Chapter 13)
For the first time Tredorian woke before Julia, before dawn in fact. He lay awake looking at her and murmured softly. "I am afeared, Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering sweet to be substantial." Romeo's words seemed almost like prophecy and he rose from Julia's bed. Too restless to stay until she woke he left as he'd arrived, by her balcony.
Sabine woke in her husband's embrace and smiled to herself. Slowly opening her eyes she blinked and reached for the dagger under her pillow. 'I'm getting soft in my old age.' She thought to herself as her eyes narrowed suspiciously on the dark haired girl sitting in the chair across from the large bed.
"Hey," the girl greeted her easily, even though her eyes dwelt on Sabine's hand under the pillow. "I'm Faith. Raden sent me."
Sabine sighed and brought the dagger out, holding it loosely in her hand. "What is Raden's favorite color?" She asked her voice still carefully neutral.
The grin the girl gave her was positively delighted if a bit wickedly sexy. "Purple." She gave the password correctly and then tilted her head, soft dark hair falling over her shoulder. "It's not really though, he likes black best."
"I know." Sabine said wryly. "I remember." She slid the dagger back under her pillow and smiled for the first time that morning. "Well Raden certainly sent his best." She observed.
"I don't get it." Faith shook her head after a minute.
Sabine's smile grew wider and a bit resigned. "This is the first time I haven't woken when someone entered my rooms." She told the girl softly. "I've always woken, even if it is one of Raden's dual guild."
Faith looked impressed and then slowly a hint of pink suffused her cheeks. "Cool." Was all she uttered, as if embarrassed to realize what Raden had told her long ago. 'Your skills rival those of the queen.' He'd said once when he was training her.
Sabine watched the thoughts chase over the girls face and took in more about her in the moment of silence between them. Faith was easily Asrai's height, but looked a bit older than the princess. Her hair was so dark a brown it was nearly black and her eyes were the same deep hue. Her skin was creamy but with a slight olive tone to it, and her deep red lips and high cheekbones increased her exotic look.
Her clothing was much similar to what Sabine had worn in Raden's service. Black leather cannons that laced up the sides and front, a black leather vest with a deep v neck and no shirt beneath it. The leather must have been warm from the flesh beneath it for it clung to every curve of Faith's mouthwatering slim hourglass figure.
Sabine realized she was growing hot and damp between her legs looking at the girl and sighed slightly. Closing her eyes and controlling the heat within her she finally opened them again to find that Faith had been surveying her in much the way she'd been looking the girl over. A wry grin curved her mouth as she turned slightly and tapped Amon.
"Love, wake up." She commanded gently and got no response. Her hand closed around his bicep and shook him slightly. "Amon, wake up dear."
Her husband's breathing changed and she felt his arms tighten around her. "Why?" He asked sleepily with a warm tone to his voice she recognized. His body pressed up to hers as a groan of desire rose in his throat and the hot length of his sword pushed against her backside. "I like it right where I am." His hands moved under the blankets and Sabine's breath caught in her throat.
In a not completely steady voice she told him, "Because we have company." At that his eyes flew open and he rose on one elbow to look about the room and caught sight of Faith. His need for his wife had not abated at her words but she could feel his attraction to the girl hit his body as well as every muscle tensed. "This is Faith."
"I'm Asrai's watcher." The girl told them cheerfully, her dark grin informing them that she was quite aware of how Amon's hands were moving around under the quilts.
"Damn." Amon didn't seem to feel any other response was necessary as he began to try and check the desire that had risen on sight of the girl.
His wife sighed. "We couldn't get lucky forever." She told him resignedly. "Think of the fun it will be taking it out on me." Her low honey voice teased. Amon groaned laughingly and his hands tightened on her body in response. Sabine turned her attention back to Faith. "If you'll excuse us Faith?" She said delicately, her eyes indicating the door.
"Why?" Faith grinned at her wickedly and her eyes fell to where the quilts dipped over Sabine's breasts and then roved over Amon's wide shoulders and muscled arms. Faith had heard a lot about the king and queen. Raden's files alone made for very interesting reading, though he'd have a fit if he knew she'd been in them unsupervised. And the gossip about Amon and Sabine's bedroom habits, stamina and appetite was like icing on a cake.
"Because he is my husband, and I am his wife." Sabine said tartly, though not unkindly. "And we don't share with someone we've only just met."
Faith stuck her lower lip out as if trying a pout on for size and found it had no effect on the two adults in the bed. With a sigh as if being much put upon she rose and left the room. "No fun." They heard her muttering teasingly under her breath.
"Wait in the sitting room. We'll be out in a bit." Sabine told her as the spy assassin left.
"How long is a bit?" Amon asked his wife, turning her towards him and placing her hand upon his now very hard member. Before she could answer he covered her mouth with his in a hungry kiss.
"Long enough." Sabine said breathlessly when he released her mouth. Long fingers stroked and caressed him eagerly. "For us, long enough." She smiled and pushed the quilts off her body and was rewarded with her husbands groan of delight as he covered her slim white form with his.
Sebastian poked Andreas in the shoulder idly. "Andreas, do you mean to stand in the doorway and block it all day long? Should I seek another entrance to breakfast?" Andreas forced a smile to his lips and moved aside, allowing his younger brother to see why he had stopped dead. Sebastian grinned. "What a wonderful way to begin a day." He said merrily. "Lady, you are a vision of dark delight."
"Do put a rein on your tongue Sebastian." Their mother's voice bade him crisply. "And move aside to allow your sisters entrance."
Sebastian simply grinned at his mother and kissed her in greeting, nodding cheerfully to his father as he continued to gaze at the bewitching girl who sat next to Sabine.
Lorelei and Morgana entered the room and while they were obviously surprised to see the newcomer both of them managed a polite greeting. The dark haired girl rose as if restless and pulled a dagger from her sleeve, tossing it from hand to hand. In spite of the fact that he knew his parents could defend themselves Sebastian tensed and tried to relax before his suspicions showed.
"Oh you don't have to worry about me Sebastian." The girl drawled in a husky voice. "If I'm not harmless at least I'm not harmful to your family." Andreas whistled in admiration as she stretched and deep dark eyes looked at him sultrily. "Oh I think I'm goin' to enjoy this." She declared.
Sabine hid a smile of amusement and rose to take the girls arm. "I would like you all to meet Lady Faith." She said formally. "Faith is to be Asrai's Watcher." A couple distinct groans were heard and Sabine heard Amon chuckling behind his hand. "Need I remind you of the rules concerning the Watchers of your siblings?" She asked.
"Rules?" Faith looked at her and licked her lips as if whetting her appetite. Her gaze flicked over the king and then the queen again and she smiled. "What rules?"
"My children are not allowed to have sex with any of their sibling's Watchers. Their own if they so desire, but no one else's." Sabine said baldly. Faith took her lower lip between her teeth for a moment consideringly and Sabine, in spite of the twist of heat the girl was rousing in her, added. "The rules also apply to Amon and myself." A wry smile twisted her lips. 'And never before have we been tempted to break that rule.' The queen thought to herself.
From the look in Amon's eyes as he glanced at Faith and then at his wife, Sabine could tell he was thinking the same thing. "We'll leave you five to get acquainted." The king announced as he rose from his chair and strode towards his wife. Tilting her chin up with a gentle finger he kissed her passionately and scooped her up.
The queens delighted laughter trailed behind them as the king carried her off to their private quarters.
Faith looked at the four royal siblings. "Are they always like that?" She tilted her head curiously.
"No." Lorelei muttered. "Sometimes they're worse." She sat down with a thump in her chair and rolled her eyes in embarrassment.
Sebastian grinned. "They've been caught…" His grin grew wicked as he glanced in the direction his parents had gone. "They're still madly in love."
"Passionately in love." Morgana corrected him in her dreamy voice, a smile on her lips. "I think its sweet."
Faith turned and looked in the same direction as Sebastian and then turned back to them. "Too bad about those rules, but even I won't defy Amon and Sabine." She grinned. "I'm going to find your sister." She tucked her dagger away and smoothed her black leather cannons. "See you later."
"You know where she is?" Sebastian asked eagerly and Lorelei came to her feet in excitement while Morgana and Andreas both snapped to attention.
"Not at the moment." Faith shrugged. "Give me a couple days. You'll have her pinpointed." She strode out of the room, her hips swinging sassily.
Asrai opened the door to the theatre and looked up at the light in the loft where Tredorian wrote. It was still dark and the sun barely rising over the edges of the city. She shook her head and began to straighten the chairs and sweep the floor of the pit.
Ned arrived soon and regarded her with a small smile. "Did I do anything for which I owe you an apology Asrai?" He asked. "I believe I remember the last night clearly but I do like to be certain I behaved like a gentleman."
Asrai grinned at him in what was, in Ned's opinion, an entirely too cheerful manner. "All you did Ned, was beg me over and over to go to bed with you. You kept saying you would make sure I'd enjoy myself." She shrugged. "Its very flattering since I know you'd never have asked me if you weren't drunk. But you didn't do anything…forward except hold my hand a bit."
"Damn." Ned grinned shaking his head. "I was hoping I'd stolen a kiss at least. I must be losing my touch."
Asrai shook her head and blushed. "No, the kisses were stolen by someone else." She muttered and absently tugged the kerchief off of her hair.
"Yes, your lovely dark admirer." Ned teased. "Did she follow you home?" He asked.
"Oh stop." She began and stopped speaking as the rest of the company began straggling into the theatre. Most of them were holding themselves very carefully, as if their heads weren't quite attached. Those who were well enough teased her about the girl who'd kissed her so passionately but to their regret found Asrai remembered more about their own foolish behavior than they did of hers. She shook her head over them and went to get a bucket of water. Carrying it in one hand and a mug in the other she went silently to each one and offered the mug and something from a pouch. From the expressions of her victims the taste was noxious.
"What is that?" Sam, ever suspicious, asked warily.
"Hangover remedy." Asrai told him succinctly. "My grandmother swears that it will work on humans. And she's dealt with rangers who stumbled into elven midsummer festivals and drank feywine."
Sam blinked and obviously didn't understand half of what she said but he heard 'remedy' and 'hangover' and took the drink.
Ned grinned as he took his drink and raised an eyebrow. "Midsummer festivals?" He asked.
Asrai blushed. "Grandmomma said humans think they are fertility rites."
Fenneyman staggered into the theatre and saw the bucket. "Bless you child." He took it and dumped the water over his head. Asrai blinked and handed him the mug. Wordlessly he drank, made a face and then sat down as if exhausted. "What shall we do with no Romeo?" He asked and Henslowe clapped him on the shoulder.
"It will all work out Master Fenneyman." He said with irritating certainty.
"How will it?" Fenneyman looked up with the hope of a child.
"In this case, it is no mystery." Henslowe grinned. "We'll get Tredorian to play Romeo."
"Will he do it?" Asrai asked. "Really?"
"He will if he wants this play to go on." Henslowe said firmly.
"Why doesn't Sam take the part?" Asrai asked curiously. "He's taller than I am, by a bit anyway, and he looks young enough to be Romeo." Sam almost looked hopeful for a moment but Henslowe shook his head.
"We need Sam where he is, in case something happens to you." He told her. "Sam is our understudy."
"If you'll gather around, I'll tell you how our story ends." Tredorian said quietly entering the stage area. "I have the pages, the play is complete." His manner was not celebratory.
"You look awful." Asrai told him bluntly. "Didn't you sleep?"
He shook his head and with a weak smile tugged at one of her curly locks. "Sit here and listen." His manner, so calm and without bombast, was strangely compelling. Even Sam's usual peevishness was stifled.
Tredorian stood before them and said almost gently. "We know that for killing Tybalt, Romeo is banished." He tapped one of the pages Ned held. "But the friar who married Romeo and Juliet."
"Me Tredorian?" Edward asked.
"You Edward." Tredorian nodded. "The friar gives Juliet a potion to drink. It is a secret potion, making her seem dead. She is placed in the Capulet tomb, but will awake to life and love when Romeo comes to her side again."
Henslowe nods his approval as several of the actors murmur admiringly. The look of dismay on his face is almost comical as Tredorian continues.
"I have not said all." Tredorian's dark eyes were stern. "By Selena's tears the message goes astray which would tell Romeo of the friar's plan. He hears only that his wife is dead. And he goes to the Apothecary." He nodded at Fenneyman. "You Master Fenneyman. And he buys a deadly poison. He steals into the Capulet tomb to say farewell to his beloved, who lies cold as death. He drinks, he dies at her side. And then she wakes and sees him dead. And she takes his dagger and kills herself."
Henslowe looked fascinated and then appalled. "Well that will have them rolling in the aisles." He groaned.
Fenneyman murmured with tears in his eyes. "Sad, and wonderful. I have a blue velvet hood which will do well… I've seen an apothecary wearing just such a hood when I first came to the city as a lad."
Ned nodded with a faint smile. "'Twill serve." He looked at Tredorian. "But there's a scene missing between marriage and death." He touched Asrai's hair. "Perhaps our lady will help you to write it." Asrai looked up at him with tears in her eyes and smiled shakily.
"Should Tredorian wish it." She murmured brokenly, much affected by the melancholy tale they'd just heard.
"I should enjoy the help." The writer agreed and extended a hand towards her.