Chapter six

Amanita locked the door to her room and exhaled. She stepped forward a few steps before she felt arms around her waist! She gasped as she was spun around and desperate lips claimed hers.

She pulled back and stared at the man holding her. Her eyes almost fell out of her head as Erik smirked broadly. "How did you-" Erik cut her off with another kiss as he backed her up against the wall. She gasped and rested her forehead against his heaving chest. "what are you doing here?"

"Keeping on an eye on my treasure."

She shook her head. "I should report you." His lips began working her neck slowly. "Call for the guards."

"Why don't you?"

She shook her head again. "I don't know."

"You're in love with me."

"I am not."

"Oh yes you are!"

"I couldn't be."

"Couldn't be?" He laughed quietly. "Why couldn't you be?"

"You're a thief. You're too forward." His grip on her tightened. "You're only setting me up for heartache in the future when you're caught. I cannot keep defending you without putting you and your business in jeopardy." She pulled back and studied him, gently running her hand down his face. "Even if you are exposing yourself to such ridicule. Why don't you wear your mask?"

He laughed. "This face…cursed though it may be, serves as a disguise itself at times. This…is indeed one of them." He frowned. "I hear someone coming."

He moved towards the wall and opened it. She shook her head and hissed. "You really…need to stop springing out at me from the shadows."

"Get used to it princess. Believe me," he tiled her chin up. "when you become mine…you'll be relishing those moments when I decide to spring at you."

With a smirk, Erik vanished through the wall leaving her alone again. She hastily unlocked the door and opened it only to bump into Juliana. "There you are! Goodness! You must change at once!"

"Change?" Amanita was whirled into her room and she felt Juliana removing her dress. "Why?"

"You have another suitor! Prince Raoul from the kingdom Qjeovun."

Amanita gasped. "What?" Qjeovun was a way richer kingdom than Sir Basil's Esehup. "What's he like? Is he pleasing?"

Juliana rolled her eyes. "Pleasing? Your highness, his manners are perfection. He is handsome, polite, courteous and oh, he definitely speaks most poetically."

"Will I like him?" she asked as she selected an emerald green dress from her closet.

"I see no reason why you shouldn't! Don't let him get away, if you do, your father will certainly have you wed to Sir Basil within a fortnight!"

Raoul turned to see the princess walk in the room. His heart stopped at the sight of her. Amanita was beautiful princess as he'd been told. Long, chocolate brown, curled locks and her eyes were like green emeralds. Her dress wafted behind her as she glided towards him like a swan on a lake. She smiled at him as he bowed before her. "An honor to meet you your highness."

"Please," she asked sweetly. "address me as Amanita. I hope you do not think me too bold as to request that we dispense with the formalities and address ourselves much more simply."

He shook his head as he straightened up. "I understand completely. I too, am glad to be at liberty to dispense of the formal titles."

"Amanita," her father said. "why don't you give prince Raoul a tour of the grounds?"

She smiled pleasantly. "Indeed, I shall father, I shall be most pleased to do so." She turned to him. "Would you care to join me?"

He nodded and followed her. "I would."

"If you wish, you may take my arm."

His heart jumped in his chest as he took her slender arm and noted the shape of her small hand. "It will be an honor for me to escort you."

Erik's blood boiled as he continued playing, providing the romantic atmosphere for the two. Juliana had ordered him to go out and play his best, but to keep out of sight. Erik didn't mind playing for Amanita; he indeed hated helping another man woo her.

The two had been laughing and holding onto each other for an hour in the garden. She was happy and Raoul was clearly besotted with her.

"Tell me, the cross on your hand….don't think me bold if I am curious about the scar. How came you by it?"

She laughed. "I was rescued by a notorious outlaw, the Black Arrow, he marked me and said if any man would but my honor at stake he would avenge it. The mark, serves to remind any man of his oath."

"Indeed. Would he think of me as compromising towards your honor?"

"Thou hast not heard me complain." The two rounded the corner and Amanita's eyes widened slightly. "Sir Raoul, this is my personal violinist, Erik." She studied him. "That is your name isn't it?"

He stopped playing. "Yes your highness."

"Promising talent." Raoul said with a nod, his wavy sandy brown hair flopping about his handsome face. Indeed. The boy was definitely a coxcomb in Erik's eyes. He could only hope Amanita wasn't impressed by his looks and charm. "A shame about the face though."

Amanita nodded. "Indeed."

"A mask would be advisable, but I find it rather….interesting to look at. The show of how one man looks inside and out upon his face."

"A rather interesting philosophy."

Erik was going to make Amanita pay for making him feel like a horse on display.

Raoul's handsome face went pale as his eyes studied Erik. Raoul suddenly made a grab at his arm. "Where did you get this?" He demanded pointing at the ring on his finger.

Erik pulled free, shooting Raoul a glare. "I've had it from birth. The only thing my worthless parents deemed fit to leave their son!"

Raoul's face grew red. Amanita stood up, her eyes blazing. "I demand you leave our presence at once! Go! I will deal with you for your insolence later!"

Erik bobbed his head and walked away. "I wish him sent to my quarters." Raoul said briskly. "I wish to discuss something with him."

Erik turned and studied Amanita; she was in thought, deciding to yield to Raoul's strange demands. She nodded. "As you wish." She turned to Erik. "Go to his chambers." Amanita turned to Raoul. "But do not harm him, I do not want my prized musician damaged!"

"I swear, I will not harm a hair on his head."

Erik laughed inwardly. As if that coxcomb of a prince could harm him in anyway, shape or form. Amanita laughed and he looked back at them. Amanita appeared to be enjoying his company and they were suited well together in looks. Erik had to somehow change his way of wooing Amanita or he was going to loose her to that coxcomb.

Million: The country is called Mihumit, a fantasy world of my own creation.