Disclaimer: uh unh
PANDAREOS
"I have a few problems with you Pandareos," Emile began, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed. Tristan stood to her back and suspiciously surveyed the young man in front of them. His manner was somehow familiar and very disconcerting.
"What would they be?" Kyrilla answered. He knew he was in for an interrogation and was actually excited.
"One: you're name means thief which I find odd personally and two: I did not invite you here," Emile stated.
"Most Rouge sovereigns are territorial," Kyrilla said with a smirk. He was enjoying playing the cocky ambitious young rogue.
"Yes. I guessed you must know my status," Emile sighed with displeasure, "It is a secret from most in the area, including my children. It is hard secret to keep and I work at keeping it hidden so I would appreciate your discretion!"
"At your service," Kyrilla performed a small bow. Tristan's face did not change but he did not like the attitude of thief. It was too sure and certain. He would probably benefit from a good beating.
"What exactly is your purpose?" Tristan moved forward.
"I was told to come here. Something is growing," Kyrilla told them. He stood up and before they could protest he removed his shirt. He turned so that his eagle tattoo was visible.
"The Rouge king of Greece!" Emile said. She did not stand or bow just glared harder. She did not have good experiences with rogue kings.
"Define something!" Tristan instructed, ignoring the fact that the rogue king of Greece was sitting before him. Kyrilla felt like working up the nerve to be offended but he resisted. It wasn't worth it and Tristan would probably just stab him. Then his identity would be revealed when he survived.
"I'm not certain. There have been signs and Kyrilla cryptically mentioned this place. You know what Kyrilla is like!" Kyrilla rolled his eyes for emphasis.
"It sound's like you're a pawn in one of his games," Emile suggested.
"He doesn't play games," Kyrilla snapped.
Emile looked at him puzzled. Why had he gotten so riled up when she insulted Kyrilla? He was their patron god but none of them took him that seriously. Zephyrus had an affectionate disrespect for the god and Emile believed in that policy.
"Fine. He doesn't play games but I'm pretty sure you wasted your time coming here," Emile conceded.
Kyrilla shook his head, "Just let me stay a couple of months. I don't need anything fancy and I will defer to you."
Tristan thought this was a bad idea but Emile nodded her head, "Just make sure you keep your position to yourself. Be an ambassador from Greece."
"That is all I wanted," Kyrilla agreed and left quickly.
"I do not trust him," Tristan spoke as soon as he was certain the young man had left.
"I noticed," Emile teased softly.
"It is not a laughing matter!"
"Probably why I'm not laughing," Emile became serious.
"Kyrilla is planning something," Tristan observed, pacing the room.
"Oh I have no doubt but there is something brewing. Some trouble and much as I hate to admit it, having another rogue king on hand may be useful," Emile reflected.
"Then send for Zephyrus. This Pandareos is not as good a thief as you or Zephyrus. What use can he be?" Tristan questioned.
"Probably none," Emile admitted but stood her ground.
Tristan acknowledged his defeat by slumping in a chair. Emile pulled herself into his lap and held his face.
"Don't be angry with me," She pleaded.
Tristan scoffed, "You don't care whether I'm angry or not!"
Emile winced, "Ok that is true but I prefer you not to be." She widened her eyes and put on the lost little puppy face, which Tristan found so hard to resist.
"Damn woman," He cursed but his heart wasn't into it.
"That is why you love me and married me," Emile gloated.
"And why you kicked me in the groin on the night of our first meeting?" Tristan rebuked her.
"If I had known how much value I would put on you later I would not have damaged you," Emile supposed.
"I'm not damaged," Tristan's voice became husky.
"I get the feeling I'm about to be scolded," Emile's smile widened.
"And I get the feeling you are going to enjoy yourself!"
"Don't flatter yourself," She retorted but was soon silenced by a kiss.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"How come Garret doesn't have to come out on hunting expeditions?" Baltimore asked.
"Because he has to study on ruling a country," Armand replied.
"Would you boys be quiet!" Bors snapped. He had taken Armand, Baltimore and Kaye out to teach them the fine arts of hunting. So far all they had done was talk.
"You think this would be a useful thing to learn," Kaye argued.
"I completely agree, Kaye," Baltimore snapped his fingers.
"It's like spending time with a group of women," Bors despaired.
"He gets to be warm and dry in the castle taking lessons with Isolde why we sit in the rain and cold," Armand grumbled. Bors glared at them but they paid no attention. He was like an uncle to Baltimore and Armand. In fact the only ones the boys listened to was Arthur and Tristan. Arthur because he was the king and Tristan because he could kill them in their sleep.
"Then again and afternoon with Isolde would be painful!" Kaye countered.
"You don't like Isolde?" Bors joined the conversation forgetting his own policy of silence.
"Oh she's fine but I wouldn't want to be cooped up in a room with her," Kaye declared. The rain seemed to strength and began to pelt down.
"Well on any other day I wouldn't," Kaye altered his answer.
"What about you boys?" Bors turned to the others.
"Well she's attractive like her mother," Baltimore confided with a dreamy look on his face.
"Bite your tongue boy," Bors told him but he was only half serious.
Baltimore grinned cheekily and continued, "But she doesn't have her Emile's spirit."
"She isn't much fun," Armand contributed.
"Garrett likes her. Likes her stronger than a friend would," Kaye divulged with a mischievous quirk of an eyebrow.
"Really?" Bors was interested now. All three boys nodded.
"Fascinating stuff!" Bors stated.
"Are you all mad?" A voice demanded behind them. The four turned to see Dagonet and Gawain emerging from the undergrowth carrying bows and arrows.
"You scared everything off," Gawain angrily reported.
"We were just talking about Garrett romantically being fond of Isolde," Armand told his father.
"It's like being out with a gaggle of females," Dagonet groaned.
"Hey!" Bors yelped.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Isolde couldn't stop laughing.
Garrett stepped off the table in a dramatic end to his tale, "And Mistress Qurick found us pretending to be girls in the bath rooms."
"I cannot believe you, Baltimore, Kaye and Armand did that," She giggled before pausing, "Actually I can see those three doing it but I can't believe YOU did something like that!"
"I was a rebel," Garrett joked settling himself in his chair.
"What happened?" Isolde prompted.
"Well my parents never found out!" Garrett told her.
Isolde gasped, "She did not tell them. That is a little out of character for her!"
"I know but maybe she felt we had suffered enough," Garrett grimaced at the memory.
"Uh oh! I sense a typical Mistress Qurick punishment ending," Isolde put her head in her hands and listened enraptured. Garrett told good stories.
"Well after getting hit with the broom she marched us down to the seamstress room and made us wear the dresses while the women adjusted them. Said if we wanted to act that way we could contribute as a woman would," Garrett confided.
Isolde couldn't stop sniggering at the thought of them modelling woman's dresses. "I can understand why she felt you had suffered enough,"
"Don't tell anyone but I quite enjoyed it," Garrett wriggled his eyebrows, "They brought out the colour in my eyes!"
Isolde snorted before and looked at the open books on the table, "We were meant to be studying."
"Story telling is more fun," Garrett said.
"Yes. I particularly like the part about the brooms. You all deserved that by the way," Isolde decreed but she was smiling.
"Maybe Baltimore did but I kept my eyes shut the whole time," Garrett defended himself.
"Liar!"
"Ok maybe I did have a little peek!" Garrett declared.
"I still don't know how you managed to sneak in, in the first place even wearing dresses," Isolde shook her head puzzled. She couldn't see how anyone would mistake them for girls.
"Armand tried to escape when Qurick guessed but he tripped over the dress," Garrett chuckled at the memory.
"How did she guess? Apart from the obvious reason that you weren't very good females!"
"Kaye screamed when she appeared naked for her bath."
Isolde broke off in another peel of giggles, "She hit my father too. Back when he was courting my mother."
Garrett observed Isolde's face. Normally she resented talking about Emile but she had just brought her up herself.
"Sounds like a violent courtship," Garrett commented.
"It wasn't an easy one. I think that is why they love each other so much," Isolde decided reluctantly.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know many details of their relationship because they are quiet about it but I know that originally she was in love with another knight called, Larx but he died. They name my little brother Larx," Isolde told Garrett.
"Sounds like they overcame a lot to be together," Garrett prodded.
"They did and I feel awful for not having a better relationship with my mother but we just grate against each other constantly. It is terrible. I'm terrible," Isolde said suddenly.
"No your not. You just need to try harder to see eye to eye," Garrett advised.
"Maybe I can't maybe I'm just a horrible person," Isolde said, a tear slipped down her cheek.
Garrett quickly hugged her, bringing her close to his chest.
"No you aren't," He whispered, "At least I don't think so!" Impulsively he tilted her chin and kissed her.
Isolde clutched him tighter remembering all those years of secretly liking him, wishing he would notice her that way but not having much hope. For the first time in a long while she felt content!
AN: anyone who has read my stories knows I love surprises and I really have a good one coming up. I always do that though. Warn people about my surprises, which gives it away. I'll try and stop! Please review it would be lovely.
MD666