46. Vaughn
Vaughn
“Shh. Shh, love. Don’t move. It’s okay. Lord Oxley is just putting in a few stitches. You’re doing great.”
A sob shook Penelope and her head tried to lift, only to fall back to the table we had her on.
“Stitches. How bad is it? I… I think I passed out.”
A small cry left her as she jumped at the needle piercing her skin again. I lowered, crouching so our faces were even.
“It’s bad. I’m very proud of you for standing up to them. You answered correctly. I think they expected you to fall into their trap concerning me. It made them angry when you didn’t, but you were right, and they knew it.”
Penelope sniffled. “The numbing was a godsend. I know I was given something. I still feel the pain, but nothing like I did before.”
“I’m glad it’s helping. The lashing part is over.” I brushed back her hair. “You’ll have to fight next. Penelope….”
I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t think it. But I was, because I was terrified.
“I’m not calling it quits, Vaughn. If I stop, I fail.”
“Failing is better than dying.”
Her head shook, turning more into the table.
She grew still, her eyes still closed. Even though her lids were lowered, I didn’t miss the tears that escaped.
They rolled over the bridge of her nose, soaking into the wood.
Slow, deep breaths left her. Penelope forced her head up, flattening her hand on the table for balance.
“Do we know who I’m fighting? Have I already asked that? I’m a little foggy.”
“We don’t know yet. We won’t until the trial starts and they bring them into the room.”
“Alright.” A shaky breath left her. “How many more stitches? I need to get up and start moving around.”
Lord Oxley looked up, glancing at me. I saw his worry. He didn’t want her doing this any more than I did.
“Almost done, Intended.”
“Good.”
Penelope’s lids closed as she continued to hold her head up. She jerked through the punctures, pushing her fingers into the wood each time he stuck her. But there was no patience from those waiting.
“Five minutes!”
My head jerked over to the dais where the Magister and Judic still sat. I grabbed Penelope’s hand, glancing to Lord Oxley. He secured the stitch, nodding that he was done. Turning to Penelope, I met blue, bloodshot eyes. A smile pulled at the side of her mouth as she took me in.
“No one should be so beautiful when they’re afraid.” She paused, moving in my direction, pressing her lips into mine. “I always thought you were beautiful.”
“My looks are not what you should be thinking about right now.”
“But I am…” Her eyes went between mine, moving down to my lips, only to lift back up. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“If this is your way of saying goodbye—”
Her smile grew. “But what a way to go. What an adventure we’ve had.”
My face sobered. “This is not the end of our adventure. Not even close.”
“But if—”
“No.”
Her stare lowered for only a moment and she nodded, turning to sit on the table. “I love you no matter what happens. I’ll always love you.”
I stepped in, holding to the back of her head as I leaned down, kissing against her lips.
“Stop this death talk. … But I love you too. More than—”
Her hand lifted and her finger pressed against my lips. She jumped at the shot Lord Oxley gave her.
“Tell me when I finish.”
I helped her stand, holding to her as she swayed.
She reached for the shredded shirt on the table, looking down at her black sports bra, frowning.
My stomach dropped, and Penelope brought my hand up, kissing it.
She let me go almost just as fast, turning and heading back to take her position before the dais.
She wasn’t okay. She wasn’t well enough to fight, and we all knew it. Lord Oxley stepped in next to me, keeping his voice low.
“She should be better here shortly. Just… not for long.”
I turned, my brows going in. “What do you mean?”
“She was at too much of a disadvantage. The shot.” He stopped, lowering his voice even more. “Just a mild stimulant. It’ll give her a burst of adrenaline. It’ll buy her some time, but once it wears off, she’ll crash. And she’ll crash hard.”
My eyes widened, and my pulse sped up to dangerous heights. Penelope stood a chance, but for how long? If this wore off mid-fight, it would put her back at a disadvantage. It could get her killed. She had a little time, but not much.
“Trial Three is The Trial of the Blade. This trial is exactly as it sounds. It is here that you will prove whether you can defend not only you but the Unavowed. The Order does not accept weakness beside its king. Your physical ability will be tested. Your tactical thinking in combat is vital. Your very survival instinct is what will set you apart. Someone here today will die. Good luck, Intended.”
The door opened, and all eyes shot to Keith as he walked through.
Penelope’s head went back and forth, and tears raced down her cheeks.
The pain on Keith’s face couldn’t be hidden as he approached Penelope.
A cart was wheeled out of the side door by another guard, and Penelope didn’t wait.
She rushed up, throwing her arms around Keith, kissing against his cheek.
“Intended…I’m… sorry.”
Penelope wiped her tears, pulling back. “Don’t you dare apologize.
You’re doing this for The Order. I want you to fight with everything you have to protect it, just as I will fight to lead it.
If you win…” she swallowed hard. “If you kill me, that is a good thing. That means you’ve succeeded in your loyalty. ”
His head tilted, and tears were heavy in his eyes. The cart stopped in front of them, and Penelope nodded to the guard.
“It has been an honor serving under you, Intended.” Keith picked up a large knife with an upturned end. Penelope joined him, picking up one identical to his and testing the weight as she moved her hand in a circular motion. They put distance between them as the cart was rolled away.
The Magister stood, and I watched both begin to circle each other. Penelope’s steps were still… off. Slightly delayed as she watched Keith’s walk turn predatory.
“Fight!”
Still, they were taking slow steps. Penelope’s lids were narrowing.
Her chest was rising unevenly through the heavy breaths.
Keith slowed, changing his direction causing Penelope to halt unsteadily and follow.
My feet planted as I fought not to react.
If I moved, I’d ruin this for her. I’d kill him, myself, and that wouldn’t help anyone.
Dirt ground under their shoes, crunching as Keith went to lunge one way, only to stop. He was testing her. Maybe… giving her time? Or maybe he couldn’t quite find the courage yet to act. Both appeared conflicted as they took in each other.
But I was watching, and air wouldn’t come the moment I saw Keith shift his weight to his other foot. Penelope saw it too, but not fast enough. The large guard surged forward, slashing the blade in an arch, catching her bicep.
Penelope sucked in deep breaths, blinking rapidly as she shuffled back, bringing her knife back up. Pressure gripped my shirt, and I knew it was Lord Oxley holding to me.
Blood was pouring down Penelope’s arm, dripping from her fingertips as Keith lunged forward again. His blade was met with hers, sending a large clink to echo throughout the room. Before I could even process her arm shooting up, Penelope let her blade tear up Keith’s chest at an angle.
My fist jerked up to my mouth, and I held it there as a darkness flashed in the guard’s eyes. He looked down, seeing the blood soaking into his uniformed shirt. At the realization, he began swinging the blade wildly, throwing his large height and weight behind every swing.
Material caught and pulled against my chest, and I knew Lord Oxley was pulling me back. I could feel the pressure, but I couldn’t feel myself moving forward.
A cry of pain left Penelope, and I saw her eyes zero in as she ducked and put distance between them. Her focus seemed to clear. Her eyes were darting at every move he made. My arm shot out to Lord Oxley, and I held to his shoulder in a death grip as a hardness took over Penelope’s expression.
Keith pressed to her, looming over her with his size. He swung and Penelope countered, flicking her wrist to cut up his forearm as their blade disconnected. Keith’s lips peeled back in pain, and sweat was pouring down his face.
Penelope blinked hard nearly stumbling as she gave her head a shake.
“It won’t last much longer. She has to finish this.”
I barely heard Lord Oxley’s words.
They were circling each other again, and both were bleeding in more than one spot. I’d heard Penelope cry out, but I hadn’t seen where he’d gotten her. From the blood along her side, I wasn’t sure if that was from her arm or she was injured there as well.
“Come on. Come on.”
Was I whispering? Yelling?
I didn’t know as I saw Keith throw himself right at her. His arm was crossed over his chest, level with her throat. As he began to swing around, Penelope dropped, using both her hands to jerk the blade up.
Blood poured from Keith’s stomach, and he crashed to his knees.
Penelope sobbed, spinning up from behind him and leveling the blade at his throat.
She held to his forehead, slicing across his neck as she screamed.
His body pitched forward, and her sobs were full of heartbreak as she collapsed, fisting his uniform shirt, and holding onto it as she buried her face in his back.
I didn’t think. I couldn’t as I rushed forward. Her cries were torturous to me. Full of so much pain that I couldn’t help but pull her up and wrap myself around her. Relief broke me as I cradled her head to my chest.
“Five minutes!”
The Magister’s voice was barely heard over her sobs.
“Move, Unavowed.” Lord Oxley was pushing up my arm, lifting it higher so he could attend to her wound. Separation was almost impossible. I barely managed to pull back enough to take in her face.
“Look at me. You did it. You did good.”
“Keith… He saved me. The Rapes. He—” Her head shook as she tried catching her breath.
“He will not be forgotten. He will be honored.”
Lord Oxley was pulling her to the table. “She’s going to need more stitches. Her arm is deep. The one on her side is shallow. We have to hurry. We only have five minutes.”
I helped Penelope walk, noticing how weak she was. Her cries were lessening, and she was taking deep inhales to calm herself.
“S-Sacrifice.” Her jaw was chattering. “Last trial.”
“And you’ll pass it.” I held to her face, making her eyes stay focused on mine as Lord Oxley rushed to stitch up her arm. “You’ve got this, love. You’ve got this. We’re right there.” I leaned in, kissing her hard. “You can do this.”
Her head nodded, but she was delayed. She was calming… but slowing. Crashing. She reached out, holding to my shirt as the needle began puncturing her skin.
“He was a good fighter.”
“Yes. He was.”
She was quiet, staring out to the side in a daze. A long moment passed before she lifted and her eyes came back to me. “You can say it now. You love me…”
I laughed. “More than the sun. The stars. The moon. The earth. The air I breathe… I love you more than anything, Penelope. I’m so damn proud of you.”
“I’m not done yet.”
Her face drew in from pain, but she kept her focus on me.
“You’ll pass. I know you will.”
“I hope…”
I kissed her again, holding securely as she returned to rest her head against my chest. Lord Oxley was moving fast, working to stop the bleeding and close the wound. All I could do was turn and take in The Magister and Judic who were talking in hushed tones.
More time. Until…
“One minute!
Penelope’s head lifted, and she looked down at her arm. She was delayed again. Her lids were swollen and heavy as she fought to keep them open.
“Almost done.” Lord Oxley glanced up. He finished the tie, nodding. I helped Penelope stand. She straightened, kissing her fingers and placing them on my cheek. When she broke away, I felt empty. Suddenly… afraid for her.
Slowly, she made her way to stand back in front of the dais. She took in the smeared blood on the floor from Keith, who had been removed from the room. The Magister wasted no time going right into his speech.
“Trial four is The Trial of Sacrifice.”
The room grew heavy through his deliberate hesitation.
“You have proven your knowledge. You have demonstrated your loyalty. You have shown that you have the ability to survive and protect our king.” He paused. “None of that matters… if you’re unwilling to give up what defines you.”
Penelope shifted on her feet as she slightly swayed.
“You stand before us as Duchess. A title restored to your family after generations. A title your bloodline did not lose… but preserved.” He paused, tilting his head. “Tell us, Your Grace, how was it preserved?”
Penelope’s head lowered, and I saw her shoulders go in. She rotated them, forcing them back up as she took in The Magister.
“By choosing David Evans. By…” a pause, “turning against King Vaughn.”
Her words were quiet. I felt myself swallow hard.
“Your line did not fall with the Crown,” The Magister said, deeply. “They survived it. They were rewarded for it. And now.” He paused. “Now you stand beside the very bloodline your family helped destroy. Tell us, Duchess… what is the value of a title built on betrayal?”
The room was silent as she let out a shuddering breath.
“It has no value, Magister.”
“Then why do you still carry it?”
Penelope reached down, gripping to the sides of her pants.
“It was given back to my family. It is mine by law.”
He nodded.
“But not by honor.”
The Magister stood, descending the stairs to stand before Penelope.
“Trial four is not about what you would choose. It is about what you will sacrifice.” His arms lifted the smallest amount.
“If you are to stand beside the Masterson line, you cannot do so while carrying the reward of its destruction. You cannot be both. You have to choose, Intended. Will you remain the Duchess… or become our Queen?”