"Charlene!" I screamed, running toward her crumpled body.

The guards tried to grab me as I pushed through the crowd. I wrenched free and dropped to my knees. The blood pooled about her head and neck, covering her beautiful hair. Not giving much care to my own gown, I scooped her off the floor and held her close to my body, crying for my dear friend.

"Evelyn!" James yelled for me.

My mother tried to tear me away from her, but I refused to leave Charlene.

The gold gown I wore was destroyed by streaks of blood. I wiped at my cheeks, smearing the crimson liquid across my face.

"What happened?" I asked nobody in particular.

Nobody answered. The women fanned themselves as everyone craned their necks to see better.

"I said what happened!"

Again, nobody answered. They stood, staring at us.

"How is it that nobody saw this happen?"

"Let's get her out of here, Evelyn," James coaxed me to release her body.

I nodded, laying her on the cold stone. A guard swooped down and picked her up, carrying her out of the banquet hall.

"Take her to chambers!" James hollered.

"Aye, sir." The guard breezed down the hall, carrying her as though she were a ragdoll, and up the stairs.

That's what she looked like. A ragdoll. Her head lolled back; her damp, blood-soaked hair hung down, and her arms hung down her body. He laid her on the bed, the white sheets turning a bright red. I walked to her side, brushing the matted hair out of her face. As my hand passed by her mouth, I felt a small whoosh of air.

"She's breathing. She's breathing!"

"What?" Elizabeth asked.

"Someone give me a knife. Now!"

A guard fumbled with the sharp instrument at his waist, handing it over. I grabbed a handful of the gown and sliced it off. Her undergarments were soaked in blood. She sucked in a deep breath of air while gasping. A blood-curdling scream erupted from her lips as I pushed her onto her side, ripping the back of her undergarments, and searching for a wound. I grabbed the torn gown and wiped away as much of the blood from her back as I could. She cried the entire time. Her body grew hot, and I knew infection grew more the longer I took. The blood poured out of a wound on her lower back.

"Here. It's here. Stop the bleeding," I begged the physician.

He knelt beside me and fumbled through a large black bag, digging for something. "Hold the fabric on tightly. Bring hot water and more towels!"

People rushed about as the doctor pulled out a large needle and thread.

"Whiskey!" he shouted.

Someone handed him a decanter of the amber liquid. He pulled the stopper out and gently poured it over Charlene's back. She let out the most horrific scream I'd ever heard.

"Shh, it's alright. You're going to be alright," I whispered to her.

All she did, or could do, was moan in agony.

"What is it?" James asked.

The physician ran his fingers along the smooth edges of the cut and examined it closely. "She was stabbed. The edges are smooth. Very smooth. Moreover, it's small. Fortunately, nothing important was in the way of the blade. This was not intended to kill, simply to cause great distress. Which it is. The poor lady."

"Why Charlene?" Elizabeth asked.

"Because she's my lady-in-waiting. They couldn't get me so they went after her," I said angrily.

"What?" James asked.

"The Guild. You know this was them. Why else would someone be attacked at your father's birthday? Two people actually."

"I don't know, Evelyn."

"Will she be alright?" my mother asked.

"The lady should survive. She'll be in pain for some time, but she should be okay."

I nodded and tossed her ruined gown to the side. Picking up fresh linen, I dunked it into the hot water and wiped at the already-drying blood. Charlene's breathing was shallow and fast. I still didn't like how hot her skin felt.

"What about the fever?" I asked.

"We shall have to wait and see how her body fights it," the physician said."

"Can you give her something for it?"

"I have a few things I can try."

He pulled out a few vials and pouches of small pills. One after the other he applied the balms, had Charlene drink a vial, and slid a pill into her mouth. After a short while, she slept restlessly.

"Go to bed," James said, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm going to stay with her. At least until I know she's really going to be okay."

"You're not going to do anyone good if you're not resting. We're going to meet tomorrow to discuss the threat."

"The Guild," I said

"Yes. As much as we've tried to protect you from them, they've found you. They're not going to stop until you're dead," he said.

"They don't know about what happened to me yet," I whispered.

"I don't believe they have. I'm not sure what they know. I don't know who managed to infiltrate the castle."

"I'm staying here. We'll meet tomorrow." I accepted a chair from Elizabeth, sitting as she wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.

She pulled a second chair up to the other side of Charlene and held her other hand. "We'll both stay here."

"Charlene doesn't need to be alone."

"She's sleeping, Evelyn," my father said.

"And if mother ever got sick would you leave her?"

"No, but she's my wife. I love her."

"And Charlene is my friend. She's been with me every day since we were kids. I won't abandon her now." I put my head down on the bed and closed my eyes.

The discussion was over. I stayed with Charlene.

I awoke the following morning when the mattress on the bed moved a bit. I sat up and looked at Charlene who smiled at me.

"You're awake?" I asked.

"Don't look so surprised. I'm stronger than I look," she answered.

I leaped onto the bed, wrapping her in the tightest hug I could manage.

"My lady! I didn't know you worried so for me."

"Of course I do, you silly girl. You've been at my side since we were but children. I just never thought of you as being susceptible to harm."

"Neither did I. What happened?" she asked.

"You don't know?" Elizabeth queried.

"No." Charlene shook her head and furrowed her brow.

"What do you remember?" I questioned.

"A very sharp pain in my back and an odd smell."

I looked at her curiously. "A smell?"

"Yes. It didn't belong here."

"What did it smell like?"

"Gunpowder."

"Gunpowder?" I asked surprised. "Why would someone have gunpowder at a birthday celebration?" I pondered aloud.

"Do you think the Guild is using guns now?" Elizabeth asked.

"You think this was due to the Guild?" Charlene asked.

"Maybe. Even though if they wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Not injured."

"So I wasn't the target?"

"I think you were, but they didn't want you to die. They wanted to send a message to me."

"What kind of message?" Elizabeth asked.

"That they're not going to stop, and they don't care who they have to hurt in the process," I said.

"You think that's why they didn't kill me? Wouldn't me dying send a more powerful message?" she asked.

"I'm not sure, Charlene. Either way, I'm glad you're alive. Even though, if there is another attack I'm not sure if that person will live through it."

Someone knocking at the door caused us to grow quiet.

I sighed heavily and pursed my lips into a tight line before answering. "Enter!"

"Madame, I do bed your forgiveness. Prince James instructed everyone to leave you be; however, this urgent letter arrived for you quite mysteriously," Andrew said, bringing a piece of parchment paper to me.

"Mysteriously?" I questioned.

"Aye, Madame. It was delivered by..." His voice trailed off as he looked at the paper in confusion.

"By what? Do speak, Andrew."

"A falcon dropped it, Ma'am."

"A falcon? A bird brought the letter?" I looked at him in disbelief, trying to comprehend that he expected me to believe a bird of prey delivered a letter for me.

He nodded and bowed as I took it. I turned the yellowed paper over in my hand, staring at the odd, red seal holding it closed. The symbol appeared to be two axes forming an upside down V with ivy beneath. A falcon perched on the peak with its wings spread wide.

What is this?

"What is the symbol, Andrew?" I asked.

"I'm unsure, ma'am. I've never seen it before."

"Neither have I. Please fetch my mother. I will inquire with her first."

He nodded and quickly left the room.

"Do you think it's the Guild?" Elizabeth asked.

"It's possible."

I puzzled over the strange communication until my parents and James arrived.

"I send for one parent and I get both and the fiancée."

"Charlene! You're awake! How marvelous," my mother said, grasping her hand.

"Thank you, majesty. I'm in pain, but I'm alive."

"That's what's important," my father said, nodding his head.

I handed the letter to my mother and watched, as her eyes grew large as saucers.

"Where did you get this?" she asked.

"A falcon dropped it for me not long ago. You know that seal?"

"Yes. It's the Guild."

"I told you!" Elizabeth shouted in excitement. "Sorry."

She sat back down and chewed her lip.

"Yes. You were right," I mumbled.

My mother handed the parchment back to me. "Open it."

"Open it?"

"Yes. Obviously, they want you to read something."

Carefully, I broke the seal. I watched as the wax crumbled and fell to the ground. My hands shook as I opened it, unsure what to expect inside.

"Do read it," James said.

"Um, it's explicit and it was the Guild who attacked you, Charlene."

My dearest petunia, Evelyn,

I do hope this letter find you well and unharmed. Forgive me, sweet dewdrop, for crashing such a lovely celebration. You and that lovely queen of a mother you have did not heed the warnings. I asked, rose petal, so nicely for you to join us since she went on her own way and disobeyed us. Having you as payment for her desertion seems only fair. Does it not, my lovely sweet cake? If there are competent, physicians in that rugged, Scottish palace you're beautiful lad should be alive. Our assassin was given instructions to wound, not to kill. I really did not want to involve others in our little quarrel, but you have left me no choice. This is a most unfortunate turn of events. Do reconsider the offer to join us so no others have to suffer because of your poor decision-making. It would be a shame if anything happened to the lovely friend of yours. Her mother aided your mother. Her name is Elizabeth if I'm not mistaken. Such a beautiful name for such a beautiful corpse. And least of all you becoming one. We would love to see an assassin as a queen. Not a naughty queen like our dearest flower, Joselyn, though. She doesn't behave at all.

Truly and forever yours,

Agnolo

"Oh," Elizabeth said, her color turning a frightening shade of white.

"Are you alright?" my mother asked her.

"I'm not sure. I've never had my life threatened before."

"Don't fear, Elizabeth. You shall be safe here," James replied.

"As safe as Charlene was?" She cocked her head to the side and chewed the inside of her cheeks.

James looked taken aback by her bluntness.

"Forgive, Prince James. I spoke out of turn. I am just upset."

"No. Don't apologize, Elizabeth," I said. "You have every right to worry, and you're right. We couldn't even keep someone in our inner circle safe. If we can't protect those closest to me, nobody is safe."

I stood, dropped the letter, and paced the room. My mother picked it up and read it over and over again as though she were searching for something I missed.

I stopped near the window and watched as the horse trotted about the corral. It looked as though there had never been hundreds of lords and ladies prancing about the grounds the previous day. I turned to watch those I loved so dearly. My parents, my friends, and the man I was to marry; we weren't safe. It was my fault despite never doing anything. My crime was being born.

I sighed heavily, fighting the tears, there was only one thing I could do to protect them all.

I had to leave.