Chapter 26
Lucy: A Child Speaks the Truth
Lucy lingered behind Sebastian and Robin as they headed out of the palace.
The two were chatting amicably, as if they were old friends, rather than having just met a few days prior.
In truth, she was rather thankful. When he’d first met Robin, Lucy had been certain that Sebastian would fight the man.
Now that they seemed to get on well, she felt she could breathe a little easier.
Robin led them to a spot near the roads, near the start of the parade. A fair number of people had already gathered, but they paid the newcomers no mind.
“Do you really think the assassin would try to kill the emperor in such a public place?” Lucy asked in an undertone as they tried to settle themselves.
“I’m not positive, of course,” Robin said. “But I’m sure that there is no greater chance for a clean shot at the emperor without the benefit of protection spells or hidden armor. And Lady Quinn has her people spread out along this route.”
“And if nothing else, we can enjoy a morning in the sunshine,” Sebastian said, lingering by Lucy’s side. “Who knows how much longer the pleasant weather will last? Winter is coming far more quickly than we’d like.” He glanced at the sky as if expecting the first snowfall to start right then.
Lucy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a small blur ran into her, knocking rather painfully into her already-bruised ribs. She would have fallen if Sebastian hadn’t caught her, keeping her upright.
“Whoa, there, young man,” Sebastian said to the little blur, which, now that Lucy could see him, was, in fact, a little boy about Shiloh’s age. “You must be more careful. You almost knocked over my dear friend here.”
“I’m sorry,” squeaked the little boy. “I was just so excited! I’ve never seen a parade before.”
Lucy giggled. “I haven’t either,” she confessed. “I’m Lucy. What’s your name?”
“Jack,” the boy said.
“A pleasure to meet you, Jack,” Lucy said, kneeling next to him. “Tell me, did you come to the parade all by yourself?”
“No,” Jack said, shuffling his feet. “My mama brought me.”
Behind them, someone in the crowd yelled, “Jack! Where are you? Jack?”
The little boy made a face, but he waved his hands wildly. “Here I am, Mama!”
A pale faced blonde woman emerged from the crowd. Relief broke out on her face when she saw the boy. “Jack!” She bustled over to them. “What have I told you about wandering off?”
Jack rolled his eyes. “You told me not to,” he said grumpily.
“Quite right,” his mother said before turning to Lucy and Sebastian. “I’m so sorry. I hope he wasn’t bothering you.”
“Not at all,” Sebastian said. “We were just getting to know each other. I’m Sebastian and this is Lucy.”
The young woman nodded. “Pleased to meet you both. I’m Kate.”
“The pleasure is ours, Kate,” Sebastian said, bowing. “What brings you two to the celebration?”
Jack answered for his mother. “She says that my papa was from Umber, and he’d have been very proud about the 500th anniversary. I don’t see why, though. It’s not as if it’s anything impressive. Like, I saw someone who was selling some magic beans at the street festival. That’s impressive.”
“That is very impressive,” Lucy laughed. “But I think a country being able to last for 500 years is very impressive. Why, I can hardly count to 500. Can you?”
Jack frowned, concentrating on his task. “No,” he said at last. “I suppose I can’t.” He sighed. “I still don’t see why it’s so exciting. But I’m still looking forward to seeing the parade.”
“Me too,” Lucy agreed.
“When’s the parade going to start?” Jack asked, turning to his mother. “I want to see the acrobats.”
“I’ll tell you a secret, my little friend,” Sebastian said, kneeling down, so that he was at eye-level with the boy. He pointed to where the parade-marchers were preparing to begin. “When that fellow with the big stick starts moving our way, the whole parade will follow him.”
Jack’s eyes grew wide. “Really?” He glanced at Kate. “Do you think he would start coming any faster if I went and asked him?”
“John Lemorta!” his mother cried. “You will do no such thing.”
“Probably best not to go if your mother says no,” Sebastian said, barely holding back a laugh. “But don’t worry. I’m fairly certain that the parade will start promptly.”
Jack pouted, but didn’t argue. He refocused on the grand marshal, who was speaking to one of the acrobats.
At the same time, something sparked Lucy’s memory. “Lemorta…I know someone with that name. Are you related to Tomas Lemorta?”
To her surprise, Kate paled. “You know Tom?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucy glanced at Sebastian, who nodded and turned to Jack. “Hey, buddy, let’s see if we can get you a better view. I bet if you sit on my shoulders, you’ll be able to see the whole parade from here.”
Jack seemed enamored with the idea and began chattering and begging the fairy to let him climb up now. As they moved away, Lucy drew Kate aside. “We do. We are competing against him in the clothing design competition. I take it you know him?”
Kate shivered. “I wish I didn’t,” she said, her voice barely audible. “Tom is Jack’s father and my husband. But as far as Jack knows, his father is dead.” Her gaze hardened. “He’d be better off dead.”
“What do you mean?” Lucy asked.
“After I got pregnant with Jack, he was angry. He didn’t want a child, not so soon.
He started going down the wrong path, hanging around with a rough crowd, drinking more, getting in fights…
I heard he’d even joined a band of thieves.
After the constables brought him home one too many times, I told him I’d had enough.
He had to get out of my house and out of my life.
He didn’t even argue. The next day, he was gone,” Kate said.
“That was nearly five years ago. Jack doesn’t remember his father, and I didn’t want him to know the monster Tom had become. ”
“You haven’t seen Tomas in five years?” Lucy asked.
“No. Sometimes, I hear rumors about him, but I haven’t sought him out. And we left town as soon as I was able, so he doesn’t know where to find me.” Kate shifted uncomfortably. “You won’t…you won’t tell him you saw us, will you?”
Lucy shook her head. Of all people, she knew how important it was to hide in plain sight.
At the thought, she glimpsed Robin listening in, barely concealing his interest. “I know we just met, but if you want my advice, talk to my other friend here.” The prince nodded to the pair of women as he came nearer.
“This is…Robin.” The prince lifted a single eyebrow, but didn’t argue.
Lucy mentally shrugged. A title would freak Kate out, so she plunged on.
“He has some connections and can help you stay hidden, if that’s what you want. ”
“Some connections…that’s one way to put it,” Robin muttered under his breath. Lucy elbowed him, but he just rolled his eyes. “It would be my pleasure to help you, my lady.”
Kate’s eyes went wide, but before she could say anything, Jack let out a whoop. “It’s starting! The parade is starting!”
Lucy and Kate smiled and moved a little closer to where Sebastian and the boy stood. Robin caught Lucy’s arm as she passed him, hissing, “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get more information about Tomas from his estranged wife and son,” Lucy whispered. “Did he mention that he used to live in Umber?”
The prince shrugged. “Not to me, but I don’t see why—” Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he cursed a blue streak. “That’s where I know him from.”
Lucy stared at him. “Know him from? Tomas?”
“Thomas,” Robin corrected. “And his friend’s name isn’t Emilio. It’s Emil. They joined the Company a few months ago, I think. Just before my brother disappeared. I only met them once or twice, though.”
Lucy stared at him. “Just how big is the Company?”
“Let’s just say running it is more akin to running my own kingdom than I want to admit,” Robin said.
“But Tom and Emil were never high up the ranks, so I didn’t recognize them at first. But when you mentioned an estranged wife and kid, it clicked.
” He shook his head. “It was after I met them I made the rule that husbands and fathers either brought their families or stayed away. I didn’t want to be responsible for any heartbreak.
I should have remembered that, but I’m ashamed to say I didn’t. ”
“Then why—”
A murmur from the crowd interrupted Lucy.
She turned to see the Emperor marching down the street, clad only in his drawers.
A tall, imposing woman, who Lucy guessed to be his wife, strode along beside him.
She kept her gaze straight ahead, not looking at the crowd or her husband.
The only clue to her humiliation was the red flush on her cheeks.
Lord Han walked ahead of the emperor and empress, shouting, “See the emperor’s new clothes! Oh, how fine are they are! Don’t they fit him to perfection? And see his long train!”
The crowd watching the parade mumbled for a moment, then began cheering for the emperor and his supposed finery.
Only a few people didn’t join in the celebration.
Robin closed his eyes, shaking his head, as if he couldn’t bear to watch.
Ahead, Sebastian’s jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth.
Lucy could only stand, her hand closing into a fist, wishing that she had the courage to speak against this mockery.
Then a small, piping voice rose over the crowd.
“What do you mean, how fine the emperor’s clothes are?
” Lucy’s eyes shot to the speaker: little Jack, sitting on Sebastian’s shoulders, staring at the parade.
His small face was a mask of confusion as he pointed and continued, “He hasn’t gotten anything on! He’s not wearing any clothes!”
At his words, the world froze. The parade stopped. No one dared to say anything or even to meet their neighbor’s eyes.
Oblivious to the sudden change in his surroundings, Jack scrambled to get down from Sebastian’s shoulders.
Bemused, the fairy lifted him down and the small boy ran to the emperor.
His mother made a kind of squeak, but didn’t move to follow him.
Jack looked up at him with wide, trusting eyes.
“Why did you decide to go to the parade with no clothes on?” he demanded.
Kate moaned and moved to his side. “He doesn’t mean anything by it, your imperial highness.”
“Yes, I do,” Jack said, stamping his feet. “Why?”
The emperor’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. His eyes shot to Lord Han, who cleared his throat. “It’s not your place to ask questions like that to the emperor,” he growled. “Guards, take this whelp—”
“Don’t touch him.” Authority rang in Robin’s voice as he joined the small throng gathering in the middle of the street.
“I will do as I please in my empire,” the emperor stammered.
“Oh, yes?” Robin cocked his head. “Tell me, then, how you’re going to explain it to the other world leaders, if you arrest a small child—a child from another kingdom, mind you—simply for speaking the truth?”
The emperor’s cheeks went scarlet. “I—I—”
Lucy stepped forward, with Sebastian right behind her, and put her hand on the child’s shoulder.
“Little Jack here is braver than the rest of the people in this crowd put together, including me. He spoke out when everyone else was afraid to. We should praise that courage, rather than punish it. Don’t you agree? ”
The emperor opened his mouth to respond, but without warning, a thunderous bang went off somewhere nearby.