Chapter 9

Great tip: Listen to Agnes Obel's Fuel to Fire while reading this chapter.

August 12, 1345.

Stormhold Castle,

The walled city of Rothwell,

Capital of Myknos.

Lady Odeya Katarina Black

The air in Myknos was alive with excitement for the first day of the Tri-Kingdom Harvest Festival. Colourful festoons filled the air and not a single cloud could be seen in the clear blue sky.

The sun blared down but not too harshly that it was hot but just enough to bring light. Smoke curled from chimneys and the smell of roasting pigs and baking breads and cakes filled the air.

The nobles were no less busy, getting ready to show off their family's affluence in an assortment of colors.

Odeya took in the smells of the harvest and the upcoming festival to calm the nerves that had begun acting up ever since she woke up from her ergot induced sleep a few days ago. It seemed like a lot had changed since then, even Prince Nicolas didn't seem so distant as they developed a relationship where they spoke with their eyes and smiles.

Alyn fussed about not knowing which of the dresses she would wear for the first days' outdoor breakfast and carnival. Vendors from the three kingdoms had brought a lot of wares and of course nobles would get to see the wares first while lower borns observed from the roofs and behind lines of royal guards.

Speaking of the guards, they were a harlequin sight to behold in their armour. All the knights and guards wore the colours of their houses and embroidered sigils proudly on their armour and capes.

The carnival ground was decorated with flags bearing the sigils of all the noble houses present, some of which she recognized like the purple grapes on their vine on a deep green background of the Douglas' of Tyrene and the Crowned Eagle of Imras.

She hadn't met the Prince of Imras yet but she felt like she knew him as Princess Alyn couldn't stop talking about him. The Princess had finally agreed to don a bell sleeved midnight blue velveteen gown that had the crowned owl embroidered all around the bodice in silver, leaving the bottom part bare.

She had her hair down and she wore a silver coronet and tear drop sapphire earrings. Odeya on the other hand wore a sky blue linen dress that had embroidery around the hem and neck line done in silver and she also had her hair down but added two braids to hold the hair back from her face.

They had walked down to the breakfast pavilion hand-in-hand with Alyn trying to look over the crowd for Prince Hayden. The crowd chattered excitedly as they took their seats on the trestle tables and today the Hands and Duennas were to seat with their charges.

The princes and the King of Myknos were the last to arrive and Odeya could swear that her heart skipped a beat when she saw Prince Nicolas.

He wore a midnight blue doublet, with the owls as the buttons and tassels of silver on the shoulder, over white pants and knee high black leather boots that shone from a good polishing. His chocolate locks looked ruffled as usual and his face bore his usual stony expression.

The other princes looked no less handsome. Prince Hayden had donned a gray doublet with wolves as the buttons over white pants. His long dirty blonde hair was held back by a velvet band and he had a mischievous smile on his face.

When he caught Alyn staring, he sent her a wink and she turned bright red. Prince Khalid was the last to take his seat and he had worn a gold shirt decorated with gold beads and golden pants. His black hair was tucked into a gold cloth wrapped around his head.

He gave a small smile to her before seating beside his sister who was also decked from head to toe in gold. The King signalled for breakfast to begin after the resident priest had blessed the food and all the noise began again.

Everyone chattered excitedly, well everyone but her, but who would make small talk when they have to assassinate the Prince of one the most powerful kingdoms. She was snapped out of her reverie when Alyn nudged her with an elbow.

"Why aren't you eating?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, Alyn. I'm just not accustomed to the noise of such festivities. Its all so overwhelming." She told the princess.

"Get used to it. This is your life now. You have to get some food in you remember  Mother Superior said that you had not completely recovered."

"Yes mother." She teased.

Alyn gasped then burst out laughing. Queen Navara looked over with a frown and they hid their smiles with a sip of their wine.

The main meal was finally served from the middle trestle table that was loaded with foods from all corners of Myknos. Her plate was piled with rissoles, corn bread, chipolatas and a small dollop of chutney. She ate freely, letting herself feel the flavors of the traditional Myknosian dishes although the nagging feeling that something would go horribly wrong lingered.

Dessert was a combination of dishes she deemed too sweet. Alyn took two slices of the Pavlova and a small helping of the Charlotte pudding. She on the other hand settled for just a slice of the Pavlova.

It seemed everyone was enjoying their food and the heady nature of the concoction that now filled their goblets made the scene a whole lot merrier.

A chortle or two could be heard from across the pavilion and no one seemed to care that it was too early to get drunk, well all except the royals and Ladies, who tradition forbade display of such churlish and undignified behavior.

The assembly moved from the breakfast tables to the stalls that lined either side of the King's road with high expectations for the wares in the trade fair. The air was permeated with different scents and aroma's making them feel like they had stepped into a different universe.

Spices, perfumed oils and steaming pots were major sources of these scents. There was a long line of wine sellers from the different kingdoms but Alyn pulled her towards the jewelers from Shiv'ra.

Gold, silver and gems glittered where the sun stroke them. It was truly an overwhelming sight to behold. Ladies from all three kingdoms could barely take their eyes off. Even she, who wasn't one for jewelry, was struck dumb.

She was pretty sure that if the Duennas and Princes weren't present, the whole place would have turned into a warzone as they struggled to get the most exuberant of all the pieces.

Alyn picked up a diamond necklace with matching earrings and an eight piece amethyst hair pin set. She took a simple silver earring that she could pay for with the salary she had earned from working in the castle.

When they got to the perfumery, Alyn brought samples of the colored liquids to her nose and smiled when she picked up a light pink liquid sample. Odeya took up a vial with purple coloured liquid and sniffed. The sweet lavender scent making her feel light headed. She opened her eyes and saw a masked figure, covered from head to toe in black, standing in the middle of the road staring straight at her.

She was only snapped out of her frightened state by Alyn's nudging. She blinked and turned to look at the princess but she couldn't hear anything she had said. She lifted her head to look at the masked stranger but he was gone. Fear turned her blood cold and she couldn't shake off her growing suspicions of her father's nearness.

She tried on a smile to ease Alyn's heart and dragged her to the wine stand. She wouldn't let this ruin their day. When he wanted to talk to her he would summon her. But wouldn't that mean death for them all?

Princes Nicolas and Hayden joined them while sampling some of the Imraian wines. Prince Hayden and Alyn sparked up a conversation immediately while she and Prince Nicolas stood awkwardly behind them.

It was never a difficult feat to talk to a man but with Prince Nicolas she never knew what to expect. He was an enigma of some sorts to her and she didn't know what would be deemed right and wrong with him.

The very awareness of his presence beside her weighed on her like she had been forced to hold up the sky. His cool demeanor didn't even make things help matters. It was only when Alyn remembered that she existed that some form of relief washed over her.

"Hayden. This is my Hand, Alicia." She introduced, "Alicia dear. This is Prince Hayden. My...um...cousin and crown prince of Imras."

"It is an honor to finally meet you." He told her before planting a swift kiss on her hand.

"Like wise, Your Grace."

"Call me Hayden please." He said.

"Hayden."

"I must say. You are even prettier than when I first saw you. Although it might have been because you were too busy ruining my cousin's chances of ever producing heirs." He laughed.

She turned a bright red and suddenly found her leather clad feet interesting. She could feel Prince Nicolas' burning glare directed at his cousin that was turning a bright red from laughing hard.

"I can still remember the look on his face." Hayden laughed, slapping his hand on his knee and not caring that he was embarrassing himself.

"Stop teasing my brother." Alyn scolded, "You know that this is a sore topic for my brother. The very memory must hurt him so."

They both burst into laughter and Odeya couldn't help but think them to be the most compatible set of individuals she had ever met.

"You two seem to enjoy laughing at my expense." Nicolas said, momentarily stopping their laughter, "You guys should get together. You are definitely perfect for each other."

It was then Hayden and Alyn's turn to look mortified. They turned similar shades of red and Prince Nicolas smirked. She didn't understand why at first but as soon as she had thought about it, it hit her.

The not so subtle hint of admiration in her voice when she talked about him, their secret smiles and the way Alyn blushes whenever he smiled at her. She fancied him and Odeya wondered then if that was why the princess was unmarried still. She made a mental note to ask her later.

She looked up finally at the man beside her and he gave her a mischievous half smile. Her heart fluttered at that and a blush worked its way on to her cheeks from her neck. She returned the smile and it seemed that gave a positive result as he finally moved to talk to her.

"You'd think that they would be able to take a joke." He said.

"Not everyone has that ability, My Prince."

"Oh and are you one such person?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I would like to think that, My Prince. Although you could test that theory yourself." She said.

She bit her lip when she saw the questioning look on his face at her obvious flirtatious behavior. She only prayed he didn't think her wanton.

"I might take you up on that offer." He smiled back at her.

An awkward silence settled over the group and it was only broken with the arrival of a new conversant.

"Why are you guys standing so stiffly? There's a whole fair to be enjoyed." Prince Khalid said walking up to them with his fiancée/sister in tow.

Her calculating eyes changed to one of glee as she saw them.

"Alicia dear, I do hope you're feeling better?" She asked.

"Yes, Your Highness. The tea leaves and spices you sent over helped a lot. Thank you." Odeya told her.

"It was nothing." Her thick accent making the words sound even colder than she might have meant.

Prince Nicolas cleared his throat to break the staring contest that had begun between them and announced that they, meaning him and the other two princes, would head down to the weapons section.

Odeya would have loved to go with the men, not necessarily because of the company, but because of her arcane love for weapons.

Princess Khasi seemed to be a kindred spirit so she offered to go with the men and soon, the whole group sauntered through the throng of nobles to the smither's who had an array of sharpened steel strewn over long tables.

Alyn examined a bejeweled dagger while she picked up the long knife tipped bow. It was light but the wood was strong and flexible. She pulled the string and admired how it bent smoothly.

"That one has a iron core and its string is genuine grueri heart string."

She held the bow with new found respect and ran a finger along the engravings designing the wooden part of the bow.

"Its ten ducats."

She almost choked when she heard the price but it didn't hurt too much. If she even dared to get it many questions would rise that might expose her. What would a maid want with a bow? She lay it regretfully on the table top and stood on one side observing the others take their pick of the beautiful death devices.

After much haggling and practicing, the nobles finally walked away with shiny new weapons that reflected the suns' fading light. Princess Khasi had gotten a double edged curved sword that she handed to the array of maids she had following her.

Princess Alyn had gotten the dagger but held on to hers. The Princes however displayed theirs like spoils of war. Prince Nicolas had strapped two short swords across his back while Prince Hayden got a large double bladed axe that he also strapped on his back.

Prince Khalid went for the most graceful of the weapons, a long steel spear that he could unscrew to make two shorter throwing spears.

They finally left the trade fair and walked back to the castle to prepare for the celidh. Odeya wondered what had happened between her and Princess Khasi. They had had a fair relationship before the accident but it seemed she hated her now for some unknown reason.

Alyn riffled through her ironwood armoire for the, as she put it, perfect dress to stun everyone. She emerged half an hour later holding a emerald green number that had some work done in gold on it.

She took a long soak, in warm water that had rose petals and milk in it, to give Odeya time to prepare her own dress.

She took out a red silk dress from her own armoire in the adjoining room that she had finally moved into. When she was done with her own quick bath, she helped the princess into the dress.

She applied a light dusting of powder to her face and some crushed rose petal juice on her lip and a spritz of perfume later, the princess was ready.

Odeya hurriedly wore her dress and had her hair up in a pony tail. She left her face bare and just wore a small silver dropping earring.

They ate dinner in the smaller hall because the bigger one was being prepared for the nights events.

When the dinner was finally over, the lesser nobles left the hall first through a small door that led directly to the Great Hall. The Royal family of the three kingdoms stood, along with their hands and personal guards, to go through a long route.

The King and Queen entered the hall first and it was only then it dawned on her that she had never met the King. When she was finally allowed in, her breath hitched in her throat.

The hall had been transformed into a rainbow wonderland. There were tables pushed to the wall with food piled atop them. There was a platform in the middle with instruments and musicians waiting for their cue. They were dressed in gold that reflected the light coming from the candles and torches that lit up the room.

She was sure she would have stood there with her mouth open like a fish's if a voice hadn't knocked her out of her reverie.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" He said.

She turned to look at the man that had spoken to her.

"It is, Your Highness." She said with a curtsy.

She felt hot all over as his eyes studied her. He had changed into a white linen shirt and breech but he added a midnight blue coat over it and secured it with a silver brooch.

The gold light in the room added a sparkle to his blue eyes and a halo around making him look like some sort of god. She blushed and looked away when she saw his smirk.

The musicians began playing when the King rose his wine goblet and the whole scene transformed into a scene right out of the fairy tales she had enjoyed as a little girl.

Lords and Knights alike approached Ladies for dances while the less dignified guests observed, and if they were lucky, a noble admirer might ask for a dance.

Odeya was asked by many Knights to dance but she was only there to enjoy the music and the food. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, she knew that all they wanted was to get under her skirts as most men of court would want from a non-titled maid like her.

The less enlightened maidens fell into their traps one too many times and were left behind to face the consequences of their foolishness.

"You clean up well." A snooty voice said behind her. "For a maid that is."

She turned to face the woman she realized she hated the most in Stormhold. Lady Emelne of Tyrene stood there, in all her red haired glory, wearing a deep purple velvet dress that had been fringed with gold silk around the sleeves.

"Thank you, My Lady." She told her with a mock curtsy.

She felt like pulling out the woman's hair but she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing that her words had any effect on her.

"You really think you're something, don't you?" She sneered, grabbing Odeya's arm, "Just because he finally talked to you, you have forgotten your place."

Lady Emelne used her nails to dig into the exposed flesh of Odeya's arm and although she would have loved to break the spoiled brat's wrist, she couldn't. Not with all eyes on them now, she had to play her cards right.

"You're hurting me." She begged, quivering her lip for extra effect.

That only seemed to fuel Lady Emelne's anger and she dug her nails even deeper, looking to draw blood. She seemed to have forgotten that they were in public, with the King and Queen present.

"Take your hands off of her now or I will do it for you." Prince Nicolas said coming up behind a startled looking Lady Emelne.

It had finally dawned on her that they were not alone.

"Your Highness. I..."

"I do not care for your lies Lady Emelne." He interrupted, "And I do not want to have to repeat myself."

She watched Lady Emelne huff and walk away, promising to continue their conversation later.

"Are you alright?" He asked, studying her arm that Lady Emelne grabbed.

She looked at her arm then back up at him and nodded. She felt tingles erupt from where he rubbed her arm, ever so delicately, and spread to all parts of her body. She felt warm all over and scolded herself for being so unguarded.

"Have you had anything to eat yet?" He asked, finally taking his hand off her arm.

That action brought all her rational thoughts flooding back.

"I can't possibly have another bite. I'm one step away from becoming obese." She told him.

"I don't think that could ever happen." He said with a full on smile.

"I wouldn't doubt that, Your Highness." She smiled back.

Their discussion went on and she felt more comfortable with him than ever before. The heat that normally pooled to her nether regions at his slightest touch had reduced to a bare minimum and she could almost make coherent sentences without much effort.

"Would you like to dance?" She heard him ask.

"What?" She asked.

"I asked if you would like to dance. It is only appropriate since we are at a dance festival after all."

"I'm not much of a dancer." She lied.

"I think I'll survive one dance." He said, not giving any more room for discussion on the subject.

One dance turned to many as the night went on, with both partners lost in a haze of conversation and dance. Odeya could not believe how easily she had told him of her real life even though she left the part of her weapons training out. She felt herself getting comfortable in his presence.

Too comfortable even. He had shown a side of himself to her that she had never seen before. He was all charming, flashing smiles and making jokes, as they danced.

She loved how his eyes sparkled when he laughed and the little crinkles that appeared around his eyes. She wondered how someone could be so perfect. She snapped out of her reverie when she saw his lips move.

"Pardon me, Your Highness." She apologized, turning beet red as she noticed he had caught her staring at him.

"It's alright. I've been told I'm very distracting company." He said with a smirk.

"That's not very humble."

"I'm a Prince. I shouldn't be humble." He said with a laugh causing her to laugh also.

The musicians finally reached the end of their last number and the nobles clapped. Alyn strolled over, with Prince Hayden in tow, looking flushed. She gave Odeya a 'we'll talk about this later' look then they all walked off to their suites.

Just as they reached the door to she and Alyn's adjoined chambers, a sentry walked up to them and bowed.

"What is it?" Prince Nicolas asked.

"Your Majesty, Lord Igneo was found dead in the hallway. Mother Superior says he was poisoned."

A chill ran up her spine at that. Alyn gasped and Prince Nicolas' face hardened. He walked away without so much as a good night to either of them. Hayden on the other hand planted a swift kiss on Alyn's cheek and sent her a nod.

She was distracted while helping the princess dress for bed and if she noticed, she chose not to say anything. Everyone would be shaken up from hearing that someone had been poisoned. She had sensed something bad was going to happen but for once in her life, she chose to ignore it.

She tried to shut the thoughts of her father's arrival out of her head and think positively. He wouldn't go back on his word besides he couldn't have amassed so many men already, right?

A knock sounded on the door to her room and she wondered who it could be. She donned a robe over her light sleeping dress because she was sure it wasn't Alyn as the knock came from the door leading outside. When she finally opened the door, the figure standing behind it was the last person she expected to see.

"Prince Nicolas? What are you doing here?" She asked feeling very exposed in her light robe and sleeping gown.

His eyes ran over her body and left a trail of heat where they stopped. He looked into her eyes and she could see flames from the torch nearby reflected in his eyes. He stared at her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. She ran her tongue across her lower lip and she could swear his eyes darkened as he watched her. Her body felt warm despite the slight chill in the air.

She broke eye contact first and cleared her throat to ease the tension that had built up between them. He cleared his throat also before speaking finally. She noticed his arms were behind his back holding something long but in the dimly lit hallway she could barely make it out.

"I'm sorry for earlier. It was improper for me to leave like that." He said.

"Is that what brought you to my chambers so late at night, Your Majesty?" She asked.

"That and...I have something for you." He said bringing the package forward.

She unwrapped it slowly and her eyes automatically widened when she saw the contents. It was the bow that she had been admiring earlier. But why...?

"I...I don't understand." She said in shock as she looked at the long bow in her hand, "Is it for me?"

She finally took her eyes off the bow and watched him nod. She still couldn't get over the shock she was in. Why would he get her the bow? Was this some sort of test? She had tried all evening to secure the wall she had built to his constant prodding of her heart but his surprise gift went right through like a knife through butter.

"I can't accept this, Your Majesty." She said handing the bow to him, "It's too much a gift for me."

"I want you to have it." He said, "I saw you looking at it earlier."

"It's still too..."

"Don't." He interrupted, "I want you to keep it. Think of it as an apology gift."

"What are you sorry for?" She asked.

"Every thing. And I would like us to start over." He said with a hopeful look, "I feel like we started off on the wrong foot so I want to fix that."

"Alright your Highness. How do we do that?"

"Simple." He started, "Good evening fair maiden. I'm Nicolas Alexander Tutton. Crown Prince of Myknos and you are?"

"Alicia Indina Stavros." She said with a curtsy.

"No title. You are far too beautiful to not be a noble woman."

"That's laying it on a bit thick, don't you think?" She asked with a laugh.

"Isn't this how you want to be wooed?"

"Who said anything about wanting to be wooed?" She asked with a bewildered look on her face.

"Well that changes things." He said seriously before they both burst into laughter, bringing life into the cold dark hallways.

"I should get going. We don't want to give those snobby nobles any more topics to gossip about now, do we?"

"No we don't. Although if I'm correct you were the one that came to me." She told him with a smirk.

She then crossed her arms, oblivious to the fact that she gave him a clearer view of her perky breast with nipples that had gone hard from the cold.

"Oh really. I'd say you enjoyed my visit." He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He walked closer to her until she had to use her hand to stop him from crushing her against the wall. He bent his head and nipped a small line from her neck to her ear.

She felt heat travel through her body and a tingle that started on the lower part of her spine and traveled through her body. Her mind was clouded with a haze of lust and she tried to hold back the sounds that threatened to escape as he continued his assault on her neck and ear.

She couldn't believe that just a little touch from him could cause so much fire inside her. A fire she thought she didn't possess. She felt herself climbing higher and higher on the waves of passion and just as she reached her peak, he shot her down.

"If you didn't believe me before, you have your answer now."

She stared at his retreating form red-faced and mortified. How could she have let him do that to her again?

Rage filled her body and she vowed then and there to get revenge. She walked into her room and slammed the door oblivious to the pair of eyes that watched from the shadows.