“Relax Major. In all fairness he never let her know who he was. He lost his temper and charged at her, she did as she was taught and he, well he got a well deserved rude awakening.”
“But…” The Major continued to sputter. “What…?”
“He took a nosedive into the dirt when he charged at her. He couldn’t beat her by sparring normally so he attempted brute force instead. He failed. She had executed a very neat, well placed blade down by his feet and he tripped over it. Nalas allowed his temper to cloud his attention and it earned him some well deserved humiliation.” Tobias looked over at her before continuing, “That’s probably why he wants her in his personal detail.” Tobias stated as he looked back at the Major. He didn’t dare look at Mattea as he knew she would see through him and know that wasn’t the only reason. He could have saved himself the angst for she knew it wasn’t the full truth, but she was not going to call the man a liar in front of the Major. She went a different route.
“So, what does this detail for Lord Nalas entail M’Lord?”
Tobias inclined his head slightly at the respectful title. “I am no lord, Lieutenant, just a lowly man servant for Lord Nalas. But, I do appreciate your respect.”
Mattea didn’t respond with words, but her expression told him to continue. He did.
“He wishes to have you join his personal armed guard detail.”
“Any flunkie can do that.” Gray eyes hardened as distrust raised her suspicions. She knew what personal armed guard duty entailed and it wasn’t anything she wanted to do.
She looked back at the Major. “You have plenty of much younger soldiers; many of whom I still have to train, but there are enough well qualified men who would jump at the chance for this detail.” Mattea turned and looked back at Tobias. “Please send Lord Nalas my gratitude for the position, but as prestigious as this offer is, I decline.” Looking back at the Major she asked, “I am still afforded that right to refuse am I not Sir?”
Tobias knew exactly how she felt; he could totally sympathize. But he also knew that if he had accepted her refusal and returned without her, Tobias would certainly be put to death and no doubt by Nalas’ own hands. He sadly informed her that she had no choice.
“My dear Lieutenant, I fear it is not a request, but a command. One you can’t refuse just as I wasn’t given a choice in delivering. I can only express my regret and apologies to your family for having to take you away from them.”
Mattea looked back at Tobias, reading his face and his eyes and knew deep down in her gut he was telling the truth. She also saw that his regrets for taking her away from her family were genuinely heartfelt. Anger and resentment built behind those gray eyes like a thunderhead, dangerous, dark and ominous. She was about ready to explode when the Major interceded, understanding coloring his tone.
“If, and I say if, this had just been a request I would have most certainly have said you have the right to refuse, but it is a direct command.” Here he paused to collect his thoughts and deliver what he knew could be the last order he ever gave her. With a heavy heart the Major made his decision. “A direct command I cannot, as much as I wish I could, cannot ignore. You, as I, have no choice.” He was quiet for a moment, letting it sink in. “I’m truly sorry.”
The Major had firsthand seen what could happen when a commanding officer ignored such a directive. It was how he had acquired his current post, because of someone’s arrogance of his position.
Mattea’s face was hard set, angry and he feared what she was going to do or say. He looked down at his feet, not being able to look her in the eye as he searched for the right words. Mattea had never seen this side of the Major. He had always been decisive, never at a loss for words, or in command of a situation. To see him stumbling about made her uneasy. Nothing ever seemed to faze the Major, but this command from Nalas rattled him making him appear vulnerable. He finally looked back up at her, approaching her using common sense. His voice softer, more persuasive.
“Lieutenant. I understand your resistance and you’re not wishing to go, but I also do not wish to see what has happened to others who defied Nalas or Molktie’s direct orders happen to you. I inherited this position as your commanding officer, because my predecessor had other ideas that conflicted with theirs.”
Suspicion narrowed her eyes to mere slits as she asked, “And just what happened to him?”
Here Tobias interrupted. “If Nalas was true to form he would have hunted him down and brutally murdered him. No doubt by his own hand.”
Mattea looked from one to the other and neither one’s gaze wavered from her. She continued to search the Major’s face until he had to look away, ashamed he had done nothing to help his superior out. Again, Tobias seemed to know what he was thinking and spoke his mind.
“If you had interfered and tried to help him you would be dead as well. We’re all expendable in his mind, just mere pawns. Don’t blame yourself for trying to protect what you hold dear Major.”
“Is there nothing he’ll stop at?” Mattea asked
“No.” The Major answered, swallowing hard as the memories of what happened darkened his thoughts. “He also murdered the man’s family with his anger.”
Mattea looked quickly at Tobias. “Then why on earth do you…” Her eyes quickly flicking back to the Major, “Do we?” She never finished these questions as she very softly answered it herself. “Because he is a Grace and we have no other choice.”
“None of the other Graces are like Nalas.” Tobias interceded. “Which is why…” But Tobias stopped himself before he finished his thought and got into trouble for his opinion. He needn’t have worried as the Major himself wasn’t all that eager for the impending war. He had hoped he would be able to finish out his tour and retire as some had managed to do, but now even those who had resigned their commissions due to their age would soon be hard pressed back into service.
Both Tobias and the Major looked down at their feet. Mattea pulled into herself as the weight of resignation draped heavily across her shoulders. With a heavy sigh of acceptance she looked at her superior. She knew it was useless, and obviously unhealthy, to ignore and refuse Nalas.
“Well do I at least get some time to spend with my family before I have to leave?”
Tobias’s answer shattered her hopes. “We have a day…I wish I could give you more, but I can’t.” He paused then continued. “I am sorry I have to do this. You don’t deserve this.” His voice was soft and barely audible.
Tobias watched the light leave her eyes as she accepted her fate. His heart broke as he watched her face before anger filled it. Tobias knew deep in his heart that he would never leave Nalas’ forced slavery alive, but he vowed silently to himself that if it took his life he would make sure that she made it home to her family. Mattea’s movements next to him brought him back to the present.
“If that’s all Major, I’d like to spend what time I have left with my family.”
“Permission granted.”
Mattea snapped to attention as she saluted, and he returned it. Executing a perfect about-face, she left the room, head high, shoulders squared.
Two pairs of eyes watched her departure with sadness. The Major was the first to speak.
“I’m losing a good soldier.”
Tobias’ response, though soft, spoke volumes and might as well have been shouted. “You’re losing a good person, but if I have anything to do with it, she will return.” Tobias changed the subject. “I do hope that you have some