The feast began with a loud and boisterous applause. Nathan introduced him to the town as his top knight and advisor instead of as a possible candidate. Eliot did his part and laughed because he really wasn't too sure he could contradict the idea anymore. In fact, he was starting to feel like it was true. It certainly felt true the way the town greeted him with open arms. He could probably even enjoy it.
The food was the traditional pig complete with apple in mouth. There was bread pudding by mandate and seasoned peaches that were just to die for. The mead was called the finest in the land and the entire bash had everybody laughing and dancing in delight.
Nathan, on the other hand, seemed distracted. He was constantly looking around the room in search of something. He didn't eat a thing and commanded everyone to go on without him. He even paid more attention to the door than the court jester. The only time he even smiled was when Parker appeared by his side. She set an apple in front of him with a crooked grin. Eliot wasn't very surprised to find that it was the apple from the pig's mouth. It was apparently her gift to steal right under everybody's noses. Sophie appeared at Eliot's side and delicately sat down.
She and Nathan refused to speak to each other at all but the King was suddenly smiling like a fool. Eliot rolled his eyes and tried to enjoy his food.
"So Sir Spencer," Sophie began in a low husky voice, "What brings you to Blacklands?"
Eliot choked on his slab of meat and looked up at the woman in astonishment. Brown eyes stared back at him undeterred. In fact, there even seemed to be disgust and amusement. He knew what the disgust was for. He wasn't too certain about the amusement though.
"I'm sorry?" Eliot asked. He didn't really know what else to say. He could feel the King's eyes on them. Sophie seemed oblivious to them.
"Why are you here?" Sophie shrugged. She very pointedly didn't look at the King. That was odd. Why would she be avoiding the King's gaze? And why was the King capitalized in his mind?
Eliot shrugged and didn't answer. He didn't want to give one and he didn't like nosey people. He just wanted to enjoy his food and relax in his nice, warm bed. His spare room for the night, it was not his room permanently.
Sophie sighed and stared puppy eyes at him. He knew they were puppy eyes because he could see them out of the corner of his vision. She was making it very hard to avoid her. That was probably her plan too. Why was it so important to know what he was up to? Unless… No, she couldn't be working for Moreau. He was just imagining her whole eye poppy thing. Yeah, she was just curious. That was all. There was nothing sinister going on about the fact that she was staring at him with puppy eyes in hopes of an answer that he didn't want to give but felt like he had to when she kept looking at him like that.
"Would you care for a dance, Ms. Devereaux?" Nathan held out his hand for the lady to take.
Sophie looked somewhere between scandalized and completely exhilarated. Her eyes started darting towards the knight in confusion and her mouth stood agape for a bit. She quickly shook her head and nodded with a polite smile. She carefully held out her delicate hand and began to rise. She threw Eliot a longing look and then happily entered the dance floor with the King.
Eliot stared after the two in confusion. He was pretty certain he was hit with a freight train named Sophie Devereaux. What was that look about? Why was she so nervous around the King? Didn't they hate each other or something? What was with this crazy town and why did he want to stay?
He was about to get up from his chair when Parker appeared out of nowhere. He jumped at her presence and looked around in awe. Where did she come from and how did she get there so silently? Was she part fairy? She might have been. She certainly had the right awkwardness to her.
"So where are you from?" Parker asked with a forced smile. He knew it was forced because he could see her gums. Only children told to smile by their parents did that. She was up to something.
"What do you want?" Eliot grunted towards her. He didn't feel like answering another round of questions. He was here for the food and the place to stay. He was not going to live here permanently. He just needed to convince himself of that. That was all.
"Sophie wanted me to talk to people and you're new," Parker shrugged. She didn't really seem to want to talk to him. She just seemed to be waiting for an opportunity of some kind.
"Hardison's by the mead," Eliot nodded over to the scientist. The thief's eyes immediately found the man and she smiled brightly. Even her eyes lit up at the sight of him.
"Thanks," she practically screamed into his ear.
He shut his eyes on reflex and missed the part where she left. He found her over by the scientist a second later. He blinked and they were on the dance floor. She could really move fast. She had to be a fairy. Nothing else explained her fast, catlike movements.
He watched the people of Blacklands dancing and celebrating in his honor. They all looked so happy and free. He was even smiling at their happiness. In fact, he enjoyed watching them be happy. He even welcomed it. That was a bad sign. He was starting to get attached to this place. He hadn't even been there a whole day and he was already thinking about calling it home. That was just wrong.
The young man was about to get up leave before he couldn't anymore. He even stood when the King appeared by his side. Nathan plopped into his chair with a sign of fatigue and disgruntlement. Eliot sat down beside him again and lifted up his drink. He knew he was in it for the long haul now. He was already waiting to advise the King without command. Yep, he was screwed.
"Sophie seems quite taken with you," Nathan sighed.
Eliot choked on his mead. Did he hear that right? How could he possibly have the interest of anybody, he had only just gotten there?
"How do you suppose that?" Eliot asked. He wasn't exactly sure what else to ask. There was something about the way the King said it that suggested he was saddened by it. It was like he actually wished he wasn't having the conversation.
"She spent the last two dances asking about you," Nathan explained bitterly. His voice sounded rough and hopeless. It was as if someone had kicked his puppy and laughed about it.
Eliot frowned at that. There could only be a few reasons why anybody would ask about him for two dances. Plus, that woman had recognized him the moment she heard his name.
"What did she ask?"
"Oh, stuff," Nathan muttered in a poor mood. He pushed around the food on his plate in disinterest. He hadn't eaten anything since that apple the blonde thief, Parker, handed him before the dances began. "Where you were from? What you were doing here? How long you were planning on staying here? That kind of stuff."
Eliot grimaced at that. That was exactly how you went about getting information about someone you recognized. You found the highest power of authority you knew and you subtly grilled them about it. There was only one person who would dare send a spy after him. I should have known Moreau wouldn't let me go, he thought bitterly to himself. Sophie was a spy for Moreau, that was the reason she kept trying to drag him into a conversation. She was looking for answers that didn't exist. She was going to give away his location to Moreau.
"I can see you are just as interested," Nathan sighed. He sounded suddenly depressed by the notion. That was odd.
"Intrigued, your majesty," Eliot admitted softly. He was already planning a counter move for her next play. Two could play at this game.
"Nathan," the King replied. He apparently wasn't depressed by the situation enough to stop insisting on that. Eliot was relieved. "Call me Nathan. Just because you have her interest does not mean that I should treat you any differently from my other loyal subjects."
"Thank you, Nathan," Eliot smiled at the touching statement. He never thought he would ever be given so much trust. He was going to do everything in his power to keep it. "You have no idea how much that means."
"Just so you are aware," Nathan's voice suddenly turned cold. The knight turned towards him in confusion. "If you ever hurt her, I will personally end you."
Eliot blinked at the warning. Nathan gave him a wink and immediately started smiling and acting like his usual baffling self. His eyes were colder and his enthusiasm wasn't there, but he was keeping up appearances. The knight watched as his King faked cheerfulness and joined the dance floor once again. Eliot swallowed and thought over the warning again. There was more to the king's relationship with Lady Devereaux than met the eye. It was something exploitable on her end and diabolical on his. Eliot would have to tread lightly. Once false step, and he could lose the trust of his king and his home.
Speaking of the Devil, there she came. Sophie Devereaux popped out of the crowd and started marching towards the table with a delighted grin. She delicately placed herself in the chair beside him and laughed. She took a sip of wine from her untouched glass and took a deep breath.
"You're missing an incredible dance," she said.
Eliot just nodded his head and tried to think up an escape route. He needed to get out and fast. She was going to work on spying some more. He couldn't handle that. He wasn't sure what he would do. Of course, he could probably get information about Moreau out of her. That would be very helpful.
"Would you care for a dance while you're quarrelling over whether or not to ignore me all night?" Sophie asked quietly. Her brown eyes were staring into his soul and her hand was held out in invitation. There was a soft smile on her face that he knew was forced. She wasn't happy with his presence any more than he was happy with hers. Odd, Moreau must have used something precious to her to get her to spy for him. It was kind of sad really.
Eliot groaned at what he was about to do. He took a deep breath and grabbed her hand.
"I would love nothing more than to dance with you," he said. Her eyebrow twitched in frustration. She could probably tell he wasn't all that enthused by the idea. She could also probably tell that he wasn't going to be an easy sell for her con.
The knight took the offered hand and allowed himself to be placed on the dance floor. The music immediately changed. Just his luck, it was a waltz. He rolled his eyes at his fortune and drew the woman closer to him. She smiled at his hesitance and decreased the amount of space between them. That was exactly what a con would do.
"What are you thinking?" Sophie demanded in a breathy moan of a voice. It was playful but hinted at something more. She was definitely an agent for Moreau.
Eliot grinned and leant forward until he was right beside her ear. He wrapped his arms around her in an intimate way and blew some air on her neck. He then calmly and clearly spoke into her ear.
"How much I don't want anything to do with you," he said in the sexiest voice he could muster. And he could muster up a sexy voice. "I don't want your tricks and I don't want you in my business. I'm not here to cause any trouble. Don't make yourself my enemy and I won't make you mine."
Eliot pulled back and saw nothing on the woman's face. There was no emotion there. Her face was blank and her eyes sparkled with danger. He smirked.
"Understand?" He asked.
Sophie just nodded her head and grinned. She seemed unusually content with that statement. He could swear that he even saw relief there. He was suddenly certain he was missing something. Maybe he spoke too soon.
"Glad to hear we're on the same train of thought," Sophie said.
She left as soon as the song was finished. She raced towards the thief and beckoned her away. The pair of women left with a small wave and a gentle curtsy. Hardison looked crestfallen and Parker looked on the verge of misery. Nathan and Sophie both stared at each other for a moment. The King nodded and the women were gone.
The King rose from his royal chair and clapped his hands together. Everything immediately stopped for him. Apparently he was the King now.
"I believe it is time for the party to end," he announced, "Have a safe night and I expect to see all of you again sometime soon. Good night and God bless."
Then he left. Eliot watched after him with narrowed eyes and tried to figure out what just happened. Did the King even eat? Why would the party end the moment Sophie and Parker left? What?
"It's time to go," Hardison whispered into his ear.
Eliot spun towards him in confusion. He totally was not getting this. Was it normal for the entire kingdom to leave when asked? Hell, was it even normal for the King to bid his people good night?
"We've got a lot of work to do in the morning and the town won't go to bed until he does," Hardison shrugged, "I'll explain everything tomorrow. I'll be knocking on your door at dawn by the way. Be ready to go because I do not enjoy waiting."
%
"Wakey, wakey eggs and bacon!" Hardison shouted through the door.
Eliot groaned. His head ached and the sun wasn't even up yet. Why did he have to get up so early? It wasn't even dawn. He was specifically told dawn.
"If you don't get up soon I'm coming in there," Hardison said, "And I do not want to see you in your birthday suit!"
Eliot rolled his eyes and got out of bed. He only danced to one song and it was a waltz. Why did every bone in his body ache? He didn't think he had enough mead to get him hung-over. Did somebody put something in his drink? Wait, he had a few pints at the Tavern too. Yep, he got wasted.
"Hurry up, please!" Hardison knocked on the door.
"I'm coming," Eliot called off. Ooh, his head hurt on that one. That really was good mead.
The knight shuffled to the door in the first pair of trousers and tunic he could find. He unlatched the door and took out one of his knives. He dressed himself appropriately and opened the door. He glared at Hardison and his rude wake up call.
"Yes?" He asked. He made certain his voice was once of his toughest growls. He felt the scientist needed him to be a bit grouchy.
"Nathan says he wants me to tailor your suit and show you the ropes around the castle," Hardison shrugged. He didn't even seem deterred by the growl. He acted like it was coming from a kitten. It actually sounded like a Lion thank you very much.
"Seriously?" Eliot asked, "What more do I need to see?"
"Nothing," Hardison shrugged, "He just wants you to take a look at the dungeons and fix them for Parker. They're too easy for her now."
"I thought you said I had to get my suit tailored," Eliot was confused. He had to wake up early to get tailored and to check out dungeons. Wait a minute! "I have to fix the dungeons because Parker's bored with them?"
"That's what Nathan says," Hardison pushed against a wall and a door popped up. Eliot rolled his eyes. Apparently all the walls could do that.
The scientist walked in side and beckoned the hitter within. Eliot took a deep breath and followed. He was amazed by what he saw. The wall room consisted of two long tables covered in bottles of every colored liquid imaginable. One of them even glowed. There were a few skulls of animals around but nothing human. That was good. Voodoo was not one of the scientist's jobs. At least not the human kind. There were smells of wide variety wafting every which way. One moment the knight smelled skunk and the next he smelled a rose garden. He hoped his nose would adjust to the smells soon. Then he followed the scientist to the back of the room. There was a chest of drawers and nothing else. He probably slept in this room too.
"Here we go," Hardison announced proudly. He was holding up a thing of knotted string and marching towards him with a smile. Man was almost as fast as Parker. That was creepy.
"Let's just get your measurements so you can go take care of the dungeons," he hummed.
Eliot rolled his eyes and reluctantly held out his arm. Hardison smiled and took his time measuring everything. Well, not everything. He ignored the area of manly bits and just decided to wing that measurement. Eliot was grateful for that. He didn't want to attack him on his first day on the job. Dammit, he promised himself he wouldn't take it. Oh hell, he wasn't even fooling himself anymore.
"You're free to go," Hardison said. The scientist stood up and directed him towards the door. Pushed would be the better word. In fact, Eliot wanted to ask something about the two women and was face to face with a wall. He shrugged at that and went towards the dungeons.
It turned out that he really didn't have to do much to the dungeons. He just had to fix the latches to all of the doors and rebuild the rusty gates. He even added a few booby traps just for fun. He figured it would give the girl a challenge. He was pretty certain she would get through it. And if she didn't? Well, that meant it was a good working dungeon. It was a win, win in his book.
The next day was just as uneventful. Eliot pretty much learned the lay of the land and where the library was. He spent most of his day reading up on all of Blacklands history. It turned out to be a pretty good tale. Nathan's family won it in a battle against the Dragon. The kingdom was the prize in a fight to the death challenge. The Dragon obviously lost in the battle. That was impressive.
The maps were nothing new to him. Eliot had been learning to read maps off of Blacklands since birth. It was exciting to learn the new things but nothing much had changed. All he really needed was a refresher course and he was done. He spent most of his day just reading. It felt righto study up on his King. He even read about what happened to the King's son.
Sam died in a tragic accident involving a horse and a wagon. Blackpoole had apparently rigged the carriage to stumble and unhitch at high speeds. Sam apparently liked wagon racing and that was his downfall. The autopsy suggested it was quick death though. The doctors said the neck was broken on impact, snapping the windpipe instantly.
Eliot pretty much went to bed in sadness. He alleviated that pain by planning Blackpoole's demise. He had succeeded in killing the wicked man sixteen times when sleep finally took him. He killed the man thirty-six more in his sleep.
%
Nathan and Eliot were walking through town today. It was time for Eliot to learn the norms of the day for the people of the town. Apparently one of his jobs involved filing away complaints and noting differences. It was the most important work he would be doing as the top knight and advisor. Then Eliot saw a wisp of blonde out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw the blonde thief standing by a wagon looking bored. Then she took notice of them.
"Hi Nathan!" Parker waved at the King gleefully and then proceeded to skip towards him and his entourage. Eliot tried to ignore the fact that nobody, including the guards, seemed to find it odd that a grown woman was skipping towards the King. This kingdom was just so unconventional. Then Parker jumped onto Nathan in a hug and squeezed with all her might.
"Parker, you're killing me," Nathan chuckled at the gesture. He didn't really seem to mind being choked to death. His smile just got bigger and bigger. Then Parker released him enough to get his lungs working again. "What's with the extra big hug?"
"I haven't seen you in forever!" Parker shrugged in response. She then politely released the King and slid her arm through his elbow. She bent her head onto his shoulder and the two resumed walking as usual. Eliot paused at that. He thought the blonde had the hots for the scientist. Why is she so comfortable clinging to the King?
"Parker, it's been three days," Nathan smiled at her dramatic statement.
"Yeah which is forever in finger days," Parker raised her fingers and wiggled them in the King's face just to prove her point. The King just rolled his eyes at the childish behavior and started looking around the square. The evil glint was back in his eyes and the blonde's eyes automatically responded by gaining the evil glint as well. Okay?
"It has been a while," Nathan agreed in deep thought. He turned towards his new knight and Eliot froze at the close scrutiny. He didn't like where this was going. He didn't like it one bit especially when the King opened his mouth. "Parker, do you think you could pick up one of Eliot's decorative knives without him noticing?"
"Like this one?" Parker raised a knife bespeckled with rubies, emeralds and gold with bright eyes of mischief. Eliot balked because that was exactly what his decorative knife looked like and he hadn't even felt the thing disappear.
"Yeah," Nathan smiled at the thief's gift, "How did you get it?"
"It was easy," Parker shrugged. She acted as if it were normal to have a conversation about theft with the King. Then again, this was probably the truth. The King was a sketchy guy.
"Show me," Nathan ordered with close scrutiny.
Parker nodded her head and quickly did as instructed. She slowly approached the soldier and then backed away. Eliot moved his hand to his pocket and felt the knife back where it belonged. He stared in bewilderment at the thief's ability and turned to the King in explanation. The King just raised his hand to keep the man still while he watched Parker do her magic. Parker moved towards the soldier and back away again in an instant. The knife was back in her hands and Sophie just so happened to be walking by.
"Parker!" the brunette hissed in agitation of the behavior. Parker immediately gasped and unsteadily tried to return it to its perch. She dropped it a couple of times before she succeeded and Eliot still didn't feel her put it back. She was very good.
"Nice timing," Nathan smiled at the brunette's presence. It was threatening to say the least, "Eliot, arrest Parker for stealing."
"What?" Eliot stared at the King in confusion. Didn't he just sit there and watch the thief steal that thing and put it back twice?
"Don't bother," Sophie rolled her eyes at the King's command. She swiftly picked up her chain purse and demanded, "How much?"
"A kiss," Nathan shrugged in reply. His face was cool and collected while Sophie squeaked in surprise. Parker's eyes grew wide at the bold answer and Eliot tried to shrink away. The tension in their tiny outside circle was incredibly awkward all of a sudden.
"What did you say?" Sophie stared at him with her mouth agape. Her cheeks were a bit flushed at the offer and her eyebrows cringed slightly. Eliot knew that this was what a real blush looked like on the beauty before him. It was odd.
"I said a kiss," Nathan didn't even blanch from the question. He just answered it as if he were having a regular discussion. There was no shame or embarrassment. He seemed quite smug about his toll for the thief's freedom. There was something more at work here.
"A kiss?" Sophie quirked an eyebrow at the challenge. Her features were back to its natural scowl and there was no longer pink to her cheeks. Her game face was back and as dangerous as ever. She seemed just as invested in this thing as the King.
Nathan's mouth quirked into a smile at his own cleverness. "You heard me."
Sophie stared at him defiantly for a few moments and the King politely stared right back. There was a conversation going on to propose just how serious this price was. They appeared to be haggling to Eliot and the slightly younger man didn't know what to do. Parker was in the same position really. She was bouncing on her feet in antsy anticipation of what came next. She seemed almost too interested by it. Again, there was something wrong with that girl.
Finally, Sophie came to a decision. She nodded her head and calmly pouted out her lips. She then quickly placed a chaste kiss on Eliot's cheek and twirled away as if nothing happened. Nathan's eyes grew wide at the play and Parker waved meekly in parting. Sophie paid the price and took the thief away. The King did not look happy in the least. Eliot hoped it wasn't because the woman chose to kiss him instead of well the King.
"I should have accounted for that," Nathan sighed in frustration. His eyes were still glued to the retreating brunette and her blonde side-kick. There was something in the way the older man watched after the women that tugged at the soldier's memory. It was very similar to the way his father looked at his mother before they died.
"What was that about?" Eliot demanded immediately. He was looking for any excuse he could get to keep his mind off of old memories. Old memories led to Moreau and the horrors he committed under his command. Old memories were very bad. "You just stood there and watched Parker take my knife and didn't do anything about it until her friend showed up."
"It's a little game we play," Nathan motioned for them to continue walking. He didn't start his story again until they had really got going on the road. "Parker and I came up with it when we were trying to find a way to bond. She said she liked to steal and I said I liked to keep my people safe from theft. So, we decided to compromise. I would let her steal whatever she liked as long as she put everything back. She said that wasn't nearly as challenging but after a while she was begging me for more fun. Then I realized that she and I both had an enjoyment for…"
"Messing with Sophie?"
"Yes, we'll call it that. Parker and I had a plan. Parker would steal whatever she felt like taking and I would catch her. She would put it back and I would have her arrested. She spent a while in the cells and other odd parts of the castle and I would let my guards know she was a guest and not a prisoner. After a while we decided to up the ante by having Sophie buy her freedom and I would use the fee to pay Parker for her deeds with a little more on top since Sophie had refused my earlier offer of gold."
"It's how you guys hang out," Eliot realized in awe. He had never expected that. He thought it was an interesting relationship but now he knew the truth. It was what got them to unite against Sophie. It kept all three of them on their toes. "That's why Parker is so comfortable at your castle grounds. She's like your little sister."
"Yeah," Nathan smiled at the knight's statement, "After a while she got bored with the cells so we just started having conversations while we waited for Sophie to "discover" that Parker had been arrested again. I've been able to learn just as much about Sophie from those visits as I have about Parker. It's an interesting story really."
"Alright," Eliot nodded at the King's offer, "You'll have to tell me sometime. Right now we should continue looking around town. If I'm going to be your advisor and top knight, I need to know how things function. I'm also going to need to have a look at your bridges. I refuse to let anybody die and if they suck they're going to have to be changed immediately."
Nathan stared at him for a few seconds before a wide grin spread across his face. There was even pride in his eyes. He looked like a King that had just taken the board in a game of chest. He looked like he won the game of life.
"I shall knight you tonight," he announced, "Would you like another feast or do you want to skip that?"
"Skip it," Eliot shook his head, "I can't handle any more of that mead and I have too much work to do without the hangover."
"Done," Nathan sighed. He had a skip in his step again. That was good. "I'm going to have Hardison tell Parker the good news as soon as I get back."
"We don't have to invite her do we?"
"Nope, but she's going to need to know. She likes to hang out in the dungeons and deserves to know who to tell when she gets bored with them." Nathan practically jumped in excitement, "She's going to be so excited that she'll probably steal a whole wagon again. Oh that was hilarious!"
Eliot rolled his eyes and prepared himself for the tale. He couldn't really hide the smile on his face though. He just found home. He could live with whatever it threw at him. It was worth it. He was actually happy. It was a new feeling. He liked it a lot.
That night Eliot was forced into the throne room to pledge his allegiance. Hardison was there as a witness but Nathan didn't like to have a lot of guests at coronations. It had something to do with the fact that he was embarrassed at his own and couldn't deal with the shame. At least that was what he said. Hardison explained later that Sam's coronation was the day he died and he invited everybody to see it. Nathan had decided coronations were evil from then on and pretty much made them a private service. Eliot was okay with that. His last coronation was under Damien Moreau with a blood-tipped sword literally and metaphorically. He liked the new approach. He didn't have to deal with people staring at him. Nathan and Hardison didn't really count as people. Neither did the guards. He was already used to them.