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Ch. 15: Getting Clean
“I'm sorry my exploits have been much less entertaining stories. They're not really worth sharing.”
She hadn’t had that many, and they weren’t particularly interesting. At 16 she had fallen in love with one guard a few years her elder. They had a secret love affair for months. Though no one ever addressed her about it, she felt fairly sure her father was aware, as one day he was mysteriously reassigned. There’d been one diplomat just passing through, the stable boy, one married nobleman, and one unmarried peasant. Then... the prince.
“You’re a princess, and you’ve already had a more interesting life than any I’ve met. They tend to be rather... sheltered... back in Aasleagh.” He turned toward her, resting a hand on her inner thigh. “But maybe we’ll do something about your lack of entertaining stories while I’m here.” With that, he leaned in and kissed her deeply once again.
He cer
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Catalyst Ch. 16: Goodnight
She stood up, the water level sinking steadily, and grabbed one of the nicely folded towels on the table beside the bath. Wrapping one around herself, she stepped out and handed him the other. They were large and soft, comfortable enough to be worn like a robe if one wanted. She tucked the top corner in, so it stayed in place around her. Hayward had long believed that there were few things sexier than a woman wearing nothing more than a towel, and Elissa only reinforced that. He slowly licked his lips and then followed her out of the bath. He took a moment to wipe himself down (just so he wasn’t dripping wet), then tied the towel around his waist. “Well, I imagine we’ll sleep well tonight,” he mused. “Sleeping in is always nice, but it’s more fun with someone else, and that’s probably not a good idea yet.” He shrugged. “And if we have to put off hunting for a day, that’s not the end of the world either.” “I wouldn’t know...” she replied
Catalyst Ch. 17: Morning
Elissa was awoken what felt like moment later (but by the light streaming through the window she could tell it had clearly been hours) by sharp beating on her door. She jolted up, eyes open, tumbling off of him and shaking him.“It’s morning. You’re still here. And someone’s at the door!” She hissed, suddenly having her wits about her. She began scrambling for clothes, trying to wake herself.Hayward took a moment to process her sudden concern.Of course he was there! Where else would he be? Someone’s at the door. So? Tell them to come back later.“Be there in a minute!” She yelled, knowing her hair she had pinned up the night before was now a mess. She tried to fiddle with it and pulled her dressing gown around her tightly.“Hide...” she hissed behind her, taking a deep breath to steady herself before walking to the door. She glanced behind her to ma
Catalyst Ch. 18: Third Wheel
Hayward considered doing something cheeky, like staying to watch her dress, but thought better of it. The parting kiss was enough. He needed to return to his room and change anyway. Dantares just shook his head at all the smooching. “You know, your father hardly laid a hand on your mother while they were courting. They were quite dignified about the whole matter.” “That’s because she couldn’t stand him,” Hayward shot back. He hooked a thumb toward the princess. “She likes me.” The older man rolled his eyes. “Children,” he muttered. Elissa had to laugh atshe likes me. She did. She hated to admit it, but she did. Were they courting? Was this a thing now? Or was he just making comparisons? She was pretty sure neither of them had actually said they were courting. “I’ll be down shortly. I just have to get dressed...” she made her way to her closet in the room's corner, passing by Sasha who had been sleeping thr
Catalyst Ch. 19: Brewing Tensions
The old man nodded. He didn’t like the plan, but he understood it. “Very well. Good luck. And try not to die.” Hayward chuckled. “I’m pretty good at that, I’d say.” He started rifling through his bags again until he found what he was after: inconspicuous weapons and armor. Hayward put on a shirt that looked like it was merely a little stiff but actually had thin metal plates concealed in the fabric. He then concealed a pair of bracers and knives under his sleeves. If he was very lucky, he wouldn’t need any of it. Satisfied, he headed for the stables. He wasn’t sure what to tell the princess. It would have to wait for now. He arrived shortly after she did, waving to her and whistling sharply for his horse. As it approached, he raised one arm with his forearm horizontal in front of his face. The horse settled down as it neared him, stopping a few feet in front rather than running right into him. “That’s a good boy,” Hayward said softly as he walked up and rubbed the horse’s nose. It di
Catalyst Ch. 20: First Blood
“Good morning,” the tailor greeted them both warmly. “Princess Elissiana... and... who might you be kind, sir? You don’t look as though you are from around these parts...” he was an older man with shoulder length white hair and overgrown eyebrows. He wore a pair of spectacles and had an uncommonly rosy hint to his cheeks. “What might I assist you with this fine day?” Hayward put the concern for her out of his mind and focused on the tailor instead. “Good morning, sir. I am Prince Hayward of Aasleagh.” The tailor gave him a bow, and he waved his hand. “No need. Just—stating I am not from around here and am too accustomed to the heat of the desert. As I’m planning to spend some time in your lovely country, I could do with something warmer. Perhaps a cloak or a long coat?” He made a show of perusing the tailor’s wares, but he mostly focused his eyes on the room, the doors, and the windows. Was this a safe place to be? How easily could they escape out the back if his men came through the
Catalyst Ch. 21: The 5th Soldier
“I had five guards. I don’t think the fifth is here; he should have attacked already. If he’s still back at the castle... I don’t know what he’ll do. Try to kill people, presumably, since they’re here to provoke war.” He paused. “I... am sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I should have warned you, warned your parents. I just... wasn’t sure what to do. We should get back to the castle. If we’re lucky, he hasn’t had the chance yet.” He finally took a moment to look at his own wounds, the arrows sticking out of his arm and chest. There was, thankfully, little blood. “I probably need a doctor, too, at some point. This is painful.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him from the shop. She’d come back later to rectify the mess they’d made, but for the time being, they needed to get back, fast. “I’m really sorry Mister Evermore! It’s safe to come out, and I’ll send someone to clean up!
Catalyst Ch. 22: I'll be very cross if you die
Hayward rolled onto his back. He glanced briefly around, seeing the terrible shape the Elven guards were in. It looked like one of them might make it, if the doctor got to him immediately, but Felix had been a skilled and efficient killer: there was no hope for the rest. The prince held up his arm again and looked at the arrow stuck in it. “I think I need to see a healer, or doctor, or whatever you have...” he trailed off, then pointed at the badly wounded elf. “But not as bad as that guy.” Then he put his arms down again and shut his eyes. “Oh yeah... this... hurts...” As far as he was concerned, his life was no longer in danger, but the adrenaline was wearing off, and he was going to crash soon. But he’d survived. Thankfully, her brother’s wounds were minor. Kohl appeared to be in shock, standing
Catalyst Ch. 23: The Talk
As soon as she was out of sight, she leaned against a wall, letting everything wash over her. She took a shuddered breath as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Why? Why were her emotions betraying her? She didn’t want to feel. She wanted to remain closed off, but the adrenaline was gone, and it left in its wake all the things she pressed down that day. She’d never seen so much death in her life. Sure, Hayward’s ‘guards’ deserved it, but her own guards did not. She had tried to push it to the side like they weren’t important, but she knew each one of them by name. They’d been in her family’s service for years. If she had allowed herself to acknowledge it in front of Hayward... he would’ve seen she was still a weak woman. And that was unforgivable to her. She finally straightened herself up, wiping away the few tears she’d allowed to fall, and headed downstairs to the kitchens, requesting food and drink to be brought up for the prince. She then grabbed two glasses of wine. Even if
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