The Red Death Murders by Jim Noy

Author:Jim Noy [Noy, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

PART THREE

And the Revel Went Whirlingly On

SIXTEEN

Thomas awoke to a new world.

He now knew who his father was, but the man was dead; he now knew who his mother was, but had abandoned her to watch powerful men vie for position and influence; he was no longer a servant in the house of a titled man, but instead stood on the verge of possessing a power that, for his entire life, had been used to keep people in fear; and the man he cared for most in the world had risked his own life to oppose what Thomas was due to become.

Was this a world he wanted?

The Thousand Days War had been over before Thomas was born, and learning of the conflict, and of Sir Marcus’ role in it – his opposition of the King, making him guilty of treason – was to Thomas rather like learning the name of his father: it filled no gaps, replaced nothing that had been missing, and so made little difference. But he had no doubt that it would be expected to impact on him because of who he now knew his father to be.

Would Isobel agree to marry him now, he wondered, or would she simply be marrying his title, the security that came with being the wife of someone with such power? The more Thomas considered it, the more he understood why Prince Prospero had done what he had and avoided choosing a wife. Surely you would want to know that you were loved for who you were.

Power complicated everything.

He could tell that the day was older than when he usually woke, Sir Marcus having decided against calling for him this morning. With a heaviness in his chest, Thomas dressed, unbolted his door, and stepped into the corridor to find Zachariah waiting. Unsure how much suspicion should fall on the bodyguard, and equally unsure what he was doing there, Thomas nodded, received a nod in return, and headed for the stairs without a word.

Zachariah followed.

Thomas stopped and turned, “Did…you need me for something?”

Confusion showed on the other man’s face. “I was…your father’s bodyguard, sire, and now I am yours.”

Thomas had no response to this.

Zachariah dropped his head, his long hair falling forwards, hiding his face from view. “I recognise that your father was attacked and killed while I was responsible for his safety, and that I spoke harshly the other day and you…may resent that, but,” he raised his head again, “if you will permit me, I would be honoured to continue.”

Thomas tried to muster his thoughts. It seemed absurd that a man who had survived the battles and challenges that Zachariah had should be here seeking reassurances from a 13 year-old servant boy.

“D-do you think I need a bodyguard?” Thomas had failed to consider the matter.

The question seemed to confuse Zachariah: “The Prince always has a bodyguard, sire

With no idea what to say, Thomas tried to think.

“Right now, I just want to talk to Sir Marcus.”

“He was in the kitchens only a little while ago, sire,” Zachariah offered, straightening up eagerly.

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