Ester makes plans
Marigold remained calm the entire time, until the tone of the self monolog changed. Suddenly Ester seemed to become incensed and she began saying things that caused a chill to run down Marigold's spine.
"This woman is a bane sister. I know that I sound envious and vindictive but it is not just that. I admit I want Gabriel to see me as he sees her and how he is beginning to see you. Don't think I have not noticed.
"But she is a detriment to our plans. I can not keep this thing growing in my belly but we have yours. What will their be for your child if we allow Grace's children to exist? What will happen for our family when she eventually wins him back?
"No. We need to send out the family assassins. They will infiltrate the western keep before she is fully settled and we will have her."
Vanessa squinted her eyes, still looking at Marigold as her sister's words registered in her mind. She looked to Ester, her head moving slowly, deliberately.
"You already sent out assassins? I was not told of this."
"You are not to know everything Vanessa."
Vanessa blinked several times. Thoughts organizing in her mind at a rapid pace.
"I am over the assassins and the guards. Why would I not need to know these things.
"If I had agreed, and I doubt I would have, I would have chosen the best team. Who did you go to for this?"
Vanessa's anger was cresting and Marigold felt a slight tremor move through Ester as she sat up and waved for Marigold to step back. She looked at her sister for a long moment and both Marigold and Vanessa knew that she was calming herself so that the internal fear did not show.
"Sister. You need to calm yourself. I am over all. I have say over all things. Remember that I was chosen regent not you. Remember that I was chosen to later head our family's enterprises, not you."
Vanessa watched her as her breathing began to ease and she regained her calm. She smirked at her sister.
"We both know why you were chosen and I was a fool to allow it. Do not worry sister I will rectify things and correct my mistakes."
She rose from her seat. Her eyes still trained on Ester.
"You risk all because of your jealousy. Grace would have stayed to herself if you had not taken all. When you threatened her children you changed her attitude towards things.
"She is a true royal and she would have accepted her lot and created something new for her children. This is the difference between you and her.
Look around. We both know what this place was before she came here. We both know she did this with the resources available to her here. She is capable and you do not put any fear into her.
"Your actions endanger our family sister. You will bring about our downfall but I will not allow it."
She was out of the room before all of her words fully registered in Ester's mind.
Meanwhile Marigold, who had moved to her corner, controlled her trembling and schooled her expression. She was elated that she had when she sensed movement in the room.
Three shadows moved from the wall and approached Ester. A set of cold grey eyes turned to Marigold and she felt a killing intent like nothing she had ever felt before. Her body almost swayed under that gaze and her mind raced. She would definitely need to send out a message today, maybe it was truly time for her to leave and find a new way to serve Her Lady.
Vanessa stormed down the corridor, her anger flowing from her in thick waves. She was incensed. She knew her sister's lovers had been in the room, she originally thought she had called them to her because Gabriel continued to deny her. Now she knew it was a back up plan to her assassins. Or even a plan in tandem with them.
Both ideas were dangerous.
She shook her head as she thought about her sister's stupidity. When she had spoken to her mother she had told her to calm herself and allow Ester time. She reminded her how she herself had not wanted the regent position.
Vanessa never regretted anything in her life, but now, as her hand went to her belly, she understood true regret. She almost stopped in her tracks as a thought came to her.
She would need to add to Gabriel's guard. Dom and Terrence were closer to sanity than Tomas. That fool would try to kill Gabriel for denying Ester.
She was sure that her mother would listen to her this time.
Tomas walked to Ester in a way that told Marigold the two knew each other intimately. Dom never took his grey eyes off of her so she maintained her blank aloof demeanor.
Dom was a tall, dark bulky muscular man with grey eyes and a bald head. Tomas was arrogant, athletic, a boxer and street fighter with red curly hair and green eyes and Terrence was extremely pale, almost a deathly pallor, he also had an athletic build with long blond hair and deep blue eyes. Where the other two seemed dangerous in a hoodlum type of way his dangerous nature seemed to stem from a sense of aristocracy.
Marigold listened, her eyes dazed and pointed toward a distant corner of the room.
"My petite love. How do you allow such vileness around you? I know she is your sister but she should know better."
"You. Are an idiot Tomas. Do you feel you can take on Vanessa?" Dom smirked, quickly rolled his eyes, then retrained them on Marigold.
"I can barely handle her and I actually may not be able to. She is very formidable. Considering who trained her."
Terrence moved around to Ester and kissed her hand. He nodded to the other two indicating agreement with Dom.
"If she is defeated her master would enact a terrible revenge. He is extremely protective of his students, especially the good ones."
Dom shrugged, his gaze on Marigold finally relaxing, "Vanessa is untouchable."
Tomas met Dom's shrug with a shrug of his own then looked to Ester. "This husband of yours has left your bed for Vanessa's? "
Ester smiled but said nothing. Tomas nodded.
Vanessa snuggled into Gabriel. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and kissed her forehead.
"Are you sure you need to leave."
She nodded into his chest.
"Yes. My mother needs to understand how dangerous my sister is."
"I am okay. She can not harm me."
Vanessa said nothing and decided to just enjoy this man.
She stayed with him all night and left early in the morning. It was so very odd to be in love with a man who didn't love you. Vanessa was not confused at all and she refused to ever lie to herself. She knew Gabriel would always love Grace.
She saw it in how he spoke of her and she could always tell when he was thinking about her or her children. She even saw it in the slight disappointment in his face when she told him she was pregnant. He smiled and did what he was supposed to do but she knew people too well to be fooled.
She knew he thought about how her baby would effect Grace and her children. Her heart both swelled and broke at this show of loyalty to Grace and respect to her. For he cared for her, but he loved Grace.
Vanessa left in the night. She had refused Gabriel when he offered to send his guard with her.
Now he sat on the dais beside Ester fretting over Vanessa, so when three men were announced for Ester he barely registered it. Then he remembered that Vanessa warned him about three men especially one named Tomas.
He casually looked, his face well schooled, to the men introduced and immediately he knew which was Tomas. He walked with a swagger and as he spoke to Ester he stared maliciously at Gabriel.
He felt his guard tense but they subtly, and slowly calmed.
Tomas smirked and intensified his stare. Suddenly there was a flurry of motion. When all was still Gabriel casually stood with his sword in his hand as he calmly looked down at Tomas. A sharp red line formed on his right side as a slit in the fabric revealed itself and blood began to seep through his clothes.
He smiled as Gabriel's guards unsheathed their swords, ignoring the slit in his side.
Gabriel signaled for calm.
"You may need their help, so called king. You may die here without it."
Gabriel looked to the shallow slit in the man's side then back to his face. "There is no way a slow and arrogant fool would kill me. Come fool. Test your theory."
Ester abruptly stood. "My king. My love please excuse this Fool. He does not understand the situation."
Gabriel spoke with his eyes trained on Tomas. Vanessa had warned him about this man and he trusted her much more than he would ever trust Ester.
"And what is the situation?"
"The betterment of our kingdom. For Lystra to grow and develop of course." As Ester spoke the other two came and stood beside Tomas and the three stepped back as one.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes but he also nodded and sheathed his sword. His guards did not follow suit. They now perceived a danger to their king and they remained vigilant.
Gabriel said nothing more. He merely took his seat and listened to the proceedings. He became increasingly angry as he understood what Ester was planning. He also felt Tomas' eyes trained on him.
He knew that this one would try again to take him.
Ester and Gabriel walked together. He truly loved these hanging gardens. Gabriel felt that this home that Grace created was an homage to him. He shook his head at his own arrogance.
"And what are you thinking about my love?"
"Nothing of importance."
Ester frowned and just as she was about to speak Gabriel unsheathed his sword and quickly moved to her side at the opposite end of the path. They turned back as one to see the spot where he had just stood a moment ago deeply slashed. The ground and two plants had been cut cleanly in two.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "It would seem your friend Tomas has decided to try his hand at it again."
"Tomas? No my love he wouldn't…"
"You have keen senses young king. I can not allow you to continually disrespect My Lady."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at how the man emphasized "my". He looked to Ester and her eyes immediately fell to the ground.
"Fine. Test this young king then. We will see who respects or disrespects."
Tomas came at him very fast, Gabriel smiled, it wasn't fast enough. He side stepped and Tomas clumsily regained his footing.
They exchanged sword swings back and forth, Gabriel pushing Tomas back and Tomas frowning for it.
Gabriel pressed harder and as he pushed Tomas back to the edge of the garden and one of the drops to the balcony beneath them Ester yelled out.
"Stop this immediately!"
Tomas stopped, as he was told, making Gabriel stop his maneuver and seem to twirl off the side of the edge of the terrace to the balcony below. Ester screamed.
"Calm down. I am fine. Leave my gardens and let me think. Go enjoy your guests."
His guards were already there and they began escorting both Ester and Tomas away.
"My love! Please believe me I never intended this!"
Ester's plea was met with silence.