Chapter 10: Silent Grief

Nadya was shocked silent for several moments before she could open her mouth to speak. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind but one thought presided over them all.

"You can't do that! To kill a soldier is treason!" She grabbed a hold of his face and forced him to look at her. "I can't let you do that. They'll hang you, Emilian. I can't lose you!" He pulled his face from her hands but more gently than she expected.

"They can only hang me if they catch me and they never will. I'll make sure of it." He returned his gaze to the soldier who was laughing loudly and chugging rapidly at his table, surrounded by fellow armed soldiers. "I knew you would object, but I had to make sure you recognized him too. You should go now though. Head back to the court. I don't want you anywhere near here when it happens."

"I'm not leaving without you." She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up from his seat. She may as well have tried to lift a boulder. He didn't budge an inch. "Just come with me, please Emilian."

"No, Nadya." He tore his gaze away from his prey for only a moment to look her hard in the eyes. "Go. Now."

Nadya took a step back from him. This man was not her brother. She took another step back before turning and running from the tavern. Her head was spinning and for the first time in her life she wished she had another cup of wine.

The orange glow of the setting sun momentarily blinded her when she stepped outside. She held up her hand to block out the glare and realized it was shaking once more; this time with fear. There was a hard lump in her stomach, making her feel sick and weak. She knew she could never let Emilian do what he had planned, but she could see no way to stop him.

Unconsciously she stumbled forward, allowing her feet to lead her where they would. The feast was officially over and the crowds had mostly dispersed. Just gypsies roamed the streets now, hastily packing their stalls and wares before night fell and Judge Frollo's men were free to arrest them.

She spotted what was left of Nuri's fortune telling tent. The deep blue cloth was folded roughly and slung over the back of a short green clad gypsy man. It was who he was talking to that caused Nadya a moment's pause. He was instructing the short man in something, pointing off in the opposite direction. Without another thought Nadya ran towards him, her feet slapping the stones with a loud echo in the nearly empty courtyard.

Clopin looked up at the sound and his eyes widened slightly at the look on her face. She slammed up against him, her hands clutching the front of his shirt. His hands instinctively closed around hers, loosening them from their clutch on his clothes but not releasing them.

"Ma Cherie, what is wrong?" There was an anxious note to his voice and she numbly felt him squeezing her hands gently.

"It's Emilian, oh please Clopin you have to stop him! I tried and he won't listen to me." She could hear the tears choking her voice but she held them back. "He saw him. He recognized him."

"Recognized who?" Clopin asked his eyes narrowed suspiciously

"The man who hung our father." Nadya said, her voice rising slightly at the end. Immediately Clopin pulled his hand from hers and turned toward the gypsy next to him.

"Get Fonso and Luca. Now. Meet me at the square." The short gypsy dropped the bundle of cloth he was holding and sprinted from sight. Clopin turned to face Nadya again, gripping her shoulders roughly. "I need you to get back to the court. It's not safe at night for you."

"I can come with you! I can help, I need to be there." Nadya said, shrugging out of his grip. Now that action was being taken she felt stronger. "It's not safe at night for you either."

"I have ways of disguising myself, now go. I command you." Clopin said, his tone leaving no room for discussion. She felt his eyes on her back the as she walked away. She turned purposefully in the direction of the crypt entrance until she had snuck around a corner.

Once she was clear of his sight she turned and peered around the corner. Clopin had disappeared; the courtyard was eerily empty in the grey ending of the days light. Creeping cautiously out from behind the stone wall, she slid silently across the yard, until she reached the alleyway leading to the tavern.

Loud drunken yelling could be heard from where she stood, and she watched the flickering shadows through the tavern widows. She warily stepped around the corner, fully intent on approaching the tavern by the side and aiding Clopin in stopping Emilian. When a hand grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back into the shadows.

"You were told to return to the Court of Miracles." The voice whispered in her ear and she spun on the spot only to come face to face with the heavyset gypsy man, Luca.

"I can't while my brother is still out there!" She whispered loudly, gesturing down the alley. Luca rolled his eyes and began to pull her in the opposite direction.

"That's exactly what Clopin thought you'd say. That's why he had me wait here for you." Nadya turned relentlessly on his hold but couldn't break it. "Be quiet, you don't want the guards to hear us now do you?"

Nadya stopped her tugging and allowed herself to be lead through the streets of Paris toward the crypt entrance. Millions of emotions raced through her as they went. Anger, frustration, sorrow. Several angry remarks came to mind and she stored them away for her next conversation with Clopin.

Luca led her back to her tent and instructed her to wait there for her brother's return, before heading back to the entrance. Nadia paced restlessly, the clanging of her bracelets the only noise in the tent.

After what felt like a lifetime, the tent flap was pushed open and gruff and angry Emilian stepped through. He glanced at her once before turning away from her to the bucket of water they kept for washing. He poured a bowl of it in silence and dipped his hand clean, turning the water a murky red.

"What have you done brother?" Nadia said finally, stepping forward cautiously.

"As I said I would." He stated simply. Emilian finished his washing and grabbed the cloth to dry them. He turned to face her. There was only sadness in his eyes now. "Clopin has banished me from the surface."

"Why would he do that?" Nadia asked, stepping forward and placing her hand on his shoulder. She met his eyes for a moment. Then he broke the contact, turning and settling himself in his bed.

"Why don't you go ask him sister?" He closed his eyes and did not look at her. "Seeing as it was you who told him of my plan. "

"I had too! This could have ended so much worse, Emilian." She persuaded, but he ignored her. Sighing heavily, she pushed aside the tent flap and left her brother to his brooding. She was going to speak to Clopin.

The kings tent was bustling with light and laughter by the time she got there. She recognized several faces as she pushed through the crowd. Thoough none where of the man she sought. A lively girl she had danced with earlier, shoved a goblet of wine in her hand with a smile and a greeting. Before disappearing at the call of her name.

Nadia starred into the glass for a moment, before sipping generously from it. She was going to need the courage it produced. After a thorough sweep of the room, she was certain he had not yet arrived. Allowing her glass to be filled by a woman with a passing pitcher, she settled herself into the corner to wait.

Eventually he arrived, Luca and Fonso walked beside him. She headed in their direction, suddenly feeling quite fuzzy. Some of the wine sloshed from her cup and she frowned stupidly at it, unsure how many glasses she'd had.

"Are you quite all right my dear?" Shaking her head slightly, Nadia raised her eyes from the cup and met those of Clopins.

"You!" She said, a little louder than she'd intended. "What did you say to my brother?"

She remained numb to the heads close by, that turned to stare at them. Clopin did not. Glancing around quickly, he smiled and threw his arm around her shoulder. "Talk a walk with me?" He asked, not giving her a chance to answer, but leading her out the tents entrance.

When they were a good distance away her turned her to face him. She swayed a little in place, frowning up at him.

"Banished from the surface? You were supposed to stop him!" She swayed angrily, glaring daggers at her old friend.

"I tried. By the time we'd arrived, he'd slit the guards throat as he was taking a piss." He leaned into to her, grabbing her shoulders and giving her a gentle shake. "Banishing might save his life. He was seen. By another guardsman." Nadia felt her eyes widen in surprise.

"He mentioned no such thing to me."

"Of course not. He'd not want you to worry while every guard in the city searches for him. He killed a well-liked commander." Shocked silent, Nadia automatically raised the goblet to her lips and took a drink. Clopin frowned, an eyed her wine.

"How much of that have you had?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her. She hiccupped unexpectedly and shrugged out of his grip.

"Not enough." She downed the last of the wine and grinned sourly. "Between you and now my brother. I find I've acquired quite a taste for it today."

With that, she headed back to the party to refill her glass. Not glancing back.

XXXXXXXX

As the night got late, faces began to disappear from the crowd. Couples sneaking off for more private entertainment. Nadia sat alone at her table, a half filled goblet clutched in her hand. She was staring at a small whole in the fabric of the tent, when her view was blocked by a large purple hat.

Clopin dropped into the seat across from her and leaned back contentedly, more relaxed then she had seen him earlier. She suspected the large mug in his hand was the cause. She glared at him, but her anger was not as strong as earlier. The wine had dulled it into a fuzzy itch at the back of her mind.

Without moving, Clopin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and grinned wickedly.

"No longer mad at me, Ma Cherie?" He asked.

"Of course." She huffed, only half serious, before crossing her arms and turning away from him. He shifted slightly to face her and there was a more serious note to his voice when he next spoke.

"I did what I could. You know that I have Emilians best interests at heart." He paused for a moment "As I do yours." She sighed and turned to face him again.

"If you did, you would see how crazy being trapped down here will make him! You're supposed to be our friend Clopin, how could you do this?"

Clopin sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes before speaking softly.

"I was am your friend, Nadia." He opened his eyes and leaned forward. "I have been for many years. But now I have to be your king as well." He reach out and took her hand in the middle of the table. He stroked her thumb with his own. "Emilian cannot disguise his height and girth. There are not so many big men as him." He gave her hands a gentle squeeze and she met his eyes. "Keeping him below will keep him safe. I cannot lose him. Or you."

He smiled gently at her and her anger finally broke, giving way to her worry. She squeezed Clopins hand in her own and blinked back the tears in her eyes.

"You know as well as I, Clopin. This will break him."

Clopins gaze dropped from hers and he said nothing.