Maribelle thought, Beautiful silk. I should wear this more often.
It was heavy. The entire ensemble weighed her down. The wrap around her shoulders and flowing skirt were lined with copper chainmail. None of it made a sound as she moved except for the copper spiked heels. With the wrap around her chest, an archer would need to strike her face, which they almost never did.
She liked the weight of it. It made her feel powerful. Dottie’s was in blue, which suited her eyes, but Maribelle loved the way the gold set off her red hair.
“Smoke?” Dottie asked looking at the lever next to the door to the throne.
“I think not this time. Perhaps just darkness.” Maribelle reached her hand out, and pulled a different lever. There was a susurration from the other side of the door.
They slipped into the room, and made their way to the throne by memory alone. The room was devoid of light. Her heels echoed through the room as she walked. She could hear the soldiers swearing and breathing heavy.
“Gentlemen, I don’t know why you are here, I have been perfectly clear in my response.” She did not yell, her tone was measured. She knew it would carry. Her finger slid over the arm of the throne and she flicked a toggle.
Light flared, but not on her. She was in total darkness. At the other end of the room were twelve soldiers in black armor illuminated by the glow of Ellium lights.
“Lady Maribelle, I am Captain Hansel Rhind and I am hereby authorized by the Sovereign of the Unblemished to place you under arrest for treason.” The speaker squinted into the darkness.
“I’m sorry, authorized by whom?” Maribelle lowered her voice an octave. “Does he outrank me? Does he have a name?”
“Gavin Llanarth! King Ormand the Dragon has named Gavin Llanarth the Sovereign of the Unblemished. He has absolute authority in all matters concerning the Weeping Roses.” The man took a step forward and was lost to the darkness.
“Little Gavi?” She knew they couldn’t see her, but she turned to Dottie as she spoke. “I changed his nappies when he was little. He doesn’t outrank me.”
The captain had returned to the safety of the light. He was spitting his words now, “You have been given ample opportunity to acquiesce peacefully. We have—” He peered into the dark again, unsure where to direct his words. “I have been authorized, I mean. To relieve you.”
“Darling I don’t think you’re qualified to relieve me, or any other woman. How old are you?” Maribelle stifled a laugh.
“That is not important! Will you be coming peacefully or will we be removing you by force?” The man was signaling to the soldiers. Torches flared.
“Afraid of the dark, are you boys?” Maribelle reached for another toggle on the throne. She closed her eyes. The ensuing brightness sheared through, and she looked down as she opened them. The men were stumbling silhouettes.
“Enough of your tricks!” The captain raised his arm high. None of his men reacted, their hands were at their eyes.
“I swore fealty with my husband at the end of the war. To Ormand the First. The Treaty of Coalescence was written by my husband. But I did not swear fealty to little Gavi.” Maribelle stood up as she spoke.
“Ormand the Dragon has forbade speaking his father’s name. That, in and of itself is an imprisonable offense.” The man was reaching for his sword. The sound of the blade being drawn rang through the hall.
“That’s a little sword, I think that’s too small for me.” Maribelle let herself laugh now. The other soldiers were drawing their steel. “What do you think, Dottie?”
“The right man can do a lot of damage with a dagger.” Dottie’s hand was resting on a long pull cord. “If he had a good teacher.” She pulled the cord.
A resonant humming emanated from the floor. The soldiers fell at once. The armor crashed into the stone and clattered. The men inside swore and yelled.
The captain was the last to fall, his blade ripped from his hands. His plated knees went first, then his chest. He screamed.
Maribelle flicked the toggle on the throne, and the lighting became a soft warm glow. She marched across the floor on her copper heels.
Click. Click. Click.
When she reached the captain, he was tugging impotently on his sword. She placed a heel on the back of his hand, and stepped down hard. He screamed. She stepped harder, until she felt the resistance give way.
“Take this message in your hand back to Gavi.” She lifted her foot.
Dottie was at her side. They walked over the soldiers as they left through the main entrance. She whispered in Maribelle’s ear, “I’m glad we finally got to use that.”
“Send the design team a bonus.”