The Assassin's Moon
CHAPTER 11
Kagome was walking back to her rooms from the baths when she suddenly got grabbed in the hall. She let her assailant's momentum carry her weight and slammed her assailant against the wall. Her assailant gasped and Kagome barely pulled in her fist to break her assailant's nose when she recognized Princess Astasia.
"Tia!" Kagome said irritability as she lowered her fist. "I could have broken your nose!"
Tia grinned sheepishly.
"I had confidence that you would be able to pull in the blow in time.'
Kagome snorted.
"If not then I would have rearranged that cute button nose that you are so fond of." Kagome replied dryly.
Tia blushed.
"Out with it. What is with the ambush in the hallway?" Kagome demanded.
"Couldn't I be looking for you because I missed you?"
Kagome raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't seen you for months," she said defensively.
Kagome raised her other eyebrow.
"Alright! Alright! I need a slight favour." Tia dug her slippered toe into the thick carpet.
Kagome waited patiently for her to continue.
"I need you to translate a letter for me," she burst out in a stream of words.
Kagome crossed her arms.
"Why can't you ask one of your sisters to do it? Risa is the official translator in the family."
Tia blushed. Her oldest sister, Princess Charisa's favourite hobby was to translate ancient and modern texts. It was a well known fact that Risa spent all of her spare time cooped up with the kingdom's most famous scholars and monks. Whenever someone from another province sent over a letter in a different language, Risa would be called in translate. Her translating and writing skills even surpassed Kagome's skills. Kagome's own specialty lay with linguistics. The late King Lykakides had often joked that he would have to match Risa with a dusty scholar with the same interest as her or her husband would never see her.
"It's a letter of the highest delicacy."
Kagome sighed.
"Who's the love letter from?"
Tia stared openmouthed at Kagome.
"How did you guess?"
"It's obvious. Why else would you not ask Risa to translate it for you?"
"So will you help me?"
"Only if you tell me who's it from."
"I can't!"
Kagome rolled her eyes.
"I guess you don't want to know what he wrote to you."
She brushed by Tia to continue on her way to her rooms.
"OK! I'll tell you!" Tia cried out unhappily.
Kagome paused and turned to face her. Tia pressed her mouth into a thin line.
"I'm waiting."
"Not out here!"
Tia grabbed Kagome's hand and dragged her down the hallway to her own room. Kagome nodded to Merrick and Roc as she passed by them. They smirked as they watch Kagome get towed along by the headstrong princess. Tia popped them into her room and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. The walls vibrated with the force of her slam. Kagome winced and waited for the roof to fall down on them.
"Take that look off your face. I do that several times a day ever since I could shut my own doors."
"That is exactly why I am worried."
"Hmpf."
Somewhat convinced that the walls won't collapse, Kagome sprawled on one of Tia's lounge chairs. She propped her hands behind her head and crossed her legs. Tia saw her and scowled.
"Boots off my favourite chair!" Tia scolded. "Geez. You're just like Kouga and the guys."
Rolling her eyes, Kagome slipped off her boots.
"Don't group me in with them. I'm better looking and have more style and finesse in my little finger than all of them have combined," she scoffed.
Tia gave an unprincess like snort. She pulled a letter out of her bodice and handed it to Kagome.
"You should really rethink about storing things there. It's no fun to get a paper cut on your cleavage."
"And how would you know?"
"When is getting a paper cut anywhere fun?" Kagome countered.
"True enough. Just read it."
Kagome waved a finger at her.
"I don't think so. You forgot something, sister mine." Kagome smiled wickedly at her. "Pay up."
"He signed it at the bottom of the letter." She sighed dreamily.
Kagome looked at the bottom. "Lord Miroku. Isn't he the ambassador from the Western lands?"
"Yes." Tia clasped her hands under her chin and looked at Kagome with stars in her eyes. "He's so charming, handsome."
"And obviously an idiot for writing to you in a language that you didn't understand." Kagome ignored her.
Tia blushed and mumbled something.
"You told him that you could speak and read French?" Kagome asked disbelievingly. "You barely know enough French to get order your favourite dessert from a servant."
Tia glared at her. Kagome rolled her eyes and continued to read. Skimming the letter, she frowned at the mangled French. It was obvious that this Lord Miroku's French was not much better than Tia's own writing. The crease between her eyes deepened as she read the letter. Kagome had never read such sappy nonsense in her life! It was so sweet and romantic that she wanted to gag.
"So what does it say?"
"The biggest load of crap I've ever read. You're better off not hearing what he wrote. You'd have indigestion for a month from this sappy nonsense."
Kagome paused and her eyes widened. She couldn't believe that he actually put this in a love letter! This Lord Miroku is a pervert! She threw the letter down in disgust. Tia looked at her indignantly and clasped the letter to her bosom. Kagome would have felt that she had just kicked a puppy if she wasn't so disgusted.
"What did he say?" Tia put her hands on her hips. "That wasn't our bargain!" She shoved the letter into Kagome's face. "READ."
Kagome sighed and took the letter back from Tia.
"Dearest Princess Astasia. You are the rarest and the most beautiful rose in a garden of lilies. Your beauty has no comparison and your grace would put the swans to shame. Your eyes are like diamonds that sparkle brighter than even the sun. The laughter tumbling from your lips would thaw the coldest heart on this earth. If you asked it of me, I would climb up to the stars and bring down the moon to you. I would find the highest mountain in the four cardinal kingdoms and proclaim my love for you to the world. You are a Greek goddess of love that has come down to our world to grace mankind with your presence. You should be placed upon a pedestal to be worshipped. As unworthy as I am of your love, I could not bear it if you did not return my feelings. If you feel the slightest amount of emotion towards me then please say you would bear my child? Say yes. If you don't return my love, then I will throw myself off the highest tower in the Western lands with your name on my lips. Until we can meet again, I will look at the stars and take comfort in the fact that we are looking at the same stars from different ends of the earths. I count the days until I can gaze upon your lovely face. Sincerely, your completely devoted servant, Miroku."
Kagome threw the letter back onto the table. Tia sighed contentedly.
"It's too romantic."
"Romantic?" Kagome said disgustedly. "This man wants you to bear his child!"
"I know. It's wonderful. Miroku told me that he was an orphan and needed to beget an heir right away or his line ends with him."
Kagome was shocked to see actual tears in Tia's eyes.
"Are you serious? You actually buy this tragic, woeful tale he weaved for you?"
"Yes!"
Tia sighed dramatically.
"I thought you were smarter than that." Kagome stood up to her full 5'5" and waggled her finger at the moonstruck Tia. "You are a princess. He is just a minor lord trying to rise above his station in life. Don't let a few flowery phrases turn you into a slobbering fool."
"Not everyone is a cynic, Kagome! Don't you believe in love?"
"No."
"No?"
"No."
Tia looked at her in aghast.
"This is definitely not love. " Kagome jabbed her finger in the direction of the letter. "One does not fall head over heels in love after one meeting."
"It was twice." Tia argued hotly.
"Listen to yourself!" Kagome threw up her hands. "There's not point talking reason with you. I'm leaving."
Kagome slipped on her boots and walked to the door.
"And there is no point talking to you! You...you don't believe in love!" Sputtered Tia.
Kagome paused on the threshold of the suite.
"If this is how one turns into a fool when they are in love then I rather not be afflicted with this disease."
...
Kagome closed the door behind her and walked across the hall to her own room. She pulled out her key and noticed some movement from the corner of her eye. Kagome twisted to point her key menacingly at the approaching man. The messenger gulped and stared down the key. Kagome lowered her key.
"Don't sneak up on me like that," she muttered. "I didn't get enough sleep."
"My apologies, Lady Kagome!" The messenger squeaked. "Princess Kalynn has a matter of the highest importance to discuss with you! She's waiting for you in her suites."
Sighing, Kagome replaced her unused key in her pocket. She nodded to the messenger and moved several doors down the hall to Lyn's suites. Kagome knocked loudly on the solid oak door.
"Come in!" A muffled voice called out from inside.
Kagome grasped the knob and pushed open the door. The first thing she saw was Lyn sitting at her desk with her head in her hands. Kagome gently eased the door closed behind her.
"Are you alright?" She asked worriedly and hurried to Lyn's side. "You don't look so well."
Kagome felt Lyn's forehead for fever. Lyn looked up with a sardonic smile.
"I'm fine. It's about time you got here. You know how I get a headache every time I look at French."
"Indeed."
"I have been trying to figure this out all morning. I sent messengers around the castle looking for you but no one could find you since you were obviously in your lair again. Could you please translate this for me?"
"Very well. I am curious to see what would give you such a headache."
"This."
Kagome immediately recognized the messy, loopy scrawl.
"When did you get this?" Kagome demanded.
"This morning."
Kagome threw down the letter in disgust.
"Hey! I waited all morning for you and the least you can do is read it."
"I don't have to," Kagome said disgustedly. "I can tell you exactly what he said. It's something along the lines of calling you a goddess and asking you to bear his child. Tia got exactly the same letter from him today too."
"That conniving, rotten rat bastard," growled Lyn. "He fed me that shit about being all alone in the world. I'll love to get my hands on him and cut off his precious family jewels."
"I'm glad you think so." Kagome said dryly. "Tia found his offer very romantic."
"That girl always had more fluff than brains."
Lyn grabbed the letter off the table and moved to the fireplace. Kagome watched in confusion as Lyn placed the letter in the fireplace. Lyn crouched down with a flint in her hand.
"Don't burn the letter!" Kagome cried.
"Wha-"
Lyn struck her thumb instead of the flint. She cursed colourfully and looked at Kagome reproachfully.
"Sorry," Kagome apologized sheepishly. "Can I have the letter to show to Tia?"
"Go ahead."
Lyn handed the slightly sooty letter to Kagome. Kagome folded the letter in half and tucked into a side pocket in her tunic. She took a seat at Lyn's desk and made herself comfortable.
"So what has my favourite sister been doing for the past few months other than getting accosted by amorous lords?" Kagome asked nonchalantly.
"Nothing at it. It's the same old boring things happening at the castle. The Western heir has been the most talked about subject for the past week. People gossiping and conniving elaborate plots about how to smuggle their daughters into the Western kingdom." Lyn rolled her eyes. "They think that once the heir lays his eyes on their daughter, he will fall instantly in love with her and marry her. My favourite plot I've heard so far was to get into the palace rolled in a carpet."
"What is your plan for getting into the palace?"
Lyn waved her hand dismissively.
"I'm bored but not bored enough to ship myself off wrapped up as a present. You make it sound like I get accosted in the hallway at every turn. Life would be more interesting if I did." Lyn smiled wickedly and cracked her knuckles. "I need some practice."
"Talking about getting accosted, Tia jumped me in the hallway."
Lyn winced.
"Stupid girl. You didn't hurt her right?"
"Of course not." Kagome said testily. "I'm better than that!"
"No one would blame you if you did. She should know better than to grab someone. Never mind you. That girl is going to get herself killed one day." Lyn moved to where a tea set was located. "Would you like some tea?"
"I'd love some."
Lyn made them both some tea and handed Kagome both cups. She watched silently as Kagome tested the tea for poison. Satisfied that it was safe, she handed a cup back to Lyn. Kagome sipped her tea and sighed contentedly. There was nothing quite like the tea back at home.
"So what has been happening on your end? Has "business" been going well?"
Lyn sipped her own tea and watched Kagome over the rim of her tea cup.
"Well enough." Kagome sighed.
Lyn left it at that. Lyn and Kouga were the only ones in the family who knew about her real position. Everyone else in the kingdom assumed that Kagome took over her father's role as an ambassador. Lyn knew because she was Kagome's best friend and Kagome had told her. Kouga knew because he was her king.
"Have you been drinking again?" She asked softly.
Lyn was also the only one who knew the toll that killing exacted on Kagome. The only one who knew until Kouga stumbled onto her last night.
"Yes. Kouga found the passage and I drunkenly let him in."
Lyn winced.
"You do know that Kouga only wants the best for you."
"No. Kouga wants to run my life."
Lyn sighed.
"He still loves you."
"I know." Kagome laughed humorlessly. "Who would have thought that he still would even after I refused him eight years ago? I thought that I was like his favourite toy that he would forget the next week. I never thought that his obsession would have lasted so long."
"You underestimate yourself. He has already put off honoring the betrothal contract that was done at his birth between him and Ayame."
"Kouga is too stubborn. I told him again and again that he was better off with Ayame but he insists that all he wants is me," Kagome said sourly.
Lyn laughed.
"He just sounds like someone else I know. Would it be so bad to marry him?"
"You of all people should know that I have no time in my life for anyone."
"I know." Lyn hesitated. "Are you sure about this revenge business? You may not get out of this with your life."
"It's done," she said simply.
"That's where you are wrong, Kagome." Lyn said softly. "Revenge is never done."
Kagome had no reply for Lyn's comment.
"Let's not talk about revenge anymore. Tell me about what I have missed these few months."
As obliging as always, Lyn filled her up to date with the latest events that happened in the castle. Kagome felt comforted by listening to her sister chatter but it did nothing to fill the void in her heart.
...