, but shrugged and shook his head.

           
"Another tower just
like
the one up above us."

           
"Yes, but that one"--she nodded toward the stone fortress opposite them--"belonged to a Sicari."

           
"How the hell do you know that?"

           
"Look at the loops."

           
She turned her head to watch as he peered at the small, narrow openings placed sporadically around the lower half of the tower. Excitement fluttered through her as she watched his puzzlement change to awed amazement.

           
"They fashioned the loops in the shape of the Sicari symbol," he said in hushed tones.

           
"I'm rusty on medieval architecture, but I think these towers are late fourteenth century, which proves there were Sicari here in Languedoc
then,
and earlier if you consider how long it would take to build a tower like that one. So my vision makes sense. A Sicari Lord did help bring the Cathars into this region." She nodded at the tower again then grinned. "Tell me I'm brilliant."