A/N: Hi, just hope you're enjoying this journey with me. Chapter 4:
"Welcome to the Fearless." Tertius Fume waited for Pamela to come more forward. His staring gaze was helpful in her ability to walk come back to her. Pamela knew that he was looking down on her and she wasn't going to allow it so she walked to the small group sitting around the fire.
She fisted her hand behind her back and stood straight. "Fearless? You must be really brave." she kept her tone low so that the trembling in it wouldn't show. "So I'm just accepted like this? No test or anything?" her question made Tertius Fume laugh and the group harmonize with him in it.
"Don't you worry. We have plenty of time for tests." one of the masked members said with rough voice, clearly male. "Tonight is just a heads up and besides, with those around your legs, I don't think we can go far." he pointed at the weights around her legs which Pamela had gotten so used to that she had forgotten to take them off for the meeting.
Pamela stood more straight to avoid looking embarrassed. "They're mandatory." her voice was business-like as she came more forward. "If I join your organization, will you give me what I want?"
"That's what we do. We'll give you what you want but in return you have to devote yourself to the Fearless for your entire lifetime unless... you buy yourself." explained Tertius Fume carefully as to not give away any additional information. He could see her hesitate but her eyes were clear enough to answer him. And that was the very thing to make him throw away his hatred for women and give her a chance.
"I agree to it." answered Pamela, breathless. She didn't ask about 'buying herself' for she couldn't let them see through her character. They should never see that she wasn't as strong or emotionless as she appeared.
Another one of the masked group stood up and came to her. "Your hand." the voice clearly belonged to a woman. The woman brought her hand forward to take hers. Pamela let her take her hand and lift up her sleeve. She saw the woman's green eyes shimmering and felt her arm become warm.
The magyk was buzzing in her ears and made her uneasy. When the buzzing stopped, her arm went cold again and the woman let go of it softly. Pamela looked at her arm and saw something on it but couldn't make out the shape in the dark. "Call us with this." she heard a man's voice from one of the people sitting around the fire.
She nodded and covered the brand with her sleeve. "Anything else?" she asked briskly since her hand had started throbbing on the brand area.
"What is it that you ask of us?" Tertius Fume asked.
Suddenly feeling numb and unfeeling to pain, Pamela became stiff as she remembered her reason for being there. "I want to take revenge." her hoarse and trembling from fury voice made them to exchange looks. "I need you to provide me the means."
"To do what?" the woman who was still standing near her asked and folded her hands.
Pamela's mouth cracked into a smirk and her eyes became violent as she raised an eyebrow at the thought with enthusiasm. "To kill him."
The next day in the army was torturing for her as she hadn't got to sleep at all the night before due to all the thoughts going on in her head. She now could practice with other soldiers and do archery but was still weaker than them. Pamela stretched the cord of the bow, trying to shoot but her efforts all resulted in failure.
"Your holding your hand the wrong way." Commander Martin's blame made her jump and look at him. Frustrated she wiped the sweat of her forehead and let the bow hang loosely in her hand.
"I'm trying, I really am." she was exhausted.
Coming forward he took her hand and positioned the bow in it while placing an arrow in it. Commander Martin stood beside her, holding her both hands from behind and started to stretch the bow's cord with them. Pamela couldn't believe how easy it was for him to do so. He positioned her hands straight and pulled the arrow then let go. It hit the center. Pamela laughed with amusement but he still didn't let of her hands which started to make her anxious.
Commander Martin leaned closer. "Did you read my note?" he whispered silently and made his sudden helping mode clear for her. She had read the letter, that very morning.
"Yes." she answered just as quietly. "But I don't think I can agree to it." with that he let go of her and stood back. With a commanding nod of his head to not attract any attention he went off to work on other soldiers.
Pamela placed an arrow in the bow and started to pull its string herself. She remembered his letter and the meeting she had with the Fearless. It had become hard to choose any side for she couldn't figure out the fastest way to reach her goal. The frustration made her strong enough to let herself go and throw arrows harsher. They flew further one after another.
The arrow shooting would have continued if she wasn't interrupted by another soldier. As she turned she saw a young boy not much taller than her.
"James, what do you want?" she asked flatly as she had come used to his constant approaches to her during training.
James licked his lip with a smug smile. "Just figured that you could use help." he took her bow. "I help you and you teach me." he said with his usual muffled voice but Pamela didn't answer. She already had many things on her mind and tolerating James was out of option but he didn't seem to give up. "Oh well, guess you don't want it." he gave her the bow back and patted on her shoulder. "Have fun in the forest." he shook his index finger in the air in a reprimand motion and strode off.
He had seen her and it was dangerous for Pamela so she ran after him. She cursed Martin for making her seem like a duck while running because of the weights. "Wait." she called and James turned to look at her with an annoying smile on his face. Pamela placed her hands on her knees to take her breath. "What did you mean by that?" she barked.
"Nothing, be more careful as forest nights aren't a pretty place for a girl like you." his smile grew wider and he looked around and saw the other soldiers looking at them. "Piss off!" he yelled at them and caused hundreds of swears showering them. Pamela was fed off by the soldiers fighting every second and was ready to swear back if not for a message rat jumping on her foot.
She picked him up. "Speeke Rattus Rattus." Pamela commanded and brought him closer to her ear so that she can hear him in middle of the bickering which now involved fists as Daren had punched James.
The message rat screeched in her ear. "I will now start the message: Be in the royal library in 10 minutes for a meeting. Queen Mathilda. Message ended." he finished and paused in hope that the noise would go away but when he didn't he continued. "Do you have any reply?"
Pamela was thinking as to why the Queen suddenly wanted to meet as she had clearly left a bad first impression. Still in daze she shook her head and the message rat left gladly. She looked at the soldiers fight and wondered about her future there. It had nothing for her but if she managed to impress the Queen maybe there could be a chance for success.
Without further delay she left the training grounds but before going out with the resolution of getting out of the army she took off the weights and dumped them to a side. Pamela saw Martin's gaze fixed on her every move even with a fight going on but she no longer wanted to be a soldier. She saluted silently and ran out of the field and to the royal army.
When she reached the corridor to the library, she finally slowed down and it was all because of the crowd gathering there. From their hype looks and bronze skin, she guessed them to be sailors. In the sea of people, Pamela entered the royal library. The Queen was sitting at a table with Cerys on her right.
Cerys waved to her and smiled at seeing the hair pin in Pamela's ponytail. "She's here." she said quietly to Queen Mathilda which made her look up at Pamela.
Pamela sat on her left side without any bowing. "You asked for me, your Majesty?" she asked politely.
"I've been wondering about your skills and since Cerys believed you to be underestimated by being placed in the royal army; I asked you here." Queen Mathilda's tone was formal with a hint of disapproving as she put her hand under her chin, expecting an answer.
Looking at Cerys with appreciation, Pamela thought about her life. She had only read books her whole life and practiced with her dagger. "I don't know myself." she mumbled to herself.
Expressionless, the Queen handed her an envelope. "Do you have any idea as how to fix this?" her voice was powerful and demanding. Pamela took the envelope and opened it to see the officer's report about group of people wanting to dethrone Queen Mathilda and enthrone Cerys. She thought about the situation with Queen Mathilda waiting patiently.
It only came to her as she imagined herself as the country's Queen. "Let Cer... the Princess have a meeting with them." she started with a quick glance at their confused faces. "It's easy. Just plan a meeting and company her in disguise. They'll fall for it and will all gather in the meeting." Pamela snapped her finger with a small laugh at her own thought. "You can easily end their rebellion before it even started by just arresting them all."
"What if they escape?" asked Queen Mathilda with an expression of interest in her wit.
Pamela looked at her as if she had asked the obvious. "Leave that to our army. We'll station around the meeting point without being noticed and shoot anyone who tries to leave." her enthusiasm was satisfying for the Queen and fascinating for Cerys.
"What if we fail?" voiced Cerys anxiously but Pamela shook her head.
"If you continue with my plan and god helps us; we won't." Pamela was confident.
Queen Mathilda was pleased with her confident. "What do you want in return? A girl like you must want something."
"I'll tell you that after we succeed." she answered for her request was far beyond her known limits.
After three days of preparation and arranging a meeting with the rebellion leader in Cerys's name the night of the meeting finally came. Pamela went into Cerys's room wearing a black mask, leather boots and matching black shirt and trousers. Cerys was getting ready nervously as it was her first time doing something so dangerous.
"What are you afraid of?" asked Pamela when she saw Cerys's trembling hands. "The Queen and I will remain by your side until the end. No harm will reach you as long as I'm there."
Cerys turned to her while trying to smile. "Thank you." she whispered and looked at the maid coming in to declare the time to leave. They both went out of the palace that Pamela stopped to let the army join her and walked behind Commander Martin who was deliberately avoiding her.
They reached the cave to see the Queen and her special guards waiting for them dressed exactly the same as Pamela. The cave's door was marked with a ragged green curtain as the door. They Quee, Cerys and Pamela went in with Cerys in the lead to see the cave was lit with countless torches and crowded with people wearing masks. No one in the meeting could be known to the other team for their faces were all covered except for Cerys.
A man with normal height and rustic brown coat came forward. Pamela stood stiff and vigilant on Cerys's right and Queen Mathilda stood on the left. She knew that they were safe with the army surrounding the cave, ready to shoot but couldn't help to feel a little stressed. This meeting wasn't her only intention and it frightened her to let others find out.
"Your highness, I plead you to join us as the voice of the revolution." The man shouted and kneeled. "Please take the throne and end the misery of your people." his voice made Pamela focus.
Cerys was trying to keep her eyes straight as Pamela murmured in her ear. "Ask them why."
"I accept." exclaimed Cerys despite of Pamela's suggestion. "But what do you want from once I become the Queen?" she felt Pamela's glare from her back but tried to stay indifferent to it.
The man suddenly stood up. "We just want to become your advisors, that's all. Your only job is to enjoy the luxurious life of a Queen and leave the state affairs to us." his polite attitude had been replaced by contempt.
Cerys was getting more terrified by second even with having Pamela and Queen Mathilda at her side."A puppet you mean?" asked Cerys though knowing the answer and tilted her head up. "What... what if I refuse?" she voiced with difficulty.
"Then I'm afraid it's out of our hands." the man turned to the people behind him and started to form his fingers into various numbers. Obviously a code for attack.
Before letting anyone react, Pamela took of her mask and poured liquor on it from the small bottle on her belt. She kicked set the fabric on fire by running it swiftly through the torch. Her hands were burning but she ran to the gate and threw the fabric at the curtains.
The minute that the entrance of the cave was on fire, everyone started to run around. Some tried to run through the fire but were all stopped by arrows shot at them from outside.
"Anyone who passes through this gate will be killed at sight." Shouted Queen Mathilda and took off her mask as well. The very sight of her made them all freeze in their places. "Escaping is in vain as we have already listed your every single name so..." she came more forward elegantly. "Now you have two options. First, you can surrender and save yourselves. Second, you can die trying to escape. So which do you choose? Anyone who chooses the first option kneel down." as she said that many started to kneel down. Queen Mathilda and Cerys came down from the platform to take a better look at them.
Their leader kneeled as well and stayed that way. He was the closest to the Queen and Cerys. When he moved his hand, something caught Pamela's eyes. A dagger. At the same time, he bolted up and Pamela ran to him rapidly.
Cerys and the Queen had just noticed him that he attacked them. Pamela jumped in front of him and threw the firework charm in the air to give out the exact location. His dagger cut through her arm but couldn't go very deep for numerous arrows shot him from behind and he fell dead onto the ground.
Pamela held her bleeding arm tightly and Cerys went to her aid but the Queen stopped Cerys and ignored Pamela's suffering. "You just saw how I deal with traitors. Anyone else wants to kill me?" she shouted and finally glanced at Pamela who was pale from pain and was biting her lips to stop herself from screaming and crying. "Have that thing tended. I'm going to need you around these days." she grinned with pleasure and looked back at the crowd.
Stumbling and holding her arm Pamela went to the curtain and shakily took out her sword. Taking a deep breath, she tore the curtain to let the army pour in and escort the rebellion out. She didn't want to talk anymore so took the charge of escorting one of the rebellions out. All the way to the palace all remained silent and the only time anyone spoke was one of the rebellion swearing and trying to run away. That only action was easily put out by the soldiers hit at their abdomen with the back of their sword.
Near the palace Pamela's hand was suddenly pulled and she was forcefully taken into an alley. When she turned to see who it was, she was amazed and forgot about saving herself. "Martin." she grinned. "You liked it?" Pamela giggled.
"You said you wouldn't do it. What changed your mind?" Commander Martin asked with suspicion and let go of her hand.
Pamela remembered his letter that she had read the night before. His offer to make her more powerful in the country by helping him. "You wanted me to help you and I did." she wasn't even holding her bleeding arm anymore. The feeling of success had made her hype enough to forget about pain. "Tonight's meeting solidified my position for the Queen and I'll get closer to her and the royal family and make opportunity for_"
"For me." Commander Martin finished with amusement. "But why?"
"I need something from you that only you can give me." answered Pamela with a small laugh. "Better not even think of going around it. You just saw tonight how well I can make people like me. You know why?" she stood closer to him. "Because I can tell what each likes and you don't like power but love fame. Wrong?"
Martin too stood closer with growing interest in her. "Right." he raised an eyebrow at her. "You... you really are dangerous." He pointed at her glowing eyes with his index finger. "Your beauty and wit if misused can bring ruin to all."
"So you better watch out because I'm all in." Pamela started to walk away though hearing him asking her what she wants. "I'll use you when I need you, Martin. Just as I'll use the Queen in the right time." she whispered to herself and walked away.
A/N: First of all, sorry for the late update. I'm on a trip so it's really hard for me to make time but I'll try my best to update soon.
P.S. The last part of the chapter (The meeting with the rebellion) is taken from real life history. People were rebelling against the first female ruler of Persian Empire (Queen Poorandokht a.k.a Booran in Sassanid dynasty) and she held the meeting with them in disguise almost the same as what I wrote in this chapter. The reason for that was that I didn't trust my smarts to be too good to have it considered as an ambitious and intelligent person so instead I took a little part of history.
P.S.S. All the occurrences other than the meeting is mine and I modified the meeting as well with magyk.
Please review. Bye for now.
