The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (novels in english .TXT) 📗

to have anyone else look at thesebooks, rather than someone who might actually add up the columns,but that is exactly why I’m here.”

The older man paled, “I hope you don’tthink I’ve committed any indiscretions, Your Highness. I haveserved as the royal purser under three kings now, and I’ve neverstolen from the kingdom!” He ran his hand across his bare headagain.

Ariadne sighed. King Edward had beenno fool, and she really had no reason to doubt the royal purser’shonesty. If he had been a thief, he would have been caught longago, but she still believed it served a good purpose to keep thosein charge of the gold honest. “I understand your worries, Willard.Rest assured that if all I find are minor mistakes or honesterrors, there will be no problem, but my father has tasked me withreviewing your records. I will not come back next week. The wholepoint of this exercise is to check the books when no one isexpecting it. Are we clear on this point?”

Willard let the air out of his chestwith a defeated sigh, “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Now, if you’ll fetch the factor’sledgers as well, I can see if…” she paused, for a runner hadappeared in the doorway, although the guard wouldn’t yet let himpass. “Do you have something for me?” she asked, interrupting theman’s explanation to her men.

He bowed deeply, “Yes, Your Highness,a note from Lady Thornbear. She seemed to feel it was quiteurgent.”

She stood and crossed over to him,holding out her hand, “Let me see.” Her guards let him pass thefolded sheet of paper to her. Opening it she scanned the briefmessage written there:

Act normally, but do noteat or drink anything until we have spoken. Please see me as soonas possible. I will be with your mother.

~EliseThornbear

Puzzled she folded the paper andslipped it into a small purse she kept at her belt. “You’ll berelieved to know that I have to leave for a bit Willard,” sheinformed him, “but I will return as soon as I can.”

“Should I put the ledgers away fornow, Your Highness?” asked the purser.

She smiled at him. “I hope to be backin an hour or two. Don’t pack them up until after lunch if I don’tmake it back before then.” She turned to the messenger, “Thank youfor the message, you may return to your duties now.”

The man waited until she and herbodyguards had started down the hallway. It would have beenimproper to walk ahead of the princess, even if he might have takena faster pace. Instead he followed quietly a few feet behind them.As they went she heard a commotion ahead, from the direction of thestairs. It sounded distinctly like fighting.

The two men with her tensed, drawingtheir swords and moving to put themselves in front of her when thedoor to the stairs crashed open, and the body of a newly killedsoldier fell through. He wore the King’s livery. From the noise itsounded as if quite a battle was unfolding on thestairs.

Ariadne Lancaster was stunned, and shestood staring dumbly at the bleeding form lying on the stone floorsome twenty feet ahead. No one else had yet emerged, but from thesound of things, the fighting was fierce. Luckily her guardsreacted more quickly. One of them did the unthinkable; grabbing herarm he began hustling her in the other direction. His companionfollowed close behind. “What are you doing?” she asked once hermouth caught up with her observations.

“Your pardon, Highness, but whateveris happening, we need to get you safely clear of the area,”answered the man who had her by the arm. The other man was lookingfor an alternative route from the corridor, but the only thingclose at hand was a small storage room. Thrusting the door open,the two of them rushed her within, shutting the door behindthem.

The messenger was still standing inthe hall when armed men started boiling out of the stairwell. Someof them were wounded, but most seemed unharmed. All of them woreHightower’s colors. They rushed past the unarmed man without aword.

Inside the small room, Ariadne wasfeeling a bit claustrophobic. Dim light entered only from a largegap under the door, making it difficult to see. It was a smallsupply closet, barely five feet by five. The walls were lined withshelves holding parchment and vellum, binding materials and ink.“If there’s something happening out there, shouldn’t you behelping?” she asked her guards.

The one that had spoken earliergrimaced, “I understand, Highness, and I feel a coward hiding inhere, but our first priority is your safety.” A piercing screamfrom the offices she had just left reached their ears.

“She isn’t here! A messenger came, andshe left a minute ago.”

Ariadne recognized Willard’s voice. Itwas followed by a heavy sound, as if someone had struck somethinghard—or perhaps the sound of a body hitting the floor.

“They’re going to find us,” shecautioned her guards. “There aren’t any other ways up from thispart of the keep.” The accountant’s offices were situated outsidethe royal treasury, and for obvious reasons, there was only onecorridor leading in or out of that part of the palace.

The guard that had been silent finallyspoke, “Well we aren’t just going to walk out and hand you over tothem.” In his nervousness he forgot to include the proper form ofaddress.

“From the sound of it, there are overa dozen men out there. This room will be one of the first placesthey check when they start searching. Even if you kill several ofthem, you will still die. Let me show myself. They will take meprisoner, and you may live,” she urged her guardians.

“Our duty is to protect you fromanyone and everything; whether they wish to kill you or just takeyou prisoner makes no difference,” replied the less talkative ofthe two men.

“What are your names?” she asked them,embarrassed that she hadn’t bothered to learn thembefore.

“Alan,” said the first guard. “AlanWright, and this is Evan Brown.” He gestured at the other guard,who bobbed his head as if they were meeting her for the firsttime.

“Why do you ask, Your Highness?”questioned Evan.

“If people are going to give theirlives for me, then I think I damn well ought to know their