Chapter 2.

Gregor

It was very difficult for me to sleep knowing she was in my tower. She tried very hard to be quiet but, it wasn’t just sound. I could smell her, feel her, almost. The odd sensation of knowing another person was so close. I had been alone for so long. 

It probably wasn’t the best plan to let her stay here. But she is so....oblivious... to so many things. Big things going on in this world. Not that I thought she was unintelligent, just innocent. I can vaguely remember what that was like. 

Besides, someone to keep this place from stinking like a wolf’s den would certainly make living here more pleasant.

I got out of bed and washed my face in the washbasin. Falicia was setting the table for dinner when I came from behind the curtain. She looked up with a smile but it froze in shock and confusion. I had forgotten to put on my shirt. 

“I’m so sorry,” I exclaimed, frustrated with myself. I ran back and grabbed a thin white tunic and threw it over my head.

When I returned to the table she wouldn’t look me in the eye. 

“I am sorry, Felicia. I am not used to having company.” 

“It’s alright, you just startled me.” 

“Dinner smells delicious. I hope you found everything you need without too much trouble.” 

“Oh no, no trouble at all. I hope you like it.”

She met my eye for a moment and blushed again. I could have kicked myself for not being more aware. 

“May I ask you a question, sir...?” 

“Gregor... and of course.” 

“How did you get such a terrible scar?” 

My food seemed to stick in the back of my throat for a moment. “It’s a long story and not a pleasant one,” I said after a moment. 

She cocked her head to the side and raised one delicate eyebrow at me. “I doubt any story involving someone receiving a scar that runs across his entire chest could be pleasant.” 

 I heard myself laugh bitterly. “I fought an enemy and I lost.” I could see the curiosity still burning in her eyes but, I held up a warning hand. “Someday I’ll tell you the whole story, but right now we need to eat your fine dinner before it gets cold.” 

She understood and ate in silence. But I could still feel her curious gaze on me whenever she thought I wasn’t looking. It was disconcerting. For I could see an ability for discernment and empathy in her frank gaze. And the fact that the gaze came from such a pretty thing made it worse. 

She was not striking, or traditionally beautiful. She was small and too thin, but she had such an animated and honest face, with intelligent bright eyes and delicate features, I couldn’t stop looking at it. I reproached myself for being a fool. I had indeed been alone too long.

When dinner was finished, a gathered my satchel and cloak, said good night to Felicia, and immersed myself in the gathering darkness. I had a meeting I could not miss. 

Felicia.

It felt strange after Gregor left. The room seemed to fill with shadows hiding dark secrets. Somehow I felt safer with him there. I knew I should keep my distance. I barely knew him after all, but I saw so much kindness and....pain in his eyes. 

I was shocked by the massive scar across his chest. I had seen shirtless male torsos before. My stepbrother went shirtless regularly, so it was no mystery. Of course, my stepbrother had the extended belly of a man who imbibed in too much ale. Gregor's chest was the chiseled marble of a man who kept himself ready for battle, whenever and wherever it may come. In the few hours I had known him, I learned he had many secrets. But I also believed a could trust him, with my life if necessary. 

I cleaned up the remains of dinner and then got ready for bed. I dug through the flour sack I had stuffed my meager belongings in and found my nightgown. It was large on me, but it had belonged to my mother, so cherished it. Before putting it on I used the tea kettle to boil some water. I used the washbasin and took a sponge bath. It felt wonderful to be clean. I felt satisfied and pleasantly tired from my day's work. A wonderful change from the exhaustion I felt slaving for my stepbrother. Under him, I had done the chores usually spread out between four servants. But, after my stepfather fell into dementia, my stepbrother fired the few hands we had so he wouldn't have to pay their wages. 

I slipped between the soft sheets and relaxed onto the fluffy pillow. My thoughts drifted pleasantly along. I figured I would fall right to sleep. It proved more difficult than I anticipated. Gregor's masculine scent was fresh upon the sheets, and it left me....disconcerted. I was finally about to drift off when I heard the distinct howl of a wolf. I jolted upright. It sounded like it was right outside. 

I sat there clutching the sheets, waiting to hear it again. It sounded even closer the second time. With shaking hands and wobbly knees, I tiptoed to the tower window. There it was sitting at the base of the tower. Copper-red in color with glowing green eyes. I stifled a scream and ran back to bed. Sleep didn't come for a long time. 

Gregor:

I made my way out of the valley and up a trail to the top of the mountain that made up the northern border. There was an old Shepards cottage there that had long since been forgotten. But it served my purposes well. There I met up with my network of spies. Tonight I was meeting Clayton, my most trusted insurgent.

I sat in the dark my back to the corner facing the door and window diagonally. I was always prepared for the worst-case scenario. When I had found the cottage I had dug a tunnel under the wall right by where I waited, so I would always have means of escape. 

I had to wait a while. This always made me anxious. So I let my mind wander over the events of the last twenty-four hours. If the girl was correct about who her intended fiance was, I knew he would hunt until he found her. Not because he cared for her, but because the fact that she ran was a terrible blow to his pride. Syllabus Arkane would not just let such an insult go. 

I was contemplating this when I heard the wolves start to howl. It was getting late. I stood and cautiously peeked out the window. The woods were alive with the sounds of night creatures. Crickets, cicadas, even the odd hoot of an owl. This eased my mind a bit, if anything untoward was happening the woods would tell me. So I went back to waiting. 

Soon I heard the scrape, knock, knock, indicating Clayton had arrived. I let him in. 

“I’m sorry I'm late my lord.” Clayton bowed his head in apology. 

“No matter, what's your news?” 

“Everything is clouded with the gossip surrounding Arkane’s fiance going missing.” Clayton shook his head. “Her brother, Greyson Smythe, swears she just ran away and is threatening to strangle her when he finds her. But, Arkane is circulating the idea that she has been taken.” 

I heaved a heavy sigh. “Of course. That's exactly what we need right now.” 

“Well, at least this distraction has brought us some time.” 

“Indeed.” I chuckled to myself. 

“What's funny, my Lord?” 

“Irony, that's what's funny.” 

Clayton frowned at me, obviously confused. So I quickly explained the previous night's events. 

“You mean to tell me you have Arkane’s fiance in your tower as we speak.” Clayton’s lips twitched. 

“Aye. I even hired her to be my housekeeper.” 

Clayton threw back his head and laughed. But after a moment he sobered. “This is not going to end well.” 

“On the contrary. I'm going to make sure it ends well. At least for her.” I assured my friend.