Chapter 56: Day 74

A knock at the door woke Matthias and Lisette. It had taken four times before Matthias had been relaxed enough to sleep, and Lisette had happily provided what he had needed. Matthias got out of bed, put on a dressing gown, padded to the door, and opened it.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, my Lord," a messenger said. "I have an urgent message from the Princess, who insisted I deliver it, no matter what hour."

"What time is it?"

"About an hour before dawn."

The messenger handed over the message.

"Did she instruct you to wait for an answer?"

"No, my Lord."

"When did you leave Haven?"

"Late yesterday afternoon. I rode straight through, changing horses twice."

"Thank you."

The messenger turned to depart, and Matthias closed the door. He turned up the oil lamp and examined the message. It had Miri's personal seal, and the message was secured with a criss-cross ribbon, which was also sealed with wax bearing her insignia. It was addressed to him with his true name and title, which concerned him.

Lisette got out of bed and walked naked to stand next to Matthias as he broke the seal and unwrapped the ribbon. He broke the second seal, opened the message, read it, and, not believing it, read it again.

"Fuck!" he growled.

He crumpled the message and threw it hard across the room in disgust. Somewhere in the yard a cock crowed, too early, and heavy footfalls tramped past the inn — a City Guard patrol on its dawn round. Matthias sat down on the edge of the bed, put his head in his hands, and wept. Lisette, unsure of what to do, retrieved the crumpled message, smoothed it out, and read it.

Summary trial held before the King. Priscilla convicted of High Treason and immediately executed by hanging. -Miri

"No!" Lisette gasped when she finished reading the message.

She moved to sit next to Matthias and put her arm around him. It was five minutes before he lifted his head from his hands.

"I know what to do," Matthias said with fierce determination. The entire plan had come to him, fully formed, in those five minutes.

"Don't be rash," Lisette counseled.

"I will be calm, cool, and collected, and I am committed to justice."

"What was that word you uttered? It was obviously an oath."

"One of the strongest oaths in my OP. It refers to ploughing, but is a vulgar term. It takes many forms, and those forms have varying intensity. It can also be used in a way that is not an oath. Remember when you said, 'Plough me!' when we were in the glade? You could have said that word instead of 'plough', and it would be an emphatic demand."

"I'll remember that! What is your plan?"

"I'm going to force King Edward from the Throne," Matthias said firmly. "First, though, I have other business to which I must attend."

"Matthias," Lisette said, "she did commit High Treason."

"Yes, but unwittingly because that forgery was perfect. So perfect, in fact, nobody could tell it was a fake. Perhaps it wasn't."

Lisette's eyes went wide. "If so, he had a woman executed for treason after she followed HIS orders?!"

"Yes. It is my opinion that the Warrant was no forgery; it was a proper Royal Warrant, issued by the King."

"Doesn't he have the forged Warrant now? It was in the stack of documents you had us deliver."

"That is true, but I doubt he thought to destroy it because he believes I consider it an expert forgery. Miri can retrieve it for us, and I'm sure Robert will aid her."

"You need to get a message to her right away!"

"I do, and it cannot go by Royal messenger. Wake Tristan, chase off the girls, and have him come to see me immediately."

"Gladly!" Lisette exclaimed mirthfully.

She went to Tristan's door and pounded on it until he groggily opened it. She pushed past him, ignoring his protests.

"You two!" she commanded. "Get dressed and go home! NOW!"

The two young women immediately rose from the bed, and Lisette noted they were both gorgeous and had very sexy bodies. They quickly dressed and left the room.

"Get dressed," Lisette ordered Tristan. "Matthias needs you immediately."

"You're naked!" he protested.

Lisette laughed. "Oops. Get dressed."

Tristan did as Lisette had commanded, and they walked together to Matthias' room. Lisette decided not to dress and stood naked next to Matthias, who was still in his dressing gown.

"I'll explain later," Lisette said.

"No explanation necessary," Tristan said. "What's so urgent?"

"Priscilla was executed yesterday for High Treason," Matthias replied.

"WHAT?!" Tristan growled angrily. "That merciless arse Edward deserves to die!"

"I agree completely, but I have a better way. You need to ride for Haven immediately at best possible speed and see the Princess. She's the one who notified me. She needs to take possession of the forged Warrant."