|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shards of a Broken Heart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Seven: the set up | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the northern province - Damien was going over the latest report from his agents and spies. Some of his men ran into a little opposition - mainly from search parties that were looking for Bethany. But they posed little threat. They were not nearly as organized as his men. He looked over his shoulder as one of his relays entered and bowed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have news?" Damien asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your spy - he has a plan," the agent stated. He made his way over and handed the sealed scroll to his master. Damien opened it and quickly scanned it for the important facts. Upon completing a broad smile crept across his face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He has a plan to get them apart - sounds promising," he began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But will it be enough to keep them apart?" the agent asked. Damien folded up the scroll. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Perhaps - perhaps it doesn't need to. I want you - to deliver this message of ransom to the charming Bethany's parents," he began as he walked over and whispered the detailed instruction to him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - would deal with the problem of that," he affirmed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But before you do - make sure that Bethany has safe passage - here. At no time is she to be made to feel like a prisoner. If she asks questions," he began as he looked at several sealed scrolls. He smiled as he grabbed one. "Go with this story," Damien concluded tossing the scroll to him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It shall be done," he replied as he hurried away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Soon - everything will fall together for me - and fall apart for you - my dear rival Nathan," Damien said sweetly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Later that day - back in the village - the happy couple had returned from their walk. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Those caves were amazing - the way the light made the ice almost glow," Bethany remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Too true - but it only looks that amazing when with someone as beautiful as you," he gallantly replied. She smirked and held onto his arm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I bet you say that to all the ladies," she teased. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Maybe one or two," he rebutted. She stepped away and slapped his arm playfully. "Just teasing," he reassured. She smiled as she hugged his arm again. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," she reassured. "Do we have to go back to that stuffy castle? Can't we just stay here forever?" she playfully asked. He quietly laughed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey - if you want to do that - after - we tell your parents you are safe and well and all that good stuff - no problem," he replied with a wink. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She just knew that things wouldn't go smoothly if they went to the castle. As much as she loved him - there would be no way that her parents would consent to let her live a life of her choosing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They won't allow it though," she pointed out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We will just have to convince them somehow," he stated as they made their way back towards the inn. As they did - a few soldiers stepped out from around a building a discreetly watched them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moments later they entered the inn and made their way over to the bar. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can't we stay? Just one more day?" she playfully pleaded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would love nothing more," he began as he leaned over and gave her a kiss. "But the sooner we get this trip over and done with - the sooner we can start making a life for ourselves," he whispered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are such a killjoy," she playfully remarked. "Can't stay - just - a little longer?" she seductively cooed. He was about to give in when one of the chambermaids handed him a note. "What's that?" she asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't know," he replied. He scanned the message and then looked upstairs. "Wait here!" he requested. He dropped the note and hurried passed some of the other patrons and went flying up the stairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What was that all about?" she began. She was getting ready to pick up the note when someone cleared his throat. She looked over and saw the man that had been spying on them from the shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can I help you?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Me? No - I just saw the two of you - you make a charming couple," he stated. She smiled at the compliment. "But you do know his reputation - don't you?" he asked hesitantly - the smile faded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Reputation? No - I'm afraid I don't," she replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He has a weakness - for the ladies," he began. Bethany looked at the staircase and then at the man that was talking to her. "I hear he is friends with a trapper here," he whispered. She scowled at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't like what you are implying!" she retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just a word of advice is all. Ignore it if you will. I just didn't want to see a nice girl like you getting hurt," he replied. Bethany remembered the woman who had openly flirted with Nathan before. She quickly stormed away and made her way up the stairs. He reached down and picked up the note. "Step one," he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upstairs, Bethany opened the door to the room that she and Nathan had been staying in. all color drained from her face. On the bed before her - was Gwen - completely naked on top of Nathan - his shirt was ripped open. As soon as Nathan saw her he pushed Gwen off him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Beth - it isn't how it looks," he began. The words of the man below echoed in her head as she looked over at the smiling naked, volumptious - well-endowed trapper. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see why you wanted me to wait downstairs," she muttered - doing her best to keep her emotions in check. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh poo why did you have to come up so soon? We were just getting into it," Gwen asked. The comment sent her over the edge. She turned and stormed away. Nathan got up to follow. Gwen hopped up and embraced him. He grabbed her and tossed her onto the bed and hurried after Bethany. He looked around the inn below - there was no sign of her. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany?" he called out. People looked up at him but then resumed what they were doing. He shook his head and hurried down the stairs. He was about to leave the inn when a small contingent of local soldiers entered the place. By their markings he could see that they were from Bethany's province. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - are you Nathan?" one of them demanded - pointing at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes - why?" he answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get him!" the leader of the soldiers ordered. Nathan attempted to get away - but was eventually taken down and chained up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing? I don't have time for this!" Nathan exclaimed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would wager not. Search the place! See if she is still here," the leader ordered. Two guards hurried upstairs - moments later they returned. "Anything?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany isn't here. He must have had allies take her away," one stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The room he was in?" the leader asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dead woman there - throat cut ear to ear - one of his colleagues no doubt," the other added. The leader looked over at Nathan and saw the recognizable look of confusion there. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where have you taken her?" he demanded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Taken who? What are you talking about?" Nathan retorted. The leader of the soldiers punched him in the stomach. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany - where have you had her taken too?" he repeated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Taken? What the hell are you talking about?" he asked seriously. The soldier took out a piece of paper and held it in front of Nathan's face. "We - are holding Bethany hostage - if you want her alive - pay ten thousand crowns," he read. "This is bull," he muttered. The leader punched him again. "What - makes you - think - I would do that?" he strained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One - you were calling her name. Meaning one of your compatriots probably killed your partner and took her away. Two - the rogue we got this note from said that one of the people involved in this crime was called Nathan and described you to a fault," he answered seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never kidnapped anyone," Nathan strained. The leader of the soldiers jerked his head back by a handful of hair. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If I had a crown for every time that a guilty man said such a thing - I would have enough gold to buy my own castle and retire. You will tell us who your friends are - and you will pray - that Bethany is returned safely to us. Otherwise - you will not like the long life that will be in store for you," the leader warned as he motioned for Nathan to be taken away. "Search the area! If he just learned she went missing - they must still be near by," he called out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A fair distance away - in a horse drawn carriage - Bethany was sitting with the man that had warned her and two of his friends. She looked back at the village and felt a tear roll down her face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why don't you get some rest my lady. We will arrive at your home shortly," the spy reassured. Bethany wanted to stay awake - but fatigue set in and soon she was fast asleep. The spy smiled. Everything was going - according to plan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||