the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 40 - If you don't already, follow the Web Mistress on Twitter @leathermines

 

“I was out in the city, Father.”

Laun had an irate King in her quarters when she arrived back at the Palace at close to eleven bells.  Several others were also there, hiding in the bed chamber or in the bathing chamber.  They did not want to witness what was going to happen, but they wanted to be there to support their Princess.

“Why the fuck are you getting in now?”

Laun pulled the leather jerkin off and started to unwind the yellow silk from around her middle.  “Because I got lost.  If you would have let me see some of the Capitol City from anything other than a window before, that wouldn’t have been a problem.”

Falmir’s face pulled into it’s self, showing an even grumpier face.  “You went out without an escort!”  He stood and pulled her to him.  “Anything could have happened to you!”

Laun felt like slapping him.  She was tired.  Her back hurt.  She had only been able to buy a questionable piece of meat from a street vendor, cooked over some coals and a little shaped like a rat.  She did not smile but her voice was quiet as she said, “Did I miss something while I was out gathering information, Sire?”

He tightened his grip on her arms and then pulled away.  “Fuck you, Thorn.  Go get yourself killed.  See if anyone mourns for you.”

Laun put a hand on his arm.  “Something did happen.  What’s wrong?”

He pulled his arm away from her and then pulled her to him again.  He held her close, a hand on the back of her head and a hand on the middle of her back.  “The body of a girl was found dockside this morning.  She had been stabbed and was naked.  I was told there was an assassin’s mark on her.  I came to talk to you and you were gone.  I feared-”  Laun felt his terror and looked up to his face.  “What the hell were you doing?”

Laun moved her arm and put her hand on his unshaven face.  She looked into his eyes and said, “I was safe, sire.  I was with Alsen.”

Falmir seemed relieved and then he started snorting like a bull again.  “What?  That old fart?  What does he have that-”  Falmir looked around and knew that all eyes may be averted but all ears could hear.

Laun pushed slightly and Falmir backed up to one of the low couches.  She sat on his lap and leaned her head on his shoulder.  “Sire, he has a favorite red scarf that he visits.  Often.  He invited me to meet her.  It was...interesting.”

His arms were around her and he snorted again, but he was relaxing as she was talking.  “Red scarf. Eh?”

Laun whispered, “Your gift was useful getting me into the house.”

He snorted again, but with some humor.  “How much did you get?”

“Before bribes, five gold plate,” Laun said with little inflection.

“Shit.  That’s more than...  You are good.”

Laun nodded into his shoulder.  “I found out a few things while I was there.  I would like to talk to a few people before I tell you everything, just to make sure.  But, I think I know where Lady Engrid is, and who is supporting her in the council.”

Falmir moved his head and looked at Laun.  “From going to a brothel?”

Laun smiled at him and nodded.  “You know I am good.  You just don’t know how good.”

He kissed her forehead, perhaps a little too long.  “Just don’t go out without an escort again, Thorn.  I don’t want you to be the next body found.”

Laun nodded and raised her face to look him in the eye.  “Yes, Father.”  She gave him a peck on the lips and she could feel she was tempting him.  She moved her head to his shoulder again and sighed.

“Goddamned bells.  You find information in the damndest places.”

Laun felt herself getting dragged into sleep while leaning on her father’s shoulder.  She took in a large breath and sat up.  “I didn’t eat well and I found myself sleeping on the floor.  If you would excuse me, I am going to ask the people hiding in the rooms to help me freshen up for whatever is coming today.”

He nodded and helped her up off his lap.  He could not move yet and he leaned forward to hide what she had done to him.  “I want to hear about the information, Thorn.”  He waived his hand at her and said, “Not really how you got it, but your information.  The sooner we find the Lady Bitch, the happier I will be.”

Laun continued to disrobe as people came from the rooms.  Silar took Laun’s clothing as she took the layers off, unconcerned who saw her.  Gem took the long strand of pearls and the small pearl drop from Laun.  Evan helped with the boots, supporting Laun with his back as he knelt.  Laun was still in her undergarments when she smiled at the men in the doorway.

Hunter and Fount came from the bedroom, soon to be followed by Edgar.  Each of the men received an embrace and a kiss, each telling without words how they felt, how they missed, what they had done in her absence.  Verat soon came out of the bedroom, bowing to Falmir and giving a warriors grip to Laun.

The surprise for Laun was both Erin and Dougal also came from the bedroom.  Erin waited for Laun to motion to him to come to her, a glance to Edgar telling Laun that there had been a discussion between them.  He took her hand and bowed to her, kissing her knuckles and then putting her hand to his forehead.  Laun put her hand to his shoulder and smiled, not encouraging, not pushing away.

Dougal stood back and watched.  Laun turned to him and held out a hand.  He seemed reluctant but then strode to her and took her hand.  He ignored the ritual kissing of the hand and hugged her, wrapping his arms around her.  He had been scared.  Laun could feel how he was holding things in.  She returned the embrace, tightening her arms around him.

“Fuck me.  I never get a welcome like that.”  Falmir was leaning back on the couch watching.

Laun caught her breath and looked over her cousin’s shoulder at her father.  There were several quips that ran through her head, but she settled with, “It’s because you don’t have breasts.”

The room erupted in laughter, including from Falmir.  Laun gave Dougal a peck on the cheek and looked into his eyes before stepping away.  She headed for the bathing chamber, most of the people in the main room following her.

Laun looked at where the girl had lain.  In her mind, she could see the body still there, but as she moved through the ghost, she could not tell that blood had been on the floor at all.  She glanced over and the jeweled blade was on the vanity under the strand of pearls she had given to Gem.  Clean.

The loincloth and the garment around her breasts were taken off and Laun looked at herself in the mirror.  She was thicker than Mimi, was slightly taller.  Her arms were muscled with a roundness that told her that she still had the pregnancy fat, but she knew how much strength she had regained.  Her ass was big and she looked down at her thighs, tanned but with a texture that reminded her of the fruit that used to be her favorite.  Then there was her stomach.

She looked up and realized that there were many eyes on her.  She felt her flush and a hand went protectively across her breasts.  Edgar stepped forward and did not wait for Laun to accept his embrace and kiss.  He gathered her into himself and held her, kissing her deeply.  Love and acceptance was in that embrace, telling her of his need in the kiss.

“If there wasn’t a shitload of stuff hanging over our heads, I would carry you into the bedroom and make love to you all day.”

Laun felt a tear in her eye.  She leaned her forehead on his shoulder and felt some tension go out of her.  “I would like that.”  She sighed.

There were other hands on Laun.  Gem caught Launs attention and said, “Do you want a bath?”

Laun nodded.  “And someone to work on my back, if possible.  I feel something out and twitchy.”

Edgar did not want to let his Love go, but he had to.  He had to keep her at arm’s length, mostly for himself at that point.  She had changed, grown and become someone he almost didn’t recognize in the last year.  He missed how she didn’t care about her body and used it as she pleased, or needed.  She was not vain, but she had started to show signs that she did not see what he did, that she loathed her body.  If it wasn’t for the hunt for Lady Engrid and the traveling and the...

Laun was laying on the tile as the tub was being filled with hot water from the reservoir for the room.  Silar and Evan were both working on Laun’s body, Laun’s hand gripping on a cloth showing the level of pain she was going through without any other sign.  Flakes of blood from a fresh cut on her arm came off with strokes from Silar’s oiled hands, a wince at the cut opening slightly all that showed on her face.  She held so much in, Edgar wondered what other than the physical pain she was holding back.

There was a knock on the door.  Falmir was the closest and since there weren’t any of his household servants in the room, he went and got the door.  There were a few surprised men on the other side.

“Lieutenant.  Councilor.”

Falmir sat on one of the couches and looked at the men.  “She’s in there.”  His thumb pointed to the bathing chamber.

Lucas bowed to his King and said, “You do not look like you slept well, Majesty.”

“Straight to the point.  I slept, but then word of the dead girl came to me from the Mayor.  Our Highness was out until just now.  Scared the shit out of me.”

Senri tried not to smile or look away as he stood at a loose parade rest.  “Sir, is she well?”

Falmir nodded.  “She’s fine.  Don’t know how much more my heart can take.”

Lucas was looking into the bathing chamber, aghast at the number of men in the Princess’ presence while she was naked on the floor.  The Gold Bell found he could not draw his eyes away from the glimpse of the tanned arms and shoulders laying on the floor, being worked on by her servants.

“Go in and talk to her, Councilor.”  Falmir had an amused look on his face.  “She doesn’t care who sees her like that.”  Falmir made a dismissive gesture and the Lieutenant relaxed, following the Councilor into the crowded bathing chamber.

“...from the height I was at, I couldn’t see who she was talking to-”  Laun moved her head and smiled up at Senri and then Lucas.  “Welcome, gentles.”

The Councilor bowed slightly and the Lieutenant saluted, not waiting for a return salute to relax.  Several of the men already in the bathing room stepped back and out, making more room.

“Highness, it looks like it was a hard night?”  Lucas’ voice had a touch of amusement.

“Sleeping on floors has been harder since I found the comfort of beds.”  There was a sound from Edgar that Laun thought was a suppressed snicker.

Lucas took in the tan, the scars, the muscles under her pregnancy fat.  He saw how comfortable she was with a stranger seeing her naked as she was being massaged by her male servants.  He then saw her hand clench on a cloth as the dark man pressed on a place on her back and read the pain.

“There is word from the dockside.  When the body was found, several rooms at a local merchant’s residence suddenly were cleared of a visitor.  One older woman and several younger women.  They were tracked to a place we cannot go.”

Laun looked up and rolled slightly onto her side.  She winced and closed her eyes but her expression was clear as she looked back up to the man.  She held out a hand and was helped to a sitting position.  “Let me guess.  The Myrned Embassy.”

Lucas blinked.  “Exactly, Highness.”

Laun nodded and leaned forward as Silar continued to work on her back as she sat on the cool tile.  She let her head fall forward and a small moan escaped as something finally went back into place, the click audible to those right around her.  “Fuck it.  I want a new body.”

Laun was helped up and looked Lucas in the eye while damp cloths were pulled across her skin.  “Have you ever seen her neck, Rit-whatever’s wife?”

The councilor shook his head.  “Why would I?  She adopted the Myrned custom of veiling even before her appointment.”

“Heran has seen it.  And more.”  Laun stepped into the low tub and relaxed to below the warm water.

Falmir sat on the floor next to the tub, having been standing in the doorway listening.  “Heran and Gilda are having an affair?  How does Ritil not know?”

“I don’t know, but I doubt he lives in the enclave like she does.”  She looked at Lucas and saw him shake his head.  “Where did Gilda grow up?”

There was quiet until Lucas said, “I think her family was a diplomatic envoy.  I can’t remember to where.”  He seemed concerned with his eyebrows coming together.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it had been to the Rosemond court,” Falmir rumbled.

“Why her neck, Laun?”  Edgar moved to the other end of the tub from Falmir and sat, looking at both of them.

“Same reason we check at the barrier.”  Edgar nodded and had a worried look on his face.

Falmir looked at Laun’s love and head wardsman.  “What are you talking about?”

Laun made a hand signal and both Gem and Evan pulled the high neck of their dark green tunic to the side showing the scar from their assassin’s test.  Falmir swore under his breath and Lucas stepped back.  She made another sign and Gem went to the vanity.

The clean assassin’s dagger was in Laun’s hand.  It felt right there.  She handed it to Falmir. “Remember this?”

The grinding of his teeth could be heard in the room.  “Fuck me, Thorn.  You killed her.”

Laun nodded.  She wanted to tell him that she would not have been turned.  That the assassin would not have stopped.  That given a chance, the woman would have killed herself.  “Necessary to rout the Lady.”  Her head went back onto the edge of the tub and she sighed.

Falmir held the blade out as if it were a dead fish.  Gem took it away and he looked down into the tub, thinking several things unbecoming to a King and Father.  “So we need to get into the Myrned Embassy for Lady Engrid?”

Lucas knelt and turned to Falmir.  “Impossible, your Majesty.  They have to expel her them selves.”

“Why the fuck Myrned?”

“You didn’t think to look in that direction before, did you?  How friendly are the ambassadors between countries?”

There was a rumble through the room.  “She is loosing her position and her freedom.  As is your Uncle.”

“Father,” Laun raised her hand from the water and held it to him.  His large hand went around hers and the familiar touch calmed him.  “I think that you can use it before they know.  Remember, until a few months ago, you needed what they are still doing.”

He kissed her damp hand.  “Still doesn’t get us to Engrid.”

A loud grumble was heard and Laun put her hand over her stomach in the water.  “That reminds me, how did the feed go last night?”

Falmir sat back and laughed.  “I think half the Palace donated food.  The seneschal told me that they think they fed about seven hundred people.  I don’t know if that includes people who went through several times.  Klemner was out on the green watching the whole thing.  He told me that the nobles who ventured out to see were blessed so many times that they talked to him to know when it could be done again.”

Laun laughed.  “A little goodwill goes a long way, sire.”

He smiled.  Falmir looked at his man in charge of the Kingdom Treasury.  “I am slow, I know, but why would you be checking on the whereabouts of Lady Engrid?”

Lucas spread his hands apart, palms up.  “I need to keep track of many things, your Majesty.  How else can I make sure to collect the taxes due?”

Falmir was not buying the act, but did not press the matter.  He turned his head and looked at the officer standing slightly behind Edgar.  “And you.  Why are you here?”

The Lieutenant stood a little straighter as he said, “I had a transfer request this morning that I had to discuss with her Highness.”  Falmir’s eyebrow went up but he did not say anything.

Laun smiled.  “He seemed qualified for the Fourth, Lieutenant.”

Senri smirked.  “I’ve been asking for a warranted provost marshal for a year, ma’am.  How did you convince him to apply for the transfer?  I don’t think his Major even knows.”

“I hope this does not inconvenience the Third infantry.”

“Ma’am, if it is at the request of yourself, I don’t think anyone would be willing to fuss.”

Laun nodded and stretched in the water.  She was still holding onto Falmir’s hand and withdrew it from him.  “Treat the Second Lieutenant well, Senri.  And ignore the bruises.”  She smiled and there were chuckles in the room.

There was water on the floor as Laun was helped out of the tub.  She was dried and a mug of hot tea was in her hand as she sat at the vanity, Gem combing out her hair.  She looked at the faces in the reflection, the men behind her in more than just stance.

“I’m going to take my councilor and have a talk with him.  Thorn, don’t get into any more trouble.  I want to have evening meal with you and your people, if you aren’t off taking more control of my Kingdom.”

Laun blushed and looked down.  “I shall most likely be here for the rest of the day, sire.  If not, I shall send word.”  She looked up and saw his smile.

“Lucas, with me.”  Falmir turned and a way was made for the King out of his daughter’s bath.

Laun was dressed in the silk dress she had shed the evening before to become the red scarf at Alsen’s side.  It was soft and comforting as it slid down her skin.  Her braid was tight and bound, the small bell at it’s end.  Laun looked tired in the reflection, but reasonably together.  She looked at the remaining people and felt as though they were waiting for something.

“Do I have a frog on my nose?”

There was laughter.  Laun smiled and went through to the main room.  She sat on one of the couches, making sure she was fairly evenly centered on the couch and between the other seating.  She sipped on the tea and found that there was an orderly sitting of people around her.  The posturing that had happened at the Inn was not visible.  Laun could tell that something had happened to set the hierarchy of the men around her.

Edgar was on one side of her, Fount behind the couch at her back, Hunter on her other side.  Silar stood near the door to the corridor, watching those in the room.  Evan was behind Fount, only known to Laun because she turned to count people with her.  Gem brought Laun a small plate with some cut fruit and bread and sat at her feet.

Erin sat on one of the couches, Senri standing in front of the couch next to him.  Dougal sat and then lounged slightly on the other couch.  Verat was slowly walking around the room, gliding from area to area and not settling down

She knew she was holding some sort of court.  The people around her were attending her.  They were hanging on her word, her actions.  She looked at each of them for a moment, smiled and moved to the next person.  She held Edgar’s hand, had her hand on Hunter’s leg.  She leaned back and Fount’s hand was on her shoulder.  She was not content, but she was relaxed.  She felt safe.

Laun took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.  “Ideas?  Comments?”

There were looks between people.  Edgar tightened his hand around hers and she looked at him.

“Love, is there anything we can really do to get Lady Engrid?  Do we have to?”

Laun felt a little jump inside her.  She calmly turned her head, looking at all the men.  It seemed they were mostly in agreement with Edgar.

Laun looked back to Edgar and smiled.  “If you know of a way to get the Rosemond troops out and to stop the bandits, Engrid can stay in the Myrned compound for all I care.”

He looked down at their hands.  “No.  I don’t.  But she is cut off, isn’t she?”

Laun dipped her head and sighed.  “I may just be cranky from not enough sleep, but what am I missing?  It has been found where Engrid and her assassins are being kept.  I found one of her women in the Midlands diplomatic corps.  Who is sleeping with the Midlands Ambassador to Rosemond.  We know that it is Rosemond mercs in the bandit units keeping the roads closed.  We know that Engrid is pulling the strings of the mercs, not the King of Rosemond.”  Laun looked around at the men.  “What am I missing?”

Edgar took in a quick breath before saying, “You do not have to do everything.  Let the people who know what they are doing get things done.  They don’t need you.”

Laun blinked.  She was not sure how to take it.  She felt a flush of anger and rage that colored her skin for a moment.  She cooled and knew that there was concern behind it.  Then she was embarrassed because of her actions the night before.  Then an unsettled feeling as she started to second guess everything she had done.  Everything.  She looked down at her lap and pulled her hands from the men to either side, sitting upright and forward to break contact with Fount.  She paused, hearing several intakes of breath around her.

“I think I should take a nap.”  Laun rose, Gem scrambling to get out of the way as Laun stepped away from the couch.

“Love!”  Edgar’s hand went out to her and she stopped when he caught on her skirt.  He raised his voice and he used his command voice to say, “Come back.”

Laun closed her eyes and turned to him.  She clasped her hands in front of her and raised her head.  When she opened her eyes and looked at Edgar, it was from above, down her nose.  Her voice was quiet as she said, “If my Lord wishes it.”

There was stunned silence.  Edgar turned away, his face bright red.  “That’s not...  That’s not what I meant.”

Laun stayed standing, looking only at Edgar.  He had been the one to speak.  No one else in the room ventured to say anything, no one knew what to say.  Her fingers laced themselves together as she stood looking at the man in front of her, the tension turning her knuckles white.  She waited, seeing the hand on her skirt tighten and then drop.

She stood still, looking at him, seeing his eyes not want to meet hers as he turned his head.  He leaned forward onto his knees, looking at her waist.  The temperature in the room seemed to rise as Laun waited, watched.  She had done this before.  She dropped her head and sighed.  She did not have to do it again.

Most in the room were not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing that Laun sat again.  She kept her head down, her hands in her lap.  There were glances between the men, hand conversations in signals and signs.

Her voice was small as she said, “Perhaps it would be best for everyone if I went back to Salam-Dir.”

The room seemed to breathe as one and there were voices.  Loud and filling the room.  Then they quieted.  Laun stood again, no one stopping her as she slowly walked to the bedroom, her head down, eyes averted.

The door closed and they heard the latch.  Several of the men swore, some louder than others.

Fount leaned against the back of the leather couch and asked, “What just happened?”

There was quiet and Edgar held his hand out to the younger man.  They clasped hands and Edgar said, “I’m not sure.  I feel like I failed somehow.”

Senri stepped away from the couch and said, “I have paperwork.”  It looked like he wanted to say something else, but just turned and left.  Several of the men looked like they wanted to follow, but couldn’t.

They all looked at the door, or avoided looking at it.  It was the only way in or out of the bedroom and it seemed as solid as the rest of the wall after the click of the lock.

“That did not go as planned,” Hunter stated.  He leaned back and punched his younger brother in the stomach with a loose fist, no real impact.

“What was that for?”

“I don’t know.  You could have held onto her braid or something.”

Fount sighed and hung his head as he leaned on the back of the couch.  Hunter had expected to be called bastard or get hit back.  Hunter turned away from his brother and looked at the rest of the men in the room.

Verat stopped moving.  “One of the techniques Sand taught me just came to mind, in a way.  Remember that, from what I have been told, she has had to fight to keep what she has, to push and do as much as she can just to keep things working.  Am I right?”

There were a few nods.  Silar stepped from the door and spoke in a low tone.  “Even when she is injured, she works to get things done.  She sees what needs to happen and finds ways to make it so.”

“Morning meeting.”  Dougal sat up and gestured to the others.

Edgar nodded.  “She started it to make sure the household knew everything that needed to be done.  To know what others think.”  Edgar flashed to the morning they arrived at the Salam-Dir lands the year before.  Early in the morning, ignoring her wounds, she had helped to gather a few things for first meal and then had stood, looking at each one of them.  Freeing those who could be freed.  Telling those who wished to go to their families that they could.  Being the leader she could be after being thrust into the role.

Verat stepped forward.  “You just told her she wasn’t needed in the fight against Lady Engrid.  You took her fight away from her.”

Edgar tried to not raise his voice as he pointed at the door.  “But she is the one who keeps saying that all she wants is to stay at Salam-Dir.  To stay-”  He dropped his hand and his voice.  “To stay home.”

There was quiet again.  There was a slight click and the door into the bedroom opened.  Laun moved through, not looking at anyone.  She went to the bathing chamber and closed the door, locking it behind her.

Edgar rose and went to the door.  He leaned against it and then knocked on it.  “Love.  Please.  Come out.”  He didn’t hear anything.  He knocked on the door again and yelled, “Come out, damnit!  Laun!”  He turned and shrugged as he looked at the other men.

There was a sound behind him after a moment and he stepped away from the door.  Laun opened the door and stood just inside the bathing chamber, not looking up.  “I had to pee.  If that goes well with you, my Lord.”

Her tone of voice was hard to read and she was soft in volume.  The words could have been meant to be infuriating, or just a statement.  The men had different reactions, keeping them inside.  Gem giggled.  She looked around and put a hand over her mouth when no one else saw the humor in it.

Edgar went to grab her but stopped when he saw there was no reaction.  His hand touched her and she did nothing, said nothing.  There wasn’t even a flicker in her eyes.  He dropped his hand, clenching it into a fist.  She was still and kept her head lowered.  Edgar started to step back and then stopped.  He put his hand under her chin and raised her face to him.

He saw... Emptiness.  Coldness.  A lack of what he knew was in her.  She was not Laun.  He looked away and into the bathing chamber.  Had she put her knives on?  No.  They were still there next to the clothing she had been wearing.  There had not been time.

“May I pass, my Lord?”  Her voice was so quiet that it was without any inflection.

His ears burned and he loudly said, “Stop saying that!”

The only reaction she had was to blink.  Once.  Slowly.  She stayed standing, just inside the bathing chamber doorway, Edgar’s hand keeping her head up facing him.

He dropped his hand and stepped back.  She waited for a moment and then dropped her head, looking at the floor.  She slowly went through the room, not gliding as if she wanted to seem to float, but tiredly and with a slight limp.  She closed the door into the bedroom and there was quiet again.

Edgar held both of his fists at his side, trembling with the effort not to hit the wall or the door.  He turned and the others saw how angry he was.  Fount raised a hand, but did not touch the older man.  It took effort again to release his hands and try to gain more outward control.  He did not loose his temper often, but Edgar was close to doing it right then.

Erin was looking at the door and whispered, “She... She didn’t lock it.”

It was not a rush, but everyone was on their feet and by the door.  Edgar put his hand on the knob and found that, yes, it was unlocked.  He turned the handle and pushed the door open and then hesitated going inside.

Gem slipped between the men, breaking the invisible seal as she went into the room.  They looked at the big bed, but she was not there.

The small bed that she had dragged to the window had been left there.  The curtain she had taken down had not been replaced.  Laun was sitting on the edge of the small bed, looking out the window to the Western part of the Capitol City, the afternoon sun starting to stream in and warm the floor at her feet.  She seemed to be in darkness, even with the strong late Summer light in front of her, the glow of the yellow silk curtains framing her.

Edgar moved around the bed to see her face, Gem already on the floor at her feet.  A tear was on her cheek, hanging on her skin as if it were a cut diamond placed there.  She stared out the window.  Her hands were folded in her lap, loose and without tension.  Edgar saw a streak of wetness down the front of her dress, but it was not from tears.

He knelt in the sunbeam and looked into her face.  Her eyes seemed unfocused for a moment, and then she saw him and turned her head slightly towards him.  The tear quivered and fell, the wetness left behind the only thing about her that glowed in the sunlight.

“Laun, please talk to us.”

She blinked.  Her voice was quiet and slightly rough as she said, “What would you like to talk about?”

Edgars mouth opened, but he did not say anything.  He did not know what to say.  She had always been the one to ask questions.  The one to get people to talk.  He looked over her shoulder at the men behind her, looking for support and inspiration.  Verat motioned to his face and then to Laun.

Edgar looked into Laun’s eyes and said, “How beautiful you are.”

Edgar saw a few cringes in the men behind their Lady.  She didn’t blink.  She didn’t even have a reactionary smile as she looked at him.

“I miss waking to you beside me.  Holding you against me.  Talking in the middle of the night.  Being with you.”

She blinked.  Water was gathering on the lower rim of her eyes, but she had no other outward reaction.

“Love, please.  Talk to me.”

“Say something worth talking about.”

Edgar felt something tear inside him.  He heard someone gasp.  “We are worth talking about.  You are worth talking about.”

He saw her jaw clench.  She closed her eyes and the tears rolled down her cheeks.  The sunbeam was crawling up as it’s source was moving across the sky and was above her feet.  She moved her legs and the skirt of the rough silk dress draped over her feet, her toes the only part showing under the hem.  She turned her head and opened her eyes to what was outside the window.

Edgar sat back and looked at her.  He had seen her dealing with the ghosts.  He had seen her in her blackest depression.  This was different.  Infuriating.

She swallowed.  “When shall I leave?”  Her voice was measured, quiet.

“You don’t have to leave, my Love.”

She breathed quickly a few times and then calmed.  “Am I of use here?”  She blinked and more tears fell.

“You don’t have to be of use to be here.”  Edgar heard how it sounded, but it was out.  Hunter turned away and Verat shook his head.

She looked down into her lap at her hands.  She closed her eyes and drops fell to the palms of her hands.  She clenched her jaw and her lips pressed together, thinning out.

There was a scratch on the outer door.  Silar went and answered, low voices coming to those still in the tense scene in the bedroom.  The outer door closed and Silar came back, stepping to next to Edgar.

“Mistress.  There is a council session this afternoon and your Father would like your presence at his side.”  He turned to Dougal and said, “As well as yourself, your Highness.”

Dougal nodded to the dark man and backed out of the room.  Laun did not look like she had heard, had not reacted.  Silar took a breath and began again, Laun cutting him off with a soft, “Why?”

Silar looked at the others and then to Laun again.  “I do not know.”

She took in a breath as if she were to speak, but did not.  Her head dropped lower and a sob came out. She sniffled and said, “When?”

“Soon, Mistress.”

She shook her head.  “Please send word that I am unwell.”

Silar paused and then left.

All the men were starting to get anxious.  And a little bored.  There were things that they might have wanted to do, but they could not because of their attentions to Laun.  The plan had been to try to get her to slow down, to do things with them at her side.  She had been gone before they had been able to gather her to go see the feast laid out for the city populace, had concerned them that she had gone out without any of them.  They had not known about the body until Gem had started scrubbing at a blood spot that had been missed by Lucas’ people.

Most of them had spent the night, waiting for Laun.  There had been some fun, Gem had been the center of attention for much of it, enjoying every moment.  But, it had all been a place holder for Laun.  She was why they were there, she was what drew them.

She had spoken.  She was showing emotion.  Edgar ventured to put his hand on her, but veered off and put it on the bed next to her.

“You haven’t eaten well today.  Perhaps some more tea?”  He remembered the way Erin had been able to get Laun to talk at the Inn.  He knew that she could go for quite some time on little to eat, even with nursing the babies.  He looked at the front of her dress and saw that there were now two wet streaks, and they were growing.

Laun had nodded.  Gem rushed to go get the tea and the plate of food her Mistress had not had time to touch.  The tea had grown cold.   Laun held it in both hands to keep it steady as she took a sip, keeping her eyes closed.

About half the tea was gone and a slice of the fruit had been eaten when Falmir barged in.  “What do you mean, unwell?”  He stopped, seeing the tableau, seeing the patience and caution Laun’s man was taking in his kneeling position by her.

Several of the men shot the King looks that would have withered lesser men, or men who were paying attention.  They moved away, sitting on other small beds in the room.

Laun was still sipping on her tea.  She was looking at the sunbeam that had crawled partway up her leg, almost to her knee.  She had not answered her father, had not even twitched when he had banged the outer door open.

“What the fuck did you do to her?”  Falmir bellowed, making every man in the place jump, Gem backing up into the window sill.

Edgar made a vague motion with his hands and shrugged.  “I said something wrong.”

Launs voice was quiet and Falmir had to come forward to be able to understand her as she said, “My... Edgar was making sure I knew my place.”

He clenched his fists again and made an exasperated noise.  Edgar sat back and started to pound his fists on his thighs.

Falmir sat on the bed pushing her over.  She did not stop her fall, did not even try to keep the mug upright as she continued over and lay on the bed, her head on the footboard.  Gem took the now empty mug and moved the plate from under Laun’s arm.

“Thorn, what the hell are you up to?”  Falmir waited and did not get any response from her at all.  He looked over to Edgar who’s motions and facial expressions were clearly saying, “See what I have to put up with!”

Falmir put a hand on her hip.  It was not gentle, but it was not grasping.  “Sweeting, I need you at the Council meeting.  You are our clasp link in this chain and...”    She wasn’t moving, he could not feel anything from her.  “It is already called.  You have to be there.”

Laun moved.  She pushed herself up and paused before standing and turning to face Falmir.  He looked at her, the various wet marks on her dress and the puffiness in her face.

“Get cleaned up.  You are no use to me looking like...that...”

There was another sob as she stood there.  She did not look at anyone as she moved away from the window, the small bed, and pulled on the dress to take it off.  She went to the wardrobe that held the few things she had brought and put a halter on before grabbing a plain tunic and skirt from the things brought to her from the Palace stores.  She rubbed her face on the skirt of the dress she had just pulled off and stood, waiting.

Falmir looked at Laun, the stillness as she stood there.  He turned and looked at Edgar and saw the frustration as his hands were being forced to open flat on his thighs.  The others in the room looked uncomfortable, but not as upset as Edgar.

The King rose from the small bed and went to his daughter.  He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her.  He saw that there were small wet patches starting on her chest and he thought understood some of what she was going through.  He had a pulse through him that was not seemly.  “Get one of your men to nurse you before you come to chambers.”  He turned and left before he lost control of his body and urges.

Laun stood for a moment before putting her hands to her breasts.  She sobbed.  There was a small voice as she said, “May I beg help...”

Many of the men were on their feet.  They looked at each other and then to Edgar still on the floor.  He slowly got up, rubbing his legs where he had hit them.  Laun looked up and saw Edgar coming towards her, fright openly on her face.

Edgar stood and looked at Laun.  His arms went around her and he carried her to one of the small beds.  The tunic was pushed up, the halter moved to the side.  Edgar took a nipple into his mouth and started to suck, a gasp coming out of Laun at the pain.  There was a little jockeying and Fount went to the other breast, his hand squeezing her before licking and sucking on her.

She sobbed.  She cried.  Tears flowed as the milk was sucked from her swollen breasts.  The empty place was gone.  The place she put herself so that she would not feel the pain, the disappointment, was closed again.  It all flowed through her.

Edgar slowed and was gentler as he felt her releasing whatever it was that she had been keeping in.  He had not tasted her milk like that before, a mouthful at a time, not just a lick.  Her breasts were hot to the touch, her nipple throbbed under his tongue.  He saw Fount’s eyes close as he enjoyed her, even that small part of her.  Edgar knew she was better when her hands went to their heads and pulled them closer to her.

Their eyes met.  Edgar raised his head from her breast and put a hand to her cheek, a gesture she had done to him so very often.  His hand was large enough to cover the side of her face.  She mimicked the gesture and then his smile.

Laun rolled towards Fount and kissed him on the forehead.  He unlatched and pressed his face up to hers, hoping for a kiss on the lips.  Her smile faded and the coldness came back to her face.

There was a push and Laun was standing, rearranging herself in her clothes.  No words, no glances from her and she was walking out the door.  Gem rushed to the bathing chamber for a wet cloth and followed her Mistress.  The men looked at each other.

“She needs time.”  Verat saw the frustration and anger in the men around him.  He did not know Laun well, but he knew people.

“She needs a spanking,” Edgar mumbled.  Hunter snorted.  There were some chuckles and Fount reached over the bed and grabbed Edgar’s shoulder.

Laun strode down the hall, ignoring those who would talk to her.  She had been called to Falmir’s side.  No.  Ordered to his side.  He got her as she was.  If she had felt more rebellious than depressed, she would have been going down the hall naked.

Gem caught up with her and stopped her, running the cold, wet cloth over her face.  Laun sighed.  It felt good.

“Laun, is there anything I can do to help?” Gem put a hand on Laun’s chest above her heart and looked into Laun’s eyes.

Laun shook her head.  “I have no idea why it hit me so hard.  All the work I have been doing and it felt...”  Laun sobbed and swallowed before continuing.  “Nothing I have done, good or bad, has made any difference.”

Gem took a chance and hugged Laun.  “You don’t see it.  But you have changed so much around you.”

“... I have changed so much of my self to do it...”  Laun sobbed again and pushed her face into Gem’s hair.

Footsteps behind her.  She sighed.  Laun dropped her arms from Gem and stepped around her, going towards the Council chamber.  There were low voices and the footsteps continued to follow.

The servants on the outside of the door took a moment to see and recognize Laun.  They scratched and waited.  There were voices from inside covering the sound.  Laun sighed and stepped forward, knocking once on the wooden door.  There were still voices.

Laun turned from the door and started to walk away when the call came from inside to open the door.  She was looking at the faces of the men who had been in the room with her.  They were looking at the people in the Council chamber.

“Thorn.  Get in here.”

Laun turned.  She raised her head and took in the chaos that had been in the room before the doors had opened.  Soldiers.  Binding.  Kneeling people.

Laun slowly moved into the room, her people staying outside the open door.  She saw her Uncle, kneeling, crying and shaking his head.  Laun saw the woman kneeling next to her Uncle, looking down, but not showing much if any emotion at all.  She went over to Gilda and pulled the veil from her head, pins and cord scattering to the floor.  The woman cried out and would have fought back if she had not been in ropes.  Laun turned the woman’s head and looked at the neck.  No mark.  Laun started to turn away, her head hung to her chest before she saw a skin colored smear on the veil.

“The wet cloth, please.”  Gem handed the cloth to Laun and the cosmetic was roughly scrubbed off.  The scar was there.

“She is vain and has a scar, so?”  Morse stood from the table and tried to be menacing.  Laun turned to him and her head tilted, her eyes narrowing.

Falmir pushed through his council and tried to stop Laun, calling to her.  Laun paid no attention and her tunic was off of her and on the floor.  Gasps came from most of the people in the room.

“These are scars.  That is a symbol of completing a test.”  Her voice was quiet and she looked only at the woman kneeling on the floor.

“Cover yourself, child.”  Laun knew that pompous voice.  She turned as saw the Bishop against one wall in the Council chamber.  He was wearing the full white and gilt garb of his office, and it pissed Laun off.

She ignored him and turned to Falmir who had made it through his council.  She pointed at Gilda.  She waited.

“She has already confessed to much.  He is here to annul the marriage.”  Falmir motioned with his head to the Bishop.  Laun’s eye flicked over to Ritil, the man looking stricken sitting in a chair at the table.  “And Heran.  He gave us some information, too.”

Laun looked up at Lucas who was standing behind his Deputy, a hand on the man’s shoulder for support.  The gold bell at his neck flashed as he smiled and nodded.

Gem held the tunic for Laun, waiting.  Her Mistress turned and bowed down slightly, letting the tunic be put over her again.  She pulled her braid through the neck hole, the silver bell catching on her hand as she smoothed her hair.  Laun looked at it and was tempted to tear it from her.  She swallowed a sob and looked at the woman kneeling in the room.

“Father.  Do you need me for anything else?”  Her voice was unsteady.

He nodded.  “I want you to question her.”

Laun looked at the large man with the seven pointed crown on his head.  The brown hair with the shaved sides.  The nose that was solid and masculine on his face as it was just unsightly on hers.  The hazel eyes with the wrinkles she had not really noticed before.

“No.  If I take her, she will not survive, like her sister.  You need her whole.”  Laun turned and started out of the room.

“Thorn-”  Falmir stepped to her and put an arm around her to stop Laun.  He held her, his arm going down across her chest and pinning her to him.  His voice came from close to her ear.  “You did well.  We never would have known without you.”

She was feeling raw.  Laun leaned against his chest and slid an arm up and back.  Her hand found the back of his neck and she turned her head slightly towards his voice.  Her voice was low.  “You know my price for my services.”  Her hand grabbed the hair at the nape of his neck and he gasped as she pulled, his arm tightening around her.

There were whispers.  Falmir relaxed his arm when Laun released his hair.  She stepped away and kept walking.

 

Chapter 42 Laun Tries to hide in her rooms, but cannot hide from her people