Chapter 8

August 3, 1345.

Stormhold Castle,

The walled city of Rothwell,

Capital of Myknos.

Prince Nicolas Alexander Tutton

He felt her breathing slow down and sighed; when he had seen that man on top of her, he lost it.

He and Khalid had been celebrating their joint killing of a boar when they heard her scream. He rushed towards the sound of the noise hoping that they hadn't hurt her. He had avoided her since he had dragged her into the hidden passageway and almost kissed her. He felt so stupid now.

She was so warm against his chest and when she snuggled deeper into his chest, his heart warmed and an unexpected smile crossed his face.

She had asked him to get the deer she killed when she was under the influence of the powder and was sure she'd be dissapointed if all her hardwork went to waste, so he sent some men back for it.

He was slightly angry that she hadn't defended herself like he had seen her do before but let it go when she snored quietly. He held her closer as they rode to the castle. When they finally reached Stormhold, Khalid dismounted and helped him bring her down. They rushed her to the sanatorium and he prayed that Alyn wouldn't see them when her bruises were still fresh.

Mother Superior, the resident head nurse, paled when she saw the blood on her shirt and only calmed when she heard that it wasn't her blood. She sent both he and Khalid out when she started cleaning Alicia's wounds.

He paced the front of the door, the coldness of the approaching darkness increasing the dread he felt. He prayed that they had not done worse to her before they got there.

"I am sorry, my friend." Khalid said, "If I hadn't insisted, she wouldn't have come."

"Its not your fault but mine. I did tell you to find out what she was hiding." He told him, "Oh Alyn's going to kill me."

"Alicia will be fine. She's strong. I mean she didn't even cry after seeing you kiss Lady Emelne."

"More like she kissed me. What do you mean she didn't cry? Why should she be bothered?" He asked.

"I think it would be better if you heard it from her." He said, "I have to check on Khasi. She doesn't like when I'm away for long."

Nicolas watched the man walk away and went back to thinking on his words. He wondered why she would be jealous that he was kissing another woman when they had no relationship. He hoped that she didn't take his actions in the passageway to heart but a small part of him hoped she would.

She was beautiful and very distracting; he could barely keep his eyes off her when she had  first walked into the Great Hall as Alyn's Hand and even this morning at breakfast, the red dress she had worn made her look even whiter, like an angel or should he say demon. Only they offered temptations so impossible to resist.

He worried for her beauty that would be marred with bruises for the next few weeks and the pains she would be feeling after the drug wore off.

Mother Superior came to give him good news just as the sun had set and he had rushed in to see her.

"She will sleep for a while but she will be fine." She said.

"Thank you."

"It is my job, Your Highness." She told him with a smile on her wrinkled face, "You need to get ready for dinner. She is in good hands."

He looked at the woman then back at Alicia then squeezed her hand before finally leaving. Mikhail hurried his bathing and dressing and almost pulled his arm off as he dragged him to the hall for dinner. He apologized to his father and mother for his lateness and Alyn shot him a look.

"Where have you been boy?" His father, King Gregory, asked. "Your mother and I were worried sick."

"Sorry Father. I had some matters that needed my urgent attention." He apologized.

"Don't let it cut into your dinner time. You need rest. How do you think I managed to stay alive for so long?" He laughed.

His father, King Gregory, was an adventurous and overly optimistic person and he never took things too deeply to the heart. Even when his brother had died, he never let it weigh him down, although he was sure that behind the thick oak doors of his chambers, he wept his heart out and drank himself to sleep. Every man had to find a way to release pent up emotion.

He ate his dinner and excused himself when he was done and as he stood, Khalid gave him a knowing look and Princess Khasi squeezed his hand reassuringly. He smiled at her, grateful for the gesture, then walked back to the sanatorium to check on Alicia. A part of his subconscious scolded him for caring so much for a possible assassin and another part encouraged him and saw her as an innocent girl.

'She killed those men in the woods.' A greater part of his subconscious told him.

'She was helping you. If she really wanted you dead, wouldn't she have done it by now.' The other part said.

The arguement in his mind got really loud and he decided then that he needed a break from his own mind.

Mother Superior gave him a smile as he entered and he smiled back at her then sat by Alicia's bed side. The bruises on her face were mostly around her jaw that had turned a sick shade of purple and he hoped for her sake that the scars wouldn't be visible after they healed but as he looked closer at her face, he noticed faded lines; like previous scars that had healed.

She whispered in her sleep and he smiled. He stood to ask what powder they had blown on her face when Alyn walked in looking murderous.

"I told you not to let anything happen to her!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry Alyn. I was distracted." He apologized.

"We have enough meat in our stores to feed the whole kingdom so why did you have to go for this bloody hunt?!"

"I never asked her to come. I didn't force her either." He defended.

"You could have stopped her from going." She said softly this time.

He hugged her as she sobbed into his chest.

"What if those men had...had suceeded in raping her? How do you think she would react if that had happened? Why didn't you stay close to her?"

"I am truly sorry Alyn." He apologized again.

Mother Superior hugged her and offered her a cup of tea, the aroma suggested jasmine, then placed her in an arm chair.

"What was in the powder?" He asked.

"It was just powdered ergot." She told him.

"So why is she so deeply asleep? I thought it only made one feel light headed?"

"It affects people differently, sire. She is a feather weight and it made her sleep. We should be thankful it didn't kill her."

Alyn wept but fell asleep soon and he carried her to her chambers. He placed her on the soft mattress and drew her blankets to cover her. He left her chambers and went back to his own. He had undressed and blown out most of the candles in the room when he heard a knock on his door.

He opened and was met with a smiling Lady Emelne.

"What do you want?" He asked her.

"I heard that you had received some bad news so I came to cheer you up." She said running a hand on his bare chest.

In times past, her touch would have affected him but now he was not interested. She pouted when he removed her hand from his chest and he couldn't care less.

"Return to your chamber Emelne. I have a lot to do tonight." He dismissed her.

"That has not stopped you before." She said trying to kiss him.

"If you weren't born into a noble family, you would have made a lot of money in the whore houses." He told her.

She gasped and tried to slap him but he caught her hand deftly and flung it back at her making her stumble lightly.

"My Father will hear about this. He will make you pay for this disgrace." She said coldy.

He didn't care to watch her trudge off but closed the door and grabbed a book from his table. He hadn't had time to read in a long time, a hobby he had once indulged in. It was the poetic recount of tales of knights and kings that had lived long before him.

He had hoped, as a child, that someday poems and songs would be written about him but as a man grown he knew that most victories were gotten in the time of war and no one wanted war. The blood shed and loss left scars that never truly healed.

He was but fourteen when he had fought in his first war beside his father as they avenged the death of his brother and put a stop to the rebellion his father's evil cousin had started.

He read until the candles glow had dimmed considerably before putting it out of its misery and settling into his soft bed. He closed his eyes and slipped into a dreamless slumber.