The Last Stand (The Eleven Years War: Book One)
Chapter Twenty-Six

When General Raul came, he arrivedwithout any pomp or fanfare, but that didn’t seem to matter; his entrance,trailed by well-armed, sharp-cut soldiers, was enough to scare every member ofthe castle staff out of their wits. Even the guards seemed uncertain in thegeneral’s presence. They bowed their heads in submission, not daring to look upat the most hated man in the world; however, Eza, like Olrick, Silas, andMarion, wouldn’t let herself. She wasn’t about to let him think she was scaredof him.

“Itis a great honor to have you here in castle Matisse, General Raul,” Polain saidas her performed a small bow. Eza and Olrick did the same (though the saintsknew that she wasn’t willing) but Marion and Silas didn’t; they simply staredat Raul, stubbornness in their eyes. Raul seemed intrigued by the defiant gesture,but he didn’t say anything about it; likely, he didn’t want to bring it up infront of a very obviously pissed Polain, who glared at the princess and thecommander with murder in his eyes.

“Itis an honor to be here, general,” Raul’s voice was stiff, as if he were onlyrepeating memorized courtesies. He looked over at Marion and performed a slightbow, himself. “It’s especially wonderful to make your acquaintance, PrincessMarion. You’re the spitting image of your mother, your grace.”

Ezacould see Marion tense up when he mentioned her mother. The previous queen ofCaitha was a very touchy subject for her; she’d killed herself on Marion’sbirthday, just a week after they’d learned that Raul had killed her father.Though his façade told them that it was a genuine compliment, Eza was almostpositive that he’d said it to make Marion uncomfortable.

“Thankyou, General Raul,” Marion said as nodded at him, her voice just as stiff asRaul’s. Though it was apparent to Eza that she’d tried to say it withoutmissing a beat, it was obvious to her that Raul’s little plan had worked. “It’sa pleasure to meet you, as well.”

Ezatried to keep her anger from showing on her face. It was a low blow, bringingup Marion’s dead mother.

“I’mafraid that I’m unfamiliar with some of your men, general,” Raul said. “I hopethat this doesn’t come across as rude, but why are they here?”

Polaingestured to Eza, Silas and Olrick. “They are my most trusted militarycommanders; I thought it was only fitting, as your messenger told me that Iwould have the pleasure of meeting your trusted commanders. Silas is the headof military intelligence, Olrick commands the Watch, while Eza commands theRooks.”

Raulnodded, intrigued by Polain’s answer. “Interesting choice of commanders,general. I’ve always wondered who the feared head of the Rooks is; I neverthought that it was a woman.” He looked over at Olrick, a pleased look on hisface, but didn’t say anything; they looked each other in the eye – angershining in Olrick’s a sneer in Raul’s – then he looked back at Polain. Theexchange was short, but long enough that Eza made a mental note to ask Olrickabout it later. “My men and I are tired from travelling, general; where will webe staying while we’re here?”

“Eliseand Commander Eza will escort you to your room, general,” Polain said.“Commander Silas and Commander Olrick will show your men to their rooms.” Withthat, everybody parted ways, Eza, Elise and Raul heading for the west wing,while Olrick, Silas and Raul’s men headed for the south wing.

“IsGeneral Raul having me killed?” Raul asked jokingly once they were out ofearshot from everyone else. “The reputation you Rooks have as assassins isreally quite fearsome. I certainly hope that your escorting me isn’t a precursorto what will happen to me.”

“No, sir, you aren’tbeing assassinated. General Polain just doesn’t trust your motives all thatmuch, since you don’t exactly have the best record when it comes to peacecouncils.”

Eliseseemed shocked by Eza’s response, but Raul didn’t. In fact, he began to laugh.

“I’venever known someone of Jotiese descent to have such a sharp tongue,” he said. “You’reall normally quite stiff and formal, from my experience.”

“I’mnot Jotiese,” Eza said. But my mother was.“I’m Kurzhian.” That seemed tosurprise Raul, and he almost looked a little uncomfortable. Eza had to keep asmall, victorious smile from her face. That’sright; I hope you feel uncomfortable, you Gisken bastard.

“Iapologize, Commander Eza,” Raul said, his voice flat. “I wouldn’t havementioned it if I had known.”

“I’mnot ashamed of where I come from,” Eza said without bothering to look back athim. “Unless you were apologizing for invading my homeland, in which case, Idon’t forgive you and I don’t think I ever will.”

Eliseshot her a wide-eyed, fearful look. She didn’t say anything, but the messagewas clear: she was coming close to crossing a line with her language with Raul.

“Iwould watch your language, Rook,” Raul growled. He spat out the word Rook likean insult, something that Eza wasn’t used to hearing. Most spoke the word withreverence when speaking about the intelligence core in respect for what theybelieved it to be. “I could’ve just stormed into this pathetic excuse for acity with my armies and ripped it out of your hands, but I decided to begracious and give you an opportunity to end this peacefully. Don’t antagonizeme after I decided to give you some mercy.”

Elisehad begun to shake in fear at his words, but Eza just found herself angry.Mercy? Raul didn’t know the meaning of the word. For once, though, she thoughtit best to hold her tongue.

Finally,they came to Raul’s room. Eza and Elise stopped in front of the door and lookedback at the aging general. “Welcome to your room. I would suggest that you justhang tight here until someone comes to get you.” Raul nodded, his face stony.

“MissElise, would you leave the two of us alone for a few moments, please?” Eliselooked between Eza and Raul, then bowed.

“Yes,sir.” She began walking down the hallway.

“Youaren’t going to make my time here harder than it needs to be, are you?” Raulasked once Elise was gone.

“I’mgoing to do my job,” Eza said. “If you get in my way, then yes, I’ll make yourlife hard.” Raul continued to give her an icy stare, but she didn’t give adamn: making the bastard squirm felt like a good thing to do.

“Youremind me of someone I met on the Kurzhian campaign,” he said dryly. “A littlegirl, one that clung to General Mitrius like some sort of parasite.”

Ezacould feel an ice-cold fist grab her heart. He recognized her; damn, did hehave a subtle way of showing it.

Obviously,Raul noticed that he’d stricken a nerve; if he hadn’t, Eza didn’t think hewould’ve continued on with his line of thought. “It’s quite funny, really. Youlook exactly like her; your scar is even in the same place as hers. Youcouldn’t possibly be her, though, right? After all, she froze to death duringan escape attempt.”

Ezafound her grip on her staff tightening. For eight years, she’d managed toescape the things that had happened to her in Kurzh; now, it seemed that it wasall resurfacing, again.

Raulsmiled slyly. Damn him; she’d been able to keep who she was a secret, onlyknown to General Polain and Silas. “Does General Polain know about your past,my dear?” he asked. “Or have you been leading him on to believe that you’re aJotiese refugee, like him?”

Ezaprayed to St. Nikola for patience. She had stopped giving a damn about whatpeople said to her; one had to develop a thick skin when they looked to beJotiese, were really Kurzhian, and wore the black of the Rooks. However, itpissed her off to hear someone talk badly about General Polain, the mosthonorable, respectable person she knew.

“Listen,”she said. “Call me whatever you want; I stopped giving a damn about what peoplethink of me a long time ago. But if I hear you badmouthing General Polainagain, I swear on the saints, I’ll make sure you regret it.” His eyebrows wentup in surprise.

“Youhave a sharp tongue, Kurzhian,” Raul said. “It’ll get you killed one day.” Heopened the door to his room, then looked back at her.

“Don’tworry too much about your identity,” he said. “That can stay our little secret,for now; however, I promise you that when this country surrenders, I will showno quarter.” He walked into his room and shut the door, leaving theconversation on that threatening note.

Ezabegan walking away from his room, her anger beginning to boil over. Damn Raul,damn him to the darkest pit of hell.