Soundproof

"Come on, it's down here." Aly called over her shoulder. The girl was leading a rather reluctant looking stablehand down a long staircase.

"My Lady, are you sure we should be down here? Your parents..." The young man began nervously.

"Never mind my parents." Aly said, waving off his concern.

This was not what had had in mind. It had started out innocently enough; him being hired as a stablehand in the Pirates' Swoop keep. He loved his job. Only a few days after he had started he met the beautiful Alianne. She had flirted and chatted idly with him while he unsaddled and brushed out her horse. Baylen had always considered himself to be rather handsome, and prideful as he was he flirted back.

Every day Aly rode her horse, Zara everyday and while he took care of Zara the two would converse. Baylen knew he shouldn't even try to win Aly's heart. She was a wealthy noble, who surely had better prospects. And he knew how these things went. Once her parents found out about him he would be out of the job at the least, or hung at worst. He'd seen it happen before. Never get involved with the lord's daughter.

Still he couldn't say no to such beauty. And he was sure if Aly didn't like something he did or said he would be fired. Nobles were temperamental things. That was how he found himself descending a spiral staircase in the keep, being led by his lord's rebellious daughter.

"I'm not sure we should be down here." Baylen repeated.

"It is fine, Baylen. I just must show you my father's collection." Aly said. Then she giggled mysteriously, before adding, "Well, one of his collections."

When he reached the landing Aly had lit several torches. They were in a wide open celler with rows of shelves lined with horizontally resting bottles.

"This is my father's wine celler. He always has been a connoisseur of fine spirits. Not that wine can really be classified as such. Look here!" On a stand near the front of the room a dusty bottle stood. "This Syrah is a 437, an Irismere; the same vintage that was served at my parents wedding. My Da has been saving it for years. And over here is a 431 Pinot Grigio, an Aminar. That was the year of the Sweating Sickness. Bad year for the kingdom, great one for wine!"

Baylen just nodded. He didn't see what was so special about these dusty bottles. It was just wine. Aly seemed excited and eager though. She walked through the shelves for a moment.

"Ha! Here is the one I was looking for. A 445 nouveau from Aili." She pulled a bottle of the shelf. From the top of it she removed two glasses and a bottle opener. "Would you hold these?" She said handing him the glasses.

Baylen took them reluctantly. She opened the bottle and poured out two generous glasses. Setting the bottle aside Aly sipped her own glass. "Try some." She encouraged.

Baylen complied. It was good wine. He took another sip. "Are you sure we should be doing this? What if your father finds out? Surely you will be in trouble." Or more likely, I will be.

"He won't find out. He's up in his study, working. Even so, this room is entirely soundproof. You could torture then murder someone in here, and no one would hear the screams." Aly said with a reassuring smile. She sipped her wine again.

Baylen dropped his glass. It shattered on the hard floor, the red wine pooling like blood. "W-what?" He asked shakily.

Aly raised an eyebrow. "What's got you so jumpy? It's a perfectly natural turn of phrase."

"I think I should go." Baylen said quickly.

"Alright. Be a spoil sport, then. I was bored with you anyway."

My next story may be a while in coming. It's going to be my account of Raoul and Buri's wedding in Steadfast! I'll try and write it as quickly as possible.