Saving Face
The sound of his heart racing was the only thing he could hear. Since the Arch Duke David had granted him land to stop the feud between he and his brother over the rightful ruler of Hardy, Earl Jeffrey had yet to see carnage or massacre befall his countrymen. His lack of experience did not stop his eyes from processing the tattered bodies scattered throughout his grounds and his home upon his arrival. Jeffrey's heart pained him for the quick end that his befell on his fellow Enigmatorians, but even with that pain, the only thing he could consider was Princess Ashley's safety.
Jeffrey tore through his villa in a desperate search for his love. His only charge was to keep her safe and away from her brother. Since she had gone into hiding, he had not let her out of his sight. But in one misjudged moment, he traveled to Nitro, knowing that he would soon return, leaving the unarmed Princess alone.
His guards had been slain, his home had been ransacked; it were as if whoever did this, was in a desperate search for something. Checking all of the rooms for any sign of her, he held his breath before he reached her chamber and prayed that she would be within, unharmed. As soon as he opened the door his eyes filled with tears.
There were feathers from the goose down pillows scattered about, her beautiful gowns had been ripped to shreds, the furniture had been turned on end…Earl Jeffrey stood looking at what must have been a struggle and tried to process the scene. Stepping further into the room he noticed a small stain of blood on the mattress of her bed and lying in the middle of it was a bobble shaped ring. "Randal."
With nothing left to say and his suspicions confirmed, Earl Jeffrey gathered his bow and arrows, strapped his sword to his side and left his home. There was only one person now that could help him find his love and that man was to be the Prince's decapitator.
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"Let me accompany you on your journey." Ashley sat in front of the hearth wrapped in a blanket and the secure warmth of Jeffrey's arms. "I do not wish to be anywhere in this world without you."
A pleasant smile danced on Jeffrey's lips as he leaned down to kiss the side of her head. "Well, Your Highness…if we follow the laws of the country, this land is yours. I can not prevent you from travel, no matter where it shall be." He moved his head around to look at the side of her face. "But…if we follow the laws of love and I am to be your husband, then I say no. Your safety is far too important to me to risk you being found on the travel to Nitro. Now…which law shall you follow?"
Ashley leaned back and rubbed her cheek against the soft hairs of Jeffrey's beard. "The laws of love, of course. Nothing and I mean nothing, not even the Throne is more important to me than our love. If it is your command that I stay here, it shall be done."
"I would never command anything of you. Well…maybe that you love me for all of eternity." He was pleased to hear the soft sound of laughter from her heart fill the room. "Our bond is not about power, it is about sharing. I hold nothing over you, no rank, no superiority; we are equal. Our hearts are the same. They beat with the same passion and at the same time for the same reason. Our marriage, just like our love, shall be about caring and equality, not about power and ownership."
Ashley turned to Jeffrey and placed both hands on his cheeks. "Never in my life have I met a man such as you. You show humility to a woman, although I outrank you. You do not know how many times noblemen of this land have treated me as if I were no more than a housemaid, although I am the Princess. But you, you are the most gentle creature I have ever witnessed."
"You make me gentle. There is nothing more that I would rather do, then to spend my days making you happy." Jeffrey's whisper paled in comparison to the profession of love that his eyes made. "You may be the Princess of McMahon, but you will always be the Queen of my heart."
Ashley leaned in and touched her lips to his. "And you shall always be the King of my heart first and of my country second."
Jeffrey's horse galloped at dangerous speeds, but the need to get to Northumberland was great. He knew that if he kept that pace, the horse would most likely need to be put down once he reached his destination. There was no way it could keep that pace for nearly a day's travel, but he would deal with that later.
He traveled through the night and most of the day without stopping for food or water or to give his horse rest. His mission was simple, find the Arch Duke and prepare a plan of how to kill Randal. As soon as the flags for Castle Batista were in sight, Jeffrey's adrenaline spiked at an all time high. For just over the gate would be the answers that he needed. He only prayed that he was not too late.
"Lord Earl." Sir William of Regal bowed at Jeffrey as he approached the stairs. "We were not expecting you."
Dismissing the lesser man, Jeffrey removed his riding gloves and studied the door carefully. "Is the Arch Duke about? I have urgent news."
"Nay, my lord. He has gone to seek an audience with King Robert. His carriage left at sunrise; he should only be a few hours ahead of you. The Lady Maria has accompanied him. In her condition, he must travel slowly."
Laying his hand on Sir William's arm Jeffrey nodded. "Many thanks to you. I will require a new steed; I fear mine is broken from my hasty exodus from Enigma. I will also need water and food for my journey."
"You need not to rest? You can start your journey later after this storm passes." Sir William looked to the graying clouds and then back at Jeffrey. "It looks to be a fierce one."
"The weather is of no concern, only that I speak with the Arch Duke. I will rest whilst you get my previsions."
"Aye, my lord." With a bow, Sir William turned on his heel to make ready Earl Jeffrey's requests.
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David looked out of the window from his carriage suspiciously. It was not like Sir Jonathan to leave the formation and double back behind his carriage. Something or someone was tracking them. Feeling his jaws clinch, David touched the hilt of his sword and looked over at a sleeping Maria, wondering why he allowed her to accompany him. This travel, though not long, had the potential to be dangerous. Anytime anyone went to the Palace, there was the potential for danger, for visitors never knew if the Grand Prince was about or what mood they would find him in.
He knocked on the carriage to signal the driver to stop. Once at a halt, David opened the door and stepped outside. "Guard the Lady Maria and wait for my return." Taking a horse for one of his knights, the Arch Duke made his way back through the terrain they had just traveled.
"What do you see?" David moved his horse next to Sir Jonathan's.
"Someone is following us." He motioned toward the trees. "Judging from his speed, he cares not if he is found out."
David sat stoically and awaited his visitor. "He appears to have a death wish. We needs give him his wish then." Both men unsheathed their swords and dismounted their horses. As the hoof sounds grew closer they looked at one another. "He rides alone."
Stopping abruptly in front of the two armed men, Earl Jeffrey dismounted his horse and walked quickly toward the Arch Duke. "My lord…forgive me. I must speak with you."
There would only be one reason that Earl Jeffrey would track him from Enigma. "Ashley?"
With a hurried nod, Jeffrey lowered his eyes. "I was only gone for a half day. She wished to accompany me to Nitro, but I declined. Upon my return, my house has been pillaged, my servants slaughter and the Princess is no where about." Jeffrey reached into his satchel and pulled out the ring. "I found this next to her blood. He has done this."
David's face grew impatient with the man in front of him. "You were instructed not to leave her side. What business in Nitro was important to disobey my order?"
"I met with the rebels." Jeffrey knew that this information could lead to his death, but at that moment he no longer cared. His only concern was for Ashley's safety. "I have been helping their army, with plans to rid the country of Randal. Though their methods are unorthodox, these are people who love this land, they have fought in the wars for our freedom and demand they live in a place where their daughters can roam free without fear of being spotted by the Prince. I know my actions are treasonous, but so help me, if it rids McMahon of the likes of Randal, I will suffer whatever fate the King bestows upon me."
There would be a time to deal with Jeffrey's treachery, but now was not it. "I trusted the future of this country to you. You had one task, to which you could not keep…"
"There is more, my lord. The Baron of Helmsley has formed a plan to kill the Prince and you, my lord, taking the Thrown for Stephanie of McMahon. He has gained the trust of the rebels, by securing a child with the eldest sister of your Lady. He had a solider killed and claimed the child to be that of a dead man to keep his secret. He has asked for my help in your destruction. I only share this, because once Randal is dead, Lord Hunter still poses a threat to Ashley. He will stop at nothing to put a McMahon on the throne." Earl Jeffrey lowered himself to one knee feeling the silky mud beneath him and held out his sword, holding it out to the larger man. "I ask for forgiveness. Our goals were but the same, only the method had differed. But please, no matter what my fate shall be, please find Ashley safe and protect her." He closed his eyes, awaiting David to take the blade from his hands and strike his head from his neck.
David shook his head and pulled the Earl from the ground. "We have no time to waste, plans must be made. I will seek forgiveness after the Prince is dead and the Baron of Helmsley dealt with." David hardened his gaze as he turned his Paladin. "Make ready the champions; we leave for Diva in the morn. There will be more blood on blades than broken bones at the Fall Brawl this year."
