A/N: I am so sorry for the weeks it's taken me to update, but I had
1. a huge writer's block
2. TONS of homework and studying
3. swim practice
4. problems with the parentals (meaning they banned me from the computer for a while).
So sorry!
This might not be up to par yet, but I'm just getting back into the 'zone'. Enjoy!
$$$$$$$$
Tayli started to rise when the Duke and Rafe came in, but the congenial man waved her back down, a grave set to his features that made it clear to her that the happy-family-man image he portrayed was really only one side of his personality. The air of complete control he radiated was one she didn't fancy facing at any time during her stay. She had a feeling that any who opposed him at a time like this would get nervous just looking at him. He took matters into his own hands with a few brisk orders.
"Your excuses for the disrespect, Sirs, Your Highness, but I would like to know exactly what has been going on in my home. We found a few of the guards unconscious and a servant reported strange noises in these rooms. I wish to know what is going on right now." He stressed the two last words and no one doubted that tarrying with the tale would have uncomfortable repercussions. Next to him, Rafe was calmly taking the tray from the servant, thanking her kindly and sending her on her way.
Tayli spoke. "We had a . . . ah . . . slight problem with an unskilled assassin, milord, but it's been resolved." She gestured to the opposite wall, where the unconscious prisoner was bound at the ankles and wrists. The Duke spared him a glance before sitting down in one of the two chairs Rafe had pulled up, leaning forward onto the table with a business-like air.
"Ster," he barked, "send for Captain Malay. He is to report here immediately with four good men at his disposal." Tayli saw a flicker of a frown cross Rafe's face, but a moment later it was gone, and she thought she'd imagined it as he did the Duke's bidding without question.
"In the meantime," Duke Bruno said, relaxing a little into his customary jovial air, "who was this food meant for?" Tayli smiled a little.
"A part of it is mine, milord. I haven't eaten since breakfast and Sir William was kind enough to go find the kitchens, no doubt marking where they were for future . . . errands." Glancing at him, she saw the faintest hint of a blush on William's face, and a broad smile on Zachary's. The corner of her mouth twitched as she fought to keep from laughing at the delightful chastened look on the youngest knight's face.
"Well then," the Duke said, a slight smile on his face, "eat it." Tayli nodded, pulling one of the plates to her, only then realizing just how hungry she was. She summoned her best manners to set to polish off her dinner, but she could see from the faintly amused expressions on the faces around her that they weren't in any way close to the delicate, lady-like dealings of the court. No matter. She was hungry.
The knights carried on a light conversation as she ate, listening with half an ear. The food was good, several thick slices of the dark, aromatic bread so common to the area around Lubran, spread with a creamy sort of cheese she'd never seen before; combined with a few delicacies, no doubt left over from that night's dinner: a bit of an airy cake coated with a sticky, honeyish substance; a cream-filled globe of chocolate with a large nut in the middle that she bit down on a little too hard, hitting her teeth painfully on the nut; and a sprig of delightfully tangy red berries. When Rafe came to sit next to her, she offered him a bit of the airy cake, and he took it thankfully.
"This is called bridescake," he told her. "My particular favorite."
"Why bridescake?" Tayli asked, mildly curious.
"That," Rafe replied, managing to look both sad and mischievous at once, "is a story for when we're in less decent company. Most of our jolly companions don't even know the real story; I had to ask a humble farmer's wife. It is quite crude."
"Well, I think I like this chocolaty one better, even though it's almost broken my teeth." At that, Rafe had to laugh, and Tayli smiled openly, infinitely glad to have her older brother back.
^^^^^^^^
They did not have to wait much longer for Captain Malay to arrive in the room. He entered looking imperious, and Rafe let out a low hiss of breath, murmuring in Tayli's ear, "He's an egotistical bastard, but apparently he saved the Duke's life a long time ago, and has proved his worth since. I haven't seen any worth at all in him." Tayli had to admit that, at first glance, he did not look a nice man. He had short-cropped, steel gray hair and a thin face, with a set of heavy eyebrows that seemed permanently creased in a frown, wrinkles forming on his tanned brow. His skin was pockmarked and he had a stiff mustache and a large chin, with thin lips pressed into an impeccable line. The captain gave the impression of having been a scrawny youth, though the handsome livery he wore wasn't enough to hide the slight stomach he had developed at a later age. There was a furtive cast to his eyebrows, and his hands constantly twitched nervously with the hem of his tunic. Tayli was reminded very strongly of a rat, the sneer that alighted on his face at the sight of her not doing anything to change that impression.
She didn't remember seeing him at Evening Petition, in fact, she'd never seen him before, but that didn't change the fact that he was casting extremely lewd looks at her. She stiffened, glowering at him.
Completely ignoring her, he bowed to his Lord, who told him what had taken place, filled in with the details the knights had given him. Malay listened attentively, and then told the four soldiers who'd accompanied him to search the rooms. Tayli scoffed inwardly, there was no way anything that had been there wasn't gone yet, but she held her tongue, not wanting to start a fight. Everything about the man annoyed her, from the constant twitching of his hands to the oily way he talked and the way he ignored her totally. Beside her Rafe growled almost unnoticeably, and she touched his shoulder in quiet reassurance. The instance she'd done it, she knew Malay had seen, and was filing it away for further reference.
With the soldiers busy searching the rooms; Malay spoke into the sudden quiet that had descended on them.
"Tell me, Ster," he drawled languidly, "when did you start dressing your whores in breeches?" Tayli's snarl was audible, and inside her, the rage smoldered, the consuming temper she'd fought to keep control of all these years. Rafe placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she made to rise, and the warmth made her realize where she was. Tayli tried to calm down, but to little avail.
"I don't know about you, Captain Malay," he replied coolly, "but generally refrain from having affairs with family, much less my sister." A smirk flickered on his lips as Malay turned an unbecoming shade of angry red.
The whole table was silent as they watched what would soon become a full- fledged fight. "Captain," Duke Bruno warned, "watch your tongue. This is the lady who defeated the intruder in the first place."
Malay smirked evilly. "Oh, come now, milord. You can't truly believe a woman defeated a man almost twice her size? And as to her being Ster's sister . . . they look nothing alike. I'm rather tempted to think that this is all set up. Who's to say she won't murder us in our beds tonight? If she can, that is."
Tayli growled, shaking off Rafe's hand as she stood. The knights and Terian watched in perfect silence. "Is that a threat, Captain," she said in a low, menacing tone, "or is it a challenge?"
He shrugged. "I do not challenge women."
Tayli smiled wolfishly. "Just as I do not challenge the likes of you, rat. Which means that that must have been a threat." Malay stood too, and even the Duke was powerless to stop them now. Rafe voiced a small snort of emotion, but precisely which one it was no one could tell.
Tayli stalked to the open area of the room, Malay following self-assuredly after, slowly drawing his sword. Tayli drew hers, and they faced off.
"I will not honor you with a bow, rat," she spat. The rage had been boiling up inside her until it could no longer be ignored. She was acting on sheer anger now, furious. Most of the time, she could keep her fierce temper under control, but it became too much now.
"Maybe a curtsey would be better, traitor."
It was over in a matter of minutes. Malay was disarmed, backed against the wall with Kanai el' Kumm at his neck, and looking noticeably paler than before. Tayli curled her lip in disdain at the pitiful excuse for a man before her.
"Never call me a traitor, rat. Never." Her voice was only a low hiss, but they all heard it clearly, for even the soldiers had stopped their half- hearted searching and were watching with bated breath.
Unabashed and smirking, Malay trailed a hand up her side possessively. "My, but we're a feisty little pet aren't we? It's a good thing I let you win, wouldn't want to waste you on a sword, after all."
The rage leapt to unbelievable heights at his lewd touch, filling her to the core and pounding adrenaline through her veins. She spat into his face derisively, and then stepped away, relieving the pressure on his neck.
"It's a blessing for you that you hold an important position here, otherwise you would have found yourself without certain appendages I think you prize highly within the next few minutes. If you even had them to begin with. Remember that, rat, because next time I won't be so merciful." Then, turning undisturbed to Duke Bruno, "Milord, I am slightly upset. I would have hoped better of your subject's hospitality. I am retiring."
She walked to her door, shoving aside the soldier who stood there and snatching her throwing knives out of his hands. Then she turned around, almost languidly. "And don't worry. They will not attack again."
"How do you know?" the Duke asked, and there was a tinge of fear in his voice. Everyone else seemed struck dumb, although Rafe was grinning his head off. Tayli had no doubt that Melanie would be hearing all about this.
"I just do," she replied, and that was that. Bowing to the company in general, she backed into her room, subtly flicking the hand signal for safety and peace at Rafe, the traditional mimed farewell.
She shut the door just in time to hear Rafe burst out laughing.
$$$$$$$$
A/N: So what do you think? I actually thought it was pretty good. Next chapter we'll have some of William's POV (after Tayli goes to bed), also the interrogation of the assassin, and a very big event that will explain lots of Tayli's character. How did you like the rage thing?
By the way, the story of the bridescake will be on my website once I get it up.
Please review everybody!!!
Wormy
1. a huge writer's block
2. TONS of homework and studying
3. swim practice
4. problems with the parentals (meaning they banned me from the computer for a while).
So sorry!
This might not be up to par yet, but I'm just getting back into the 'zone'. Enjoy!
$$$$$$$$
Tayli started to rise when the Duke and Rafe came in, but the congenial man waved her back down, a grave set to his features that made it clear to her that the happy-family-man image he portrayed was really only one side of his personality. The air of complete control he radiated was one she didn't fancy facing at any time during her stay. She had a feeling that any who opposed him at a time like this would get nervous just looking at him. He took matters into his own hands with a few brisk orders.
"Your excuses for the disrespect, Sirs, Your Highness, but I would like to know exactly what has been going on in my home. We found a few of the guards unconscious and a servant reported strange noises in these rooms. I wish to know what is going on right now." He stressed the two last words and no one doubted that tarrying with the tale would have uncomfortable repercussions. Next to him, Rafe was calmly taking the tray from the servant, thanking her kindly and sending her on her way.
Tayli spoke. "We had a . . . ah . . . slight problem with an unskilled assassin, milord, but it's been resolved." She gestured to the opposite wall, where the unconscious prisoner was bound at the ankles and wrists. The Duke spared him a glance before sitting down in one of the two chairs Rafe had pulled up, leaning forward onto the table with a business-like air.
"Ster," he barked, "send for Captain Malay. He is to report here immediately with four good men at his disposal." Tayli saw a flicker of a frown cross Rafe's face, but a moment later it was gone, and she thought she'd imagined it as he did the Duke's bidding without question.
"In the meantime," Duke Bruno said, relaxing a little into his customary jovial air, "who was this food meant for?" Tayli smiled a little.
"A part of it is mine, milord. I haven't eaten since breakfast and Sir William was kind enough to go find the kitchens, no doubt marking where they were for future . . . errands." Glancing at him, she saw the faintest hint of a blush on William's face, and a broad smile on Zachary's. The corner of her mouth twitched as she fought to keep from laughing at the delightful chastened look on the youngest knight's face.
"Well then," the Duke said, a slight smile on his face, "eat it." Tayli nodded, pulling one of the plates to her, only then realizing just how hungry she was. She summoned her best manners to set to polish off her dinner, but she could see from the faintly amused expressions on the faces around her that they weren't in any way close to the delicate, lady-like dealings of the court. No matter. She was hungry.
The knights carried on a light conversation as she ate, listening with half an ear. The food was good, several thick slices of the dark, aromatic bread so common to the area around Lubran, spread with a creamy sort of cheese she'd never seen before; combined with a few delicacies, no doubt left over from that night's dinner: a bit of an airy cake coated with a sticky, honeyish substance; a cream-filled globe of chocolate with a large nut in the middle that she bit down on a little too hard, hitting her teeth painfully on the nut; and a sprig of delightfully tangy red berries. When Rafe came to sit next to her, she offered him a bit of the airy cake, and he took it thankfully.
"This is called bridescake," he told her. "My particular favorite."
"Why bridescake?" Tayli asked, mildly curious.
"That," Rafe replied, managing to look both sad and mischievous at once, "is a story for when we're in less decent company. Most of our jolly companions don't even know the real story; I had to ask a humble farmer's wife. It is quite crude."
"Well, I think I like this chocolaty one better, even though it's almost broken my teeth." At that, Rafe had to laugh, and Tayli smiled openly, infinitely glad to have her older brother back.
^^^^^^^^
They did not have to wait much longer for Captain Malay to arrive in the room. He entered looking imperious, and Rafe let out a low hiss of breath, murmuring in Tayli's ear, "He's an egotistical bastard, but apparently he saved the Duke's life a long time ago, and has proved his worth since. I haven't seen any worth at all in him." Tayli had to admit that, at first glance, he did not look a nice man. He had short-cropped, steel gray hair and a thin face, with a set of heavy eyebrows that seemed permanently creased in a frown, wrinkles forming on his tanned brow. His skin was pockmarked and he had a stiff mustache and a large chin, with thin lips pressed into an impeccable line. The captain gave the impression of having been a scrawny youth, though the handsome livery he wore wasn't enough to hide the slight stomach he had developed at a later age. There was a furtive cast to his eyebrows, and his hands constantly twitched nervously with the hem of his tunic. Tayli was reminded very strongly of a rat, the sneer that alighted on his face at the sight of her not doing anything to change that impression.
She didn't remember seeing him at Evening Petition, in fact, she'd never seen him before, but that didn't change the fact that he was casting extremely lewd looks at her. She stiffened, glowering at him.
Completely ignoring her, he bowed to his Lord, who told him what had taken place, filled in with the details the knights had given him. Malay listened attentively, and then told the four soldiers who'd accompanied him to search the rooms. Tayli scoffed inwardly, there was no way anything that had been there wasn't gone yet, but she held her tongue, not wanting to start a fight. Everything about the man annoyed her, from the constant twitching of his hands to the oily way he talked and the way he ignored her totally. Beside her Rafe growled almost unnoticeably, and she touched his shoulder in quiet reassurance. The instance she'd done it, she knew Malay had seen, and was filing it away for further reference.
With the soldiers busy searching the rooms; Malay spoke into the sudden quiet that had descended on them.
"Tell me, Ster," he drawled languidly, "when did you start dressing your whores in breeches?" Tayli's snarl was audible, and inside her, the rage smoldered, the consuming temper she'd fought to keep control of all these years. Rafe placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she made to rise, and the warmth made her realize where she was. Tayli tried to calm down, but to little avail.
"I don't know about you, Captain Malay," he replied coolly, "but generally refrain from having affairs with family, much less my sister." A smirk flickered on his lips as Malay turned an unbecoming shade of angry red.
The whole table was silent as they watched what would soon become a full- fledged fight. "Captain," Duke Bruno warned, "watch your tongue. This is the lady who defeated the intruder in the first place."
Malay smirked evilly. "Oh, come now, milord. You can't truly believe a woman defeated a man almost twice her size? And as to her being Ster's sister . . . they look nothing alike. I'm rather tempted to think that this is all set up. Who's to say she won't murder us in our beds tonight? If she can, that is."
Tayli growled, shaking off Rafe's hand as she stood. The knights and Terian watched in perfect silence. "Is that a threat, Captain," she said in a low, menacing tone, "or is it a challenge?"
He shrugged. "I do not challenge women."
Tayli smiled wolfishly. "Just as I do not challenge the likes of you, rat. Which means that that must have been a threat." Malay stood too, and even the Duke was powerless to stop them now. Rafe voiced a small snort of emotion, but precisely which one it was no one could tell.
Tayli stalked to the open area of the room, Malay following self-assuredly after, slowly drawing his sword. Tayli drew hers, and they faced off.
"I will not honor you with a bow, rat," she spat. The rage had been boiling up inside her until it could no longer be ignored. She was acting on sheer anger now, furious. Most of the time, she could keep her fierce temper under control, but it became too much now.
"Maybe a curtsey would be better, traitor."
It was over in a matter of minutes. Malay was disarmed, backed against the wall with Kanai el' Kumm at his neck, and looking noticeably paler than before. Tayli curled her lip in disdain at the pitiful excuse for a man before her.
"Never call me a traitor, rat. Never." Her voice was only a low hiss, but they all heard it clearly, for even the soldiers had stopped their half- hearted searching and were watching with bated breath.
Unabashed and smirking, Malay trailed a hand up her side possessively. "My, but we're a feisty little pet aren't we? It's a good thing I let you win, wouldn't want to waste you on a sword, after all."
The rage leapt to unbelievable heights at his lewd touch, filling her to the core and pounding adrenaline through her veins. She spat into his face derisively, and then stepped away, relieving the pressure on his neck.
"It's a blessing for you that you hold an important position here, otherwise you would have found yourself without certain appendages I think you prize highly within the next few minutes. If you even had them to begin with. Remember that, rat, because next time I won't be so merciful." Then, turning undisturbed to Duke Bruno, "Milord, I am slightly upset. I would have hoped better of your subject's hospitality. I am retiring."
She walked to her door, shoving aside the soldier who stood there and snatching her throwing knives out of his hands. Then she turned around, almost languidly. "And don't worry. They will not attack again."
"How do you know?" the Duke asked, and there was a tinge of fear in his voice. Everyone else seemed struck dumb, although Rafe was grinning his head off. Tayli had no doubt that Melanie would be hearing all about this.
"I just do," she replied, and that was that. Bowing to the company in general, she backed into her room, subtly flicking the hand signal for safety and peace at Rafe, the traditional mimed farewell.
She shut the door just in time to hear Rafe burst out laughing.
$$$$$$$$
A/N: So what do you think? I actually thought it was pretty good. Next chapter we'll have some of William's POV (after Tayli goes to bed), also the interrogation of the assassin, and a very big event that will explain lots of Tayli's character. How did you like the rage thing?
By the way, the story of the bridescake will be on my website once I get it up.
Please review everybody!!!
Wormy