Part 20 (1/2)

”Him!” Sparrow glared at the man on horseback. ”Arrest him! He's a rapist and a murderer!”

”He's also the Empress's favorite gladiator.”

Sparrow snapped, ”I don't care who he is, Monique! I know what he is!”

The woman motioned for the gladiator to go. As soon as he'd left the area, Monique ordered the guard to release Sparrow.

”Are you sure, My Lady?” asked the guard, struggling to hold Sparrow who fought with all her strength.

Monique nodded.

The guard dropped his hands from Sparrow and she snarled, ”He is a criminal!”

”Sparrow, I told you his position in the city. You know I could have let you be arrested for this disturbance, but you're my friend, so I won't report it.”

”Some friend! That gladiator is the animal who killed my sister!”

Monique's eyes widened. ”So he's the one...I'm so sorry, Sparrow. No wonder why you're upset.”

”Upset isn't the word!”

”I'm afraid Miska's the Empress's favorite, so there's nothing I can do to help you find justice. He's been given all the privileges of a gladiator. You know how respected they are in the city.”

”Respect! That b.a.s.t.a.r.d killed Thea! I'm going to kill him myself!” Sparrow ran in the direction Miska had ridden.

Lock caught her and held her close, ”Let me go!” She tried to push away. ”I'm going to kill him, Lock, and no one will stop me!”

”Sparrow, he'd destroy you in seconds.”

”Not before I cut off his b.a.l.l.s!”

Lock felt his stomach tighten. He'd never seen Sparrow so furious. Not that he blamed her, but for her to fight Miska would end in disaster. One look in the man's eyes and Lock knew he had no soul. He'd reminded Lock of himself-or rather how he used to be before meeting Sparrow.

”Let me go!”

He tightened his grip, feeling her trembling against him. Finally she stopped struggling and looked up at him, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes. ”You don't know what he did to her, Lock. I want him dead.”

”I won't let you do it.”

”You have no right!”

”If you attack him, he'll kill you, and I couldn't bear it.” He grasped her shoulders and shook her gently. ”I've never had anything like what we share. Don't take it away from me.”

Sparrow's anger faded and she touched his face, the pain in her eyes lacerating him worse than a whip's cut. She nodded.

Monique approached and touched Sparrow's arm. ”I am sorry.”

Sparrow shook her head and blinked tears from her eyes. ”Doesn't matter. I came here on more important business. Monique, I need your help. Lock and I want to marry.”

The blond glanced at the band on Lock's arm. ”But he's your slave. You can't marry a slave in Begonia.”

”I know, but I was hoping there might be some law...”

”None that I now of, and I've been on the council most of my life, but I can look in the scrolls again. Would you like to come with me to the palace?”

”Yes. Please.”

”This way.” Monique motioned for them to follow her through the narrow streets of the marketplace, past the well in the s.p.a.cious square, and finally to the gate of the tall, white palace itself.

In the company of Monique, Sparrow and Lock were allowed to enter the palace through the main hall. At one time, Sparrow would have been shown the respect of a princess regardless of whether she visited the palace with a council member or alone. Since her family's fall, she was treated as a commoner, even though she retained acquaintances.h.i.+ps with both council members and the Empress of Begonia herself.

Two guards dressed in silver armor opened the double doors at the palace entrance, and Monique led them into the hall, a vast square marble room. Blue and white tapestries hung from the high ceilings, and finely-woven rugs scattered across the floor. An oak table stood in the center of the room, reaching almost from wall to wall. On a raised marble platform on the far wall stood two silver thrones, side by side.

Sparrow experienced a feeling of familiarity as she looked at the hall. She remembered her life as a princess clearly, though at times it seemed so long ago. Once, she never would have imagined working a farm or sharing her bed with a man who was rough as a rock face, who had never put on airs. At least when Lock said he loved her, seldom as that may be, she believed him. Unlike ladies and gentlemen of the court, he didn't bother with love lies. He didn't try to pretend he was someone he wasn't, and she knew in spite of his faults, she was far happier with him than she ever would have been with the prince to whom she'd been betrothed.

”Now,” Monique paused and glanced at Lock, ”I suppose you want him to join us?”

”If possible.”

Monique sighed. ”Slaves aren't usually allowed in the archives, but I'll make an exception, considering your unique relations.h.i.+p with this one.”

”Thank you for small favors,” Lock muttered.

Sparrow poked her elbow into his stomach. ”Will you be quiet? This is a palace, not a tavern!”

Monique lifted her chin and glanced away from Lock.

”Forgive me,” Lock spoke with quiet reserve though his eyes flashed anger at Sparrow, ”My Lady.”

Monique led them to the nearest door that opened to a narrow corridor with a winding staircase leading to the top of the palace. They stopped at a second floor hallway and entered the archive, a vast room with shelves on all four walls containing innumerable scrolls and leather bound books. Long wooden ladders hung from the ceiling so the volumes on the highest shelves could be reached. Several oak tables, lit by metal lanterns carved into the shape of dragons, stood in the center of the carpeted floor. Two ladies dressed in robes similar to Monique's sat at the tables. They looked up from their scrolls and glanced at Lock with curiosity.

Sparrow knew them both, and they nodded at her in greeting before returning to their work.

”Follow me.” Monique walked across the room and stood by the light of a round window in between several shelves. ”This section involves the laws of marriage. Over there,” she pointed to a higher shelf, ”regards slavery. I know you don't understand the legal intricacies of our ways, but you can help me look through the books to find something that might pertain to your situation.”

Sparrow sighed as she stared at the rows of books in each section. It might take longer than she expected.

”Is it permissible for me to help?” Lock asked.

Monique and Sparrow turned to him. Sparrow noted the surprise on the woman's face and she felt a bit taken aback herself. Lock's voice had sounded so soft and polite she wondered if she'd taken the right man with her.

”He can read?” Monique raised an eyebrow.

Sparrow met Lock's eyes and he offered her a smug grin. She said, ”Of course he can read.”

Monique's brow furrowed. ”A slave really shouldn't be allowed to touch our books, but...I suppose there's no harm in it, especially seeing how long it could take to read these volumes.”

They each chose a book and sat at an empty table where they spent hours searching for any law that might allow Sparrow and Lock to marry in Begonia.