Chapter 5

August 1, 1345.

Stormhold Castle,

The walled city of Rothwell,

Capital of Myknos.

Prince Nicolas Alexander Tutton

The first week of August brought a lot of work for the servants in Stormhold but even more so for the Prince. He had the Tri-kingdom games to plan, accounts, and stores to fill and investigations on the ambush in the woods to oversee. Now the noise from the debate among the lords was driving him crazy.

Lord George of Tyrene and Lord Vadim of Dronfeld were arguing about who would supply the wines for the games and every other lord present was picking sides.

“Your Highness, we are all familiar with Tyrene’s wines. Our imported wines are more exquisite and would make the other kingdoms marvel. I even have a new supply coming in my Prince. The kind that has never seen on our shores or Shiv’ra’s as my spies have told me.” Lord Vadim said.

“My Prince now would be a time to stick with our traditional flavours. The vintage is ready and I can assure you that it is even better than ever.” Lord George argued. The incoherent argument began again pushing him straight over the edge.

“ENOUGH!!!” He yelled startling all of them.

“Your Highness.” They said quickly.

“I am sick of this incessant bickering! This meeting is adjourned till tomorrow.” He said standing.

He left them mumbling their apologies and walked out of the throne room, relishing the feeling of fresh air on his face after a long day of sitting in the packed throne room. He had had little to no time to rest for the past week and had not even picked up a sword since the ambush. Hayden had helped wherever he could but with a kingdom to rule also, he could not stick around for much longer. He decided to go riding but with Hayden gone and all the knights busy, he had no one to go with even Alyn had classes with her duenna.

He knew his sister loved going to the lake so he felt she wouldn't mind missing one class. He walked to her chambers and knocked. He waited for a few minutes before the door opened revealing a scowling duenna.  Duenna Nefeli eyed him with contempt and asked him what his business was with his sister. He pushed past her and stepped into the room full of ladies and their own Duenna's having needle point lessons. He found his sister at the centre of the room smiling as she did an embroidery of the kingdoms crowned owl. All the ladies in the room gave him seductive smiles and he saw the glares of their chaperons.

"Alyn. May I see you for a moment?" He asked.

"Why brother? Is something wrong?" She asked looking up.

"I wish to discuss it in private." He told her, feeling very uncomfortable with all the eyes on him.

"Excuse me ladies." She said with a curtsy as she walked out of her room.

Her chaperon, Duenna Nefeli, glared at him and closed the door. Alyn let out a sigh of relief and dragged him from the door of her room. She let ot a sigh of relief and massaged her face.

"I thought I was gonna die in there." She said heaving another sigh.

"You've always loved needle work." He reminded her.

"Yes I have but I don't want everyone fawning over how great I am at it." She complained.

He laughed and she shot him a look.

"Why does your Duenna hate me so much?" He asked.

"She feels that you're the reason I am unmarried. She says you are scaring potential suitors away."

"Thats preposterous. You and I both know that its because of your undying love for Hayden that you're still unmarried." He received a smack on his head at that, "Any way that's not why I called you here. I want you to accompany me on a ride down to the lake."

"That's what you needed me for. Why didn't you just say it there?" She asked.

"I didn't want your chaperon or the other ladies with you coming along." He said.

"I am not dressed for a ride and my dress is too brightly coloured." She said referring to her red velvet gown.

"If this one gets ruined, I'll make you three more." He said hoping she would accept the bribe.

"Three more?" When he nodded she squealed, "Okay. Let me just grab a book from the library. I'll meet you by the stables."

He left her and headed to the kitchens to prepare a basket for their picnic then headed down to the stables. She met him there a few minutes later with a novel in her hand and a bonnet on her head then they mounted their saddled horses and rode down to the Black Lake that separated Rothwell from the dark city of Rhyl.

It was the centre of all magic in Myknos and it was home to spell casters, alchemists and diviners. The town had a close neighbor Blyth that was home to the nuns in training, ironical to him to combine both the pagans and Christians.

The lake was black as the name suggested but the water was not poisonous. Its waters were a little too sweet and when taken out it was clear but people still avoided drinking it. They had whispered over the years that the lake was home to evil spirits, as many executions used to take place on the banks around it, but he didn't believe in ghosts and the strangest thing he had seen there was a fish that glowed in the dark.

He commanded the sentries to give them a wide berch as they rode so that he and Alyn could race. He spurred his stallion, Glory, into a gallop and spared a look to see if sister took the challenge and she did.

Even in her side saddle, she was one of the best riders he had seen. She and her mare, Kismet, had an understanding of each other. They tried as they could but couldn't match his horse. He laughed then slowed his horse down and waited for her to catch up.

"One of these days I will beat you." She promised.

"Not on that horse." He retorted.

Kismet whinnied as if she supported her rider.

When they got to the lake, the smells that filled his nose calmed him; the sharp fresh tang of pine needles, the earthy odor of wet rotting leaves and the hint of animal musk. He caught a glimpse of a black snake slithering into the forest and he walked to a dry side of the black floor and spread out the big tweed blanket he had brought. Then he placed a layer of red linen sheets and a few pillows. He gave the picnic basket to Alyn and she set out the food that he had packed.

There was a lot of fruit, baked trout, sweet breads and pigeon pie. She made a plate of little of the fish, two rolls of the bread and a slice of the pie for herself and waited for him to make his before eating. He also brought out a skin of the chartreuse he had bought and a flask of water. She read while she ate, leaning on a tall oak tree and watched him with one eyebrow raised. He ignored her for a while but eventually it got annoying and he asked her what her problem was with him.

"Nothing brother. I just seem to have taken a  fancy in studying you." She said.

"Your reason being?" He asked.

She closed her book and  placed her palms on the cover then looked at him with a frown marring her otherwise beautiful features.

"You know what my reason is. Have you even gone to check on the innocent girl you threw into the dungeons?" She asked.

"I thought we were over this?" He said.

"How can we be over this? She is much too young to be there with brougish men." She complained.

"Alyn they are in different cells and you should be about the same age." He reminded her, "Father had commanded you never to go down there."

"When I went to see her she was almost dying. The poor girl had come down with a fever. If the Mother Superior hadn't seen her, she would have been dead for sure." She said ignoring his recount of their Father's words.

"Did you release her?" He asked.

She went bright eyed as if she just realised what she said and slapped her fore head.

"When did you release her?" He asked again.

"Last night. After supper." She said quietly.

"What am I going to do with you?" He asked rhetorically, letting out a puff of air.

"Please brother I will keep her away from you. You don't even have to see her. Just don't let her go back there. Please?" She begged.

"Why are you so hell bent on saving this girl?" He asked.

"I don't know. She is just different you know?" She said, "From her deep voice, to her height and so far she is the only girl I know that has no love for you."

"Sister I'm beginning to think that you have a preference for women?" He teased.

"Ugh. You are so disgusting." She said throwing a plum at him.

"Mother says you are not to play with your food, Midi." He said using her second name that she hated.

"Oh you did not." She gasped.

"Oh yes I did." He retorted.

She threw her book at him then jumped on his and slapped his chest. He didn't even try to fight back but let her continue her assault then he spun her and placed her flat on the blanket. She widened her eyes and pushed his chest.

"You forget sister." He said with a smirk, "I'm stronger than you."

She became quiet after that and he knew that she would get revenge late. He lay in silence, enjoying the sun on his face, as she returned to her book.

The sun began to sink beneath the clouds all too soon and he wished that it would wait just a little longer. Today he had taken a break and he was starting to regret that because he would have a whole lot more work to do on the morrow. He began to clear up and Alyn let him do all the work as punishment for his behaviour before.

They rode back to the castle in silence and went to prepare for supper but before he joined his family in the Great Hall, he had a certain someone to see. He asked a maid if she knew where Alicia would be and the poor girl almost fainted. He ignored her and went to ask an older woman where she could be.

“She may be in the kitchens Your Highness. I overheard the warden telling young miss to go there today.” She said.

“Thank you.” He said walking briskly toward the royal kitchen.

He got to the door of the kitchen and could feel the heat of the place from outside. He took a deep breath and walked in. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead almost immediately and he wiped it away with a linen kerchief. Resisting the urge to run out, he scanned the faces of all the women looking at him with shock and want apparent on their faces.

He spotted her at the back slicing up some vegetables. He walked towards her and all the younger maids sighed in defeat and shot her mean looks. He glared at them and they resumed their various duties. Her raven black hair was tucked under a small woolen coif but a few strands had come loose and were brushing the flushed skin of her neck.

"I didn't escape from the dungeons. Your sister released me. I don't know why so ask her." She said continuing her work then she gave the tray to another maid then she wiped her hand on a napkin and walked past him.

He let her feel in charge a little while longer before walking behind her. He brushed her hair from her neck and whispered in her ear,

"You still owe me a favour."

He felt her shudder as he blew hair on her ear and he smirked then walked away leaving her looking shocked and angry. He walked at a leisurely pace and counted in his head knowing fully well that she would come after him. Just as he landed on one, he heard angry stomps behind him and braced himself for her attack. Nothing could prepare him for the pain he felt as she slammed his back on the wall in the long corridor and forced her arm against his throat.

"What do you mean I still owe you a favour?" She asked glowering at him.

"You were to spend a week in the dungeon and I seem to recall you spending only three days." He reminded her with a smirk.

She seemed to think about it and when he felt an opening in her guard he took it and spun them so that it was him that held her on the wall with her back to him. He groaned as he felt her backside rub against his crotch and shook his head to clear all the salacious thoughts that crossed his mind.

He used one had to hold her arms behind her and he didn't even feel her struggle which meant she was really affected by their position. He kissed his way up her neck to her ear and he heard her gasp. He nibbled on her ear lobe and lifted his free hand over them so he could press her a little more into the wall. Her hair and skin smelled like daisies and it was very intoxicating as he continued his assault on her ear.

She squirmed as he nibbled on her ear lobe and let out a gasp that send blood flowing to the lower part of his body. She shook again and rubbed against him. He could not help the groan that escaped him he continued his assault on her neck hoping to leave a mark that would embarrass her.

He spun her around so her chest was on his and he saw that her grey eyes were glazed over with desire. He wanted to kiss her so badly then but removed the thought from his mind.

"Who has the power now?" He whispered blowing hot air on her ear lobe once more.

He pulled away from her and walked away leaving her there looking very dazed. He straightened his blue corduroy shirt and ran a hand through his hair as he tried to put a blank expression on his face but he couldn't.

She had responded so much to his touch so much and had even managed to affect him too. She wanted him and it was clear. He rembered the lust in her eyes and her slightly parted lips and heaving chest that exposed her cleavage to him. The things he wanted to do to that woman.

'Stop it Nicolas! ' His subconscious scolded, 'She's an assassin.'

'So what? She's still a woman, is she not?' Another part of him said.

He tried go remember the kick and insults she had given him in the past week but his mind seemed to have a plan of its own. He imagined taking her in the same position they had been in while she screamed his name and clawed at the wall. He shook his head and walked into the Great Hall unable to rid himself frustrated look on his face.

He would have to call Lady Emelne to his chambers later; she would help him get rid of his raging hard on. The hall was still yet to be full so he took his seat beside his fathers' on the long dining table and spared a greeting for some lord's sitting by him. His mother and sister stared at him with worry apparent on their faces at the pained look plastered on his face.

"Nico, are you alright? Is everything okay?" Queen Navara, his mother, asked.

"Yes mother. Everything is fine. Just fine." He said to himself.