Thread: Lonely Lies the Crown (Annabeth & Khaos)

During the entire encounter Seraphine never moved from her spot seated beside her Father the King and next to her Mother the Queen. It would have only looked unseemly and gotten her in Rennes' way. He'd taught her when to scurry for safety like a little field mouse fleeing from a cat and when to calmly stand her ground. The audience chamber offered no good places to hide save behind the thrones and she would not, could not, look like a coward. Rennes danced like an angel and dealt death like the Devil. She flinched twice, the first when Rennes' dagger drove up into the brain and skull of one man, parting flesh and bone with a sickening crunch so much like that of a butcher's cleaver jointing a pig. The second came as Rennes' upward slice separated the infidel's head from his body. Blood flung from the edge of his sword dashed a crimson line of spatters across Seraphine's face and she could feel the heat of it on her gone cool skin. Anyone would have flinched then, and she did, but quickly returned to herself. When Rennes was back by her side, Seraphine reached over, quite calmly, and touched the crook of his elbow with her fingertips. It lasted but a moment but was an extraordinary breach of the protocol she observed in formal situations. A heartbeat later she rose and stepped daintily off the dais her parents' thrones rested on and approached Da'oud. Have you a kerchief, m'Lord? Seraphine waited, then repeated the request when Da'oud was still recovering from what had happened. A kerchief? she prompted again, then took it from his hand when the emissary offered it up. A quick wipe down her face collected most of the blood and what was left served to redden her cheek like a blush. Carefully folding it so the blood was on the inside, Seraphine proffered it to Da'oud who took it with an ashamed look. Sayyidah, believe me I did not know, he said, voice deep with emotion and fear for his life. On the holy bones of St. Peter I swear I did not know. It is of no consequence, M'Lord. They, she indicated the slain men with a slow sweep of her arm, were too stupid, or perhaps too fanatical, to know that they of course never had a chance to harm my family. Their real purpose, I am sure you will agree, was to disrupt our negotiations and cast a stone of mistrust between us that one of us would surely turn their ankle on. Rennes' dealt with one threat, and you and we shall surely deal with the other. I will have them sewn in the skin of pigs before they are buried, Da'oud swore. Quite right, her Father agreed. No. Seraphine surprised herself with her outburst but hastened to explain. Your Majesty, pray hear me out before deciding, she asked and waited with a bowed head until given permission to go on. When it was received, the young Princess proceeded. We shall give them a burial in accordance with their rites before God. Before the same God we share the belief in, though they be heretics from the salvation of the Lamb. We bury them properly, send home their effects and... she looked to Rennes for the word. Sadaqah , he supplied. Sadaqah , yes. Charity, she translated for the others. For their families. They may have wives, mothers, children who are innocent of their misdeeds. You'd show them mercy, daughter? Her Mother asked coldly. Forgiveness, she countered. Christian forgiveness and seeing mercy and not injustice visited upon the innocent. Word of it will spread. Then, when and as we need it, we may find elements of the people in those lands who will look upon us with more favorable eyes than before. If one, even one, come to Jesus because of it then God Himself will bless us. Or Rennes can use them as spies, the King said and laughed deeply. You see, wife? You see what she learns sitting beside me all these years? God if you had been but a man, he said. That would look very odd to have your son dance with you then at balls, Your Majesty, she quipped and shared a laugh with her Father. M'Lord Da'oud, will you help us see to the arrangements? We are quite ignorant, Seraphine said. As Sayyidah commands, he said and bowed, repeating the touching of his head, lips and heart. The negotiations went on for several more hours, giving the bodies time to cool and the blood to congeal on the floor. Neither parties spoke of it except at the end when the servants from outside entered the room and saw the mess awaiting them. Rennes? I want to ride, she commanded as they walked through the palace.