Sorry I changed and updated chapter 3. It is now longer and has added and edited parts...so please reread this if you read the older one.
Chapter 4
It must have been near midnight in Orinoco. It seemed as though most everyone had gone to bed. There were no candles lit or shutters opened, which was not surprising in any way. The robberies were not many here, but people still wished to be very cautious. The robbers were rogues after all. Both Mairèad and Philip hoped that even the rogues rested at this time of night, but the rumors saying that rebels never did sleep, always planning their next evil scheme. 'Oh, please let those rumors be false. Let those filthy rogues sleep.' Philip pleaded.
The outskirts of the city were creepy at night, and the suspicion that someone dangerous could be hiding around the next corner did not help comfort the two nobles. It only made their weary minds strain more. The weary minds were accompanied with tired bodies, which meant that if Philip could not find somewhere safe to rest and set Mairèad down somewhere, he probably would collapse.
Concealed within the dark shadows and black night, four men stood unseen by the nobles struggling to get home. One of them nudged one to his right sharply. "Gale, look at those clothes. They must be nobles!" The one called Gale rubbed his arm were the other's elbow made its mark.
"Yeah, I see. I have eyes, puddenbrain." He squinted and leaned slightly forward. "Strange for the likes of them to be out so late, and with absolutely no weapons or any sort of protection with them, donchya think, Red?"
Red rubbed his lightly bearded chin thoughtfully. "Don't look like there's much on them, but we could make a profit off those clothes, and I'm sure they got sort of jewelry on them." Catching the excitement, another piped up.
"May…maybe we can ask for ran…ransom for them!" Red turned sharply at the speaker.
"Quiet yourself, Squeaks. You want to alarm them? That decision is for the Queen Amber." He turned to look at the nobles again. "We'll take 'em along to our hideout, blindfolded, gagged, and bound, of course, and ask her there."
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The warmth of the fire was refreshing and comforting compared to the crisp, evening air that could somewhat chill you. Cadvan looked at his friend, Queen Amber, and envied how she was so relaxed. He somehow could not get that maiden, who in some way had called to his spirit, out of his thoughts. The queen's eyes were closed, her boots off and beside the chair, smiling slightly at the touch of warmth. Cadvan stared into the fire, blinking twice, swearing that he saw the Lady Mairèad's face in there. He growled, frustrated. 'If this continues I will go to the healers claiming insanity and hallucination.'
"What was that about?" Cadvan jumped, startled by Amber's voice. He glanced at her hazel eyes, a puzzled expression engulfing his face. She sighed, getting his point. "You growled, remember? And you have that deep, thoughtful face on. Did you fall in love with someone?"
She was just teasing him, but panic swelled up inside him. Was that what this feeling meant? Was he in love with Lady Mairèad? No, he refused to think of such nonsense. He could never love the very people who had ruined his life, condemning him to this blasphemous hell. He loved his queen, as a brother would love a sister…but that did not control how his life seemed to weave no design in the wheel of time. He lived only for the rogues, and no one else. Besides, she was betrothed, and to the crowned prince for all the gods' sakes. And for all he may be worth, he was only a rogue.
"Fall in love?!" he managed to half choke out. "That apricot ale must really be getting to you tonight, bright eyes."
"Oh, right, I am so sorry your royal donkey-face. Forgive me; I forgot that said turd is the invincible rogue of Orinoco, with a heart of stone!" She poked him in the chest, her eyes dancing with mirth and hidden laughter. Cadvan broke into a grin.
"Insults now, is it? Well, Queen of…" He never got to finish his sentence, for a hard, single knock from behind the door interrupted him. Amber gave an exasperated sigh.
"Will I never have more than fifteen minutes of peace?" She quickly pulled on her boots and sat back in her chair, sitting up straight. "Come on in, if you must." The door opened slightly, only enough for the group to file in one at a time. Cadvan mentally said the names of the people that walked in. 'Red…Gale…Squeaks…um…new guy, I guess…' The man he did not recognize was young, at least seventeen. The next to come in made the rogue suck in massive amounts of air in shock.
Lady Mairèad of Cilicader and her friend Philip of Eagles Pass entered clearly weary and bruised. He stole a sidelong glance at his queen and saw that she had cocked her eyebrow inquiringly at the leader, Red.
"What is this all about? You have brought me two battered high-borns. Is this signifying anything?" Red bowed deeply at her before speaking.
"My queen, we found them wandering the streets at night. They had few valuables and little gold Signets, but we had thought that we could sell their clothing and demand ransom for them." Amber blew a strand of curly hair from her face.
"Okay…so why did you come to me?" She glanced at the bound and blindfolded hostages. "You can let them see and breath through their proud mouths again, you know." The men quickly did her bidding, taking the cloths from their eyes and mouths. Amber watched as they stared around the room, and then brought her attention back to Red when he started to speak again.
"As you know, my queen, we must have permission from you. And you must do all the procedures." He replied, thinking through his words carefully. The queen was rather protective when it came to certain things. Amber rubbed her temples.
"Oh, right." She sighed.
