2 comments/ 19528 views/ 4 favorites Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 01 By: ptm As the knight rode through the gates of his brother's castle, he tried to see if anything had changed since he'd ridden out five years before. His attempt was foiled by the darkness of the clouded night and he wished he'd followed his squire's suggestion that they wait until the dawn to enter the palace but he felt he'd been away for too long and couldn't bear even that short delay. As they rode into the main courtyard, the light of the two torches by the main entrance to the palace spilled over them and a sleepy stable hand came to collect their horses. They dismounted but when his squire made to head towards the main door, he shook his head and motioned for the younger man to follow him. Together, they made their way around the main building until they reached a small side entrance that was secured by a plain lock. Lifting a chain from around his neck, he used the small iron key to unlock the door. Turning to his squire, he murmured, "Make your way to your old quarters, and don't rouse anyone." "What about you? Shouldn't I see you settled first?" demanded his squire in an undertone. With a slight grin, he replied, "I'll manage. Besides, I have to greet my mother and brother before they retire for the night." The squire sighed and nodded before moving off. Once the younger man was out of hearing distance, the knight added to himself, "And I've got to see if she's changed at all." *** The prince leaned back in his chair and straightened the papers on his desk. It was close to midnight and his sight had begun to blur from exhaustion. His father's death a few short weeks previously had landed him a host of new responsibilities and despite the assistance his mother had tried to give him, he couldn't wait for his brother to return from his journey as a knight errant. He had probably made his own life more difficult in the short term because he had called the love of his life back to his country despite the machinations of the various court factions who had been trying to divert his attention with one beauty or another since her departure the day after his brother left. In the long term, she was going to save his sanity, so he was willing to put up with the problems her return had precipitated. He was just pushing his chair back when the hidden door in the back corner creaked as it swung open. With a smile he rose to his feet saying, "I've just finished for the night, love. I'll be with you in half a minute." "I know we haven't really discussed this in any detail, brother, but I am not a lover of men and even if I were, it would be wrong," replied a familiar but unexpected voice. The prince spun around with a glad cry and swept his brother into a bear hug, pounding his back exuberantly before gripping his shoulders and holding him at arms' length. Unable to control his emotions completely, he managed to whisper, "Gods, I've missed you Seth. I'm so glad you agreed to come home, I need your help." "I've missed you too, Zane," replied his brother, a catch in his voice. The prince watched as his brother struggled for composure before he continued, "You look tired, brother. Why aren't you looking after yourself properly?" *** When she saw that the hidden door was open ahead of her, she paused before she heard two familiar voices in her love's study. Entering the room on silent feet, she overheard his brother's comment and felt compelled to defend him. "It's not Zane's fault, Seth, leave him alone," she murmured, crossing the room to her love's side. As soon as they heard her, the prince released his hold on the knight and came to meet her in the middle of the room. Raising her hand to brush his mouth across her knuckles in a brief kiss, he added, "It's hard work taking care of a kingdom, and our father left a bit of a mess when he died." She allowed him to keep her hand while she waited for his brother's response. When it came, she found herself grateful for his compassion for his brother. "Tell me what I can do to help," ordered Seth, there was a determined expression on his face and his hand gripped the pommel of his sword unconsciously. "I left the tournament as soon as your messenger found me. I was surprised to hear that you had returned though, Tamara." She blushed under his appraisal and moved closer to her love. Gathering herself to meet his gaze, she lifted her head and replied, "He asked, I came." For her, it was as simple as that, despite the fact that many in her love's home didn't like her. Whatever her love needed that was in her power to provide, he would get. Her love's brother nodded and then his expression became wary and hopeful all at once. "Did Narelle come back with you?" he asked softly. Shaking her head in amazement, Tamara replied, "Oh Seth! She never left. Father was most aggravated when I returned without her but she said she had to wait." *** Reading the stunned relief in his brother's eyes, Zane released his love's hand so that he could wrap his arm around her waist. Pulling her closer against his body, he murmured, "Let her be for tonight, Seth, she'll be at breakfast in the family parlour in the morning. In the meantime, you have to speak to Mother before you retire tonight." At his mention of their mother, his brother's expression cleared to one of eagerness. "Do you think she'll still be awake?" he demanded. "I pushed our horses as much as possible today but it's still got to be close to midnight." Nodding, he replied, "She'll be awake. I told her that I expected you very late tonight after I received your last message and she swore she'd wait up." He struggled for a moment, trying to figure out how to prepare his brother for this meeting and finally drew a deep breath. Softly, he told him, "Seth, she's had a rough time these last five years. Losing you..." His voice trailed off and he didn't know how to continue. "Losing you broke something inside Grace," finished Tamara. She slipped her own arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze before she turned her attention back to his younger brother. "Narelle wrote to me frequently and kept me updated but I was still shocked when I arrived a week and a half ago. Your mother looks old now. Her hair is white as snow and her face is lined with worry and pain that my sister said started to show in the months after you left." Zane felt moved to defend their mother and interrupted with, "She does what she can to help me with the mess father left. And I'm sure your return will lighten her heart a great deal. Just... be prepared, okay?" He waited for his brother's reply and when Seth nodded, he breathed a sigh of relief. Turning towards the hidden door, he added, "Take the tunnels, they're faster. Tamara and I are going to spend half an hour together before we retire so we'll see you in the morning at breakfast." He received another nod and the three left the study. *** Seth stood behind the secret door to his mother's sitting room and debated the best way to alert her to his presence. Finally deciding to surprise her, he slid the panel across and crept into the room. Hearing sounds from her bedchamber, he stole across the sitting room and snuck a look through the open door. His mother was seated before her mirror, brushing her hair and humming quietly to herself. The colour of her hair shocked him despite the warning Tamara had given him, the pure white so different from the rich brown it had been before he left. Unable to wait any longer, he called, "Mama, I've returned." The brush slipped from her fingers and she spun on her stool to face him. Noting the new lines on her face, he took the necessary strides to stand before her. Leaning over, he brushed a kiss on her cheek and murmured, "It's really me, Mama, and I'm really home." A tear trailed down the side of her face as her mouth lifted in the sweet smile he always associated with thoughts of home. "Seth, my darling baby," she cried flinging her arms around him and burying her face against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rocked her until she stopped crying. Releasing her, he said, "I wanted to see you tonight before you retired, but I should go now, you need your rest." His mother appeared ready to protest for a few seconds and then resignation flowed into her expression. "I may not need my rest, but you certainly do after your ride," she conceded. "We will speak more tomorrow." He nodded, brushed another kiss across her cheek and left the room. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 02 As Tamara and Zane moved through the tunnels to the private courtyard reserved for the royal family, they quietly discussed how they had passed their day. After a few short minutes, they emerged into a walled garden that held a single bench seat covered in cushions. They sank onto the seat and snuggled up together, she resting her head on his shoulder and he wrapping his arms around her to hold her close. Enjoying the quiet of the garden, they kept their voices to a murmur even as the subject turned to Seth's arrival. "He looked tired," Tamara commented, idly running her left hand up and down his sculpted chest and abdomen. Brushing a kiss over her temple, Zane replied, "It's caused by nothing more than the ride today. He'll be fine in the morning." "Good," she whispered, turning her face up to brush a kiss over his lips. Accepting the end to that conversation, he shifted her until she was sitting on his lap, her hip nestled against his swelling groin. Bending his head, he began to nibble on her bottom lip until she opened her mouth and their tongues danced together in a familiar tempo. While their mouths were busy, he brought his palm up to cup her right breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple until it pressed against the fabric of her bodice. She wriggled in his embrace, freeing one of her own hands to unlace the neck of his shirt and pull it to one side. She pulled away from his lips and began to kiss over his jaw and down his neck. Throwing his head back, he gasped, "I thought we agreed not to do this again." "You got all noble and said we wouldn't," she chuckled, nipping his neck lightly before licking the bite to soothe the sting. Lifting her head, she added, "I said we should since we did this before." She went back to spreading kisses over his collar bone while she ran her hands down to the waist of his pants and began to tug his shirt free. *** Zane felt like his cock was about to burst as Tamara's fingers brushed against his stomach. Closing his eyes, he tried to remember why they couldn't continue down the road to fiery bliss. Her fingernails scored the skin at his waistband and his body jerked in response. He raised his head to look down at her dark curls and remembered why he didn't want to take her to his bed. Gritting his teeth, he shifted his hand from her breast to frame her throat and pull her mouth from his skin. "Your father," he groaned, when she slipped her hand inside his pants to cup his hard cock. Twisting her nose in a cute expression of irritation she breathed, "What about my father?" She leaned against his hold and he felt her curls tickling his skin, sending ripples of sensation down his spine. "He promised to kill me if I took you again," he grunted when her fingers tightened around his cock. Her smile sly, she told him, "It's a good thing I'm taking you." Before he could react, she slipped from his hold and pulled his pants out of the way. He felt her curls brush over his cock in a brief caress that was followed by the rasp of her small tongue against his blood-red head. He bit his lip to keep from crying out in joy when her mouth engulfed him and her tongue began rub against his most sensitive skin. Sliding his hands into her hair, he gripped her skull with a strength that was barely contained and began to push her head further into his lap. If he'd thought her mouth was bliss, he couldn't find enough words in his mind to describe the tight, moist massage that her throat gave him as she swallowed him down. With a groan he allowed her to ease back before pushing her head down once more. As the flames in his body rose he became rougher with her, pushing her faster to the point where he felt her choking as his balls tightened and he pumped his seed down her throat and into her stomach. After a brief pause to catch his breath, he pulled out of her mouth and lifted her back into his lap. Resting her against his chest, he rubbed his hand up and down her back until her breathing had evened out. "What about you?" he asked. *** Leaning her face against Zane's chest, Tamara hid her smile when she heard his question. She must have done a good job at distracting him if he hadn't noticed that her hands had been occupied with something other than his oh-so-tempting self. Rubbing her hands against the sides of his shirt, she tried to wipe away the remnants of her juices from her own climax. The taste of bliss he had given her before she'd left his castle five years before had awakened her sexual appetite and, once home in her father's kingdom, she had found ways to feed that appetite without the assistance of another. Though not as strong as the climax she'd achieved when they last engaged in full intercourse, the peak she'd driven herself to while pleasuring him had been higher than any achieved on her own. Lifting her head, she took his lips and mouth aggressively before replying, "I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking." "Tamara," his grim tone stilled her fingers which had begun to wander down his side. Forcing innocence into her expression while she continued to caress his skin, she asked, "What?" "I told you your father said he'd kill me," his breath hitched on the last word when she shifted and brushed against his flaccid groin, causing it to stir. "Tamara! He had his sword out and was sitting on the back of that demonic black thing he calls a mount." His mention of her father's sword made her fingers still. Her father owned one sword. It had been a gift from a wizard in return for sanctuary from a group that hunted the man. The skilled magician had spelled the sword and, once unsheathed, it had to be fed blood before it could be put up again. Her father never drew it unless he was going into battle or taking a blood oath of some kind. Sighing, she slipped from Zane's lap and helped him set his clothing to rights before offering him her hand. Twining her fingers through his, she said, "Now that Seth's home, can we please get married? I don't want to wait to have your services at my disposal again." "We'll discuss it over breakfast," he replied shortly. She would have been insulted by him trying to avoid giving a direct answer if it hadn't been for the way he used his free hand to adjust the front of his pants. Smiling brightly, she followed in silence when he tugged her in the direction of the tunnels. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 03 When the cocks began to crow with the dawning of the sun, Seth eased away from the window where he had been looking out over his brother's land. He knew that his mother would not have risen yet but he decided to see if Zane was already in the breakfast room. Before he left his chambers, he checked to make sure that his practice gear was ready for use after the morning meal. In near silence, he passed through the common halls of the palace, nodding briefly to the servants who were already hurrying about their day. After descending to the ground level of the palace and walking across the great hall, he knocked briefly on a door before entering the chamber that had been used for family meals since he was knee-high. Although he saw and acknowledged his brother and Tamara, as soon as he entered the room his attention was captured by the dark curls that cascaded over the shoulders of the slim young woman loading a plate with food at the sideboard. The colour of her dress was a cool forest green and he wanted her to turn so he could see if her eyes were still the same colour. "Narelle," he breathed taking a step towards her. Her shoulders stiffened for an instant before she lowered her plate to the sideboard and turned to face him. With her head bowed to the floor, she murmured, "Welcome home, Prince Seth." Stunned by her apparently submissive demeanour, Seth's gaze sought his brother's and he tried to telegraph his feelings of confusion and helplessness. *** Leaning back in her chair, Tamara bit her lip to stifle the bubble of laughter that was rising in her throat. Although they had spent the last five years apart, she and her sister had frequently exchanged long letters full of gossip and sisterly discussion. Through those letters, Tamara had learned of Narelle's growth from a teenager into a young woman. The sisters had been close as children, with just three years separating their births they had been best of friends as well as sisters and not once, in her little sister's entire life, had Tamara seen Narelle act in such a stereotypically feminine way. Not even when their father discovered that the two of them had ridden his prized war steed against his orders when they were ten and seven respectively. She stared off into space as she reminisced for a moment and then blinked the memories away. As enjoyable as those carefree days had been, she had a feeling that the present was going to be just as entertaining, especially if her sister intended to lead Seth on as merry a chase as she suspected. *** Narelle saw her older sister's expression of barely concealed amusement and shook her head. She knew what her sister thought -- that she, Narelle, was faking shyness in an attempt to snare Seth's attention. Gritting her teeth, the younger woman only wished it were an act -- she was truly intimidated by the knight's presence. It had been five long years since his departure and over those years, she had come to realise that no other held her fascinated admiration the way Seth did. Even when they had all played together as young teenagers, she had felt like a sunflower always turning her face to catch the rays of his approval and casual affection. When he'd argued with his father a few short weeks before his departure, she'd been the one to lend a sympathetic ear as he ranted about his parent's rigid disapproval of his plans. She had waited patiently until he had calmed down and then offered her opinion, though it had almost torn her heart in two when she convinced him to leave on his journey regardless of his father's edict against it. The day of his departure, she had been unable to stifle her impulse to wrap herself around his body and raise her face to his. When he had responded by dipping his head and pressing an ardent kiss to her untried lips, she had been shocked into letting him go and retreating behind her older sister. Caught up in her confusion, she had missed seeing him mount up and ride out the gates, coming back to herself only when her sister had grabbed her hand and led her back into the castle. Staring at the floor of the breakfast room, Narelle wondered how she was going to talk to Seth like a normal person when all she wanted to do was curl around him like an affectionate kitten. *** Quickly deducing what was going on in the heads of his three companions, Zane broke the tension building in the room by rising to his feet and leading his love's sister to her seat. Placing her plate in front of her, he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly before turning to his brother. Waving a hand at the sideboard, he told Seth, "Help yourself, Cook's skills haven't diminished since you've been gone and she somehow heard you were back." "What do you mean?" asked his brother. Zane was pleased to note that despite his uncertain expression, and the frequent glances he kept throwing at Narelle, the knight was already piling a plate high with food. Taking his hand as he returned to his seat, his love replied for him, "She prepared all your favourite dishes for breakfast. None of us are all that fond of steamed fish for breakfast but there's plenty in the tureen over there." Deciding that his brother and his love would do well enough chatting together, the prince turned his attention back to his love's sister who was now moving her food around her plate rather than eating it. "Calm down, Rella," he told her in an undertone. His use of her childhood nickname made her look up and meet his eyes with a spark of her more customary spirit. "I promise not to let him hurt you," he told her solemnly. He saw her lips twist in a wry smile before she whispered back, "But can you stop me from hurting myself?" Giving her question the consideration it truly deserved, Zane fell silent for a few moments as he ate several bites of his breakfast. "Honestly, no," he finally replied, holding her green gaze with his own steady eyes. After a breath, he added, "But I can tell you that I believe that won't happen either." He watched a dimple appear briefly in one of her cheeks before he turned his attention to his love and his brother only to find the latter scowling at him. *** Tamara had been ribbing him about the amount of food he'd served himself when he abruptly cut her off with a growl. His brother had made Narelle smile -- twice! The girl wouldn't even look him in the eye but seemed perfectly willing to chat with his brother who was engaged and shortly to be married to her sister. Jealousy dug its claws into his heart and he wished for something bad to befall his brother -- soon. Perhaps then Zane wouldn't have the time to distract Narelle and he might get the chance to sort out what was going on between them. In the five long years since he'd left, the memory of her limbs wrapped around his body and her untutored lips under his mouth had helped keep him sane through some very trying times. If he hadn't had the memory of her warmth on that occasion, and the hope for more of the same in the future, Seth didn't think he would have had the will to continue fighting for survival during a few of his more horrific battles. He wished he could break through the wall she had built between them while he'd been away. Knowing he didn't want to risk breaking her at the same time, he promised himself that he'd be patient and wear away her reserve rather than batter it down as his impulsive side desired. Switching his scowl to his plate, he concentrated on finishing his meal while he tried to ignore the hurt he felt when, after a slow start, a conversation grew between the other three occupants of the breakfast room. *** Standing outside the open door to the family breakfast room, he shook with a barely controlled fury. The bitch was back, or she had never left. The evil woman who had caused his years of misery by banishing him from his home was sitting there as if she belonged and would never leave. Well, he'd just see about that. He'd make her rue the day she made a mockery of his life. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 04 After they finished their breakfast, the four went their separate ways. Zane returned to his desk in his suite. Seth strode off to hunt down his squire. Narelle went to spend the morning socialising with the other young women of the court. Tamara wandered out to the corner of the main palace gardens she had claimed as her own. None of them saw the figure lurking in an alcove down the hall from the breakfast room. None of them heard his quiet oath as he turned away and stormed out to the stables. *** Tamara's thoughts were burdened by the realisation that she didn't know her sister as well as she thought. When Zane had risen to escort Narelle to the table, she finally realised that Narelle's subdued response to the returned knight was not an act. She pressed her lips together behind the veil that she wore in public in deference to the customs of her homeland. A memory rose of the way the younger couple had parted -- or rather merged with one another -- before Seth's departure. More, she remembered the expression of surprise and almost fear that had raced across her sister's expression. Narelle had pulled away from the knight and practically run back to Tamara. In that moment, her sister had grown from girl to woman and the change had not sat comfortably within her. Tamara finally reached the little arbour covered in trailing jasmine where she spent at least an hour each morning. Entering, she whispered a small spell for privacy, one that had been passed down through her family for generations. Content in her solitude, she seated herself comfortably on the carved bench. Closing her eyes, she set her mind to puzzling out precisely what was going on between Seth and her sister. *** Although he spent nearly an hour searching for his squire, Seth was unable to find him. The younger man was not in either of their quarters, the stables, the kitchens or amongst the various gatherings of the court he came across as he searched the palace. As he passed one such gathering, a low comment consumed his attention. "Our prince has been bewitched by that foreign demoness," muttered one over-garbed courtier to another. Pausing, Seth noted that the speaker was about his own age and there seemed to be an edge of jealousy to the other man's tone. "It's not right," he continued. The prince would have gone on his way had he not recognised the listener as one of his father's advisors. The older man slowly shook his head and replied, "It's just not right, lad. Why, your sister would make a far more appropriate queen than that foreign demoness." The prince saw the younger man's chest puff out and an expression of pride wreath his face. Blinded by his self-importance, the younger courtier missed the gleam of smug superiority in the older man's eyes. Seth, however, saw it clearly and decided that the matter of his squire's whereabouts could wait until he found out what was going on his brother's court. *** "Oh, Narelle! I simply must tell you what happened to me last night," gushed Lady Flora Donahughe. Narelle grimaced in exasperation behind the veil she had donned before leaving the breakfast room. Before she could make a hasty excuse -- and an even hastier retreat -- the Lady Flora was by her elbow. Flora steered her to a private alcove along the edge of the hall where the young ladies of the court gathered in the mornings. Without further ado, the lady launched into a detailed description of her adventures the previous evening. She had ventured into the gardens with her latest beau and then spent a good two hours frolicking with the young courtier under the moonlight. Without pausing for Narelle's reaction Flora told her about the way the young man had worshipped first her breasts with hands and tongue and teeth. He had then given her sex the same attention before taking his own satisfaction in her mouth and hands. It was just as well Flora hadn't paused. Although Narelle knew that her promiscuous friend intended no harm, she definitely did not need a blow by blow retelling of what had happened. "And that was just the first time!" exclaimed the lady, waving a hand in the air as though to cool her heated face. "I just love young men, don't you Narelle? They just keep on and on and on." She lowered her hand and leaned forward to stare at the veiled girl expectantly. Narelle merely kept silent, unsure how to respond appropriately. Was she supposed to compliment Flora on finding a man who could 'keep on and on and on'? Or would it be better to make a prim remark along the lines of how was she supposed to know given her virginal state? She prayed that someone would come and rescue her before she did something she'd later regret. A shriek from Flora started a frown between Narelle's eyes. The other lady's cry of, "Prince Seth, you're back!" made her shrink back in her chair. As the man quietly greeted the other woman, Narelle reminded herself to be careful what you asked for in case you actually received it. *** Trying to hide his impatience from the Lady Flora, Seth answered her questions as briefly as he could manage politely. He remembered this particular lady had already had a bit of a reputation before his departure. After five minutes of being interrogated and ogled in equal parts, he cut the lady off with a charming smile and a request to speak to Narelle in private. With rounded eyes, Flora nodded and skipped out of the alcove. He turned to the remaining lady and found her eyes fixed on the floor as they had been in the breakfast room. Running a hand through his rich brown locks, he huffed an exasperated sigh. "Could you please look at me?" he demanded quietly. A glimmer of forest green was accompanied by, "Why?" "I need you to pay attention, this is important," he snapped. When she merely kept her head bowed, he gripped her chin and raised her face to his own. The fear in her gaze made him release her as if she'd burned his fingertips. "I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. I swear I won't harm you." He laid his hands flat on the table and leaned as far back as he could in an attempt to reassure her. Trying to break through the barrier that seemed to have grown between them, he said, "I need your help, I think your sister's in trouble." *** Zane leaned back in his chair and let his thoughts drift away from the contracts he'd been reading. His mind touched briefly on the previous night's pleasure and then skipped back five years to the first and only time he and Tamara had actually made love. The memory was a treasure, one that had given him strength during her absence. He briefly hoped that together they might make more memories like it in the near future. When that thought triggered the memory of her father's threat, he ruthlessly turned his mind back to his lover and let the scene of their interaction unfold in his mind. Despite the late hour, the lamps still burned along the walls of the palace baths. Built into the earth beneath the palace, they were heated by a spell that had been tied to the nearby river. With the unceasing rush of water powering it, the spell had become an example of permanent magic that attracted magicians from around the known lands. However the magic and heat of the waters weren't what had drawn him here tonight. Tamara had told him where to find her before she left dinner that had been held to honour the visit of her and her younger sister. The magic and heat that had flared between them when she had kissed him before the dinner were what made him respond to her invitation. His gaze swept the pools and found her standing with her back to the entrance in the farthest pool. He made his way across the chamber until he stood looking down at her naked form. Drops of water gleamed on the bared skin of her shoulders. The greater mass of her hair hung in a soaking sheet down the middle of her back. Little wisps of water-darkened brown curled along the edges of her face. Without a word, he stripped and slid into the pool. Before he could say anything, she spun in the water and walked towards him until her bare breast brushed against his chest. "No talking," she admonished him, pressing a finger against his lips before trailing it in a line down the centre of his body until it reached the water lapping at his waist. Obeying both her spoken and unspoken commands, he silently ran his own finger over her lips before mirroring her own gesture. However when he reached the water, he spread the rest of his fingers over her stomach and slid his hand around her back. Pulling her firmly against his front, he dipped his head and brushed her lips with his own. Pulling back he pressed butterfly kisses across the arch of her cheekbone before returning to her mouth and claiming it with a sweep of his tongue. When her hands slid up his chest to link behind his neck, Zane pulled her closer to his body with the hand at her back and raised the other hand to grip the back of her head. Holding her in place, he rubbed his hardened cock against her hip. He felt her start in surprise and pulled away frowning down at her. What was she surprised about, surely she knew what she was asking for when she asked him to meet her here? He opened his mouth to demand answers but she rose and pressed her mouth to his own. Her tongue duelled briefly with his before she pulled away and murmured, "No talking." Before he could protest, she shifted against him and his cock no longer rested against her hip. Even in the already heated water, the juncture at her thighs felt hot and his cock pulsed in response to that heat. He became lost in the heat of both her lips and her skin. He ran the hand at her waist down the back of her leg and gripped her knee. Hooking that knee over his hip, he boosted her up so that the head of his cock pressed against her entrance. Tongue still entwined with hers, he thrust forward into her tightness. He felt her pause but was too enthralled by the magical seeming heat that flared between them. Pulling back until just the head of his cock remained inside her, he slammed back into her with an effort that almost overbalanced them. Unable to keep still, he repeated the movement in a barely controlled rhythm until he felt her shudder against him. Tearing his mouth from hers, he threw back his head and let himself go. In moments he came, giving his seed into her clasping womb. Zane leaned back in his chair and rested his hand over his straining cock. Ruefully, he admitted to himself that reliving that particular memory was probably not the smartest idea he'd had in recent times. Rising to his feet, he decided that there was no point trying to work in this state -- of mind or body. Adjusting himself so that he could work with a minimal of discomfort, he left the room and went in search of his lady. He knew that she would be in the gardens, bracing herself for the daily ordeal of socialising with his court. *** The unfamiliar fear that had ignited when Seth touched her face disappeared under the onslaught of fear for her sister. Narelle glanced around and then whispered her family's privacy spell. Fisting her hands in her skirts, she leaned forward and told him, "It's safe to talk now." She kept her eyes fixed on his face, even though she still felt threatened by what she felt for him. Her sister was more important than whatever was happening inside her. "I overheard something," he said. He explained what he had heard and described both the older and the younger lords conducting the discussion. She watched his face, noting every nuance of expression that crossed it. He was genuinely worried for her sister but his words had allayed her fears. When he was finished, she shook her head. Biting her lip, she admitted, "I've heard the same, or variations, repeated since word first got out that Zane had sent for Tamara." She lifted her hands from her skirts and loosely clasped them before resting them on the table. Leaning forward, she continued, "I've done what I can to counter the rumours but it's impossible to prove a negative." "And if that advisor of Father's is involved, others must be too," prompted Seth. She nodded in reply and shifted her weight in her chair again. Wrinkling her nose, she murmured, "Unfortunately, yes. The ones who started the rumours know Zane will dismiss them from their positions when he is crowned. Your brother has no intention of being their puppet the way your father was." *** Seth remained still as he considered her words. He had known for years that his father was ruled by his counsellors. He had even been kept up-to-date on their machinations by his brother during his travels. What he hadn't realised was that they were willing to threaten Zane in any fashion. They were either that confident of their positions or that desperate to save them that they'd crossed a line they didn't even realise was there. Glancing up, he met Narelle's gaze over the edge of her sheer veil and smiled grimly. "If you haven't already, I think we should tell my brother and your sister," he told her. Quietly she said, "I didn't want to bother him because he's been so busy. And Tamara only beat you here by a week. I think she knows the general opinion but not what's driving it." "Let's go find them then," he replied briefly. He rose to his feet and held out his hand. He knew he was pushing her new boundaries, but he was desperate for the touch of her skin any way he could get it. After a long moment, she slipped her fingers into his own and allowed him to pull her to her feet. With another whisper, she allowed the spell to fade and he escorted her from the hall. *** As she sat on the carved wooden bench, Tamara cast her mind back to the childhood days that had been spent in this palace. Their father had been busy as king of the nomadic tribes that roamed the steppes to the north. However, he made time for his family and his allies to the south. Without fail, once a season, he had made the journey to the palace with his daughters and his personal bodyguard of twenty pegasus knights in tow. The knights and their mounts were, after all, his people's greatest claim to fame. As princesses of an allied kingdom, the girls had been housed in the same wing of the palace as the crown prince and his younger brother. The four children had played together freely and rarely quarrelled. The untroubled nature of their relationships had probably been due to the fact that their visits were rarely more than a week long. Instead of a political necessity, the children saw the visits as treats and exciting adventures. Tamara smiled to think of the way the four of them had always invented new games to play and other exciting things to do to pass the time while the adults were otherwise occupied. The four of them had been born within a few years of each other -- Zane older than her by half a year; Seth two years younger than both of them; and Narelle a year younger than Seth. Although she had been the baby of the group, her sister had kept up with a courage that made her current attitude a mystery to Tamara. *** He stole through the gardens, following the directions the bitch's maid had given him. The finely woven cloth of his shirt and tunic clung to his back as he broke out in an anxious sweat. He knew that she was a witch of some kind; the court was alive with talk of her demonic powers. He knew that was how she'd managed to ruin his life without raising a protest from his father. As soon as he found her, he was going to make her pay for her evil deeds. After a few more twists in the path, he spotted the jasmine covered arbour and slowed his movements further still to avoid alerting her to his presence. *** Whistling to himself, Zane strode out of one of the side doors and into the rose garden. He had decided to present some of the blooms to Tamara. Searching out the gardener, he borrowed the man's tools and made short work of gathering a dozen buds that had yet to open. Returning the gardener's tools, he returned to the palace kitchen to grab a spare basket and some food. Arms full of supplies, he quickly made his way through the gardens. When he came into sight of the arbour, however, he pulled up short. He didn't see any sign of the nomadic princess herself but a small basket lay on the ground at one end of the bench. Senses alive with a burgeoning fear, he dropped the food and flowers where he stood and crossed the remaining distance to the arbour at a dead run. Sliding to a stop he peered through the trailing vines of jasmine and spotted her veil caught on the tip of one of the vines. Pulling the veil down, he scanned the ground and saw signs of a scuffle. The churned dirt made it difficult to be certain but it looked to him as though there had only been two people involved in whatever had happened. Terror and grief welled but he did his best to suppress it as he quickly gathered her belongings and headed back towards the castle. His subjects might not like Tamara but surely someone would have seen something out of the ordinary and he intended to find out what happened to his betrothed sooner rather than later. *** Narelle guided Seth through the gardens towards her sister's retreat. She had argued with him until he agreed to consult her sister before worrying his brother. She had finally resorted to bribery, telling him that she would allow him to escort her to lunch in the great hall if they could consult Tamara first. Although she didn't like the threat against her sister, she was grateful for anything that enabled her to speak with Seth freely. She didn't like being shy around him -- she just couldn't seem to help it. Her ruminations were interrupted when he slowed to a stop at her side. "What's the matter?" she asked, glancing up at him. Looking up the path, he replied, "I see the jasmine arbour but I don't see your sister." Following his gaze, she felt confusion and worry stir to life when she confirmed with her own eyes, her sister's absence. Slipping her hand free from the crook of Seth's elbow, Narelle ran up the path and began to examine the arbour and its surrounds. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" she demanded, when the prince joined her in the arbour. She pointed to the disturbed soil behind the bench she knew her sister favoured. Seth stepped closer to her side and she instinctively stepped back, avoiding his touch and giving him the same point of view she'd had. He crouched down to have a closer look before he replied slowly, "I'm not certain but it looks like there was a struggle. One person, heavier, standing behind another person, lighter, and trying to pull them back deeper into the bushes." He rose abruptly to his feet and his expression when he turned to face her was grim. "I can also smell something minty and I know we're nowhere near the herb gardens." Frowning, the princess pulled aside her veil and drew a deep breath and trying to scent what he had noted. "I smell mint and lemon, neither of them are scents Tamara likes to wear," she stated flatly. She fastened her gaze on his face and added, "The only thing I know of that smells like both those things is shadow." She spun away from him and started back towards the palace. *** Before she could go, Seth reached out and laid a hand on her arm and asked, "Where are you going? I need to find Zane and let him know that we can't find Tamara at the moment." He watched the confusion and worry recede from her eyes as she thought about his question. "To be honest, my lord prince, I don't think we will be able to find her, there is nowhere else she would be at this hour of the morning," she told him. Her gaze sharpened as he waited silently and finally she added, "I want to send for my Father. If Tamara is truly missing, he needs to know." The prince considered her words and had to concede the point but he held her in place and asked, "How long until you have word of King Maddox? I need to let my mother and my brother know in case he decides to respond in person." Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 04 "Serra Maegan is one of Father's pegasus knights and her mount was bred for speed," she mused aloud. He waited silently and finally she added, "A day, two at the most to the border. Two days to the permanent trading camp at Johan's Fjord. Probably another two days to whichever part of the steppes father is travelling through. Once the Serra finds him, it'll take about the same to return." He did a quick calculation in his mind before releasing her arm. Releasing her, he told her calmly, "I'll tell Mother that we have seven days, ten at the most before he arrives." She nodded and he watched her flit down the path before turning once again to the shrubbery around the arbour. Pushing his way into the shrubbery, he followed the trail of broken and bent branches until he came to a gate in the wall. Forcing the portal open with some difficulty, he found hoof-marks and a pile of near fresh droppings, evidence that a horse had waited there recently. Scanning the surrounding area, he realised that they were on the south side of the palace, outside the walls and at the point where the forest was closest to the walls. He weighed his chances of following the trail further before it grew cold against the reaction his brother would have if he delayed reporting the princess' disappearance. In an attempt to gauge Zane's possible reaction, he imagined what he would say if it were Narelle that were missing and grimly concluded that the trail could wait. Squaring his shoulders, he went back through the gate and went in search of his brother. *** Zane spent the rest of the day travelling along the network of service corridors honeycombing the palace. Ignoring the agitation of his staff, he stopped every man, woman, and child he came across and questioned them at length. As continued to receive negative responses to his queries, his anxiety rose and his temper sharpened. When the butler tracked him down late in the afternoon and spoke dismissively of the princess, the prince exploded into rage. "It's well past time that you, the staff, the guards, the courtiers, my father's advisors and every other citizen of this kingdom accepted the fact that I will wed Tamara and make her my -- and therefore your -- queen," he roared at the top of his voice. When the elderly servant cowered back, Zane felt a spurt of shame mingled with pleasure. He had been raised to be the king of the realm and he had been taught from a young age to maintain self-control at all times. His shame grew and became self-disgust and he turned away from the butler. As he walked away, he felt exhaustion creep up on him, fuelled by the emotional highs and lows he had endured through the day. He made his way through the palace to his mother's apartments by a circuitous route, continuing to question the few servants he came across along the way. When Zane finally arrived, the apartments were deserted and, checking the water clock on the mantle in her parlour, he realised that Grace would be attending the dinner feast in the great hall. Collapsing onto one of the lounges in the room, he settled himself to await her return. *** Narelle ignored the looks of surprise she received as she ran through the halls of the palace. She finally arrived at the barracks and demanded the guard on duty at the door send Serra Maegan to her. He left the door as soon as she finished her demand and returned in seconds with the pegasus knight at his side. "How may I be of assistance, Your Highness?" asked the pegasus knight in her low voice. Waving her hand imperiously, the princess replied, "Follow me to the stables, I'll explain on the way." Without demur, the woman obeyed. Her obedience helped Narelle keep her emotions under control despite the adrenalin that was rushing through her veins from her mad dash through the palace. As they moved quickly along the most direct route to the stables, she quietly passed on what she knew and explained what she wanted Serra Maegan to do. When they arrived at the stable door, she concluded, "Don't push Falcon too hard but don't waste time either. I don't know what's happened to my sister and I need my father's help." The pegasus knight nodded grimly and saluted before ducking into the stables. Narelle stood outside the door for a moment longer before deciding to find Seth and discuss what else they could do. *** As he guided his horse up the narrow path he felt triumph roll through him. The bitch was in his power now and he would make her pay. He wouldn't really hurt her; he'd just banish her from all comforts like she had banished him. His only regret was that he wouldn't be able to witness her suffering. On the positive side, without the bitch there to keep Prince Zane under her power he would soon recover from the spell she had cast. He didn't care what she felt about the separation. After all, she had separated him from his beloved apparently without a care in the world. For that, and for the other pain she had caused him, he was definitely going to make her pay. But first she would have to sleep off the drug and that would give him enough time to prepare her properly for her banishment. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 05 A warning to readers: this chapter does contain non-consensual sex. Let me know if I've written it well. * Seth went first to his mother's apartment, knowing that even if she wasn't there, her maid would know her direction. After speaking to Grace's maid, he forced his emotions under control and slowly made his way through the palace to the council chamber. Knocking on the thick oak door that muffled all sound from within, he entered the chamber without waiting for an invitation. Ignoring the disgruntled looks on the faces of his father's councillors, he went to his mother's side and requested a private audience. For a long moment, she met his gaze before waving her hand and dismissing the other occupants of the room. After the last man had filed out, Seth closed the door before returning to his Grace's side and dropping to his knees. "Mama, I have ill news," he told her, taking her hands in his own. Her whitened hair fell forward as she bent her head to his and ordered, "Speak, my darling, tell me what has happened." "Tamara has been abducted, Mama," he stated baldly. He hid a wince when her nails dug in as she gripped his hands hard. He waited silently for her to recover her composure before he continued. "She was taken from the jasmine arbour. Zane witnessed her abduction but did not see the person who took her." He paused again before adding, "I drugged him, Mama; he was devastated." He watched her face closely and saw genuine distress on behalf of her eldest son. When he entered the room to find her seated with his father's councillors, he had briefly wondered about her loyalties but her reaction now reassured him. Grace closed her eyes and asked, "Have you started up a search party yet?" "Not as yet, Mama," he replied, shaking his head. "Narelle was going to send the pegasus knight, Maegan for her father. I was going to wait to speak to her before I went any further." His mother's eyes snapped open and she demanded, "Why wait? Surely the trail is going cold even now." Narelle followed Seth's trail, first to his brother's apartments, then to his mother's. Following Grace's maid's directions, she hurried to the council chamber, ignoring the greetings of those she passed along the way. Shoving open the door, she entered the chamber in time to hear his mother ask about the trail aging. Before Seth could speak, Narelle stated flatly, "I trust no one in this place. I don't want anyone involved in the search for my sister unless I verify their integrity first." "As you wish, my lady," murmured Seth turning on his knees to give her a brief bow. She glared at Grace until the older woman said, "If you think it best, my dear." Narelle waited patiently and after a moment, Seth's mother asked, "Why don't you trust those here?" "Surely you know of the rumours that fly around the court," exclaimed Seth, saving Narelle the effort of keeping a civil tongue in her head. She watched the dowager queen steadily and saw the older woman shift in her chair. After another moment of silence, Grace conceded, "I know of the rumours. Do you truly believe that those behind the rumours would go so far?" Her expression held a silent plea and Narelle felt guilty for having to deny that entreaty. "I believe that even if those who started the rumours are not directly responsible, it is still their fault," she told Seth's mother. "After all, if they hadn't spread such ridiculous lies, there would be no motive for my sister's abduction." She waited patiently once again until Grace nodded her acknowledgment of Narelle's words. Narelle curtsied to the dowager before turning to Seth and waving her hand. "Come with me, please, I want to see if I can find anyone I trust to help us," she told him. He nodded and they left the chamber together after bidding his mother farewell. Carrying the bitch into the cave, he grinned to himself as he thought of the way she would suffer as he had suffered. Dumping her limp body on the ground, he pulled a knife from his boot and cut away her outer gown. Building a fire at the mouth of the cave, he burned the heavy material until it was ash. After extinguishing the fire, he turned back to her comatose form and smiled once more. He would return to the palace, leaving her just as she was -- with no provisions and wearing nothing but her shift. He would have his revenge on her while enjoying the comforts she had banished him from. The small group of mercenaries had been travelling for nearly two weeks. They had left the last border town of Tusley four days previously and were looking forwards to arriving at the palace of the king of Midland. The six warriors had run into some trouble with the law-keepers of Tusley's capital city and had left in the middle of the night. They were hoping to apply for any available positions in the palace's guard. As they followed the trade route through the forest, they ranged off the cleared road, hunting to fill the evening's pot. Whenever they passed close to one another, they celebrated their lucky escape by sharing several wineskins of potent mead. The oldest of the six had been keeping half an eye on the sun as they travelled and when it dipped close to the horizon, he rounded everyone up and began to search for a place to spend the night. Just before the sun slipped below the horizon, the group followed a stream up a rise and came across a cave. In the mouth of the cave, the remains of a fire smouldered and inside the cave they found a pleasant surprise. As she lay there half asleep, Tamara felt the brush of callused fingers over the tender skin on the underside of her breast. The contact tickled but still felt too distant to rouse her completely. The fingers brushed up over her nipples and she felt them slowly tighten under the repetitive contact. Still unable to open her eyes, she became absently concerned when she felt the brush of more fingers against her ankles. The fingers gripped and she felt the backs of her legs scrape against a rough surface as they were spread wide. She opened her mouth to mumble a protest but no sound emerged. Instead, the movement of her tongue made her realise indistinctly that she could taste sweet mint and bitter lemon. In a vague sort of fashion, she remembered that there was something wrong with those tastes being mixed together. Before she could focus enough to puzzle it out, she felt pressure against her lips and unconsciously opened them in response. A warm, soft thing entered her mouth and when she rubbed her tongue against it she tasted salt. Her foggy mind suggested that the taste was enjoyable and she continued to run her tongue over and around the plum-shaped thing. She heard an indistinct sound and then felt the fingers against her nipples grip them abruptly. The sharp pain did nothing to clear her mind but made her involuntarily suck in a breath. The hands at her ankles began to slide up her legs, even as more fingers closed around her wrists. The brush of the three sets of hands, their touch felt through the veil clouding her mind, began to build a sensual heat in her body that made her hum with pleasure. The leader of the six mercenaries grunted in pleasure when the woman's hum sent vibrations through his cock-head. He pinched her nipples harder and twisted them roughly. She was obviously a whore -- no decent woman would be out in public in such indecent clothing as the shift they had stripped from her unconscious body. Just as obviously, she enjoyed her work -- he'd never been with any other wench who reacted so enthusiastically in her sleep. He kept just his head in her mouth for another half a minute before deciding to warm the rest of him. With another grunt, he thrust forward until his cock-head touched the back of her throat. He heard her gurgle in protest but he just kept pushing. She was a obviously a pro and every pro he'd been with could deep-throat. While he continued to shove against her tight throat, he watched as four of the others held her spread wide for the fifth member of their group. See the man run his hand up and down his shaft, he growled a warning, "Now don't damage this one before the rest of us can use her Arch." "Sure thing, Brant, Sir," replied the man with a grin. With a few more tugs on his cock, he knelt between the woman's legs and rubbed his cock-head against her slit. Although she seemed to be dry at first, as Brant watched and stuffed her mouth, he saw moisture begin to gleam on Arch's bulb. Stilling his movements for a moment, the leader ordered, "Take her. We'll give the whore what she needs and get what we need as well." With another grin, the other mercenary lined himself up and then slammed home. The impact shuddered up the woman's body and her mouth tightened around the leader's cock again. Brant waited patiently until Arch settled into a rhythm and then began to pound away at the whore's face. It was past time he got his own satisfaction. Seth spent the rest of the day following Narelle around the court as she seemed to aimlessly approach random members of the court. It was only when they entered the dining hall that evening for supper that he realised her movements had not been as random as they appeared. Before he could lead the way to the head table where his mother was seated in solitary splendour, his companion pulled him towards the right side of the hall. Seated along a short table beside the wall were all the people Narelle had spoken to during their walk through the court. Glancing down at the expression on her face, which was a study in thoughtfulness, the prince realised that these were the people that Narelle trusted the most in his brother's court. Some of the faces were no surprise -- Sir Deverill Lance, the commander of the palace guard and a man who was well-known for his contempt of the late king's advisors, was seated beside Lady Morag Hughenden, the court sorceress. Some of the faces inspired much less confidence -- Lady Flora may have been Narelle's friend but she had never been discreet. As he looked around the table again, Seth was also surprised at what he remembered about everyone seated. He had thought that his journeys and the experiences he had suffered through would blur his memories of the court -- especially given that he hadn't truly been active in the court given his age before his exile. Putting his reminiscences aside for the moment, he handed Narelle into one of the chairs at the head of the table and took the other. Throughout the meal, he watched as she led the conversation along several different lines, seeming to jump from one unrelated topic to another. Just before the dessert was due to be served, he interrupted the conversation and drew her to her feet. "We shall return momentarily, I just wish to speak to my mother," he informed the others seated at the table. As he pulled her away from the table, he added grimly to Narelle, "That's partly the truth, but I have a few things I want to ask you." Slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow, she murmured, "Can I answer them later?" Pulling up short, the prince frowned at her. "No," he replied tersely. Without another word, he led her to the head table and asked Grace about his brother. After being reassured on that front, he drew the princess into a corner and demanded, "What's the point of all this?" Glancing at the table he gestured to, she replied, "It's a...test...of their true...suitability for the search." As Narelle ran her gaze over the twelve courtiers seated at the table Seth pointed to, she reconsidered her plans. The truth was, when it came to her sister's disappearance she trusted no one in this place bar the man at her side. Tightening her hold on the crook of his arm, she stepped into his side, relishing the warmth of his large body and the strength coiled in his muscles. Quietly, she added, "I would trust these people to look for me if I ever disappeared or lost my way." "But you're not sure if they hold the same prejudice against your sister as the majority of the court," he suggested when she fell silent. Nibbling her lower lip she nodded. She jumped when he raised his free hand and used his thumb to gently ease that lip from between her teeth. His touch sent tingles running down her spine and for a moment she stared up at him, distracted by what lay in the air between them. Before she could say anything, he asked, "So, which of these people do you consider suitable for the search? I don't know them well enough now to give you any opinion." Stroking his arm in an attempt to reassure him, Narelle replied, "It all depends on one thing." She looked at the courtiers again and frowned in irritation. From their discussion over the meal so far, she had decided that only four of the twelve sitting there could be trusted to do the best to find Tamara for her and her sister's sakes. Most of the rest of them were completely unsuitable, holding the views that had been spread throughout the court by the late king's advisors. But three of those remaining were absolutely loyal to their prince. What she had to figure out was whether or not their loyalty would drive them to greater efforts to find Tamara or not. "I can see them looking our way, we should return," stated Seth, pulling her forward with him. She nodded and, once they were seated, drew the three unknowns into conversation. Underneath the warm and salty flavour in her mouth, Tamara again tasted sweet mint and bitter lemon. Although her mind still felt muffled, her concern over those flavours grew and she fought her way through dulled memories until she reached the answer. On the border between her father's kingdom and her prince's kingdom there grew a type of herb called murk-leaf by the botanists and herbalists. Most people knew it by the name of shadow, so-called because when someone was fed the herb their mind became shadowed and they lost all sense of the world around them. Anger began to stir in the depths of her psyche but the influence of the herb held it chained and allowed it to rise no further. Alongside the anger, heat grew. Distracted by the heat, she slowly realised that it was caused by something outside of her dulled mind. Struggling to gather her thoughts, she tried to concentrate on the world around her but was flooded with another wave of heat. Something was scratching over her back, sending shivers of pleasure racing along her spine. The pleasure disappeared into pain as a line of fire burst across her buttocks. The fire bloomed again and again until the pain overwhelmed everything else and she lost awareness once more. Walking away from the Queen's apartments, he began to shake. The prince truly cared for the bitch. So much so in fact, that he had to be drugged to keep him from hurting himself. He wanted the bitch to suffer as he had suffered but he cared for the prince too much to continue punishing them both. He quickly made his way to the stables and tacked up the fastest mount. Riding like the wind through the early night, he returned to the cave. What he found there was beyond even his expectations. Moving closer, trying to determine if there was any way he could fix the damage he had caused, he placed his feet carelessly and the sound of a snapping stick split the air. Before he could escape, he was attacked, tied up and dumped by the fire. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 06 There isn't any sex in this chapter and there's not supposed to be so please don't complain about the lack. Although this is a 'sex' story website, I place just as much emphasis on the 'story' and this chapter is about advancing the 'story'. Thanks & Enjoy ptm * Zane groaned at the pounding inside his head and struggled to open his eyes. He slowly raised a hand that felt like it weighed twice his body weight to rub at his face until his skin started to tingle. Feeling marginally more awake but still suffering from what felt like the worst hangover of his life, he forced his eyes open and stared up at the canopy above his head. Concentrating around the hammering between his eyes, he tried to remember how he got himself into such a state and also how he managed to make it to his bed. Working his way from his previous awakening, he slowly pieced together his actions up until he witnessed Tamara's abduction. At that point, sorrow rolled through his body and he rolled onto his side to curl into a foetal position. Moaning again, he tried to remember what had happened after he collapsed on the path and drew a blank. His misery was interrupted by a loud banging on the outer door to his suite. Wincing at the reverberations that travelled across his skull, he managed to roll off his bed and stagger to his feet. The impatient person outside his door knocked again and he responded with a curse that silenced his visitor. It took him several moments to cross the distance between his bed and the door, by which time his head had cleared enough that the pounding receded to a dull throb. Yanking the door open he snarled, "This had better be important or you'll be spending the next week in the dungeon." "Good morning to you, too, brother," replied Seth in a cheerful tone that had Zane grinding his teeth. His younger brother pushed past him and threw himself into one of the cushioned chairs before the empty fire place. Grumbling to himself, the older prince eased his way to the second chair and collapsed into it with a grunt of pain. Gritting his teeth, he ordered, "Tell me where Tamara is, now." He fixed a hard look on his brother's face but felt his hopes die when Seth slowly shook his head. "We don't know, brother," admitted the younger quietly. Leaning his elbows on his knees, he cradled his chin in his hand and stated, "We don't know, but we're organising people to start looking." He paused for a moment before he added, "We can't really trust too many people because of the rumours that are going around at the moment -- especially since you were both absent from the meal last night." Zane narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as the slow burn of anger consumed the last dregs of his headache and his concentration sharpened. Quietly he growled, "I should have done something about those useless bastards before she even got here." He had known after his father's funeral that he would regret letting his late father's advisors keep their positions but he never expected to regret it as much as he did at this moment. Narelle had decided to take her breakfast in her chambers since there would be no one in the small breakfast room to act as a buffer between her and Seth. As soon as she finished her meal, she decided to visit the three courtiers she considered loyal to Zane. Digging through her wardrobe, she located and donned one of the traditional costumes of her homeland, including the short-sword that hung at her left hip and the dirk that hung at her right. She secured her hair in a knot at the back of her head with a needle-pointed stiletto and fastened her veil across her face. Finally, she fastened a jewelled armlet around her right bicep. She played her fingers over the pattern of jewels, whispering an activation charm. The metal and precious stones burned hot against her skin for a few short seconds before cooling until they matched her body temperature. Running over the questions she needed answers to in her mind, she strode out of her chambers. Without stopping to speak to any of those she passed in the halls, she made her way across the palace and climbed the eastern-most tower. About half-way up the soaring structure, she paused before an ornate door and announced her presence by placing her palm against the outline in the centre of the door. After a moment, she felt a tingling energy wash over her and then the door swung open. Stepping into the room beyond the door, she bowed to the woman who lounged on a daybed before the fireplace. Straightening, she murmured, "Greetings, Lady Hughenden, I trust that you are well?" "Tolerably so, child," replied the court sorceress in similarly low tones. She waved a hand and another chair appeared on the opposite side of the fireplace. "Have a seat and share the burdens that have driven you to visit me." The mild rebuke made Narelle wary. The court sorceress knew something, the princess was certain, but what the lady knew still remained a mystery. Frowning, she obeyed the instruction but didn't allow herself to relax. Focussing her attention completely so that she didn't miss the sorceress' slightest reaction, she stated baldly, "I want to know if I can trust your assistance in locating my sister." "What one wants, one doesn't always get," replied the lady in a philosophical tone that set Narelle's teeth on edge. Holding onto civility by the thinnest thread, she leaned forward in her chair and captured the sorceress' gaze. Grimly, she told the other woman, "I don't care why you help me, as long as you do." She paused and waited for her words to sink in before she added, "Besides, I would have thought you would relish the opportunity to thwart the late king's advisors in any manner you could lay hands on." She watched the sorceress' expression fade into a blank mask before she leaned back in her chair and settled herself to wait for a verbal response. Seth followed his brother as Zane stormed from his apartment and headed towards the council chamber. He knew that nothing and no one would be able to stop his brother from confronting their late father's advisors and it did not concern him over much. The only thing he desired was to stand witness as the crown prince gave the bastards the comeuppance they deserved. Increasing the length of his strides so that he could keep up with his brother, the younger prince smiled grimly as he pictured the expressions on the faces of those who had used their father through all the years of his reign. Now they would learn the cost of the insults they had heaped on the brothers' heads as they grew. Some of his bitterness was dispelled by amusement as he watched the courtiers they passed in the hall flee in the face of his brother's obvious fury. Despite the fact that Zane had managed to steer clear of all their manipulations through the past five years, not one of the courtiers -- including the late king's advisors -- had the true measure of their new ruler. Few had heeded the unspoken warning he'd given when he invited Tamara back to Midland as soon as their father was buried. Seth looked forward to watching the scramble as those who considered themselves politically adept tried to adjust to a man who was no longer living in the shadow of a father who was ruled by his advisors. In short order, they reached the double doors to the council chamber and Zane threw them open without knocking. Seth followed him in quickly enough to see the expressions of anger on the faces of most of the councillors before they regained control. Unable to hide his smirk, he announced, "His Royal Highness, Prince Zane Jacosta, Crown Prince of Midland." The men in the room rose to their feet and bowed while the sole woman -- Queen Grace -- inclined her head. He pulled out the throne-like chair at the head of the table before taking the seat immediately to the right, staring around the table at the men who were unable to hide their wariness. "Gentlemen, Mother, I have something to say to all of you and you will listen in silence or you will suffer the consequences," stated Zane in a grim voice that sparked an inappropriate amusement in his younger brother. Stifling a chuckle, Seth kept his eyes on the councillors to absorb their reactions. In the same grim tone, the crown prince continued, "I hold you gentlemen responsible for my betrothed's disappearance. I am fully aware of the slanderous campaign you have instigated against her since her return -- a return that came in response to my invitation. You are all dismissed from this council; you will no longer have any say in the running of this realm." Satisfaction welled in the younger prince's heart when he saw the pained expressions flash across the face of every man seated around the table. They began to mutter among themselves but Zane's sharp voice cut across the chatter and silenced them immediately. "Your survival is not guaranteed. If my lady is not returned to me within the week, you will all be executed. That will be all." He bowed to their mother and strode from the room. Seth watched him go before turning back to face the councillors who were all looking extremely pale. Quietly, he told them, "Don't think about running. The minute you step outside the palace grounds, I will take that as an admission of guilt and hunt you down for my brother. Do you understand me?" He waited until each man acknowledged his words and then rose to his feet. He went to his mother and brushed a kiss on her cheek before leaving the chamber. He couldn't wait to tell Narelle what had passed and he hoped she would be as pleased by the event as he was. He was woken by a rough blow to the side of his head and when he tried to raise his arms to protect his head, he cried out in pain. His wrists were tied tightly at the small of his back and he couldn't feel his fingers properly so he knew the bonds were cutting off his circulation. Raising his eyes, he saw a bull of a man looming over him. Remembering what he had witnessed the night before, he demanded, "Who are you? What were you doing to the lady?" He had wanted the bitch to suffer but he had never imagined that she would be truly injured. He had left her in this particular location because he knew that shelter, water and food were close at hand. He also knew that, having been raised as a nomad, she had sufficient skills to care for herself in the wild. He considered her abandonment a just punishment for the harm she had dealt him because he believed that while she would be able to survive, she would enjoy the experience no more than he had enjoyed his own. "She ain't a lady," replied the man above him, laughing uproariously. From further away, he heard other male voices join in the mirth and was able to pick out at least four maybe five other tones before they all subsided. The man above him added, "She's our whore now, whelp, but if you behave yourself we'll leave her for you when we move out." Tied up and unable to do anything except watch as the man walked away, he hoped that they would move out sooner rather than later. Serra Maegan glanced down and squinted against the glare of the early morning sun until she was able to make out the watchtower perched atop the low mountain. She was making better time than she had expected to and her mount, Cloud-runner, was managing the pace with ease. As they flew onwards, she recalculated the time it would take her to get to Johan's Fjord. As long as the winds remained fair, she thought she would be able to reach the central trading camp by nightfall the following day. As far as she was concerned, it would still be too slow and she wished there existed a magician strong enough to transport people instantaneously over the distance between Midland's palace and King Maddox's location -- wherever he was at the moment. Gods-be-damned murk-leaf! Tamara held herself still as her mind raced to fill the blanks left by ingesting the drug. She remembered the pressure of the sweet smelling cloth over her mouth and grimly concluded that the situation at her beloved's court was truly out of control. Why else would any person be stupid enough to assault her in such a fashion? She wasn't just any old princess; she was the daughter of the man who wielded Craving. The sword called Craving, that so worried Prince Zane, was so named because it craved blood to the extent that if it was unsheathed and remained unblooded, its wielder would lose a year off his life. It had been a gift from the wizard because, when fed large quantities of that which it craved, it ensured that all of the pegasii in foal at the time of the blooding would bear twins. A rumble of male laughter a short distance away caused her to flinch and someone immediately nudged her leg. "Hey, Brant, Sir, I think she's waking up!" exclaimed another male voice at her feet. Resolutely she bit her tongue to keep from saying anything that might inflame the situation before she had a chance to assess it further. Although she couldn't remember anything clearly, she sensed that at least one, maybe two, full days had passed since she had been drugged. Thanks to various aches in her body, particularly in her womb and at the juncture of her thighs, she knew that she had been involved in some sort of sexual act. What she did not know was whether these men were the ones that had raped her or not. She heard heavy footfalls approach and then an older voice replied, "About bloody time. Arch, go call in the men while I finish waking her up." Horror snaked down her spine at the mention of more than just the two she'd heard. Although she had no wish to consciously experience what had undoubtedly already happened to her, Tamara knew that she had to find some way to survive. The nomads of her father's nation believed very strongly in the idea of living to fight another day and that was what she now had to do. Well, that and get revenge for the harm that had been done to her. Mentally bracing herself, she waited for the man to begin his vile deed. Zane strode through the halls of his palace, glaring at all and sundry as he made his way to the audience hall. As he stormed along, a few of the servants braved his anger to receive their orders. When he arrived at the audience hall, he scanned the small crowd of courtiers present before drawing his sword and slamming the pommel against the small gong just inside the double doors. As the last reverberations faded into the sudden silence, he stepped to one side of the door and snapped, "Everyone out except for Sir Deverill and Count Weyland." The courtiers obeyed with alacrity, too stunned by the never-before-seen temper of their sovereign-to-be to protest. The commander of the palace guard and his late father's steward hastily moved from different points in the room until they stood before the throne at the head of the hall. The prince crossed the room and settled himself stiffly on the chair before pinning the two men with a deathly glare. "Explain to me how your guards allowed my betrothed to come to harm," he ordered softly of the knight, before turning to the nobleman and adding, "You can then explain to me why my betrothed is still missing." The two men exchanged an uneasy glance before Sir Deverill replied hesitantly, "We were not aware that you were engaged to be married to anyone, Sire. Who is the woman who has been abducted?" "Are you stupid or just wilfully ignorant?" demanded the prince scornfully. "I speak of Princess Tamara Zefyr, the lady I love and the lady who arrived in my kingdom at my invitation less than ten short days ago." The knight shifted anxiously before replying, "I was told, Sire, that her presence was unwelcome and that the pegasus knight envoy would be guardian enough for her safety. Also, Sire, there have been no strangers reported present in the last three days." "Why does that not surprise me?" muttered Zane in disgust. Deciding to give the commander a moment's respite, he turned to the count and asked coldly, "So what do you have to say on the matter?" Bowing his head, the steward replied, "None of the servants reported anything untoward yesterday -- other than the absence of both yourself and the princess after you both went into the gardens." He paused for a moment before adding, "If the princess was abducted from her usual spot in the gardens, there would not have been any servants there to witness. Sadly, the majority believe the rumours that she is an evil witch who has cast a spell over you and they wish to have nothing to do with her so they avoid her and her known haunts." Looking from one man to the other, the prince felt a headache brewing between his eyes. He really should have nipped the rumours in the bud the day Tamara arrived. Perhaps if he had, he would now have some lead on finding her. "You speak of that which you know not," stated Lady Hughenden in a cold voice. Narelle sniffed disdainfully and rose to her feet. She had decided that the sorceress' non-committal replies meant that the older woman would not be of any real assistance in the search for her sister. Walking towards the door, she murmured, "Thank you for your time, Lady Hughenden, I cannot say it has been a pleasure." She had gripped the handle when the lady's voice cut across the room. "Even if I wished to be of assistance, my hands are tied," stated the sorceress in a sharp tone. The princess felt the temperature of her armlet dip briefly, indicating that the words were an undeniable truth. Turning back to face the lady again, she motioned with her free hand for her to explain. After drawing a deep breath, Lady Hughenden quietly said, "Siddon has told me that if I do anything to aid the Princess Tamara in any fashion, he will have his son beat his wife -- the girl is my oldest granddaughter. Regardless of how I personally feel about Prince Zane and Princess Tamara and their relationship with one another, I cannot risk my granddaughter's safety." Again Narelle felt the temperature of the armlet dip in an indication of the truth of the lady's words. Releasing the catch and opening the door, she told the sorceress, "You have my sympathy; I would do no different were I in your position myself. I shall contact others and once my sister is found I will do what I can to assist you in this matter." Without waiting for a response, she left the chamber and went in search of the two men she remained uncertain of. Speaking to a few members of the court that she passed in the halls of the palace, she discovered that Sir Deverill Lance and Count Nathan Weyland were both in an audience with the crown prince. After a short internal debate, she changed direction and sought out those she had decided would help her find her sister for Narelle's own sake. After another hour she had gathered her friends in her private parlour in her suite and had begun to discuss how to conduct the search for Tamara. Seth seated himself beside Narelle on the chaise longue before the fire in her parlour and listened attentively as the group she had gathered began to discuss the process of conducting the search for Tamara. Looking around the group, he couldn't help internally shaking his head. As he had suspected the previous night, Lady Flora Donahughe was among those the princess trusted. However, despite his supposition that she would not be very useful, she was offering sound suggestions including ways to approach the servants and gain their aid. While the rest of the group were tossing ideas back and forth, he quietly asked, "What about Lady Hughenden and Sir Deverill?" "The sorceress is unable to assist us," replied the princess in equally low tones. An edge to those tones made him wonder at the reasons behind the sorceress' recalcitrance but his companion's next words distracted him completely. Still in a murmur, she added, "As for the good commander, your brother is currently dealing with him." Seth bolted upright and twisted around so that he could meet her gaze straight on. He had known that his brother was devastated by the loss of Tamara. Once his brother woke and went after their late father's counsellors he also knew that his brother was using anger to mask the grief so that he could function enough to find some way to remedy the grief. What he hadn't realised was that Zane would direct that anger at others aside from their father's late counsellors. Castles, Kings & Wondrous Things Ch. 06 Half stunned, he whispered, "Shouldn't we stop him? We really can't afford to antagonise the commander of the palace guard -- security might be compromised." "We could try to drug him again," she replied dryly. Seth snorted back a laugh at the idea. As tempting as it might seem, if they succeeded in drugging his brother simply to stop him from expressing a certain justifiable rage, they would soon reap ill rewards. He was trying to come up with an alternative when something one of the others suggested penetrated his reverie. One of the noblemen that Seth didn't really recognise announced, "I think we should search outside the palace grounds. No one would be insane enough to hold the princess hostage inside the palace." "I wouldn't say that the person who took the princess is operating on full mental capabilities," replied the prince, unable to help himself. He added wryly, "After all, it's well known that her father wields both Craving and a temper when his family is threatened." The nobleman, Seth finally remembered that his name was Lord Merret, insisted, "Yes, obviously this person has some issues, but if the princess was still here, Lady Flora would have been told. The servants know everything that happens in the palace and her maid is very conscientious about reporting everything to her." The prince glanced at the princess and she nodded a confirmation of the man's words. Trusting her judgement, he turned back to the rest of the group and lifted a hand to still the murmurs that had started. "Use my authority to get the most appropriate mounts for a search of the forests and requisition whichever staff you need to assist," he ordered. He glanced at Narelle again to confirm her agreement and when she nodded, he added, "We shall start after the noon meal." Everyone else indicated their acquiescence and the gathering broke up.