March 21, 621
The sounds of muted conversations carried into the bedroom from the hallway, rousing Minako. She rubbed her eyes against the light shining in and rose up onto her elbow, allowing the sheet to fall into her lap.
Warm feet met the thick rug that laid under the bed. In the summer the bed sat on bare floor, but at the first sign of the fall chill, Kunzite had Rebecca lay out plush material in all the rooms so that cold ground would not be the first thing that feet touched. The carpeting would remain there dutifully until the summer arrived again.
Minako stepped off the bed, slipping free of the sheets as she moved towards the foot of the bed where a clean shift and dress had been left laying out. Instead of immediately dressing, she walked towards the wardrobe and pulled out a red silk robe to wrap around herself. After securing the robe with a matching sash, she stepped out into the hall and followed the sound of voices coming from Kunzite's study.
"You don't think I should have known about that?" Kunzite asked.
"It was none of your business," Rebecca responded.
"It was a lie by omission."
"Have I done anything in the years since to make you think that I couldn't be trusted?"
Minako stood outside the office, pausing at the extended silence between the couple. "No," Kunzite finally said. "I don't know that I would have trusted you had I known though."
"My feelings were unrecognized and unreciprocated."
"You know what he held over me. He tried to oppose me at every opportunity."
"What you did was wrong," Rebecca whispered.
"His actions have far more consequences than mine ever will."
"You're angry at yourself for being a better man than you believe yourself to be."
"I'm not."
Minako paused, thinking over their words. Rebecca had been keeping secrets from Kunzite - she didn't think that there was anything not shared between them. That Kunzite was confronting Rebecca about this now though... She inhaled sharply as realization sunk in. He had been listening in on their conversation last night. Immediately her mind ran over everything they had said, wondering how much he had heard. They had been speaking for well over an hour about many topics.
"Come in here, Minako," Kunzite called out.
She cursed inwardly that he had somehow known she was eavesdropping. Taking a breath to prepare herself, she stepped into the office. Rebecca sat on the edge of the couch, her hands clasped in her lap while Kunzite stood across from her, his arms crossed at his chest. "Good morning," Minako said.
"You can go, Rebecca," Kunzite said with a dismissive wave.
Rebecca slowly rose to her feet, her shoulders lacking their normal squared gracefulness. "What about-"
"No visitors today."
"They were quite insistent."
"No one. Send Adonis to deal with it. We'll be departing soon and I don't want any interruptions."
Rebecca paused as though to speak, then stopped herself and instead walked out of the room without sparing Minako a glance.
"I didn't mean to interrupt," Minako said. Her eyes drifted away to look anywhere else but him, afraid of what he heard. She noticed the box on the table with the letters haphazardly sticking out. Kunzite stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the room.
"I was going to wake you anyway. I wanted to speak with you before we leave."
Her heart beat in her chest. He knew. He heard.
"I'm sorry for my absence since we got back. You needed me and I wasn't there for you."
"I'm fine."
"Your father is missing. Your family home is gone. Our betrothal is being challenged by the northern king." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "No one would be fine under those conditions."
"I don't want to talk about my father."
"I promised you that I would take care of you. That I would keep you safe."
"You have."
"I haven't, but everything changes today."
"What does that mean?"
"When we get to the palace I have to meet with Endymion and the other generals. I'm bringing Rebecca with us so that she can help you get ready. I want you to wait in our rooms for me to return."
"And then what?"
"Just trust me that I will make right of everything."
Despite his words leaving her unsettled, she nodded her head and allowed him to lead her from the office and to his bedroom. She sat down at the vanity he had brought in for her some time ago and began brushing her hair. She watched him as he moved around the room, collecting his sword belt then some object from a drawer that he quickly pocketed. He paused to watch her, looking as though he would say something before shaking his head and walking out of the room.
Minutes later Rebecca returned and helped her to dress, neither woman saying a word to each other. Finally Minako broke the silence.
"I didn't say anything to him," she whispered.
"I know," Rebecca answered in a clipped tone.
"What did he hear?"
"I don't know," Rebecca said, shaking her head. "He may have heard more than he's admitting to. It's hard to tell with him."
"He didn't say anything to me."
"Then count yourself lucky, my lady." Rebecca finished tying the laces of Minako's dress and tucked the loose ends into the bodice.
"Did he say why you are coming with us?"
"No, he only mentioned it when I came up here this morning."
"What if he knows?"
"You should have told him sooner."
"Rebecca-"
"I have my own fight with Kunzite, Minako," she said softly. "This is something that I never wanted him to know."
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's no one's fault. He's right that I should have been honest with him sooner." Rebecca paused to smooth the sleeves of Minako's dress. "We should go. You have a long day ahead of you."
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
When Minako finished dressing, Rebecca walked her out of the estate. Kunzite stood at the lowest terrace level with nearly a hundred soldiers assembled. Adonis stood at his side, the two men having a heated exchange. As the two women neared, Adonis took a step back, his arms crossed at his chest. Kunzite's hands rested at his hips, the fingers of his right hand tapping against the sword at his hip.
Kunzite said something in a low voice to Adonis who seemed agitated by his words, then walked away from the blond haired soldier to cross over to Minako. "I'm going to have you go ahead without me. I'll try to catch up with you."
"Is everything okay?" she asked as he led her towards her saddled mare.
"It will be."
She stopped as he placed his hands on her waist to help her onto the saddle and turned to face him. "Is it that woman again?"
"It's nothing, Miko," he said, grabbing her waist and lifting her onto her horse. Once she was seated, he gestured for the mounted soldiers to move into clean lines around her.
Minako watched as Kunzite walked to Rebecca and placed his hand on her arm, leading back up the terrace levels. Adonis mounted his own horse and pulled on the reins, putting himself in the lead. The line of soldiers started moving forward, Minako's own mare moving forward at the verbal command of the soldier at her side. She glanced over her shoulder one last time to see Kunzite and Rebecca moving further away.
The ride to the capital felt long despite the fast pace that the group moved. As they arrived just outside the city limits, the roads became congested with townspeople and carts, some of the noble families in carriages with escorts. They broke away from the group of travelers, taking another road that lead towards the side entrance of the palace. As they neared, a horn blared out with the announcement of their arrival. The loud sound breaking Minako from her reveries
Up ahead, the gates parted to reveal the crowded expanse that was within. Even more vendors had arrived since the first night two weeks ago. It was now practically a city within itself. Families moved through the stands with children darting between rows. A few vendors could be heard calling out their different wares while music played in the background.
The soldiers that had ridden with them moved ahead, clearing a path as they passed through the gates. Stablehands were nearby to take the reins of the horses so that riders could dismount as they would not otherwise be able to easily navigate the throngs of people.
Minako waited for the stablehand to approach her to dismount. As the young man reached her side, Adonis tapped him on the soldier, moving him away. She swung her leg over the saddle, feeling strong hands wrap around her waist to lower her to the ground.
"Let's go inside," Adonis said quickly. He placed his hand on her shoulder, leading her away from the group of soldiers and throngs of people.
"What happened to Kunzite?"
"That woman came back."
"Who is she?"
"Did you ask Kunzite?"
She shook her head. "I was afraid to ask. He and I have barely spoken since we returned from Fallsmead. Is that what you were talking to him about?"
"She's some woman from Salas. He said that she's here to speak with Jadeite."
"Where is she staying?"
"In the capital with Lana."
"Why are you angry with Kunzite?"
"I'm always angry at Kunzite," Adonis deadpanned.
"Dâni," Minako said, stopping as they crossed through the palace threshold. "What are Kunzite and Rebecca doing?"
Adonis stepped closer to her. "Stay in the palace tonight. Do not leave the grounds no matter what."
"What does that mean?"
"I've heard of some threats for tonight's celebrations." He paused. "I have to go back out there."
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
Minako knew that she should have gone to her suite, but instead she detoured to go to the palace chapel, opting for the reprieve of privacy before she would be swallowed by the day's preparations.
The chapel was mostly empty as usual and Minako seated herself in the back row of benches. Her golden dress was a stark contrast to the white bench below her. She leaned her back against the wall as she had seen Kunzite do at the temple and absently wondered if he had been praying privately or if he had simply fallen asleep.
Minako jumped as a hand fell onto her shoulder. She looked over at the hand touching her, following the length of the white clothed arm to see Jadeite at her side.
"Is this why you visit the chapel so often?" he joked. "If I had known how easy it was to get away with a midday nap, I would probably visit more myself as well."
"I promise I wasn't sleeping," she laughed, her cheeks flushing. "I needed to clear my head."
"This is the place to do that."
"Are you here to pray?"
"Between you and I," he said sitting next to her, "I come here frequently. As far as anyone else is concerned, I like to make a pass through here to make sure that no one is in here that shouldn't be."
"Why don't you tell anyone?"
"It has never come up."
"How are Rei and your son?"
"Healthy. I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm only here for today and then I'm taking another week of leave to be home with them."
"I can't imagine how hard it must be to stay away from them."
"It changes everything," he said softly.
"Why are you and Kunzite fighting?"
"You shouldn't listen to gossip."
"I was there in the stables. I heard everything."
Jadeite crossed his arms. "That is a heavy topic for such a night."
"Kunzite hasn't been the same since."
He paused and considered his next words before speaking. "It is hard to see something in front of you when you don't want to see it. Sometimes your head can't make reason of what your eyes know and so you miss what is really in front of you."
"Have you spoken to that woman from Salas yet?"
"What woman?"
Minako could hear the coldness seep into his voice. "There was a woman who came to see him several days ago. Dâni said she was here to speak with you, though he won't tell me why."
"What does she look like?"
"Beautiful. Red hair. Dâni said that she is staying at some inn in the capital. A woman named Lana was taking care of her."
"What was her name?"
"Tell me who she is first."
He tilted his head and looked over at her. She tried not to fidget under his stare. It was no different than the look Kunzite gave her when he was assessing her words. Although with Kunzite it seemed as though he were seeing into your thoughts. Jadeite though, looked as if he could pull the words right from her.
"She's someone we ran into in our travels," he finally said. "I wanted to talk to her, Kunzite did not. So he let her go and kept her out of my reach."
"Would you have hurt her?" she whispered.
"I may have been a little less than polite with her, but I'm not depraved enough that I would ever hurt a woman."
"What did she do?"
"Was her name Madelyn?"
Minako sat a little straighter, her teeth biting her bottom lip. Her eyes darted away for a moment and she paused, chastising herself. She blinked. Then he blinked. They both knew that she had lied about knowing anything.
Jadeite rose from the bench, his smile cold. "I have to finish making my rounds. We'll speak later about this."
Minako stood up and watched as Jadeite walked down the length of the chapel hall, disappearing into the back area.
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
Kunzite arrived at the palace with Rebecca an hour after he was expected. He quickly dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to the stablehand at his side. Rebecca was giving instructions to the staff to move the belongings she had brought to her room.
The captain of Endymion's guard moved in front of Kunzite, disrupting his attention. "General Kunzite," the dark haired man said with a slight bow of his head.
"Where is Prince Endymion?"
"The last that I saw him, he was in his office with General Zoicite."
"And his steward?"
"Steward Tora said to have you go to the prince's study once you arrive. Captain Adonis advised everyone that you would be arriving later than planned, so the other generals have already met with Prince Endymion."
"Is everything ready for tonight?"
"Of course. I was just on my way to make one final review of the rolls for tonight. The recalled soldiers from the western territories arrived last night and are being briefed on their positions."
"Only the western side?"
"I was told that rather than recall from the other regiments, we would have those intact regiments spread out to cover the thinned out areas. I believe it was General Nephrite's decision."
Kunzite looked again towards the palace, Minako and Rebecca no longer visible in the crowds. "Thank you, Captain Taka."
"I will make sure that the prince knows that you are here." Taka offered a small smile and another nod of his head as Kunzite walked past him and towards the castle entrance.
Kunzite opted to slip through the servant's entrance to avoid the packed hallways of the palace as he made his way towards Endymion's study. The prince had said that it was to debrief on the night's security measures, though the general doubted that was the only matter the prince wanted to discuss. If he was meeting privately with Zoicite, there was no doubt that there was more on his mind.
When he stepped into Endymion's study, he found that he was not the first to arrive. Nephrite stood on the balcony, his hands on the railing as he looked down at the crowd below him. He moved to stand next to the dark haired soldier, scanning the people below crowds seemed thicker than normal and all the masked faces and costumed people made him nervous. It was hard to protect against an enemy that you couldn't see. It was the same reason that he banned the palace guards from wearing helms.
"Where is Jadeite?"
"Already off making his rounds," Nephrite drawled. "Are you going to play nice tonight? I can't promise that I'll take either of your sides."
Kunzite ignored Nephrite's jab. "How long has Endymion been sequestered with Zoicite?"
"Not very. Jadeite and I were talking with Endymion when Zoicite barged in rather ungracefully and said he had to speak with the prince now."
"He was afraid?"
"There was nothing that I would intone from his voice, but something was off."
"Did he say anything?"
"Not in front of me."
"We aren't cancelling his speech, are we?"
Nephrite shook his head. "Endymion said everything would continue as normal. Whatever they are discussing doesn't warrant any changes in plans. It may not even have anything to do with tonight."
"What is the plan for tonight?"
"Did you enjoy your reprieve of duties?" Nephrite asked, changing the subject.
"It was hardly a reprieve."
"I heard of your and Zoicite's...adventures."
"That would be as good of a word as any."
"You seem off today," Nephrite said, turning to face the other man. He crossed his arms heavily at his chest, waiting patiently for Kunzite to respond.
Kunzite leaned down on his elbows, hands clasping, as he leaned over the railing, eyes fixed on the crowd. "I'm tired."
Nephrite watched him for a moment before turning to look over the crowd as well. "You know I once asked Makoto to marry me?"
"I wasn't aware."
"We had been out at a tavern, and we both probably drank more than is healthy, but I meant it when I said it. Every waking moment I thought of her. Her image consumed me.
"She actually laughed at me when I told her that. She thought it was a bunch of 'pretty words' for a 'pretty girl.'"
"And?" Kunzite asked when Nephrite didn't continue.
"That's all."
"What was the point of that story? Was there a moral? Is it a cautionary tale?"
"Nope."
"What was the point of telling me that?"
"Nothing. I was showing you that no matter how bad it is, it can be worse."
Kunzite barked a laugh in response. "I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"Salas?"
"I never want to hear that territory name again."
"You had an affair with another woman."
"I didn't."
"Then why did Jadeite say you did?"
Kunzite shook his head and sighed. "I tried to find that woman after Esmeraude died - the two of them were very close - but I couldn't find any trace of her. Now fast forward these past couple of months and there she is. I don't even know how she ended up in my room. Yet that morning, there she was all the same."
"Then why not bring her back here and force her to confess?"
"She lies. That is all that she does is lie. Her lies are meant to be cruel. Everyone would have heard what she said and the doubt in my protestations and no one would know what the actual truth was. She could have appeared in my room seconds before Jadeite arrived and she still would have told, in vivid detail, what she claimed we had done the night before. It wouldn't even be because she wants me. She would have said it just to hurt Minako."
"Does Minako know what happened?"
"I hope she never does. If she knew and she broke off the betrothal, she would be taken by some northern loyalist before anyone even knew what happened." He paused. "I chose her over the welfare of the kingdom in Salas and I fear that I'm going to pay the price for that decision."
"Do you love her?"
Kunzite dropped his forehead onto his clasped hands. "Gods help me for how much I am in love with her. I've been blind to everything around her because of it. Her and her little lies that I always thought I could see through." He placed his hands on the railing and pushed himself upright. "I thought I was in control this whole time and now I realize that it was never me who was."
"What does that mean?"
The door from within opened and closed, halting all conversation. Endymion stepped out onto the balcony and stood the threshold, assessing the two men standing before him. "Apologies for being late."
Kunzite and Nephrite both turned to face their prince. "Where is Zoicite?" Kunzite asked.
"He had to head into the capital. There was something he wanted to look into. He might return on time for the procession, but I'm doubtful."
"Zoicite is probably headed to the capital to pay one of his regular visits to Lana," Nephrite said. "He's there almost every day."
"I wasn't aware they spoke so frequently," Kunzite said, his lips pulling into a stern frown.
"I don't know why either of you trust that woman at all," Endymion muttered as he crossed his arms at his chest. "She knows no loyalty other than the weight of gold."
"I don't pay her," Kunzite responded.
Nephrite laughed. "Do you pay her in favors instead?"
"I give her nothing," Kunzite scoffed, turning his back on the dark haired soldier.
"I regret bringing it up at all now," Endymion said. He looked over to the dark haired general. "Did you go over the plans with Kunzite yet?"
"We were talking about Kunzite's vacation," Nephrite said with a laugh. Kunzite frowned in response. "To business though. We have eight guards on every gate with a supervisor making rounds to each gate every fifteen minutes. There are also soldiers in place throughout the main roads in the capital as well as around the outskirts."
"And Endymion's security?" Kunzite asked.
"Plain clothed. Some look like courtiers and others look like townspeople. All of them will wear a mask with some sort of purple stripe on the front. There are six that will remain in uniform as an obvious deterrent."
"Serenity's security?"
"Same, although they will have a gold circle of sorts on their masks."
Kunzite uncrossed his arms. "Are they aware to look for the gray uniforms?"
"No one will approach or apprehend those people that are found," Endymion answered. "Only a few of the captains have been made aware of what those uniforms are - the rest are only watching and reporting. I don't want this getting out." He paused. "They are also watching for the blue uniforms of the North."
Kunzite's eyes narrowed. "Alexander sent his soldiers onto our soil?"
"Not yet anyway," the prince answered. "There has been movement on the border; far more than usual. Magne Haldor was here a couple of days ago."
"What did he want?"
"He was denied audience to Endymion," Nephrite interrupted. "I told him that there was nothing left to speak of. It seems that he is refusing to leave the capital until after tonight with or without meeting with Endymion."
"Ignore him," Kunzite said dismissively. "He grovels at Alexander's heels. There is nothing more he enjoys than being slighted so that he can complain of it to Alexander."
Endymion cleared his throat. "Nephrite, give Kunzite and I few minutes to talk. We'll meet again in two hours for the procession." He watched as Nephrite clasped Kunzite's shoulder, their eyes meeting with something unsaid between them. Then he stepped around Endymion and made his way out of the room. When it was just he and Kunzite alone, he moved to stand next to his head general. "There is a traitor in our ranks."
"I'm not surprised that someone finally infiltrated. Who is it?"
"Zoicite didn't say. He seemed nervous even bringing it up."
"It's one of his then?"
"I hope not. It might also be one of mine and he doesn't want to alarm me."
"In three months this won't matter anymore. You and Serenity will be wed, and you'll be crowned king. No usurpers will be able to come forward or dispute your rule."
"Will you stay on with me past the summer solstice? You vowed to see me crowned as king. What will you do once I am?"
Kunzite stood looking out over the crowd, his hands resting against the stone baluster. "The army is yours to command. There are no more outliers. I don't know if you need me anymore."
"I will never not need you. You have become my brother."
"You look to me as you would to a father. You want me to validate your actions when you don't trust your own thoughts. Your father was a poor leader and you worry that you will be like him. For all that you are, you still don't see that you have compassion for all where he had compassion for none."
"A mentor perhaps, but not a father."
"Semantics." Kunzite turned to look at Endymion. "What else did you want to talk about?"
"Who is the woman you are hiding?"
"Zoicite should have asked me instead of running to you. I would have told him."
"But you won't tell me?"
"You asked to put everything to the side until after the solstice. Tomorrow you will have all the answers to everything."
"There are a handful of guards who will be watching Minako tonight."
"A waste of resources, but it's at your discretion of course."
"I've always known about your fascination with her. I never said anything. I assumed that you didn't want to talk about it and I wanted to give you your privacy. I saw the way that you would look at her when your paths crossed and assumed that she was, in some part, the reason that you ended things with Esmeraude.
"It wasn't just because she was Serenity's cousin that I said you should marry her. I knew that you would never say anything when she was already promised to another. You always try to do the right thing." He paused to laugh. "You're far better at it than I am."
"I'm as mortal and flawed as anyone else."
"I hope that we are wrong about Minako."
"You will feel like a fool when you find how wrong you are." Kunzite pushed away from the railing. "I have to go into the capital. I doubt that I'll have time to speak with you again before the procession." He turned and left, leaving Endymion to stand alone overlooking the vast crowd filling the palace grounds.
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
Minako paced the length of her room, layers of her white gown pooling around her as she walked. When she first arrived to the room, she had found her white and silver lined gown laid out for her on the bed. A silver mask had been laid on top of the dress. Rebecca had been quick to distract her, leading her into the washroom to bathe before dressing.
As promised, the looks for the solstice were far more subdued than they had been for the Feast of Nights. The dresses were made of a light cotton with a low back and a halter neckline, leaving a long ribbon to tie at the back of her neck and trail nearly down to the floor. Thin silk layers had been added, making the dress shimmer when caught by the light. A thick satin ribbon the color of cream secured around the high waistline.
The dress was beautiful though not practical. She tripped over the layers when she would forget to lift the hem before moving, and she worried that she would ruin the dress before she even got outside.
Although to be honest, the dress was the least of her worries for the night.
She jumped at the sound of the door opening to the sitting room, turning to see Kunzite walking in the door. He looked her over as she stood there frozen as a deer trapped in a hunter's light.
"You look beautiful," he finally said.
"Serenity wanted my colors to match yours tonight."
"We have to talk before we go."
"Are you angry with me?" she asked, her voice dropping.
"Why would I be angry?"
"What Rebecca and I were talking about-"
Kunzite cut her off. "I don't what to talk about that." He spared a glance around the room. "Where is Rebecca?"
"She went back to her room to wash up."
"It's good that we're alone then."
"Why were you angry at Rebecca?"
"I told you that I don't want to talk about that."
"Were you angry because you didn't like the man she was speaking of, or were you jealous?"
Kunzite paused. His lips parted as though to speak, then he stopped himself. He took a few steps and closed the distance between them. "Is this an idea that you came up with on your own or is this that same rumor that has been going around for years that you finally just heard?"
"Both."
"When enough time goes by, people forget who was who and who was where. It wasn't me that people were talking about, and she and I have never had feelings for one another. The man that she was talking about is someone that I take very much issue with for my own reasons. Tell me you don't actually believe any of that nonsense."
"I didn't, but you just seemed so angry at her. It sounded like you were maybe jealous."
"It's done and in the past. She and I made amends." He took her hand in his. "There is something far more important that we should be discussing though," he said as he led her into the bedroom. She released his hand as they crossed the threshold and seated herself on the small chaise placed near the door. Kunzite walked across the room and into the closet, returning with a black uniform in hand.
"I want to tell you what Endymion didn't want to say in front of you the other day in the throne room." He paused, considering his next words. "There is some concern about your father's attempts to marry you to a Northern heir. Zoicite has been looking into everything he can about Jalen and his actions were very intentional."
"What does that mean?"
"What do you think that means?" he asked as he started disrobing, discarding his general's uniform on the bench at the foot of the bed.
"I told you that my father is a social climber. His greatest ambition was to have me marry Endymion. If he couldn't have the prince as his son-in-law, he would scour through the kingdom until he found someone equally worthy."
"And he happened to land on me?"
"You happened to not be already taken."
"Your father never mentioned my name before?"
Minako hesitated. "Of course he has. You're-"
"I know who I am," Kunzite spat as he secured the buttons of his black jacket. "What did he say about me?" He watched as Minako looked down at her hands. "Does he share the same sentiments about me as your uncle?"
A small smile pulled at her lips. "I don't think anyone dislikes you more than my uncle."
"I know about your family's ties to the North, Minako. I didn't originally, but now I do. He and your mother were from a border town that now belongs to the North."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You are being watched all of the time."
Her eyes widened as she rose to her feet.
"Your father used your betrothal to the Duke to get to me. His money had run out. He was a northern sympathizer."
"That's not true," she said, shaking her head. "There was plenty of money when I left, and all of those previous engagements were his way of social climbing. Each promised marriage brought him attention. It had nothing to do with you."
"It had everything to do with me."
"So my father was a liar. Why am I being watched?"
"Because there is reason to believe that you are complicit. Without your father to appear and answer these questions, there is no proof that you have no involvement."
"Do you believe this?"
Kunzite walked across the room, opening a chest placed against the wall. He dropped his sword belt into the chest and removed another one. This one was black with a decorative sword sheathed. The small stones set into the gold hilt caught the light. "I wouldn't tell you if I thought it was true."
"So what happens next? Will Endymion lock me away? Does Serenity even know what he accuses me of?"
Kunzite shook his head. "Serenity can't stand by you, she doesn't have any power," he said, taking her hand into his. "I'm going to take you into the capital before the celebration starts. No one will see us."
"How will we sneak out if I am being watched?"
He reached for her right wrist, his fingers pulling at the ribbon that secured the mask that had been tied there. When the satin ends fell free, he held the white and silver mask over her eyes. "It's the solstice. We'll slip through the crowd like anyone else."
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
Endymion walked the width of the great hall, his hands balled into fists at his side. Kunzite had yet to return and Zoicite, who did make a brief reappearance, had left to find Kunzite. Nephrite and Jadeite stood on opposite sides of the hallway, neither speaking to anyone. They both wore black uniforms with the sign of the crown and the rose on their chests; Nephrite green and Jadeite red. Decorative swords hung from their hips.
Serenity had long since given up trying to calm Endymion and now stood with her ladies surrounding her. She tried to keep her attention on what they were talking about, but she kept worrying at his unease. There were many things that Serenity knew Endymion could never talk to her about. Most things he discussed with his generals were off limits for her to ask about and she didn't mind not knowing about what lived in dark corners. It was how constant his silence had become as of late that now worried her.
One of her ladies was giggling and subtlety pointing in Nephrite's direction. Normally she would have laughed with the girls but today she was tired of their talk of flirtations with the generals. Today she just wanted Endymion to go back to being himself and enjoy this holiday night with his people.
When she finally could take no more of his pacing, she approached him and placed her arm on his chest. "We should go out there," she said in a low voice. "The bells already rang and they are chanting your name."
"Kunzite is supposed to be here," he said firmly.
"I'm sure he's dealing with something if he's not here. He knows how important tonight is for you." He moved to step around her and she stepped back into his path, reaching up to place her hands on his cheeks. "I know you've been worried lately. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but we do have to go out there. If you don't, everyone will talk that something is wrong or that something has happened. You owe it to your people - the people who look to you and love you." Her hands dropped to take his larger ones into her own. "Please, Endy. Let's start the procession."
Endymion looked around to see that Nephrite and Jadeite were now looking towards him. Everyone was.
He pulled her hands to his lips, gently kissing her knuckles. "You're right."
With those words everyone fell into line. Palace guards lined up ahead of the prince while several took their places behind him. The door were opened by porters dressed in crisply pressed red and black uniforms. Cheers of the crowd grew louder as the first line of guards crossed through the threshold to clear a path.
Endymion and Serenity stood at the front of the line with Serenity's ladies following behind. Nephrite stepped into place after them, pausing only to cuff Jadeite on the shoulder as he walked past him. Jadeite pushed himself off the wall, waiting until the last of the palace guards had left before slipping anonymously into the crowd and following after.
The crowd cheered and called Endymion's name as he passed. His smile and wave captivating those who revered him. Serenity held a long stemmed red rose in hand, the flower waving like a flag as she extended her arm out to the crowd. Flower petals rained down, coloring the path red as though a carpet had been laid out. Lanterns were strung throughout the courtyard to illuminate all of the faces they passed.
The dais was coming into sight with its two small thrones ready to hold the arriving monarchs. Serenity's family descended from an ancient royal family who had been usurped of power many generations ago. Through another turnover, Endymion's great-grandfather took the throne and a new royal blood sat on the throne. For those who had spent their whole lives living in this kingdom, it was a new promised peace that these two bloodlines were being brought together in a love match.
Endymion led Serenity up the stairs of the dais, bowing and kissing her hand as she took her seat. He turned to face the crowd, his arms raised to the sky. The crowd cheered louder.
The generals followed after the couple, standing behind the thrones on the back of the platform.
When at last the crowd quieted down, Endymion began to speak. "This is our fifth spring solstice as a united kingdom," he said. "In three months we will begin a new phase in the history of this country." The crowd began to cheer again.
Jadeite looked around, watching the cheering faces as they raised mugs in toast and lifted children to sit on shoulders to watch. Armed guards stood around them, keeping the crowd from closing in. As he scanned the courtyard he noticed a commotion at the front gate.
There was a back-up at the gate of people trying to get out against the wave of people still trying to come in. All foot traffic was stopped by the rushing in of guards who blocked the threshold. Jadeite looked over to Nephrite who responded by raising three fingers, then pressing his closed fist against his shoulder. He took that as a sign that Nephrite was choosing to stay with Endymion rather than investigate. All the same, Jadeite preferred to step out of the proverbial spotlight as it was.
He jumped down from the dais and slipped fluidly through the crowd. Some people had given up on trying to leave and started moving out to the tents for food and drink. As he got closer to the gate, he found that he had to forcefully move people to get to the center of the chaos. Soldiers had descended on the crowd to assist the few guards that had been posted there.
As Jadeite leaned in to see what the soldiers were blocking, the soldier in front of him tried to shove him back with an elbow. Jadeite grabbed the soldier's arm and yanked it backwards. A curse slipped through the man's mouth and he prepared to swing with his other arm just as he realized it was one of the general's standing in front of him.
"What is this? Why are you positioned out here?" he demanded.
The soldier pulled his arm free and straightened his posture. "Two of the guards were poisoned."
"How?"
"I don't know. We're just trying to get them to the infirmary and get this crowd cleared out."
Jadeite grabbed a couple of the other soldiers and instructed them to open a pathway letting people out. Whether or not they wanted to leave, anyone in the area was to be pushed out and no one was to come in. He then found one of the guards and pulled them outside of the gate to stand against the wall.
"How long have you been out here?"
"For the past four hours," the guard responded. "My relief is supposed to be here in an hour so that I can move to my next post."
"Tell me what you saw."
"I don't know what happened. They were fine all night. Then just a little while ago they started saying they weren't feeling well. Both just dropped."
"Did they eat or drink anything? Complain of any injuries?"
"No, General."
"Who ordered the soldiers to come out here?"
"General Kunzite was here earlier. Maybe thirty minutes ago? He said that we should have back-up."
"Why was he at the gate?"
"He was coming back inside. There was a woman with him."
"Blonde hair?"
"No, sir. Red hair."
"Is he still on the grounds."
The guard shook his head. "He left again maybe fifteen minutes ago."
"Are you sure it was Kunzite?"
"He was wearing a mask, but he showed his mark. It looked like his and not a favor mark."
A woman's scream cut through the noise of the celebrations. Jadeite groaned internally at the new distraction. "Come with me." He jogged off towards the West wall where the woman continued to scream. A new, smaller crowd had started to gather at the source.
Jadeite pushed through anyone standing in front of him, the guard at his heels. People murmured amongst themselves as they looked on at the body of the fallen man at the tree line of the forest.
Zoicite lay on the ground, blood seeping into the grass and dirt beneath him. Jadeite grabbed the guard's tunic and yelled for him to get Nephrite, shoving him towards the gate. He dropped to his knees next to Zoicite's body and turned him over. Dark colored blood bubbled from his abdomen, his face pale and eyes closed. Jadeite pushed his hand down over the injury, blood immediately covering his hands. He stripped his jacket off, pressing it to Zoicite's side. "Wake up!" he growled, yelling at the unconscious man.
Lazy green eyes opened and looked at Jadeite with a glazed expression. "Are they okay?" he croaked.
"You don't think this injury warrants more attention?" Jadeite asked in disbelief? When Zoicite's eyes closed, Jadeite yelled at him again, telling him to wake up. When words elicited no response, he hit the younger man in the face, earning a small opening of eyes. "Who did this to you?"
"We were in the woods. I tried to make it back to the palace-" Zoicite coughed, the sound wet as blood trickled from the side of his mouth. "Kunzite," Zoicite managed to say before another fit of coughing overtook him, blood spitting out onto Jadeite's uniform. "Gone into the woods."
Jadeite looked around, noticing the gold and silver lined loop-guard winding around from the pommel past the hilt that laid next to Zoicite. He started to dismiss the sword until he realized that Zoicite's was still sheathed at his hip. He looked down the length of the blade, his eyes first fixating on the insignia running down the side of metal, finally stopping to notice the blood splatter. "Kunzite," he whispered hoarsely. He quickly turned his attention back to Zoicite. "Where's Kunzite, Zoicite?" he asked, receiving no response. He lightly smacked Zoicite's face repeatedly trying to rouse the other man.
The next few minutes flashed by almost as if he were watching everything in a picture book. Nephrite was suddenly at his side, shoving him out of the way. Jadeite steadied himself and watched as several guards picked up Zoicite's body, carefully following Nephrite's instruction to keep his body immobilized.
"What were you thinking?" Nephrite yelled at Jadeite, not caring that people still watched them.
"He was talking to me."
"He needs a doctor!"
"He said it was Kunzite."
Nephrite stepped closer to Jadeite. "What?"
"He said Kunzite was here. The guards at the door saw Kunzite. He came in and then he left."
"Kunzite would never hurt Zoicite. Lick your wounds and move on."
Nephrite turned and walked away from Jadeite, his stride long, cape furling behind him. Jadeite turned his attention back to the decorative sword laying on the ground and withdrew it, carefully wiping the blood onto the dark material of his pant leg before tucking it into his belt next to his own sword.
The swords that they all carried tonight were special ceremonial ones that had been gifted to them as a signal of their rank as well as crafted with their own personal insignias. None of them would have ever discarded their swords so carelessly – these swords were not even touched except during ceremonial times, and even then none of them dared to use them in horseplay. Yet, inexplicably here was the sword, bloodied and chipped.
His legs felt weak thinking about the questions that he would be asked, and the answers that he would not be able to give. What happened to Kunzite and why was his sword found near Zoicite's body? The thoughts suddenly plaguing him next sent him running back to the courtyard of the palace grounds where the solstice celebration was still going on.
The following moments continued to flash past his eyes in the most surreal manner. Nephrite stepped behind Endymion on the dais, patiently waiting until the Prince had finished his speech. Endymion continued on, none-the-wiser that anything had happened. When he finished speaking, the crowd cheered as he took Serenity's hand and brought her knuckles to his lips. Nephrite grabbed Endymion's elbow and pulled him off the back of the dais leaving Serenity alone to wave to the remaining onlookers. She spared a glance over her shoulder to watch the two men walking away, guards closing in around her and obstructing her view of them.
Jadeite stood in the middle of the courtyard, knowing that he should be pushing himself forward, but his brain making him stop to think through everything. He needed to remember every moment. Every face. The position of every guard and soldier.
As he looked towards Serenity he paused. Minako was still missing. He had not seen her since earlier that day. She was supposed to be with Serenity yet she was no where to be found. If it had actually been Kunzite who came through the gate, why was Minako not with him?
Kunzite wouldn't hurt her. That wasn't like Kunzite. None of this was. He wouldn't hurt his fiancee. He wouldn't hurt Zoicite - Zoicite who was perhaps more loyal to him than to the crown.
Madelyn. The woman from Salas. She was here. In town. Staying at the inn. Perhaps she was the place to start. The innkeeper Lana was well known to all of the Generals, so finding this woman should be easy enough. Without Kunzite there, no one would be able to protect her and prevent her from speaking.
Jadeite was lurched from his thoughts by Nephrite who told him he was needed in the infirmary. He needed to speak to Endymion to sort out his thoughts - to bring reason to the chaos around him.
Before departing for the infirmary, Jadeite found his two most trusted soldiers and sent them into the capital with the instructions to retrieve the woman from the inn.
He would find her.
Then he would find Kunzite.
~~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~ oOo ~ o ~~
Minako struggled to open her eyes but could not get her vision to come into focus. Clouds blurred the edges of the objects in the room, her eyelids too heavy to blink them away. Voices could be heard faintly - one male, one female. Her eyelids felt so heavy and it was all that she could do to keep them open so that she would not fall back into the darkness. The dreamless, endless abyss that left her feeling as if she were floating in the deepest depths of the ocean that sunlight could never penetrate.
"Kunzite," she called, her voice hoarse, the word barely making it off her tongue.
The couple stopped talking and she could see their cloudy outlines moving closer to her. There was a woman with red hair standing next to a man with pale hair. The man leaned over her and he stroked her face, brushing hair away from her eyes.
"Kunzite," she said again, her hands wanting to reach for him.
"Sleep, my pet," he said. "You'll need your rest for what's to come. There is a long road ahead of us."
Her lips parted to speak again, to ask where they were, why she was so tired, but sleep overtook her and her mind returned to the depths of dreamless oblivion.
