Chapter 18 Arden’s Wedding
Almost every soldier in the inn went running at top speed to the rooms of the innkeeper and his family. The innkeeper was the first to arrive at his daughter’s side and was busy holding her and trying to explain what had happened when Mikail and Ian arrived and went to Arden’s side. Upon the captain’s arrival, Arden seemed to decide that last night’s events had indeed not been a dream and she calmed down and listened to Ian a
"Apparently a hunter was out looking for fresh meat and found a pack of wolves around the body," answered Ian. Mikail winced. He could barely find the strength to ask what he desperately wanted to know."Ian ... How did they identify the body if the wolves had torn - ?" he broke off thinking of Sylvia’s body being torn and wondering what could have killed her."By the sword protruding from the chest of Victor’s clothes – the last things he was known to be wearing." Ian watched as Mikail tried to digest what he had heard."Then it could not have been her that they found," he said slowly. Ian shook his head with a slight smile. "What are we waiting for, Ian get this place moving!" He turned to Arden, "I think it would be a good idea if you come with us and settle in another town."
Chapter 19 The TrapRetribution had a meeting with a peculiar, but rich client who wanted nothing more than proof whether or not her husband was cheating on her. She said that if he were, she could divorce him and retain her honor, along with all of her family wealth, but if not she would never doubt him again. This fine lady had told Retribution how to find her husband, where he would be, and what he always wore when he claimed to be going to the military meetings where she suspected his fidelity. It was in the town just across the border, it would only take a few hours
She called to him and when he did not come to her, she went to him. Her kiss was intoxicating. He lost himself in her arms. When she said to him that she would eagerly become his lover and make certain that no one would ever know about their rendezvous, he stopped dead."That is what honoris,Sylvia, doing what is right even when no one would ever know the difference," he told her, "Put your clothes back on properly." She backed up slowly and started to pull her laces in full view as he wondered to himself if his honor would lead to his demise. His only consolation was that he hoped to make her his wife. "May I die a chaste man before taking any woman to my bed outside of the bonds of marriage," he said to himself. He refused dinner. Listening to her talk about what they could do or what she would do to him if he would let her was causing more pain than he thought any
Chapter 22 MidnightThey were close to Tshen and decided to go first thing in the morning. Mora was still visiting with the cousin who had helped Mikail with the lock and Ian decided to send for her to take a room at one of the inns in Tshen. The night after they arrived, Mikail spotted a familiar face wondering amongst the people closing the marketplace for the night, and he followed it. Her long, blonde tresses hung sensuously around her and spilled over the hood of a summer cloak that had been left hanging behind her.She went into a small alehouse and seemed to disappear. He spotted her again sitting next to Kollin with her hood pulled up and her cloak wrapped around her. They were in a
"Of course!" he grinned, "That is why I stationed him for guard duty right then. It won’t take long for that to get out into the public and from then on you will be treated with the respect given a queen. Your father was the brother of the king and framed for an assassination attempt and the two of you fled for your lives. You don’t like to talk about it because the memories are painful. You took up lives as peasants and came to me seeking refuge, that is when I fell in love with you," he smiled, drew her close to him, and kissed her deeply.Ian walked in and they slowly parted, "I heard that your bride had arrived, but Gower tells me that she is also a royal.""Yes, Ian, you should sit down and I will ... fill you in," Mikail said to him. Mikail told him about the history he and Kollin had devised for Sylvia and her ... father. Sylvia only smiled. Mikail had learned much in th
Chapter 21 The Assassin’s DemonstrationThe minds of the men reeled with the events of the past few days. They had almost completely forgotten the existence of Retribution when the General had informed them of his decision to marry. When his future bride had entered the camp, they had thought her a peasant - she was revealed a princess. She had won their hearts with her kindness, then her father showed up. The medicine man whom Captain Tane had call for (and had obviously known for quite some time) when Victor was ill was revealed to be prince in hiding who would s
As the five of them started back to camp, Mikail told Sylvia how impressed he was and Ian tried to keep his mouth from hanging open. "I knew you held back, even in battles, to keep from revealing your true identity but I did not know you werethatgood," Mikail said to her. She stepped in front of him and pulled his face down so she could kiss him."Am I ‘that good’ to you when I visit your bed?" she whispered sensuously. She slipped Veritás out of his hand and back into its sheath."You are better than that," he replied huskily. Their three companions forgotten, he picked her up and began carrying her to his tent. His thoughts were only on getting her back out of the leather scouting outfit. Mora cleared her throat. Mikail spun around to face her, "Mora, you know we are already wed.""The five of us are the only ones who know
Mora returned to the tent to find her gone and thought it strange. She started searching the camp; no one had seen Sylvia leave the tent. The camp became as busy as a beehive. Torches were lit and men dragged away from anything else to begin looking for her. Sylvia heard the noise and came back to find out what was going on and cursed. It was a chore getting back into her tent without being seen and even more so getting back out again after she changed her clothes.She got far enough out of camp and then came running back asking what was going on. The men settled down and Ian asked her where she had been. "I needed some time alone." Ian asked both her and Mora to follow him into a vacant tent."What do you mean not telling one of us when you are leaving the camp, Sylvia?" he asked urgently. It was obvious that he had not been worried for her safety, but everyone else had.
"Something like that. Captain, I do not wish to have this discussion with you at this time! You have interrupted a chiding I was receiving from Master Revenge," she spoke as though she was very close to sending him on to the manor. He took in the tears threatening to overflow the blue eyes he had come to love on a dear and trusted friend. He wanted nothing more than to protect her, but knew that something more was going on between Sylvia and her father than a mere chiding. They had done that many times back and forth and it had not made her cry. He bowed to her and walked just out of earshot, but kept his eyes on them.When Sylvia looked back up at the face of Revenge, his expression had changed. She couldn’t decide if she liked the new one better or not. "How long have you been with child?" he demanded through gritted teeth."This will be my second cycle missed," she replied flatly.
"I do not dispute that it is. Pay the woman that she and her guard may leave!""Guard?!" the man asked angrily, "She brought an entire regiment with her!""Never mind my guard," Sylvia’s voice was a shock to the crowd, "Let us finish our business and I will leave this place and my guard with me.""All of them?""All of them.""We will need some sort of proof that it was you who did slay Retribution," the once very haughty man sounded defeated."If the body and the blade are not enough, then what else can I offer as proof but the wound that blade inflicted on my hand in the struggle that preceded the death ofthat woman?" She held out her left hand to show the bandage."May we see that wound?" he asked. Sylvia pi
This time when he spoke, his tones and facial expressions were much softer. "I do not know all of the magic that was placed on the blade. I know that for me, the glow was green, not blue as it is for you. I know that it does not like to draw the blood of its master – that was one of the attributes I asked for when I commissioned it. I do not know why it did what it did, but I am sure it had something to do with it cutting you."The small group dispersed still thinking about what they had seen and heard and not knowing what they thought about it. Sylvia returned to the place where she had fought Delora. There she found that none of the men could handle Veritás without it striking back at them, though none could explain how as the blade never moved. She would have to clean it herself. She could handle that, even with a wounded hand.Thus ends phase one of this project ...&nbs
Chapter 27 Retribution’s RetirementIn less than a week, Ladies Chadwick and Kinden were settled back at Chadwick Manor and their lords were again inquiring as to what on earth they were planning. To them it was a game, nothing could possibly be serious about it because the women were too happy – in fact, they were so happy they cried sometimes.
"Because ... well ... you first saved my brother from certain death and then you requested that the medicine man come here and tend to my father who had been poisoned by Delora, thus saving our family again. He refuses to take even the smallest payment for his services. You," he paused and looked at her as though she were not entirely human, but in a good way, "I would swear that you are part or all angel sent from God’s own side to help this land recover from its sorrows.""You are too kind, Cole.""There is one other thing I must request of you," he told her hesitantly, "I must ask that you say nothing to the authorities of what we have done ... The consequences could be terrible for us.""I will keep your secret, Cole, just be careful who elseyoutell," she said with a maternal s
Delora allowed herself to be carried the rest of the way to the tree house without incident. There was terror in her eyes and etched in every line of her face. If anything, it increased when she was securely tied to a chair and her gag removed. She managed to speak after Retribution had pulled up the other chair in the small room and sat backwards around it looking at her. "W-What do y-you want f-from me?"Retribution smiled with such maliciousness that she could have made most of the guild counsel turn tail and run. "I know what you have been doing to your husband and his family, but I want to hear your story. Your fate may be a little less painful if you comply with my wishes." Delora paled then reddened. She started to let out a string of curses and insults, but was interrupted by Retribution’s steel re-enforced bracer coming hard across her face. "Insolence is not becoming of a fool." Disdain d
Chapter 26 DeloraShe crept quietly along the second floor ledge. They had been gone from the merchant’s home for three days and now it was time to return. She pulled her black cloak over her leathers. It would not do for anyone to see what she was wearing - after all there were few who even knew she wasn’t always in a skirt. She found the room she wanted and carefully slid the shutters
She stepped out of the bath. He watched her. Her wet hair contoured to the shape of her body. He heard her sultry voice telling him there was not a single towel in the entire room, but they could use one of his fine linen shirts if he would be so kind as to retrieve it and would he mind drying her?Mind? Any excuse to touch her was reason enough for him to do so ...But when he arrived at the chair where a shirt lay, she guided him into it and sat across his lap. He let out a groan of pleasure.Through the course of the night, she brought him to the brink of release and back again so many times that he lost count. Finally, as the sun began to peak over the horizon, they reached the peak of ecstasy and drifted into peaceful slumber.Somewhere around the noon meal, Sylvia appeared in a dressing robe that belonged to Mikail and requested food
"Would you back up?" the king’s voice was barely audible over Sylvia’s soft crying and the murmur of the hall, "We are in no danger from Mikail’s menorhis bride!" His comment made Sylvia smile, though for a different reason than he thought.If he only knew who I really am, those would not be his words..."Forgive them. They are overcautious in these perilous times.""There is nothing to forgive, Majesty, they were only doing the job loyalty demands of them," she replied, "It would be disappointing if they were to shirk their duties. Enemy spies have been known to infiltrate even the most watched places." The old king put his hand over Sylvia’s and nodded approval."Spoken with great wisdom, Lady Chadwick, it is good to see that Mikail has chosen well," he removed his hand from hers after giving it a slight squeeze.