Not Convincing

Iker stared at the woman before him. Had he heard right? 

The sergeant had only had one drink the night before, not nearly enough to cause that sort of hallucination. "Come again?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but I'm the princess and we are under attack. You know those men who came in the gate this morning? They are soldiers from Lakyle. We must call up the troops from the garrison in town immediately or all will be lost!" The woman's eyes pleaded with him full of conviction.

He had heard right! 

Iker rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably for a moment before a smile split his face.

"Haha, very funny. I almost bought this whole damsel act. Did Svyn put you up to this?"

"Who?" Rose pulled back, very confused by the sergeant's sudden shift in mood. 

Iker examined the woman more closely. Her make-up was so realistic. The men had really outdone themselves. 

"They told me they would get me back for my little prank the other day. Where are they? Come out, boys. If you had managed to get me fired, I'd bring you all down with me in a heartbeat!" Iker laughed and scanned the top of the wall.

He hadn't spotted any of his friends. Perhaps they were so convinced they would succeed that they waited until they were guarding the horn so that it would not accidentally get blown.

Such tricksters! He doubled over in amusement. 

Rose was stunned by the man's uncontrolled laughter. She had anticipated many things, but not this! 

"I don't know what you think has happened, but no one is playing a trick on you. If you cannot help me then find someone who can!" The princess wanted to slap some sense into the man, but after his kindness earlier, she really could not blame him for being suspicious.

The whole story did sound ridiculous. She sighed and tried again. 

"I mean every word I have said. Is there some way I could convince you?" 

Iker called to a soldier at the entrance to the castle. "How goes it? Any invaders?" 

The man called across the courtyard to the keep. "What's dat? We's in no danger. Castle's as safe as ever!" 

'Fed!' Recognizing the man at the entrance as the one who had invaded her room, Rose turned away from the entrance and hid her face. Hopefully he hadn't paid enough attention to notice her at all. 

She continued to plead with Iker. "I know what he said, but that man..."

"Even if you could convince him, there is nothing he can do," another voice broke into the conversation. 

The other soldier looked less sympathetic to Rose's cause. Disbelief was worse than defiance to her at this point. But his words surprised her, until he explained.

"Only the king, Commander Borit, or Captain Rabert can give the order to light the signal or blow the Distress Horn," the gruff soldier continued. "So unless you have an order from one of them, we can do nothing but wait until one of them gives us confirmation." 

Rose hung her head. The king was captured, Borit was a traitor and Rose hadn't seen Rabert since she was exiled to her room. 

As if that were not bad enough, the gravelly voice of Fed was suddenly directly behind her.

"What fool was spreading rumors about invaders?" He sounded annoyed. His eyes looked across both men then glared into the back of the maid's head.

"Just a prank, my friend. Nothing personal," Iker tried to sound friendly. 

"Girl was trying to talk the sergeant into lighting the signal." the other guard pointed above their heads where the torch was kept on the wall. 

Rose gritted her teeth. Fed was not going to like that at all. He knew that it was not a prank. The invasion was active and ongoing. The loathsome Lakilian was a part of it. 

"Dat is not a prank. Dat is an act of treason! I shall take her ta face justice at once!" Fed was indignant, but not for the reasons which the other two men assumed. He was infuriated that this little mouse of a girl was about to spoil all their plans. 

Iker stepped between Rose and Fed. "There is no need for that. No actual harm has been done. Perhaps you should go back to your post and let me handle my own station." 

"Ya cannot leave the gate, Sergeant," Fed bit back. "Da Commander needs ta know of this girl's treachery." 

"She doesn't seem to think it is treachery," the third guard piped in. "There has just been some misunderstanding, in my humble opinion. Instead of facing 'justice' as you say, why do I not escort her to Captain Rhodri and get to the bottom of this?" 

The princess's heart leapt at the option until she heard Fed's response. He feigned sadness as he shook his head. "Did ya not hear? Da Captain fell ill outside the gate earlier. He died when he got back to the infirmary." 

'What?!' Rose felt suddenly lightheaded. How could someone she loved like family die right when things were at their worst. And of sickness?!

'Someone did this to him. I am sure of it. It is all too convenient for the Commander's cause.'

She balled her fists. 

"Da only person to see about da issue is da Commander. I'll get da little woman dere right away and get this sorted." Fed moved around Iker and grabbed Rose's arm roughly. 

Looking up at him, the princess's eyes shone with grim determination. "There is another person who can deal with this issue. I demand to see the king." 

All three men were shocked for a moment. 

"No," Fed answered, scowling at her in warning. Something about her face and voice were familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. "What did ya say yer name was?" 

"I didn't. Now, let me go. I want to see the king. Now." Rose tried to pull her arm away from Fed's grasp.

No one was listening to her, and she was ready to take matters into her own hands. Unfortunately, Fed was much stronger than the princess. He began to force her toward the castle's door. 

"Ya are right crazy! Seeing da king like ya are some kind a royalty. To da Commander you go. Now." Fed felt a firm hand come on his shoulder as Iker stopped him from leaving. 

"I will take her myself at the end of my shift. You may not take her from my sight, soldier. You asked for her name, but I do not know yours. Are you one of the new recruits?" There was a challenge in Iker's voice. He did not like how the other man, someone unfamiliar with the ways of the castle, was trying to impose his own will over the established sergeant. 

Fed released Rose. The two men came chest to chest. "I'm new, but that doesn't mean I am wrong." 

"Well, you don't know how things work around here yet. The maid stays here if I say she stays here." Iker puffed up to his full height. The other man was beginning to get on his nerves. "Now go back to guarding the palace door before I report you." 

"I should report ya too. Harboring traitors by da front gate. What kind of place is dis castle?" Fed pressed a finger against the other man in accusation. 

The two men began to bicker like children in the schoolyard. 

"Uh, Sergeant," the third guard called over the noise.

"Not now," Iker brushed aside his subordinate. 

"But, Sergeant! It's kind of important. The girl. She's getting on the wall!" 

Fed and Iker stopped their quarreling to see Rose scaling the steps. As she pushed past a startled sentry, Rose laid eyes on the palace's hope of salvation. 

The signal was a rectangular trough of straw, doused with fuel for easy ignition. 

From a holder on the wall, the princess picked up the smoldering punk to light the fire. She rushed forward. Suddenly, not one, but two armies were after her as both Fed and Iker ordered her captured. 

Seeing her coming, the man tending the torch blocked her path. His dark eyes and hair stared stoically at her as he drew his sword. "Stop right there." 

The princess stopped. She was cornered. Rose breathed slowly. 

And took aim.