We were ordered to pack only enough clothes to suffice us in travel as we would be receiving better clothing for our status once we got closer to the boarder. I had no idea how far we were from the boarder originally but I wasn't about to complain. Merry spent the rest of the evening in my room practicing to be my servant, although we mostly talked about what was to happen to us once we reached Corus.
"Do you think he's in grave danger?" Merry asked worriedly as we sat together at my table and polished our daggers and swords. I had no doubt that my brother had gotten himself into more trouble than he or I could ever handle, but I wasn't about to explain that to Merry and start another round of tears. I was exhausted by the three times before when she was randomly started crying out of fear and love for Aaron.
I suppose when somebody loves a person that much they go through much heartache and tears when they think of the danger they could be in, and in this case is in. I didn't really know. Aaron is the only man I have ever loved and he is my brother. Though I suppose the love of a brother and sister could be stronger than any other type of love. But Aaron had pissed me off before he left and I wasn't in the mood to be sympathetic.
There was a knock at the door which startled Merry and I. We quickly put away and swords and I grabbed a dagger which I held in my right hand as I stood and walked towards the door. Who would be here this late at night. Hesitantly I walked towards the door. Upon reaching it I glanced back at Merry to make sure she was ready. She stood with her hands drawn delicately behind her back though I knew she held a sword ready to pounce if there were unfriendly visitors behind the door.
With a nod I turned back towards the door and turned the knob with my left hand. I opened it a peek and saw Mace standing on the other side. More like leaning against he door frame as he lazily looked at me through the crack.
"Mithros Mace you scared us half to death." I muttered opening the door wider and turning to walk towards the table again. Truth be told he had almost given me a heart attack. I dropped my dagger back onto the table and pulled my two swords out form underneath my mattress where I had hid them. They were covered in dust and feathers which made me give a low growl. I hadn't been able to sheath them properly before putting them away as the oil had yet to dry.
Frustrated I sat down in my chair again and began to work on the first sword.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you ladies." Mace said charmingly making his way into the room after closing the door behind his entrance and plopping himself down in the chair next to mine. He placed his feet on the table and crossed one on top of the other before leaning back in his chair and grinning. I hated when he put his feet on the table.
"You'll never pass as my cousin if you behave with such barbaric manners." I muttered as I dipped my cloth in more oil and began rubbing the dust off of my sword.
"Then perhaps I should become your barbaric lover." He teased dropping his feet to the floor and leaning in towards me.
"Then what would my suitors think of me? I shall never find a husband with you looming about." I replied with a smirk. I knew how to upset Mace. There was nothing he could say or do that would upset me.
"Well they should have to steal your heart from me in order to woo you. Wouldn't that make the challenge all the more fun?" he replied taking a piece of my hair and spinning it around his fingers.
"No. I shan't think it would." I mumbled waving his hand away from my hair and concentrating on my sword.
"You women." Mace muttered sitting straighter in his chair and grabbing my other sword before looking it over and beginning to work on cleaning it.
"Was there a reason for your little visit or were you simple here to flirt with Alecian?" Merry asked nonchalantly while continuing to polish her dagger. She glanced up from her work with a smile upon her face at the small blush that crept up Mace's neck and cheeks. It wasn't everyday that Mace blushed and I stifled a laugh to keep from enraging him.
"I was told to tell you girls that we shall be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. So be sure to pack your things tonight. Remember, nothing but your weapons and a spare change of clothes. Some food to tie you over for a few days. We shall be stopping along the boarder in order to change our appearances and whatnot. They don't want anybody from Tortall to see us dressed as peasants along the way." Mace said as he finished wiping off most of the dirt from my sword and started in on the polish.
He was doing an excellent job with it too. As much as I hated having other people touching my weapons I trusted Mace enough to know that he knew what he was doing. He was an expert when it came to weapons, more so than I was, and could clean one so well they tended to blind a person in the sun.
"They really know what their doing, don't they?" Merry commented as I set my sword on top of it's sheath to dry. I picked up my favorite dagger and began to wipe it down as I listened to the conversation between the siblings.
"Of course they do. They wouldn't endanger our lives if they hadn't planned everything out already." Mace said waving my sword around in order to dry it out a little bit. He hadn't been watching where he was waving of course and almost took off a chunk of my nose. I hit him with the flat side of my dagger and pursed my lips together. He winced and shook his hand a few times as a long red mark appeared but didn't make a comment about it.
"I wonder what we'll all be wearing." Merry said excitedly rushing with the last bit of her polishing.
"I haven't the slightest idea." Mace replied dully ignoring how antsy his sister was becoming. Of course we both knew she was more eager to see Aaron and make sure he's alright. Merry really cared less about what she was going to be wearing, all she wanted to do was see Aaron and have him home again. We all did.
I rolled my eyes at this. What was she getting herself so worked up over? Aaron hadn't been himself before he left. Something had been bothering him, I could tell, which didn't make me all too keen on seeing him sooner. I knew he wouldn't be executed. He wasn't that stupid, so I was in hurry to run along to his side and aid him. Not until I receive an apology first.
My harshness towards my brother must have shown on my face. Mace reached over and grabbed my hand before shaking it forcefully and giving me a glare.
"Snap out of it little fox," he barked calling me by the nick name that only Dorian was allowed to call me by. The nerve of him. Ever since we'd been taken by Dorian that night he had been the only one allowed to call me little fox since my mind was constantly thinking of ways of escape. Just like I was doing now. I was thinking of a way that I could escape from answering Mace's statement while dismissing him at the same time. I hadn't invited him into my quarters and wanted nothing to do with him then.
"Well I best be getting to bed then, since we've an early departure and all." Merry said standing and collecting her things before sweeping her skirt out before her and prancing towards the door. There was quite a lightness to her step as she nodded goodbye and walked out of the room. She was certainly happy to be leaving. Un-like some of us.
"Shouldn't you be going to bed as well?" Mace stated leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head.
"Are you my guardian?" I replied dully. I began to fiddle with the sash around my waist as Mace cocked his elbows and folded his hands together in front of him while slowly tapping them against each other. A habit I hated thoroughly.
"Come now Alecian," Mace said gently with a small laugh as if he were addressing a child, which I most certainly was not. "Lets not be cross."
"Mace I should ask you to be so kind as to shut the door on your way out. I'm sure you can find it on your own." I replied standing from my chair and walking behind it to grasp the edge.
"No need to be so rude Alecian." He muttered standing as well but more abrupt than I had. His chair fell back behind him but he ignored it. I raised my eyebrows and stared towards the fallen chair. Certainly he wasn't expecting me to pick it up. Without a word he turned and picked the chair up before properly replacing it in front of the table. He sighed deeply and clutched the back of the chair mimicking the motion I was doing before turning and crossing towards the door. I watched him hesitate in opening it and I could see him thinking something over. I didn't want to know what it was going to be.
Swiftly, he turned from the door and strode across the room before grabbing my arms and kissing me. I was shocked beyond belief and had no idea how to respond. When he had kissed me earlier on the streets it had been soft and sweet but also wild and dangerous as we had a show to put on, but now that he was kissing me without reason, other than his own lust, I had no idea how to respond. I was confused and shocked and utterly clueless. It wasn't like I had many men to bed, I hadn't any because of Dorian so I really had no practice in that area and wasn't quite sure what to do. Of course being Mace's lover was far from what I wanted at any point in my life.
My hands moved up his chest slowly before landing on his shoulders. I forcefully, but gently, pushed him away from me and gasped for air. I had to admit that he was quite a good kisser.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself." Mace said softly into my ear before taking a few steps away from me and staring at me the same way he always did when men flirted with me in the common room. Lust and jealousy mixed together with yearning and want. I was use to having him look at me that way. I was the thing he desired desperately yet couldn't have. There were far to many complications keeping him from me, besides the fact that I'm not emotionally attracted to him. Oh I may be physically attracted to him like crazy, but his short temper and jealousy are not things I could handle.
"We can't do this Mace." I replied trying to ease the pain of rejection towards him slowly.
"Why not?" he asked with a light laugh
"Because you're not of proper status" I hadn't meant to say that out loud. It was a slip of the tongue. Something that had flashed into my mind in an instant, something my mother would have said.
"Of course." Mace replied moving away from me while holding my hands and staring at my face with realization and harshness easing across his own. Oh no. I'd done it now. "I hadn't realized you were above me so. My apologies miss."
He'd hissed the last sentence towards me before bending down and kissing my hand. Turning he strode towards the door again and pulled it open forcefully, letting it slam against the wall. I couldn't let him leave without an explanation first.
"Mace, let me explain." I called out after running towards the door and leaning on the frame. Mace stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to face me. His face was full of anger and disbelief that I had rejected him.
"If you have anything else to say that will completely destroy my honor then you might as well say it where everybody can here you." He spat holding his arms out and addressing the empty hall. If anybody had been listening they were smart enough to leave or get out of view of Mace.
"It's not that I rejected you or your status, you stubborn ass of a mule, or any part of what you've offered. I didn't mean it like that, I just don't have time to concentrate on a lover when my brothers life is at stake." I tried to control my voice but could feel it getting louder with every word. "I'm not willing to take the risk of having my feelings get in the way while doing this. If I am to sleep with men while in Corus then so be it, but I do not need somebody judging me the entire time and wanting more attention than I can give them. You are but my cousin from this moment forward Mace. So please respect me as you would your kin." I said walking towards him with every word I spoke before I stood in front of him, glaring as well.
The other thieves were smart enough to hear a lovers quarrel and stay away from the hallway. Though we weren't really in a lovers quarrel, but there was no reason for them to know the truth and have Mace's honor spat upon like he suggested.
"I would not have pressed you for—" Mace began before I interrupted him by placing my hand gently upon his mouth in order to calm him down. It seemed to work so I began to speak.
"Mace. You are the worst lover known in this rogue. You cannot stay with a women because you stray and even when you do, you become a possessive, jealous, monster that nobody wants to be around. I have no time for that right now. I love you as a brother for all these years that you've put up with me and helped train me through everything. I love you as I do Dorian or Aaron. But I don't love you in that way, yet, and I don't have the capacity to try and love you at the moment. I know that you shall be here for me at the drop of a hair pin, that I will always have you to come back to. So please, don't force me into something I'm not ready for. The outcome would not be something we'd be able to live with."
My words seemed to get through to him. Of course I believed and meant every word of them. I loved Mace as a sister would love her brother, and I'm sure one day he will most likely be the man I marry and I will learn to love him as more than kin, but that day is not today. I have no time to worry about him now.
"I understand Alecian. I'll wait for you." Mace whispered removing my hand from his lips and giving me another kiss upon it. He turned and swiftly moved down the hall before disappearing down the stairs. I sighed deeply and turned back towards my room. Of course he would wait. He will always be waiting. I meant what I said, he will always be there for me. Mace is the boy who would kill his true love if I were to return and confess my feelings for him. He is the one whose heart I will always have and who secretly has mine though I don't know it yet. Those types of relationships always tend to be the hardest and most complicated.
Mace had been right. The next morning we left at dawn with just the minimal amount of supplies and clothes. We stood outside as the cool mist surrounded us and the dew began to cling to the grass bidding Dorian goodbye.
"Be safe little fox." He whispered into my ear as I hugged him forcefully. I didn't want to leave him. He had been my home, my shelter, my guardian these past years and I was going to miss him dreadfully. I haven't been apart from him for more than a few nights since the day I've met him. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to be able to handle this.
"Just think of what you have to accomplish little one." Dorian said giving my head a kiss as he embraced me in yet another hug. I forced myself not to cry and I could see he was having a hard time controlling himself as well. "Maybe I'll surprise you by showing up as your uncle and showering you with so many gifts the men with fall head over heels in love."
"Well it won't be much of a surprise since you've already gone and told me." I blubbered as a few tears fell from my face. Dorian caught them in his hand as they left my face. He gently closed his eyes and brought his fist up to his lips, kissing it softly.
"Do not cry my fox. I shall see you again shortly. If all goes well this shall be over before midwinter." He whispered kissing my forehead again.
"If all goes well." I muttered softly wrapping my cloak closer around my shoulder and shivering in the cool morning air before turning towards my company and mounting my white steed.
"Do not think such unpleasant thoughts little one." Dorian shouted after me as I kicked my horse into a trot and followed behind the others that had already began to leave.
"Or what?" I called with a slight tease in my voice as I turned and smiled towards him.
"Or Mithros will be upon you like the plague!"
"And we need all the help we can get, no?"
"Of course we do!" Dorian yelled laughing. I smiled and turned back towards the company who had stopped at the edge of the street and waited for me. With a shout I kicked my horse into a trot again and caught up to the rest of them. They turned and rode along beside me as the five of us wound our way through the city following Bursch and his complicated way out.
"Where are we going?" Merry whispered towards me as she was the closest person to me at the time. "I could've had us out of the cities ages ago."
I stifled a laugh and simply rolled my eyes. Men. They never bother to stop and ask for directions or simply let a women lead. That was so typical of them.
We rode for three days south until we came to the boarder of Scanran and Tortall. Bursch said it would be easy getting through without being seen. I highly doubted he was right, but as I had never crossed the boarder as a thief while a war was brewing I hadn't much place to talk.
He had been right. We'd gotten across the boarder without much trouble at all. All we had to do was bribe a few of the guards from Scanran into letting us cross and we were over. They had tried protesting and wanted to trade some of their belongings for Merry and I, but we refused and Mace almost cut their tongues out for suggesting such a thing. Bursch was deeply disturbed over the actions of the boys, they'd all drawn their swords and almost got the alarm sounded, and had hurried us across while swiftly informing the guards that we were already betrothed to powerful lords who were waiting for us to return from Tortall with our wedding gowns, and therefore weren't up for bargaining.
After we'd crossed the boarder we traveled for two more days before winding our way through a forest and coming across one of Bursch's fief's that he neglects to inform the King and Queen of. Smart move if you ask me. Who would want to have to pay taxes on more than one fief for Mithros sake?
We were going to be staying there for a few days while Bursch collects proper clothing for everybody, added to the things he already had stashed away in his house. Merry and I made our way through the mansion following the few servants Bursch had, those he trusted of course, towards the room we would be staying in.
We reached a large wooden door that we stood in front of for quite some time while the maid, who was aging as well, slowly pulled her large ring of keys out and proceeded to try and find the one that fit. Merry had to stifle a laugh after quite some time and eventually I volunteered to help the old woman. She kindly accepted and I found the right key in moments. Actually I had spotted the key the instant she'd pulled the ring from her pocket and had been waiting for her to eventually get to it. The wonders lock picking can do for a person.
I pushed open the door and gasped at how large the room was. It was lavishly furnished as a sitting room for any noble lady and reminded me of what my quarters had looked like when I was younger and still living with my mother. I slowly walked through the room, as the old woman showed Merry the small servants quarter off to the side of the sitting room, and ran my hands upon the smooth edge of the couch and chairs. The fabric underneath my hands felt warm and comforting. Somebody had been anticipating our arrival for they had lit a fire which made the entire room rather toasty.
Seeing another set of large wooden doors I walked towards them. On the other side were my sleeping quarters where another fire had been made as well. I backed out of that room and returned to the couch which I sat upon and waited for Merry to emerge from her own rooms.
"Isn't this lovely." Mace said standing in the doorway and looking around my quarters with a smug smile on his face. He had been passing by my rooms and had suddenly stopped when he spotted me. Typical. Now he was roaming my room inspecting everything and whistling in approval. "Nice room." He muttered.
"Jealous?" I hissed in a teasing manner. I had passed his rooms as well and noticed that they weren't as large as mine. Of course he and the other boys were all sharing one sitting room and had separate adjacent rooms to it so they didn't have nearly as much room as I possessed.
"Never, my dear cousin." He whispered in my ear moving about the back of the couch swiftly. He knelt at my side and crossed his arms over the arm rest with a sigh before plopping his head onto them. "I'm famished. We should see about getting something to eat."
"You're always thinking with your stomach." I muttered brushing his bangs from his face which always bothered me but refused to trim. I should sneak into his room sometime while he's asleep and cut them off myself. That would teach him a thing or too, would it not?
"I'm a growing boy. Of course I think with my stomach." He replied snatching my hand from its work and holding it in his own. My eyes trailed down towards his own as I met the strong gaze he was aiming towards me. Why must he challenge me this way?
"We've a bath ready for you miss." A small voice said coming from the doorway. Glancing about, I snapped from the trance Mace had somehow bestowed upon me and saw a girl, who looked no older than seven or eight, standing by the door waiting. I felt a blush on my neck and cheeks as I turned away from Mace and cleared my throat. I wasn't about to let him think he'd gotten the best of me. "Unless you'd like me to return at another time."
"No, that won't be necessary." I said interrupting the young girl who looked a bit startled at my outburst. "My cousin was just leaving." I turned and glared towards him with my eyebrows raised and a smirk upon my face.
Mace smirked in reply and stood while planting a kiss upon my forehead. "Of course. We want you to clean up, don't we? You've been smelling like a barn for days now, I was afraid I'd have to plug my nose soon."
"Very funny." I replied with a smile while hitting his over his head. Mace could tease me all he wanted but he smelled just as bad. Nobody had had a bath since we'd left the inn a week ago and we were all dying for one. I was happy I was going to be receiving the first one of course. A hot bath was exactly what I needed to rest my aching bones. "I'll be sure to save you some hot water Mace."
"Miss?" the girl said in an almost whisper. I turned and looked at her quickly before blinking and realizing she was still waiting for me. With a nod I stood from the couch and followed her towards the warm bath they had drawn, determined to rid Mace and any romantic notation he might have, from my mind.
A/N : Woo-Hoo. Finally a new chapter. hmm, i dunno how i liked the way this ended up. The relationship between Mace and Alecian is suppose to be a complicated one. She really doesn't want anything beyond friendship and he's suppose to realize that after a while. Men are complicated after all, but I'm not saying their relationship is going to stay that way. Most likely it will change so don't worry and all honesty I haven't even introduced the main love interest in this story. Hehehe, I'm so mean.
Hope you all enjoyed this new chapter and I hope I stayed true to the style I was writing this story with. Since it's been a while feel free to complain all you'd like.
Thank you for all the reviews!