Chapter 4

July 28, 1345.

Stormhold Castle,

The walled city of Rothwell,

The capital city of Myknos.

Prince Nicolas Alexander Tutton

He was seeing red and it was all because of that wench. He was so angry that he could...Dear God she made him mad. He hated always feeling like everyone saw him as the spare son so he suppressed it but hearing someone say it now especially her. He threw all the plates across the room at the wall and shouted. He punched the wall and slammed his hand on it many times. He rested his head on the wall and did not even look up to see who had entered his room.

"Nicolas Alexander Tutton! How many times have I told you not to break things when you are throwing a tantrum?"

Hearing his sisters' voice calmed him down a little bit. She hated seeing him cranky or even angry and always made it her job to scold him for it. She annoyed him a lot but always managed to make him smile when she asked him to help her play pranks on snooty nobles.

"You've completely destroyed your room this time. I do not know why you enjoy stressing the help." She complained again.

"Thats what they are here for sis." He told her for the hundreth time.

She didn't like having maids do everything for her and she tried to push her ideologies on him.

"They are only here to assist us and not pick up after us like we're children. Although thats more than I can say for you." She said picking his tray and broken pieces of his plate from the floor.

"Leave that for the help." He grumbled, "You'll cut yourself."

"I'm not as delicate as you think brother." She said.

"You're talking about your sword lessons with Hayden again, aren't you?" He asked as he set about arranging his things.

"I was not. But now that you mention it. He says I have gotten better and that we are going to train again tomorrow before sunrise." She told him.

"Your not so subtle outings have become a major topic among the members of court. They are thinking that Prince Hayden is courting you." He teased.

"What?!" She yelled, turning a bright shade of red.

He knew his little sister had a thing for their cousin but wanted no one knowing about it. He felt bad for her because he didn't see Hayden showing any similar feelings. She had turned down so many potential suitors because of her huge crush on him; that's why she was still unmarried at eighteen.

"I could talk to him for you. Man to man." He continued his teasing and she turned even redder.

"Shut up. That's not why I'm here." She said.

"What do you want?" He asked eyeing her suspiciously.

She gave him that weird look she always did when she wanted something she knew he would not want to give her.

"Dont get mad but I told Sirs Yosevic and Timur to release the maid that you had ordered be sent to the dungeons." She said looking at the floor.

"You did what?" He yelled.

"I told you not to get mad." She whined.

"How could I not get mad when you released the bane of my existence? I have tolerated your interference in the past but in this case I won't." He said.

"What did she do to you brother?" She asked.

He thought carefully about how to answer her; if he told her about how affected he was when she told him that she wished it was he who was dead, she would pester him to talk about his feelings forever and if he gave her no answer, she would still pester him.

'Ugh! ' He groaned internally.

"She's just dangerous okay." He told her.

"I do not understand brother. Did she beat you or something?" She asked, "She did, didn't she?"

The sound of her laughter made him feel worse and she took that as a sign to continue.

"She didn't best me at swordplay, she just caught me off guard in the you know." He defended, or at least tried to.

"Wait. She kicked you there?" She asked with a laugh.

Seeing his grimace made her laugh more. He frowned deeply and sent her a dirty look.

"I am deeply sorry brother. It's just hearing that a girl finally taught your arrogant arse a lesson is deathly hillarious." She said, "I hope you weren't too badly damaged or Lady Emelne would have nothing to look forward to on your wedding night."

"You are not to talk about things like that. Its not very lady like." He scolded, "Wait. Wedding night?"

"We'll talk about that later. But please brother let her go. I am sure she has learnt her lesson. She looked so scared when she told me what happened."

"No Alyn and that's final." He said.

"Let her go or I will tell mother that a tavern wench kicked you in the balls." She warned.

"I never said anything about a tavern wench." He told her.

"I know. But think of what mother will do." She teased, "She will tease you about it for the rest of your life."

He knew his mother well; she was even more annoying than his sister at times and she was right, he would never have peace again.

'Damn that wench.' He thought.

"Okay fine. But she'll have to apologize to me and owe me one." He said.

"Thats nasty brother." Alyn scolded, "Dont you have Lady Emelne for that already?"

"I dont want to bed her." He defended, "Ugh... Just call her in and tell her my terms."

"Thanks brother dear." She sang kissing him on his cheek before going to open the door.

She dragged a pale looking Alicia in and he smirked, knowing that she would not accept his terms. She was much too stubborn for that.

"Your highness?" She asked looking at his sister.

"Oh brother dearest do not keep the poor girl waiting. She look like she's about to faint." Princess Alyn scolded.

"Tell her yourself." He said still holding his mischievous smirk.

He could sense the tension in her body growing as he and Alyn had a staring contest. He saw Alyn's eyes shake and hoped that she would hold much longer so that he could torture Alicia for just a little while longer.

"I still dont know how I deal with you." She said with a groan, " My brother says you'll have to apologize to him and owe him a favour or you will have to go to the dungeons."

"Apologize? He insulted me first and hit me. He should be the one apologizing." She yelled, "And a favour? Really?"

"Why you insolent little..."

"Don't you dare brother." Princess Alyn scolded, "Please apologize Ali and get this over with."

"I'd prefer the dungeons, your highness." She told the princess, "I will never apologize to this arrogant jerk."

"That does it. Guards!" He yelled.

The sentries rushed in at his comand again and grabbed her.

"Take this..."

"I'll show myself out." She said, interrupting him.

"You see sister. I told you that she wasn't repentant." He told his sister who didn't seem to care about what he was saying.

"How can you send such a pretty girl to that disgusting place full of dangerous men?" She asked with worry evident on her face.

"She can take care of herself." He told her uninterested.

"I'll get her out somehow and when I do, I'll make her one of my ladies." She said walking out of his room.

He ignored her and set to work reading reports and letters but got drowsy soon. He settled on taking a nap like his mother had suggested then he snuggled into the soft duvet and drew the rope that secured the drapes around his bed. He prayed for sleep to take him quickly and it did.

The loud rumble of thunder and sounds of women wailing woke him. He jumped from his bed and noticed that it seemed larger than normal then he looked at his hands and feet and they were smaller as well; like those of a boy in his early pubescile years. He grabbed the double edged sword on the wall and rushed out of his room, ddging soldiers along the way, to the throne room, where he knew his father was going to be.

Like the other dreams he had had for the past six years, he always got there too late and he saw his brother push his father away as a sword came at his neck only to die instead but this time it was not his father's evil cousin that held the murder weapon. It was Alicia, the maid/ assassin, who killed his brother and seeing the evil glee in her eyes made him shudder.

She stalked towards him still holding the bloody sword and wearing her evil smile. She slashed his mother and sister across their necks as she had done to his older brother but stabbed his father in the heart. She watched him as if she enjoyed seeing him crumble at the loss of his family.

"You're next little one." She sang.

He wanted to yell that he was not little, he wanted to cut her into pieces but he stood there frozen as she stabbed him.

Everything went dark and suddenly his dead family stood around him with blood pooling from their wounds.

"You did this to us." They chorused.

"No I didn't. I tried..."

"You're weak." They chorused closing in on him.

"No I'm not!" He yelled.

"You're useless. A disgrace." They chorused.

"No no nooo!" He yelled.

"Nico! Wake up!" Someone said shaking him.

"What? What? Where am I?" He asked as he tried to get his bearings.

"Oh dear son. You scared me." His mom said sounding worried, "I thought the dreams had stopped."

"I thought so too." He whispered, "Mother please excuse me. I am not dressed."

"I gave birth to you and supervised your baths so I don't think you have anything to hide anymore." She said while she busied herself with lighting candles in the room.

"Mother please leave so that I can get dressed for supper." He said rubbing the bridge of his nose to ease the headache he was feeling.

"You slept past supper dear. That's why I had to come up here to make sure you were still alive and as I heard kicking." She said.

"I swear to God someday I will kill Alyn." He whispered.

"You leave your sister alone. I already brought supper for you and Hayden's been asking for you all afternoon. He has been asked to return to Imras soon. My brothers' not doing so well." She told him.

It was common knowledge now that King Rayn of Imras was down with some unknown disease. They had been sending some herbs and medical books to Imras and for a while they seemed to have been working. Even Prince Khalid had sent some of their imported spices and teas bt they hadn't helped. Hayden was next in line for the throne and was busier than ever. He only came back with him to Myknos because his mother had insisted he take some time off.

"Send him up please. I have some things I need to discuss with him." He told her.

"Okay dear. Good night." She sang walking out of his room.

He sat down to a meal of lamb baked in a crust of garlic and herbs, garnished with sprigs of mint, and surrounded by mashed yellow turnips swimming in butter with a salad of sweet grass and spinach and plums, sprinkled with crushed nuts. Hayden walked in just as he had started on the salad and made a move to grab his goblet.

"That is my cup and you will not use it." He told him.

"You're being silly. We can share a wine skin but not cups?" Hayden asked lifting one eyebrow.

"Yes. Now my mother tells me that you have been summoned home." He said pushing his tray aside.

"Yes. Father is getting worse and I am needed to make some appointments that mother can't."

"Your coronation is fast approaching brother. You'll have to pick a bride soon." He told him.

"Oh don't remind me. I came here so you could distract me not tell me what I already know." He complained.

"Give me a minute to put on something decent." He said then he stood and called for his valet.

Mikhail d'Estaing was the last born son of Lord Bogdan of Leith hill. He had no skill in battle and the only way his father thought he could be of any use to him was to send him to Stormhold to squire for the prince. Sadly, the only position available was as a humble valet and he was desperate enough to take it.

He came into view a few seconds later and produce a white linen shirt, midnight blue velvet tunic that had the crowned owl of Myknos embroidered around the hem and neck line then some breeches an his leather boot. He added a black leather belt with a heavy silver buckle and fastened a blue and white cloak with a silverowl brooch on the side. He attached his sword, still in its scabbard, to his belt on one side and added a dagger inside his boot.

"Where are we going?" Hayden asked.

"The eastern merchants are in Rothwell for a limited time and I want to see what treasures they've brought with them." He answered.

They walked down to the royal stables and mounted their already saddled horses, then they were off to the crowded square. The eastern market brought goods from all over the world and he loved seeing the shows they put on. Hayden had not been since they were kids.

The city of Rothwell came alive at night with the smells of barbecues, drunken laughter and music from the inn's and whore houses and today was no different. The main cause of the noise today was the haggling of prices between sellers and buyers, the roars of different creatures and light shows by spell casters and alchemists.

"This is even better than I remeber." Hayden said wide eyed.

"They bring something different each year." He told him.

He saw a pretty gold circlet inlaid with dark blue stones and thought of Alyn. He pulled Hayden by the arm away from a woman selling saveloy sausages and pointed at the stand.

"Ah! Your majesties. You have graced my stand with your prescence. I am deeply honored." The man said, in the common tongue of the tri-kingdoms, with a bow.

"You speak our common tongue?" He asked studying the circlet.

"It's an acquired language. As a tradesman, I have found the need to master many languages." The trader said.

"Whats the price for this?" Hayden asked holding a simple white pearl choker.

"Four ducats, your Highness." He said, "And the circlet, a masterpiece of mine, is ten ducats."

They paid the man and he placed the items in soft velvet pouches then handed it to them. They walked on, looking at other stalls, trying out new foods and wines. They bought casks of imported chartreuses and ciders and stopped two fights from breaking out. They rode back to the castle and went back to their separate chambers. He walked into his room and a surprise met him there.

"Missed me?" A very sultry looking Lady Emelne asked.

The red head lay on his bed wearing a thin nightdress of green voile. She smiled at the shocked look on his face and walked up to him, almost as naked as the day she was born.

"What are you doing here?" He asked once he had collected himself.

"You say it like you're not happy to see me." She told him with a pout, "Anyway, Fathers in town for court and he allowed me to come with and observe. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"You know that I won't say that." He said with a half smile.

"I could always find a way to make you say it." She smiled running a hand down his body, "Or you could show me?"

"You are a tad too wanton." He said with a gasp as she grabbed him through his breeches.

"Only for you, my prince." She said with a wicked smile as she stroked his length.

He grabbed her then and kissed her hungrilly. She kissed him back with the same ferocity then he lifted her by her legs and took her to the bed. Clothes came off quickly and soon they were both naked. As he poised himself to enter her, she flipped them so she was on top and rode them both to ecstasy.

"So, your highness, will you finally admit that you missed me?" She asked running a hand on his chest.

"In your dreams Emelne." He said pushing her off him.

"Seriously? You are such an ass sometimes." She complained standing up.

"I told you that we could never have anything more than this." He told her, "You came to me. I warned you already."

She threw a candle stick at the wall and stalked angrilly out of his room wearing only a thick woolen robe. He on the other hand donned his breeches then sat at his desk and read the letter from Lord Aegar and it wasn't good news.

'Who is that girl?' He thought.

After writing some replies to letters on his desk, he blew out the candles in the room and crawled into bed praying for a dreamless sleep and it seemed like his prayers were answered.