I actually feel my heart stop. It is a weird sensation. And then, it
suddenly starts again. Only this time, there is a fire in my veins.
No one, NO ONE harms my family. People are looking at me now, and I
have a weird sensation that I know what is coming next
"Lady Eliza," says one of the guilders who has no relative or
connection to any leaguer, looking straight at me, "I think some of
the guild might be to close to handle this mission objectively."
"Olivia has never ahd a probelm before.."Eliza starts, but I stop
her.
"No, I understand, with my former French statis and my relations with
the league, some here don't trust me. Fine, I don't need any of you."
With that I stalk out of the room, and head for the door, leaving a
buzz and shuffling behind me.
"Gerard," I call to the stable boy. "I need my horse."
Within moments, I am flying through the streets of London towards the
town house. Miles, my butler opens the door to me, and I walk in
spouting orders. "Miles, send to Louis's. I need him, Collette and
Francois here immediately. Tell her to bring the prostitute costumes
and the makeup." I run upstairs, and prepare to handle the situation
as I can. Another messenger has been dispatched to have a yacth ready
for me at Dover, ready to sail for Calais. My hair is still fairly
ragged from the last mission, but I touch it up anyways. Suddenly,
Collete bursts into the room.
"What on earth has happened?" she asks. She has the costumes and the
make up. I immediately take one of the costumes and put it on. Next,
I take the stage make and change my appearence. A scar on my cheek,
olive skin, red lips, dirt. All the while, I explain the plan to
Collete, who insisted on helping me get in the temple. Francois and
Louis have changed into the revolutionary clothes, and where waiting
downstairs.
"Do you have it?" I asked. Francois nodded. "Good. Here, you'll
need these," I said, handing them each a sword and or a pistol. I had
one of each, hidden by the skirts of my costume, and a dagger up my
sleeve. We all went out, mounting the horses I had provided. Before
going, I had sent a note back to the violet guild.
"The situation is being handled. Stay out of it. The
Rose.
It felt very strange to use that moniker again. I had not thought of
being the Rose for along time. I was home, with Matthew and Percy,
and I had the Guildbacking me. But that was gone now. Matthew was
captured, Percy was on the run, and the Guild had turned away. I was
on my own.
The trip on the yacht was been tense for me. The others slept, while
I formulated the plan. The temple had ten guards on average. Two
whores with drugged wine would take care of them. Then, we had to get
as all the leaguers, and any aristos we possibly could. This was not
going to be easy. We docked in Calais and took swift horses to Paris.
Entering by the South Gate, we seperated planning to rendevous at
eleven oclock at the temple. We needed to move fast. First, I sent
Collette to get some flagons of wine, enough for
ten men. Then, I went in search of two who had gone to earth. I found
them in a pathetic tavern near the river. Both looked completely
forlorn, sitting alone in a corner. I sauntered over, and made my
move.
"Bonjour messieurs. You would like a little company, no?" I said.
Percy stared at the table, as Andrew looked up at me. "My name is
Marie-Rose."
Percy's head snapped to attention.
"Mademoiselle, I think that is an excellent idea. Come on, Philippe,
let us go," Percy answered as Andrew looked at me, confused, but
followed the leader, tossing some coins to the barkeep, and trailing
after me. I led them to a small sewer tunnel, near the river, where
you could see Notre Dame.
"Livia, what the hell...." Percy started, but I stopped him.
"Time is short, Percy. I assume the rest of the league is in the
Temple?"
"Yes, but we would need at least six people to get them out, and they
will be executed tomorrow."
"That is why the Rose has come home, and with help. Here is the
plan....."
Jean-Luc looked out forlornly into the Parisian night, wishing he
wasn't the gate man. Nights this dead made him exhausted. Suddenly,
two women walked towards him out of the mist. They were women of ill
repute, surely, and each of them carried a wine flagon.
"A little party, monsieur, in honor of the capture of the Pimpy's
men," said one, with dark hair. "Someone sent for us."
"Only is I can have some of that wine," he answered, emptying water
out of his wooden cup. The petite blond poured him a cup, and gave
him a kiss. He smiled, and let the two pass, thinking that maybe they
would still be around after his shift. He took a long lingering drink
of the wine, and turned back to the Paris night. Five minutes later,
he was out cold, and four men were stripping his uniform, weapons, and
papers.
Collette and I had made quick work of the guards, except one, who I
had lured into a cell, and then knocked out cold. Collette had let
the men in, who made quick work of stripping the guards of their
clothes. I, meanwhile, had found the cells of the various leaguers,
telling them to report to the guard room and their leader. The last
one I found was Matthew, badly beaten, but alive. I knelt and kissed
him gently. He looked into the face of the French tart before him,
and saw me, smiling through the pain. I helped him out of the cell,
and got him changed. We had found extra uniforms and soon all but
Collette and I were out as I made sure all the guards were tied tight.
We had let all the aristos out we could, and I gave them papers, and
told them where to seek help getting out of the country. Then, we
joined the others, and split of to make our escape. Percy, Andrew,
and most of the leaguers went away, as guards searching for the
Pimpernel himself, while my team, Matthew and another leaguer went out
another gate, posing as country folk headed home. We had trouble, but
I simply shot the guard. I had had a very long two days. On the road
to Calais, we met the Guild members, heading for Paris. Realizing
they were too late, they road back with us. I fell back, to ride next
to Eliza.
"You realize you could have been killed," she said.
"No. I am too ornery to die. But I won't hear the end of this from
Percy and Matthew when we get home."
"Well, I am proud of you. I'm sorry for that other man's
reaction.."
"It was not your fault."
Just then I heard a throat clear near me and
turned to find the offending Guilder riding next to me.
"I..well I'm sorry for doubting you, Lady de Bretagne."
"Think nothing of it. I understand."
With that I galloped ahead to
ride by myself, trying to figure out how on Earth I was going to
explain this one to Percy and Matthew.
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