"And where did you think you were going, Phoenix?" a deep, authoritative voice asked.
Phoenix sighed in relief, thinking perhaps Rordan or one of his spies had caught her.
"Garrett, I think you would have learned the first few times not to sneak up on me." She looked at him, attempting to see any trace of emotion etched on his tanned face. She sighed and led her steed toward the glistening pool of water.
"I have been following you since you thought you had escaped the palace unbeknownst to anyone. Where the hell do you think you are riding off to without my permission?"
Phoenix began brushing down her companion as Valdis stood motionless in the shadows, waiting for some sort of signal to attack the imposter. Phoenix eyed her warily, she shook her head ever so slightly, hoping Garrett wouldn't notice the nonverbal interaction.
All too aware of the situation, Garrett sat down by the fire and shed his riding cloak. "You can tell your aunt I mean you no harm and that she may come out of the brush."
Valdis sheathed her knife and crept slowly toward the encampment, choosing to sit across the fire rather than by the King's brother.
"So, have you come to take me back into captivity?" Phoenix asked trying to sound less alarmed than she really was.
Garrett flashed a devious smile, his white teeth shining against the dim background of the forest. "It depends where you are going my dear."
"My grandfather is dying. His last wishes are to see me before he descends into the Last Light. I figured I would at least oblige him, considering you have ordered me to kill his only heir, my cousin."
Valdis, who had been quiet, stood up and made her way over to Phoenix hastily. "What do you mean they have ordered you to kill the crowned prince of Sinbadda? My son? Your cousin?"
Valdis black eyes burned into the depths of Phoenix soul; unable to stand it anymore Phoenix looked away. "Listen, Aunt, I did not know what I was doing when I agreed to this. Rordan has the man who led the attack on my family. I have my chance to take revenge on the man that ruined my life! Where were you when this happened, huh?! Where was Grandfather? Where were my mother's people? And now you expect me to waltz into Sinbadda and pretend I forgive the people for turning their backs on my family when we needed it the most?"
Phoenix, her oval face flushed with anger, began to advance closer to Valdis, until they were face to face. "You knew my family was in trouble. As much as you people say you had no idea the attack was coming, you knew my family needed you! I owe nothing to you or to anyone it that wasteland!"
Feeling her temper rising further, Phoenix turned and walked briskly into the darkness, leaving the camp in an eerie silence. Valdis, about to follow her niece, was stopped by a large hand placed on her shoulder.
"I will talk to her." Garrett stated calmly. He looked at the safari woman and smiled hesitantly, but reassuringly.
"What do you mean she is gone?" Rordan asked, throwing his glass wine against the stone walls of his private dining quarters.
One of the soldiers, braver than the rest, stepped forward, "Sire, she is gone. She is not in her room, nor the courtyard, nor the kitchens. No one has seen her."
Rordan sank down into a plush, purple chair. "Find me Garrett, then."
The same soldier cleared his throat and looked nervously down at the floor. "He left this note for you, your majesty. It was found on his bed."
The King of Lennox arose from his chair and snatched the letter, "Why am I being informed of this now?"
He hastily read the letter and crumpled it up, throwing it at the soldiers, who did not flinch as the paper bounced off their leaders head.
"Very well," Rordan sighed, "I see it is left to me to do everything around this place. Saddle my horse and prepare my personal guards, tomorrow we venture to the Lord Brandon's seaside mansion."
The warriors bowed and left the room, believing their king somewhat touched in his head for wanting to vacation at a critical time like this.
But Rordan had other plans. Lord Brandon's manor had more than comfortable rooms and exotic women to offer—it had something that would be of most use to the King, something just as dangerous as Phoenix.
The Lieutenant found himself it quite a compromising situation with the assassin. He had meant to calm her down and talk some reason into the stubborn killer. She had demanded to know why he left and what his intentions were. He explained that he left a note for Rordan, informing his brother that he needed some time to clear his head and was heading for the peaceful and solitary mountain palace the royal family owned.
While he was readying his horse for the journey he caught the sable haired beauty attempting to sneak off into the horizon with her companion and a few of the royal stable horses. He followed her until she camped and was only planning on offering to help her along; in hopes she would complete her mission and secure the victory the kingdom of Lennox would certainly attain after the crowned prince of Sinbadda was killed.
He had only meant to comfort her when he clasped her shoulders with his hands and brought her to his chest. But the warmth of her body and the faint smell of lavender overcame him. Before he knew what was happening his lips were covering hers and his hands began to search her taunt body.
What the hell am I doing?
Phoenix could not pull herself away from Garrett, even if she wanted to. His muscled arms were wrapped tightly around her and his hands began to wander all over her body. His hands began to travel under her tunic and towards her breasts. She let out a gasp as his rough hands glided over her pink, soft nipple. The contrast was both unexpected and welcomed. Phoenix pulled him closer—she needed him.
The passionate moment rendered both trained warriors unaware of the noise of snapping twigs and rustling branches as a group of vagabonds closed in around them.
Phoenix opened her eyes enough just to see an arrow whizzing through the darkness toward Garrett's head…