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The Slave Assassin Chapter 16

March 1, 2022 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

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Ifahyd had never heard the Royal dining tent quiet as it just had become.  Never.  He turned and then stood, watching the visiting Royals come into the shade and towards him.

They were perfect.  Lord Salam-Dir had chosen an outfit that showed his muscles off under the light cover of hair, the color making his Midland’s paleness under his brown hair more exotic than Ifahyd had seen in the man before.  The Princess...  She was wrapped from head to toe, the outer layer sheer and shimmering in the evening light, the most modest he had ever seen her.  He could see glints of what was beneath, and she was walking carefully, daintily.

“Your Highness, My Lord.  Please, sit.”

The low couch was cleared of everyone else.  Ifahyd motioned to the couch and the two did not seem to look at each other or communicate, but they sat on either end.  Obviously waiting for the Rosemond monarch to sit between them.  Expecting him to sit between them.

King Ifahyd blinked and sat, not knowing which one to look at, to lean towards.  Laun leaned forward, the sheer overtunic showing thru some of the skin that had been hidden before.  She reached for a goblet and it was given to her, the hand being one of the Peaches in a servant’s outfit.  Edgar reached and a plate of fruit was in his hand.

The conversation in the tent started to pick up, slowly.  Most of the nobles and others were watching the center of the tent, watching the Royalty who were sitting together and only speaking to each other.  Well, speaking would have been less obvious.

They had not discussed, but Laun and Edgar had lived with each other for so long that they knew each other.  They knew subtleties of movement, of eyebrow and of breath.  They knew there was danger around them, but that was not the mission for right then.  They had been invited, as Lord and Lady Salam-Dir, to the couch of King Ifahyd Bedral, for his pleasure. »Read More

The Slave Assassin Chapter 15

February 17, 2022 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 14

 

Thank you for finding this and reading.  If you are unfamiliar with the Chronicles of the Midlands, Start with Chapter 1 of The Slave Warrior.

 

The Peaches were now in full protect mission mode.  

Laun dressed the part of the Princess Heir of the Midlands and made herself a target, whether on the arm of King Ifahyd or by herself.  She rode through the arbors, one of the dancers dressed as a servant beside her, drawing out an assassin who died far too quickly.  Edgar and she walked through portions of the main building they were sure they were not supposed to be in, Laun and he talking of home and family as if their argument had never happened.  They had the assassin following them followed, and taken down, with much more information brought out of her before she was able to take her own life.

The Peaches moved through the Royal Estate, finding places they blended in as they watched.  They followed.  They headed off and warned.  They became visible, yet invisible guardians, a force outside of the Royal Guards to keep the Rosemond King, and their own Mistress, alive.

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The Slave Assassin Chapter 14

January 25, 2022 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 13 - New to this story?  Start with the first chapter of the Slave Warrior

 

Laun held her tongue as she stood along the wall.  She watched the group of people around the deathbed of Lady Engrid and tried to keep her calm mask on.  She was finally dying.

The room was not all that big, but the people who seemed important were there, crowded and posturing around Lady Engrid, most just there to make sure she had really died.  Word had come from her healers that she was fast slipping into the darkness.  Laun had been on Ifahyd’s arm walking towards the yurlodge her people were in, to meet with them for the first time since she had ostensibly run away into the Royal apartments.

Servants had come running, unusual enough in the desert heat.  When the word was given, Laun had turned and whistled, messing up the first attempt, but getting the attention of the man who was at sentry duty. The signal was passed and Yevette had come running out of the lodge past others coming out, her baby in her arms.  She slowed, a cautious look on her face.

Ifhayd had put a hand on Yevette’s shoulder and they had all started for the rooms Lady Engrid and her escort were staying in.  Yevette had stayed on the other side of the King as they had moved, Laun glad of it.  She did not want to talk even yet to her, but as Yevette’s Grand Dam was dying, it was really not appropriate to have any less of a public front than before.

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The Slave Assassin Chapter 13

December 26, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 12

 

The start of this epic story arc is in The Slave Warrior, here, if you want to start from the beginning.

 

Laun started to move into the hand placed on her shoulder.  Ifahyd gripped and held her steady, stopping her.  His voice was low as he said, “Do not move.”

Something moved over the covers, the thin silk moving with the scales of the snake as it settled between them, warming it’s self on their legs.  Laun felt the strength in Iffy’s hand, and the fright.  He lightened his grip and slowly moved his hand up her and past, reaching for a small bell among the trinkets set at the head of the bed.

A single clear ring sounded through the room.  The snake moved slightly and settled again before the door was quietly opened into the King’s room.  The lantern light was soft and stopped when Ifahyd whispered, “Serpente...”

People quietly came into the room and looked at the red and orange snake twined around it’s self between the two royals.  A few words that Laun did not know were breathed between the people.  One of them paused and said in Laun’s direction, “We will take the fabric from you.  When we do, move away.”

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The Slave Assassin Chapter 12

December 22, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

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The dinner Laun was escorted to was in an outlying large tent on the Estate, a tent that was put up and taken down every day for the pleasure of his Majesty and his guests.  King Ifahyd chose the spot for the evening each morning, the servants obeying the King’s whims.  There must have been a hundred people under the tent, the low couches and piles of pillows propping up most people.  Food had been brought on the large, silvered trays for those attending, the low furniture around them made for laying back and sharing the bounty of the Royal house.

Ifahyd was already in the tent, several of the noble women bunched around him, calling out to him loudly and trying to feed him from the large table-like platter set before him.  The other groups of people seemed to be circled around him, some people walking between and moving to the next to talk and share tidbits.  Laun’s escort waved towards his Majesty and stayed on the outside of the tent.

Laun slowly, and as quietly as she could in the flowing garments and silver jewelry, walked through the tent along the outside of the groups of people.  She pulled down the veil slightly and found a good way in towards Iffy from the back and threaded her way to a small pile of pillows behind his couch.  She spread the pink skirts around her slightly by doing a slight spin before sitting, the yellow over tunic flaring out slightly, too.  There was a jingle as she sat, but Ifahyd was being distracted by the loud women around him and didn’t hear.

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The Slave Assassin Chapter 11

December 20, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories, Uncategorized / No Comments

Back to Chapter 10

 

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Laun had become the noble people expected.  She had started to assume things to be done because of who she was.  It came back to haunt her when she was left alone in Ifahyd’s rooms.  She was not ruling family, she was not in her household.  She was known, but not important.

The King had gone off to do whatever it was he needed to do for his kingdom.  Laun sat, looking at the changing of the shadows and light in the courtyard for a while after he left, sipping on a goblet of water that had been left from the night before.  The books within the Kings quarters were looked at, only a few that Laun could read, one helping her know more about the Rosemond languages.  She asked for a few things to be brought to her from the yurlodge which were delivered while she was sitting in the scented shade of the private courtyard.  There were a few words between herself and the Peach who had brought the items after a servant in the room directed the Peach to where to put the things.  She slept some when the day became warm, dreaming of the Midlands and her family, now changed.  She woke when one of the noble men came in to bring out evening clothing for Ifahyd.  Laun knew that some of her things were brought in, but did not know where it had been put.

Laun stood and watched the man of the night choose the pants and overtunic for his King, laying out the thin fabrics and then starting to match belting and jewels.  She waited until he seemed to have paused to ask, “Could you find my little silver casket for me?”

Her request was a simple thing, but the noble didn’t want to do it and just turned from her.

Laun was stunned.  She didn’t quite know what to do.  She stepped away, looking out into the courtyard garden with the multicolored sandy rocks to compose herself.  She took a deep breath and just looked at the beautiful cream and pink colors of the artfully placed rocks among the sparse desert plants and paths.

»Read More

The Slave Assassin Chapter 10

May 16, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 9 - Just coming into this series now?  Start with The Slave Warrior

 

King Ifahyd’s rooms seemed to be not more nor less than any of the suites Laun had seen in the large Estate.  Except that there were guards along the corridor and his rooms were the only ones occupied opening up to the courtyard.  Word had been sent and, as Laun was escorted to Ifahyd’s room, slowly and with many pauses to let her catch her breath or just not look at anyone, a well appointed meal was laid out in the main room.

There had also been time to have Edgar called to attend his Lady Wife.  He had others of the Peaches with him, quick signs and words telling some of what happened.  Edgar looked around and did not see Gem and was told she was with the people who had been in charge of the Baroness’ lands.

“Lord Edgar, please.”  King Ifahyd motioned to the low couch next to where Laun was already sitting.  A glass of lightly flavored water was handed to him and Ifahyd took a glass himself.

Laun was seeing those around her, hearing those around her.  She just was not reacting much.  She sipped on the drink in her hand, a measured amount as she had learned when being around the Clapperless Bells as they were the ones most likely to poison, and be poisoned.  Verat saw her being cautious and stood behind her, quiet, but attentive.

Ifahyd took something from the platter and sat back.  It was a signal that others could eat and many did.  Edgar took several things and tried to give some to Laun, but she did not accept it.

It was not her normal thinking stare.  It was not what she looked like when her darkness would come up and turn her mind against her.  She just was within herself.  She did not want to react, interact or exist beyond herself right then.  That would mean accepting what had happened, and she couldn’t. »Read More

The Slave Assassin Chapter 9

May 15, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

Back to Chapter 8 - There are so many stories.  I hope you registered so you could see the Novel listing page

 

The Lady Engrid Pearl, Baroness of the house of Pearl and Ruby, Dam Aunt of the Royal Throne was well enough to transfer her titles and lands to her unrevealed heir.

Laun and her people once again went from the yurlodge to the death room, Edgar staying to look after Gem’s baby again.  Silver nodded to Laun, a small smile on his lips, but nothing else outward than that.  Laun stood near one of the walls and watched the people about her.

Lady Engrid was looking better after having rested from the trip up to the plateau.  That, and Laun thought she smelled the slight spice scent of several medicines in the room when she had entered.  Powerful drugs that should have had the Lady asleep.  Laun had just a spark of sympathy for the pain she must have been in, but it was quickly extinguished when Laun saw the look in Lady Engrid’s eye.

Evil.  That was all Laun could put to name what she saw.  On her death bed and Lady Engrid had a haughtiness about her, and a withering look, that most would have cringed from.  Laun let it wash over her.  She was there to observe, nothing more.

The herald who had announced the travelers in the welcoming ceremony was in the room, a scribe set up with a little desk beside the bed.  King Ifahyd was the last of the people to arrive and Lady Engrid gave him a withering look, but bowed her head slightly to acknowledge him.

It seemed the thing to do to approach her and let her see who was there, even though she was not that far gone.  The herald knew the order of precedence and motioned people to her side one by one.  Ifahyd was first as he was King.  Laun was next because she was a Princess.  Then there was a Duke.  And the Marquis.  And many more people than Laun really wanted to remember.  And Gem. »Read More

The Slave Assassin Chapter 8

May 9, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

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It had been another day of rest for all the people who had been with Lady Engrid on the trip.  Nothing pressing happened, and there was a palpable tension when Lady Engrid did not have the transferring ceremony.  

Morning came yet again to heat the desert plateau.  Word was sent that the ceremony to name her heir was going to happen, certain people being asked to attend, including Laun, and Gem.

“Are you all right with seeing her?”

Gem leaned against Laun, the child between them.  “I am scared, but I can face her.”

Laun kissed Gem on the forehead.  “She was your Mistress and taught you.  It is hard to meet back up and face someone who seemingly threw you away.”  She had a half-smile and said, “I understand some of that.”

Gem would not meet Laun’s eyes.  “Yes...  Mistress.”

The group that was in the death room was select.  Several nobles, a few servants.  The Rosemond King was in the courtyard and came in after talking with the healers who had been attending Lady Engrid.

“The healers have informed me that she is not lucid right now.  They will work with her and perhaps tomorrow.”  He made a little shrug and looked around, avoiding the woman they were there to see die.

There were sounds of disappointment, and a few sighs of relief.  The room cleared, many of the people going through the courtyard and out a small hall to the rest of the building.  Laun had a few small words with Ifahyd, who apologized for bringing Laun from her own recovery bed for nothing to happen.  He then apologized for having to leave her as business of state had to be attended to.

Laun was not alone, but she was certain that the Marquis had positioned himself to be the last person of note in the courtyard.  He nodded to her and slowly walked over, his hands out and open towards her.

“Highness, you do not look like the walk back to the yurlodge would be good for you.  I offer a place to sit and have water...”  He motioned to his rooms off the courtyard, the doors open to the sandy garden.

Laun thought, and took accounting of her pains and fatigue.  She nodded, only a hint of a smile on her lips but not in her eyes.  “Thank you, Marquis.  It is a kind offer.” »Read More

The Slave Assassin Chapter 7

May 3, 2021 / posted in Chapter Book, Stories / No Comments

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“I wasn’t expecting this much fuss over me...”

Laun had been helped up out of the yurlodge and to a space outside that had been arranged for the evening meal.  Carpets went over the sand, pillows and a low couch brought for people to make themselves comfortable with.  Four tall poles held a simple fabric shade to keep the lowering sun from harshly lighting the area, and to keep their skin from burning as they ate.

Then there was the food.  Three large silvered platters that had their own stands making them tables.  Each mounded with food enough to stuff every one in the group several times over.  With water, wine, and a mint and rose petal concoction that Laun decided was the best thing ever.

There were servants that were sitting along the outside, watching as they were not allowed to get close to Laun.  The several companions and concubines, on the other hand, had been sent to attend just Laun and would not allow anyone to do anything for her.

Laun lay back on the low couch, being fed by one of the red scarves as another was dancing to yet another’s small pipe.  There was laughter and a good mood in the Peaches.  It was good to see, even with the guest who had decided to come to the small feast instead of attending the larger formal Royal dining tent for evening meal.

The Marquis had heard that Laun and her people were being treated to a separate dinner and went to see.  Laun had seen the tension between Silar and Silver while traveling, but she did not know the history between the men and would not have really cared if she did.  She offered the Marquis a pillow several people away from her and relaxed back into the silken couch. »Read More

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