Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Lord Tarquin smiled widely.

"Did he?" The man sauntered into the room unconcerned about the girl wielding a sword in front of him.

Jza was straining under the weight of the sword. She tried to look unconcerned by the excessive force on her arms but it was getting harder to keep the effort from her face. A lone bead of sweat darted down her forehead.

"Yes, do not underestimate me." Jza threatened as she subtly brought her other hand up to help her keep the sword up. The muscles in her right arm were already burning from the endeavour of keeping it up with one arm.

Her foe ignored her for his twitching commander.

"My Lord," Vladimir slurred as his King examined him from above.

"You will live, Vladimir, but I wonder if you shall live down the fact that a mere girl defeated you. And I thought you were really my best," The Lord shook his head though his disappointment seemed superficial as amusement flooded back in his eyes.

Jza squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face away as Vladimir tried to speak but gurgled blood instead. Blood was still sprouting forth from the man's wound which still had the fruit knife sticking out from it. The cobbled floor was beginning to grow dark from the congealing liquid.

Jza still had her eyes closed when she felt a presence approach her. She lifted her sword back at the Lord who still looked unconcerned.

"A-another step and I'll-," Jza cursed herself when she took a step back instinctively as the man moved towards her.

"Go ahead, I am unarmed. You can do whatever you like with me," Lord Tarquin lowered his face so he could look her in the eyes. He took another deliberate step forward.

Jza blinked trying to understand the man. Most men she knew, including her father, were easily readable. They raged and ranted when things didn't go their way; their egos easily playable but this man was unpredictable to the nth order. It seemed like he just wasn't perturbed by anything she did.

Jza took another step back, her sword still facing her adversary, though it was shaking along with her hands.

"What are you waiting for?" The Lord goaded with another step, the sound of his foot step echoed in the empty dungeon.

Jza flinched when her back collided against the cold dungeon wall. The chill of the stone walls easily seeped through her satin dress. Even though the dungeon was supposed to be quiet Jza's senses were enveloped in the sounds of her heartbeat drumming in her ears.

"You can't do this, can you? Just a foolish little girl accidentally left behind in this draughty castle," The man cornered her with this taunt.

Jza closed her eyes trying to summon the courage to use the sword in her hands. Her previous use of her knife on Vladimir was an action she performed in the heat of the moment. His presence threatened her on an instinctive level and she lashed out without even thinking. Right now even though the situation wasn't any less dangerous the quietness of moment took away a lot of her instinctive courage.

"Your stance is all wrong; your grip is too weak; you put weight on your heels leaving you with little grip for with the rest of your foot. You are more liable to do yourself more harm than good so I would suggest you give me the sword immediately," The man spoke critically as he held out his hand.

"No!" Jza shook her head vehemently, not ready to give up.

"Give it to me," The man spoke quietly though his voice contained more force than Jza's shout. The distance between them closed and his actions gave Jza the motivation she needed. She crudely swung the sword at the man. Even with little strength behind the movement it still managed to slash through Lord Tarquin's shirt. A dark red line emerged from the thin streak Jza had carved in the man's fawn shirt. He looked down and for the briefest of moments surprise flooded his eyes.

"Stay back," Jza cried out. She swung again but this time Lord Tarquin caught her blow in his hand. He looked into her eyes fiercely, undisturbed that a fairly large sword was cutting him in the hand. In seconds blood welled up around the blade and started dripping down on the floor. Jza was so stunned by his actions that she let go of the sword. It fell down with an echoing clang.

Her heart fell when the man bent down to pick it up. He ignored his bleeding hand and seemed untroubled by the weight.

"The carving on it is masterful. I did not know Goridians were so adept at sword making," He murmured to himself as he examined the sword. The sword's hilt was a striking mixture silver and gold. Small emerald stones were inlayed on the circular pommel.

"This is the sword of Galios, it carries the blood of the barbarians. Did you expect it to be anything but beautiful?" Jza spoke unable to stop herself. The sword in hands of the enemy was a source of national pride. It was a national treasure handed down from one king to the other. Even the commonest of peasants knew of its bloody history and how significant its role was in the making of their kingdom.

Lord Tarquin looked up sharply. "The sword of Galios," He stated, "Ironic that my people win and yet my barbarian blood still ends up on this damn thing."

Jza spoke again without thinking, "Barbarian? But you are not-"

"Enough chatter," The Lord snapped at her finally showing a hint of true emotion, "Come with me."

His hand firmly clamped down on Jza's arm that was bare because of the ripped sleeve. Since he was holding the sword in his uninjured hand it was bloody one that held onto her. She felt the coolness of her captor's blood slide against her warm skin.

"Leave me this very instant," Jza whispered harshly finally losing a good portion of her voice from the all the shouting she had done. The man holding her smirked as he easily led her away from the wall and towards the door. Before he could pull her out of the door way Jza desperately grappled for the door.

"Stop being so vexing, girl, would you rather I carry you?" Lord Tarquin threatened though from his strength it did not look like he needed to do anything quite as drastic.

Jza's weak grip on the door diminished completely as the man managed to pull her away with sheer brute force. Jza knew her arm was probably a mess of bruises but vanity was not a good reason to stop fighting. Lord Tarquin yanked her outside into the hallway. Jza looked away from Raymond's stiff body.

"My Lord," One of the men Jza had seen earlier bowed down, confused. He was the only one left guarding the door. The soldier's eyes widened to see blood on his King's shirt.

"Commander Vladimir needs your assistance inside so I suggest you help him immediately," Lord Tarquin ordered. He rebuffed his soldier's attempt to assist his King instead.

"Tis only a flesh wound. I don't require any aid."

Lord Tarquin forged ahead when another soldier accosted him. The soldier eyed the odd couple his King and the enemy prisoner made, curiously.

"My Lord, are the rumours true?" He spoke in a hushed voice.

"If you wish to question me about Commander Vladimir then I suggest keeping vigil at the infirmary would give you more concrete answers."

"What about the girl? If the commander is in no position to keep her maybe I-"

"She shall remain under my care. It is apparent none of my men are capable of looking after themselves much less a young girl," Lord Tarquin replied calmly. He continued walking at his own pace with both Jza and his soldier both hurrying to keep up.

"But-" The soldier tried to reason with his King but was cut off.

"Are you arguing with me, Mikhail?" Lord Tarquin's voice was deathly quiet as he paused to stare at the man.

"N-no, my Lord, never," Mikhail stuttered.

"Good, now tell me which rooms have been cleared out and made ready for inhabitation."

"We, uh, tried to open the Royal chambers but the seal they used to close the room is still being worked upon by my men so we found alternative lodgings nearby."

The King muttered something about the incompetence of his men but followed Mikhail who took him to the rooms in question. Jza snorted at the irony as she realized which rooms they were being led to. The chambers were always supposed to be for the heir to the throne. Her father, like his father before him, resided in this room before his coronation. It was only after the new King was crowned would his place of residence change to the Royal chambers. Her father was never able to provide a male heir so this room had been empty for more than thirty years.

The door to the rooms opened in a large wallpapered parlour with ceiling high windows. The torches were lit and they cast ominous shadows on the green walls.

"Everything is ready for your comfort, My Lord. The rooms have been dusted, new linen found and hot bath water is ready in the adjoining bathing room," Mikhail announced proudly.

"Leave," Lord Tarquin uttered completely uninterested in what his soldier had to say. He was busy observing the room.

Mikhail fumbled for a moment but decided against opening his mouth and left the room, shutting the door behind him. As the door closed with a resounding thud Lord Tarquin finally let go of his tourniquet like grip on her arm.

"Don't even think about it," Lord Tarquin muttered. Jza stopped in her tracks stunned her captor knew what she was planning to do even though his back was turned towards her, "My guards are right outside so running away will be utterly futile."

Jza sighed morosely as she watched Lord Tarquin open a door. "Come on," He raised an eyebrow at her but Jza was not ready to comply. She raised her eyebrow back at him.

"This time around I am the one with the sword in my hand and fortunately I know how to use it. I would suggest you move or the consequence will be unpleasant," Lord Tarquin spoke blandly.

"I-I," Jza wanted to argue but before she could formulate any words the Lord continued.

"Keep your false bravado to yourself. You are alive because I am feeling generous today."

He grabbed her hand and tugged her towards him.

"After you, my Lady," Lord Tarquin mocked as he helped her inside the room which to Jza's horror turned out to be the sleeping chambers.

"No, no, no," Jza whispered. Old lessons by her governesses flitted through her head. Some of her first lessons contained talk of propriety and the appropriate behaviour for a lady. A woman walking into sleeping chambers with a strange man were the height of impropriety.

"I cannot be in this room with you," Jza muttered frantically trying to steal past the presence behind her.

"Why not," The Lord murmured in her ear and Jza flinched when she realized how close her captor was standing behind her. Ignoring her discomfort at the close proximity she stretched her neck slightly to the left and looked up.

"I refuse to go anywhere with you especially in your chambers you vile, odious man and, and-," Jza spoke harshly hoping the real reason of her panic never surfaced. After the ease with which Vladimir tried to take advantage of her she could not let herself be in a position of such vulnerability again.

"And it's highly improper," Lord Tarquin finished her incomplete sentence. He sighed as she gaped at him. Her cheeks burned with humiliation and she looked away.

"Your hair is a mess, you are covered in blood and you smell like you haven't bathed in days. I assure you, you are safe with me," Lord Tarquin muttered as he shoved her inside the room.

"Why would you keep me safe?" Jza thought out aloud as she swirled around to face the man accusingly.

"Because I know you are more than you look. You are no peasant, of that I am perfectly sure of but what you are exactly I have not surmised as yet. Keeping you intact to a certain degree seems like a good gamble for the future."

Jza wanted to speak but she clamped down on her tongue. Her captor was already plotting something and she did not want to give him more food for thought.

Lord Tarquin threw the sword in his hand on the floor and Jza was offended by his lack of respect for a revered national treasure.

"Go clean yourself, you are filthy," Lord Tarquin spoke to her as he took off his large belt and the scabbard containing his own lighter, slimmer sword.

"Let me be," Jza growled.

"I do not tolerate disobedience when I give a command so I would do as I wish," Lord Tarquin spoke calmly as he fumbled with his armour.

"I don't take orders from a King not my own," Jza replied hotly as she inched towards the exit.

"You are under my care; at least go and wash your face."

Jza was almost at the door when she noticed Lord Tarquin pulling at the knots of his white, blood splattered shirt.

"What are you doing?!" She asked horrified all thoughts of escape forgotten.

"Changing my clothes," Lord Tarquin shrugged. He looked back at her and arched an eyebrow when he saw she was less than a stride away from escape.

"Why?" Jza squeaked as she looked away. The man continued to tug at the knots in his shirt ignoring that fact that Jza was too embarrassed to look up again.

"The mind is a great gift, my lady, use it and the answer shall come to you instantly."

"I use my mind a great deal more than some of your soldiers," Jza growled though she still did not have the courage to look up.

"I told you to leave this room but since you did not comply I shall have to pretend you are not here."

Jza looked up so she could reply scathingly but glimpses of more skin made her blood boil.

"You win; I shall leave this room. Keep your naked flesh to yourself," Jza spat as she charged out of the room and into the bathing chambers. It was much larger than the ones she and three of her other sisters shared. The cast iron claw foot bath was full to the brim with steaming hot water. Jza was tempted to dive in fully clothed but she decided against it.

Jza looked at herself in the large mirror leaning against the wall. she could scarcely recognize herself. Most of her hair was standing on edge in large clumps. Since the war had started she had barely any time to groom herself and the last few days of the siege had been eventful enough to make her disregard any need to change her clothing.

Her torn sleeve revealed a blood covered arm but even the blood could not hide the finger marked bruises forming on her skin.

Jza's eyes landed on the locket still safely adorning her neck. She wondered what her sisters were up to. Jza snorted as she imagined them bickering with each other and cursing her for their predicament.

Jza tried to imagine her father was safe in Goridon but she knew the Royal party was being hunted down by Tarquin's men. A solitary tear fled her eye as she imagined the beautiful castle under siege. Her legs gave way from under her and she huddled on the marble against the wall.

"Damn you, Raymond," Jza swallowed as she pressed the back of her hands against her watering eyes. She imagined how easier it would have been for her if her father's man had kept his loyalty. The castle wouldn't have been infiltrated and there would have been no need for her sisters to hide. She wouldn't have to feel like she needed to fight all the time. She felt so tired and each and every part of her body ached.

Jza let a hiccup of a sob and finally succumbed to her emotions.