Lady Trent (25 page)

“Very well, then,” he surrendered, and then
commanded, “Get out! Both of you!” and then “All of you!”

With that, he disappeared and Rachel did not
see him again the remainder of the night.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Marcus had paced a long while in his private
quarters before gathering the proper amount of courage needed to
face Jacob later on…and he had to face him. Peculiar how
intoxication could flee with the slightest amount of discord—and he
had absolutely no desire to bed any one of the maidens who’d made
themselves available to him. He’d actually had his eye upon Zaria,
but after the verbal brawl between the two men…well, to say the
least all he had in mind now was to make things right with his
friend.

“Damn them,” he’d muttered dozens of times,
cursing Dexter and Kyle who’d caused chaos in what would have
otherwise been a perfect night. He realized all the more how
incredibly fragile their quest had become, how very delicate a
secret…and hated that so many were now involved.

Dexter and Kyle worked as spies for him.
Several weeks before, Dexter’s brother Patrick had been arrested
for supposedly withdrawing information from the emperor concerning
the plot against Jacob. He was presently being held at Fort
Templeton awaiting transferal to the Northern Isles. Dexter had not
known about this…and it was not intended for him to. But Kyle had
let it slip during some debate about loyalty and bloodlines. Marcus
had done well to detain both men following the ordeal. They were
being held and guarded outside of the city in Harp, in a secluded
place that only he and Byron knew about.

Later, he decided, he would have them
transported away from the Great City…not that either of them were
literal prisoners, but for now they must live as if they were.

How complicated things were quick becoming.
He could not recall having ever lost so much control over an
endeavor in his life.

Edwin did not stop him when he came to the
entrance of Jacob’s quarters. He did not tell him Jacob was not
there or that he was not accepting anyone. This, of course, meant
just the opposite. Marcus was certain he was expecting him.

He opened the doors and entered, instantly
spotting Jacob on the other side of the room, staring at a fire in
the hearth. He closed the doors and after a hesitant stare made his
way toward him, circling around a rectangular table and two chairs
so as to be seen. Even after he’d circled around Jacob did not look
at him, but raised his glass of liquor and swallowed its
contents.

“Marcus,” he eventually acknowledged with a
flat voice. He began refilling his glass. “Sit down.”

He took the chair opposite him, sitting on
the edge, leaning forward, his elbows pressed onto his knees. He
stared at the floor for a time thinking of the right words to break
the deadly silence. In truth, he wasn’t sure what to say. How he
hated being caught off guard with unforeseen events such as had
taken place that night.

“Are you going to tell me what that was all
about?” Jacob finally asked, calm-like. “And do not say it was
nothing, Marcus, I will not believe it.”

“They both work for me,” he replied without
hesitation. “They have been spying upon messengers in the northern
regions.”

“In regards to what?”

“Correspondence related to your affairs from
the Northern Plains, specifically.”

“Why?”

“Precautions.”

“What precautions?”

“I have suspicions that someone is plotting
against you.”

“Who?”

“I do not know.”

“And you have kept this from me? Why would
you do that, Marcus? Hum? Would you not want to know if your life
was in danger?”

“These are suspicions, Jacob, nothing more. I
would not trouble you with them.”

“I know you well enough to know, my friend,
that you do not become suspicious for no reason at all, nor would
you take any such precautions without sufficient proof.”

To that, Marcus said nothing.

Jacob set his glass aside and stood. Hands
behind his back, he went to stare out the window. It was dark
out—well after midnight. But the city was lit up beautifully so far
as the eye could see, dazzling that time of night.

“I have never known you to lie to me. Have
you?”

“Never intentionally.”

Jacob turned. “Is the emperor aware of these
so-called suspicions?”

His eyes bored into his, contribution to at
least a half-truth.

“I expressed it in so many words,” he said,
convinced that the emperor, were he aware of what was happening
now, would not want him to disclose any specific information. This
was Jacob’s attempt at seeing how serious of a matter it was, for
if the emperor was aware of it, it was serious, indeed. As of now,
it seemed as if those who were against him had been pursuing a
reaction from him: messages purposely sent out to him, and
thankfully blocked by some very trustworthy men. Amos had done an
excellent job keeping the coded messages from entering the palace,
except they had been handed over to Pearce for decoding. Threats.
Just threats. Ones Jacob would’ve certainly reacted upon had he
known.

Jacob was back at the table now, refilling
his glass. He sat back down and a generous space of silence fell.
“You expressed it,” he said. “Personally? Face to face?”

Marcus inhaled a deep breath, not liking
where the conversation was headed.

“Yes,” he honestly answered.

“So, then, the so-called ‘suspicion’ has been
hidden from me for several months. To the best of my knowledge you
and the emperor have not spoken face to face since the third or
fourth month.”

Marcus did not like feeling cornered at all.
He felt a rebirth of confidence…which only strengthened as he
proceeded.

“Jacob, do you not recall several years ago
when suspicions arose that some of our very own nobles were
conspiring against our emperor?”

Jacob’s brows came together. “You will turn
this conversation around against me?”

“I am making a point…that point being that
you hired a handful of trustworthy men to investigate it…and that
you not only encouraged, but commanded them to speak of it to
nobody…especially the emperor.”

Jacob didn’t like being cornered any more
than he did…and it showed. His expression hardened. He shook his
head. “That was an obvious hoax all along.”

“As this very well could be,” Marcus brashly
returned.

They took some time to collect their
thoughts. When push came to shove, they both had tempers, but they
had enough power over themselves to keep it from getting the best
of them.

Jacob had leaned back in his seat. He stared
forward, simply holding the filled glass and ignoring its contents
for the time being.

“These two men,” he eventually began, “What
were they fighting over?”

“Loyalty.”

“Loyalty?” Jacob almost laughed.

“I have been loyal to you,” Marcus defended,
a crease in his brow. “Nearly fifteen years.”

Jacob’s gaze snapped over to his. “Do you
have a clue how I, the ruler of this city, of this palace felt when
two bickering men chose to honor the command of a guest over his
own?”

“True, they should have answered you.”

“But you commanded them to be silent.”

“That was my reaction and I cannot take it
back. But those two men have sworn loyalty to me, which was the
very thing they were questioning between one another.”

“And how many more do you have such as
these…who would honor your command over that of a nobleman…in his
own noble realm?”

“Would you expect your own servants to honor
the command of any noble over yours no matter the place?”

“There is a difference. I
am
a noble.
A Higher Noble.”

“What do you think of me, Jacob? Could I not
be granted a title if I wished? Do you suppose the emperor would
withhold it from me?”

“Very well,” Jacob eventually replied. “You
have proven one point…which now makes me wonder why you have not
made the request. It would surely be granted."

“For now I have my obligations. In due time I
imagine I will.”

“And these two men of yours…what was the
discord between them?”

“It was a simple quarrel, in truth. The
brother of the one has been detained in Fort Templeton, and he was
not aware of it. The other made him aware and it angered him. To
begin with he and his brother were accused of being disloyal. It
was a simple, baseless dispute that could’ve stirred up all sorts
of rumors had it gone on and they had not been silenced. The most
popular of the city were present, and plenty of damsels who
would’ve gladly taken part in spreading rumors of vague
proportions, simply to have something to say. Now that I think back
it was well that I silenced them. Otherwise, by their choice of
words, who’s to say the rumors that would by now be spreading…from
here into every direction until every ear has been filled with
utter nonsense, and every heart with fear over a riot that does not
even exist.”

“It seems to me your imagination has done
nothing but concoct an entire storybook of nonsense in order to
justify your actions.”

“I do justify my actions.”

“Well, these men certainly proved their
loyalty to you…and before the eyes of the entire city, one might as
well say.”

“It will be forgotten.”

“Yes, it will. It is something I shall remedy
one way or another, be it through fact or fiction.”

“And upon request I would help you do
so.”

Jacob finally swallowed the contents of his
glass and set it aside. Marcus hoped he would calm down. Moods such
as this brought back memories of the old Jacob…the one that few
could tolerate…ever.

“This brother…why was he detained?”

“For withholding information from the
emperor.”

“Related to me and this supposed ‘plot’
against me?”

“I am not aware of all the details. He is the
emperor’s prisoner.”

“Have you spoken to him?”

“No.”

“What is his name? Perhaps I will go and
speak with him, myself.”

“Patrick of Lawrence.”

Again there was silence. This time Marcus was
the one to break it. “I have had concerns of my own, if I may
express them. I have heard of your venture into Arlington at the
request of the duke, but nothing about your undertakings. Those who
went along, which I have heard were mainly guards, some travelling
with you and others secretly from afar, a large number at that,
will not give details. This concerns me.”

“Because you believe someone is trying to
kill me…that they were luring me into a situation so that they
could do so.” He extended his arms. “As you can see I am alive and
well.”

“It is not common for you to keep quiet about
your travels. Even in casual conversation you explain them. The
fact that you have not in this instance makes me think there is
something to hide…something that perhaps you know I would
disapprove of.”

“Am I expected to report to you, Marcus?”

“All these years you have made me a part of
your exploits. Why would you stop now? At this? And nobody may
speak of this one in particular, obviously because of a command to
keep silent. I will say, this proves that you have surrounded
yourself by some very trustworthy men. Even going from man to man I
have failed to get any answers except the same one that was
obviously instilled in them by your command. That you simply went
and nothing is known about it.”

“Which is true for the most part.”

There was silence. A grin slowly but surely
touched Jacob’s lips and soon he was laughing. Marcus found nothing
at all amusing. But it was better to hear him laugh than scolding,
and to see him grin opposed to scowling.

“An excellent point you have made,” he
commented. “Ah, Marcus.” He stood. “How long has it been since we
had a quarrel?”

“A very long time.”

“But I see. I see. I suppose you have some
right to be concerned, suspicious of that particular summons. Why
did you not simply come to me opposed to hassling my guards for
details?”

“I have grown accustomed to you informing me
of such ventures, and prefer it that way opposed to questioning you
as if you were under some sort of guardianship.”

Again there was a space of silence. Jacob’s
grin vanished away and he became very serious. “Concerning this
trip to Arlington—I knew you would be alarmed, even without this
talk of a plot or scheme to take my life…whatever it may be. But I
was summoned by Duke Arlington under the request of some Roark
officials.”

Marcus brows drew instantly together. “Roark
officials?”

“I was warned that the king of Roark has been
discussing and planning to invade New Ebony and to overthrow the
emperor for sure, even that he has transported spies into New
Ebony. So, then, I can see your point. While you have kept certain
suspicions secret and asked others to do so from me, I am doing the
same. The emperor should not hear of this meeting between myself
and these officials. I must also assure you of this…when the proper
time came, I fully intended to have you investigate the
matter.”

“What did they say, and why? Why would the
king’s officials come and warn you that the king is thinking of
invading New Ebony?”

“First answer me this: according to you, you
were attacked by some unknown man…a stranger. Is this truly
so?”

“It is,” he honestly replied. “Outside of
Sainte Louise I was attacked. I don’t recall having ever been so
violently pursued. But the village had already itself been
attacked, even weeks prior my arrival there.”

“Yes, I had heard. Pearce explained it to me.
He made a safe return escorted by Sir Andrew of Goth. And at the
mention of a stranger’s name I see signs of suspicion all over your
face. It is true, Marcus, that you truly think my life is in
danger.”