Chapter 19 The Trap
Retribution 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.
Chapter 22 Homecoming"Take off your boots and cloak, Mikail. I’ll not have you making more work for Rachel by tracking the road dust through the manor.""It’s good to see you, too, Ansel, ten of my men are in the stables bedding the horses. We have yet to take our evening meal, will
It took four days for Sylvia to be well enough for them to move again. When she was, they pampered her until she made Ian order them to stop. "Sylvia, they love you as much or more than they loved Victor," Ian told her, "Give them some slack.""I have. I can’t stand it anymore.""It was only two days."She gave him a look that could have wilted a rose and he went to tell the men to treat her the way they had before this cycle. They had trouble adjusting back to that until they saw her in the ring with Ian, continuing her training.They were still a week away from Chadwick manor, and Sylvia still did not know where they were going. General Tane’s men did not know, either. They still thought him a common man who had done well in the army and had been rewar