the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 24 - Please consider tribute to the Web Mistress - The Chronicles of the Midlands starts Here, with the first chapter of the Slave Warrior.

 

It was early in the morning.  The camp had been awake and moving to get repacked since first light.  Laun was being groomed as carefully as Grace was as the mist of the morning glided around the men and women in the quiet camp.

The scouts came back and reported in low tones that the bridge had indeed been repaired, though it was obvious where damage had recently occurred.  The scouts went to the three squads loading up, the Protector archers amongst them checking the newly made arrows as they went into their quivers.

They were ready to mount up.  The sun was starting to burn off the mist as the horses were lined up, the carts hitched.  Laun was astride Grace, her skirts draped over the flank of the horse, her jewels and crown catching the early light.  The four assassins were spread through the group, Gem with the babies in the carriage as the men found places alongside the few guards and servants that were to escort Laun.

The group split into three as Laun led her group towards the river.  They had camped only about ten minutes’ ride from the river when they found that there wasn’t a guard posted on this side of the river.  Sloppy, and Laun used it to advantage.  They came to the top of the ridge before the river and looked down to the beach.

It was different from when the ferryman had pulled her across.  No flat bottomed boat rocked in the flow of the river.  No large rope drooped into the water.

A large mass of rocks with full tree trunks for timbers had been formed into a bridge.  One section looked like there had been a rock fall and then been badly repaired, the flow of rocks that was jumbled downstream from the bridge showing what Lonn had done to sabotage the structure.  The river was damed slightly, the detritus from upstream collecting along the rock structure, a forced flow between some of the rocks where the river was pushing to get through, a loudness to the determined water.

Laun shook her head and smiled.  From where she was, she could see the sleeping forms of two men on the other side of the river.  There could have been more, but she doubted it from the scouts report that morning.  She watched the two squads that were to split from them go to either side along the bank of the river and watched the mist come up off the flowing river.

Grace was almost halfway across the bridge when the men who were supposed to be on duty roused.  One blinked and rubbed his eyes, the other started to nod off again.  Laun stopped and looked down at the merc who had woken.

The Rosemond mercenary looked up at a vision he was not sure he was really seeing.  There was mist in the morning air, not too thick, but wisps of it seemed to wrap around the legs of the red and black horse before him.  The woman mounted on the horse had a red and black dress on, a full skirt that flowed around her legs and over the rump of the horse, blending together in the sleepy man’s eyes to become one being.

The merc poked his duty partner and stood.  He felt ashamed as the woman calmly looked down on him, no words from her, and perhaps a slight frown creasing her tanned forehead.  Her brown hair was up, braided with red ribbons and silver-

The sun burned through the morning mist and clouds and he saw the Three Pointed Crown in her hair, the gold and silver of her jewelry glinting on her wrists and neck, the signet ring dotted with pearls commanding his attention.

He kicked his partner and stood at attention.  “Highness, what may we do for you?”

The man on the ground heard the trembling voice of his duty partner and sat up.  He scrambled to his feet, trying to grab his pike and dropping it to the stone instead.  He came to attention as he took in the woman on the horse, having thought she had been part of his dream before.

There was a quiet voice that flowed from the woman, calm and gentle.  “I am Princess Laun Dresden, Lady Salam-Dir, Duchess of Pearl and Ruby.  I wish to visit with my noble neighbor, if it is possible.”

The mercs saluted and then vied for which one was to run to announce the Princess.  The rest of the escort was on the bridge, waiting, as the merc tried to run up the sandy trail as fast as he could.

Laun liked seeing them scramble.  That was her plan for this part of the visit.  Catch them early and catch them off balance.  Laun sat on the back of her palfrey and saw the sweat start on the man who was uneasily at parade rest at the end of the almost finished bridge.

Laun motioned and the mercs eyes went to the man in dark green who came to her with a goblet.  He knelt as she drank and seemed a little bored as they waited.  The goblet was held out and almost dropped before the servant caught it.  The merc felt a little more at ease seeing the unconcerned nature of the noble looking down at him, his first flush of nervousness settling into just embarrassment at being found asleep on duty.

The mist had almost been burned off as they waited.  A set of hoofbeats came towards them down the path from the large keep of Nestwood, the dark charger skidding around the curve as more hoofbeats and some men’s footfalls came behind.

A man in red and black, a uniform hastily thrown on if Laun had any experience, was on the charger that was pulled to a halt.  Laun did not know the insignia on his chest and shoulder, but she read the call thong as if it was plainly written out for her.  This was a Captain, probably officer of the day or watch and also asleep when he should have been awake.

He tried to dismount with some care, but the horse was still wound up from the short race to the bridge and moved when he wasn’t expecting.  He landed on the ground with both feet and smacked the horse on the shoulder in frustration.  He straightened his tunic and short jerkin before turning towards the bridge, a hand finding an undone buckle and trying to put it right as he strode to the bridge’s guard.

The Captain was not one to automatically salute or go to attention as the lower ranked merc was.  He looked up and down the bridge at the people waiting, most being women that he could see.  He then looked up at the dark woman on the Bey horse, his arm raising his hand to his forehead when his eye saw the glint of the three pointed crown.

“Captain,” her voice flowed down to him with a quietness that made it hard to hear above the blocked river, “I wish to have a visit to my noble neighbor, if it is possible.”

He swallowed and said in a slightly accented voice, “Ma’am, you are unexpected.  Who are you?”

Laun made a gesture and one of the dark green servants came to her and knelt.  The lady flowed down the horse, using the offered knee as a step as she came to the ground.  Her booted foot stepped lightly on the gravel as she took the pace forward to the Captain, her hand offered to him.

He took the hand with the heavy signet ring and bowed over it as she said, “I am Princess Laun Dresden, Lady Salam-Dir, Duchess Pearl and Ruby.  And you?”  Her head went slightly to one side and she smiled as his eye came up to hers.

He flushed as he said, “Captain Norwel Hinds, Ma’am.  Second Brigade of the Rosemond Regulars.”  The gold and green that glinted in her eyes made it hard to turn away until she slowly blinked.

The Princess stepped closer and kept ahold of his hand.  “It is very good to meet a proper military man from Rosemond.”  Laun’s eye flicked to the side, catching the merc as if a rabbit was in a bright light suddenly at night.

The Captain’s eye twitched as he glanced over and saw the red on the unranked merc.  “Please do not think that we are all sluggards, ma’am.”  He felt himself turn and start to escort the Princess down the dirt and gravel ramp to the beach.  He did not know why he was not challenging her, but it did not seem right to.

The others who had followed had dismounted and were in a loose formation on the beach.  Laun’s eye went over them, seeing things on belts, postures and condition of their uniforms.  “I thank you for your attendance.  I do have a damnedable habit of traveling early and I apologize.”  Her head went down and a slight softening of her face caught several of the men as she looked at them.

“Our duty, Ma’am.  His excellency has had a messenger sent to him so he should be up shortly.”  The Captain did not know why he wanted to tell her more, but when she turned back to him and smiled, he wanted to tell her anything to see the smile again.

There was a delightful little laugh from her as her eye caught on a bright orange butterfly that flew past, the innocence putting the men off their guard.  The Captain started to walk to the path, the Princess’ tan hand still in his.  The men behind him were not sure what to do so they walked, leading the horses they had just brought in such a hurry.

The caravan of Laun’s escort started down the bridge and followed the Rosemond military people up to the path, the guards just looking on as the group passed by.  Several of the women who had been brought to be in attendance smiled at the men, one of them winking as the wagon went by.

It was a slow walk up the path.  Not that it had to be, but Laun wanted to have some time to try to talk with the Captain.  “You are awfully far from home.  Do you have family at home waiting for you?”

The Captain nodded.  “My mother, Countess Hinds, is at our estate.  She runs things better than I ever could.”

Laun smiled and shook her head.  She pulled her skirt up just a little higher to be able to walk on the slope and put a little more weight on the hand under hers.  “You command men.  I am sure you would be able to command the servants at an estate.”

He held her hand slightly tighter as he supported her.  “Ma’am, you should know that military units act different than civilian.  Not everyone does as they are told.”

Laun giggled.  “That is true.  I am told that I don’t do as I should, often.  My chatelaine told me I should not come and visit, but it has been a while since I had been here and I wanted to see how things were settling.”

They were at the trailhead, the cleared space before the keeps large, crenelated walls filling with soldiers and servants.  Laun continued to walk, her hand on the Captains until she saw a man being escorted through the chaotic mass of people.  Laun stopped and tried to look nervous by brushing the front of her skirt down and putting her hand to the back of her hair.  Laun glanced to the Captain and smiled, her eye going to their hands still touching and then back to his eye.

He bowed slightly and turned towards the noble coming towards them.  “Your excellency, may I present her Highness, Princess Laun Dresden.”

Laun made a curtsey that was perhaps a little deeper than it should have been.  She raised her hand from the officer’s and presented it to the man dressed in a blue finery in front of her.  “I am honored you would receive me.”

Laun’s eye went from his feet up to his eyes and paused.  The blue.  She smiled reflexively.  His hand took hers, not gently, and bowed over it.  He let it go and she stood.

“Highness.  Why are you here?”

He was tough.  He was not going to be easy as the military people were.  Or even his relative was.  He was close to the height and natural hair color of Ithian.  Laun could not suppress her thoughts as she looked at him.  She just had to phrase it right.

“The Admiral was right.  You are the spitting image of my betrothed.”

That shook him.  Laun could see the twitch of his eyes and the way he looked away for a moment.  “Highness, what are you talking about?”

Laun stood straight, but brought her arms around her, a few fingers touching her lips as she quietly said, “Before he died, I was to marry Ithian...”

He blinked.  He looked at the servants and guards Laun had brought with her, and then he saw the signet ring.  “Duchess.  I am Erin Bedral.  Ithian was my brother.”  He took her hand again and kissed the back of it, then the ring.

Erin guided Laun through the walls and into the close dark of the keep.  Laun remembered a few turns, but would have been lost if Fount and Hunter had not given her a map of the keep to study.  Laun knew that not everyone was going to be able to follow.  That was to be expected.  The ones that were able to were discrete and kept a few paces behind.  They also knew the layout from the map.

The noble nodded and a door was opened before they came to it.  A large room that Laun had seen noted as a storage room on the map had been turned into a bedroom for Erin.  The door was left open behind them as the servants of the house were still putting things right in the early morning, several of them coming and going as Laun’s host motioned to a low couch on one side of the room.

Laun knew the type of couch this was.  Was it preference of the men of the family or was it a style from Rosemond?  Laun did not think long on that as she sat, her skirts draping around her on the velvet upholstery.  A chair was brought over for Erin and he sat, pulling his dagger around to the front to make it more comfortable.

Several of the women protectors had volunteered for this mission.  They all were in the roles of servants, and all were armed.  Gem had carried the basket that was almost too small for the babies at that point, helped by one of the protectors, placing the basket on the end of the couch and stepping back out of the way.

Erin’s eye went to the basket but it took a moment for him to understand what was held there.  He turned and looked at the awake faces of the babies and then up to Laun.  “Those are not his.”

It was a statement.  Not a question.  Laun nodded and said, “You are right.  He wished to marry me, even though the father of my children was not he.  He gave me these the night before he died.”  Laun traced the sparkly jewels in the gold and silver metal on one of her wrists.  She let the tear come to the corner of her eye and wiped it away without looking up to him.

He leaned back into the chair.  “Are you trying to foust them off onto me?”

Laun looked appalled.  “No!  Why would I do that?  I just cannot travel without them.  I would not let anyone else nurse them.  The thought!”  Laun leaned over to the basket and caught the look on one of the women’s faces.  She smiled and turned the smile to the babies.  She picked Sable up and held her to her chest.

The man seemed to relax slightly.  “Highness-”

Laun motioned with a few fingers to him.  “Please, call me Laun.  There is too much formality in the world and I would like to think that we shall know each other well enough today to not have to use those, those titles.”  Laun motioned her hand as if dismissing something.

“Laun.  Then you shall call me Erin.  You are the Lady of Salam-Dir?  I have heard stories of your people.”

Laun nodded.  “And read reports, I am certain.  We country folk are tough, that is all.”  Laun stroked along the side of Sable’s face, the child making a mewling sound.

“Do you visit others in the region often?”

Laun looked up and smiled, her head tilting slightly.  “I plan on doing so.  Before this, I was not feeling safe enough to.  My father had assured me that the hostilities are over.”  She leaned forward slightly, letting him have a glimpse of her cleavage as she said, “I was getting a little bored in my rooms with the babies.”

His eye flicked down and back to her eyes.  “May I offer you something to eat?  You came early enough that I hadn’t eaten first meal yet.”

Laun nodded.  “Yes, please, Erin.  Once I have something in my head, I just go with it.  I wished to travel and so I am here.  I should have taken the hour into account.”  Laun made a small motion and one of the women brought a small cloth wrapped around a polished wooden trencher.  “I didn’t come empty handed, though.  I hope that this is suitable to help break your fast with.”

The small fruited smallbreads were of a perfect roundness, the berries coloring the small rolls with smears of dark purple.  A small pot of honeyed butter was in the middle, a wooden knife placed for use among the food.

Erin’s eyes widened and Laun saw that she had thought right.  The staff was not feeding him well and he missed the foods of a real kitchen.  He reached out and then looked at Laun.  He smiled, his eyes glinting with something as he took a smallbread and tore it open.  He tried not to look like he was smelling it, but it was obvious.  A slather of butter went on the bread and he took a small bite.

Laun took a smallbread for herself and put butter on her torn piece, too.  She took a larger bite than Erin had and chewed happily.  He finished the morsel in the next bite and Laun could see that he wanted to grab several more to just shove into his mouth.

“May I ask for some tea?”  Laun was quiet in her request, her eyes on Erin’s as she sat on his couch.

He nodded and turned his head, swallowing before saying, “Tea.  And some of the cold chicken from last night-” he turned and looked at Laun.  “If you don’t mind cold chicken?”

“With the heat of this summer, cold is preferable.”  Laun smiled at Erin and then at the servant the master of the house turned to.

It did not take long for the chicken to be brought, though it looked like it had been hacked to pieces the night before and left on the platter.  Erin seemed embarrassed when he saw it in the hands of the servant, but did not say anything.

Laun took a hunk that looked like it had been part of the breast from amongst the onions and apples it had been cooked with.  It was indeed cold, perhaps put into the cellar that had been in the plans.  Laun bit into it, finding it a little sour, but she ate it without a complaint and little on her face to show that it was not to her liking.

Erin took one of the legs and did show his displeasure more than Laun.  He saw her eating without a complaint and so he scrunched up his face and finished the meat on the bone, waving the empty thing to the side to have a servant take it from him.

“Thank you, Erin.  You are kind to host with me showing up unannounced.”

He put his chin on his fist as he leaned in the chair.  “My pleasure.  It has been a while since I had visitors.”

Laun put Sable back in the basket, keeping a hand on the babies as she said, “It can get quite lonely out here in the country.  Always something to do, but always the same people around to do it with.”

Laun saw a slight flash of a smirk.  “Laun, what do you do over there behind your wall?”

Laun blinked.  “You have been to Salam-Dir?  And you didn’t ask to come in?  Oh, Erin, shame on you.  It took me this long to recover from the birth to be able to travel or else we would have met sooner.”  Laun grinned widely.

“I went past part of your wall when I was hunting boar.  A sow disappeared under the blasted wall and I lost her.”

“Oh!  That is where she came from!  I have to thank you for that, actually.  She had several piglets with her and they are fattening up nicely in our pens.”

He laughed.  It was a true laugh as he put his hand over his mouth to quiet himself.  “Highness, you are a strange young Lady.  I don’t think another woman would have thanked me for a sow.”

Laun nodded once and said, “As long as I am not compared to one.”

He laughed again, Laun taking up a small laugh herself.  The noise disturbed the babies and Ash was the one at full voice in the basket.  Laun pulled the baby out and tried to settle her, but the only thing that was going to appease the child was being fed.

“Please forgive me, Erin.  Is there a secluded place I may go to feed my children?”

Laun saw several emotions go through the man.  “No need to move, Laun.  Ger!  Where is that folding wall thing?”

A painted screen was placed between Erin and his guest to give some privacy to Laun as she nursed her babies.  Gem helped to unlace the fabric girdle to allow the dress to move.  First one breast and baby and then the other as Laun sat and continued to talk to her host.

“Erin, I do have to admit that I don’t do as many of the noble Lady things as I possibly should.  I hate sewing, I cannot make a poem that makes sense, let alone rhyme.  I do like playing Sticks, though most of the people I play with I know let me win.”

He chortled.  “Sticks?  Most women start with that so they can play with their lovers.”

Laun looked at the screen between them.  “I started trying to play long before I took a lover.  My strategies are not good enough to really win, but I can get a few good moves in.  I had a lot of practice in my moves while I was locked up in the Palace.”

There was a pause.  “Someone told me you had spent most of the Spring in the Capitol City.”

Laun squinted and wished she could see him to read more than his voice.  “Then you know that Falmir and I were at odds.  We still...disagree on many things.  With Grandfather in the council now, I am hoping that things are better between them, and us.”

She heard the creak of the chair he was in as he shifted.  “Highness... Laun, what would you disagree with him on?  He is your father and King, is he not?”

Laun started to put herself back together as Sable was being burped on the shoulder of one of the other women.  “What child agrees completely with a parent?  Erin, being courted by your brother was one of the things that kept friction between Falmir and myself.  It was only after Ithian asked for my hand that things changed there.”

Laun motioned and the screen was taken away.  The tea had arrived and Ithian’s brother was dolling out several mugs worth, including for the women Laun had in attendance.  Laun made sure that each of the women around her had mugs before she raised hers to her lips.  Erin noticed and nodded once.

It was a plain mint concoction with just a little honey added.  Laun took a sip and smiled at her host over the edge of the mug.  “My favorite.  Thank you.”

He raised his mug and took a sip, looking a little suspiciously at it.  “I have to admit that I don’t do tea often.  I prefer something a little harder, but it is early.”

Laun shrugged.  “I would like a little something else myself, but I am nursing and I have to admit that anything more than a simple hard cider and I have to be put to bed.”  Laun took another sip of the hot tea and looked around the room.

Gem stepped forward and whispered to Laun.  Laun tried to look embarrassed as she turned to Erin and said, “Could my girl be escorted through the keep to our carriage?  It seems she forgot the clean cloths for the babies.”

The man nodded and a male servant stepped forward.  “I’m not one to have taken care of babies, but I know that you have to keep them clean or they do make lots of noise.”

Laun giggled.  “You are so right.  Nan?  Could you go with her?  They are getting big to carry.”

The women were escorted out carrying the babies between them in the basket.  Laun only had one other woman with her, making the odds seem to be in favor of the men in the room.

Laun pulled on the lacing of her girdle and tied it slightly tighter, the silver charm at the end of one of the thongs flashing in the lamplight.  “I never can get these things even.”

“I wouldn’t have noticed.”  Erin caught himself before he said anything else, but took a moment to bring his eyes up from her tanned cleavage.

Laun held her lower lip in her teeth as his eyes went from her beasts to her face.  “You are kind,” she said quietly.  “I know I am plain to look at and I am lucky I have caught the attentions of a few, such as your brother.  I still miss-”  Laun turned her head slightly and her eyes went to the hands she had in her lap.

He did not always agree with his younger brother.  The political career he had gone into had changed him.  To have gone for this young thing sitting in front of him, even pregnant...  She must have been a political move to start, but even so, she was truly catching Erin’s interest now that she was in front of him.

“Laun, please.  I don’t know how to deal with a woman in distress.”

She lightly rubbed under one eye and looked to her host.  “I am sorry, Erin.  It has been months and I still have times when it is just overwhelming.  Seeing you, I am not sure how I am not in a puddle on the floor right now.  You are so different and still you remind me of him.  But-it is unkind of me to bring up someone else in your chambers.”  She seemed to shake herself and sat straight on the low couch.

“I only was sent notice of his death a few weeks ago.  We had talked in the Capitol City last time I was there, but we were not as close as I thought we had once been.  He was all politics when I saw him.”

Laun heard the conflict.  “He did seem to have many people to see, many places to go.  Always some high ranked person he just came from or some important meeting to go to.  He always remembered to send me flowers after we met, but his mind seemed to be on other things.”  Laun glanced to the side and lowered her head slightly.  “Perhaps other people.”

Laun had hit a sore point.  She could feel his reaction before he said, “He did leave Rosemond with someone waiting for him.”  He caught himself, but it was too late, “I am not good with things like this, Highness.  Forgive me for mentioning it.”

Laun pulled out all the stops as she looked up at Erin.  She knew her eyes were wide, open and innocent with a touch of sadness.  There was a slight tilt to her head and a quiver to her lip as she said, “Thank you.  I thought he had only approached me because of my titles.  I am not one of the city beauties that I know he had...been with before.”  Laun let a tear come out as she thought of how alike the blue eyes of Erin’s were like Ithians.  She turned away and looked like she was trying to get control of herself, a hand of her maid on her shoulder for comfort.

It affected him.  He had to say something, he was not sure what, before he blurted out, “If he did not see anything but a political wife to be at his side, he was blinder than I thought.”

Laun touched her companions’ hand on her shoulder.  She sighed softly and put a small smile on.  “Thank you.  Little consolation at loosing him, but it is something.”  Laun looked up and nodded to the man.

He felt he had crossed some sort of line, but Erin was not sure what lines had been laid out.  “Rosemond is poorer without him, and the household, too.”

She sighed again and said, “Household.  Would you show me around the household?  The last time I was here, Helmic was in charge of Nestwood.  It looks like there have been changes.  Since then.”

He nodded.  He stood and held out his hand.  “I would be honored, Laun.”

Laun let him lead the way through the keep and castle that she had little actual knowledge of.  She had the learned map in her head, and a few anecdotes from the brothers, but that was about it.  Laun put her arm around Erin’s when the way became narrow, loosely keeping him near her so she could look up into his eyes when he looked down to talk to her.  She was not being subtle and she knew it.  She was asking leading questions of the place, saying things about people who she had supposedly met there before who obviously were not there any longer.

They came to an inner courtyard and Laun looked around with wonder on her face that she did not have to force.  There were potted fruit trees in amongst the planted beds of flowers and vegetables.  Roses with late blooms climbed one wall and a vine with little blue flowers on another.  The morning sun had risen some and only a few drops of dew still clung to the foliage, a few glints here and there among the green.

Laun ran her fingers along the flowers in the beds as they walked, a slight yellow pollen coming off and onto her fingers.  Erin saw the delight in Laun’s face and led her to a wooden bench and let her discover the ceramic and glass bowls he had there with small, brightly colored fish.  She clapped her hands as the fish swam around their confined area, smiling and giggling as a child might.  As she was looking at the fish, Erin went to the roses and cut one of the multi-layered blooms from the sharp vine.

“Highness.  For you.”

Laun looked up past the pale pink bloom and smiled at him.  She put her hand over his lightly to take the rose, but he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.  Still with his lips to her hand, he sat next to her on the bench, looking into her eyes.

Laun did not take her hand away but leaned in, smelling the fragrance of the rose they held.  She did not look away as she sniffed, keeping her eyes on his.  She felt his other hand move and expected to feel her head pressed towards him.

He leaned forward, his other hand bracing him.  He breathed over their hands and the rose and then closed his eyes and turned away.  Laun felt a disappointment at his actions and dropped her hand from his.  She looked down into the fishes and did not stop a tear coming down and joining the water below her.

Laun breathed for a moment, watching the ripples on the surface of the water of the fish bowls.  She stood, the flower falling to the ground between them.  She had a small voice as she said, “I should not have come.  I don’t know-”

He stood and turned her.  He pressed his lips into hers and she tasted the mint tea they had drunk together earlier still on his breath.  She opened her mouth and relaxed into his embrace.  Her arms went to his back, grasping onto the blue linen as she felt the hesitation he had vanish.  He held her tight, as if she would run at any moment until she had to gasp for air, turning her head and putting it on his chest.

“My Lady, I’m sorry.  I had to.  Your eyes-”  

Laun moved her arms so that his arms enclosed her and gently ran her hand up to his chin.  “Do not apologize, Erin.  It has been too long since you have had the chance to be with anyone, and I happened to come to you.”

He raised her chin and looked into her eyes.  She saw a concern, a flash of something in his blue eyes.  “No.  It isn’t by chance.  You came to me and I am glad of it, my Lady.”  He kissed her again and she could feel the need, but also the restraint he had in his arms.

She followed him back down to the bench, his arms still around her.  They kissed, her hand on his cheek and his arm supporting her head.  She felt his blonde whiskers, light colored and not too noticeable on his skin, but there against her cheek and lips as they kissed.

Laun was breathless as they parted.  He looked at her, put a hand on her cheek, his thumb along her jaw, as she leaned into the crook of his arm.  A strand of hair had pulled and was against her cheek, not tucked behind the three pointed crown that was slightly askew on her braided hair.  He moved and his thumb ran along her lips as he looked at them.  He drew his hand down her chin and to her chest, stopping as his palm came to her clothed cleavage.  His eyes went to her breasts straining against the red and black dress, his breath quickening.

Her hand went along his cheek and his eyes went back to hers.  “If you wish... Please be gentle.  I have been misused in the past.”

She lifted her hand from his face and his eyes caught on the palm that had just been touching him.  The thickened skin and scars that seemed so delicate and supple a moment ago.  He took her hand and kissed the palm, feeling the ridges as he drew his lips across.  He breathed through her fingers, smelling her and the light fragrance she had put on.  He smiled as he looked down into her eyes.

There was a slight shuffle.  Erin ignored it as he put Laun’s hand back on his cheek.  There was a low single cough.  The master of the house closed his eyes and sighed, but did not acknowledge the sound beyond that.  Laun blinked up at him and brought her eyebrows together as there was another cough and Erin could not ignore the sound again.

“Yes?” Erin said while still looking into Laun’s eyes.

“Baron, there are some issues that need to be discussed because of her Highness’ visit.”

The master of the house sat up.  He turned as he dropped Laun from his embrace.  “What issues, Derrik?”  A touch of testiness was in his low voice.

Laun was not as embarrassed or put out as she tried to look.  She glanced up at the man at the edge of the flowerbed, the late Summer flowers between he and they.  He was older, possibly used to be military, but not any longer.  No thongs, but a fine, polished silver and gold buckle on his thick belt.  Laun looked down and could not see his boots through the flowers, but there was a strap or garter above the boots that Laun recognized as a weapons holster.

“Your excellency, please, a moment of your time away from her Highness.”  He motioned to the other side of the garden.

Laun put a hand on Erin’s face and softly said, “If my visit is inconvenient, I shall leave.  It is not far home.”

Erin shook his head and then turned to look at her.  “I will deal with this and I will be back.”  The man stood, adjusting his clothing as he walked with his man to the other side of the garden.

The Protector playing servant came to Laun and started to fuss about her hair and clothing.  In soft voices, they exchanged just a little information, hand signals completing sentences.  Gem and Nan had been able to detour through more of the keep on the way through.  Nan came back, Gem stayed in the carriage.  Hazalam was outside the door of the courtyard.  Several of the women had already been propositioned by the men.  They were waiting for Laun’s say to follow through with the plan.  Laun was being cautious and wanted to wait, but if they had not heard from her within an hour, they were to start working through the men.

Erin came back to see Laun’s servant tidying her up, the fallen rose in her hand and at her nose.  She looked up, a slight flush under her tan.  There was a word from mistress to servant and the plain woman stepped away.  Laun stood and watched Erin come towards her.

“I hope I did not disturb a harvest or such, Erin.”

“No, my Lady.  My council is nervous on your being here as we do have a few things planned for later in the month.  It is his job.”

Laun smiled and drew in another breath from the rose.  “He does it well.  Everyone should flow through life to the best of their abilities.”  Laun lowered the rose to her waist and waited.

There was a little sneer on Erins face for a moment.  “Running a household was not one of mine til I was exiled here.”  He stepped closer but did not touch.  “If I had known you were the Lady Salam-Dir, I would have knocked your wall down to see you.”

Laun giggled.  “The Midlands finest could not.  What secret weapon would you have used to get through my wall?”  She tilted her head and looked at him as he stepped closer and then pressed himself against her.

“Myself.”  He took her into his arms and kissed her, a passionate kiss that held just a little more in it than before.  There may have been anger below the surface, a focus of heated energy that Laun could feel in his touch.

Laun felt faint.  His arms around her were tight, the air she was breathing from him, through him.  She was not one to let such things happen, but his strength led her to find weaknesses.  She turned her head and panted.  His mouth went to her neck, his arms bringing her up to him as he went down her skin.

Laun felt that this was going to go further in the open than she really wanted.  She held him as she could, but made a small signal that the Protector should have been able to see.  There was no reaction and Laun had to think she was alone.  Laun did not have to fein not being able to breathe and she started to struggle slightly.

His head went up and saw she was having difficulties.  He sat down on the bench and held her, looking into her eyes.  “Laun...  Are you well?”

She could not quite catch her breath.  “I think the heat...is getting...to me,” she panted.

He looked up to the clear sky and nodded.  “It will be cooler inside.”  Laun saw more anger as he stood, his hand out to her.

“Am I upsetting you, Erin?”  Laun put her hand to her chest and leaned back slightly instead of taking the offered hand.

His eye twitched and he hooked his thumbs into his belt.  “I was reminded of a message I received with the notice of my brother’s death.  It was not something I wished to hear, but now I think I know what it was about.”

Laun thought ahead and found the most likely person to have sent a disturbing message.  Laun looked down to the fish and sighed.  “What did her excellency tell you?”

He nodded.  “The Lady Pearl warned me that Falmir’s daughter was slippery, that you may come to seduce me and take me for a fool.”

Laun felt her heart race.  “You are not a fool, your excellency.  I hope you do not believe that I am one.  I came as a neighbor, a visit that is common among our nobles.”

He stepped back and looked her up and down.  “You are not as she described.  You look like one of the women I’ve seen from the other continent, dark but for your eyes.  But as crafty as she said you may be.”

Laun put her hands into her lap.  She felt along the seam of the front of the dress and found the gap that led to the knives strapped to her thighs as she said, “And she mentioned that the Kings’ daughter is a whore, so you thought you would taste some of that.”  Laun looked away and finally saw the Protector, a sign saying that things were clear.

He brought his eyebrows together and said, “No!  She said nothing of the kind.”

Laun stood, gripping the front of her dress as if in anger.  Her voice was not calm, but it was quiet as she said, “She wanted you to have a taste of me so that you may try for my bed, break my defenses.  To use you against me as she used your brother.”  She turned and found his strong hand on her shoulder.

“What are you talking about?  Used Ithian against you?”

Laun did not turn back and readied the knives in her hands under the skirt of the dress.  Her voice was low as she said, “She knew I wished him by my side, but could not marry him.  She had him propose, tricked me into accepting his baubles and then had him killed beside me.”

His hand dropped.  Erin stepped back and turned.  “I was not told.  It sounded like he took a chill and died in the...”  He crossed his arms and turned to Laun again.  “How did he die,” he said in a menacing tone.

Laun stood straight and looked Erin in the eye when she turned.  “An assassin sent by the Blue Master.  They killed many that night.  Many of them were killed, too.”

“It was lucky you had guards, then.  I hear the Blue Master only has the best under him.”

Laun smiled and tilted her head.  He had a flash of concern on his face as she said, “Erin, I was one of the ones who took down the assassins.  All but one.”  Laun’s face dropped.  “If I hadn’t been pregnant, I would have been able to save Ithian.  I would have been able to get that last assassin.”

It was real heartbreak that went through her.  She turned and sat on the bench.  The knives went back into the sheathes under the skirt and Laun put a hand over her face as tears started to roll from her eyes.  She pounded on her thigh and gasped for air as she sat there crying.  She could not get herself under control, and she was feeling as if what was coming out was too much.

The master of Nestwood paced a few times, just the length of the bench and back.  “Her excellency hired assassins to take out our own Ambassador?  My own brother?”  He stopped and looked at her.  “How do you know it was the Blue Master who the Assassins were bought from?”

Laun paused in her crying.  She took in as deep of a breath as she could and turned.  She looked up at Ithian’s brother, took in his striking blue eyes.  “I wish I could tell you.  It is not my place, but Blue has fingers in many things in the Midlands, as much as Lady Engrid herself.  I have met Blue Master and there are few who are as ruthless.”

He stepped away again and Laun stood.  She fingered the little bell on the thong holding her girdle on over the dress.  “The Blue Master and I have a rivalry.  Sh- Sure to be known, assassins and others in the Grey do not get along.  Blue uses those needed and then tosses them away.  I was not brought up in the court, under the protection of the Hawkwells.  I was kept apart, trained and only given my name and title as the coup happened.  As I was needed.  Ithian was tossed aside when I would not do as her excellency wished.”

Erin was confused.  He paced some more, his hand trailing through the plants along the path.  He turned and looked at Laun.  He stared at Laun.

Laun knew this part of the game.  Few could make her blink.

It took a few moments, but Erin turned away and paced a few more times up and down the path in the garden.  He came to her, tried to tower over her and then lost his energy.  His shoulders slumped and he looked over Laun’s shoulder, an unfocused way to his eyes.  Laun cautiously raised her hand and put it on his chest.  He reacted by stepping away and glared at her.

“Perhaps I should do as I have said most of this visit and leave you be.  I have brought too much chaos to your household.  Too much pain to you.”  Laun turned and was about to take the other path to the courtyard door when she felt his hand on her.

She readied herself for a strike.  She was expecting his rage to be flung against her.  His grip was strong on her arm, but it loosened as he stepped forward.  His voice was low and he put an arm around her from behind, not at her neck but at her waist as he said, “The family told me that there was a length of brown hair with a silver ribbon around it with Ithian.  A small bell, like the one you have on your dress, was on the ribbon.  The servants told of a distraught woman over his body when he died, cutting her hair in mourning, kissing him and being led away into the night.”  His face was next to her ear as he continued, “That woman is the woman I was looking for when I kissed you.  The woman he loved, who he wrote to me about and wished I would meet one day.”

Laun sobbed.  Her voice cracked as she whispered, “He told you about me?”

Erin nodded into her hair.  “He mentioned a new love when we saw each other, but would not go into it.  Then, out of the winds, I had a messenger who gave me a letter from him.  The first he had written me that did not mention anything about the Kingdoms and what he wanted me to do for his mighty plan.”

Laun felt her knees weaken.  She could not stop them and he went down to the path with her.  “He seemed...ashamed of me.  He didn’t tell me...”  Her voice trailed off as the tears took her throat and closed it.

Erin ran his hand down the side of her face.  Her head was against his shoulder, turned so he could see just her profile, the slightly bumpy nose more obvious.  “He loved you so much he said he wanted to leave the diplomatic corps.  To spend the rest of his life with you.”

Part of Laun did not want to believe that what Ithian had told her had been the truth. She had suspected him of manipulation, of lying to her until the very end.  She knew that Lady Engrid was a complete devious bitch, and Laun saw that in everyone she knew the Blue Master had touched.

Her voice was very small as she said, “Show me?”

It took a while to get Laun onto her feet again.  Erin had water brought to her there in the garden and she drank a full tankard before she felt stable enough to go inside.  She recognized the door they stopped at, the last place, the first place really, she had seen Helmic the Black.  The door to the library was opened and Laun did not recognize the room.  It was furnished well, shelves of books and folios lining the room, not just a tilted shelf with a few worn books leaning on it.  A chair was offered and Laun sat as Erin went to a section of the room to look through loose papers.

A paper was pulled out and he looked at it for a moment, a slight shake to his hand as he turned and showed Laun the page.

It was his writing.  It was his signature.  It smelled of his flowers.

Laun looked at Erin.  He was turned away, his head down, but Laun was not sure if that was in fear or sadness or deceitfulness.  Laun looked at the page in her hand and read it.  She read it again.  She heard Ithians brother sniff.  She held the page to her breast.

“I could not believe this if I had not read it myself.  He had sworn himself to me, told me he wanted to leave his position.  I told him not to, that his career was not worth someone like me...”

“He spent fifteen years training to be Ambassador.  I cannot say what he learned, but he changed as he trained, and then he had the help of our Aunt to be assigned to the Midlands, the full Ambassador, not a deputy right off.”

Erin turned and Laun could see a line of wetness down his face.  He could not bring his eyes up to hers.  Laun put the message from Ithian on the writing desk and went to Erin.  “Thank you.  I never would have known if it hadn’t been for you.”  She put the back of one of her fingers delicately on his cheek.

  He reached up and pushed her hand into his face.  He moved her hand around and kissed the back before looking at her directly.  “He also warned me of you.  That he was not sure he wanted you to meet his family.  You would steal our hearts.”

Laun blushed and tried to pull away.  He held her hand and pulled her to him, trying to force a kiss onto her.  Laun was not in a position to say much, but as she was starting to struggle, she felt his tears hit her face.  She stopped struggling and let him kiss her, his touch softening as she complied with him.  Her lips tasted salt along with the mint that lingered on his tongue.

Laun brought her hand up and put her hand at the back of his neck.  She pulled Erin closer and she felt his slight hesitation.  He was not used to strong women.  He was reflecting what she did.  She felt that he was older than Ithian, but less experienced.  Or at least, felt he could not live up to the reputation he knew his brother had.

Laun became gentle in her touch, her fingers going through his straight, dark blonde hair.  They kissed, gently and wetly.  They stood in the library, surrounded by books, the door open to the corridor.  The sight of them was not anything Launs people were interested in, but Erin’s people slowed and stopped to look.

Laun heard a light click from her Protector and Laun pulled herself away from Erin.  She wiped her thumb across his lower lip and chin, taking the moisture from their kissing away.  “Excellency, I think we are making a show of ourselves.”

He looked up and to the doorway, a slight pinkness coming to his face.  The men in the doorway suddenly had somewhere else to go, leaving the council with a mean face and crossed arms framed by the door.

“Your.  Excellency.”  There was more to the tone than the words.  He did not approve of the woman, or his Barons’ actions.

Erin held Laun protectively.  “Derrik, please make sure that her Highness has rooms for her people, and that the bathing chamber is made ready.”

The council’s face was sour, and the distaste he had was evident, even though he said, “As you order, your excellency.”  He turned on his heel and was down the hall in a few strides.

“Mistress, the babies.”

“I am reminded of my greatest duty, Erin.  I need to feed the children.”

The man nodded.  He opened his mouth slightly and closed it, hesitation coming over him before he said, “Please, if you would, stay the night with me?”

Laun nodded.  “Yes.  I have a few rules.  I hope this will be a good night for you.”

He looked slightly confused, but he led her back to his room, word being sent out that the Master was to have a guest.  Gem brought the children to Laun, a few motions and hand signals between them before Gem stepped to the side with the Protector to exchange notes.  The screen was put up again as Laun nursed the babies.

Erin paced the bedroom as Laun nursed.  He did not speak, but he had questions, and a need to be with her that was more than whetted by her kisses.  He hoped she had not seen where his fingers had left marks on the side of the page that his brother had sent him, describing how Ithian felt of his love, this Laun.  Erin had read it often, being jealous of his younger brother, falling in love with the idea of the woman.  He felt confused, but the chance that she had come to him that day, was destiny telling him what he had to do.  He listened to her humming to the babies as she had them at her breast, an urge in him to pull the screen aside and take their place strong in him.

The blonde servant tended to the messy parts of the babies as his servants took the screen away from the low couch.  Erin stepped forward and paused, seeing that Laun had not replaced the girdle that cinched the dress to her form.  Her hair was looser, the crown gone but the red ribbons still twisted through.  The jewelry was off of her, except for the little silver bell on the thong, tied to her wrist instead of the girdle.  Laun leaned back on the couch and looked up at Erin, a calm expression on her face.

He went to one knee and took the offered hand.  He kissed the hand and pressed the palm to his lips.  “Laun, what shall I do for you?”

She reached out with her other hand and traced the edge of his ear.  “It is your household, Erin.  What do you wish to do?”

He watched her smile grow as he could not decide.  He blinked as he pulled himself from her eyes and said, “You mentioned rules?”

She nodded.  “If this day leads to what I think it will, there is one thing I wish to not happen.  I do not wish to have another child any time soon.  My healer says that it is less likely to happen if the man I am with spills his seed outside of me, not in me.  That is the big one.”

His eyebrows went together and then apart again.  “I do not understand, but healers know much more than we do.  What else should I know?”  He only thought of what she had really said after he had answered, a flush going across his cheeks at the prospect of laying with her.

Laun put her hand on his shoulder and traced the neck of the blue linen.  “I am a warrior.  I have scars that put many off.  I will not take it to heart if you see and you wish to stop.  I hope you will not stop.”  Her voice was still calm and had started to take on a quality that was soothing to Erin’s ear.

He let himself be drawn in to her, leaning over her on the couch, a hands breadth away from her lips. “Lady, anything else?”

She smiled and the corners of her eyes creased just slightly.  “You are important.  But I will not sacrifice myself, my desires.  Once we start, I may ask others into our bed.”

He blinked.  “Others?”  He wanted to pull away, but her hand held him there, even with her light touch.

“That is why I have women with me.  They satisfy me without the risk of getting pregnant again.”

There was a slight catch in his breath.  His eye went to the side, seeing the two women servants close, holding hands.  The blonde in the dark green nodded and smiled.  He looked back to Laun.  “You know yourself well.  You don’t seem that old.”

Laun smiled wider and laughed softly.  She drew her hand down his jawline and said, “It is not how old I am, Erin.  It is how experienced I am.  There are still things I have not experienced, and I am hoping to have a new one today.”  She ran her fingertips along his lips, looking at his mouth closely.  She pulled her fingers from him and touched her own mouth, closing her eyes.

That broke some of the barrier.  He leaned down the rest of the way and her fingers were caught for a moment between them.  She had her hands around him, gently holding him as they kissed.  His arms started to move, one under her waist and one around her and up her back, her head being cradled in his hand.

They kissed.  Gently and wetly.  They kissed, pressing their hands into each other’s backs.  They kissed until Launs’ breath was taken away by the passion that Erin had, and she was feeling raising in her.  They continued to kiss until Erin pulled back slightly and was panting for breath himself.

Laun pulled her arms back around his body, trailing her hands and fingers along him until she had her hands on his chest.  “I should be fair and ask If I should know about anything from you.  Any rules I should know about?”

He shook his head and kissed her again.  Laun was trying to be gentle, slow.  Trying not to push in a way that may make him become tense, to try to overpower her.  Her hands moved along his chest.  One went up and to his throat, one went down.  Her hand came to his belt and trailed around until she found his blade.  It was a simple catch and she was able to undo the peacebond.  Her hand held the blade in it’s sheath, pulling him into her slightly.

His stomach rumbled and he broke off the kiss.  Erin’s face turned away and he grimaced.  “The babies are not the only ones who need to eat.”

Laun laughed quietly.  “I could eat a little something.  You need to keep your strength up.”

He laughed and she could see it in his eyes when he turned back to her.  “Let me see what my kitchens can bring, my Lady.”

He stood, a slight waiver in his stride as he went to one of his servants near the door.  Laun looked over to her women and saw that Gem was not there.  Laun stretched, her arms going over her head and her hands making signs as she moved.  Kelly moved and made a few signs as she knelt to look at the babies.  Laun nodded and sat up, straightening her dress and reaching for the girdle draped on the back of the couch.

It had metal stays in it to help keep it straight.  The thong had been pulled to wrap around her wrist.  Laun folded the girdle and reached it over to her Protector.  It was put into the basket with the babies and the other things Laun had shed for this part of the mission.  A flash of regret went through Laun, but she was doing this for the Kingdom, for her people.  It was just strange to Laun that it had been Ithian’s brother who had been a days’ ride from Salam-Dir.

Erin was coming back towards Laun and she tried to be still, but her own body made other needs known.  “If I may be escorted to the privy?”

He nodded, a hand out to her to help her off the couch.  “It is part of the bathing chamber.  At least the one I like to use.”

Laun walked next to him, the dress flowing behind her as they went through the corridors of the Nestwood keep.  “I do miss the water privy from the Palace.  And the paper flowers.”

He smiled and Laun felt a slight grip change in Erin’s hold of her hand.  “It was hard for me to get used to the...country way here.  I am a City noble, and I know it.  I did not leave everything behind.”

A door was opened for them and a bright chamber was welcoming them.  It looked like recent construction, mostly wood placed in a stone foundation to hold a wall of windows.  It looked South into a recently planted grove of trees, the thin saplings showing some damage from one of the storms of the season.  Laun saw beyond that there were a few large tents in a field, men walking with purpose between them.

Erin was beaming as he motioned around the room.  The floor was covered with glass tiles and the walls that were not windows had more, all in a light blue cast.  There was a copper tub, empty and pushed to the side on it’s wheeled base.  There were plants within pottery near the wall of windows, one having sand and desert plants within.  A few odd pieces of rock were in the room, strange to Laun’s eye until she saw that they had been placed and polished on their tops to be used as seats and tables.

“The privy, Laun.”  There was a short wall around a ceramic seat, the pedal Laun had learned to use at it’s base.  A basket filled with colorful paper flowers was on the wall next to the seat.

Laun let her joy show as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and bounced slightly.  “This is wonderful!  You had this built in such a short amount of time, too!”

He kissed her hand and dropped it, stepping away and turning his back to the privy.  Laun took that as a sign he was not going to leave her to let her body get some relief.  She hiked up her skirt and arranged herself on the cold seat and relaxed.

“As soon as I could this Spring, I had workmen in to do this.  I could not think of more time on the wooden bench.”

Laun picked one of the flowers from the basket and said, “And this way, you get to see the day, and keep an eye on your men.”

He started to turn back and stopped.  “Yes, though I picked the spot for the drainage.”

Laun used the flower, holding the bunched skirt up so she could get as much of herself clean as possible.  It took several flowers.  She stood, the skirt in her hand and stepped on the pedal.  It was a fully working flow and her waste was cleaned out of the bowl and away.  She straightened her dress and turned to Erin.

He was looking at her.  She felt herself color slightly.  “I am a simple country girl.  I am still entranced with the water.”

He stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder.  His thumb went under the ribbon trimmed collar and pulled slightly.  “You work in the sun?”  His thumb drew down the tan line left by the halter.

Laun nodded and put her hand over his.  “We all have to work to eat, Erin.  The war has been hard on those who live on the land.  Not everyone has supplies sent to them to keep them comfortable.”  She moved the collar further along her shoulder, pulling it into her neck as she showed him the edge of one of her scars.

His eye stayed on her shoulder, even after the fabric went back over the scar.  “You said warrior.  Where did that scar come from?”

Laun tilted her head to the side and looked up into his face.  “Hunting down the men who killed those of my household.  Defending myself in battle.  There are more under my dress.”  Launs hand went to her cleavage over the scar there, hidden under the laced front of the dress.

“You saw what he said in the message.  He called them lines of beauty.  I thought he meant, well, wrinkles.”

“Not yet, at least.”  Laun stepped back slightly and put her hands in his.  “You will see the blob of a body I have at some point.  Would you like to see it now?”

She saw him swallow.  He glanced at the wall of windows and the closed door.  “Yes, I would.”

Laun had thought this out when she had designed the dress.  The laces looked like the usual back and forth through the sewn grommets down the front.  She untied one end of the lacings and started to gently pull on the thong at the bottom.  The top came out and the loops undid themselves.  

She was not naked as the dress fell. Her breasts were held by a sewn and strapped garment reminiscent of the boiled leather corset that went under the red velvet dress.  It was covered in a dark brown slick fabric tacked on close so when Laun let the red and black dress fall from her shoulders, it let the dress fall without catching it.

The breast support was above a loin cloth and the weapons strapped to her thighs.  Laun stepped out of the dress at her feet, her riding boots kicking it slightly out of the way.

Her skin was tanned, mostly recovered from the sunburn, and showed her natural color where she had been protected from the sun.  The scars had turned some darker, but many had a slight silvery sheen, including the stretch marks that radiated from her belly button.  Laun stood and let her hands lightly touch her skin, making his eyes follow.

Erin swallowed hard as his eyes went to the thin knives on her thighs.  Weapons that were delicate, for her hands.  She had said she was a warrior.  He could not blame her for having weapons on her as he had weapons on himself.  The tinge of danger he had not known about made his groin respond yet again to her.

Laun thought of the knives as her hand brushed them.  They had been made by the master smith brought into the household, the straps having to be lined with the toughest hide to keep them from cutting through.  There was a crystal from the Grey set into the pommel of each.  Laun lightly traced the top of each of the blades with her fingertips.

“I hope you are not too disappointed with what you see, Erin,” she murmured.

She saw him blink.  His hand went to his mouth and he wiped across his lower lip and chin, mental drool there if not real.  He stepped closer and held out a hand.  “Laun, I don’t know what I am supposed to say.  Ithian had all the training in words.”

Laun took his hand and stepped so her body was touching his.  “Then don’t use words.”  She pressed in and was in his embrace, his lips pressing hard into hers.  He moved his lips and he was kissing and sucking on her neck.  Laun gasped at the scrape of his teeth as he went lower.  His hands were cupping around her breasts in the garment, lips and tongue getting closer to her breasts as he knelt.

A breast was pulled free of the support and his mouth was over her nipple, licking and tasting the milk being squeezed out when a scratch sounded on the door.  Erin was good about ignoring what he did not want to deal with.  His face did not change at the sound the first time.  The second scratch, his eyebrows came together but he did not stop suckling.

There was a knock along with the third scratch.  Laun stroked Erin’s blond hair from his face and said, “You cannot ignore your men.  The troops need you.”

His eyes opened, a breath went by before he focused on hers.  He opened his mouth and breathed in, a slight shiver going through Laun.  He stood and said, “You are right.  But all these damned interruptions...”

Laun put her hand on his cheek.  “Duty should come first, regardless of where it leads.  Our time together is precious.  I hope more happens.  But you are called to why you are here.”  Her fingers drew down his skin and she stepped away.

He blinked.  “You are not like any noble Lady I have ever been with, Highness.  You understand.”

Laun stepped to the dress as she was putting her breast away.  “Many people think that nobility is just riding fine horses and eating better than others.  We both know that is not the case.”  Laun knelt and pulled the dress up, starting the laces as she kept looking at Erin.  “You should answer them before they burst in.”

He realized that she was completely dressed.  He stepped to the door and opened it, pulling it to reveal a crowd in the corridor.  Several of the servants started going on their way after catching a glimpse of the noble Lady, disappointed that she was dressed and looking out through the windows.

“Yes, Captain?”  Erin motioned the officer in and left the door open as he stepped back.

Several servants came in, placing trays of food on the polished stones and backing out.  The Captain looked at the Lady in the room and turned to his Baron.  He had a look on his face Laun could not read in the reflection, so she turned and nodded to him before picking up a fingerfull of roasted vegetable from one of the platters.

“Your excellency.  Derrik has brought to my attention who this woman is-”

Laun sat on the stone and watched the men turn to her slightly.  She tilted her head and said, “And what shall I confirm or deny, Captain?”

The officer looked at Erin in a slightly panicked way.  The noble said, “Derrik is fretting, as is his nature.”

“Sir, she is Falmirs-”

Laun coughed lightly.  “Please, this will go faster if you just ask me.  I am my own person and can answer for myself, Captain.”

Erin shrugged.  “Captain, I would like to know what Derrik has been telling you.  Ask her what you want.  I have a feeling we both want the answers.”

Captain Hinds turned to Laun and pulled his tunic down in a decisive manner.  “Your Highness.  You are Falmir’s child?”

Laun nodded.  She had an open expression and waited for the next question.  The Captain was not used to this and looked back to the noble.  Erin put his arms across his chest and motioned to Laun again.

“You are the Princess Laun who was betrothed to our Barons’ brother, Ithian?”

“Get on with it, man.  I knew that.”  Erin’s voice showed his frustration with the officer interrupting them.

“Yes, sir.”  He stepped closer to Laun and Laun’s hand slipped through the slit and touched one of the knives.  “Highness.  Derrik has informed me that you are here to sabotage our mission.”

Laun put on a slightly confused expression.  “Sabotage?  Keeping Erin from overseeing harvests?  I don’t understand.  What are you trying to ask me?”

Erin stepped forward but did not stop him as the Captain asked, “Are you here to interfere with our troop movements?”

Laun stood, holding the front of her skirt with one hand.  She motioned to the tents in the field beyond the trees outside the windows.  “Do you mean the five companies of Rosemond men on Nestwood lands?  The Battalion’s worth of horses and wagons?  The troops the Merchant General told me were to be leaving by the end of harvest?  The ones that King Ifahyd assured me through Admiral Killian were not here?”

The Captain’s mouth wanted to work.  Erin’s face had dropped.  “He doesn’t know they are here.”

Laun was learning that Erin talked in statements, even if it should have been a question.  Laun put her hands out, palm up to the men.  “That is because our cousin is not leading them.  Is he.”  She turned her hands palm down as if throwing an unwanted scrap to the floor and turned to look out the window.

The men pulled away but Laun could hear them.  They were discussing in low tones the movement of the troops that was supposed to start within a week.  The name of Salam-dir came up several times.  Lady Engrid was mentioned, a dead tone in the men’s voices at her name.

Laun ate some of the vegetables and cold meats from the trays, drinking water from one of the gold-chased tankards.  She kept her body turned away from the men to let them think they were alone.  Laun’s hands were shaking from the adrenaline running through her, but she tried to not let it show.

“Your Highness.”  The Captain had stepped away from Erin and was standing somewhat at attention.  “Please forgive me, but I have my men to keep in line, and with you here, it has disturbed the balance.  I hope that there was not a misunderstanding that lead to my disturbing you, ma’am.”

Laun drew herself up and turned to the officer.  “I understand, Captain.  I hold nothing against one who is doing his duty.”  Laun stepped forward and brought her arm up for a salute.

The officer drew up for a proper salute before he understood he had done so.  He kept his hand in position until Laun dropped her own hand.  “Ma’am.”  He stepped back to leave when he was caught by a motion from Laun.

“I would not bring my children anyplace I thought they were in danger.  Keep that in mind.”

He paused and nodded to her before leaving.  Laun caught the shape of a dark green arm next to the door as the officer went through, making her smile for a flash.

Erin stepped to the stone with the food, picking up some meat but not eating it.  He looked at Laun and she could see his indecision.  Not just of eating the food, but of his situation.  Laun poured herself more water and turned from him, looking out to the tents down the hill from them.

“Will you still stay the night?”  Laun smiled at the small voice from the man.

She turned and was looking down at his boots.  She took some time to lift her eyes to his face, taking in the fine linen of the tunic, the dark belt at his hip.  She was up to his eyes and she smiled.

“If you wish, Erin.”  She saw him relax.

 

The intrigue continues with Chapter 26