Capitolo Sei
"Alecian, I'd like you to meet somebody" Jerome said stopping me as yet another knight asked me to dance. I was about to politely refuse when my 'brother' thankfully came to my rescue. I excused myself from the knight and took the elbow that Jerome held out to me as he escorted me across the room. I nodded and smiled toward those knights that I had previously met and danced with as we conversed on our walk.
"You're breaking their hearts" Jerome muttered through his teeth that were set in the fakest smile I had ever seen him wear. A few girls that he nodded too swooned and fell into a huddle of whispers and giggles.
"As are you dear brother." I muttered in reply raising my eyebrows toward him with a giggle. My feet were killing me from dancing and I was thankful for any break. I wonder what bone head he was going to introduce me to next. He seemed to appreciate getting as many people surrounding me at once so I'm unable to argue with him on the possibility of leaving the party and going in search of Aaron with the rest of them.
"Alecian, may I introduce you to the heir to the dukedom of Rains Sight. Duke this is my younger sister Alecian of Mounts Creek." Jerome introduced me to the man we had stopped in front of. I looked up through the few pieces of hair that had fallen out of my up-do as the breath caught in my throat.
The person standing in front of me was none other than the mysterious man who had caught the attention of every person there hours earlier. The man seemed struck himself. He blinked a few times before finding his composure, around the same time I did, and bowing towards me. I curtsied as was required and let the man take my hand in his and he kissed it lightly.
"It's my absolute pleasure to meet you." He whispered in a deep seductive voice. I thought I was going to loose myself at that moment. I'd never heard a voice so calm and intimidating at the same time. Here was a man who commanded power and didn't have to use violence to get it. People literally fell over themselves to do his bidding. I'll be damned if I become one of them though.
I looked around the room and spotted those women who were already whispering behind their fans and pointing rudely towards our trio. I would show those gossiping women that I would not be won over by this man's fashion and power.
"Might I inquire as to the next dance?" the Duke asked as he held his arms out towards me. My mouth fell open in a gap as I fought for the right words to say. Bursch had drilled them into me and I had been using them all night, yet they seemed to escape me at that moment. I stared into his deep blue eyes and blushed at my own mind which was wandering to very explicit and adult type images.
I turned to Jerome as if he held the words that I needed to speak. He nodded toward me and smiled at the Duke as he flipped his head toward him. He saw that I was literally lost as to what he was trying to say and interrupted for me.
"She'd love to. She was starting to feel ignored from having sat out these last few dances. Weren't you Alecian?" Jerome said turning towards me with a wink.
"Oh, yes, of course. I wondered if I was beginning to turn into a troll or had grown a few years from my time on the dance floor that I was no longer wanted by any men." I muttered finding my voice again and turning away from the Dukes eyes. They were going to get me in trouble I could already tell.
"Shall we then?" The duke said as he held his hand farther out toward me. I wrapped my arm through his and let him lead me onto the dance floor as the couples around us moved to give us room.
The Duke placed his hand on the small of my back as I picked up the corner of my dress with my own. I felt the skin beneath his hand begin to warm from his touch. My stomach did a flip as he pulled me closer than allotted and held my hand firmly in his own.
As tall and handsome as he was he moved gracefully around the floor. I couldn't help but stare at his face from its beauty. He really was breath taking and mysterious at the same time.
"Are you enjoying yourself this evening Alecian?" The Duke asked as he spun me around the dance floor. I could see the jealous girls watching us from the side lines. The Duke had not danced with anyone yet that night, not that I had been watching, and here I was allowed the privilege of his first.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" I responded breaking from my own thoughts of triumph.
"No need to be so formal," The Duke laughed as he pulled me slightly closer. I could feel the heat radiating off of our bodies as my heart sped up. I thought it would win a horse race from the way it was taking off. The Duke was definitely having some weird affects on my body.
"But I was raised on formalities. I know nothing else." I smiled in returned and thought I'd given a pretty case closed response. Apparently I hadn't.
"Both of us know you weren't raised on formalities all the time. I imagine you were the type of girl, and possibly still are—"
"Good Duke, I am anything but a girl." I interrupted him with a flutter of my eyelashes. The amount of chest I had popping out of my dress ought to have been enough evidence of that for anyone, including the position the Duke was in, to see that.
"My apologies, I was being presumptuous. Do forgive me." The Duke replied. His face was solemn and serious but I could see that he was enjoying our small banter. There was a small twinkle in his eye and if I looked hard enough I could almost imagine him winking towards me.
"Of course, all is forgiven and forgotten. Please continue your previous sentence as I interrupted you." I replied with a smile. I was quite enjoying myself with the Duke.
"As I was saying, I imagine you were the type of—person—who roamed around your fief and got into all sorts of trouble. Playing tricks on the cook or stealing the neighbor's cat. Those sorts of things and what not." The Duke grinned. If only he knew the half of it.
"And why do you assume I was a horrible trouble maker." I questioned with a grin.
"Oh not a horrible one, never a horrible trouble maker, just a particularly fun person to be around, someone who always come up with ideas which landed everyone else in trouble." The Duke smiled as he turned me around the floor.
"Oh really?" I smiled secretly.
"Am I right? Or even particularly close?"
"I don't know if that deserves an answer."
"Why not? It's a perfectly legitimate question."
"According to whom?"
"According to me."
"And what makes you so special?"
"Why I'm a Duke of course."
"Heir to a dukedom, not quite there yet."
"Well once my father gives me half of his land I will be a Duke."
"Well when that happens then you should come visit me and I will answer your question for you."
"I don't see how that's fair."
"I don't see how it isn't?" I grinned winking towards him. "So tell me of yourself, now that you've diagnosed my childhood. Tell me how the great Duke of Rain's Sight grew up."
The Duke laughed before bowing as the dance ended while I curtsied. I didn't want to finish our conversation just yet and apparently neither did the Duke. "Shall we retire to the balcony to continue our conversation?" he asked as a few other knights began to walk closer, seeing that I was finishing up.
"Of course." I murmured as I his hand grazed mine before I settled my own hand into the crook of his arm. I saw the sour looks from a few of the girls around me but I merely smiled toward the Duke and followed next to him. "As I was saying, what of your own childhood?"
"My childhood? Well my childhood is nothing of particular specialty." The Duke replied as he began to walk across the balcony and further into the gardens.
"Well we've already been over mine, so please tell me something interesting that will keep me awake." I joked.
"Is my conversation boring you m'lady?" The Duke asked.
"Of course not, if it was I wouldn't have agreed to another dance."
"Ah, so you enjoy my company."
"I enjoy it as well as I enjoy any other knights company."
"Surely I entertain you more than those boring drools do."
"That is quite beside the point my good Duke, you are getting far too off topic." I smiled.
"And what was the topic?"
"Your childhood."
"My childhood? Well it was nothing special."
"You've already said that now would you please continue with your explanation."
"Well let's see. I grew up with my uncle and his wife because my father has been ill for quite some time. My mother passed away when I was born and my father never remarried. I quite liked horseback riding, hunting, charming gorgeous young women at fancy balls," he said causing me to smile.
"Oh? And how many of these young women have you charmed recently?" I asked lifting my eyebrows in question.
"A few, I have them spread out around the country so they don't find out about each other."
"Well if I'm merely one of your conquests then perhaps I should find a lonesome young knight who has no poor soul to swoon over his sword." I said turning from him and making to go back inside.
"That would be quite a shame if you were to do so." The Duke said grabbing my hand and stopping me from turning back into the ballroom. He pulled me back toward him and cradled my cheek in the palm of his hand. My heart was racing faster than it ever had before and my stomach was alive with butterflies.
My palms became sweaty as the Duke pulled me closer toward him and bent his head toward me. This was different than the times I had been kissed before. I had never experienced a kiss like this before. There seemed to be lighting bolts going off in my head as I felt his sweet but passionate lips against mine. The Duke was strong and tender at the same time which sent a wave of lust storming throughout my body.
The Duke pulled away from me with a smile on his face. "I don't see how any of those knights could compare to me."
I pulled farther away from him and studied him for a second. He was quite and arrogant little bastard wasn't he? He couldn't have been much older than the knights themselves, perhaps three and twenty or four and twenty. It wasn't like he had much room to talk.
"Well aren't we quite proud of ourselves." I hissed at him before turning and walking back toward the ballroom without him. If there was one thing I could not stand was a man who was arrogant and conceited. Mace was the exact same way. He thought women were suppose to fall all over themselves to worship his body with their own and do his every bidding.
"Wait, Lady Alecian come back." The Duke yelled after me and he ran to catch up. I could move extremely fast if I wanted, even in a full length dress with petticoats and everything.
"You are an arrogant bastard who needs to be kicked a few times." I yelled toward him before pulling out of his grasp that had taken a hold of my upper arm. I stormed inside the ballroom and was just in time to see Mace and Christian slip from the room, un-noticed to everyone else but me.
"My dear where have you been?" Bursch asked with a scowl on his face as he walked up to me. I glared toward him before composing myself and placing a calm smile on my face.
"Nowhere father, just stepped outside for a bit of fresh air and the Duke here was polite enough to accompany me." I added as the Duke caught up to me, out of breath, and bowed toward my father. "I'm feeling a little bit light headed from all the dancing though so I think I shall retire to my room for the evening."
"Perhaps you'd like me to accompany you, Lady Alecian?" The Duke asked. I turned to look at him with a small glare which was wiped away as fast as it was placed there.
"No need good Duke, I'm perfectly aware of the location of my quarters, though I do see some lovely ladies who are dying for a chance to dance with you this evening. Time is of the up most importance of course, you might want to indulge them while you can. Adieu to you both, father I will see you in the morning for breakfast." I smiled and kissed Bursch lightly on the cheek before curtsying to the Duke and making my way hastily from the room. Stopping only to deny a few knights the honor of a dance.
I walked into the hall in time to see Mace disappear around the corner at the South end. I nodded toward the few guards that were stationed there and began to quickly walk toward the same direction he had walked. Every time I turned the corner I saw just a glimpse of Mace to know which was he was going.
He was walking awfully fast and seemed to be getting lost as he circled around many parts of the castle and went past the same spot several times. I was to the point of giving up when I passed an alcove several feet under the main level of the castle and quite close to the dungeon and was grabbed from behind by two strong and powerful arms.
One hand clasped around my mouth and the other went around both of my arms and chest. I recognized the arms that had wrapped themselves around me. I sighed and stopped struggling as Mace released me and turned me to face him.
I glared at him in return as he crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.
"What are you doing Alecian?" he asked as if he were my father punishing me.
"I just wanted to help." I hissed as I stepped out of the alcove and looked around. I had no idea where we were. I was truly lost in the castle now.
"We've told you to stay behind. You're doing your part by following orders." Mace replied as he grabbed my wrist and began to lead the way back to civilization. I sighed and followed since he would be able to force me and, while wearing the dress I was wearing, I would be helpless to do anything.
"I suppose your right." I muttered lifting my eyes to the ceiling and acting like quite a stupid person. "That Duke did seem to be all over me tonight. Perhaps I should go back and ask him to escort me to my room after all. Or perhaps we should go to his instead."
Mace stopped walking and turned to face me. I knew that would get him riled up. He grabbed both of my upper arms and pushed me against the stone wall behind me. He pressed his lower body against mine as his lips hovered above my collar bone. My breathing increased which only caused my breasts to become more inviting toward him.
"Would you dare to sleep with him?" Mace murmured against my skin as he kissed my neck and traced my jaw line with his lips. I gasped at the feelings of his warm lips against my cool skin and closed my eyes in pleasure. I turned and bit down lightly on Mace's earlobe before releasing him and whispering in his ear.
"Control yourself cousin." I replied. We stood there for a moment breathing heavily before he slowly peeled himself off of me and held his hand out toward me. My eyebrows rose toward him before I took his hand and let him lead my down the hallway.
A few minutes later there came noise from behind us. We turned and saw Christian and Jerome running down the hall towards us with frantic looks on their faces.
"What is going on?" I hissed as the two sprinted past us.
"Guards found us, they didn't get a good look but their after us. Distract them will you!" Jerome yelled as he continued to run toward the upper levels of the castle.
I looked around frantically for something that would distract the guards from the two guys. The only thing I landed on that would be even remotely useful was Mace. So I did the only thing I could think of doing.
I grabbed onto the collar of his tunic and pulled him toward me in a passionate kiss. He was startled for a second before he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer towards him. I could feel his tongue against my teeth asking for entry into my mouth but I wasn't about to go that far. This was Mace after all and I didn't have feelings for him beyond the physical lust and friendship. He on the other hand wanted something entirely different.
"Beg your pardon, sir." Came a voice from beside us.
Mace and I sprang apart instantly. I ducked my head away from the guards so they couldn't tell who I was in the dim lighting but only knew that I was a women. Mace turned toward them and spoke in low murmurs. He told them that he hadn't seen anybody pass by them and that perhaps they should return to their posts instead of running off in the middle of the night looking for ghosts.
A few minutes later we continued on our way to the upper levels after Mace convinced them that we were innocently lost and that I had gotten so scared I needed him to comfort me. One thing led to another and that was how they found us. I wanted to deny everything but knew that I had to take on the role of the weak, scared, pathetic woman. Which I played off perfectly until we were far enough away that I slapped Mace for egging the guards on.
We reached the upper levels again and were surprised to hear loud voices shouting. Of course it was far past the late hour when the ball should have been winding down and those drunken men were starting to rouse from their stupor and stumble back to their rooms. I held onto Mace's hand extra tight just in case some lunatic looking for an easy bed mate should come stumbling up to me.
Instead of that, which I would have preferred, we ran into the Duke and the young knight Warric. I curtsied and nodded towards both of them though I undoubtedly avoided the Dukes eyes as Mace greeted them as well.
"We were just on our way back to our quarters." Mace explained.
"Really?" the Duke stated turning toward me. "Weren't you headed that way half an hour or so ago?"
"I got lost." I muttered towards the Duke with a small narrowing of my eyebrows. Nobody would have noticed but the Duke and he did indeed notice.
"I see. Perhaps I should have escorted you after all." The Duke smiled knowing he was getting the upper hand.
"Perhaps. Thankfully I ran into my dear cousin here." I murmured placing my hand in the crook of Mace's arm again and smiling toward the two men.
"Aren't you most fortunate." The Duke muttered staring toward me. I lifted my eyes toward his which was a mistake. They became locked onto his and I knew I was not going to be the first one to look away. He was challenging me and I never backed down from a challenge.
"Well we're certainly thankful that you weren't lost in this maze of a place." Warric joked. "Perhaps you would do me the honor of accompanying me to lunch in the gardens tomorrow afternoon?"
"What?" both Mace and the Duke, who looked away startled, said at the same time toward Warric.
"There's a lunch being held in the gardens tomorrow afternoon and I was wondering if lady Alecian would like to attend with me. Perhaps meet some of the other ladies that are here." Warric said again as the two other men narrowed their eyes a little bit before turning towards me to await my answer.
I saw the angered looks on both the Duke and Mace which made me want to teach them both a lesson. I turned toward Warric with a sweet smile on my face. He was a nice kid and deserved a chance every once in a while. "I would be delighted to accompany you tomorrow. It sounds like a wonderful occasion."
"Very well then," The Duke murmured having removed his gloves and slapping them over his forearm. "I bid you all good night and will see you in the morning." He bowed toward the two men before taking my hand in his and giving it a lingering kiss. His eyes never let mine as he did this before he smiled and left the three of us.
"I shall send someone to call on you in the morning then." Warric smiled and nodded toward Mace. "Goodnight,"
Mace and I bid him good night before turning and walking toward our quarters.
"Why in Mithros name did you do that?" Mace hissed once we were far enough into the corridors that no one would hear us.
"Do what?" I asked innocently as I spotted the door to my room up ahead. If I could only reach it without having Mace blow up like a fire then I would be safe.
"Why did you agree to lunch with that knight?" Mace hissed pulling my arm back and stopping me in my tracks.
"Because it's harmless, something you know nothing about apparently." I hissed in return pulling my arm from his grasp.
Jerome and Christian came up to us that moment and clapped Mace on the back.
"You're sure they didn't see who you were?" I asked.
"No way they could have. The lighting was so dark down there that it was nearly impossible for us to see anything in front of us." Christian said.
"We found him though. He's in one of the last dungeons on the very last level." Jerome stated.
"That's going to be difficult to break into." Mace muttered.
"We'll find a way." Jerome shrugged. "We have to."
I nodded in agreement before biting my lip in worry that we wouldn't.
"Oh by the way, Thanks for the distraction back there, both of you." Jerome said bending over and catching his breath.
"Yeah, what did you two do?" Christian asked staring between the two of us.
"We do what we usually do to distract people from hunting you down and gutting you like a fish." I smiled and disappeared inside of my bedroom before they could dwell on what I said and retort.
A/N : Well i suddenly remembered that I had a story on here so I was urgent to update. I just spent two hours straight getting this chapter out because i felt so bad. Hopefully there are some of you out there who are still devoted fans and knew that i would eventually come back to all of you wonderful people! Thanks to everyone who constantly nagged me to update. I love you all too. Hope you like this chapter and I can honestly say there will probably be between 7 - 9 more chapters. Not as long as my other stories by a long shot, but this is what i have in length for my outline. So do enjoy.
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews / nags!
Previous A/N :
Um...hi.
How is everyone doing today?
We're going to have a shot authors note really quickly before I post the next chapter
Shocker, I know.
There is more to the story. It doesn't just end.
I want to truley and deeply apologize to everyone for the sixish month break of this story. I've had massive writers block and have also been working on my other stories. But suddenly i was sitting in the student union at my college and ideas sprang into my mind for this story. So I'm back to writing it. Mostly because I just want to write the ending which I love. tee hee, I know most of you guys are going to hate me for the ending, but that won't be for a while.
The reason for this authors note is this. I don't know how to incorporate the characters from tamora pierce into this story. other than using her basic time period, cities, etc i don't know how to make her characters involved because everything that i have has to do with my own characters. so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. in another week this will be taken down and replaced with the new chapter.
Thanks to everyone whose been sticking in there with me!
Kelyn