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.
FeliciaI heard Gregor come in just before dawn. He brought with him the scent of cool mountain air and the crisp citrusy scent of crushed pine needles. He milled around for a moment or two, putting his things away it sounded like. I heard something clatter to the floor and he uttered something sharp under his breath.“It’s alright, I'm awake,” I said.“Ah. I'm sorry I was trying to be quiet.”“I have breakfast to make anyway,” I said smiling to myself. I wondered if he realized he treated me more like his guest than his servant. But I wasn't going to bring it to his attention.“I brought some herbs and fresh eggs.”I came from behind the curtain dressed and ready for my day. He handed me a leather satchel containing the supplies he h
Gregor:I sat down to dinner with Felicia and to an awkward silence. I debated with myself for a moment, watching her play with her food.“If you would like I can arrange for another position for you. Perhaps in the village?” I said finally.She jerked her head up to look at me wide-eyed. “No. Please don’t send me away. I won’t meddle again, I promise.”“I just thought that after today you wouldn’t want to stay here.” Her response had baffled me. I had thought she would surely want to escape from me as soon as possible.“Sir, I know you would never harm me on purpose. I know. I lived with someone who harmed me a much as he could, in every way he could and you are nothing like him.”“Do you mean your stepbrother?”“
FeliciaWhile Gregor slept that afternoon, I got to work on my clothes. It was exciting to have nice clothes. My fingers itched to work on the red cloak. But, I had to be practical. I needed sturdy dresses first. It was still a while before the cold weather would set in. Usually, I was careful to be quiet, but I got lost in thought while I was working, and before I realized it I was humming the old lullaby tune again.“Do you know the story behind that song?” Gregor's voice startled me.“Yes, it's about the legend of the Janus Wolves,” I replied.“Indeed. Do you know where the legend came from?&r
FeliciaIt was before dawn when I gave up on getting a decent night's sleep. I could hear the wolves howling in the valley. They howled, and yapped, and barked and made many other sounds that filled the night. As I listened to them it came to me that it was like they were talking to each other. Which was, of course, what wolf packs must do, but this sounded odd. It was intricate and orderly. The whole pack didn't howl or make sounds together, but individuals placed throughout the valley would respond to each other, as though passing information along.I went to the window and saw the red wolf sitting on a knoll just outside the tower. His ears twitched in response to every sound the pack made. When the pack fell silent he sent out a string of sounds, then they responded again. I watched in awe. I'd never seen anything like it.
FeliciaThe next night when Gregor left for the night I stayed up. I sat in the dark by the window and waited. The moon was nearly full and the night was clear, so I could see the valley floor well. I wanted another glimpse at the red wolf or any of his companions. But the night was silent except for the insects that chirped in the grass and the trees. The moon wasps were out, trying to harvest as much nectar as possible before winter. Their bioluminescent blue glow blinked off and on throughout the undergrowth. Several night-blooming flowers grew in the valley.Fallen Starswith their abundant fire red petals,Midnight Violetswhose black petals were a warning not to eat them, they would kill you in seconds, andLuna Magnifica,&n
GregorI heard Felicia leave the tower. She had not been out on her own since she had arrived. I was pleased that she felt comfortable enough to do so. But her absence made it hard for me to relax. My mind kept wondering where she was. And I missed the sounds of her movement around the tower. I drifted in and out of sleep all afternoon. When she still had not returned when it was time for me to get up, I began to feel a pang of concern. The Valley was a vast place, and it was easy to get lost. And while the wolves acted as a barrier to many wild animals there were still a few predators that roamed the woods.I waited for a while but then decided to go and look for her. As a Keeper, I could follow her scent almost as well as the wolves could. Her trail led to the lake and then through the woods. The pack was near, for I could smell them too. Th
Gregor Her eyes widened. She hadn't expected me to be so blunt. She glanced at the wolves again. She was trying to envision them as the legend described them. I sighed heavily, I had a long story to tell and I was already exhausted. “Come inside,” I reached for her shoulder, but stopped just short of touching her, and let my arm fall. “I'll make us some tea and explain.” I turned and headed up the stairs, she seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon I heard her light steps following me. While I made the tea I tried to organize my thoughts, I knew I had to tell her the truth about the wolves, but how much should I tell her about myself? How much should I tell her about my suspicions? She had taken a seat at the table and silently
Gregor*I left the tower already mentally drained and frustrated, but with an unexplainable pent-up physical energy. The wolves had stayed close and they could feel my general state of emotional flux. They appeared like pieces of the shadows created by the moonlight. I started to run, and the wolves fell into formation behind me. I figured a battle strategy exercise would be a way to release whatever was raging inside me. I projected imaginary enemies via my implants and the wolves and I destroyed an army of mock opponents in less than an hour.Feeling a bit better, I was ready to meet my men. So I headed to the shack via the river. There I took a quick dip to wash the sweat off from my workout. No need to make Clayton overly curious about my scent.