Read Online Scimitar War by Chris A. Jackson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris A. Jackson
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serve a noble, if not good, purpose.
If you truly love me, do not come after me. I am no longer Camilla. I am tainted by evil, and will only do you harm. I must flee now, before I murder the only man I ever truly loved.
With all the love that remains within me, I bid you farewell.
Camilla
“No,” he whispered as he reread the note. “No!”
The shouts of alarm penetrated the fog that enveloped his mind, and unadulterated panic struck. Were they after Camilla? This must be a mistake! Knowing only that he had to find her and help her, he scrambled out of bed, threw on his robe, shoved the note into the pocket, and fled the room.
His mind spinning, he followed the bellow of a familiar voice: Admiral Joslan. He had hundreds of marines in his charge; surely the man could help him find Camilla. The corridors and stairs of the keep swept past him in a blur, but he somehow managed to find the entrance hall. He stumbled down the steps to the beach, into the confusion of eerie shadows cast by wavering torches, and the bellowed commands of Admiral Joslan. Norris sprinted the last few yards and grabbed the admiral’s arm, hauling him around by sheer hysterical force.
“Admiral! Have you seen Camilla?”
“What?” The admiral’s face was red with rage and the effort of shouting orders. “What do you mean, man? Has she gone missing as well? Those damn murdering thieves. I’ll see them all dancing from a yardarm!”
Emil jammed a hand in his pocket to retrieve the letter. “I—”
The letter! he thought, the memory of her words like a slap in the face. I killed the soldiers , Camilla had written. If the admiral saw her admission of murder on that damning page…No, he could not confide in Admiral Joslan. He caught his breath and answered the admiral’s question. “Yes. She was gone when the alarm woke me. What has happened?”
“The natives have stolen the smack, and two of my marines are missing.” He paused and looked about warily, his eyes squinting as if he could pierce the darkness. “There is magic afoot here, Count. The dock was nearly pulled apart, and a fog came up from nowhere to cover the culprits’ flight. They may have taken Lady Camilla as a hostage. We’ll know more when we’ve rounded up and questioned the natives. Now, if you please, I’m busy.”
He turned away, and for once, Emil was thankful for the admiral’s brusque manner. The man had immediately formed his own conclusions about Camilla’s absence without the need for any falsehoods on Emil’s part. For now, he would let Joslan presume that Camilla had been taken hostage. Norris had a more reliable source of help.
As if some benevolent god had heard him, he felt a firm but gentle grip on his arm.
“Milord?” Huffington said quietly. “What’s happened, sir?”
“It’s Camilla. She—” Emil stopped as a troop of marines ran by. Fool ! he chastised himself. This was no place to discuss this out loud. He took a deep breath and forced his mind back onto the rational pathways that had guided him in his diplomatic career. He turned back to Huffington and grasped the man’s arm like a lifeline. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
≈
“Milord, this is…most extraordinary.” Huffington placed the crumpled note back on the table and stared at the count. Norris’ composure had cracked once they entered his private quarters. Now he paced the room like a caged animal, biting his nails and staring into the shadows as if some threat lurked there. After reading the letter, Huffington understood why. If he had slept with a woman possessed by such evil, he’d be paranoid, too. “If it is true, I’m not sure how we can help her.”
“I know it seems incredible, Huffington. I can’t imagine how or why she would kill those men, but if she didn’t, why confess to me, then flee?” He turned and stopped at the balcony, clenching his fists and staring into the night. “If only she’d said something…”
A knock at the door
If you truly love me, do not come after me. I am no longer Camilla. I am tainted by evil, and will only do you harm. I must flee now, before I murder the only man I ever truly loved.
With all the love that remains within me, I bid you farewell.
Camilla
“No,” he whispered as he reread the note. “No!”
The shouts of alarm penetrated the fog that enveloped his mind, and unadulterated panic struck. Were they after Camilla? This must be a mistake! Knowing only that he had to find her and help her, he scrambled out of bed, threw on his robe, shoved the note into the pocket, and fled the room.
His mind spinning, he followed the bellow of a familiar voice: Admiral Joslan. He had hundreds of marines in his charge; surely the man could help him find Camilla. The corridors and stairs of the keep swept past him in a blur, but he somehow managed to find the entrance hall. He stumbled down the steps to the beach, into the confusion of eerie shadows cast by wavering torches, and the bellowed commands of Admiral Joslan. Norris sprinted the last few yards and grabbed the admiral’s arm, hauling him around by sheer hysterical force.
“Admiral! Have you seen Camilla?”
“What?” The admiral’s face was red with rage and the effort of shouting orders. “What do you mean, man? Has she gone missing as well? Those damn murdering thieves. I’ll see them all dancing from a yardarm!”
Emil jammed a hand in his pocket to retrieve the letter. “I—”
The letter! he thought, the memory of her words like a slap in the face. I killed the soldiers , Camilla had written. If the admiral saw her admission of murder on that damning page…No, he could not confide in Admiral Joslan. He caught his breath and answered the admiral’s question. “Yes. She was gone when the alarm woke me. What has happened?”
“The natives have stolen the smack, and two of my marines are missing.” He paused and looked about warily, his eyes squinting as if he could pierce the darkness. “There is magic afoot here, Count. The dock was nearly pulled apart, and a fog came up from nowhere to cover the culprits’ flight. They may have taken Lady Camilla as a hostage. We’ll know more when we’ve rounded up and questioned the natives. Now, if you please, I’m busy.”
He turned away, and for once, Emil was thankful for the admiral’s brusque manner. The man had immediately formed his own conclusions about Camilla’s absence without the need for any falsehoods on Emil’s part. For now, he would let Joslan presume that Camilla had been taken hostage. Norris had a more reliable source of help.
As if some benevolent god had heard him, he felt a firm but gentle grip on his arm.
“Milord?” Huffington said quietly. “What’s happened, sir?”
“It’s Camilla. She—” Emil stopped as a troop of marines ran by. Fool ! he chastised himself. This was no place to discuss this out loud. He took a deep breath and forced his mind back onto the rational pathways that had guided him in his diplomatic career. He turned back to Huffington and grasped the man’s arm like a lifeline. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
≈
“Milord, this is…most extraordinary.” Huffington placed the crumpled note back on the table and stared at the count. Norris’ composure had cracked once they entered his private quarters. Now he paced the room like a caged animal, biting his nails and staring into the shadows as if some threat lurked there. After reading the letter, Huffington understood why. If he had slept with a woman possessed by such evil, he’d be paranoid, too. “If it is true, I’m not sure how we can help her.”
“I know it seems incredible, Huffington. I can’t imagine how or why she would kill those men, but if she didn’t, why confess to me, then flee?” He turned and stopped at the balcony, clenching his fists and staring into the night. “If only she’d said something…”
A knock at the door
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