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The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 01

By: TalyisBagley



Chapter 1

The dull sounds of twigs breaking against dry leaves, the occasional jolt into wet mud dulling the roll underneath her as the lull of strange masculine voices brought her pain back to her. Her arms and legs burned like poisonous snakes putting their fire into her blood. Each rock made her body hurdle into the air forcing new pains to her already bruised body. She was bound by her legs and arms tied in front of her as she brought her little fingers to where warmth leaked in through a hole of the burlap sack that was her prison.

The smell of swine stench suffocated her delicate nose from wanting to inhale for life. Her eyes swelled, she grasped what she had hoped and dreamed was now realized a reality. Her heart pounded in her ears in this realization hoping it would stop or that time would fast forward to where the pain would be no longer; only leaving a remnant of this time as a distant memory and happy endings to look forward to. She stifled her tears, she did not want to be noticed, as reality rushed to her- no happy endings were coming her way.

She didn't know where she was other than a cart or a cage, perhaps, moving. She tried to feel around for an opening above her head and she used her toes to find which way was up or down. The movement of whatever that was carrying her jostled her. She felt beads of sweat pour from her brow as she fought now with the constant jerk and jar of her captors' journey.

She saw the blue sky through the small window. She spied two crates that she was sandwiched between, probably spoils from the raid. She had to move her body around the crates that held her near the back of the now understood wagon cart to see if she could roll away. She was determined to not be another item of whimsy taken from the castle to be lotted out as a trinket. She had to free her hands but the ropes were thicker than her small mouth. If she could escape she could find a kind person to release her bonds.

Suddenly the wagon stopped. She could hear the voices more clearly and their heavy boots hitting the ground as the moved around the wagon.

"We will have to cross the river. The rain five days ago has washed out the bridge," a man said in a foreign tongue.

She understood enough where she was going. Her father made her learn the languages of their enemies, so that one day she could lead her kingdom in victorious wars against these people. Her need to get away was stronger than ever. She couldn't have slept any more than the rest of the night of the raid. If she were to escape, she could return home. She concentrated trying to visualize the maps she was made to study. She tried to recall all the rivers and lakes that surrounded her territory.

Courage overflowed her; the rivers were surrounded by allies and friendly kingdoms. If she were to escape, she could go to those kingdoms they would help her, even fight for her! Her allies were strong and would take down these known dangerous foreign raiders. She winced at the idea of these barbarians having already raided all the surrounding kingdoms and that would have been logically to why no warning came to her own.

She felt the floor beneath her give way as she rolled forward and the crates moved to the edge.

"Remove the crates," a voice barked, "It won't float, it will sink."

"Check the girl," another commanded in a gruff voice that made her soul quiver.

She froze her body and tried to be as still as possible, but her heart raced as a rabbit.

"She is still out. You must have hit her with such a force," the men all cackled as one jabbed at the seemingly lifeless sac.

"Get to work, caulk the wagon. We will float across the river," the leader sneered not amused.

The sloshing of boots against the mud and voices trying to overpower another surrounded her. She felt the crates that hugged her sac removed. She was picked up easily and discarded to another part of the wagon like a nerveless piece of cargo. She clenched her teeth to suppress herself from making a noise. It was pertinent for these barbarians to believe that she was still unconscious in order to slip away. Then as quickly as they stopped, they started again and with a sudden jerk her body rolled down as the raiders moved forward.

"The water is not that deep, move faster; we need to get there before sundown,"

What did that mean? Were they going to raid another kingdom? How many prisoners had they already taken and who from her own land joined her? She tried to listen for the cries and tears of her kinfolk but only the rush of water masked her ears and the abhorrent muffle of foreign Aricin tongues.

Frigid cold spilled onto her back as the water soaked the base boards below her. She tried to find her peep hole to see if there was anything that could help her. She located the crates, pieces of the sky and the shore as she rocked back and forth by the water and trudge. She had to do it now. Their own splashing in the water masked their voices even more now. They wouldn't even hear or see her if she rolled off into the water; they all were in front of the wagon. She focused on reaching the other shore. This was her only chance. She began to roll herself to the edge of the wagon, took a deep breath and let herself fall into the river.

The freezing water overcame her, wanting to freeze her heart and muscles. The sac tightened around her body. She was unable to break free. The water's invisible hands tightened the ropes around her hands and feet. She had made a grave mistake, she should have waited till dry land and now she would be overcome by the river.

Her body was jerked up roughly and a knife sliced daylight to her eyes. Her eyes squinted in the blinding light that pained her pupils. She coughed and gasped for air as the man held her up by her wrist bounds. She didn't glance at him but as soon as he had freed her he had thrown onto the cart and cut her legs free. She dashed out of the cart as fast as she could pushing him into the water as she ran towards the shore. She panted for freedom but her step slipped and she was underwater again kicking upward to find the sky.

Again an arm reached for her, grasping her throat and pulling her up; then forcefully pushed her head underwater. She screamed and thrashed in the water, her body in full panic. Her fingers clawed at his strong wrists trying to free herself, her legs kicking to lever her head to the surface. Finally, he let her live. She heaved and choked for air.

"Vile" he snorted.

Two men quickly grabbed her and fastened her bound hands to a rope tied to the back of a horse. She remembered this voice as the leader.

"You are able to walk," He sneered and mounted his horse, "You better keep up or you will be dragged. I don't care if you are dragged to skin and organ. I will not lose time because of you, Vile."

And with that he kicked his horse to a gallop causing her to trip and fall to her stomach in a drag. The men howled with laughter. The horse stopped and the leader smirked as he looked down at her. His eyes glimmered the most entrancing blue-greens that put awe into her heart and yet cause her temper to boil red as hell.

It was a long sad journey; she was farther away than her ally territories. Her soul sank when she realized that the river that almost took her was more than a night sleep beyond the raid away. Her bare feet scraped against the rocks and stung when the shards of fine gravel cut into her soles and burned with the mud. She detested their foul Aricin language that quipped about nothing important. She burned inside with fury as these pigs ignored her very presence. She was to be queen of the most powerful kingdom in the realm. She'd only have to hope for an ally interception of her now. Her animosity kept her off focus from her attempts to keep up with the horse she was tied to and it would then drag her and scrape the skin off her knees and thighs before she could pull herself up.

"Vile" the leader spat at her as he rode his horse back to the front of her catching her attention.

She did not notice that he was behind her or how long he was behind her. She wanted to keep an eye on him. Learning how to become victor over him was her only chance to survive. If she could find his weakness and kill him, she would be free. But no weaknesses were noted. He was more decorated than the rest of his band. He wore his armor despite that the rest had taken most of theirs off and attached it to their horses. His long sword was always in his hand to the ready. She only knew his voice- and the grip of his hands that saved and wanted drown her. He was still damp from their assaults on each other in the water. His dark hair contrasted against his fair Aricin skin and when he talked his smile curled into a wicked toothy grin that probably was famous with the maidens in his land. She caught his eyes staring at her. Green eyes as if to pierce her heart to find the secrets to her weakness.

The decorated horse whined as he dismounted. He tenderly petted his horse's brown and white face and then with a booming voice he instructed his men to set up camp.

The men exhausted and satisfied dismounted speaking to one another as they removed items from the wagon. A big man, with a grizzly black beard grabbed her wrists startling her. He had hunger in his eyes, the way she saw in the militia men when they came back from battle and supped with her father late at night with ladies dressed in silk gowns to serve their meals. She shirked back in terror as the hungry man smiled a black-rotted toothy grin at her and sniffed her hair.

"Leave her be," the leader boomed, "You'll get your share tonight." The leader didn't even look at her, he was still attending his horse and then chuckled lightly in the most musical sound she had ever heard. Everything about him was a contrast; he showed such tenderness to his beloved horse feeding it from the palm of his gloved hand.

"Do you think she is pure?" another man heckled.

"I am certain her piety and self delusions of importance verifies that she is," the leader croaked with bitter laughter.

"How dare you!" Talyis finally spoke, "You impotent pigs! When my father's men catch up to you, I'll have you castrated in the square left for the buzzards"

"Oh, is that so, Princess," the heckling man approached her to address her challenge. He was so close she could smell his musk of sweat from battle and his unkempt horse.

"You are swine! Your people are all useless swine! I myself will take you down for this."

All the men enraged pulled their swords and raised them at her. The leader threw his helmet down, and with big broad steps that seemed to shake the earth, grabbed her hair and twisted cloth into her mouth, tying it behind her head. She tried to break free from his hold but he glared at her with his light eyes piercing the most hatred than any of the men that surrounded her together. The hatred embarrassed her as tears leaked from her eyes. He snapped her head away from him.

"Get to work," he ordered and walked away taking his horse with him into the forest.

The men put up their tents and built a fire to cook as the sun set behind them. Talyis sat cold against a tree in silence; the vision of the leader's hatred running constantly in her mind. What kind of hell was she in?

The leader was gone, deep within the forest for a long time while the men ate their meals. Once and awhile they would throw their scraps towards Taylis so they could laugh at her as she tried to scramble to get it before one of the dogs. She sat on the ground, nibbling at the dirty piece of meat trying to ignore their trivial banter about women they've had and look forward to having soon again. She clenched her eyes as her head split with pain not from her assaults, but from the constant translation she absent-mindedly did with their cursed language.

"She is filthy," the leader yelled at the band as he emerged from the woods carrying his armor.

His horse galloped ahead of him to a spot near the other horses. She only saw his shadow until he came closer to the fire. He was young and he looked like he had found a creek to bathe. He was body lean and tall, his dark hair in slight waves framing his strong angled jaw.

"Get her ready!" he barked again, the smoothness of his movements compared drastically to his sharpness with anything concerning her. She shuddered as she saw him glance towards her, "Unless your stomachs completely rule your manhood," he chuckled and the men chuckled and quickly jumped up. One gave the leader a bowl of their meal while others moved towards her.

Cold buckets of water were dowsed over her, barely streaking away the dirt from her body. Her night shift clung to her body as she shivered violently.

"Hmpf, pity she's not even comely under all that dirt," the leader mocked never glancing her way just gnawing on his piece of meat.

She didn't know why she abhorred his comments on her beauty, she really didn't want to imagine him or anyone trying to think of her in any unrespectable way but she was enraged. What did he mean she was not beautiful; she was the princess and no one had ever in her life said the otherwise, especially not in her presence.

She marked her plan to grab his sword and strike the leader dead, rightfully so. She watched smothered in destain as the fire danced light onto his beautiful face. He had strong features foreign to her land. A square jaw that housed his tight lip in a straight line under his nose, his face didn't grow a long unkempt shaggy beard like the others had. He was clean, the wisps of his raven curls played with the breeze that crackled the fire. His brow showed patience neither contempt or anxiety as he conversed with his comrades.

"Where are you taking me?!" Talyis shouted towards the leader shivering wet. They did not answer or glance her way. "What have you? What is your business with me?" the leader continued his quiet conversation ignoring her. "Who are you, so I know the name of the man I will soon gut?! Answer me!" she screamed losing her strong composure sounding more like an ill-tempered child than a royal. She became more frustrated and stamped her small feet in the mud her shower created, "Answer me now!"

A man came from a tent and handed the leader a prod that he sat in fire and used it to move the logs around.

"You, you!" Talyis shouted at the leader, he visibly took in a deep breath and sucked his teeth to calm himself. "What are your demands with me?"

"That you be quiet," he replied simply without emotion.

"You take me from my land without demands. What kind of strategy is that, you fool? You do know you I am. Do you wish to overthrow my kingdom and allies? If so I will make myself stronger with my allies."

"I wish for you to be quiet!" the leader said again keeping his temper at ease while playing with his poker in the fire and not looking at the girl. "I demand nothing of your pitiful land of ruins. I will do whatever I please and will not be ordered, do you understand, Princess."

"I will not be your tool!"

"Be quiet or you will be gagged."

"I will not! You will fear for your life," she protested.

The leader only chuckled and then waved to his band of men. "We will see, Vile, who will fear who and who will not."

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~Thank you for reading my story. "The Talons of a Dark Heart" has been in my mind for many years now and it is my first time sharing my writing with others. I hope you enjoy it. I am open to all constructive comments and votes ;). Special thanks CristalBall for her wonderful editing of the series.

T Bagley

The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 02



Chapter 2

The men surrounded Talyis and cut her arms loose each taking hold of her. Hands grabbing her body everywhere; her arms, twisting in her hair, seizing her calves, pulling her off the ground, spreading her.... She screamed, her brows furrowed as she clenched her eyes closed, they were roughly grabbing her breasts, raising her shift and squeezing her thighs so close to an area never touched even by herself.

"Stop!" the leader yelled angrily and the molestation of her body halted. Her body fearfully heaved air in and out, "Just bring her here."

She tried to stop the falling tears and make herself strong as they allowed her to stagger to their leader. He sat still on a log near the fire playing with his cattle prod that was now white hot from the flames.

"Do you know who I am?" he said in his deep voice focused only on the fire.

"No," Talyis answered in a weak whisper.

"I didn't think you would. I am the Prince of Aricin."

"I know all the royals of the surrounding kingdoms and Aricin is fallen sovereignty. It has no ruler."

"It has always had a ruler, Vile!" he eyes snapped to hers burning fire into her.

She starred back defiantly, she breathed heavily as she tried to control the flurry of emotions that always came over her when he looked at her. "What is your name?" Taylis demanded.

"My Lord, you are not going to tell this wench your name?" a man interjected standing behind Talyis protective of his leader.

"It is no matter, she does not know," he said to the man and then looked back at Talyis, "My name is Novak."

"My name is..." Talyis began

"I know your name Talyis of Onor. Enough formalities!" Novak snapped his anger mounting as he clenched his jaw glaring at her. He sighed and then turned to his men. "We will start out at sunrise. We will break the wench in tomorrow night. I am exhausted." 

The men grumbled loudly and then began to turn down the camp. Talyis watched bewildered as Novak and the man who had interrupted just stood watching the rest work. She observed that the man must be of high rank, no older than Novak.

"You will sleep in the Master's tent," the man turned to her and pointed a large tent closest to the fire. She sighed, thankful to not have to sleep with the dogs on the forest ground vulnerable to the creatures of the night but fearful having to share the night near a man.

"Go girl!" Novak snapped at her and she quickly ran into the tent.

Novak sat down near the fire again and his friend joined him.

"She doesn't recognize me," Novak sighed.

"That is a good thing my friend," Gareth replied as he put his boots near the fire to warm his feet.

"Gareth, she must never know who I was. I will not let her ever get the best of me again."

"What do you plan to do with the girl," Gareth smiled a sly grin, "other than bed her?"

"The same she has done to me. She will never see her kingdom stand again, she will never live the life of a royal again and she will learn to love her new station or die."

"All this for revenge, Novak?"

"It's the least I can do for my people, Gareth," He stretched his body and handed the cattle prod to his friend, "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Gareth replied stabbing the prod into the dirt, the moisture within sizzled, "Be careful, that she doesn't kill you in your sleep, Master. That one is feisty."

Novak entered his tent and found Talyis huddled in the far corner. He scoffed at her and then removed his clothes slowly letting each piece echo in the still air as it hit the floor. She flinched with each sound and tried to keep her head down not to glance at the strong nude male body presented before her. But embarrassment flooded her cheeks; she briefly glanced up and saw him looking at her through her tear blurred eyes.

"Go to the cot," he demanded. Something within her stomach seemed to bubble nervously, she couldn't move, only hold her legs tighter to her chest. "Don't make me tell you again, Talyis." She didn't know why a whimper escaped but it did. "Vile!" He sneered and then grabbed her by the arms pits and dragged her to the cot. She screamed and fought, kicking her legs at him. He threw her on the cot and then stood over her as he watched her cower to a small corner into a tight ball. "Take that filthy shift off." She didn't move. "If you don't take it off, I will cut it from you and then you will have to walk the rest of the journey naked. I will not be able to keep my men off of you then. So, I will ask you one more time to take it off, Vile."

Talyis moaned tears and her stomach turned in such knots she was certain she would throw up. No one other than her nurses had seen her naked, never a man. Never had she shared her bed with anyone. She bit her lip in hesitation and clenched her eyes as she reluctantly pulled the shift over her body.

Novak looked down on the poor pitiful girl that used to taunt him when he was a boy. The princess's face streaked with dirt tears and her dark hair in knots and tangles instead of the long curls that flowed as she played in the gardens running after him in joyful laughter. Her skin was still beautiful to him, the warmth of browns, the reds hidden in cheeks, her big brown almond eyes that used to make him only want to smile forever. She was no longer a girl but a woman with full breast, the curves of her waist leading a path to a virginal garden hidden between her clenched legs. He began to regret what he could have tonight and had put off for tomorrow. He was drawn to the curly black hair lined at the juncture she tried to hide from him. He pulled his stare away from her. He did not to be absorbed by this wench.

He barked at her to lie down and she did, her body trembled in the cold air and of fear. He then tied her arms to the top of the cot, which renewed her tears and then tied her feet to the bottom getting the choice opportunity to see the lips that pursed at him between her thighs. He crawled up her body and lazily grazed those lips with his strong fingers-- dry. She would have to learn her new station or else she would be in for a lot of pain. He lay next to the girl bringing the sheepskin over their bodies. He tweaked Talyis's nipple and smiled in the dark as he heard her take a sharp breath in. He became more earnest and twisted it between his fingers and she whined.

Taylis trembled in blindness, the heat from his mouth warmed the back of her neck but goosebumps covered her entire body. She felt every hair on her body standing on end. Novak let his hand fall down her stomach noticing her every nerve tense as he journeyed down. Her legs were clenched and crossed, closed in rebellion to his desires. He squeezed her thigh hard, his entire hand grabbing and pulling the muscle. She cried out and loosened her legs to relive the shooting pain. He took advantage and plunged his fingers into her virginal center determined to coax a taste but she was dry. He rubbed without affection her labia and clit but the girl howling cries grew more and more desperate as if he were putting a hot poker to her sensitive areas. He stopped and rolled away. She whimpered in the dark curling into a ball against him, so near to him.

"Be quiet or I will give you something to cry about," Novak spat, "Tomorrow you will experience much more. I was doing you a favor."

Favor? She fumed to herself.

Instead she pleaded in a near whisper, "Please let me go,"

"Go to sleep, we have a long journey in the morning."

***

"Get up!" a booming voice came broke into her nightmare and shook her physically.

She opened her eyes and remembered that everything she had known before was eternally altered. Novak stood above her already dressed. He held her shift in his hand, it was still wet. She took her shift and pulled it over her cold body which brought more ice to her skin. She followed Novak out of the tent, it was the break of dawn. Everyone was still sleeping, except for the man from last night.

"I will take you to the creek where you will bathe. You will also wash that shift clean. Take these sheers and remove that hair from between your legs," he instructed in an almost softer tone. She stared at the ground holding her arms around her icy body. "You have only a while or you will be bathing for the entertainment of my men!" he snapped at her for not moving and she shuffled quietly to the forest edge taking the sheers with her.

"Don't you dare try to run, Vile. We are watching you," Novak antagonized and scoffed.

"Lot of tears last night?" Gareth commented looking at his friend with an inquisitive smirk.

"She howls like a banshee, now, wait until tonight," Novak arched a dark eyebrow.

"The men are tired, we should reach home but tomorrow night," Gareth chimed and stretched his arms above his head welcoming the day into his body.

"Ah, my friend, the men are tired, but I think it is you who wants to reach home. Missing your woman already," Novak jested and poked his friend, "Miss the banshee in Delia, huh, the way she pulls at your blond hair?"

Gareth scowled at his friend and walked towards the forest edge and then smirked to himself. "Novak, when you get back you must choose a queen. We need an heir to survive as a people."

"Argh, Gareth not today, not this morning. Can't you just be my friend, my lieutenant?"

Gareth sighed and mooted the discussion for the time being. "My plan is to route through the Navapa which will get us to our territorial boarder by sunset... and I will see my sweet Delia late evening."

"Get the girl, we don't want to keep your precious Delia waiting," Novak teased and his lips curled in to a smile.

Gareth brought Talyis back to the camp, her eyes down-cast and her arms always hugging her body. The Aricin raiders had already started to pack up their things while other sat around the fire drinking a strong drink not really talking to each other. Novak came from his tent and stopped in his path to his horse. Talyis was stunning in the sunlight. She was more beautiful than the over-indulgent boyhood crush he had for her. The once girl now a woman had aged like the finest wine. Her features delicate and inviting, her curves enticed every nerve in his body, bringing his member to life and causing the acid of his dark heart to leak.

"Give her some scraps if there are any," he barked at Gareth and quickly proceeded to his horse.

Gareth ignored his friend's temper and gave her a cup of the dark drink the men were drinking. Talyis could not tolerate more than a sip, her stomach was in such knots from every thought she had of the night before. He insisted she try a bit of the mash but she politely refused. She sat still near the tent far from the men, her heart barely beating but rang loud in her ears. Despair had set in.

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~Thank you again for reading my story and your comments and votes. It really keeps me going. Special thanks to my editor CristalBall for her wonderful work.

T Bagley



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 03



He was a young boy when he had ran away from the castle. Men of thirteen years old were already fighting in battles but he knew nothing of yielding a sword. He didn't know where he was going. Just away from the taunts and the constant torments of an unrequited love and a truly unsympathetic life. He was allowed to learn side by side his persecutor, and he was smarter than her. He learned how to debate, use tactics in war decisions, and make just treaties with hypothetic allies. Everything she knew he was more knowledgeable, perhaps she was jealous of him because of this. He wasn't allowed to learn combat, the one thing that meant he wasn't a slave in this strange land.

He was eight years old when he watched his mother and father die by the sword of King Aronich. His father's last pleading words were to save his life. Aronich pledged that he would save the boy but he would live within the castle no higher than a generational servant. Aronich wanted to master the boy, use him to be his spy that was unarmed and untrained for battle. King Aronich wanted the boy to be defenseless, preventing him from leading an uprising for his lost land when he became of age. Without any male companions as the other servant boys in the castle had, the boy was left to the King's precocious daughter.

He lived under the guise of a playmate to the princess until he was too old for his precious daughter. He loved her no matter how much she goaded and teased him. She made him do humiliating and ridiculous things. She was the cause for many of his beatings when he was caught doing her mischievous wills. He endured them all, because he was smitten with her smile and her simple giggle. He would always remember her running through the castle gardens, her curly black hair waving at him, her little girl gowns of bows and lace swimming in the wake of her joyful play.

A raw howl broke his reminisce; he turned around and saw that Talyis had fallen again and dirtied her shift again. He cursed at her as he stopped his horse to allow her scrambled to her feet. Gareth rode up and dismounted from his horse to help her up.

Curse him too with is insufferable sympathetic temperament, Novak commented under his breath.

"Novak, we should put her on the horse. We won't have to stop so much and we are approaching the Navapa territory," Gareth suggested helping Talyis to balance on her good foot.

"Fine," Novak spat, "she rides with me." Gareth scooped Talyis up and placed her in front of Novak on his horse. She winced as her back touched Novak's cold armored body and then whimpered as he took the reigns by reaching around her. Novak rolled his eyes and scowled at Talyis, "What do you want the horse to stir himself. Relax or you will walk."

Talyis bit her lip. She could smell him so close to her, he smelt sweet and so of delectable spicy she had never imagined that would tantalize her. She wished the circumstances were different that a man this beautiful and smelt this wonderful wouldn't loathe her very existence, take pleasure in her pain or steal from her what she only knew not to give away, not even to herself.

She didn't know why but she blurted out, "If you despise me so much why don't you kill me and make us both happy."

Novak let go of his reigns set aback by her comment, she wanted him to kill her. His Talyis wanted to die. More acid leaked from his stone heart, it pained him to hear her speak like that. He took a deep breath and allowed the bitterest chuckle he could muster from within and took the reigns and kicked his beloved horse to a gallop.

***

Thankfully, the band approached the edge of the Navapa, Novak did not know if he could maintain himself with the sweet smell of Talyis right under his nose any longer. Gareth shot a look at him and he pulled his sword out and wrapped it around in front himself and Talyis. She shirked back suddenly scared.

"Be still," he breathed into her ear and cut her bounds from her wrists, "You are not to say a word to anyone do you understand."

She nodded and let tears from her eyes. She was too far away from home, she had never heard of this territory, but from her captor's behavior perplexed her. They were on edge, overtly cautious; might these Navapa people help her?

They rode on until the reached a sentry on his way to the village.

"What is your business here, travelers?" the sentry inquired blocking the road with his horse.

"We are on our way to our homes after a journey to trade," Gareth spoke.

The sentry arched an eyebrow and starred at the band, "With weapons?"

"We have many enemies who wish to eradicate our people on our trading route. It is mere protection, sir."

"What about the girl, she has tears in her eyes. We do not allow any slaves in this region."

"She is my..." Novak swallowed hard, "wife, she fell into the mud and ruined her favorite gown. Her tears are mere feminine trivialities, sir, I assure you."

The sentry examined Taylis from afar. She wished, she prayed he would not believe the lie. Her jaw quivered but she did not look at the sentry.

"It is near sunset, do you plan to continue your journey beyond the mountain pass today," the sentry asked making small talk but never taking his eyes off of Taylis. Novak hugged her to him noticing the sentry's disbelief and then whispered tenderly into Taylis's ear to not cry- a display for the sentry.

"No, we will setup our camp in the forest and set out in the morning," Gareth answered.

"You could buy the girl a new dress in the village. There must be a shop that is still open beyond dusk," the sentry said and then turned his horse back onto the path and galloped away towards the village.

The band turned off the road towards the forest in a full gallop. Novak was determined to get the night over with and onto his home as soon as possible. The last thing he wanted was a diversion of his plans caused by these meddling people. As soon as they reached the forest's edge, they slowed down and he could hear Talyis's the loud sobs penetrating the air in front of him.

He flexed his jaw, "Enough with the insufferable crying!"

"What kind of disgraceful monster bore a man like you," she spat her anger boiling over.

"Be careful, Vile," he gripped his reigns to restrain his hands.

"He didn't believe your lie," she goaded, trying to believe her taunts herself, "Who would believe I would be your wife. A lowly peasant wouldn't give away a mule to you," she laughed trying to sound strong. "The sentry is going to send officials to scourer the forests and arrest all of you, lascivious Aricin scum."

"Say one more word!" he warned.

She did not hesitate, "There was a reason why you, Aricin, should have been destroyed. I curse my father's neglect to not completely hunt..."

With that, a feral growl erupted from Novak. He threw her off of his horse and she fell to the ground with a loud thud. Instead of tears, the detested mocking cackle of his boyhood sliced the air. Talyis laughed like a little girl her legs kicking about her. Strength was on her side once again, her eyes ridiculed him.

Novak was stunned like a child bullied, he nervously looked at his band, and relieved they only focused on the girl and did not notice his humiliation.

He simply said to his band in the ancient Aricin language he knew she had not learned, "Tonight," the band concurred and followed Novak leaving Talyis behind on the ground.

Talyis's chortles were renewed again as she saw Novak ride away from her. She was oblivious to the now united retribution she had just caused. Gareth sighed seeing the eyes of his band grow dark with the memories of their lost loved ones plague their faces. He rode up to Talyis and offered his hand to her. She composed herself, flipping her hair out of her face and climb onto Gareth's horse.

Gareth was quiet, he didn't want to have conversation with Talyis either nor did he want to let his horse catch up to the rest. He knew his friend and his temper too well. It was best to let them all calm down. It was nice to ride at twilight, the sunset brought a clean breeze and the skies pinks and purples calmed him. When they had reached the camp the fire was already started and the tents were up. Seeing that the cattle prod was already in the fire, Gareth knew Novak's rage was far from restrained.

Novak stormed up to Gareth and yanked Taylis off the horse. She was disappointed; she hoped that he would have taken his horse to the forest so she would have a moment's peace to herself. He grabbed the helm of her shift and pulled it to her naked hips displaying her to Gareth's eyes. She caught her breath, her face flushed in embarrassment as she looked at Gareth, the only one to show her some value. Her stomach knotted instantly as Gareth looked at her indifferent.

"I told you to remove the hair!" Novak stormed, he twined his fingers through her hair knotting it as he twisted her head hard to him and dragged her across the camp to grab the shears. He snapped her head away from him and shoved the shears into her hands. "Go!"

"Novak, must you be so rough with the girl," Gareth voiced, "She is already broken. That display at the forest's edge was a girl loosing everything she has left."

Novak studied his friend in betrayed disbelief, he huffed, "Go follow her, make sure she doesn't kill herself with those shears."

Gareth sighed and turned his back to roll his eyes in secret defiance to his friend and prince. He followed the path Talyis walked into the forest for privacy to do Novak's embarrassing bidding.

Gareth found Talyis sitting in a meadow on a fallen log, her in head in her lap sobbing to herself. The shears were stabbed into the dead tree behind her. Gareth didn't want to startle her but branches from the lightening killed tree broke under his steps. She sprang to attention and inspected his every step towards her. He motioned to her with hands of surrender to relax and as delicate as possible joined her on the log. They took a collective sigh and looked at the sunset painted sky.

"Taylis, when you provoke Novak, you will only make life more troubling for yourself," Gareth's voice cracked when he finally found the words to say.

"What did I do to him? He looks at me... like I...," Talyis stopped and shook her head. "I don't know what he wants from me? This is not right. You don't capture royalty and not make demands. You don't capture royalty and not kill them."

Gareth sighed deeply and then shook his head not looking at Talyis but staring at his boots.

"Just do as he says and you will be fine," Gareth advised. "Have you finished what he commanded you to do."

"No. I am not going to do that!" Taylis fumed and Gareth smiled seeing the same temper his friend had in her eyes.

He smiled and chuckled, pointing a finger at her, "See that is exactly what I mean. Do not defy Novak and you will be fine." He glanced at the tree behind him and imagined Talyis entering the forest her little feminine frame seething wishing the tree were Novak.

"Do you need help," he chuckled, standing up.

Taylis protested boldly, "No, I am not incompetent; I know how to groom myself."

She marched over to the tree, plucked the shears from it and plopped back down onto the log. She grabbed the helm of her shift but hesitated. Gareth grabbed the shears from her and she scowled at him. He smiled to himself and whipped the grit from the tree off with his tunic and handed the shears back to her. She puckered her lips in concentration in the cutest fashion, it was no wonder his friend had suffered so long after this girl. She squeezed the helm of her shift again and tried to lift it but could not be force to expose herself to herself.

"Don't cut yourself," he teased.

"I know that," she hissed and gnawed on her lips in nervousness.

"I should turn my back," Gareth giggled silently, and then turned his back to her. He sat still shaking his head knowing she was frozen in the same spot, her obstinacy was amazing, "Just let me know, when you are done, don't want to be out here still shaving in the dark.... You are likely to cut yourself."

Taylis yelled in aggravation and gave up. Gareth turned to her and instead of prideful façade saw a bewildered girl.

"I never, I... I never," she stammered.

"You never looked at yourself," he finished and she closed her eyes tightly nodding, "Hmpf."

He prided her desperate fingers from the shears and gently tapped the other hand still clenching the bottom of her shift. He knelt in front of her and pulled her shift to her waist. She clutched her hands to the log at her sides and looked at the sky above her. She held her breath and tried to think of anything than the hands working on her mound, the eyes of a 'friend' seeing her folds. The pull of the blade woke her entire body, made something inside her clench, deep inside. She felt wet, but she had not wet herself. She wanted to spread her legs to let the wet loose.

"Taylis.... Taylis," Gareth repeated her name and she looked at him. Her face flushed when she saw him looking at her with an arched eyebrow judging her. He had stopped his work. "You should look at yourself."

Taylis shook her head, the strange feeling was gone. She took a deep breath and again looked at the sky. Gareth continued his work.

"You know what is going to happen tonight, Taylis?" Gareth asked coldly. She glanced down and finally watching him shave her pussy mound. "You are going to lose this," he inserted a finger into her and she took a sharp breath in and tried to move away from him but he placed a hand on her thigh holding her firm.

"Please," She begged in a husky voice, "Please don't."

"I am sorry," Gareth said plainly and continued his work, "You will be marked as Novak's and most of the band will take you. And..." He stopped; he saw the horror in her eyes searching his for help. "And by your remarks this afternoon they will not be kind." Gareth diverted his eyes back to his work, careful as he pulled her lips aside not wanting to cause any more discomfort to her as he dragged the blade to cut the fine hair. He hated seeing tears in women's eyes. "I am sorry Talyis."

He finished making sure no stray hairs were left and then rolled her shift back down over her thighs. He sat down next to her and watched the sun's last rays sparkle behind the hills.

"Its best that after tonight you learn your body and how to do this yourself, Talyis," Gareth remarked.

She didn't comment. Her stomach felt like bile was churning inside it, pushing into her throat bitter taste. She rocked back and forth. Gareth turned to her and saw her wits slipping. He hugged her to him and combed her hair from her face.

"Hey, come on, you should think of something else while, when it happens," Gareth consoled, "You've had to have had a love," Taylis shook her head, "Not one?" she shook her head again. Gareth slumped a bit trying to think of another solution to help her.

"There was one," she choked quietly and sob, "I am tired of tears." She sighed heavily and regained herself. She pulled away from Gareth and held herself, looking again into the trees. "The was a boy in the castle, when I was a little girl," she smiled to herself letting her hair fall back to play in the breeze as she remembered him, "We used to play together, we had our studies together. He was the sweetest boy I've ever known. I'd fancied him," she giggled, "I was so pathetic. You know when you like someone and you do the opposite to them, to pretend, to hide your real feelings. Oh I teased him awful. He knew truth. I know he did."

She stopped and then looked at the ground. "One day, I decided to tell him that I loved him. Oh, it was awful. We got into a fight. He was always very stubborn." She stopped and Gareth just stared at her in unbelief, "He was, emm, he disappeared when he turned thirteen. I don't know why he left. I thought it was because of me because I wasn't honest with my real feelings." Her voice trailed off and she patted her thighs as to announce the conclusion of her story, "I think I will always love my dark haired green-eyed boy."

Gareth sat astonished; he blinked his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. He looked at Talyis still staring at the sky thinking of her green-eyed boy.

"Tell me Gareth," she smiled her eyes brightly, "Do you love someone?"

"You don't want to hear about a raider's love life, especially an Aricin's," he teased and she bowed her head apologetically. "I have one love, Delia, she is a bar keep. A wench by your standards, but a princess by mine. She's plain delightful. Non-the-less as Novak's second, I cannot take her as my wife until he finds his own."

"Why?"

Gareth shifted uncomfortably and stood up, "It's getting dark and you remember what I told you about behaving for Novak." He held his hand out for Talyis to help her to her feet.

"Gareth, please don't take me tonight," she confided, he smiled apologetically and kissed her hand.

"Think of your green-eyed boy, Talyis," he encouraged.

Gareth could feel sexual tension and awaiting retaliation crackling in the air as soon as they reached the camp. His comrades sat around fire eating and talking. He knew Novak was still glowering as he played with the prod making the fire pop into the air. He walked over the kettle and served a bowl for himself and one for Talyis. She took it, inspected it and looked back in disappointment with eyes of a pleading babe- she didn't like their cuisine. The entire band stopped talking. Novak was glared at him and postured himself, enraged that as Talyis stood behind him. Novak's Talyis was so near to him.

Gareth thought to himself, If you only knew, friend. Retribution is a sour way to serve love.



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 04



Chapter 4

"A word with you," Novak glowered and Gareth nodded.

Novak marched off to his horse, grabbing the reigns, and led off into the forest.

Talyis turned to Gareth and reached up on her tippy toes to whisper into his ear, "Please don't tell him what I said. Please don't tell him about anything we've talked about."

Gareth didn't acknowledge his eyes diverted to the forest, taking a torch and lighting it to follow Novak's path. They walked silently in the dark towards the meadow he had shared with Talyis. Novak pat his horse's brown face smoothing the white stripe down its nose.

"Before you speak, I only meant to put the girl at ease, Novak," Gareth defended.

"She's the enemy," Novak quickly spat.

"Whose enemy Novak?"

"You've heard what she said! How she disrespected our people!"

"Don't lie to me, friend. We both know this is more than that."

Novak sat down on the log in the same spot Talyis had occupied earlier. Gareth perched his boot on the log next to Novak leaning over his leg.

"What do hope to accomplish," Gareth challenged, Novak didn't answer, "once you've broken her, marked her, marred her and marred her heart."

"Don't lecture me like an insolent boy, Gareth,"

"What are your plans to find a queen when you get back?"

"Gareth,"

"No, Novak. You plan to make this girl your servant, your bedfellow, the picture of a lover. Do you plan to hide behind you're acerbic heart because you had a painful boyhood. Move on and be the king your people deserve and find a rightful queen!"

"What do you care about the girl? What about your Delia or has virginal blood turned your taste buds turgid?"

"Delia has nothing to do with this."

"Stop pestering me about that damn girl, about a damn queen. I'll find a queen so you can have your whore!"

Gareth's temper flared red, he grit his teeth and raised his fist to punch his friend, his lord. His chest heaved as he took deep breaths realizing his place and let his grip loosen. Novak laughed mockingly at his only confidant. He strode over to his horse gracefully mounting the thoroughbred with one jump and looked down on his subservient knave.

"She is not your stallion that you can break in. She will never learn to love you like your precious horse has. In the end, you will always be thrown off," Gareth warned and slunk back towards the camp.

Novak scoffed at his friend and looked out into the meadow. The moon was large in the sky lighting the entire field of wild flowers and tall grass. A pond just before the rolling hills glimmered. His lips curled with anger mixed with sorrow, he thought of Taylis. The idea of always having her close to him to do whatever he wanted but never having her love back pricked annoyingly at him.

Damn Gareth, he thought.

He kicked his horse to a gallop and raced around the meadow. The wild flowers flew in the air as he worked his horse hard, circling. His mind circled and dust rose in their wake. He saw her eyes, twinkling brown seductive almonds: beckoning him, welcoming him. His horse panted and snorted, he pushed it harder. He saw her standing tall and confident, at ease. She was standing behind Gareth. Novak roared, awaking the birds that fluttered out of the trees. Talyis found comfort near his one true friend, the one who rescued him, who gave his identity back to him. His stallion kicked mounting the clear sky and ran harder than Novak had ever seen it run before. It snorted and screamed a battle roar its mane flew as he dashed to and fro. Novak felt free, felt like he was flying as his horse galloped wild. It bucked suddenly; he flew to the ground hard, knocking the air from his lungs. He composed himself and sat amazed as his wild stallion circled him, neighing victory loudly.

***

Gareth had stormed right past her, not even looking her way. She wondered if her secret was safe. She couldn't read his face which perplexed her. She watched him take his supper at the farthest end of the camp and eat by himself. It annoyed her that Novak looked jealous when he came back from the meadow. Why did he care so much if Gareth wasn't eager to beat her as he was?

She huddled near Novak's tent trying to be as inconspicuous as possible to the rest of the band. Her eyes tighten with dread; she could no longer understand their language. They were scheming about her in their secret ancient tongue. She noticed the change as soon as she'd returned to the camp and was left behind by the band's leaders. Their eyes translated as they inspected her from afar, making her body freeze, especially in the area Gareth had told her, 'They will take you here.' She clenched her legs tightly and tried to think of something else, but the feeling of Gareth's finger inside her secret place was a fathom coaxing wetness.

She shook her head violently in frustration. Her hair flooded around her in a chaotic halo. She hugged closer to the tent to avoid thinking of this place. Instead, she conjured her gardens where she would chase the green-eyed boy about the maze of hedges and rose bushes. Only to get through this night; she was determined to survive, to be strong.

She pretended the green-eyed boy was standing right in front of her, smiling in his cunning way. He wasn't a boy any longer but a man as she was a woman. He grew taller, the awkwardness she once teased now strong. She invited him into the castle. She entered the tent and he put his hands around her waist following her in. His large comforting hands on her waist felt so at home, she wanted to rock back towards him to connect. She smiled and turned to her imaginary man. She was at home and her heart was tranquil. She loved her green-eyed man and wanted to give everything he deserved. Again the feelings from the meadows came back to her, but they were rushing on her like a torrent. Muscles clenched where they had never clenched before, she spread her legs to let loose the wetness that continue to leak, she felt her labia itch for a touch. A touch she had never given herself. She wanted to throw herself on the cot and let the green-eyed man to do everything that a lover would do: teasing, coaxing, breathing heat into her cunny making her wet and leaking for him on display.

She giggle awkwardly, she was moving too fast. She reached up to put her hands around his neck and played with his scuffs between her fingers. She looked at the most giving reflection in his eyes. She wanted to kiss him, her first kiss.

"Out!" Novak yelled, breaking the spell. She stood in the middle of the large tent startled and embarrassed by her play. Her eyes took awhile to refocus on the man standing before her. Her lover was gone and this green-eyed monster stood instead. "I said out, Vile!"

'What was she doing, imagining Gareth? Kissing and dancing with Gareth? he fumed to himself and watched her shudder.

He softened a bit to notice something wild was in her eyes. Concern furrowed on his brow, she stood staring at him as if she recalled something. She smelt delectable; he could smell her in the air of the tent. He remembered all of his daydreams of having Talyis, making love to her, having her writhe and glue her hips to his. Her eyes smiling up at him as her walls milked his cock. The look of vehemence returned to her face and his illusions disintegrated.

He jeered bitterly to himself, Princess, you already losing your mind? Just wait.

The time had come, she fearfully and anxiously walked out of the tent. The band had moved the wagon near the fire. She closed her eyes as she took hesitant steps forward. It was as if she was walking to the chopping block in the square for execution. She was not going to fear, she was going to be strong, if she couldn't muster enough courage for herself at least enough for her people.

The men heckled her, slithery faces glowing in the firelight. She looked for Gareth, but could not find him. She gulped and steadied her chest's rise and fall to elevate the feeling a stabbing pain between her breasts.

Novak came out of the tent with purposeful, strong steps. He seemed to have grown taller, stronger compared to her failed attempts to be anything but a meek woman. His boots made the ground vibrate around her as she slinked back when he walked towards her. The roots of her hair burned in anticipation of him grabbing the tresses roughly, but instead he pulled her to the ground before him, making her kneel at his boots. The men cheered.

"Onor Vile, Aricin rule you," he sneered with a delighted smile in his ancient language. He was finally victor over her. She was groveling at his feet. "Say it." he commanded in his ancient language and the men jeered. He leaned over and spoke into her ear, his voice liquid with lust. "You don't understand, do you princess," he spoke in her language. "I will help you." He stood again proud and the men enclosed around her already beginning to take their cocks out, stroking them in fever. "I am an Onor wench. The Aricin rule over me," Novak dictated, his voice was so sensual it confused Talyis that such despicable words could be said by this voice. "Say it," he continued in her own language.

"I" she hesitated and clenched her eyes shut.

He grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks, "Open your eyes when you address your prince."

She fumed now, she didn't care what his voice sounded like. She was not going to be tamed. She thought of his words in the ancient language he spoke. She grinned and exploded, "Vile Aricin!" She looked at him smugly.

The raiders couldn't believe what she had said in their ancient tongue, Novak dragged her to the wagon throwing her roughly onto it. The ropes had already been prepared for him to use to tie her, but he didn't care. He wanted her to fight and learn who was master, now. He was a pure animal and to chase was going to make his conquer that more pleasurable.

He jumped onto the wagon and cornered her, holding her neck to keep her still as he pulled the shift over her head and tossed it to the ground. He pressed his tented pants to her hips as she struggled to break free from the back of the wagon. The men surrounded the wagon, still stroking their cocks to full attention.

Novak captured her hand and twisted it behind her back tightly disjointing the shoulder socket if she were to continue to fight with him. He pulled her to him, his cock rubbing against her nude back. The chill of the cool air pulled her nipples out to his approval.

"Stop," he commanded and he looked down at her breasts moving with a frantic pant. He brought his free hand to her breast and pulled at a nipple twisting it wickedly.

"Ouch!" she cried out and whimpered letting her head fall back against his chest hard.

"Let's try this again," he said coolly and smoothly, "I am an Onor wench, and the Aricin rule over me."

"I am-- I will never," she clenched teeth in defiance.

Novak threw her to the floor of the wagon, her arse scraped against the harsh wood. The men took Novak's place quickly jumping onto the wagon as he stepped down. She looked up at the men and for the first time saw the male sex organ. Her eyes widened, they all varied in size and color, some stroked theirs fervently others bounced freely pointing at her. Novak returned and the men stepped aside. He grabbed her leg and dragged her to the bottom edge of the wagon. She sat up and fought with him as he tried to spread her legs with one free hand, his other had the cattle prod in hand. Two men with hairy black crotches reeking of precum grabbed her. One attending her thighs holding her open to Novak, while the other pulled her arms behind her back, jutting her breasts forward to their prince.

"Last try, princess," he let the prod hover above her mound, she could feel the heat emanate from the white glowing metal onto her entire pussy. "Say it,"

"I am an Onor wench and the Aricin rule over me," she conceded bitterly.

"In your own language so I know you mean it," he demanded letting the prod inch closer. Talyis began to squirm.

"I am an Onor wench," she said in her own language and whined as he inched the prod closer, the heat pooled sweat on her hairless mound. "Please," she panted, sweat beads poured down her body leaving goosebumps in their wake. "The Aricin rule over me."

Novak smiled and arched an eyebrow in confidence, "My prince is Novak. He is my master."

"Oh, please," she whispered desperately her mouth gapped and her eyes closed letting her head fall back.

"Look at me and say it!"

"My prince is Novak and he is my master," She blurted.

Novak pressed the burning cattle prod into her mons, she mind froze in shock as screams racked over her body, her skin sizzled Novak's mark onto her pussy for ever. His band roared. He tossed the prod aside before she could regain any sense of what was happening and pulled his pants down allowing his engorged cock freedom. He forced Talyis's legs to her chest and let his cock slip into her tight passage. He roared as his head filled her, stretching her lips around his cock. Talyis didn't understand the initial pressure she felt as his cock head sat within her, she cried and squirmed pushing him deeper within. She was as hot as the cattle prod inside and it radiated heat to his sac.

"I am your master," he sneered in his ancient language. He pushed more of his cock into her as her walls involuntarily hugged him, as they molded themselves to his shape. She winced sharply as the pressure built to a red-hot stabbing pain deep within. Novak smiled as he looked down on his sweet Taylis. "You will learn to love me," he continued cheating behind the language that sounded so intensely passionate. He added more pressure to her maiden head enjoying her futile attempts to move away to release the pressure. His cock was made for her and her walls did not want to unglue themselves from him. "You will love me as I had loved you." He pulled out and she sighed deeply. Her eyes were clear; she was relieved his pillage of her innocence was paused. He smiled down at her, his dark curls framing his face as she tried to imagine her dark green-eyed boy. He rested his cock head at her entrance. "You are far from done, my little wench." He took her nipple and sucked it into his mouth. She yelped and arched her back scraping it against the wooden floor. He bit the brown nipple giving her a reminder. He then thrust his cock deep into her bursting through her hymen.

Talyis cried out, everything burned she couldn't see anything anymore other than blurry figures of phallic men pumping their seed on the wooden cart floor around her. Novak drove into her, pounded into her body, dragging the walls of her pussy with his every long entrance and exit. He mauled her breasts with his hands using her tender mounds as leverage to punish her more with each thrust.

Then something new happened, he reached down in between where they were joined. He spread her lips further open around his shaft, laughing, as he found what he was looking for. Her toes burned with fire when his fingers manipulated her tiny clit head. He was proud how he fanned her labia out around his shaft and then a sudden surge entered her body and a feral growl erupted from Novak. The band cheered and got closer to her, some now behind Novak, others kneeling down before her. He produced a white handkerchief from his tunic and pulled his cock from her. He wiped his cock bloodied with her maidenhead and his seed. He roughly wiped her raw exposed and opened pussy to soak up more of her first coupling.

He showed the bloodied laced handkerchief to her and said in her own language. "I master you, your body is now mine." He cupped her mound, "This is now mine." He snickered and pulled his pants back into place and walked away from her.

Tears streaked her face, he was so tender for a moment, and the foreign words he said had so much passion behind them. It didn't make any sense to her why she lusted after him and then was tormented within the same moment. She arched her back and yelled out in frustration as if to call to the winds for answers to how to run away or stay.

She did not see the gesture of permission from the leader, but the men began to pull her nipples, suck her face. One was between her thighs and plunged into her already delicate pussy. Her back rubbed up and down against the wooden base with his thrusts. Her nose was clamped closed and a warning to not bite as a fleshy member was shoved into her mouth, thrusting down her throat.

She closed her eyes and tried to think of Gareth's advice to picture her green-eyed boy. Only the dark haired green-eyed man came to her mind and it was Novak. Another was ready to replace the one in her pussy, she got a moments relief as the air cooled the burn of her chaffed pussy lips. Then she grunted as another plowed into her. He yanked her legs to her chest and straddled above her to pound into her with a vengeance. The pressure pushed against her pelvic floor and made her feel full in her bowels. It was hard to escape as the reality of each thrust, her aching jaw around the cock in her mouth and the constant squeezing of her breasts.

"Harder," Novak yelled, "Fuck her harder," he continued to coach until her tears were loud screeches of pain. "Your turn," he told another, and the man let her body fall back to the wagon floor from his cock. The new raider presented his small pudgy cock at her entrance, "No, put your fingers into her. Make her wet."

Talyis wanted to melt into the wood beneath her; she remembered how humiliating it was when Gareth did this. She turned and saw Novak standing over her. He was leaning with an emotionless expression against the wagon's walls. Standing still with his arms crossing his strong chest; he was looking down on her, overseeing, and instructing the ravishment of her body. Dark cruelty dripped in his words, but his green eyes were piercing with a tempest of conflict roaring against his forgotten conscience.

"Stretch her out. Use two fingers. Make her walls want to close around your fingers," Novak demanded crudely. She cried out as two fingers stretched her open, the cool breeze came into her tunnel, bring her walls to clench around the man's fingers.

"She is doing it," the man between her thighs cackled proudly and began to trust deeply adding a third finger.

"Good," he smiled looking down at her with animosity in his eyes. The man continued to finger fuck her and positioned his cock at her puckered anus. Novak looked at the hunger man's eyes with his fingers stuffed in her pussy and pushed him off of the wagon on to the ground. "That is mine to break!" he admonished. "Enough, you are all done," Talyis panted in relief, she was able to live through it, "She gets one more chance at pleasing her new nobles. Gareth!"

Novak called and pranced around the camp taunting his friend, calling his name, "Gareth."

Gareth sat on the far side of the camp, watching, listening his arms crossed in opposition.

"No, Novak," Gareth spat vehemently. "You know I will not participate."

"Your King says you will."

"Novak you are my friend. You know my heart is for Delia."

"I am your King!"

Gareth reluctantly got up and quietly walked over to the trembling girl. His face furrowed with anger and remorse. Talyis's eyes pleaded as the firelight flickered on her face; he avoided her eyes as he began to remove his tunic.

"What are you doing?" Novak crooned, "You don't need to remove every stitch of clothing to fuck her." Gareth closed his eyes and shook his head. Novak was being like little a whelp on edge, he clenched his jaw wanting to punch his friend. "What is taking you so long?"

"It's ok," Taylis uttered so quietly to her friend, "Just...do it. Get it over with, please."

Gareth pulled his cock from his pants letting it hide under his tunic and massaged it. He straddled Talyis's stomach and leaned close to her ear as he stroked his cock on her stomach.




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 04



"Think of your green-eyed love," he whispered, and then kissed down her neck, licked her nipples to life.

He laved relief to the angry bite circling her brown areola. He pulled the nipple between his lips gently nipping it before he sucked it. When he released it, the erect nipple bounced happily against her breasts. He continued to shower kisses down her stomach and was kind to avoid the nasty burn of Novak's seal searing near her delicate lips. He spread her legs further apart and used his thumbs to pry her petals open to his eyes. She was wet for him, for her green-eyed lover. His tongue licked from the bottom of her slit gathering her sweet nectar up to the bud of nerves at the top. Her body arched off of the wagon and gasped. He did it again and then latched on to the bud and sucked it hard. His thumbs continued to massage her labia apart, opening her, giving her what she needed and what she deserved. She was so close.

"Stop!" Novak yelled, but Talyis continued to thrust her hips into Gareth's face trying to get more. "I said stop! Talyis stop!" Novak grabbed the girl and brought her to her feet. She hung limply, half-dazed in his grip, her hips still undulating to her imaginary green-eyed man. Novak pulled her into his arms and carried her off of the wagon. He picked up her shift and shoved it into her arms. She looked about around confused, she felt she was almost near to something happening; she didn't want it to stop. "Go to sleep!"

He watched as she hesitantly walked away, bewildered, her legs wobbled about her steps as her body was still charging with her lips rubbing together in every step. He turned to Gareth enraged.

"What are you trying to prove, Gareth?!" Novak demanded circling around to Gareth, but Gareth had already left, mounting his horse and riding off into the shadows. Novak yelled curses after Gareth and then slunk to the fire circle in defeat.

The men began to clean the semen off of the wagon and pulled the cases of strong liquor out to celebrate claiming the princess. Novak smoldered by the fire as the men sang into the night's air. He drank not saying a word to anyone until he felt numb to everything.

He stumbled into his royal tent in the dark, the men's merriment leaked through the fabric. He could her Taylis's labored breath rise and fall, she was sleeping. He pulled out his token: Taylis's virginity and brought it to his nose. He laughed to himself trying to keep himself numb and fell to the ground dizzy from the smell. His balance was lost swimming in his many drinks. He chuckled as he tried to crawl back to his feet but gave up. He resolved to lying on the floor, he sighed attempting to relieve his stress and inhaled her innocence- losing his battle to maintain his iron heart, tears spilled from his green eyes in the dark.



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 05



Chapter 5 

 It had been over ten years since he had stepped onto the soil of the Onor land. The memories of his childhood flooded him as he had expected. The little princess he had tried to forget haunted him more clearly as his band ascended on the dark castle, using the skills he'd learnt from the corridors of the halls he now crept down. His band moved like cats setting each foot expertly on the bricks silently in the night. Their hearts pounded in their ears, there were so close to the justice they so longingly awaited. 

He had confided with his best friend, Gareth the night before over the fire as their band slept. Many nights the two spoke and jested confidently about their impending raids but last night Novak shared his trepidation. He did not want to harm the princess from his memories, but he also knew that his people had waited for this day for decades. If only he could do what he had to do and someone else within the band could take their justice with the royal family without him having to gaze upon her. He was afraid that to see the princess would weaken him; to love her meant to betray the plan. He recoiled at the thought of the princess replacing the image of his father, kneeling at the feet of King Anorich, the sword already pressing into his pulsating heart as he begged for his young son's life. He was only ten years old when he'd fought hard against the Onor guards to release him so he could run to his father's side and cry into his father's strong arms that used to wrap around him whenever possible. His father's kind face always welcoming and loving for his son, was now filled with anguish and terror. His father surrendered his life and the lives of his people for Novak. 

He was never prepared for the eeriness of the strongest power in the land when they entered the throne room. It was vacant of gentry, no longer did the artists play music within its halls, the company of the prosperous villagers absent in the throne hall, the stone walls were naked of art, hunting trophies and precious silver and gold metals, gems from far off lands were replaced by cold black iron. The king, the man he had detested, who had raised him, sat slumped on his throne. His red elegant robes were the only marker of a once regent time now hung on his bony aged body like drapes. A chalice dangled in his hand, he was drunk, and did not care that his demise had come. The weak man found it humorous to be seated like melted wax against the young warriors. Novak scarcely believed that the king he stood before was the man who had caused so much terro. This drunken, slovenly man sitting on the throne had successfully manipulated his family to give up their kingdom. Novak was now strong and with sword in hand, his father's sword that had been hidden by Gareth's family, he advanced towards the king. The king cackled, "The little whelp has finally returned," and then stood on shaky balance.

Novak sensed a predator standing over him and quickly opened his eyes shifting them around the tent. Splitting pain divided his skull awakening him to the morning. Talyis was standing in the center of the tent watching him like a hawk waiting to swoop down on its venerable prey, her expression determined. In panic, his ears made inventory of his band outside and quickly darted out of the tent. 

Did the witch murder his men in their sleep? Novak alarmed inside.

He burst through the tent and found his men. The sun was inching towards the top of the sky. The men sat around the smoldered fire not really talking, only packing quietly not to disturb their hangovers. They were awaiting their leader to wake up and begin their journey home.

"Where is Gareth?" he snapped against his better judgment of his churning hangover.

"He has not returned since last night, my lord," one answered.

Novak rolled his eyes and sauntered back into his tent. He lay back down on his cot, burying his face in the padding. His own hangover began to beat at his body. 

Talyis remained planted in the middle of the tent and her voice cannoned, "Now that you have taken me, I demand to know your wishes."

Novak cursed, "You pestilent gnat, can you not see that I do not wish to speak to you."

He massaged his temples and caught Talyis digging her heels into the ground. He was being unnerved by the second; she dared to cross him with her pigheadedness.

"If your wish is my territory, you may have it. My land is rich and you will make a great profit in trading. I will personally arrange for my allies to join with your people. Only let my people live and scatter. Let the families find refuge. I will assure you they will not retaliate for their fallen kingdom."

"I've told you, I do not want you land," Novak groaned and closed his eyes wishing her booming voice would shut.

She regrouped her resolve, trying to keep her boiling contempt from ruining the importance of this negotiation. "Then it's life for life you want. Take my life and any of my people from the generation that killed off yours. The young generation does not even know that you exist. Let them be free to live. I believe this is highly diplomatic, nations rise and fall. Your people provoked their fate."

Novak charged Talyis, his head swirling, making him sick when he pushed the girl to the ground. His raging energy sucked all the air out of the tent, "My people were peaceful. Your king massacred our lands without due justice. I told you princess to let alone but your insistent impudence should have you canned. You are marked. Do you know what that means?"

She shook her head frazzled looking up at him in total confusion.

"It means, I've taken you. You are bound to me for the rest of your pitiful life, however short and pathetic it maybe."

"You want to torture me?" she shrieked fearfully and then gritted her teeth determined to fight. "I am a leader of a people, a prisoner of war. You cannot treat me like this."

"Silent that tongue when I am speaking to you. You are no longer a princess and will not be treated like one. You bear my seal, you are my slave. I will do whatever I please. If I wish for you to serve me, you will. If I wish for you to serve my people, you will. If I wish to fuck, you will be ready. I own you." He was exhilarated and knelt in front of Talyis his words bringing heat to her face with every word, "And just to make things clear. You mean nothing. If you were to be with child by me, it will mean nothing. I'll send it to the mines." 

Talyis confidence melted to silent panic satisfied Novak stood and started to change into his clothing as she sat so still in the middle of the tent. He instructed, "Pack up this tent and get my horse ready." He sauntered out of the tent and she could hear him demanding for Gareth outside. She had caused the volcano of his temper to erupt flowing its hot impatience onto everyone in its path.

Gareth rode up calmly to the camp's edge, "I am here Prince." 

"Where have you been?" Novak admonished. "I need you, now." 

Talyis was startled when Novak burst through the tent with Gareth, "Why aren't you packing this tent" he snapped, ignoring that she was already attempting to roll up his cot. "Nevermind, get me some bitters." She looked at the two men inquisitively, "Get me a drink!"

She rushed out to find a bit of whatever caused their merriment the night before and brought it back to him. Novak and Gareth were arguing over a route plan. Novak's face red with heat and sickness, he snatched the drink from her without missing a beat of his tirade. 

Talyis cautiously packed the tent listening to the men's debate on how to avoid the two Navapa camps obstructing their options home. She did not know territory and knew better than to glance at the map with Novak so near. But she was impressed by Novak's quick sound arguments despite being under the weather. He was a great leader, ruthless but great.

When Gareth felt that Novak's crankiness had settled once the decision of travel had been satisfied, he quietly handed Talyis a package twined close, while Novak was preoccupied with his maps. She tentatively took the soft package. A simple white and blue dress unfolded from the paper when she loosened the twine. Holding the dress to her body, she gave Gareth a simple smile of thanks.

Sensing the silent room secretly moving behind him, Novak turned his attention to the two conspirators "What is this?!" Novak criticized and flipped the helm of the dress in his fingers, "You give gifts to a slave, now?"

"Novak," Gareth tried to reason, "she cannot walk around in a shift for the rest of her days." 

Talyis stood still careful to not disturb the already tense air surrounding the men.

"What do you care what she wears?"

"It is soiled. She is bleeding onto it as we speak," Gareth matched.

Talyis shrieked as Gareth grabbed the helm of her shift to exhibit the fresh blood stains painting it red. Agony raced through her, she had been so focused on Novak, on their arguments, that she did not notice that she had been bleeding from her assaults of the last night onto her shift.

"We cannot travel amongst these Navapa with her in this condition," Gareth reasoned. 

"Fine," Novak irked. "Clean her up." 

"I can heal myself," Talyis spurted assertively before Gareth could take a step forward to follow Novak's instruction. 

"Then get to it, I want to leave now." 

Novak turned back to his maps and Talyis winced again faced with the predicament of having to touch and gaze upon herself. Last night, she was so physically and emotionally drained; and she hadn't slept since she had woken from the raid in the burlap sac. The sensations overpowered her as she dared not inspect her injuries. Last night, she had passed out as soon as she had peace to herself and her head hit the padding of Novak's cot. Now, all were very present: the burning from her tattered pussy walls, the bubbling of boils from his mark, the stiffness in her entire body from the grinding of men pushing her muscles hard with each thrust into the wooden base of the wagon. Again, the sensations she had recessed in her mind, now flooded her, freezing her still before the two men in the tent.

"Novak, she cannot look at herself," Gareth whispered respectfully.

"Come girl," Novak snapped, shaking her mind back into the tent, "You smelt of other men's cum all night, I want to bathe you off of me." 

Furry rose in her belly: she wanted to slap Novak, but instead resigned and followed him to his horse. Novak tenderly pat his horse and took its reigns leading him down the path to the meadow. Talyis walked behind him, her arms crossing her chest, wanting to disappear from the eyes of his men recalling taking her. 

Novak's horse trotted about the open field when he released it with a kind pat to its rump. Talyis stationed herself at the entrance of the meadow, wishing she were free from her present state. She'd run free in the glades with bare feet. She wished it were her green-eyed boy looking back at her from the middle of the field beckoning her to him; instead it was a green-eyed monster. 

"Follow me," he barked and marched to the far end of the meadow to where the fresh pond sat, sparkling in the sunrays. 

Novak pulled his tunic off, his muscle-defined back made her shiver. He tossed his boots aside and lowered his pants discarding them easily. She stood wide-eye watching his buttocks shift under his strong legs. He looked like a god. The greatest warrior that ever lived with smooth, perfected skin that bore no battle scars. He splashed into the pond with heavy strides and disappeared under the water. Talyis stepped closer to get a curious look of what lie between his thighs. She had never seen the male organ other than its shadows glowing in firelight and the force of its impact on her body. 

Her heart began to pound; Novak was under for a long time and had not come up to the top. Her feet were moving into the water before she could react with her mind.  Why was she running to him, she could escape, run to the other end of the forest. He came up from the water and she quickly scurrying back to the grassy pond's edge. 

"Take off that shift and wash your wounds," he said less acidly to her for the first time that morning.

She pulled the shift over her head and let it fall gently to the grass, her arms wrapped around her tender breasts. Novak couldn't help but let his mouth fall, she was indeed hurt. Her legs were stained with blood, black bruises covered her golden brown skin, his mark looked like a large white puss boil wickedly inflamed instead of the intricate tribal swirls and lines of his personal seal. Blood leaked from in between her dangling pussy lips. He felt guilty for ruining his angel's beauty.

"Come into the water, wash your legs," he ordered. Talyis raised inquisitive eyebrows at him not moving. Novak discerned her anxiety and swam further away the pond's edge so that she would feel safe. She took steps but winced. His eyebrows crossed with concern, he knew that each step brought back the pain between her legs that she had carefully hidden from her nerves. His Talyis had always tried to be strong despite her vulnerabilities. When he was satisfied with her attempts to clean off the filth from her legs, he continued, "Lean back and wash your back and hair, be careful to keep my mark above the water." 

She rolled her eye indignantly. How dare he think he could instruct her how to bathe. Instead, she cupped water and sprinkled it over her back, she crying out loud when some of the water hit the boil. She stopped and unfolded, everything was coming apart, Talyis scrambled back to the grass, holding her body tight in her arms.

"Stop, I did not give you permission to leave," he barked and swam out of the pond to her. His hands shook nervously as her reached for the trembling girl and made her sit on the grass with her feet floating in the water. His eyes softened, he was jumpy inside, his futile attempts to care for the girl were laughable. "Stay."

Talyis squeezed her arms around her chest and rocked trying to slow down the torrent raging within her. She was numb to Novak's movement around her. He had gotten out of the water and brought her shift back as he knelt by her clenched legs. He pried her legs slightly apart, his eyes avoiding hers, taking the shift into the water and then carefully wiping her legs clean. He was slow to drag the cloth down her legs, letting its coolness calm her. Neglecting her center, he re-wet the cloth and cleaned her neck and arms, more confidently as he pulled her arms away from her. 

He was avoiding her eyes. Her mind finally stopped climbing the cliff it was desperate to fling itself off of and came back into her body. His hands worked quickly re-soaking her shift and then carefully cleaning her, avoiding her pains. His hand cupped behind her neck and tilted her head back. Her face flushed as her breasts were jutted towards him, she wanted to shrink, but he wasn't paying attention to her embarrassment. Novak let the cloth shower her hair. When he was satisfied with his job, he took a new breath of determination and gently dabbed her nipples clean, careful to not disturb the scabs forming from his teeth marks. His cock bounced against his belly, extending, wishing to dive into her warm folds that were so close to his bulbous head. He restrained himself, his thoughts of last night made everything within him lament his choice. Her belly did not rise or fall as she stared at his fingers cleaning her breasts and peaking her nipples. 

Her eyes caught him peeking at her trying to find her expression as he tenderly washed her body. She watched her nipples curiously began to salute to his touch. She saw the yellow glints of the sun in his green-eyes and blushed. He stopped swirling the cloth around her breasts and they starred at each other- past to future conflicting within them. Novak reluctantly broke from her gaze and stood up forgetting his swelling cock looking down at her. He left her in the water and walked around the pond, his fingers combing through the grass. He found what he was searching for and returned between her legs. He brought a bud to his lips and twisted it, leaking its juice onto his fingers. He dabbed the juices onto his mark and she winced. He took her hand securely into his own to reassure her and continued to nurse. He squeezed her hand reassuring her with every flinch she made. Satisfied, he gathered more juice from the bud held between his lips. He released her hand to move her leg further apart from the other. Her petals opened to his gaze, she was glistening wet in the sun. He carefully swirled his fingers around her outer lips with the healing juice and then pushed his finger into her opening. His finger pushed against the bottom of her slit, relieving her tears and building pressure onto her perineum. Talyis mouth dropped and a sigh escaped her lips. Novak smirked; his lips curled around the bud in his teeth as he reapplied more of the juice and continued to heal the girl. She watched as his finger slid in between her folds, curling up making her feel like she was going to pee. Her leg swayed from side to side, in attempts to relax her pussy at the mercy to his minstrels but the rest of her body tensed into tight balls. He could hear that she was close to moaning as silent hisses escaped her moist lips. 

He chucked his attempts to heal aside and pressed his finger against the rough ball of nerves at the top of her pussy. His thumb clamped onto her clit as he began to massage her. Her hips circled in an ancient dance as he drove his fingers deeper and faster into her. The juices of the bud and her sex mixed together sloshing louder as he became more urgent. His own cock's nerves moved on its own accord as his fingers were squeezed by the pussy he now possessed. Talyis moaned in silent quick breaths coming closer together. Her silky walls were so tight on his hand he could barely thrust insistently; instead he pulled his fingers from her and drove his cock into her spasming walls. He was in ecstasy, her orgasm pulsated her pussy around him as he speared into her, forcing the walls apart, again driving her into another explosion. 

His arms circled her as they trembled together at the waters edge. Their breathing melded together collectively. He lay on top of her, his cock still hard inside of her loosened pussy. He sighed, pulled out and he swam into the water to where he had found the bud to find another. He came back to her, she was lying on her back, her chest still rising and falling deeply. He cleaned his seed from her pussy and reapplied the healing bud juice to her. Her hips flexed up with the simplest touch, he smirked and unenthusiastically refused to further stimulate her. 

He emerged from the pond and wrung the wet shift out. Talyis stood up, her back sweaty and decorated with blades of grass. He chuckled tenderly and wiped her back dry with his tunic to remove the grass from her back and arse. He tied the damp shift around her waist, bandaging his mark for it to heal. He pulled the white and blue dress that Gareth purchased in the village over her head, dressing her before he put his boots and pants on. 

His sucked his teeth in a loud kiss for his horse but it was busy grazing on the grass. He blushed and smiled looking at Talyis and embarrassed by his stubborn horse. He ran calling after his horse in his ancient tongue. She couldn't help but smile, he youthfully ducked and darted through the tall grass, his dark curls playing about his shoulders. The horse was startled and began to run away but then realized it was his master. The stallion trotted back at him chortling with his master in affection. Novak brought his horse to Talyis and picked her up to gently place her on top of his prized stallion. She cried out, shooting pain raked through her body to her brain and he winced with her apologetically. He swept his tunic up and led his horse back to the camp with Talyis on top like he had done so many times when they were young. 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 05



***

They rode long and hard in effort to get home before the next dawn. Novak said little to Talyis but knew she was in pain from their arduous journey. He knew she would hide it within her to hide to prove to her pride. Her hair floated about him, bringing her sweet aroma to his nose as they rode. His body was tense with anticipation and hope that they possibly could co-exist in a sense of harmony with each other. He had debated for hours, but quickly decided to gently kiss the back of her head; he wondered if she noticed. He hoped none of his men had noticed.

Finally, his body relaxed in victory as he reached the gates to his village. Their horses snorted in elation to be home as were their owners. It was deep night and many of the small homes were dark. Talyis looked around at the village, her new home. They rode on and the sounds of laughter and song sliced the silent cool air. They approached a tavern leaking light onto the dirt path; the building's seams seemed to swell with activity in the dark. The men congratulated each other softly as they jumped off their horses and entered the small shack. Novak removed his armor and placed it on the wagon as Gareth helped Talyis down from the horse.

The three entered the pub to join the band. Laughter penetrated the air as men and women sang and drank. She couldn't help but to stare at fair skin and sharp angled faces of the almost extinct Aricin people. Men cheered and greeted Novak happily addressing him as their lord and prince. A large mug was given to him and a toast was commencing to commemorate the return of the band.

A woman's squeal broke over the voices and tides of people were shoved aside as a voluptuous, red haired woman ran towards them. Her face was as red as her fire curly hair that scattered about her in mad dash towards them. Her huge smile of teeth, arms outstretched as her hips and breasts bounced joyfully she ran smack into Gareth. Gareth grunted but hardly lost his stature when her arms slapped around him in a huge hug.

"Gareth, my love!" She cried and Gareth pulled her close to him and beamed down at his beloved Delia. 



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 06



Chapter 6 

Delia pulled at Gareth's arms to drag him further into the pub, but Gareth cleared his throat, giving a warning look, his eyebrow arched. He smiled and shook his head, amused.

"Oh," she hopped turning to Novak and bowed with half-hearted gracefulness, "Welcome back mi lord, hope yer travels were wit you." She then giggled and pulled Gareth's arm bringing him into the swell of happy Aricin.

Novak seized Talyis's waist, "Keep near to me at all times," he warned, the acid had returned to his voice. Talyis sighed and followed Novak. 

"Ae! Ae! Move out and mike way for yer prince," Delia shooed patrons from a table in the corner of the pub. She used her skirts to clean the tabletop and plopped down patting on the bench for Gareth to sit next to her. 

As soon as the three sat down, Delia tackled Gareth's face with kisses and swung her legs unto his lap giggling as she twirled her cute pudgy fingers through his blond hair.

"Oh, I be missing me manners," Delia stood up abruptly and whistled so loudly it cut through the room, "Ae! Two drinks here for yer prince." She sat down and replaced her legs in Gareth's lap purring while he massaged her calves.

Two frothy mugs were brought over and slammed onto the table by a barkeep. The men took their drinks never really looking at each other but out of respect for their successful journey clinked glasses. Delia smiled as she wiped the froth from Gareth's lips with her thumbs and then grabbed his mug to take a large gulp.

"Don't take me Gareth from me again, Novak. I want him home now for at least a season," Delia sparked, her voice always booming as bright as her fire red hair. 

"Delia, I don't mean to take him from you," Novak replied.

"I mean it. I might be wanting babies soon and don't want him off playing raiders of dragons with you forever. Plus, you miss all the action round here."

"Delia," Gareth warned.

"What?" Delia turned to Gareth, "I aint get any younger, Gareth. And how long I gonna wait? Novak, I want babies, when are you going to let Gareth-"

"Please Darling."

"Well if you cant mix the batter, then maybe me and Novak will mix it and then I can have me darlings and he can have it queen too," her belly jumped happily in a hearty laugh.

Novak choked on his sip, his face turning red trying to regain himself. "Delia, I think you wont have to wait that much longer."

"What?! You intent on no longer shirking your duties as leader of our people and find a queen. Well it's about time! I all by meself without a chit to chat. Find your queen so we both can raise our babies together," she squealed giddily.

"Delia, please sweetheart, let's not talk about this tonight, we've had a long journey," Gareth tiredly tried to silence her.

"Well, I some juicy news that you haven't heard yet, your majesties," she grinned and jiggled her shoulders, her breasts chuckled teasingly. "Since you intent on leaving, poor Delia behind to fend for herself, in this rudey pub-"

"What is the news Delia," Novak interrupted, stopping the melodramatics.

Delia swung her legs off Gareth's lap and leaned in close with big grin from ear to ear, looking at the men to see if they were on edge. They were. So she chuckled and took a big swig of Gareth beer and slammed the mug down, "Well! There was a general poking round here near days ago. I know he was something more than the weary traveler he pretensed. The owner thinks he's Navapa. I said to him, 'Navapa? I never heard of Navapa- '"

Novak snapped, "Switch to your ancient tongue." He glanced at Talyis sitting next to him pretending not to listen and content with staying out of the way.

Delia burst loudly in laughter, her face was red with joy, "I know me back of me head better than I know me ancient tongue." 

Novak looked at Gareth annoyed with his choice of a mate. Novak dearly loved Delia but at times she was a touch too uncouth. He snapped his fingers at Talyis and pointed at the corner behind their table. Talyis surveyed the table, Delia was still in the throws of laughter and Gareth seemed to agree with Novak. She shuddered, realizing how strong Gareth's alliance with her "new" owner was and shuffled to the corner like a reprimanded disobedient child.

Novak hissed, "Keep your voice low and tell me what you saw."

Delia smiled and leaned closer to Novak, playing the part of secret spy happily, "He was sniffing round." She winked and wagged her blonde eyebrow playfully at Novak. "He inquired to me bartender about our boundaries and fortresses. He didn't know that I was listening in." She sat up straight and wrapped her arms around Gareth and kissed his cheeks, "See aren't I grand!"

Novak was satisfied with her report and keeping it quiet within their ears' hears length, "Yes she is." Novak praised and glanced at Talyis. She had a fluster look on her face, as she couldn't hear the conversation which made him more than pleased. "Another round!"

"So pigeon, who are ya?" Delia finally turned to Talyis startling her.

"I...I...I am just a tavern wench. I..." Talyis flustered, her eyes dropped to the ground. then strengthened again, "I pledged myself to your lord, to get away from a harsh life."

Delia's eyebrows rose to top of her hair line and she shifted her eyes to the men and smiled knowing better. The drinks came and Delia gladly twittered on with the men about what they had missed in the pub and village while they were gone.

When their moods were supple and sated with drink, Novak instructed Talyis to get his horse ready. She yawned and shuffled quietly out of the pub. Delia kissed Novak goodnight and gave Gareth a wink that she'd see him later before she skipped up the stairs to her room above the tavern. Novak and Gareth followed Talyis out and stood aside while she worked. The cold misty dew played prelude to the blue sky of dawn. Novak's mind was distracted watching Talyis struggle to lift the heave saddle unto his horse. Their coupling in the meadow played over and over in his head and he regretted letting his guard down. The meadow was a mockery to him of what he desired her to be but now could never be.

"Prince, I wish to remove myself from the line of power," Gareth spoke plainly.

"I see," Novak answered without turning to his friend. "Does this have to do with the slave I have chosen?" 

Gareth swallowed hard, "My opinions have always been laid plain to you, friend."

"Friend!" Novak snarled softly, "A friend would stand with me in the face of the enemy, you have befriended-"

"Novak, I am your friend. I found you when you were a starving child. My family took you in. We reminded you who you were, when you thought you were just a servant boy to the whims of a stupid princess. We taught you to fight, to be a great victor for our people. You have everything to become our great leader." Gareth sermonized. "You are a great leader Novak, but when we took the princess, I saw something else; something in you that could mean the destruction of not only of our royal line but our people. Your heart changed, it changed because of her and that is your greatest asset to your leadership. We should have left or destroyed her. Your mind is bent on that girl, Novak. And that my friend, is not a risk worth taking; not when so many lives have been lost."

Novak sucked his teeth and then turned to his once-friend, comrade, "You betray me. I grant your wish." He turned in his boots and barked at the girl, "Come girl, you will walk." Novak climbed onto his horse and had Talyis lead with the reigns to the castle.

***

Gareth despondently opened the door to Delia's room. She was sitting on the bed waiting for him, applying oils to her thick legs. His mood warmed just seeing her red hair always floating about her in a whimsical mess. 

"So, where did you get the girl?" Delia mocked when Gareth sat dipping the bed.

"A tavern between Navapa and..." Gareth sighed taking his boots off. His body jolted when Delia pounced against his back, making the bed bounce happily. 

She nibbled at his ears, "Don't lie to me Gareth. I know well enough that girl is not a tavern wench. I am a tavern wench, she's.... That girl is something else." Gareth shrugged his shoulders and turned around on the squeaky sagging bed to kiss Delia quiet. She happily complied laying back and ushering Gareth on top of her as he continued to kiss her rosy cheeks, clavicle and more than generous cleavage.

 ***

Talyis was very exhausted and her body was weak from not eating. She was frustrated with her life. He wanted her to be his slave. He told her that he would not care for her. She pinched her eyes shut every time Novak barked the directions to her. She was more enraged with herself, she allowed him to touch her in the meadow. She shook her head to steady the racing thoughts. She gritted her teeth and flared her nose. She was not going to find this man attractive. He was using her to make her weak. His touch was making her weak. She chastised herself for forgetting her need to escape this hell that she was escorting herself to with the prince on his royal stead. She was a princess and was now being reduced to the likes of a hobbling peasant that would beg to be whipped in order to please the royal's whims. 

Embarrassment rolled over her shoulders as she walked past the castle guards. Novak jumped off of his horse and an attendant welcomed him home before taking his horse towards the stables. He grabbed her arm, his fingers squeezing into her skin while he escorted her into the castle. She was amazed by the immaculate entrance of fine gold, red, and blue tapestries and artifacts. The arch way looked like black icicles melting from the grey stone that twisted and turned into flowery designs. 

"These were saved by survivors of your father's attempted genocide," Novak explained, noticing her surveying his home. "We were a great, peaceful people, great artists," he pointed to the iron work of twisting black icicles. "You think we are base, un-educated and violent, but we are not."

"You are not violent?!" Talyis snapped her eyes on fire, "You lasciviously raped me and had your men take me."

"I marked you. It's part of making a slave in my land. My men taking you was my decision as your owner. You will learn to please me."

"I don't care about your pleasure!"

"Then your life here will not be easy," he remarked simply. They glared at each other fierce eyes to fierce eyes. Novak turned her body around to shove her towards the stairs. She stumbled almost falling but hopped to keep her step and started to climb the stairs. The stairs twisted and turned in the dark until they reached a door. He leaned around her and opened the door. "These are my chambers."

His chambers were elegant with beautiful gold and red tapestries hanging from the grey stone walls. A large 4 poster bed sat in the middle of the room, almost a mocking horror of where she would undoubtedly sleep. Pedestals held up ornate vases with unique flowers, that she had never seen before, circled the bed in unison with tall candelabra stands melting heaps of wax onto the stone floor. Novak was glad to be home, he sat on a settee and removed his boots. He lit the fireplace and sat relaxed at ease. Talyis's eyes shifted from the bed to Novak, heat burning her brow with contempt.

"There is a reason why you cant find a queen-" she mocked with forced laughter.

"You little insolent girl, you have caused enough trouble for one day. I advise you to be quiet," Novak voice rumbled like a prelude to an erupting volcano. He was just trying to relax, keep his mind off of losing his comrade but she was at it again. He had thought that the meadow would have taught her something about who was in control.

"I will curse the day you were born, everyday," she blasted.

Novak sat unmoved, "Then you will have a hard time."

"I will survive," she snuffed and crossed her arms in haughty protest.

"That you will."

He so enraged her, his smugness as if she was won. She cursed herself for dropping her guard in the meadow that afternoon. She glared at him and then turned to the bed and ripped all the bedding, flinging it onto the floor. Her feet stomped around, childishly, as she pulled the blue and white dress from her body leaving only her new shift. She jumped onto the bed and laid in the middle, outstretched by all limps.

"I suppose you want to take me," she hissed. He didn't respond, just sat relaxing by the fire. She wanted to throw one of priceless vases at him for ignoring her. She leaned on her elbows watching him preoccupy his thoughts with a stupid flame. A smug thought creased her lips into a smirk. "Not that you know how to please a woman."

Novak snickered to himself, ignoring her histrionics, and continued to let the warm fire cool his temper, "This coming from a woman who could not even look at herself to heal herself." He snickered again and then turned to Talyis looking at him from his bed. Her body outstretched mocked submission; and the adorable scorn across her face made her look more pouty than serious. 

He stretched and rubbed his face. He shook his head too amused by her display that made her look ridiculous. She just watched him like a tigress. He found her constant battle with him increasingly charming. Forgetting that as a boy it caused him such insecurity. He removed his clothes, dropping them in the middle of the floor, and sauntered towards the bed giving her a shadowed reminder of his strength. She forced herself to stay calm and expressionless with deep measured breaths. He crawled up the bed from the bottom over her, forcing her to lay her head into the padding.

Their eyes transfixed on each other. A flurry of ingratitude, disdain and craze connected them. Their tense breaths matched in unison, Novak so close to Talyis, her body so available to his.

"You didn't know what pleasure was until today," he arched an eyebrow and a Cheshire a smile broke his heated glare. "In the meadow, you moaned and rocked your hips for me like a wanton street wench."

Talyis growled and slapped him hard across the face. Everything moved so quickly, a surge overtook the bed. Novak ripped the shift from her body and pinned her arms above her head, the tattered shreds of her shift lay open like wings. He rocked his hips into hers, fighting with her legs to keep her open to him. She screamed and thrashed her pride in opposition, but her very being screaming yes. 

Novak held her still with his body heavy onto of hers, until she was weaken by her own fighting against his grip. He kissed her lips hard but fast and snaked his free hand down her belly to her apex, careful not to disturb his healing mark. Staggered breaths escaped her lips as she closed her eyes, trying to fight against her body's remembrance of Novak's wonderful touch. He splayed her labia and began to rub circles around her lips and buttoned clit. He could feel her stomach tense under him as everything was coming vividly unnerving to her. He smirked and continued his attack trying to make her move to his hand. 

"Never," she muttered.

He smiled and groaned when he let his finger slip into her. She was hot and her pussy walls clenched his single digit silky and wet. He applied his thumb to her clit and massaged her. She caught her breath sharply when he lazily licked her nipple. He was hers and her body commanded him for more while squirming, moving in an ancient dance.

"I gave you pleasure," he whispered in between little gentle nips around her areola. "And you can have more pleasure," she sighed softly. He quickly allowed his patience cock its reward and entered her swiftly. Her entire body was like fire as he gave quick forceful thrusts. Her body began to mirror his dance, she was so close. A loud groan emanated from him as pulled out and came on her belly, he leaned close to her, "and if you are good, I will allow you to have that pleasure." She sucked her breath in shock and whimpered for more. He kissed her cheek and rolled off of her. He picked up a duvet and pillows that lay scattered on the floor, from the result of her tantrum and lay down next to her. Talyis was still sweating and panting, still in need. 

***

Stone stairs towered above twisting and turning leading to corridors and royal chambers in the damp musty castle. Hesitant and reluctant feet moved her unwillingly upwards. The father despised his daughter though she loved him all the more. It was extremely hard for the king to realize his wife had died only leaving him with a daughter. She mocked him thoroughly each day resembling his lost wife and reminded him of his failure to save her. But the young girl was nothing like his lost heart, she was prideful, spoiled and extremely intelligent. So each night she stiffened her back, learned to bite back the tears and endurd the cool climb back to her chambers.

Life had changed so drastically within the course of a week. Her thirteen year-old playmate ran away, leaving during the middle of surveillance of a vagrant nomadic tribe camping on the outskirts of the village. By the end of the week, the nomadic tribe caught the Queen off guard on her visit to the village and killed her. The daughter was ten years old when she lost her mother. That was the day King Anorich stopped talking to his daughter.

King Anorich become reclusive and ruled the inside of the castle like a tyrant. The castle became cold and unwelcoming. The rich tapestries the Queen had woven were removed, leaving the castle dank and dark. It was a great struggle to shelter the villagers from the turmoil within their royal house. Talyis learned to take up her mother's mantel to care for her kinfolk and welcomed the chance to escape the bitterness of the castle by attending to their needs. Talyis grew up from the carefree girl floating about the royal gardens and learnt how to be a kind, resourceful leader.

King Anorich's plans of having a male heir to the throne where dashed with the death of his wife. It infuriated him when Talyis come of age, she refused to find a mate and birth a son to take the throne when he would depart from the world. He accused her of being selfish, a traitor to her people despite the fact she had greatly grown far from those youthful behaviors since her mother's passing. The father whom she loved turned silent again only to spark communion through arguments.

She lay in bed listening to the whistle of a draft enter through the stones of her bedchamber. Her sore heart welcomed the damp air to tickle the scorched heartbeats to a soothing nerveless tingle. Her arms tucked under her chin, she gazed out her window at the full moon. It was an orange hunter's moon, allowing what she held of her child-like innocence take her to strange lands where a hero was always kind and the gently ruled.

Her reverie was shallow when her door came crashing in and her bed was surrounded by angry voices. Every sense was heightened, the burn of her tresses being pulled, her ankles being shackled by calloused hands. Her eyes frantically searched in the dark to identify the faces of her assailants. She screamed for her guards but instead of words, her undecipherable high-pitched screams angered the shadows and her head was stoned against her headboard.

Talyis jumped up shaking, her lungs in panic. She looked around the room, not her room. She was in Novak's chambers again. She was sweating unto his sheets that she had clung to during the cold night. She had awoken back into her real and present nightmare. She wrapped the sheet around her body to investigate her new prison in daylight. Novak's rooms where more elegant daylight. Aricin artwork and craftsmanship was peculiar and hard to draw her eyes away from. She looked out one of the windows that overlooked a large lush green forest; another window looked out onto the castle sculpture gardens. The gardens were neglected and festooned of weeds hiding the elegance of a simpler time. She sighed with deep sadness looking through the last of the windows that pictured the small village below. Other than their unique style of roof work, it looked like her own village of complacent kinfolk going about their lives: trading, teaching, falling in love, loving. Regret brought tears to her eyes, maybe her father was right, if she would have married, she wouldn't be in this predicament. Her stubbornness to wait for love had cause fate to give her this mighty blow of punishment. She backed away from the window and sat on the settee. 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 06



Novak entered the room with a bowl of food setting it on the lacquer table next to her, "Eat," he commanded.

Talyis swallowed hard, her taste buds already cringing from the idea of eating Aricin delicacy, "I am not hungry."

"You are not going to starve yourself to death. I said eat. I made sure my cooks prepare a meal from your land."

Talyis's hunger pains pounded her stomach like children at an empty table chanting for food with knives and forks. She took the bowl of broth with bread and ate silently. Novak sat in a chair across from her, just watching her devour the food gratefully. When she had finished, he was satisfied and took the bowl from her.

"Go wash up, there is still water left in the basin and you will join me in the throne room," he said quietly.

Talyis stood looking at Novak wondering if he intended on staying, but he turned and left the room giving her privacy. She exhaled, thankful to have the room to herself, to her thoughts. Her mind drifted back to her dreams, her land, her father, and mindlessly washed herself in the cold water. The memories of the raid would flood in and bring chills to her. She physically shook herself to put those images aside. The water was feeling colder by the minute so she quickly cleaned and dressed.

She squeezed her eyes as the raid snuck back into her thoughts. Something in her memory of that night was missing, not right. She was missing major important events as to how she ended up captured by the raiders and why her father's guards didn't come. When were her palace guards going to come for her? 

Talyis entered the Aricin throne room. The room was filled with more intricate ironwork, candelabras and rich tapestries that reminded her of her mother. Novak sat next to an empty throne, which would one day be filled by the woman of his choosing. Two men from the band stood on either side of the throne. They looked much younger and less intimidating now that they were cleansed, shaven and wearing the official garments of the castle. 

Novak snapped his fingers and pointed for her to come by his side. She grumbled with annoyance and approached the platform.

Novak cleared his throat, he raised his eyebrows haughtily, "Bow."

Appalled, Talyis's eyes widened and she clenched her teeth, "No."

"You will bow," Novak's fists tightened, "or you will be made to bow." He motioned to the two men, who took a step forward ready to impose upon her.

With great ire she bowed. She stood in the spot he beckoned her to and said under her breath, It doesn't mean anything, I will never bow my allegiance.

"What was that princess?" Novak snapped, Talyis jumped a bit and shook her head. "Stand and be quiet."

She stood while he listened to villagers complain, compliment and beg the prince of various mundane issues. Lethargy set in her mind as each visitor seemed to blend into the next. She anxiously waited for someone to talk about something more interesting than the price of fish in the market or how great the prince was. The praises of the prince's victories against her people made her livid. 

Novak was then fed at his throne the finest fruits of the land and a plate of cured meats that looked even edible to her. Her mouth watered, she really hadn't eaten in days other than what she had nibbled on and the broth from that morning. Her body began to fidget, her legs were tired from boredom and her stomach began to growl in protest as she watched Novak savor his bites.

When the food plate was finished, the throne room door swung opened to women filing into the hall, lining up against the stone wall. They all looked like they were trying very hard to impress with their appearances and imposed statures. One by one, they approached the throne and began to rattle facts about themselves. They chirped about their interests and more praises for the prince. Talyis tried hard to hold back the howl of laughter that was clamoring to pour out. These women, villagers, were attempting to woe the prince to marry him.

Novak grew perturbed hearing Talyis's slight snickers, he looked at the girl and she was delightfully amused by this circus of women he was subjected to everyday in order to find a wife. This girl was laughing at him, despite all that had been done to her, she was still a princess. His eyes rolled to her but instead of giving her look of warning, his mask fell and she stopped laughing feeling sympathetically for the bored prince.

Novak gave a slight smile to the new girl approaching his throne. She began as they all had with praises and attempts to show intelligence. His eyes stole glances at Talyis still very amused. He remembered their arguments and debates during lessons as children. She was three years younger than he but insisted on matching him. She was determined to learn faster than her mind had grown in order to beat him. Thinking about this made him smile. Maybe she wasn't trying to beat him or embarrass him, but she simply wanted to keep up with him. He blushed to himself feeling guilty for his immature ideas. She probably didn't mean anything by her taunts other than childish rivalry. He sighed and feathered his eyelids in order to focus on the girl standing before him.  

Annoyance filled him suddenly, the girl had on too much makeup and wore too revealing clothes and she continued to prattle on. 

"Enough," Novak interrupted the girl and she jumped startled.

"I apologize mi lord," the girl continued feeling inept to pleasing the prince, "Would you like me to tell you about my collection of-"

"No enough, I will not see anymore girls today,"

The girl squealed and jumped excitedly, "You choose me milord?"

"No," Novak stood up, "You bore me with the same conversation about cooking, bird watching and collections of flowers as did the last seven girls."

The women all frowned and whined collectively before being escorted out by the leader of the search committee.

"My lord," an elegant female voice rose above the dejected girls murmurings, "wont you please see but one more," the voice emerged from the group of women.

A tall captivating woman stood before the throne and gracefully bowed deeply letting her blonde hair swoop like a silk blanket. She smiled seductively and approached the throne offering her hand to the prince. 

Novak was just as stunned as Talyis was of the woman that stood before them. She felt so pathetic beside this beautiful maven dressed in the finest of gowns she had ever seen. Novak took her hand to kiss it and sat back down in his chair. 

"I promise my lord, I will not drivel on with ridiculous things such mules birthing and other monotonous subjects," she threw a glance towards one of the rejected girls, "but, I do have an affinity for horses. I have a beautiful stallion which I broke in myself. I am also ardent for a fine glass of your best wine, My personal vineyards produce a wonderful robust body."

"Intriguing," Novak was entranced. "What is your name, lady."

"Pardon me, Lord, I am Princess Calena of Navapa. I wish to speak to you about uniting our kingdoms through marriage."

"I am sure that you Navapa do not have the same understandings as we do," Novak began, "Our existence has been threatened and we have to fight to stay a people. And we have slaves and servants."

"Yes, I see you have one standing beside you," Calena replied. Talyis's brow burned with complete disdain.

"Let us dine and continue this discussion. Come Princess I wish to hear all about your horse." Novak smiled and offered his arm to Calena.

***

Talyis had to stand while she refilled the prince and princess's wine goblets. She hated to listen to their conversations. This woman was intent on capturing Novak's attention and he was hooked on her every word. She didn't understand why she suddenly cared to know what would happen in this dining affair. It wasn't as if she desired Novak. She stomped her foot quietly trying to shake her hypocritical thoughts. Her dream from last night was haunting her daydreams. She was jealous. She chewed on her lip watching Novak flirt with the princess. She wanted what he was giving to her; a chance to be noticed and not be the empty cipher in the corner waiting to refill their goblets of companionship. She longed to be desired, cherished, loved and treated like she was beautiful and that no other woman would be clever enough to captivate his mind like she would.

Talyis wanted to pound her chest, it hurt so much. If only she didn't cause the green-eyed boy to run away. If only she was wiser then she would have had the chance to experience what Novak was giving to this Princess. The green-eyed boy was rapt by her and she was of him. He would do anything to make her laugh and smile. She closed her eyes and willed away these memories; she had caused him to run away. Maybe he ran because he never really cared for her as much as she cared for him, she had frightened him away.

Her trance was broken when Novak stood up, his wooden chair scratching against the stone to help Calena from her seat. He gently took her hand and kissed her wrists. 

"It is still early. I want to take you to the village so that you may try some of our fruits that only grow in our region. I am sure you will find them quite delicious," Novak said to Calena.

"May I use one of your quarters to change into my riding clothes?" she asked without missing a chance to flirt as she fluttered her eyelashes. Talyis rolled her eyes, wishing the princess's flirtations were seen as outlandish as they were, but Novak was still enrapt.

"Yes," he snapped his fingers and the attendants that were clearing the table turned quickly to him in attention. "Assist Princess Calena. Talyis come with me to ready the horses."

Talyis frowned, the last thing she wanted was to endure more of the evening watching Novak fall for this princess. She felt so inadequate around this woman and their flirtations with each other mocked what she never had. She followed Novak to the stables, not saying a word as he surveyed his stables for the perfect horse for Calena.

"You will accompany us," Novak instructed as he put his saddle unto his horse. Talyis began to saddle one of the other two horses Novak had pulled from the stalls. 

Talyis didn't answer. Today her desires to be with the one she so longed for were strong and she was absorbed in deep thought.

Novak sulked watching Talyis so immersed in thought, for a moment she appeared to be tearing at the eyes. Dread and deep regret crept into his heart. Did he indeed break her? He didn't like the woman standing near to him struggling to fasten the saddle buckles; she wasn't the spunky Talyis he had loved.

"Talyis," she didn't turned to him just busied herself with the saddle. He approached her and took over putting the saddle in place. "Talyis, I wish for us to co-exist together. If you try to escape you will be killed. My guards and people know who you are and any attempts to flee will leave you vulnerable and I will not protect you."

"So I am your prisoner," she spat and stepped in his way to finish saddling the horse, her movements very jerky and angry.

Novak sighed knowing the truth of how she came about being captured, "I'd hoped you'd soon not see it that way." He pushed an errant lock of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Talyis snapped away from him, almost hissing like a cat. "When you are not needed by me, you may go anywhere you please within the castle. You may use the kitchen to cook your native foods. In the castle you are safe, my mark protects you. You are only to answer to me."

"Would I have to serve Princess Calena too?" she spat vehemently. She could kick herself for revealing her feelings of irritation with Calena than she wished to unveil to him.

Novak's brows furrowed and sighed heavily. His mind was twisted with conflict; he was already courting the princess. She was an easy decision that would please his people and she would be tolerable. He didn't want to admit it but deep inside he wished he could have the woman he had always wanted and dreamed of having by his side; the only person who would be a strong ruler with him: Talyis. 

"I haven't decided yet how you will serve the rest of my family. You will indeed become the nurse to my children and I imagine you would be a great teacher," Novak replied.

Talyis studied him and then turned her attention back to the horse. His answer was simple and she was content but it wasn't what she wanted to hear.

***

Princess Calena and Novak rode side by side holding hands in front of Talyis riding behind. She despised every kind gesture Novak gave to Calena and it made her heart slump even further. They would stop and taste foods in the market, him feeding her berries as she giggled and blushed. 

"Slave," Calena called Talyis from her daydream. "I'd like some of these berries for my journey home."

Talyis looked at Novak desperately not wanting to serve the princess, but he nodded in accord with Calena's instruction. It was plain now she would be eternally in servitude to the entire royal family, all her dreams were dashed. She slid off of her horse and asked the merchant for a satchel of berries.

"I'd also like a bit of the cheeses and fruits from the last market we went to, go fetch it please," Calena instructed, her voice sounded like wonderful bells. It was no wonder why Novak was so enticed by her.

Talyis rolled her eyes, wishing she had seen an apothecary on her way into the village; she'd buy a potion to make the Princess's hair fall out. She smiled a bit, imagining Calena's horror as her blonde locks fell out around her fingers and how Novak wouldn't find her so captivating then. She slapped her hands to her face and laughed, why did she cared who Novak found interesting? She resolved to just get on and find a way out. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she had a companion, maybe Novak would give her permission to have a companion. 

"Ae! Pigeon!" a voice boomed from behind her. 

She turned around to Delia carrying a basket of bread and flowers. Gareth came up from behind Delia and smiled kindly to her. Talyis was so glad to see Gareth; he had come at the right time.



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 07



"Hello Talyis," Gareth said to her and tipped his hat to her. 

Talyis couldn't help but smile when she saw Gareth. He stepped up behind his Delia and wrapped his strong arms around her plump belly. The stout woman had a grin from ear to ear, her blazing red hair decorated with yellow and white wild flowers. Her flowery dress billowed as she beat the basket she was carrying against her legs. Delia looked quite feminine except for the large brown boots that were covered in mud and her thick stocking socks. Gareth squeezed her to his body, his prize. 

"Hello, Gareth, Delia," Talyis smiled. 

"What brings you'ere, Pigeon?" Delia chirped loudly. 

"I am with the prince and he's... courting." 

Delia laughed, "Ain't that a kick, luv?" She reached her hand behind her to touch Gareth's face. "If we waited less a fortnight, you'd keep your place." 

Talyis looked at them quizzically. 

"I removed myself from the royal line when we returned. Delia and I married this morning," Gareth informed Talyis. 

"It ain't official until Novak signs the declaration but it's real to me," Delia added and kissed Gareth squealing with marital bliss. 

"How are you?" Gareth asked, concerned. He ignored Delia's hands fluttering playfully about his body. 

Talyis kicked the dirt. "I am well." 

"I imagine it is not a pleasant change for you, but you will learn. Just think of your green-eyed boy, Talyis." 

"Pigeon, come to me pub when you like," Delia piped up, her face always smiling. "I bet a girl like you can be rough and tumble, give 'em a run for their clinks." She smoothed her red hair that just bounced back into its willful disarray. "Come on luv, we got to be going. It is me honeymoon after all." She tickled Gareth eliciting an embarrassed laugh from him. Delia smiled. "Take care, Pige." 

The happy couple turned walking away arm in arm. Her feet were moving before she could stop them.. Talyis ran to Gareth tears streaking down her face. Sympathetic strong arms surrounded her, holding her tight. 

Gareth whispered, "We will help you as much as we can." 

Delia also assured Talyis with a kind nod, before she hugged Gareth to her to walk arm in arm, happily returning to their honeymoon forays. 

Encouragement calmed Talyis's spirit, allowing the troubled thoughts her dream had brought her to finally release. She girded herself, ready to let whatever Novak and Calena would throw her way to just fall off her shoulders. 

 I am the daughter of King Aronich. I am the future ruler of a great and strong empire,  she reminded herself. I can crumble these people as chalk in my hands. 

Petty thoughts comforted her as she looked around the very small village of people trying to rebuild and restore their family lines. 

She laughed arrogantly to herself in attempts to comfort herself. Even their castle is feeble as a child's play of yielded sand and water on the shore. My family's rule had decadence and power that astonished all foreign dignitaries to bend to the will of my Father.  

Turning confidently, she picked up the basket and sacs of fruits to return with her head held high, determined to ignore the little voice called humility that had guided peace to her these many years since her mother's murder. 

She found Novak and Calena standing near a small ramshackled cottage. Calena was feeding her horse fresh oats from her hand. The Navapa woman was beautiful to say the least, she stood tall and elegant her blonde hair gloss beautifully in sun and her small face exemplified femininity. She was as majestic as her lovely white horse. 

"Talyis," Novak greeted her as she walked towards them, "Assist me. I need to visit one of my peasants. Calena, do you mind, I'll only be a moment?" Calena nodded. Novak entered the cottage ducking as he went through the doorway. 



Talyis followed Novak into the cottage's small stuffy single room. The smell of Aricin meats and spices wafted through the stilted air from a stove behind a large thick oak table. A small unkempt cot sat against the wall and a colorful line of afghans led from the bed to an old overstuffed chair A small old lady was hunched over in the chair that was bursting from the seams. Her disheveled silver locks hung down into her lap and hid her wrinkled face. Grey eyes looked up from the needlework in her shaky hands and she smiled brightly seeing Novak in her room. 

"Oh my dear!" She smiled and she stood on shaky feet to greet Novak. Novak rushed to the old woman's side helping her to stand steady and grabbed her walking stick, firmly placing it in her hands. "You've returned." 

"Yes, and I think I may have found our Queen." He smiled weakly knowing this would please her as it would many when the news would break out, but he could not rejoice in it. 

"Oh, bless you," She hugged Novak to her, frail arms holding him so tight. "We will finally go on." 

Novak sighed deeply, Talyis's presence weighed on him as though she were sitting on his chest looking down on him with her soulful brown almond eyes admonishing him, You are settling against love. "Yes, Umma." He said. 

"Is this she?" The old woman looked at Talyis measuring her. 

"No, Umma," Novak blushed deeply, "She is outside. You will meet her another time. This is Talyis." The woman looked Talyis over making her feel awkward as she barely could hold the heavy basket in her hands. "Bring that here." Novak snapped and Talyis brought the heavy basket over. Novak took it from her and began to shift through the basket of goods. He pulled out a bottle of strange oils he instructed Talyis to get and rubbed them unto Umma's neck and the thin skin of her collar. "Umma, how are you feeling?" 

"Good now that I can die knowing my home has at last been set straight finally," Umma said with glee but then snapped the oils from Novak's hand and continued to medicate herself smelling the oils. 

Novak grumbled and threw his hands up in objected surrender. She scoffed his discomfort with her candidness talking about her death and patted him softly on the shoulder. Her body shook as she held herself up with her stick and started to walk around the small cluttered room to her kettle stewing and began to pour bowls of the brown stew. 

"Sit down, eat." She barked and a bony finger pointed strictly to the chair at the table. 

"Umma, no. You need to eat your food." Novak tried to stop the frail woman but she waved him away his protest insistently. 

"I may not have much but I can serve what I have to my majesty, if I wish." 

"Here, Umma," Novak tried to bring the woman back to her chair but she moved away busying herself with cutting bread. "I brought you some jams and fresh fruits. Is there anything else I can get you?" 

"Yes, sit." She lightly pushed Novak down into the chair and sat the bowl in front of him. She snapped her fingers repeatedly and motioned for Talyis to sit next to Novak placing another large bowl of stew on the table. 

Novak sighed and glanced at the pot of stew: it was her last two bowls. He sighed heavily again. "Things will get better, Umma." He took the woman's hands into his own. "But I cannot stay too long. My soon-to-be betrothed is waiting outside." 

"Why didn't you bring her in?" 

Novak shuffled his foot letting his apprehension only exhibit with the small move. He did not trust Calena to meet the dearest person to him, yet. When he was a boy, he imagined what the day would be like if he had gotten the chance to introduce Talyis to her, looking forward to seeing Umma's delightful smile when he announced her as his betrothed. But that wasn't the circumstances reality presented to him, instead he mumbled, "Soon, Umma." 

The old lady turned her attention to Talyis, standing so still in the middle of the room she almost forgot she had another visitor. Her gray eyes squinted inspecting her until she slowly said, "You are not from here?" 

"She's Onor, Umma." 

"Novak!" Umma's body shook and trembled and she almost lost her grip on her walking stick. Her grey skin turning red with anger. Novak quickly supported her and ushered the woman to her small cot. She sat down, never taking her eyes off of Talyis looking over Novak's protective shoulder. "I love my children, Novak. I tried to hold on to them but they ripped them from me," the woman wept, her cries slicing through the room and straight to a stunned Talyis. 

"I know, Umma. I am sorry. I am so sorry, Umma." Novak took the woman into his arms and held her tightly. Her tears soon subsided and she concerned herself with Novak, brushing the obstinate curls from his face. "Please come back to the castle, Umma." He pleaded. 

"So you can take care of me? No, I am fine here on my own." She looked at Talyis still frozen in bewilderment and said confidently, "Girl, eat." She pointed to the bowl. 

"No thank you, Umma," Talyis declined. Her nose was already scrunching up to the smell of the strange spices that were foreign to her weak stomach. 

"My name is Ulie," the old woman snapped vehemently, "You may not call me, Umma, Onor girl." 

"Umma, she doesn't understand." Novak tried to reason with her, but her anger began to boil again. He held her to him, hoping to alleviate her pain and comfort her. He worried so much about Umma when he traveled. "Talyis. please help Ulie by taking the things from the basket, leave Calena's items in it." 

Talyis busied herself, anxious to avoid causing any more pain to the old woman. Bugs scurried into crevices as the light of the room hit the sparsely filled cupboards. She placed the cheeses and jars on the shelves slowly, eavesdropping on Novak's conversation with the old woman. 

She could tell Novak behaved very cautiously around Ulie, not wishing to disturb her delicate balance. Ulie would reject his offers when he insisted on taking care of her but became very vulnerable when she started to drift off to painful memories of her lost children. 

Talyis imaged the younger Umma had probably been a spitfire, standing strong, taking care of her family, and obviously loyal to her leaders. She felt guilty looking down on these poor people just to elevate herself. Her attention snapped away from the cabinets to the storm looming in the corner from Novak's distressed pleas. 

"Please Umma, please!" Novak begged loudly as he reached for the woman, but she slapped his hand away from her. She stood up as straight as she could and walked to the middle of the room, her bony finger pointed at Talyis. 

"Your people killed my husband; you ripped my young children from my hands and murdered them. Your soldiers came into my home and plucked my babes from my arms and killed them. I had a girl, she was three years old, a beautiful baby girl, Ameria had lovely dark hair like my Novak, rosy cheeks and a laugh that set bells to envy. My eldest, Falin, he was four years old; he was the kindest gentlest babe. You tried to kill me, Onor, but I survived. I survived!" 

Novak came to the woman's side taking her into his arms again and calming her as he had done with many of his people since his return to the Aricin kingdom. But Umma was special. Umma was his mother's closest friend; she had helped bring him into the world. She was his nurse and raised him side-by-side with his mother. She'd lavish love and attention on him anytime she could. The two friends sang sweetly to him while he was sick and encouraged him to be kind. Umma would have attended him during the days of war if it weren't for his mother insistence on bringing her children to the castle. 

But Umma refused. She didn't want her children to worry about the war surrounding them by relocating them to the castle. Instead she stayed in her home in the village while her husband fought at the strongholds. No one ever thought that the Onor warlords would enter the villages and murder innocent, unarmed people. 

Novak watched as Umma retreated to her chair and continued her needlework, humming the tune that both his mother and she had sung to him when he was young. Umma broke his heart. He could not refuse her requests but he wished she'd allow him to care for her as she deserved. Umma was ailing. 

"Novak, do you think your mother would like this in her rooms?" Ulie held up the beginnings of a beautiful tapestry and smiled proudly. He could only nod, caressing her soft wrinkled hands with his own. 

*** 

Talyis curled up in a ball on Novak's settee in his bedchamber, watching the fire dance shadows across the stone walls. Relieved, she had been left alone since they had returned from the village. Novak occupied his time with Calena; Talyis seemed to disappear from his attention. He busied himself entertaining Calena with games and magic tricks in the adjacent room. 

The night was growing late. Her jaw ached and her muscles were stiff, Talyis was annoyed with herself; she had been grinding her teeth while listening to Calena's giggles leak through the walls. She thought of Novak's vulnerabilities with the old woman that afternoon were so endearing. And she questioned his motive to "co-exist" with her and giving her freedom to roam the castle- a prisoner but not fully. His diplomacy reminded her of her green-eyed boy's reasoning to do what was best for everyone, caring and always so sweet. 

She kicked her feet in front of her, teasing herself,  "It's only a coincidence, Talyis, that he has dark hair and green eyes, nothing more. Stop it. You cannot let this man flood your mind so much- not in this way."  

In all the years since her mother's death, her feelings and reservations had not been considered by her Father. Yet this man who had hurt her in the most horrendous way imaginable, had consideration for her diet, her "freedom" and even tried to ease the guilt she felt by changing subjects while in the old woman's home. She even caught him staring at her. But his stare only perplexed her all the more as his contenance was conflicted with conviction as if he realized how he ruined her. 

Laughter bounced of the walls into the bedchamber followed by the muffled words of Novak's enchanting deep voice. Rolling her eyes, she rose and flexed her jaw and paced the room, trying to ignore Novak's chuckles and Calena's harmonious chimes. His laugh was brilliant and heart-warming when it wasn't filled with the sarcasm and contempt that she always received. 

The couple's earlier intellectual conversations of the day had given way to sweet nothings and errant flirtations. Talyis begrudged the simple fact that Novak kept his distance from the princess, honoring Calena instead. Fury rose within her and she walked over to one of the most elegant of vases sitting on a pedestal. She pitched it at the door of the adjoining room. 

Abruptly the voices silenced and she was glad for those moments of peace she had just before the heavy door swung open. Novak marched into the room, surveying the million little ceramic pieces crackling under his feet. With an eyebrow raised, he looked at Talyis and then turned, slamming the door behind him and returning to Calena. 

Talyis roared in frustration. She plopped onto the bed, completely bored. As she had done for the past three hours, she once more memorized the room. Painting, hearth, settee, bathtub, curtain, stacks of books; she crawled from the bed onto the cool ground and over to the stacks of books. 

She opened a book, a folktale written in Aricin, another ancient history tale she had loved as a girl in her Onor language. She skimmed through the books, not really interested, but thankful for something to occupy her attention from the budding love in the adjacent room. She opened a book written in an unfamiliar language. She surveyed the words and noticed a few phrases that looked similar to Aricin. Paging to the beginning of the book, she began to dissect the words for meaning. She clutched the book in her hand when she figured out the first word of the ancient Aricin text. Liberation never felt so close, if she could master the ancient Aricin lexicon, Novak couldn't hide behind his almost dead language. 

"Do you know what you are reading?" A strong voice from behind her startled her. She turned to see Novak kneeling behind her, looking over her shoulder at the book. A carefree grin stretched across his face under his twinkling serene eyes. Baffled, she stared at him, feeling as though she'd been caught red-handed but not discerning danger. He took the book from her hands and sat next to her, like an older sibling reading to the younger. Just as sibilings do, he put the book in his lap and paged through looking for more interesting parts. 

"She had me steal from her mother today," he read then showed her the text, and she leaned over to take a quick peek, his finger pressed to the page under lining, "even though she continues to mock and challenge." Again he tipped the book to let her follow along. "I cannot deny the fact that I feel so happy around her-" the book slapped closed as he suddenly stopped reading. His free hand stretched towards the stacks of books to pull out another. "Read this, it's in ancient Aricin as well as and much more interesting than the drivel of a silly old dead man's diary." 

Novak stretched and yawned loudly, pulling his exhausted body from the floor. Talyis sat transfixed by the book, desperately trying to learn as much as she could before he would take it back. 

He tucked his diary away, hiding it from her. The book was heavy with memories and just handling it made him eager to put it aside. Eager to forget the many days of his youth where the young princess made him steal things her parents didn't allow, the days she'd emasculate him in front of the other servant boys because he bested her in class, or the days she teased the way he looked: his fair skin, tall lanky body, green eyes, and his curly raven hair were all very alien to her land. He remembered the many lashings he received by doing her bidding just to see her happy, he was so enthralled by her. 

The moment Talyis offered her life for her people had neutralized his acid stained heart. The scornful words King Aronich spoke the night of the raid in regards to his daughter rang in his ears; this wasn't the woman he had expected to enslave. This woman was different, changed; and spending the entire day with Calena made Talyis all the more intruiging. 

He growled at himself; he did not want to fall for this woman and be at her mercies again. His heart and mind struggled, clashing with each other trying to overthrow the other. Pragmatism prevailed. He had raped her, branded her and enslaved her. His rage ruined his life dreams; bitterness flowed like rapids through his veins when he laid his eyes upon her, killing his chances to fight for true love. He deeply repented his actions since that night he lay in the dust when the vengeance cleared from his mind. He could not change what was done, and to show his love for her would only weaken him and make him vulnerable to be used by her as he was in his boyhood. Yes, he had to be pragmatic, Talyis would never forgive him and he never expected her to, to be lovers was eternally star-crossed. He pained to show, but apologies couldn't convince her of the secret seed of love he had for her and that it continued to bud all the more. 

This was not one of the Aricin romantic tales his mother would read to him, where the beautiful, perfect princess was in peril and the strong, faultless prince would save her from unspeakable dangers. These stories led to false hopes and did not exist outside of pages of ancient books. If they were to be true, his people would not have been nearly erased from the face of the earth only for time to bury them as an afterthought. He never would have lost his parents, and he would have never met Talyis. 

He patted her shoulder. "It is time for bed." Talyis frowned and closed the book, holding it out to him. "Keep it, read it." 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 07



He turned and began to pull his clothes off, leaving them in a pile in the middle of the floor for his servants to pick up later. 

"I wish to go to the village with you," Talyis requested taking advantage of his friendly mood. Novak nodded simply while turning the bed down. Her thankfulness soon turned to spite, "I thought you would want to stay the night with Princess Calena." 

Cannot handle not being the center my attention, Princess? Novak mused to himself. 

"Come to bed, Talyis," Novak ordered, "but clean the glass first. I don't want my servants to cut their feet when they come in the morning." 

Pinching her eyes shut, she admonished herself for throwing a tantrum that did not elicit any response from Novak- not even a small row. She picked up the pieces of ceramic and placed them in the fire. She eyed the bed warily; disappointed that she would have to again share it with Novak. 

She slowly pulled her dress off leaving only her thin shift and hugged herself, feeling the chill of the room more intensely now. The blankets over his body rose and fell slowly and soft sounds of breathing made her conclude that he had already fallen asleep. She tiptoed to the bed and brought the duvet over her body. 

Novak's eyes were closed. Her body tensed when he purred and wrapped his arm around her, bringing her chilled body closer to his warmth. The heat radiating from his body soothed her sore back from hunching over the book. The aroma of his body made her wish she could immerse herself in him. 

She asked herself, Why do I feel like diving into a pool of his scent. 

She observed him in the moonlight seeping through the window. Tonight, after a long day of inner toil, she felt so desired in his arms, she didn't mind for a moment having to share her bed. Again the green-eyed boy haunted her as he awakened a desire to be wanted and touched. But it wasn't the green-eyed boy, it was now Novak's masculinity calling her in his sleep and it twisted her wits tenacity to repulse his touch. She buried her face in her pillow waiting for the vexed scream to release but relief did not come. She instead turned to the sleeping man behind her. 

She stared at his beautiful face. He reminded her of her little friend in the castle, with his dark raven hair. Instead of tight short curls that had made her laugh, there were longer looser curls that reached to his shoulders. There was nothing to mock in this man's appearance. His strong, angular jaw was a delightful juxtaposition of hard against the softness of his hair. His fair skin intrigued her and the pronounced cheek bones didn't make him look sinister while he slept. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach when he squeezed her tightly to him. His eyes popped opened and they stared at each other. A charge in the air passed between them. Talyis's breath hitched in anticipation the longer they looked at each other. 

His lips captured hers in a tender kiss, then pulled away. Talyis closed her eyes and wished for his soft lips to touch hers again. To her relief, he did it again, letting his lips linger longer this time, before wrapping her in his embrace. A feral moan passed through his lips into her mouth. He positioned himself over her, pulling the blankets away from her now heated body. 

"Are you ok?" he asked. Indecision masked her face; he pulled her shift to her waist and carefully touched his mark. "It is healing. It doesn't look as bad as it did the other day. You will be beautiful once again." He leaned forward to delicately place his lips above the mark. 

Talyis gasped and her body instinctively arched off the bed. Novak's heart went into a spiral. She was so sensual, even her innate involuntary sensualities were graceful. One strong hand held her waist and he stroked up and down the sides of her torso. Her pant grew and she quivered under him. His hands rose to her breasts but did not touch them. 

His fingers lazily tickled her skin but he frustrated her senses avoiding her breasts, never allowing her shift to drift any higher than above her belly button. He kissed her belly button and trickled his lips around her belly, letting his evening whiskers tickle her. Her body rose off of the padding and she cupped her hands around his neck, her body pleaded for more. He snaked up to her and kissed her deeply. His lips sucked her soft ones into his mouth, teaching her how to kiss as a lover. She moved her lips within his and grabbed onto his bottom lip and sucked. Confidence welled within her and she pulled herself up and attacked Novak's lips with fervor. Her hands began searching his body on their own accord for a proper touch but hesitated, not knowing where to go. Novak stopped her nervous hands, holding them in his own and pulled away from her. 

"Sleep," he said. His voice was husky. He rolled over and his body sunk into the bed beside her. Talyis slid under the covers, molding her body against his. His arms again came around her. She felt so close to someone after so many years of silence. A strange peace came over her, she closed her eyes. Novak reached over her to peck tiny kisses on her closed eyelids. 



*** 

Two months later... 

Another nightmare racked through her and she woke up screaming in the night. Novak pulled her closer to him, holding her tightly as she drifted back to sleep. Tears seeped from his eyes as they had the night at the camp when he took her. He had fought with himself constantly since that night. She was his; she would bear his mark for the rest of her life and be in eternal servitude to him. 

He regretted having to do it, but that was the way slaves were marked, although he let sadism rule and did not place his seal in the customary location. Constantly reminding himself that his decision to give her to the men was justifiable did not alleviate the pressure on his heart. His bitterness towards Talyis was in opposition to the humility Umma and his parents had instilled in him. He wanted to love Talyis, treat her as a lover would. But Gareth was right; she was distracting his thoughts and weakening his kingdom at the same time. The hatred he had for her when they first captured her was melting away, leaving him uncertain. 

He clutched her soft body to him, breathing in her wonderful scent, vigilantly waiting for her mind to move on from the nightmares he had caused to a more peaceful sleep. The pit of his stomach had not grown lighter since Calena entered his life, he fought hourly to choose against love and wished to reveal the truth to Talyis. 

For two months, Calena had occupied his days, but he anticipated the nights in which he would be with Talyis. Each night he promised himself he would not touch her, that he would give her what little peace he could. But every night she was harder to resist. Each night, she explored his body, tentatively and hesitantly at first, but her passion and confidence grew quickly. The night troubled him, he'd hope that as she grew persistent in lust for him, her mind's warring against her with vivid nightmares would finally end after they had fallen asleep each night. 

He had hoped that things had improved for her. She accompanied him with Calena daily to the village. She was thankful when he allowed her time to explore the village herself with a palace guard to keep her safe from his still-angry people. The guard had informed him that she had befriended Delia. He was delighted that Delia could have a female friend of great influence like Talyis; perhaps she could soften Delia's garish edges. When Talyis read to him the first page of the ancient book, he was so proud he swept her up in his arms and they actually laughed together. 

Calena, he thought, was oblivious to the stolen gazes he snuck throughout the day. Searching for Talyis through the window during their parlor games, he would excuse himself with a lie that he was overseeing his slave's business. 

The castle gardens slowly transformed into order as Talyis spent her spare time clearing the overgrowth and weeds. Years of disdain for her childish bullying had became a questionable excuse. The woman she was did not resemble the once little monster he had known. 

Talyis was kind to his people even though they did not take fondly to her because of her race. She continued to challenge him throughout the day with smug remarks and refusals to comply to orders, but when others' backs were turned he bent to her wishes. Talyis hadn't ended her feisty opposition but Novak noticed how withdrawn she became when Calena was with him. 

He appreciated Calena's companionship but his heart ached for the night so he could be with Talyis. It troubled him all the more realizing that she withdrew because she could not equate herself to the Navapa princess. 

When he was certain that her nightmare had passed, he resolved to end the charade of having, as Gareth had put it,  the appearance of a lover in his bed. In the dark he began to plan his proposal to Calena and arrangements for Talyis to live far away across the sea. It was evident that what he had hoped and dreamed since boyhood could not be; it was time to be the true ruler and not chase after vapors of the past. 

As soon as the sun broke light across the sky, Novak made preparations. He ordered Talyis to run errands in the village knowing she would sneak time with Delia. This plan would work for what he needed to do: propose to Calena. He could not do it with Talyis near; his conscience would fight him for not going after love. Today, he was not amused at Talyis' usual attempts to hide her secret of stealing away time with Delia by bickering with him and leaving the castle with slight off comments that tested his patience. He was on edge. 

"This rain is awful," Talyis complained shuffling into the tavern her arms filled with basket of linens and things. 

"Ae! Pigeon!" Delia yelled brashly. She came from around a tall long table and took the baskets from her. "Can't complain about this bit of water. 'Tis only prelude to the rainy season." She glanced as the baskets. "My Pige, he's set you to turn the castle right." 

Talyis slumped in the closest chair exhausted and spied the guard, her chaperon and whispered, "He the crudest man that ever lived. Can you help me?" 

"You know you don't have to ask, Sweet," Delia hopped onto one of the tall chairs, her body giggling happily. She began to pick through the numerous baskets of tasks and set about organizing the laces to be given away to Novak's fallen guardsmen's wives. "I am so blessed to have me Gareth and not be getting one of these blasted pieces of condolence." Talyis scoffed not saying anything, just continued wrapping ribbons around the delicate fabrics. 

While they worked, Delia gabbed on about this and that, Talyis was very thankful the constant ramblings that always helped the time past quickly. Talyis even smiled when Gareth came down from the upstairs rooms. He was sweating, his blonde hair darkly matted to his face. He used his tunic to wipe off the sweat dripping from his face and chest. 

"Luv, you finished. Help our Talyis with these errands set to undo her," Delia crooned. Garreth ignored his wife, instead grabbed a mug and dunked it in the water jug, filling it and splashing water to the floor. He sat down next to Delia and kissed her forehead. "You heard me. Help us!" Plopping beside Delia, Gareth took a long drink to quench his thirst. He sat his mug down and stretched, his arms reaching behind his back before setting them behind Delia. 

"Gareth!" Delia screeched and hopped in her chair turning to him. 

"Woman, I just re-organized the furniture in your entire room, give me a moment's rest." Gareth snapped, love still oozing in his admonishment. 

"Oh, me Luv, yer grand," Delia squealed and busied her hands about his shoulders and chest. "Let me move the crags." Gareth groaned like a lion in approval as she massaged him. She then slapped his leg and he jumped in surprised. "Now get to it. It be dark before you know it. Go deliver these to those poor wretches. It'll mean all the more coming from you than Novak's slave." She pushed the finished basket of gifts into his lap and pulled at his shoulders to get him up from his chair. 

"You're so silent today. What weights your mind, Pigeon?" Delia turned to Talyis, now ignoring that Gareth was still planted in his seat. 

Talyis snapped from her the pleasantry of watching the couple bicker and slumped in her chair, "There is not much to talk about." 

"Nonsense! You know you can tell me how much you despise Novak, I pay it no mind. He is my King and dearest friend but I know he can be more arse than mule too." 

"Delia," Gareth warned. 

Delia huffed, her faced scrunched up and she flared her red hair about as she shook her head, "Arent you s'posed to have gone now?" 

"I want out, Delia. I can handle this anymore." Talyis pleaded. 

Delia's demenor became serious, "Is this about what he does to you in the night?" 

"No," Talyis answered quickly and then thought about it again, "No. No?" 

She blushed through her caramel complexion and chewed on her lip. 

Delia quickly turned to Gareth, her body bouncing up and down like a child, "Gareth! Go! We ladies 'ave things to chat that are not privy to the male ears." 

Gareth took another gulp of water from his mug and slumped out of his chair taking the basket with him. Delia cleared her throat loudly stopping Gareth in his tracks. He smiled and kissed the top of her head goodbye. 

"What plagues you?" Delia probed as soon as Gareth had swung the tavern doors closed behind him. 

Talyis shuffled in her seat. "I have to get out of here. I am losing myself. Each night I don't know what I want anymore." 

"Is he still intent on taking you as his right as your owner?" 

"That's not it, Delia. He doesn't, I am glad he doesn't. But..." Talyis traced the lace with her fingers avoiding Delia's eyes. 

"You wish he did?" Delia sat up straight getting more engaged in the gossip. 

Talyis shuffled uncomfortably in her chair, her eyes still focused on the remaining pieces of lace, "It's becoming more a challenge to despise him as much. Something must be wrong. He's become so gentle, so giving and yet he does not touch me- anywhere."  

Delia sat silently for a bit and then burst out loud in laughter, "Pige, you suffering hysteria from our dear Novak?" She laughed again, drumming the table with her fat fists. Talyis was far from amused. "Everyday you curse him, day in and day out you tell me the same thing listing everything about him you hate. And now you want him to bring you to a pant." Talyis's face blushed and stood up pounding her small fist into the table in anger. Delia tried to contain herself, "Sorry Pigeon. Don't get all ruffled. Sit." Delia took a deep breath and her laughter subsided. Talyis sat down cautiously. "What's the worst that can happen?" 

"Delia, I know you enjoy my company and this is your home. But it isn't mine. I don't want my life to be meaningless. Novak is going to marry Calena one day. I need to escape. I want a life of my own." 

"What about yer harsh life?" Delia arched an eyebrow. 

Talyis stopped, realizing she was wishing for more than she should have for her pretenses as the bar wench she proclaimed to be. She sat silent and began to take on the next basket of errands; organizing the flowers to be eventually given to Calena. She took a small hand full of the beautiful flowers that smelt so lovely and wished that it was for her instead Calena. She stopped, slamming her hands into her lap. 

"I am not who I said I was," Talyis admitted. 

"No!" Delia aghast sarcastically. The women sat still looking at each other before bursting into laughter. "Pigeon, I knew from the moment I laid me eye on you.» 

"I knew you couldn't have believed me but I tried to lie. And then you befriended me and I thought I got away with it." Talyis then sighed, "I am the Princess of Onor. Prince Novak, Gareth and the Aricin band captured me and made me Novak's slave. I do not remember how it happened, I just remembered being taken from my chambers in middle of the night." 

Delia stopped laughing and chewed on her lips, her red eyelashes downcast hiding the years of pain she hid under her brassiness. She quietly responded her voice choked, "What yer King done was awful. I lost me entire family when I was just a wee girl. I raised meself on me own. It's been plenty lonely for a long time until me Luv came round." Talyis's face flushed with guilt for all the things she had said in the past about the Aricin in Delia's presence, even her curses of Novak. "But, emm, two wrong don't mike the past right." Delia took a deep breath and looked at Talyis and reached for her hands. Talyis guiltily took the hands of the woman that her family had caused so much pain for, trying to ease the pain. "What do you want Talyis?" 

"I am sorry, Delia," Talyis croaked. 

"No, that's not what I asked." 

Talyis sat still she glanced at her lap and to her friend who had been so kind to her despite all that her family had done, "I want a chance to be in love. To be loved." 

Inside she screamed, But maybe I don't deserve it. Maybe it's not meant for me. I need to make things right. 

Delia assisted Talyis with completing the errands in the village and picking up items for Novak and Calena. Delia joked through her vigilance to keep Talyis's mood light, no longer wanting to reflect on the past and keep her friend. Twilight closed on them suddenly and Talyis complained that Novak's plan was to punish her with an impossible number of tasks to complete. Delia cackled that she should mouth off to him if he gave her any grief because she was able to do what no other servant would be able to do in a week let alone in a day. 

*** 

Novak paced his parlor heatedly, he hands wringing as his dark curls floated to and fro. Calena sat at the chess table sipping from a wine goblet held delicately between her two fingers, annoyed. 

"Dear Novak, please sit. It is embarrassing that you are troubling yourself over a stupid slave girl," Calena chimed, but Novak looked out the window again. It was a new moon and the weather darkened the stars. He looked off into the distance, surveying the forest below and looking for lamps to light the twisting path through it to the entrance of the castle. "Novak sit!" 

"She should have been back by now," he growled. Just as he wrung his hands, his nerves wrung with ideas of Talyis being harmed by some of his people avenging their loved ones. He wanted to roar in frustration. 

"I am to be your wife and I am sitting here bored while you are concerning yourself with a simple slave." 

Novak clenched his eyes shut and tried to stop his stomach from turning. He had sent Talyis away with too many errands, so that he could more easily force himself to propose to Princess Calena. Her selfish words stirred his ire for her all the more, she reminded him of a young Talyis, a spoiled self-centered bitch. 

"Why don't you have other slaves in the castle?" 

"We haven't had slaves since the fall of our people, she is the first since the reconstruction," Novak answered simply his attention still focused on the window. 

"I know that you bed her. I do not mind as long as you do not give her pleasure; she is your slave by all means." 

Novak ground his teeth Calena had become more and more meddlesome since the moment he had proposed to her, especially on matters regarding Talyis. But he was determined to disguise his affection for Talyis. It could never amount to anything, after all. 

Calena slammed her fist onto the table causing the little game pieces to clatter to the floor, "Novak!" she snapped. "Come away from the window. I will have her whipped for being late and causing your Lordship so much trouble." 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 07



Novak turned to Calena and then sat down with her at the table, "The girl has many enemies in my land, I only worry if she has been hurt." He took his goblet sipping from it, trying to stop the eruption of his emotions for Talyis. But Calena was so focused on him giving him speculative looks. "I will punish my slave as I see fit." 

A knock on the door brought a welcome change in the atmosphere and the palace guard assigned to accompany Talyis entered the room. Novak sighed with great relief seeing Talyis standing behind the guard, her hands filled with the baskets of completed errands. 

The guard bowed deeply and Talyis squeezed around the guard, not bowing, which made Calena suck her teeth angrily holding back her thoughts from spilling out. 

"It took all day to finish your tasks," Talyis barked as she dropped the baskets carelessly to the floor and put her hands on her hips in defiance. 

Novak's concern for her had faded to short-lived relief and now turned into irritation that she was late and worried him so. 

"Bow," he commanded, set on contending with her irreverence. She postured herself in defiance. She did not care what he thought, she was angry with him for making her do so much in a day. 

"You should whip her. What slave does not bow to the king?" Calena spat and stood next to Novak glaring at Talyis, rolling the stem of the wine goblet with her long fingers. 

"Bow, Talyis," Novak raised his eyebrow and she glared right back at him. 

"What about thank you, Talyis. Talyis, you worked very hard today. You've been up working since the break of dawn, Talyis, you must be tired and hungry." Talyis exploded. 

Calena's mouth dropped in shock. 

Novak clenched his jaw sneering through his teeth. "I will not reward a slave who wastes my time gossiping with villagers, such as Delia, instead of doing her work." Talyis froze. "Yes, I know all about your visits to the tavern." 

"You should have her punished!" Calena snapped, eyes flashing. 

"Calena, be quiet!" Novak rubbed his eyes and then turned to his guard. "Take her to my chamber." 

"No!" Calena turned to the guard. "Whelp, I am going to be your Queen in a matter of months, remove your belt and whip this girl at once." 

"Calena?" Novak was shocked by her complete callousness. 

"Are you reducing me to the level of this slave or am I to be your Queen, Novak?" Calena asked and Novak couldn't do anything but agree. "Then that settles it. Whip her now." 

The guard removed his leather belt and Talyis glared at Novak, her eyes burning into him. 

"You said I would only have to answer to you," Talyis pleaded, as the first slash came hard on her back. 

"Bow before your King and Queen, slave," Calena demanded and Talyis refused by standing up, her eyes on fire. Calena gestured and the guard gave another blow to her back. Again Talyis stood after the initial burn melted into a wicked smolder and Calena had the guard lash his belt through the air attacking her back again and she grunted stifling her cries. 

Novak could no longer hide his disturbance for what was happening to his Talyis and he did not care to tip-toe and play diplomatic with Calena any longer about his feelings towards his slave. She had him, Calena was going to be his wife, but he did not want Talyis to have to endure any more of the torture that she stubbornly challenged. 

His anger climaxed and his heart wretched with each blow to his Talyis's back; he swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. 

"Enough!" Novak yelled, yanking the guard away from Talyis. "Take her to my chambers. Leave me to spend my engagement night with my fiancée, she has ruined enough of it already with her tardiness." 

Talyis snapped her body away from the guard trying to assist her to her feet. She was not going to grovel, she was going to be strong and leave on her own. On her way out of the room, she spied a tray of cheese and a knife. 

Novak quickly finished the chess game, loathing Calena's flirtations all the more, and no longer wished to play coy with false moves and won the game easily. He kissed Calena's hand goodnight and returned to his chambers. 

Talyis was standing at the hearth, her hands behind her back. He walked in cautiously; he had seen that she had taken the knife from the cheese plate when she'd left the parlor. Novak was relieved that she hadn't taken her own life and was more intent on using it on him. He would rather her fight him instead than to continue to feel inferior to Calena. Just as he expected, Talyis charged at him, her small fingers tight around the makeshift dagger. Easily he captured her wrist as he ducked away from the blade, his other arm wrapping around her hugging her raging body to him. 

"Shhh," was all he said while his fingers worked to pry her fingers from the knife that wouldn't have done much damage anyway. 

Talyis was silently dumbfounded by his gentleness. She had attacked him, tried to murder him but now his soothing voice was melting her. Was she this staved for affection? She shook her head and refused to play pawn. But she could not shirk the tenderness of his embrace. 

She had tried to kill the only heir of a surviving people, a people her father attacked and tears rolled down her face. He quickly pulled her dress off leaving her skirts on her body and led her to the bed, not allowing her to think. Her body would have shivered if it weren't for the heat on her back from the whipping. He motioned for her to lie on her stomach and she did. Cautiously she didn't take her eyes off of his every movement: he dug through the drawers of his tall boudoir until he found a glass container with a strange green gel inside. 

The bed dipped as he sat beside her and unscrewed the glass top from the container. His fingers dipped into the salve and applied the cool gel to the welts temporary disfiguring her beautiful back. 

She whimpered as his careful, gentle touch left trails of the pungent gel on her back. "Now you cry," he commented almost as if an afterthought. 

"This never would have happened if you hadn't sent me out with so many errands." 

"I'd hoped you'd have learned to quiet your tongue, Talyis." 

Talyis turned to face Novak. "I hate you. Everything within me screams for me to smother you in your sleep." 

Novak smirked, "Why don't you?" Talyis didn't answer as she just turned away from him and he continued to apply the gel to the ugly red welts. "But you are too needy and desire my touch each night to have the courage to do it." 

Talyis roared, turned, and abruptly slapped him squarely across the face. She was prepared for his retaliation but instead she saw desire conflicting with deep sorrow in his face. The same desire she wished her green-eyed man to have for her. She didn't know what came over her, but the green-eyed boy was becoming like the man sitting before her everyday. She tackled Novak, kissing him deeply. 

She pushed his body onto the padding and pulled at his tunic removing it from his body. He lay looking at her, amazed by this new tigress. Her beauty haloed by her fierceness. He wanted to run his fingers through her hair that dangled down onto his chest and her breasts swayed as the bed squeaked with her movements. She kissed his chest all over tracing his muscles with her lips. 

"How do I do it?" she whispered. Her voice dripped with lust. "What do I do?" 

Searching her expression for assurance that she really wanted what she was requesting, his hands gently feathered her sore back - she did. Novak removed his pants and flung them to the floor. His penis poled between his thighs. Talyis felt all the more confident, for once she was not completely naked and he was. He wrapped his hands around his penis the tip red seeping, ready to sheave itself into her depths. 

"You can kiss me here as you have kissed me elsewhere," he said between kisses in which he captured her lips. 

Talyis looked at Novak. His eyes were as green as her gardens. He was turning into her green-eyed man and she wanted to run with him hand-in-hand into green lush pools. His smile reminded her of the green-eyed child's curling to one side more. His hand fluttered up and down her arms as he encouraged her. She turned away from him to place a tentative kiss to the head of his penis. It was soft and warm. 

"Put it in your mouth if you like." Novak picked up her skirts to press his finger to her center. She was so sensitive to his touch it radiated through his shaft from her kiss. She was wet. He tasted her. "Men and women become wet when aroused and that arousal has a taste. You taste very sweet. I love your taste. Go ahead." 

Talyis placed her mouth over the head . He was indeed correct; he did have a taste and it was salty and buttery. Her tongue continued to taunt the head with quick touches to taste him. It plucked at the nerves in his legs and pelvis like a guitar. Her tongue pushed into the center of his urethra and he hissed. Talyis stopped and turned to him with curious eyes. 

"No, don't stop. You are doing fine," he encouraged and combed the hair away from her face as she tried again. 

Pleasure swam through his body as she started to suck on his penis. His eyes rolled back, the warmth of her mouth was devious, urging all of his nerves into bundles throughout his body. She continued pleasuring him, urging as if to suck the seed from his testicles to explode. He couldn't take anymore and he didn't want to scare her when he came. 

"Stop, Talyis, please stop," Novak sputtered. The sensations she caused by taking her shaft in his mouth continued to radiate through his body. Holding himself back he did not want to scare her with the unexpected behaviors of the male explosion in her mouth. 

He grabbed her shoulders and brought her into his arms against his warm body that was becoming like home to her. She kissed him and he looked in awe at her brown almond eyes that had the gentleness of a doe. Smiling, he hugged her tightly while his hand snuck down in between them, gathering her skirts and petticoats away from his conquest. His fingers found her entrance and toyed with her clitoris allowing the hood to open and close over the bud. Her legs tightened as anticipation rose within her. 

"Open your legs," he guided and she let her legs fall apart from each other. His fingers delved into her dewy opening and scissored gently matching her passion. Their eyes were transfixed on her body, watching her labia and sex move with his fingers. She leaned back against his chest, gasping, her eyes closed. "Do you want me to do what you did to me?" he asked and she nodded. 

The bed rustled as Novak got onto his knees below her. His fingers hooked her skirts to pull them down and toss aside with his own clothing. She propped herself on elbows watching him move her legs apart and trace her labia lightly, dragging his fingernail. 

"Relax," he said and she laid back into the padding, "Do you want to be in control of everything, princess?" He growled and took a long lick up through her slit. 

She whimpered loudly, the sensation was so strange and good. 

"Now she cries," he teased, and licked again before grabbing onto her thighs to get a deeper taste. Her body flexed as his tongue pushed inside of her, so wet. "You taste amazing. So sweet." His teeth nipped at her slippery labia and her back arched off of the bed. "This little fleshy button at the top is the mastermind of your sex," he said as he circled his tongue around her clit, delivering moisture to it. "It alone can give you pleasure." He let the top of his teeth graze her clit and she exhaled loudly. He attacked her with his mouth, sucking and laving all over until she was completely drenched with heat. He stopped to watch her in the throes of her first loving orgasm. 

"Don't stop," she trembled. 

"I don't intend to. I want to give you pleasure. I have always wanted to give you pleasure." Novak's husky voice enticed her more. 

He crawled up her body, careful not to crush her smaller body under his strong one. She just stared up at him, his dark hair hanging down, hiding his wonderful face. His body seemed so tense, every muscle was taut as he held himself up over her. He smiled and she couldn't help but smile back at her green-eyed man, no longer a monster. 

"Kiss me," she said and he complied, lightly kissing her lips. "Kiss me again, please." He kissed her lightly again. "One more time," she said in almost a whisper. He smiled and kissed her neck, then moved down her body with kisses around her neck, tantalizing her as he kissed around her breast spiraling to the anticipated contact with her nipple. 

"Lots of nerves here too." He stopped, hovering right above her nipple, his breath heating it. She couldn't help but slam her arms into the mattress in protest. 

"Don't stop, Novak, please, don't stop." 

He arched his eyebrow and smiled, his playful grin pulling more to one side. "I don't intend to." 

"Please keep going. Do it, do the thing." 

"What thing, Princess?" he teased, "This." His lips caught her nipple and sucked it. Her back arched and approval escaped from her mouth. 

"No, yes, that but..." she panted. His hand massaged her other breast making her hips dance in need "I mean...." She couldn't remember how to breathe or to speak, he was making her body feel everything all at once. She reached down and grabbed his penis and guided it to her center. 

"Oh, you mean this." He pulled her hands from his penis and placed it at her entrance. "You mean intercourse, make love, fuck." He skillfully slid his penis in only a little, to heighten their anticipation. Just the head of his member made her feel full.  

"Yes!" She could barely squeeze her voice to sound, she clenched her eyes and smiled- finally! 

"I don't intend to fuck you, Princess," he said as he slid out and kissed her cheek. Her confused eyes searched his. He only smiled and delightfully pushed his penis into her again filling her fully. She cried out in ecstasy. "I intend to make love to you." He kissed her deeply, his tongue playing in concert with his penis that seemed to grow inside her, filling her. 

He pulled out and then pushed into her again adding pressure to her cervix making her feel him so deeply inside her- exquisite. Her legs squirmed, trying to pull him to her, pull him closer. He chuckled lightly and took hold of her thighs, his gentle hands massaging them as he thrust into her opening. He raised her legs to her chest to get a deeper connection. A scream penetrated his senses delightfully and it sang with each scrape of the bed against the stones when his thumb antagonized her clit. Circling it and pushing it into her with each thrust, adding exquisite pressure to the deep nub inside her vagina. 

"Talyis of Onor," he gently held her closer to him not allowing the pain of the welts to tamper with this beautiful communion of devotion. He nipped her ears, whispering in ancient Aricin with passion dripping as liquid molten. "If you only knew what was to come of you. If I you only knew what you mean to me, my precious Little One. How I wish to move heaven and earth and run from my kingdom to be with you." 

Cries escaped her more as her body clenched his penis, sucking it deeper within her, urging him to expand. He plunged into her and exploded with her, his seed washing the bitterness away. 

When they came down from the heights of passion, they couldn't help but study one another in bliss. Novak stilled within her but he remained, neither ready to feel empty of each other. Sweat glistened on their bodies and their combined scent hung in the air like an aphrodisiac. They smoothed wet hair back from each others faces and caressed each other as if to memorize the moment. 

Novak chuckled at their tenderness nervously; they were like stray cats- scrapping with each other since childhood. When he laughed his penis moved within her, grazing the bundle of nerves at the top of her vagina. Her eyes, glittering in afterglow, looked at him in wonder. He gave one more quick thrust as a memento and fell to his side of the bed in exhaustion, the bedding springs vibrated loudly. He rolled over after calming his system and pulled Talyis to him. She gladly curled up close to Novak, her skin was so soft to his. He combed his fingers through her thick black hair and listened to her breathing as she fell asleep in his arms. He kissed the crown of her head. 

"I love you, Talyis of Onor. You have marked my heart," Novak whispered as he nuzzled her neck. She snuggled closer to him, hearing his words as she drifted off into sleep.







**********************************************

A Very Special thanks to Cristalball for editing and my two beta readers- Ladies you are awesome!!!

Readers: Thank you for reading my story and hanging in there with my plot through it all. This story is far from over and there is alot to come. I'd love to hear your thoughts... praises ;-P, how you love/hate the characters whatever you want to share. All of your comments truly keep me going. 

I dont like to forshadow blatenly but if you are lost on what's coming next, go back a bit there are some bits that are beginning to revealing themselves now.

Cheers,

~T Bagley



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 08



Chapter 8

Five months later...

The pitter patter of rain hitting the metal roof of the castle gave way to the plops of puddles on the bedroom terrace. A breeze of fresh cool air made the curtains in the room float like phantoms. Lovers lay on either side of the bed, back to back, extreme opposites; not touching each other, allowing a chasm of bitterness separate them. 

Novak dared not glance over his shoulder to check on Talyis. Her nightmares had ended five months ago, but it did not alleviate her unhappiness. Now instead of the night terrors thrashing through her sleep, she had become so sickly, always throwing up and with a cold. The stress and sickness had taken such a toil on her body that her body she stopped menses. She refused to let a healer touch her and charged daily him for her sufferings in silent glares. He ruffled his pillow taking out his aggravation and wishing the event five months ago had ended differently. 

Novak had made love to Talyis and she made love to him. He was in love with her, there was no denying it any longer. It was deeper than his boyhood infatuation and willingness to do anything for her. If it weren't for his people, he would tear his royal robes from his body and escape with Talyis, giving her the life he'd dreamed of. But he couldn't force himself to send her away and instead tossed and turned, wrestling away his sleep each night trying to find a solution to keep her near. 

He had held her so tightly and kissed her thoroughly that night five months ago. It was not a distant memory; he relived it every night with the hopes of waking up with Talyis reigning with him. She would be a great leader: she was exceptionally intelligent and had shown so much kindness to his people. Some of the villagers had avoided her all together and their faces showed their objections, but they trusted Novak and put up with the enemy sharing their king's bed. He was always watchful but relieved that most of his people took a liking to Talyis. 

It was Umma's familiarity with Talyis when she accompanied him and Calena to the village that haunted him. During his visits, the rift between Talyis and himself did not seem as deep; they worked together to care for Umma. Talyis was strong and understanding when Umma had bouts of senility. Calena elected to stay outside after meeting Umma, she was too disturbed by the reminder of aging the older woman exemplified. Talyis was tender and nurturing with Umma. Only when Umma's slipped into the past did Talyis show her greatest strengths, comforting the grieving woman as the old woman dealt with the consequences of her father, King Aronich's actions. 

Umma was steadfast in not allowing Novak to baby her and matched it with her determination to care for him instead. He was always a babe to her, and her tenacity sometimes tested his patience. Novak felt so inadequate in helping his Umma. It was only when he watched Talyis sitting at Umma's feet on the dusty floor, Umma patting the young woman's hands while telling her, "I may be old and my mind slips, but I am the mother here and always will be. Novak needs to stop his meddling and nursing me. I am my own woman," that Novak would burst into laughter. The ladies looked at him severely, their intimate moment disturbed by him. 

It had become so apparent to him why he'd taken such a liking to Talyis when he was young. She was Umma. But the prospect that he'd be able to see Talyis grey and old, in love with him as his Umma, stopped his laughter to as reality broke in- they were star-crossed. He would not grow old with Talyis. Nor would they spend their nights reflecting over a happy life and family near the hearth as elders. He would soon have to send her away. All because of the morning after, five nights ago, all hopes and dreams of love and family had vaporized.

The morning after the night of passion- five months ago.





The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 08



"Honey, she wanted me to tell the story," Gareth said a little more vehemently than he wanted to come out. 

"Well! Excuse poor Delia from the story please. I'll go sit by me lonesome away from my best friend you are so intent on stealing from me every itty bitty of time I get to see her..." 

"Delia," Talyis pleaded, trying to calm the melodrama. "Please let him finish." 

Delia smiled, kissed Gareth on the cheek quickly, and curled her fingers through his hair, content with listening. 

Gareth smiled and his eyes twinkled with genuine amusement. His wife never gave him a dull moment. "We sent messages which our people passed onto the others; we regrouped as a people, found this new land and territory. As for the artwork, many of us were given pieces from the castle by the guards when the siege was nearing, and those of us who survived have returned them to our new castle." 

"But it aint the official King until he weds and brings us a queen. But since Gareth stepped down and Novak aint in the grave. Gareth isn't our king and I our queen, that unless Novak dies, then since we are married...." Delia added quickly.

"Darling, what does that have to do with what I am trying to tell Talyis," Gareth smiled at Delia.

"Nothing, I'd just thought I throw that in to stop any more confusion, me girlfriend might be having on our monarchy system and why he is taking Calena and not Ta-" Delia blurted almost saying 'not Talyis' but Gareth pounced on her and kissed her lips quiet.

Delia giggled wrapping her arms around Gareth and the two tumbled to the floor, still laughing and kissing each other.

"Is there anything else you want to reveal to Talyis might she be confused," Gareth mocked teasingly with a wicked smile.

"Emm, well, if you kiss me like that. How about why Novak plucked her from her castle..."she giggled but Talyis was swaying in a swirl she did not hear.

She sat still in deep thought until the bile in her stomach again pushed through her body. "Delia!" she cried and motioned. Delia quickly snapped into action, pushing Gareth off of her to deliver a wash bucket to her side. Talyis threw up again; her head spinning. 

"Pige, maybe your parasite ain't a parasite," Delia commented. She rubbed Talyis's back as she hunched over, heaving. 

Talyis clutched the rim of the wooden bucket. Her voice husky, she said, "It's just the smell of Aricin food." 

"You've got to get used to our food! And anyway, maybe it ain't the food either... perhaps you're pregnant?" 

Pregnant?! She clenched her eyes shut and the pit of her stomach dropped, causing her to feel even more woozy. I haven't thought....Oh Heavens! That would be a nightmare unto its own. I cannot be pregnant. 

"Don't fret, we will do a test," Delia quickly got up to go to the bar. She shifted around for a pan. She placed something in her dress and brought them back to the table. "When are we going to have a babe, Gareth?" She pulled an egg from her dress and cracked its contents into the pan. "There we go. Now go and use it as a chamber pot. We will put it in the sun. If the yolk separates from the egg, you are with babe. But if it's intact, it's not quite exact." 

Talyis slummed out of the bench and took the cast iron skillet to the hallway to use as a chamber pot, the guard took notice that she was leaving his eyesight and tried to follow. 

"No, you don't! You give a gal her privacy no matter who she is!" Delia shouted at the guard and forced her body in front of him, protecting the entry way to the hall. The guard surrendered and returned to his chair. 

"When will I know?" Talyis asked and Delia laughed, oblivious to the dread the princess was experiencing as always Delia was on the bright side of life. 

"The sun ain't near the sky yet. It's all but a white dawn. It'll take a few days in the sun." 

Talyis scoffed, "It's rained and snowed for a month now, the sun isn't coming out." 

"Ah well, it's the raining season, but the itty bit of sun we get for a few days should tell us." 

"Oh, I feel like I am going to be sick," Talyis clutched her stomach from the sour feeling moving through her and bent over. 

"Tell us another story, luv, to keep our Talyis's mind off the anticipation," Delia hurriedly requested.

Gareth finished the rest of his porridge. "Talyis, if you are with babe you need to eat and take care of yourself. Novak will not be happy if you are sick." 

"He won't care what happens to me or this child. He said he would send it to the mines!" Talyis cried and clutched her stomach tighter. 

"Talyis, he does care. If only you knew." 

"Knew what, Gareth? How to save myself?" 

"No, Talyis, if you only knew how we came about taking you from your castle." 

"You kidnapped me and didn't even offer a ransom. What do you want from me?" 

"Nothing, Talyis, and you are wrong on all accounts." 

"Then tell me, Gareth!" she demanded. 

"It is not my story or place to tell." 

Talyis clenched her fist angrily. Why wasn't he telling her what she deserved to know? He had been there, why wouldn't he tell her? 

"Gareth, you are no help to me," she spat. The room crackled with tension, not even Delia spoke. 

Talyis took a deep breath and composed herself. "I am sorry. Gareth, you have been a great friend to me. You have tried to help me and reason with Novak, I know. I know your hands are tied because of your responsibilities." Talyis sat still, a calming stillness replaced the anxiety that had covered the room the last few moments. "I love my people and my land. I miss them all so much. I am sorry for what my father did to your people, to Novak. I understand your duty is to your people and you had to make difficult decisions concerning me, even defying Novak. I would do anything to protect my people." She dropped her eyes to her lap and wrung her fingers nervously, "I never got a chance to thank you for being so gentle with me that night. I knew you loved Delia and I knew you did not want to do what you were ordered to. When I was told that you stepped down because of that night, I felt so humbled. I am your enemy but you didn't allow retribution to taint your soul." 

Gareth took Talyis's hands into his own and squeezed gently, "You have changed quite a bit, Talyis, from when we first met and from what Novak told me of you and your royal family. I am relieved that you are not broken. Stay wild, Talyis, stay wild." 

*** 

Rain ricocheted against the stone floor of the courtyard leading to the gardens out of tempo with the musicians playing Aricin folk songs on drums, flutes, and hollow stringed instruments. Like glass beads falling quickly to the floor when the water dripped quickly through roof drains, laughter grew louder and thunder competed for attention from the happy couple surrounded by constant stream of visitors. 

Coming from the Delia and Gareth's tavern, Talyis snuck through a new tide of people entering the castle, wanting to avoid Calena and Novak. She was trapped between the towering white floral arrangements and the villagers pushing in to get an eager look at their soon-to-be queen. The castle hall was very small in comparison to the one in her old home. It was the only a large room in the castle with the throne at the end of the room. To the right and left, eight arched openings had narrow stairs leading to: two bedchambers, the library, the kitchen, two watchtowers, and the dining hall. Only one arch opening nearest to the throne led to the courtyard and gardens. 

Aricin ate at tables set up in the hall. The glittering white and silver fabrics only made the room appear smaller, while jostled waves of people enjoyed the joyful Aricin dancing to folk music. Despite being in a room so filled with people, Talyis felt so alone and wished that Gareth and Delia had attended. 

The lightning outside flowed through the hall, highlighting the white, silver and crystals that hung everywhere. The candles flickered as gusts of wind came through the courtyard into the hall, but no one was bothered by the large storm brewing outside. Instead, the room swelled with such excitement, it easily surpassed even Delia's daily exuberance. 

Drinks and mugs were passed from person to person over the heads of the smoothed and frizzled haired people. People carried large turkey legs, pulling the sinews apart with large obnoxious bites. 

Talyis tried to get Novak's chambers to hide from the pain of the wedding party but her path was redirected her closer to the throne by the pushing and shoving guests. She fought back tears when her eyes laid on Novak and Calena sitting side by side on the throne. He was smiling down on his people, his arm was raised high for a toast. Calena was dressed in a beautiful white gown with crystals dripping ornately from the white and gold bodice that perfectly matched the decorated hall. Her blonde hair contrasted beautifully with the red roses pinned within her curls falling to her hips. She was mesmerizing. Talyis couldn't help but touch her simple navy, brown skirts that felt like rough burlap and smooth her hair nervously. 

Novak stood up and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. He looked imperial in his tailored ivory clothing and ornate robe. His legs were strong and towering finely, an ornate tunic with silver stitched designs showed off his muscular chest- he oozed sensuality. 

"Enjoy, my friends, enjoy. Tomorrow, I will wed my beautiful princess and be crowned King. Tomorrow, dear friends, our struggle ends and a new era begins." The crowd roared even louder and the musicians banged on their drums. Talyis watched as women waved handkerchiefs, while others swooned. 

"Calena, my bride and the Navapa alliance will protect us and we will thrive within this world that has been so against us. We will grow as a people, fall in love, marry, have children and grow old. Our children will grow up never in fear but will be able to study and learn. Our elders, such as Ulie, my Umma, who have seen such terrors will at last have their nightmares calm and will rest in knowing their kingdom stands at last. The sacrifice of those who's lives were extinguished, like Ulie's children; your parents, siblings and children; my parents will not be in vain. 

I will rule as your King with the justice, wisdom and humility my father had. I will protect you and we will never fear extinction again." Another roar and Novak smiled on his people, his body strong as he gave the oratory. "Eat, and be merry- tonight is the wedding party of our people." 

The musicians struck up another jovial tune and people began to dance and celebrate again. The circling of dresses and men clapping made the room spin; Talyis freed herself from the crowd and leaned against the cool wall. She clutched her stomach, and her troubles began to press upon her again. 

Damn him. I hate him. She cried to herself and closed her eyes willing her stomach to be empty, imagining it to be only tissue, blood and muscle.  Damn me for losing my mind, for hoping for love, for making him into my green-eyed boy. She pushed herself off of the wall and tried to navigate through the people to the peace and quite of the chambers. 

She swore as she saw Calena float through the crowd. She looked so happy as she accepted the praises of her beauty from the villagers while she walked towards the front entrance to the castle. The doors swung open as she approached and clanged closed. The idea of getting fresh air seemed like a good idea and she was already nearer to the courtyard than to the stairs of the chambers. 

The rain fell hard and only a few kissing couples stood huddled under the roof that covered only a small portion of the courtyard. She didn't care if they thought she was crazy, she walked to the end of the courtyard terrace into the heavy rain, immediately soaking herself. She closed her eyes and allowed the rain to drip down her face to disguise the tears falling from her face. She chastised herself for falling for Novak; he infuriated her. She should have tried to cut his throat, not welcome him to caress hers with the stubble from his chin in the dark. 

"Talyis," the voice that ran through her senses day and night called her from behind. 

"Leave me alone," she warned. She could hear the villagers hugging each other under the roof stiffen. 

"Leave us." He instructed harshly. The sound of his heels clicking against the stones and slashing the puddles brought her stomach to a twisting. "Talyis." 

A warm robe was brought around her rain-chilled body and delicate fingers turned her chin to him.

She looked down at the royal robe surrounding her body, the wedding robe that was crafted for this night. She chewed her lip, feeling the pain deep in her soul of wanting to have this one close to her, to adore and respect her, to marry her, and to want to spend his entire life with her. She let her fingers roll up and down the white fur trim of the satin robe. 

"Talyis, I am so very sorry-" Novak began. He had rehearsed it over and over since the night he held the handkerchief with her innocence to his face in tears. He couldn't believe that he had allowed his anger to blind him to the point where he had mutilated the very soul he couldn't live a day without thinking of. 

"Sorry for what?!" Talyis spat, interrupting him. Her tears now rolling freely down her face. "You took me from my home and had your men take me. And instead of killing me, which was within my rights, you enslaved me." 

"Talyis I shouldn't have... I can't tell you how much I regret-" 

"I am a princess, just as much as Calena." 

"Talyis-" 

"You claim to be a great leader, but you twist diplomacy with the heir to a crumbling kingdom." 

"I know Talyis, I know that your father's rule was slipping. I am sorry, but you must understand-" 

"Again, you are sorry!" she laughed angrily though tears. "You took my innocence and perverted me... to make me-." She couldn't say it. She couldn't tell him she loved him. "Make me-. You used my memories of a friend and perverted them to make me-." 

"Talyis," Novak shook his head, unable to comprehend her. "I don't know what you are talking about, what friend?" 

"You said you loved me and you are so twisted. Just kill me!" 

Novak's heart sank, "I am sorry, Talyis." 

"Stop saying that!" she screeched loudly and pounded her fist into his chest, he only stood and took the blows. "You cannot apologize to me. You've have done nothing but torture me with false pleasantries since there was nothing left you've already taken everything from me." 

Novak tried to take her hands but changed his mind, his eyes looked down. The rain turned to sleet, melting as it touched his heated body. "Talyis, I am truly sorry, and nothing can make up for-" 

Another apology, Talyis girded herself, her nose flared loudly in anger. "What kind of new era do you think you will bring? You are a disgrace to your parents' rule and you lie to your people. You cannot and will not protect them. It would have been better that my father would have killed the bastard child of King Belcor than-" 

Novak's hatred for Talyis since the moment he plucked her from her castle, against his judgment and advisement of deciding to protect her by bringing her home, was renewed. He charged at Talyis, the images of his father, King Belcor on his knees before the man that shared Talyis's features flashed red hot anger in his eyes. He backed her into the stone fence leading to the gardens she had cultivated. He held her strongly by the robe. Her glare challenged him. She was willing him, threatening him to hurt her, prove that she was right. But he wouldn't, couldn't, his mind raced with anger he could not catch up. The sleet had stopped and transformed into white flakes, falling about them and powdering the ground. Everything was tranquil and peaceful; the storm had stopped but the sharp animalistic exhaled bursts of icy vapors between the two enemies continued. 

Metal and chain links jangled against rustled clothing and matched the heavy clopping of boots on the pavement running towards them. Nothing broke the concentration of their stand-off. Two men huffed loudly, their voices fragmented by their exhaustion, "My lord, my lord!" Novak turned, tossing his hands from his robes. "We are under siege!" 

"Protect the Queen!" he yelled, but the men shook their heads. "Where is Calena? You must protect her." 

"My lord, she is the leader of the siege. They are attacking the outer villages." 

"It's happening again," the other stronghold watchman shuddered. 

Novak's face flushed and his green eyes watered with great distress, he had brought the infiltrator into the heart of his people. He glanced at Talyis who stood just as stunned as he, but she could not stand smugly anymore. He grabbed his head, wanting to pound it to stop the bells clamoring inside, and ran towards the stables to ready for battle.

********************************

So sorry its been awhile to update. Very busy life going on here. I hope you like the description a play on a play. Lol. As Always thank you to my beta readers, Cris for editing and those of you who have stuck through letting these characters tell their story to the end. But this is not the end. Voting and comments are always much appreciated. 

~Talyis



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 09



Chapter 9

The bright night sky was painted with the storm twirling gales of snow under the bright moon. Talyis stood baffled, watching Novak run through the gardens to the stables. The blanket of snow scattered as he ran. The cool air crackled with tension. 

The celebration within the castle halted when the two watchmen came in yelling, "Attention! Stop the music. Attention! Everyone listen! The farms and outer villages are under attack!" 

"We will hold them off as long as we can, away from the villages. Go to your homes. Board up your windows and doors. Do not allow anyone into your homes until you hear the royal horn blow." These and other orders were rapidly dispatched by the watchmen. 

"How do we know we won't end up trapping ourselves inside to be murdered?" One man objected loudly and villagers around him agreed. 

"If you hear the tower bells ring we have lost. Take what you can and scatter," the watchman continued. "Do not worry about your personal belongings, you must scatter, leave your homes and preserve as a people," the second watchman instructed.

"Who is attacking us?" a woman called out. 

"Navapa and another foreign army in their ranks; we could not recognize their battle colors or seal." 

The crowed erupted with yelling and women began weeping, others murmured loudly to each other, the room was in a crescendo of various levels of fight and flight.

Questions swirled into a tempest as the guests whispered to each other about Calena and how the marriage was meant to provide the Aricin people with a strong ally. People began to exit hurriedly, leaving a trail of white, gold and silver glittery confections in their wake. Talyis joined the crowd that finally moved more with her than against. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the exodus. The fingers dug into her flesh and she tried to yank her arm back.

"Where do you think you are going?" a voice slithered. She turned to her personal guard, swaying unevenly with drink. 

"Delia and Gareth, they don't know-" she began.

"The Majesty will know before you can get past the castle gates," the guard slurred.

"Novak's Umma, she is defenseless," Talyis protested.

"The royal attendants are already on their way to old lady Ulie's cottage. Who next princess?" the guard mocked. 

"If I were stupid, I would have escaped earlier, months ago, in the middle of the night." She half lied. "I would rather handle the beast in the castle than the wild ones in your forests." 

"If that is true, slave then maybe I should leave you to face your fate with them. I know you have something to do with this attack." Accusation glittered in his drunken eyes. "I bet that unknown army is probably vile Onor that care only for themselves than mankind and deserve nothing less than the pain and torture of the underworld."

Her men were outside attacking, coming to her rescue? It had been so long since she had thought about home in a tangible way. Her thoughts of home and family had been so clouded by what had happened since her kidnapping, and the Aricin history.

When she dreamed, she dreamed of her bedchambers and how eerily still, silent it was that night of the raid. The dreams always left her in a cold sweat and confused about why her guards had never come to her aid. Knowledge of the impending battle and the chance her men were outside did not console her. Indeed, the Aricin had brought this upon themselves by capturing the princess of their enemy. The Aricin would be foolish to believe that a crippling attack would not come to them. It was all a vicious cycle of vengeance, hatred and lust for power. If indeed it were her people joined with the Navapa she knew it was going to be a bloody battle. She found no comfort in the prospect that this could possibly be the end of the Aricin. 

"Onor wench! He has freed you. Go protect yourself," the guard snapped. "Our concern is not for you but for our survival. We have only wanted to be our own people. I now must keep vigil on the watch tower, to protect what's left of us." 

Talyis wasn't conflicted anymore. She wrapped Novak's damp robe closer to her body and his smell enveloped her. The saddle bag still hung from her shoulders, and she slid her hands inside, dragging her fingers along the book's spine, reading its title with her finger tips. She had given this book to her green-eyed friend. She wanted to know where the boy was now and how Novak had acquired the book. 

She climbed the stairs to the prince's chambers and curled up into a ball in the bed. She shivered from the cold, but was too emotionally drained to build a fire. Her mind went back to her childhood. She wondered where her father had kept Novak as a boy. Her father had servants from many distant lands. Many allies sent their children to learn in her country, but how was it that a kingdom's heir was not introduced or even snooped out by her precocious curiosity. 

Her stomach began to churn. 

"Parasite, parasite, parasite," she chanted like a mantra as if to make it true, wishing it to be anything but a growing baby. "Argh!" 

Stress pulling her mind in directions and the parasite making her stomach roll, she jumped up and ran to the chamber pot and emptied her stomach. The wind whistled loudly outside and shifted the snow to drift into the room. Now she had no choice but to take time to build a fire to warm the room. 

The fire crackled and embers flew up in a dance up before disappearing. Everything was ghostly silent; the blizzard seemed to absorb any noise. But she tried to listen hard, to pick out the cry of a villager or the sound of metal on metal in battle -- she heard nothing. She wrapped another blanket around her tightly and pulled the book from her sack. Her fingers traced her young handwriting: 





The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 09



"Novak brought this on us. This wench is Onor, look at her skin and that senile Ulie told us that she is," the smallest spat. 

"Since when do we Aricin harm unarmed people? I don't care what she is. Get away, now, or you will have to answer to me as well." The man removed his cloak and the lesser boys quickly scrambled away from Talyis in fear and apologies to the man.

"Yes, your majesty!" The leader reluctantly pulled away but his aura of hatred never dropped. 

The boys peeled away and spat curses at Talyis who stood as still as possible against the cottage wall. She didn't shudder from the curses, instead felt empty, responsible for her kingdom creating this hatred even in the youngest of Aricin. 

"Talyis," Gareth's voice called for her but she didn't move. "Talyis, what are you doing here? It is dangerous." Her eyes shifted to Gareth standing before her, his sword in hand. 

"I wanted to see Delia," she allowed her voice to squeak out. 

Gareth shook his head and smiled slightly through a sigh, "Come on." 

Talyis gathered all the items that had scattered in the snow back into the basket. Gareth offered his arm to escort her to the tavern. 

She didn't know what she expected; she had hoped that the tavern would be filled with happy cheerful Aricin, singing and entertaining each other over spirits. It was empty and only a few people entered to collect any details regarding the war or food. Delia stood with a serious demeanor as she gave them the last vestiges of food before they hurried to their boarded homes. 

Talyis stood near the door, not knowing how her friend would receive her. Suppose Delia thought that Talyis was the cause of this new war against her people. 

"Pige, why are you standing there like you want to run?" Delia's scold didn't match her outstretched arms. Talyis ran to her friend and hugged her tightly. 

"I've brought this on you," Talyis stuttered.

"Nonsense. Calena and the Navapa have been trying to expand their territory over us for a long time." She combed Talyis' hair back like a mother would. "Ain't that right?" She turned to Gareth, "Luv, I saw it coming before you all could put two coins together." Talyis looked at the them, puzzled. 

Gareth sighed, "There was a Navapa man scouting out our land right before we arrived. Delia warned us. And Delia, please, do not throw this into Novak's face, he tries his best to keep us safe." 

"By marrying that witch! Serves him right for marrying for politics instead of love," Delia scoffed.

"Delia!" Gareth scolded and then walked away mumbling, "That is the last time I will ever share anything with you." 

The weight on Talyis's heart lifted just from being in Delia and Gareth's home and watching them tease each other. She picked up her basket and brought it to the table with the food that Delia gave away. 

"I brought you some food and some things for Ulie," Talyis said.

"Pige, we need to feed you. You need to keep healthy. Don't let this war trouble you too much." 

"Delia, I am the cause of all this and you...." She turned to see Gareth wiping down the bar. "You both have been so kind to me." 

"Sit, Talyis," Delia instructed. Talyis sat on the bench and Delia rubbed her hands tenderly. "Listen, and listen good. I may not be sharpest but I know one thing. To love you must learn to forgive. Ain't that right, Gareth?" 

"Forgive? After all that's happened. You-" Talyis started but Delia cut her off.

"Yes! Even the genocide. It will always hurt, but if I didn't forgive I wouldn't be able to luv me Gareth as full heartily as I do. You see, I wouldn't have been able to love again and allow me Gareth to love me. I wouldn't be able to recognize love after awhile. I could easily been bitter watching those that had their family intact, Gareth and his family still intact. I'd be stuck in a cycle of hatred, self-loathing and bitterness. And Talyis, me friend, bitterness it the worst of all: it is neither hatred nor love. It's in between and most deadly and destructive." 

Delia went over to the pot simmering behind the counter on the fireplace and drew up a large bowl of porridge for Talyis. "Here, eat. And I don't want any whining about our food. You must eat." 

Talyis hesitantly took small bites of the food but hunger made her ravenous and she ate quickly. Delia smiled down on her proudly and cut pieces of the bread from her basket, giving it to Talyis. 

"How are you feeling?" Gareth asked sitting next to Talyis with a bowl of his own. "Some boys attacked her in the square," he told Delia

"Oh Pige, you have to be careful, especially now... now that Novak is away," Delia added. 

"I am fine, Delia." Talyis she continued to eat. "Gareth, when Novak came to you as a boy, did he have anything with him?" 

"Why do you ask?" 

"No reason... Novak has a large collection of books." 

"Yes, he likes to read. When he came to us he had a satchel of books. My father found it odd that he had escaped into the forests with only a satchel of books and not enough food." Gareth hummed to himself amused. "My father always found Novak to be quite odd, in fact. He was always studying and my father had to forcibly take the books from him so that he'd learn how to fight with me in battle lessons." 

"Our Novak is too smart for his own good. That's why he puts his mind before his heart, aye, Gareth, Luv?" Delia smiled and arched wagging eyebrows in Talyis's direction. 

Gareth pounded his fists into the table, "Delia! Enough with your pestering." The last thing he wanted to hear today, was Delia's constant hinting on what he had plainly told her was secret. He threw the rest of his food away in the compost bucket and stomped up the stairs. The door slammed upstairs shaking the entire building. 

Talyis jumped at Gareth's anger toward Delia, he had been always so tolerant of her. 

"Don't pay him no mind. Staying behind waiting while the rest were at battle is stressing him, is all." Delia hinted. "If you want to take these to old lady Ulie's, you better wait till Gareth can take you." 

Talyis happily listened to Delia chirp on about nothing for hours while she cozy up in an armchair. Delia never missed a beat in her banter as she helped the few wayward souls that came into the tavern for food and news. Mostly the folk who ventured out wanted to escape the cabin fever. With frazzled and uneasy looks, they quickly got their information and scurried back to their boarded homes. When Gareth shuffled into the room, he looked just as on-edged as the rest, waiting for something to happen. 

"Gareth!" Delia quickly shifted mid-conversation, "Are you though scolding me?" Delia asked so sweetly, Talyis wondered how could anyone yell at her. "Take our Talyis to Ulie's." 

"It's snowing hard again," he grumbled and the women turned to the windows behind them. Everyone's energy dropped. "It'll have to wait till tomorrow. Delia, help me board up the windows and doors." 

"Talyis, you will have to stay here. You can sleep down here. We will bring down a cot and you can cozy up to the fire." Delia patted Talyis's shoulders. "You need your rest." 

"I had hoped the snow was done," Talyis said, dejected. 

"I know, honey. It's the rainy season, we've got one more month of this. Rain-sleet-snow, snow-sleet-rain and then months of heat. In the long run you'll be thankful for the rainy season." 

Talyis helped them board up the tavern for the night and Delia gave her blankets for the cot. She also made sure Talyis ate some more food before retiring upstairs with Gareth. 

Delia sat on their lumpy bed, rubbing the soles of her achy feet. They hurt from standing in stiff boots all day long. Gareth snuck up behind her making the bed dip and squeak. He kissed her freckled back by pulling her collar aside. 

"Gareth!" Delia blasted, "If you think you are getting any from me you are sorely mistaken, mister." 

Gareth growled, pulled her onto him and she giggled playfully. 

"I mean it, sir. Not even a peck." She fell back onto the bed and they laid next to each other, smiling. Gareth kissed her check and propped himself on his elbows watching his finger lazily trace her breast. 

"That was lovely what you taught Talyis today, sweetheart," Gareth said, his fingers circling around her swelling nips. He smirked, satisfied as her ample chest rose in a tale-tell sign. 

"Gareth, why don't you tell her the truth?" 

Gareth fell back onto the pillows and stared at the ceiling. "I wanted to so many times, Delia, but I promised." 

"She's in love with him, you know. She's afraid and conflicted. She feels she should hate him for what he has done." 

"Yes, he knows that too." Gareth turned to his wife. "Maybe it is best that fate works out their love for each other. There is a lot of pain and hurt between the two of them. And after all these years, they are still attracted to each other." 

"What do you mean, Gareth?" 

"The boy she tells you that is in her dreams is Novak." 

"Have you told him this?" 

"No, I keep my word to her too. It's not my place to meddle." 

"Gareth!" Delia slapped his arm "You men and not 'meddlin' in love affairs, I can't understand for me life. I am glad I am in love with such an upstanding man but this is a secret you shouldn't keep." 

"I wish it weren't but it wouldn't have made them treat each other differently; it might have been worse. This is something fate must work out between their stubborn heads and twisted hearts." 

Delia rolled over onto Gareth. She pushed his blond locks from his eyes and framed his face with her pudgy small hands. "I hope fate works itself soon. I got a secret of me own. She's pregnant." 

"Delia, that's a secret you cannot keep. She needs to know so she can care for the babe." 

"I know I just didn't find the heart to tell her. She's carrying so much guilt and fear as it is." Delia kissed Gareth's chin and let his whiskers tease her soft face. "What is it, luv?"

"Talyis.... When I went out I was informed that the unknown army was indeed a small Onor army that had resurrected. It is not safe for Talyis, many of the villagers have believed that it was the Onor in ranks and when they find that it is true-"

"Oh dear heavens," Delia cried. 

"We do not believe that the Onor know that Talyis is here, and to my knowledge they are not fighting for the honor of their princess." Gareth and Delia sighed feeling sympathy for their friend and hugged each other closer. 

*** 

Talyis listened to the shrill wind blowing down the flue, making the fire crackle. She felt so safe despite the war brewing at the edges of the territory and snuggled under the blankets, knowing that her kind friends were close by. The idea of forgiveness warmed her heart like a fire. Delia and Gareth were so welcoming when they rightfully could have hated her. The desire to release her bitterness and let her love unleash was stronger with each replay of the red head's words. 

The boards shuddered against the strong winds, reminding her of the night on the terrace with Novak. She saw him behind her eyes, saw his remorse., She knew he meant to apologize and ask for her forgiveness. He meant to show her he cared but she wouldn't let him, she wanted him to suffer as he caused her to suffer. Her anger showed on her cheeks those nights ago, but now it only chilled her. 

He was the green-eyed boy, she wished she had seen it earlier; maybe her heart would finally have had released after all these years. He had been so tender and repentant towards her after that fateful night in the woods. Only when she challenged him did he become testy with her, but the more she thought about him in tenderness the more surely he had became the boy she'd dreamed of. 

If she were to tell him, he might reject her, but as least she wouldn't have this uncertainty and heavy heart. Novak was the boy she had always loved, but she wasn't sure she could forgive him. If she could, would it mean she really loved him? 

*** 

"Good morning!" Delia chirped loudly, waking Talyis. "How's yer sleep?" Talyis stretched long and just looked at her friend with sleepy eyes. "Here." Delia patted the chair. "Have something to eat for your ...parasite." Talyis frowned and shuffled out of the bed ready to object, but Delia pressed her finger to Talyis's lips. She slumped her shoulders in resignation and sat at the table. Delia gave her some cold fruits and bread. 

"Delia?" Talyis started eating the fruits and watched her friend rummaging through a cabinet, her bum swaying to the happy tempo always playing in her head. "Delia, what if it is not a parasite?" 

Delia stopped short; she had wanted to avoid that topic today. She began to hum her tune out loud. She danced around the table with a cheese wheel in her hand making Talyis laugh. She dropped the wheel on the table and danced around the tavern swaying her hips, her red frizzy hair flew in her jubilant dance. She found a knife and hummed while slicing the cheese for Talyis. 

"Pige, what do you want?" she finally asked. Her dance had bought her time to think of an approach and cheered Talyis. 

"Delia, I don't know." Talyis' mood dropped as she placed her elbows on the table, her hands playing with the back of her neck. 

Delia took Talyis's hands and swayed them while humming. "Pige, if everything worked out the way you would dream, what do you want?" 

"Oh, Delia. It's all my fault. If I hadn't pushed my boy away, my mother would be alive and then maybe I would have been able to tell him I cared. Apologize for all that I did to him, all that we all did to him but..." 

Delia smiled gently, "But you can't reconcile what your green-eyed boy did to you?" 

"Yes." 

"Pigeon, it's not easy but let me tell you this: I hurt still today. I miss me family so much but if I were so consumed with anger and pain it would drive me. Nothing would be important to me other than my pain and anger. I would be nothing but my pain and anger, you see? Talyis, dear, I mean this, if I didn't forgive so long ago I would never be able to stand the sight of you, let alone be your friend. 

"I would be like our Novak who is riddled with the pain that drives him, and prevents him from experiencing love. Yes, Calena would have been great as our Queen, if there weren't the false pretenses to disguise a war. But, Pigeon, he never loved her. He sacrificed his desires for his people. I know I ain't that smart but this I do know. Don't you suspect that he might possibly love you?" 

Talyis sat still, her mind so conflicted it made her stomach hurt. Talyis suck in air sharply to keep her heart bottled up in protection. Delia pattered her hand and whispered, "Let it go." 

"He said he loved me... I already told you that," she whispered. 

"And do you really believe he stopped or... possibly had he loved you all along." 

"If that were true, he would have never ravaged me or turned me over to his men for their use!" she spat standing up wanting to throw the damn cheese wheel at Delia.

"Let it go," Delia simply said in the most nurturing way. "That wasn't Novak, that was a diseased heart. That diseased heart was king of his soul, but now he's fought through the mire of his thorny heart, yes?" 

Talyis nodded slightly, sucking her cheeks into her mouth to stifle her tears, everything put thorns into her stomach, puncturing her. 

"The now is your boy at your castle right?" Delia pushed delicately, watching Talyis shields dropped. 

The thorns stabbed her deeper, she didn't want to let any evidence of her aguish flow from her eyes. Her mind flooded back to her boy chasing after her in the gardens, his curly black hair and his devilish grin as he tried to catch her within the garden hedges. Their laughter rang with carefree delight. Then he wasn't the boy in her mind's eye, but Novak, the man. 

"Let it go, Talyis, forgive him. Allow your dreams to be." Delia smiled and the last of the shields were gone. "I guarantee you he will never hurt you again. If he does, I'll kill him so Gareth can be king and me queen," she joked lightly. 

*** 

Calena paced gracefully across her warm tent, the white fur garments wrapped around her neck and body to keep her warm would make anyone suspect that this graceful nobel was the intelligence behind the attack and general. The Navapa had been planning their attack for years and now it was her chance to capture the land the Aricin had claimed for themselves and seize it for her kingdom. 

"When will we attack? We've been sitting here for weeks not making any advancements." A man's voice drooled with hatred.

Calena squinted in annoyance at the Onor man. "We wait. Let them gather their forces we will destroy them."

"We must eradicate all of these Aricin. They dare to overthrow our kingdom. They all must pay."

"Your princess is in their ranks and alive." Calena smiled. Novak meant to keep this from her, but she known all along. Rumors had floated for months from kingdom to kingdom about the Onor princess's dead missing body and seeing her dark Onor skin she knew. "If you want to save your princess, you must be patient and trust me to deliver a victory."

The Onor scoffed and then began to laugh hard. "I don't care about that wench. She hasn't done anything for our kingdom. Our King even told us so for years, she is a selfish traitor to our people, did not even attempt bring an heir to our throne, drove our king to madness with the way that she looked like her murdered mother.

Calena arched an eyebrow in contempt at the Onor army leader. She turned on her heels, flinging her long blonde hair, and waved the man away as she abruptly ended their conversation. The small Onor army was only along for the ride; it was her army and advisors that would deliver a victory. The land was rich, and to expand the Navapa territory had been their only goal. If any nation objects their attack would be justified as judgment against the Aricin's immoral living standards: history of taking on slaves, conquering the Onor, although justified, and most importantly claiming land that the Navapa had wanted for a generation. This was a personal attack. She smiled wickedly as she practiced using her sword; it cut the crisp air with swooshes.

***

The snow continued to blizzard down for days, and there was still no sound or cry. Talyis was glad to not have to wait alone. She stayed with Delia and Gareth who kept her busy by playing old Aricin word and tile games. She felt her desires quake every time the couple argued and then exchanged apologies through sweet nothings. She wanted more than anything to have someone who'd care for her as much her him despite their quarrels and quirks. 

She knew she was stubborn, but the idea of living without someone to match her fiery spirit and who would cherish her. The possibility of living without love made her feel so empty. Delia let her advice settle with Talyis and did not bring up Novak or forgiveness but instead busied herself meddling with Talyis's eating and sleeping habits. 

Two weeks disappeared and nothing happened. More Aricins began to take down their boards during the day and the tavern became a meeting ground for news and food replenishment. Many shared their meals with others while the children played at their parent's feet, happy and oblivious to any impending danger. Talyis found herself holding her bulging belly, and finally after months she allowed herself to call it a baby instead of a parasite. 

She wondered if it were possible that she carried Novak's child, if he truly loved her, and what he would do when he found out. She tried to push the dread and memories of the night in the forest to the recesses of her mind but some days it surfaced and dread overtook her. She wanted and hoped so much that her need for love would be met. She devised a plan. The day Novak returned she would tell him everything; and if all what Delia said was untrue she would follow her plan to escape this madness once and for all. 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 09



At the end of the third week the snow at last stopped falling and the sun came out. Gareth told her that if she planned on staying in Aricin, she should return to the castle. He readied his horse to escort her straight to the castle but took her to Ulie's on the way back. 

*** 

The militia men were freezing as they huddled together around the fire in between the two cliffs of the mountain passes. Novak was pushing them with only a small break to warm up. Tonight they would launch a surprise attack on the enemy occupying the land below. The enemy waiting to overthrow their kingdom was confident about defeating their small army. 

Novak rode his elegant horse, only the second gift that had been given to him since his parents' murder. At sixteen, Gareth's father had allowed him to keep the stallion only if he could tame it. He worked an entire season building trust between himself and the beast. Just before the end of the season, before the rain began to fall, he was able to mount the horse and victoriously the two rode through the fields at a full gallop. He held on to his stallion's black mane while riding bareback through the farm fields. Exhilarated as the wind flew past him, he felt as if he were flying, his raven hair tossed with the breeze. 

The only other gift given to him was from his little princess, Talyis's favorite book. He treasured the book when he had planned for his escape. He had made sure to pack the book that she had given him. If he were to die by wild beasts at least some part of her world would be close to him. 

He regretted the day that he had wanted to be open with her. He had wanted to promise her that he'd come back if she so wished when she was Queen. He was going to tell her that he loved her, but she wouldn't let him get a word in edge wise. Instead she threw every word he spoke in sensitivity back at him. Enraged, he had given up. That was the moment what was left of the soft heart his parents had given him had hardened. He had to leave; his memories of his life before were beckoning him more and more. He had no choice but to escape and his weak heart had to be pushed into the river of acid made by the Onor King. 

It had happened again, He had tried to be honest with Talyis but she turned his apology and blessings for her to live a pleasant life against him. Now his people were suffering. Again, his heart plunged into an iron cage. 

They finally reached the enemy camp. They snuck up in the snow, lighting their arrows and aiming them towards their tents. 

Arrows of fire flew through the air; battle calls filled the mountain pass. Heavy boots trampled through the snow, running and sliding towards each other. Large snowflakes floated through the air. Horses screamed and raised themselves in charges. Chains jangled as with roars men pounded maces against bone. Metal scraped and scratched loudly, sending sparks into the air. Men crashed to the ground all around Novak as he pushed through. He was one with the fierce wildness of his horse. His heart pounded. 

He reached the royal tent marked with fine animal furs to keep the conspirators warm. A female shriek penetrated the air as Calena ran out with the man Delia had seen while they were away from the kingdom attacking the Aricin, charging towards Novak. The Aricin army of cobblers, butchers, and ironsmiths joined Novak, swords clashing and shields smashing. The snow fell, a silent symphony laying purity over the blood-stained ground. The cacophony of battle died, and it was finally over. 

*** 

Talyis made sure that Ulie was comfortable and had enough food, but seeing Gareth, Ulie fought with her. Ulie wanted nothing but to take care of Gareth and often spat words of scorn towards Talyis the Onor. Talyis tried to push it aside as much as she could, Ulie had never been so unkind to her. She knew it wasn't her senility but her distress over the war and Novak being placed in danger. Gareth said nothing but he was amazed how much understanding Talyis had for the elder even while she blamed her for everything.

Talyis eventually gave up trying to take care of Ulie's physical needs and set about cleaning her cottage instead. Ulie was very happy that Talyis gave up fiddling with her hair, scrubbing the dirt from her body and changing her clothing. All Ulie wanted to do was cook and pamper Gareth. 

They decided to leave when Talyis announced that she had finished what she wanted to do. She had become very withdrawn with each accusation Ulie tossed her way. Gareth didn't notice it until the shroud followed Talyis outside while they readied the horses. The weather quickly changed again as storm clouds floated in and blustery winds battered them as they readied the horses. 

Gareth asked Talyis while helping her onto his horse, "Talyis, tell me what is wrong. You are so quiet." 

She began to speak but only a whimper emerged and she grabbed the side of her belly. Suddenly everything within her felt like lead. 

"Are you alright, Talyis?" Gareth came over to her, concerned.

"Gareth," she could barely respond. "Everything hurts." She tried to express herself but her hands trembled with shock, and her insides were like rock. "It's like this emptiness is eating me alive. I can't remember the last time I was hugged or loved." 

"Talyis you are mistaken," Gareth said gently.

"You know that I am pregnant?" Gareth nodded and Talyis shock her head, her arms cradling her belly carrying the babe that just had kicked her. 

"I'm pregnant by a man who despises me," she cried out in pain as if someone were stabbing her stomach. Her throat burned. " I am alone, Gareth!" 

"Talyis, you are wrong again. When you are hurting think of your green-eyed-" 

"Enough!" she yelled. "Enough about the green-eyed boy!" She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth; she hadn't wept at all since they captured her and she be damned if she'd cry now. Her stomach twisted and churned with bile, her entire body felt inflamed. 

"I cannot and will not live in delusions and dreams, Gareth. Last night, I dreamt he learned what had happened to me and came to rescue me. I cannot dream. It tears me apart everyday. Every waking hour my body feels as if I am turning into stone. I can't do it anymore, Gareth. I've given up on fairy tales and happily-ever-afters. They are for other people, for you and Delia, not for me. All I attract is hatred and destruction. Men who wish to use me, humiliate me and satisfy their needs till they find a choice love. I am left soulless, Gareth. I am left to rot and dreams and wishes only slow it down. Useless hopes attract despair which only makes my death more longer and more painful." 

Talyis crumbled at his feet, her arms tight around her body as she rocked back and forth. Gareth could only stare at the broken mare before him. Just as he had warned, Novak succeeded in trying to break her as he had his stallion, but what was left of Talyis was neither beautiful or magnificent as his horse. Novak's vengeance and pride had torn her heart to shreds. He wished a dues ex machina would appear in this little tragedy to make things right. Novak had become the son of a far off foreign goddess, Nemesis. and was leading down the path of fated tangled love. 

The rush of many hoofs advanced towards them, and the horn of victory blasted loudly. The entire village seemed to appear as people came out of their boarded prisons and stood in the street, the pitter patter of snow melting and icicles dropping from the homes murmured with their questions. The horn played again, louder as the horses approached. The general leading the army into the square. Many women held themselves back from running after the procession wanting to know if their husbands and brothers had made it back alive. The horses rushed around the square, approached and circling round Talyis and Gareth. 

"My lord," the general spoke as he jumped down from his horse. The rest of the army jumped down as well. Like a masterful ballet the army removed their helmets and bowed before Gareth. 

"Speak, tell me what's happened?" he said, his mind already dreading the words. 

"We were able to push them out of our lands. Many of their people died by the sword and many of ours have given their lives, and others of us are wounded." 

"Someone fetch Delia and the healers, bring Delia to the castle, she will aide anyone who is injured," Gareth ordered. "Tell me of our prince, sir." 

They all stood still as statues, the general again bowed, his voice cracked when he spoke. "We do not know where he is? When the battle settled, he was no where to be found. We believe he perished in sacrifice." 

Talyis began to feel the world around her spinning, she held tightly onto the mane of Gareth's horse. Her heart confirmed it just then. She loved him. "Are you sure he is gone?" she asked. 

"We are not certain, but he couldn't have survived the night. It snowed all night and it was freezing," the general answered Talyis and then turned to Gareth. "Your majesty, we looked for him but couldn't see anything in the snow. We left because we knew he would have ordered us to." 

Talyis hugged her stomach, the babe inside, her baby and Novak's conceived out of tenderness. She had started to cling to hope, a chance for happiness but all was lost within that moment. 

Her eyelids squeezed tightly. Novak is dead. Her heart beat like an ominous drum and stopped.



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 10



Chapter 10

The generals bowed before Gareth, their words of condolence seemed muted and the world moved in slow motion. The generals signaled to the rest to continue on home. 

"Could he be alive?" Talyis begged the warriors that rode on somberly, their horses towered over her.

"Not likely and if he was, he won't last in this storm," one of warriors replied. 

"Why didn't you search for him? He is your prince!" Talyis couldn't stop the words from flowing out in desperation. She couldn't allow herself fathom that Novak was gone.

"We couldn't find him," the warrior repeated. His men nodded in agreement. "We all would have died if we stayed in this storm. It is what he would have commanded us to do." The generals bowed and made sincere apologies to Gareth, who was stunned as Talyis. Novak, who had been just like a little brother, was gone. 

"Gareth-" Talyis's voice broke through his frozen state. "Gareth, we have to find him." 

"What?" Gareth responded blankly.

"Please, help me find him. I will not do this again. I won't let my chance pass." Talyis clutched at his arm, great anguish and desperation flooded her face.

"It's too dangerous. It's probably too late." Gareth made the standard protests with no great feeling, emotional exhaustion had overtaken him, and he was lost in grief. 

"Then I will go alone. I will not make the same mistakes. I'm not afraid," Talyis said. "Regardless of his commands, how could they leave their master to freeze to death?" 

"Talyis," Gareth snapped back to reality and tried to dissuade her. "He probably fell in battle. They wouldn't have returned otherwise." 

"Gareth, he's the green-eyed boy. I love him, Gareth. I need to tell him I love him!" she shouted and her body shook wildly. "I am going to find him. He may be alive and need help. I am going, with or without you." Her feet began walking towards the castle. She was fierce in her determination. 

"Wait!" Talyis kept walking. Gareth growled in frustration and jumped on his horse. When he caught up to her he said, "I will go with you." 

Talyis smiled slightly despite her determination and took his offered hand to mount his horse. "Gareth, we have to hurry." 

*** 

It was a macabre tableau of red and white, composed of the partially snow-covered dead. Appendages of the horses stuck up from the snow, jagged, bloody sticks rising from the white covering. 

"Talyis," Gareth said gravely. "I don't think we will be able to find him." The snow whipped around them and frigid gusts slapped their wind-burnt faces. 

"Novak!" Talyis called, jumping off the horse. 

She clawed at the snow around the body, clearing off the faces of men frozen in agony. Nothing about the display of war was romantic or glorious, and all the achievements of rank were void in death. She hunted blindly, calling for Novak until her voice was hoarse. The wind continued to blow a white screen of snow, giving illusions to what was moving in the snow and what was dead. Her burning fingers cleared snow from bodies she jumped to and fro from each headless body to limbless bodies, her desperation growing by the second.

"Gareth," she cried and her voice was carried away by the wind. "Did all these men die in the battle?" She looked around at the bodies unable to fully comprehend the reality of war - bodies were everywhere. War was suddenly so real to her; she had thought of it only in theory and discussions of ideals in her studies as a youth. 

Gareth admired her strength to stay calm in seeing such a display and respected her more for her steadfastness to find Novak. "Yes," as he uncovered a body wearing the official garments of Onor, he quickly covered the body up with snow and took over digging for Talyis at her side. "Princess, your hands will freeze, let me. Keep calling him; look for anything moving in the snow." 

"I don't care, Gareth, I have to find him." She continued her search and ignored Gareth's attempts to shield her from "dirty" work. She stopped and stood very still suddenly and tried to convince herself that she had heard a noise. "Novak!" she cried. 

Out of the corner of her eye she saw snow shifting and turned and ran towards it. She heard rustling and began to dig frantically. The cold burned her skin and it felt as though her fingers turned into icicles, daring her to stop. She saw the blue and red jacket barely keeping him warm and called out for Gareth as she brushed the snow from Novak's prostrate body. Gareth was stunned, then gathered his wits and helped pull his prince up. 

By gods, she found him. This love is truly of twisted fate, Gareth thought, astonished, as he struggled to lift Novak's body. 

Talyis panic finally broke her resolve, she screamed, "He's bleeding Gareth!" 

"Calm down, Talyis," Gareth said sharply. "You need to be calm or we will share his fate in this storm." 

Gareth pulled Novak's almost lifeless body up and over his shoulder, struggling as his feet battled for balance in the deep snow. Talyis jumped about like an untrained pup, trying to frantically care for him as he walked was no help. The princess was desperate, he prayed they would be able to save the prince.

He carried Novak back to his horse and braced his body upright. "Gareth, help me strip his shirt," Talyis commanded, strength back in her voice. He complied and together they managed to remove Novak's armor and tunic. Gareth raised his eyebrows but said nothing as Talyis removed her own ruined tunic and threw it next to Novak's. She put her coat back on and mounted the horse.

"Gareth, put him between us. We'll keep him warm together." Her teeth chattered. Understanding her goal, he placed Novak on the horse in front of Talyis and she wrapped her arms and coat around him, pressing her body -- with his child in it -- against him in a life-giving hug. Gareth jumped on his horse in front of the lovers and galloped back to the castle. 

He rode his horse right into the castle hall. Delia had arrived as instructed by the generals and rushed to him. She both admonished Gareth for going into the storm and thanking him for coming back in one breath. The watchtower guard came and helped Gareth carry Novak to his bedchamber. Delia immediately started the fires. Talyis ordered the remaining guards to board up the windows to prevent the wind from chilling the room. 

"Luv, he doesn't look too good," Delia whispered to Gareth trying not to draw Talyis's attention. She removed her sewing kit and branding sticks from her bag.

"Take care of him, Delia," Gareth said quietly, trying not to disturb Talyis, who was frantically trying to warm the room for Novak, ordering the guards around her. 

Delia snapped her fingers to get her attention. "Pige, I've got to heal him or else he'll go to the in the underworld. Brace his heart, Luv." 

Talyis nodded, disrobed, and laid across his chest trying to warm his frozen, stressed heart as Delia began to thread her needles. Gareth brought over a bottle of strong spirits and doused the wicked stab wounds that frothed white and bubbled more blood to the surface. Delia gently examined his deep wounds, then motioned to Gareth and he brought over a slender white-red hot iron stick. 

Delia cauterized the injuries and Novak thrashed under the sizzling treatment. His vibrant jade-green eyes dulled to a grey, staring blankly at the ceiling as he hovered between two worlds. He groaned deeply as Delia seared another wound, then his breathing settled to a shallow wheeze. Talyis tried to hold back her tears as she feared he was slipping from her. 

Gareth watched, both puzzled and heart-broken as Talyis cradled Novak's face, tenderly soothing him as each wound to his once perfect body was melted closed. She kissed his face, her tears of anguish falling from her face onto his. Gareth sat beside his wife as she carefully began to stitch the less-life threatening wounds closed. The tormented grunts stopped and Talyis was about to panic when Delia assured her he was merely unconscious. 

"Keep warming his body with yours, Pige," Delia instructed quietly as she cleaned up the operating area around them and placed piles blankets over the couple. "Gareth and I will stay in the other chambers." She wished she could say that everything would be okay now, but she didn't want to make false promises. 

Talyis was exhausted from the search, the surgery and the baby in her belly was urging her to sleep, but she could not. Delia snuck into the chamber and put coals at the foot of the bed to help warm them. Through the night Talyis held Novak as tightly as she could, trying to calm his violent shaking and trembling. The wind whistled outside, matching Novak's own hoarse breathing. Talyis held him so closely that her own pulse beat loudly in her ears. His body was so cold it chilled her own. She worried that her own heat was not enough and prayed silently, urging his faint heart to follow hers.

***

Morning light broke through the cracks of window boards, casting prisms of light onto the walls. The smell of cold sleet mixed with the damp wood. Talyis stretched lazily as if in a dream, then turned to Novak and pressed her ear to his chest. His heart beat was stronger than the night before. She sighed with relief. She carefully slipped out of the bed, hunger was calling her to care for her baby. She replaced the dying embers with hot coals in the bed warmer at Novak's feet. She found more blankets to warm him before she tip-toed out to the kitchen to eat. 

"Aie, Pige!" Delia clucked as soon as she opened the door to the kitchen. "Go back to bed, you need your rest." Delia was already preparing food for the day. She gave Talyis a bowl of broth and a piece of bread and turned her around by her shoulders, shooing her out. "Go on." 

"Delia, I cannot-" Talyis objected. 

"No more about our food, you are here now. Try a bit, I bet the babe doesn't mind it at all. She'll probably love it." 

"Thank you, Delia." Talyis gave in. Delia started humming as she resumed her tasks. Talyis stood in the doorway dipping her bread in the yellow liquid. "Delia, can I sit with you please?" Talyis asked shyly.

"You may, your majesty." Delia bowed fancily and grinned from ear to ear. 

"I am no longer a princess." Talyis frowned and sat at the table where Delia busily chopped carrots and chives. 

"Not of Onor, but an Aricin Princess, and a good one too, I might add," Delia said.

"Delia," Talyis pleaded. "Please, not today." She played with her broth, as she brooded over her promise to herself to wait and not confess her love until Novak had recovered. The possibility that he could easily reject her weighed on her. "I am nothing here." 

"Praghhh!" Delia scoffed.

Talyis rolled her eyes at Delia who replied with a happy giggle. Talyis tried to crack a small smile but gasped and grabbed the side of her stomach. Her heart pounded nervously, wanting more than ever for everything to be all right. The baby kicked again. She closed her eyes and prayed that everything would be alright and she would not have keep her promise to depart the world.

"Eat! You are too small for a pregnant woman. Eat, eat!" Delia barked. 

"I thought you said, 'get back to bed,'" Talyis reminded her.

"That too," she grinned and laughed. "How's our Novak doing?" 

Talyis sighed. "He's sleeping; he shivered and trembled all night. And when he was lucid, he moaned all night about his horse." 

Delia walked over to a pot simmering on one of the open fire pits. She uncovered it and the smell almost made Talyis want to vomit. Delia covered her own nose with her skirt as she stirred the concoction and quickly covered it. 

"It's almost done. When it is, you'll give him a cup of this and make him drink it." Delia instructed, and Talyis gave her a look. "You be sweet and he'll drink it. You are his long lost luv, aie?" 

"I don't know who would want to drink that," Talyis said, "nor that Novak would listen to what I say anyway." 

A loud moan of exasperation bounced off the stone wall. "Well, get to it, princess," Delia said as she removed the lid from the pot. She poured a cup of the dark, putrid liquid. 

Talyis took the drink, holding her breath as she climbed the stairs to Novak's rooms. He was sleeping but moaning in pain. She sat on the bed and lifted the drink to his lips, whispering to him to relax and drink. He sipped at the drink. She smiled as his brows furrowed at the first taste. It must have tasted as bad as it smelled -- like old cured meats that sweat and fish slime. She urged Novak to finish the entire cup, if only so that the smell would be gone. He did, too weak to argue, and quickly fell back into a deeper sleep. 

She delicately took the salve that he had applied to her and dabbed the gel to his swollen knuckles, the bruises on his face, and his cauterized incisions. She enjoyed listening to the rain patter outside. Then the storm clouds rolled in as it seemed like each roar of thunder came ever closer to her inside the castle. The rain poured hard and then at last ebbed into a drizzle. A light wind made the naked branches scrape against the boards of the windows. 

On the fourth day, Novak finally woke up strong and well but still muttering angrily about his departed stallion. Talyis happily snuck out of bed when he awoke, more so to avoid confessing than to help Delia prepare the medicine. Gareth instead sat with his ornery friend, dressing his wounds and kept him occupied during the morning hours.

"What happened?" Novak demanded, his voice still hoarse from non-use. 

"Calena had always planned to siege our kingdom." Gareth told him, "and other sources have said that the remaining Onor joined forces with the Navapa." 

Novak nodded absently and memories of the battle rushed into his mind. "Yes, there was a small army of the Onor. And the man Delia described that was inquiring about our kingdom while we were taking the princess was with Calena" 

"Yes. About that, Novak...." Gareth squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. "What is your plan for the Talyis?" 

"Send her away!" he growled. "I do not want to ever lay my eyes on her again. She has never changed and has actually become just as treacherous as her father. There was a reason why he bargained his life for hers. He knew how vile she was. Where is my horse?" 

"Novak, you can't mean that." Gareth stared at him, then sighed, remembering how Novak had fought with his soldiers so as not to fulfill his bargain to the letter 

Novak chewed on his lip, he still couldn't bring himself say it. "It should have been done. You shouldn't have bended to my whims." 

Talyis cleared her throat and entered the room. She had heard everything as she stood behind the doorframe. Afraid to draw any more attention to herself, so took careful steps towards the bed.

"Here." She handed Novak the cup, her hands shaking. 

"Get out!" Novak yelled at her, she jumped and stuttered to begin her confession. "Get out!"

"I am sorry, Novak. I meant to tell you-" She didn't get to finish her confession of love-again.

"The sight of you repulses me. I hate you, Talyis of Onor. Get out, you are a wicked girl and you have only brought destruction on my people and me." Novak face reddened and his eyes flashed at her.

"Yes, your majesty," She said, dumbfounded. She quickly turned to leave the room. Her wits were strung so tightly she felt as if a single pluck would pull them all apart. She leaned against the stone hallway walls that cooled her back and listened in on the men.

"Novak, you shouldn't treat her that way," Gareth admonished vehemently and paced about the bed like a lion. "She's been taking care of you since we've found you. Everyone had left you for dead, but she insisted on finding you." 

"Gareth, it was my weakness that started all of this," Novak said darkly. "We should have killed off the Onor as our people wanted and deserved. We should have killed the King and his daughter. He wanted to kill his own daughter himself, but instead he got us do the dirty work. My weakness was a grave mistake that I couldn't kill her and instead I brought her here. I lured a cat to the home of mice." 

Tears streamed down Talyis's face. Her heart seemed to stop. Her people were finished. What was left of the Onor army had died on the mountain side. Her father truly did hate her and she had loved him so much. She had driven Novak and her father away, she was the cause of her mother's death. Novak was right, she had brought on so much destruction herself. 

He had bargained to kill her, her father had traded his life for hers. The line of her people had depended on her becoming queen, and her father would rather the line die out than die himself. Every chance to please her father, every victory she won in her studies, continuing the gentleness of her mother, had been returned void. Every attempt to make up for her fatal and selfish mistakes were futile. Her entire body felt heavy and weightless at the same time. Her ultimatum ran strongly through her mind. She ran out of the castle and towards the woods as fast as she could. Her feet splashed in the mud that was left from the melting snow.

***

"King Anorich was an evil soul that cared not for his people but himself. So much for himself that he would have us kill his own daughter," Novak went on. "Anorich did not love his own daughter. Yes, he was a ruthless man, but if his own daughter was not so dangerous then why would he want her dead? Do you know that she caused the death of her mother?" Novak ranted on, debating with Gareth. 

"What lies have you told yourself over the last month at war?" Gareth demanded furiously. "She has changed, even since the day we plucked her from her bedchambers. Even before we came, I don't believe she was the spoiled princess she was. You've seen it yourself." 

"She's selfish, Gareth! She would have ruled like her father, and probably wiped us out and countless other kingdoms." Novak spat intensely. 

His chest rose and fell fast until he calmed himself. Weak now that he had vented his anger Novak sighed heavily. The red flashing through his mind subdued and he began to remember how he wanted everything to be right between Talyis and himself. How he had mdae love to her and cared for her while she slept at night fighting nightmares. He recalled trying to give her the best that he could while marrying Calena for his countries sake. 

For his countries sake, he had sacrificed so much for the Aricin, he wanted to apologize and give her a chance to live in peace but, she spat at him, dishonored his dead parents and she did not let him speak a word edgewise. She had done the same thing right before his escape from Aricin as a boy. 

Novak growled, "I meant to make things right by the girl but-" 

"Novak, I don't think you know what you are saying," Gareth said. "Talyis was the one who found you. Your men left you to die in the snow and bleed to death. When she heard you were dead, she insisted we find you even if she had to by herself." 

"That means nothing." Novak pouted.

Gareth scoffed, "Means nothing? She is a mere slave and she was determined to find you with or without help. And she did find you, and nursed you back to health." 

"What's that supposed to mean, that the wench loves me?" Novak snorted and rolled his eyes in disbelief. 

"Yes! It does mean that she loves you," Gareth told him, eyes flashing. "She has always loved you. Your acerbic heart has blinded your eyes from seeing the truth about Talyis. Your revenge twisted your mind and caused you to hurt your true love. It will be incredibly hard to take it back. To earn her forgive--" 

"I tried to apologize!" Novak exclaimed defensively.

"Novak, you are missing the point," Gareth said in frustration. "We- you- You were so intent on taking her. Do you know who she was thinking about that night in the woods?" 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 10



Novak crossed his brows, his jaw strong and eyes flashed with jealousy. "Enlighten me." 

"You! She was thinking of you, you incredible arse." Gareth jumped up wanting to slap some sense into Novak. He exhaled, calming himself and stared at his friend, his brother, feeling a huge sadness for him. 

"She loved me?" Novak sat stunned almost cynical.

"Yes, when you were a boy, she was in love with you. And now she still loves you, in spite of all you have done. She rescued you from the jaws of death. Novak, you have freed her. If you love her, tell her the truth or help her to leave." Gareth watched him closely, hoping that his eyes would see the light.

"I tried," Novak fought his control over his heart. "I wanted to send her away so that no one would know who she was. So that her father wouldn't find her and finish the job we did not complete. So that the remnants of her people would not know that she is alive." 

"Ahhh," Delia buzzed entering the room. "It's good to see that you are up. Now let me check on your holes." Delia threw the blankets from Novak's body and poked her fingers about his body." 

"Don't you think you should call a real healer," Novak scolded. 

"Hush your mouth," Delia told him. "You are just fine. And you got your Talyis to take care of you." Novak slumped into his bedding, even Delia knew that Talyis had loved him all these years. "Gareth, come with me to get some fruits and things from the market for Talyis and 'is majesty. They need to both be very good about what they add to that pot in the gut." 

Novak slumped into his padding, his mind reeled with the thoughts of Talyis being in love with him despite all that he had done. He felt incredibly weighted, he didn't deserve her forgiveness and the pit of his stomach wanted to twist him inside out. He desperately wanted her to give him a chance to love her as she deserved. He debated his chances with Talyis and concluded that she couldn't be capable of such unconditional love, she was Talyis of Onor the tormentor. But she had not tormented anyone or anything since he had captured her, only fought bravely for her own sake with her strongest weapon- her tongue.

***

When Gareth and Delia returned, the red-head began to cook and clean the berries they had bought in the village. The poor berries were so small because of the rainy season but they were a nice surprise. Gareth checked on Novak who was snoring and no longer mumbling about his horse as much as letting Talyis's name slip through his dewy lips. He was truly vulnerable to his heart's content in sleep, if only he would follow it during his waking hours.

Delia served dinner and then checked on Novak, wanting to pull Talyis out of bed to eat a proper meal. The rain was still falling, harder than it had during their quick errands. She was happy that Novak ordered the boards to be taken down while they went shopping. She was sure the sun would be good for Talyis and the baby. The rain was picking up and torrential downpours began to flood the gardens outside. She peeled Novak's covers back to wake Talyis but she was not there. 

"Gareth," Delia cried as she ran through the castle hall. Gareth stumbled down the stairs, admonishing her in sharp whispers for yelling while Novak was resting. "Sorry, Luv," she whispered, "but have you seen Talyis?" 

"No, have you looked around the chambers or the gardens?" Gareth asked her.

Delia boomed, forgetting to be mindful of silence, "It's pouring out there, no one in their right mind would go outside in this." 

Delia ran up the stairs to Novak's chambers to search for Talyis. She was heedless of noise as she searched from room to room. 

Novak stood on the side of his bed, clutching one of the bed posts. Delia came into the room making a racket. 

"What are you doing out of bed!" she scolded Novak and tried to push him back down into the bed but he was stronger than she expected. 

"I need to build up endurance. I don't want to be nursed any longer like some poor whelp," Novak declared. He slowly walked around the room, cursing at whoever had covered his windows. 

"Talyis did it to keep you warm, you were as frozen as a child's ice fort," Delia told him.

"Delia, enough, I do not want to hear about Talyis from you or anyone else today." Novak concentrated on walking.

"Well, if you have anything to do with Talyis being missing, you'd better tell me right now," Delia said, unafraid.

Novak ignored her and found that his bed post had been scuffed. He rolled his eyes and knelt down to further inspect the scuff on the handmade ornate bed of green lacquered wood. His fingers tried to smooth away the scuff.

"Novak, I am talking to you. Where is Talyis?" Delia demanded, but he ignored her. 

He saw a book under his bed, he leaned down further to reach for it. He groaned loudly, remembering he was not as well as he thought. 

"What are you doing?" Delia barked. She walked over to the bed, got down on belly and grabbed the book. She stood up with the book in her hand and smoothed her skirts. Novak reached for the book but she held it out of his reach. "Where is Talyis?" 

Novak sneered at Delia, "I don't know. May I have my book now?" Delia grimaced and handed him the book. She walked away mumbling that he was an arse and Talyis a lovely girl that he didn't know how to treat. 

Novak sat on the bed and opened the book. He hadn't seen it in so long he'd almost forgotten about it. He opened it to the first page. 

To boy,With deepest £ovescribbled scribbled crossed outTalyis>

He sighed but tried to decipher what she could have written underneath the scribbling. With deepest.... Respect? Friendship? Love? Could it possibly mean love, as Gareth had insisted? He couldn't recall the last time he had picked up the book; it had been buried with the rest of his pleasant memories that had been replaced by years of cold thoughts of his life in Onor. 

Delia ran into the room, her face red and her breasts heaving as she gasped from her exertions. "Where is she? I've looked all over the castle," she said breathlessly.

"Delia, I have said I do not know where she is. I sent her away." Novak turned back to the book.

"Away?" Her eyebrows furrowed and her red-hot anger rose . "What do you mean you sent her away?" 

"I cursed her and told her to leave the room," Novak told her.

"You are a fool, Novak!" Delia yelled, poking him in the chest hard. "Why would you push away the woman you have always loved? The one who loves you enough to risk her life to save yours." 

Gareth hurried into the room, joining his wife. "I haven't seen her anywhere either." 

"Is it possible that she went into the gardens?" Novak asked feeling cornered. 

"It's raining outside," Gareth replied incredulously.

A hard knock at the door boomed through the room. Gareth opened it to admit the guard who had previously been assigned to Talyis. "Your Majesty," he addressed Gareth. "I have not been able to find her in the castle as you requested. The last time I saw her was when she was walking out through the garden, but she was cutting across, towards the woods." 

"The woods?" Delia yelped and anguish flooded her face. 

"Why would she walk towards the woods in the middle of a thunderstorm?" Novak asked. 

"We must find her, it is very dangerous out there," Gareth said. 

Novak looked at the book, his words recollecting to when Talyis came into the room and what she might have overheard. His fingers traced the lettering of the book she had given him. It dawned on him that Talyis had found the book. She probably remembered what she had scribbled out. He looked at Gareth and Delia both with invested interest in the scorned princess. He looked at the page again. Incredible pain struck him, she did love him, she loved him despite all that he had done.

"Let's go find her," Novak said and stood up already beckoning for his clothing. 

"Novak, you are not well enough yet. We will go," Gareth told him. 

"Hurry, Gareth. She is so weak," Delia begged him. 

"What do you mean, weak?" Novak said, a disgusted expression on his face.

"She's pregnant, Novak. But she's afraid of what will happen to the babe and herself, since you said that you wouldn't recognize a child by her." Delia spat angrily.

He stood astonished and wordless. How much had he blinded himself from seeing the truth about Talyis. He recalled her tenderness and her kindness to his people, she wasn't the monster that he had known. He took this gentle doe and scarred her, changed her forever. Novak broke down; he dropped his head into his hands and shook with a loud anguished cry exploding from deep within, tears melted from his frozen heart into weeping. "Oh gods, she's been in love with me this whole time and I ruined her. She carries my heir and I've ruined her." 

"Novak, we will find her," Gareth tried to assure him. 

"I am a fool, Gareth. I loved her and I fought against it until I ruined her." 

His stomach twisted at the thought of what Talyis would do learning about her land and then the one she loved spitting so much hatred toward her. Something deep inside warned him, brought urgency to him. Would she try to end her own life now that she had nothing to live for? He would not let that happen, even if he had to risk his own life. He was not going to be like her father, leaving her to destruction. He placed the book on his pillow and stood as confidently strong as he could. Delia fetched the rest his clothing and handed it to him. 

"Quickly, you two. Find her, please." Delia pleaded. 

***

The Aricin and ally armies surrounded the Onor lands. They were delivering justice for the genocide committed those years ago. Instead of slaughtering men , women and children like pests they gave them options to leave their lands and become nomads, never to try to resurrect their fallen kingdom or face the sword. Sadly, many choose to face the sword rejecting their opportunity to to live by not renouncing loyalty to the king who did not care if they lived or died. Novak did not know why he did not kill King Aronich but he offered him the same choice to die or leave and never return, to renounce his royal line.

The Onor king had been very wicked, He had killed off many foreign groups including the Aricin, in order to expand his empire and those company of hurting men came to reclaim their blood spilt lands. The whispers among lands was that his rule was slipping after the murder of his wife. It was then. when a siege was planned, to take back what had been stolen. Only the Aricin refused to reclaim their lands as they had a new territory far away from the ghosts of the former lands. 

Gareth admonished Novak daily as they had traveled back home for not killing the princess. After she awoke, he wanted to give her the option to denounce her kingdom as well and ignored his men's pleas for him to sever all ties to the Aricin. But seeing her in the light of day escaping from the cart boiled his contempt that had stewed for years after escaping Onor. He had plucked her from her home saving her life from a king who would have undoubtibly killed his daughter himself one day. Novak had saved her and gave her a new life.

***

Fresh green smells of dirt sprung up as the rain fell. The leaves of the trees fluttered to life as heaven's tear drops animated them. The wind was as rushing waves, but Novak and Gareth rode on through the forest, zigzagging each other and calling out for Talyis. Their body dripped sheets from sheets of rain that obstructed their sight. The two wished that the rain would only let up for a moment so that they could see a footmark, find a piece of torn garment, anything to give them a clue to as where Talyis had gone. 

A war like drum beat of thunder startled Gareth's horse; it fought with him to go on, "Novak, we should turn back. This storm is getting worse."

"No, she is out here. I am not going to leave her here as fodder to the wild beast."

Lightening struck, etching light across the grey sky and caused Gareth's horse to try to buck him off again, "Novak, if we are trapped here or injured we will not be of any aide to her." 

"No, we search until we find her." Novak commanded strictly and the two began to call out for Talyis again. 

Roaring waters scared their small cries for Talyis away as they past the waterfalls and followed the river towards a tranquil pool in-between the ravines. 

"My Prince, we have no clues where she would have gone?" Gareth 

"I thought that you were her comrade?" Novak sneered. "You had even stepped down from our kingdom's royal line for her."

"I only mean that maybe we should let her go. If she wants to run then let her run and have her freedom."

"You know that the wild beast would find her before she'd stumble across some kind of refuge. No! We look for her. Something is not right about this."

"And now you can sense her? After all that you have done to her, let her go Novak."

"You'd have her die just as her father and her peasants. They didn't even come to fight for her honor, only to exterminate out of pure hatred for us."

"My prince, I only meant that if we are trapped out here in this storm, we put our kinspeople in harm without a royal leader. You have a responsibility to your people."

"You are wrong. I have a responsibility to Talyis too. And do not talk to me about responsibility, I have honored my responsibilies to Aricin."

In the distance, muffled by the men's arguments, a large splash hit the water. The rain began to slow to alternating drops splashing against the river and mud. The sounds of their horse hooves sloshing through the mud was louder than the weather that caused the mud. 

"I tried to warn you Novak, I told you to reconsider taking the girl and giving her to your men." Gareth argued.

"You'd have me kill her like her mad father wanted?!" Novak spat back.

"It would have been just and fair. You don't just kidnap a royal without demands or killing them. Enslavement should never be offered to a royal and she knew that."

"I should have killed the mad king."

"Then we should have killed them all."

"We are not exterminators!" Novak raged.

"No, we are not." The rain was thankfully letting up and the sun broke through the grey storm clouds. "Novak, we must hurry and find her before the storm rebrews again. This is only a temporary break" Gareth pointed to the distance where another storm was creeping towards them with purple clouds. Much dangerous storms were experienced in purple and green clouds that many times had powerful winds of 500 men armies moving in a swirl. 

Novak saw through the corner of his eye something white floating in the river beside them. His heart quickly pounded hard to a painful stop. He jumped of his horse and dashed to the river's edge, grabbing the white garment that floated like broken angel wings in the water, pulling a body to the shore. Gareth quickly met him at the river bank as sobs raked through Novak's body as he desperately tried to push the water from her lungs. Her beautiful carmel skin turned grey and red lips- blue. He pleaded with her to breathe, to let air into her lungs. Gareth also helped pound the poor girl's chest in hopes of reviving her almost still heart to a tempo beat. 

"Talyis, please breathe my love, let the air into your body. Don't do this! Don't die! I love you. I am sorry." He brought the soaked girl into his arms, crying as he held her limp body in his embrace stroking her face in tears. "Talyis, I have always loved you. Please my love you must live." 

***

The Aricin Prince had not left his chambers for days. He sat staring into the fire, his dark curly hair more tossled than usual and his jaw tired from constent clenching. His mind constantly drifted to the past, when Talyis was a girl, happy and eager to impress a doting father. Delia added salt to his wounds by sharing her past conversations with the princess about her mother, how she blamed herself for making Novak run away and thus taking the penalty of her mother's demise. Delia was greatly grieved and blamed Novak for what had happened to Talyis, but he only sat still, agreeing, lost in sorrow. Delia was eager to show how kind and generous Talyis was she was very smart but never corrected Delia's uncothy behavior; Talyis respected and accepted people just as they were. She spat the truth at Novak every chance she had as she grieved for her friend.

Gareth was right about the approaching storm. The wind howled and violently struck trees lefting them from the earth for days. The rain melted and broke the icicles, tinkering the metal roof top. The storm raging clouds of grief on Novak were not letting up. 

He sat on the edge of his bed watching carefully as the healer attended to Talyis. She barely breathed, her face was no longer grey but her lips were still painted a ghostly color. He had pounded the water drowning her lungs out and gave her is own air to bring her back to life. But her eyes had not opened; the only signs of life was the soft wheeze that past through her mouth as she slept. Her brow was furrowed in sadness as her body and the care he had been giving her fought to keep her alive. 

After poking her body, the healer brought her shift over her body, bruised from Novak and Gareth's pounding of her organs to work. Novak looked at the healer with anticipation for his assessment.

"She is still very weak, my Prince, but I think she will be able to come to soon."

Novak tenderly smoothed the hair from her precious face never leaving her side.

"And the babe?" Novak asked with a shaky voice, his body was so tense that even the muscle around his music box straggled with nervousness.

"She is very small for how far along the tavern wench says she is. This is very concerning," the healer said.

Delia came into the bedchambrs carrying a chalice of the putrid sryupy drink. She handed it to Nocak sitting protectively over Talyis. Her took the concoction and urged it into Talyis's sleeping mouth.

"Is she any better?" Delia asked and Novak shook his head. "Might I remind you, this is all your fault. Might you learn to not mix love with vengence-"

"Delia, darling!" Gareth came into the room, stopping her tirad. "Please darling," he calmed. "We cannot go back and change what has been done." Delia began sobbing and ran into Gareth's arms.

"I want her well, Gareth. I can't stand seeing her so grey." She wept and Gareth hugged his wife to him tighter. "She's the only one who hasn't tried to change me. She liked me just as I am even my rough round edges." 

"I am sorry." Novak broke down from the stoic cloud of sorrow. "I am sorry, Delia." He hugged Talyis's limp body to him rocking with her body. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I am so sorry, please come back. I love you. I beg you please come back." His tears fell onto Talyis's still heart shaped face.

Gareth ushered Delia out leaving Novak alone to plead with Talyis to live. 



The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 11



CHAPTER 11


The Talons of a Dark Heart

She could hardly feel the air entering her body; it felt as though her lungs were filled with muslin. Bells clamored constantly in her head and only worsened when she pried her eyes open. The daggers of light were like needles shooting into her very pupil. She could only hazily see where she was. 
A red and gold tapestry hung near the bed. It was her mother's, showing a maiden with a unicorn. Her blankets were the finest in all the castle, trimmed with gold filled with goose down. It was so soft under red velvet, it felt so much like home to her. It was all a dream, everything had been a dream she couldn't awaken from until now. She snuggled deeper into her mother’s personally hand-woven blankets, too weak to run and find her, but she knew her mother was close by, kissing her forehead so tenderly while she slept


***

"I need more wood!" Novak growled at the servants who had brought him small bundles of twigs. "This is not enough, you idiots!" He yelled, tossing the bits of kindling at them, chasing them away.

"Novak," Gareth tried to calm the tempest raging in his friend. "All the wood is still too wet. You can't put any of that on it, it will only kill what flame you have."

"She's freezing, Gareth," Novak nearly pleaded, filled with fear now and teetering on the edge of hopeless desperation. 

Gareth sighed. His prince had been like a mad man since they found the princess nearly drowned a week ago. She would freeze and then burn up; it was a constant battle to bring body to a normal temperature. Novak hadn’t left the room the whole time, rarely allowing people to enter, he was so paranoid about more harm and sickness coming to her. Talyis laid in bed her body deeply rising and falling with a noisy wheeze.


Delia tiptoed reverently into the room to visit to her gravely ill friend unafraid of Novak's fury. She carried a tray of food for everyone to share. "I want to have me dinner near me friend, and I won’t hear a word of against it from you." She wagged a red freckled finger at Novak. She handed Gareth a chalice of the healing drink, another insult to Novak’s attempts to nurse Talyis himself.

Gareth's jaw dropped. He hated being in the eye of a brewing typhoon between his wife and Novak. Novak was beside himself with grief, so he hadn’t yet lashed out against Delia's constant charging and admonishment for Talyis's demise. However, Gareth feared it was only a matter of time that this turn of events would add more acid to Novak's vulture-like heart.

Gareth handed the chalice to Novak, knowing that he wanted to heal his love and heard his wife grumble behind him. 

Novak had been grasping onto slivers of hope, but they were slipping through his fingers every day. Novak had the spoils of the war opened and hung her mother's tapestry on the wall near the bed and covered her freezing body with her mother's blanket on which the Queen had sewn intricate designs of the white twisted trunks of Onor's trees. He hoped that being surrounded by her mother’s things would help her to feel comfortable and strengthen her will to get well.

***

Novak held Talyis closely, staring off into the dark room with only the slight glow of what remained of the fire casting dancing shadows across the walls. Talyis moaned slightly, hugged him closer to her unconsciously; her dewy lips opened slightly giving way to her gentle snores. 

Novak tucked her in and pulled her himself from her embrace to build up the fire. He carefully added new logs to coax a larger flame to burn. Soon the fire was roaring again. Sweat slid down his brow, and he could taste the salt on his lips. It was warming up outside with the rainy season behind them, but he didn't care as long as Talyis was getting well. 

The red glowing wood was soft as he stabbed it with his poker. He opened his robe to cool himself and continued to tend to the fire. Orange and black figures, like ghosts in the wood, beckoned him. He set the poker aside and placed a new log on the fire. He quickly stuffed fabric into his mouth and waited. Waited until it was time to begin to prepare for the future with the woman in his bed. She snored and whimpered slightly in her sleep; and he groaned. On she snored ever so delicately and an muffled, desperate cry escaped into the night air. He wept around the fabric gag in his mouth, the incredible pain could never match the scar under the velvet blankets, and tears continued to fall as he rocked himself to sooth the penetrating fire. He coughed violent tears and she slept on, unknowing. 

***

A warm morning breeze whispered through the planks covering the windows. Birds happily twittered outside her window and brought a smile to her face. She peeked her eyes open in hopes of seeing her mother’s shadow, feeling that hand smoothing her hair back gently. Her tapestry hung perfectly behind her mother, she felt so at home. Her cloudy vision grew clearer with each moment; there was no more pain., As her vision cleared, so did the shadow become clearer. It was not her mother. She clenched her eyes closed and moaned loudly, a guttural cry from the depths of her soul. Quickly a drink was brought to her lips; she remembered the smell from before. The drink was flooding her mouth and she had no choice but to drink. Sleep came upon her like she was being dragged to the bottom of a river. The voices above were muffled. Muffled concern, and tears, pleading tears. 

The River! Her mind screamed. Then her chest was being beaten as if to break the very bones covering her heart. Breathe, Talyis, you must breathe.
She was drowning. She had drowned. 

Tears fell from her face, her mother wasn’t the shadow.

***

"Please, find out what is wrong with her! She came to but she's been sleeping for two days," Novak begged the healer.

The healer placed his ear to her heart and shook his head. There wasn’t much more that he could say. She had to fight to live. It was going to be a hard fight.

"She needs to eat, so that the infant doesn’t take everything from the mother. Her body will sacrifice to make sure the child survives."

Novak broke down in tears and held Talyis gently, rocking her as the night fell.

She didn’t understand it. She wanted him to just go away so she pretended to sleep. Seeing him was like salt in her stinging broken heart. She had hoped she would never return to this room, this land, this face.

She opened her eyes again. Novak was grey with sorrow, his face deeply furrowed as he rocked her back and forth. The green eyes that had so enchanted her as a child were dull .

"Water," she croaked. Novak took in a sharp breath and looked down at her. Everything within him stopped. "Water, please."

Novak unfroze and ran to the table near the fireplace and poured a glass of water. He brought it to her, holding it to her lips, ignoring her attempts to take the glass herself. When she had finished drinking, she gazed up into his eyes. They had turned a rich emerald, the grey cloud had dissipated as if the sun was shinning on his countenance.

"Talyis, my love, speak again. What can I do for you, princess?"

"Leave," she said in a whisper her body already shuddering in growing sobs. "Leave!" She finally broke through in a growl.

Novak looked at her in horror and backed away from the bed. "If you wish." 

Delia immediately moved into the room as Novak left. She stopped and glared at him. 

“Yer lucky she’s well,” she said to remind him that the entire ordeal was his fault. Novak simply nodded, his eyes downcast as he removed himself from Talyis’s presence. 

Delia loudly moved about the room, idly fussing to keep her temper in check. "What were you thinking? Or you trying to get yourself killed?!" Talyis frowned deeply. She was tired and turned to her side to avoid Delia. "Well, you need to eat. You are too thin. Let me get you something quickly. You know that it was Novak that brought you back." Talyis again burrowed deeper into the bed. "Pounded your dead heart to a beat again." 

"I wish he’d killed me, left me to-" Talyis murmured. 

"Don’t ye dare say that! I don’t want to hear it. Me heart nearly broke seeing you so grey and purple-lipped," she scolded and turned on her heels to stomp to the door. "Gar-eth!!!" 

Talyis moaned as Delia screamed for her husband and again when Gareth entered carrying a tray of food. The scent of the spices hit her nose immediately and her stomach roiled. 

"Now let’s get you fed." Delia took the tray and sat beside Talyis, spooning some of the stew to her mouth. "And then after dinner, you can have a little talk with the love of your life." 

At those words, Talyis pushed the spoon away from her face and averted her eyes. 

"Come on now. He loves you, Talyis. You love him," Delia said patiently.
"Delia you don’t understand," she said wearily. 

"What? That you have loved each other since you were babes?" 

"He hurt me Delia!" Talyis spat. She forced herself to sit up, not trying to hide the anger in her eyes. 

Delia took a deep breath and reminded herself of her promise not to let Talyis's mood affect her negatively. Instead, she merely arched an eyebrow of judgment. "He saved your life!” 

"You don’t understand Delia! What he did was unforgivable. You will never understand." Talyis couldn't bring herself to tell Delia about what happened in the camp -- the branding, the rape.

"You are turning into him: bitter and callous. You love him. You would rather live in spite and pass on true love-" Delia went on but Talyis interrupted.

"Leave me alone Delia." Talyis glared at Delia before once more lying down and turning away from her. Her head felt like dull saw blades were gnawing at every nerve. 
Delia sucked air through her teeth and let the tray loudly clatter on to the bedside table. "When you are done feeling sorry for yerself and want to be a friend, then maybe I'll forgive your behavior towards me. You are a fool and life will not get any better for you if you let yourself go on this way. Novak adores you; he would never touch a hair on your head again. I never seen him so complete and without that thorny heart he had gotten from his life in your castle." She then stormed out of the room but then came back, still red with disappointment. "And lest you forget, my dear, I know all about hurt and unforgivable actions." She slammed the large heavy door as she left the room. 

Talyis rolled her eyes and curled into a ball and felt her entire body freeze, not from sickness but from something else altogether, from something deeper. She shuddered until she fell into an exhausted sleep. 

*** 

"Let's play a game, boy," the little girl said as her fingers played with the white lace at the bottom of her emerald green dress.

"Yes, princess," the scrawny boy answered. They sat in the grass of the castle grounds under white-barked trees with trunks that twisted like a wrung towel and turned into branches that looked like dozens of arms on twirling ballerinas.

"It's called ‘See My Little Eye’. You have to guess what my little eye is seeing."

"Yes, princess," the boy answered. He was patient, having played this many times before.

The girl's eyes glinted precociously behind the strands of thick curly black hair fell in her face. Her hair was never fully contained by her nanny's single braid that twisted like yarn down her back.

"Can I go first, princess," the boy asked, eager to play her game.

"Yes," she said, wiggling her legs out in front of her.

"See my little eye it lies on-"

"No. You are doing it wrong!" she barked, "It's ‘see my little eye it lies on’." She demonstrated by pointing her finger to her eye and then smiled.

"Yes, princess." He smiled. He always played the game wrong on purpose, enjoying how she fussed at him when he didn’t do it just right. "See.” he pointed with exaggeration to his bright green eye that contrasted brilliantly in the sun with his dark hair curling down his neck. "My little eye, it lies on a beautiful thing."

Her body slumped in disappointment and she cocked her head to the side, annoyed. She huffed, "Me."

"Yes!" He smiled brightly, congratulating her.

"You always pick me first when we play this game," she said, then walked away towards the archway that led to the castle hall. The boy followed; his lanky body towered over hers. She pressed her body against the stone wall of the entrance to watch as people walked into the dinning hall.

King Aronich and the queen smiled at each other happily, walking arm-in-arm and leading their guests, royals from a far land, to dinner.

The princess turned to her playmate. She noticed how his clothes loosely hung from his body. It was one of two pairs of clothing that he was allowed. The other was a page’s outfit that he would where as a guardsmen when he was assigned to surveillance.

"See my little eye, it lies on a beautiful crystal square," she said.

"The chandelier?" the boy guessed.

"No," she giggled and swayed back and forth holding her hands.

"The scepter top beside the king’s throne."

"No, one more try."

The boy paused and his eyes gazed upon the pedestal in front of the throne. A crystal box with intricate engraving sat on top.

He remembered standing next to the princess in the hall earlier when the visiting royals came and had given the strange box to the king and queen. The princess had interrupted, begging to hold the box herself while the visiting king spoke to her parents and explained how the remarkable metals within the box turned gears so that it would play music by lifting the lid.

The boy had been intrigued and had also wished that the little princess would be silent so they all could learn how the craftsmanship was made.

The little princess threw an amazing tantrum when her parents refused to let her touch the fine gift. Her fit continued until the king angrily sent her and the boy out of the hall.

"The crystal music box," he said.

"Yes!" she squealed jumping up and down clapping her little hands. "Boy, please bring me the box."

Novak's faced flushed with horror, "But Princess-"

"Oh," she whined, batting her big brown eyes at him. "Please bring it to me. I just want to see it. I'll be ever so careful."

"Your father did not allow you," he reminded her.

"Please, boy?" She leaned into him, her gentle hand on his shoulder as she whispered in his ear. "I won't tell anyone and we'll put it right back."

The boy exhaled; he had found himself in this predicament with the princess before. He wanted to give her everything; he enjoyed seeing her smile and her playful nature was enchanting when it wasn’t causing him trouble.

"It's my turn, Princess." he said hurriedly trying to divert her new obsession. "See with my little eye lies on-"

"Boy, please, it would make me very happy," she said in a sing-song. She smiled at him with her innocent heart shaped face he wanted so much to kiss.

He shook his head holding on to the last grip of restraint he had.

"Ohhhhh, boy." She was his personal siren. "Aren’t you just dying with curiosity to know about the working gears that the King spoke of." She was taunting him, her little fingers moving as she tried to describe the gears. "The metal gears he said that are light as a feather turning with one another.

He was in the crashing waters approaching the jagged rocks. Novak sighed heavily, he truly did want to figure out how the gears made music, and the princess's tantrum had erupted before the box was opened for everyone to hear the musical secret inside. 

He shook his head again. He could bring it to her, but not allow her to hold it so she wouldn’t get into trouble and they could investigate how the crystal box worked together. He carefully tiptoed into the room and grabbed the box. The princess squealed with laughter as she ran through the hall. She was giddy that they were breaking her father’s rule and ran towards the stairs to her chambers. 

“Come, boy!” she called as she dashed across the hall. 

The boy ran after her holding the precious box in front of him, also enjoying the thrill of escape. He ran up the stairs two at a time he always did. He didn’t hear the guard running behind him but the princess did as she ran into her room and slammed the door in front of the boy. 

“Princess, let me in,” he cried and pounded on the door. 

She opened the door and peeked her head out, giggling. Her hair had fallen out of her braid and floated about her face like a halo. 

“Only people with brown skin and without green-eyes can come in,” she said. 

The boy let his head fall to the side, he hated this game. “What do I have to do to get inside?” 

“You have to-” she thought and every second he felt more nervous of being caught with the box in his hands. “You have to-to say you love me three times.” 

He grinned; this was going to be easy. He adored the princess. He began to say he loved her but on the third heart-felt time she screeched and slammed the door closed. A hand seized his shoulder and the crystal box fell to the floor in a million shattered pieces. The music inside played disjointedly. The guard forced the princess’s door open to bring her to the king. 

They were presented to the hall. Her father and mother stood in front of their chairs with very disappointed looks etched into their faces. 

“Did you take my box?” her father asked. The princess looked at the boy, her hands holding her dress at her sides. “Talyis, I am speaking to you.” The princess looked startled that her father had figured it out. She batted her eyelashes innocently and her father walked off of the throne to her, embarrassed that his guest had to witness his daughter’s disrespectful behaviour. “Answer me.” His voice boomed as he stood over Talyis like a statue. 

“Talyis, dear,” her mother said with just as much irritation as her father but not as much anger. “Answer your father. Did you take the box?” Talyis eyes darted back and forth between her father and mother nervously. Her voice was frozen and her eyes were tearing up.. 

“Talyis?” Her father softened. He loved his daughter but knew she could be quite deceptive. “I’ll ask again, did you take my box?” She just looked at the ground. “Fine, you will stay in your room tomorrow until you tell me the truth.” 

Talyis immediately broke down into hysterical sobs and fell to her knees clutching her father’s leg. She cried out for her gardens, begging him to let her play in the gardens. She threw her head back and wailed. 

“I did it,” Novak’s voice croaked. “I took the box, Your Majesty.” 

Talyis immediately stopped sobbing. She looked at him bewildered. Her tear-stained face was more than Novak could bear. 

“You took my box, boy?” the king asked. “Talyis didn’t tell you to take the box?” 

“N-n-no,” He stuttered, fear already kicking in. He was afraid of what would happen now. “I took the box on my own accord. Princess was just with me when I took it.” 

“50 lashes,” King Anorich announced and the guards seized his scrawny arms dragging him down to the dungeon. 

They stripped his shirt and lashed him across his back. He tried to stifle his cries but the pain burned into his flesh. Welts and cuts criss-crossed his back and his eyes cried dry. 

He was returned to his cot in his small room off of the kitchen and cried into his pillow as he had many nights before. Rarely did he remember his own father, and when he did it was a foggy memory. He did remember when his own father looked on him when he was caught doing something wrong. His father had looked like the princess’s father on her, not wanting to punish his daughter, but knew it was his parental duty. 

He knew Talyis wouldn’t have had to face a lashing -- maybe a small spanking -- but the king would hold her and tell her he loved her.. Novak missed his father's and mother’s love tremendously that night. They cared for him, had sat beside his bed with Umma telling him stories and singing him to sleep. 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 11



He cried harder realizing how hazy the details of what his home looked like, his chambers, what his parent’s smiled on him felt like. The fading images made him feel as though he was dishonoring their memory, that his love for them was fading. More vividly was his father’s face of anguish as he choked out blood on the Aricin floor. King Belcor’s eyes pleaded with his son’s to remember that he loved him. 

He felt a cool towel attempting to put out the scorching flames covering his back. 

“Boy,” a woman’s voice sung. No one in the castle had ever called him by his name. “You mustn’t take the punishment for my daughter’s misdeeds,” the Queen said as she applied a cooling salve to his back. 

“I took the box,” he whimpered into his pillow. 

“This cannot continue, boy. The king will have you killed. You are no longer a child. The princess needs to learn to be selfless and responsible.” 

“I took the box,” he insisted and the queen smoothed his curly hair back tenderly, like a mother. Whenever the punishment was particularly harsh, the Queen herself would often sneak into his room to console him. 

“I want Talyis to learn to be gentle, kind and responsible for others. She needs to grow up to be a better leader than her father. One day she will lead this kingdom.” 

Novak’s sobs renewed, his heart was torn in two. “But I love her.” 

The Queen shushed him gently. “I know you do, boy. I know you do.” 

*** 

The room was very warm, her entire body was perspiring. She kicked the blanket off. Someone put a cool wet towel to her temples and it felt so good. She opened her eyes tiredly to see who was bothering her. 

"I'm sorry," Novak whispered tenderly as he removed the cool towel from her forehead. "You freeze and then burn up, I was only trying to-" Talyis waved him away, never looking at him. "Delia would have taken care of you but she is very upset. I'm sorry, I'll go." 

Talyis pressed her lips together tightly, trying not to fall for this new Novak who was trying so hard to care for her, prove himself to her. He wanted her to accept his apology, but she thought he should grovel, die, pay for all he had done. Feeling her resolve weaken, she turned away from him. She tried to ignore the deep sigh that escaped Novak as he stood up. 

"Please, eat some more. It will help you to get stronger," Novak pleaded. 

When she unclenched her jaw her mouth cracked and popped. "Why did you come for me?" Talyis asked, facing the wall. 


Novak stopped in his path, his soul swelled with hope. "Because I love you. I have always loved you." 

"Why did you take me from my castle?" She still did not want to see his face lest she succumb to the rage or the tears that both bubbled inside her. 

"Please, Talyis," Novak returned to her bedside. "You are not well. You need to get better, then I'll answer all of your questions. I promise." 

The rage boiled over. She sat up, breathing rapidly as she forced tears of weakness back. She yelled, "Why did you take me, Novak? Tell me." 

"I couldn’t-" he stopped, he didn’t want to scare her with the truth of her father’s wishes. "I wanted to." 

"You lie." She glared at him.

"I'm not lying. I've always wanted you." Novak stared, helpless to do anything but tell the truth.
"No, you lie!" She screamed her voice was rough and her body was racked with pain, "My father wanted me murdered." 

"Talyis," Novak soothed, "Please, let’s talk about this when you are better." Pain within him stung, he couldn't bring himself to tell her so now about her father anything that would cause her pain.

"No, my father wanted me dead!" Her body shook as she tried to congeal the whirlwind in her soul. Novak took her into his arms, urging her to relax, trying to calm her. She cried for a moment, then regained control of herself. "Why didn’t they come for me? Why didn’t anyone come for me," she said in pain-laden whispers. 

Talyis took a deep breath and she was calmed but the boiling pot of acid had not stopped pouring over her entire soul and being.

"Why did you take and give my innocence away?" she asked and struggled against his embrace. 
Novak let Talyis go and looked into the dark pools of her eyes. The light he loved to see there was gone. "I’ve felt incredible remorse since the night I took your innocence. It has always weighed on me, Talyis. I wasn’t in my right mind then." 
"‘I'm sorry’ is not enough!" she sneered through clenched teeth and pushed him hard away from her. "I hate you! I could never love you! Delia is wrong: forgive- forgive what you did to me!" Novak reached for her awkwardly but it was like trying to console a rabid dog. "Get away from me!" she screamed and his shoulders tensed. He moved away from the bed. 

The hatred in her eyes made him shudder; he had never seen such contempt in anyone, not even when King Aronich killed King Belcor in front of him. Tears rolled down his cheeks, his head hung low and his raven curls shadowed him like a moaning dark spirit. She glared at him before turning away once more. Novak took a deep breath which seemed to be his first since she began questioning him. Resigned, he gave up. 

Talyis listened to his movements; he added more logs to the fire to keep her warm before opening the heavy oak door. But before he stepped out the last once good flesh beating in her heart.

"I loved you so much. When I look deep into your eyes I can see past this mire of bitterness you hold for me and I see the boy I have always loved." Talyis spoke quietly. Novak stopped breathing, stopped moving, not wanting to miss a single word. She had been reflecting on the events since her capture: the evil days, the secret passion, the months of hatred. "Novak, I can’t live like this anymore. My heart wants to stop beating. I love you but you hate me, despise me. Everyday that you dwell on your anger, it tears at my heart and it hurts to breathe." 

Talyis wrapped her arms around her stomach, pulling herself into a tight ball. Novak was so close and she broke into heart-wrenching sobs. Novak moved to her side, anxious to comfort her but she pulled away. She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t peer into those green eyes that she had dreamed of for years. 

"Please, mercy!” She wept, “I just want for once to know love, that I can be loved." She drew herself up more tightly. "Mercy, mercy, mercy!” she pleaded in a whisper. “I can't allow you to hurt me anymore. It’s your heart, your bitter, dark heart. It has the talons of a griffith and you rip me to shreds." 

Novak’s mouth dropped. She was completely right. He had done so much damage from the time he had found her; he had been so spiteful, vengeful and callous. Loving him could only create more pain for her. 

Her sobs faded to a sniffle but her head was still bowed. Novak sat on the bed and grabbed her shoulders, making her lift her head. "I will never, ever hurt you. So help me, my parents in their unmarked graves be my witness. I love you, Talyis, and I want more than the world itself for you. I made a huge error of judgment. I don’t hate you or despise you. I love you. All that has entangled my heart is gone. There is no more hate. I have no wish to inflict pain on you. Talyis, I don’t deserve forgiveness but I ask for it." 

His strong hands guided her chin from her chest and brought her eyes to him. He smiled awkwardly and exhaled with relief, the light in her eyes had returned but she was still conflicted. They were both surprised when his mouth captured hers as he kissed her deeply, his arms wrapping around her protectively. 

"I desperately love you, Talyis of Onor," he said, withdrawing from his kiss and taking her hands into his own. "You and our baby should have the best and your heart's desire. Please, Talyis, forgive me." 

Talyis felt all her doubts fall away, like petals in winter. She did love him still; she hadn't stopped since that first night they had made love. She had fallen deeper once she had realized who he was. She kissed him back. 

He kissed her deeply and then helped her sit more comfortably on the bed. "Talyis, please, you need your rest. You need to get better." She realized she felt safe; it had been such a long time since anyone had been so concerned for her. "I am here if you need me. I will always be here." 

The talons of years of bitterness, pain and resentment finally released their grip upon their hearts and flew off far away. 

*** 


Talyis was shaken awake by her hard coughs and felt her cheeks flush. Novak was next to her immediately, rubbing her back to soothe her. He reached over to grab the cup of water and brought it to her lips. She drank and slumped down into the pile of pillows behind her. Novak pressed his hand to her forehead to gauge her temperature. When he felt the heat, he rose to get the healer.

"Please." Talyis pulled his hand and her eyes begged him to stay. "Please stay with me."

"I should get the elixir for you," he said.

"I'm fine, Novak. Please no more of that." The bitter, rancid taste was like a film in her mouth.

Novak exhaled and tucked himself back into the bed, pulling her close to him. She laid her chin on her chest, gazing at his face while combing her fingers through his raven curls. The green-eyed boy rubbed her back tenderly.

"I was awful to you," she said softly. "When I was little."

"You were little. I loved you so much.” Novak smiled gingerly. “You were a little terror at times."

"I was a princess. I was only taught to rule and dictate. My father never cared about anyone's feelings, and so I didn't either, although my mother tried to make me understand. It did pain me to see you hurt when my father whipped you. I felt so guilty and ashamed but I didn't know how to tell you. I am sorry Novak, for what that is worth today."

"I have always loved you." His green eyes glittered with deep love thinking of her during their childhood.

Her lips twitched and the pain of regret was hot in her soul, "I made you run away."

"I didn’t run away because of you." He framed her face with his hands. "I always dreamed of coming back to you. Not as I did, but I always thought of coming back."

"Why did you run away?"

Novak groaned and shifted uncomfortably, Talyis sat up looking at Novak. "I had to, Talyis. I was not safe in your land. I had forgotten that I was a prince. I was a slave in your land. Do you understand?” His stared at the wall above her head, reliving the pull of wanting to stay for the little princess but knowing he had to save his life. “Your father left me vulnerable. I would have been killed."

Talyis shook her head and sorrow washed over her. She bit her lip to fight back tears. "My father was awful." It still pained her deeply to realize that his contempt for her drove him to murder her. It was a heavy weight in her chest.

Novak shoulders fell heavily and he pulled his little princess tighter to her. "He was dreadful. He killed many kingdoms off and was ruthless and unjust. But, Talyis, he loved you."

"He wanted-"

Novak pressed a finger to her lips. "He loved you. I saw how he loved you when your mother was alive."

"It’s my fault that she was killed."

Novak's brows furrowed deeply and his lips tightened. "Why do you think that?" He shook his head. "It was not your fault."

"If I hadn't pushed you away that day you would have never left. I meant to tell you I loved you that day, but I let my pettiness push you away. You would have caught the vagabonds that killed my mother."

"It was not your fault. Talyis, it was never your fault. And you father's changing is not your fault. He shouldn’t have allowed his grief to-" Novak stopped and thought about himself and how he had done the same thing. He had allowed his grief and bitterness cloud his heart. "Talyis, please understand this, your father shouldn’t have allowed his pain to taint his relationship with you." Novak gritted his teeth and pulled Talyis closer to him. "I was a fool. I should have seen it. I should have seen that you cared for me. I wouldn’t have run away; maybe all of this wouldn’t have happened. I am so sorry that your mother was killed. I am responsible, not you."

"No, Novak, you are right. It was not safe for you.” Talyis thought for long moments before continuing, “But if you had stayed we would have never been allowed to be together." She feathered her fingers through his hair. "If all that had happened hadn't." She rolled over and looked at the ceiling. "That's awful; I shouldn’t say such a thing. My mother-"

"Talyis, we cannot change the past and we can only change our present by learning what the past has taught us. I wish I had not grown bitter and hateful after I ran from Onor. I learned that it does not benefit anyone and it never made me feel better. I only felt more pressure to try to control and protect the lives of my people above all else."

"Novak, you are a good prince. You care so much for you people. You tried to protect your land with a treaty with the Navapa."

"I never stopped loving you, even while betrothed to Calena. It was always political. I had to hide my stares from her when I watched you in the garden."

"I know." She squeezed her prince closer to her. "I am happy now, Novak. All the wrongs have been righted." 

He was happy to have his love finally, but her illness was keeping true happiness away. He kissed her forehead and regretfully said, "I am sorry, sweetheart, but I have to give you the tonic. It will make you feel better. I know the taste is awful." He pulled himself out of bed and wrapped his robe around his body and went to fetch the concoction.

The elixir successfully put her to sleep although she fought valiantly, talking to Novak through the night before finally surrendering to sleep in mid-sentence. 

*** 

Every day Talyis gathered her strength, little by little. She felt badly for the healer who would visit each morning, with Novak’s increasingly overbearing behavior. Novak always sat at the bottom edge of the bed, inspecting and threatening any time the healer caused her to wince. Talyis stifled any cries of pain the poor healer unconsciously caused to save him from Novak’s chastisement. 

The little gray man poked at her stomach which was finally starting to bulge healthily still concernedly small at seven months. The healer gave her a positive diagnosis but more of the smelly syrupy concoction came her way despite the complaint she made. She felt much better once the healing ordeal was over and was left at peace until Novak began bothering her again with his constant nursing. 

"Come on, my Love," Novak said, pulling the blankets off of her body one morning. She immediately began to protest. "You need to build up endurance, so let’s walk." Talyis pouted and he couldn’t help but kiss her. "Just to the settee and back." Novak held her, spotting her every step lest she should fall. She made it to the settee and gladly sat down; she was exhausted and her growing belly added more to the simple task. 

“No more, Novak,” she protested. 

"It’s fine, my darling." Novak said as he rummaged through his books. He found what he was looking for and brought it to Talyis who sat, waiting, smiling back at him. He showed her the book -- it was the one she had given him so many years ago. But it wasn’t closing properly. She took the book and then smiled. Novak got down on his knee. In Onor, that was the customary position in which a man would make a commitment and promise of... Talyis looked at him quizzically. 

"What does this say... under scribbled out part?" He handed the fairytale book to her. She opened the book and a beautiful rings puzzle fell out, again a usual tradition for betrothal in her land. She picked up the small silver gimmel ring that had dropped from the book and looked at Novak. His green eyes glinted in the sunlight but she still wouldn’t dare to believe. "Well, tell me," he said again. "Please, what is under those scribbles?" 

Talyis blushed, "I meant to write ‘with deepest love’." 

Novak placed a strong hand around her neck. He beamed happily and laid his forehead against hers. Ever so gently he asked, "Will you be my queen? May I be your king, lover and husband?" 

Everything within her fluttered. This was everything she had wished for during her entire life, to hear the words of her green-eyed boy on his bended knee before her. "Yes, Novak, I will be yours." 

Novak beamed so brightly he thought he might burst into light. He couldn’t stop the wondrous feeling that enveloped him, he leap around the room. His entire heart moved in accord with his soul. The woman who had ran through the garden with her dresses and hair fluttering about as if a mystic being was in love with him. 

"We will get married tomorrow. In the meantime let’s build up your strength with another walk." He took her arms and carefully pulled her up.

"What about the wedding festival?" Talyis asked, remembering the last wedding festival that would have lasted the entire week. 

Novak sighed, "I am sorry, you are too weak to have a wedding festival. We will postpone it until you are completely healed.” Talyis whined as he brought his arms around her to help her walk. She grumbled and Novak chuckled, "We will still marry tomorrow and have the festival another week." Did I tell you how much you are like Umma? Come on, let’s walk around the chambers and then back to bed." She complied, but it was Novak who held her up more than her own legs "You want to walk the wedding circle right?" He encouraged her. He kissed her forehead she batted her eyelashes, ending her protests. 

Arm-in-arm they walked from room to room in the chambers, Talyis growing stronger with each step. When they had circled around back to the bedchambers, she let go of Novak and walked back to the bed. He smiled, still at the ready if she needed him. Quickly she got into the bed. She was a bit out of breath but proud she was able to walk across the room on her own. 

"Novak, please remove the boards from the window. I am warm and I want to see the sunlight. All I remember is snow and rain." Talyis requested. 

He pulled the boards that were used to help keep the room warm away from the windows and stacked them on the floor. The morning light brightened the room a bit at a time as every board was removed. Talyis smiled -- her heart was filled. 

An scream from Delia pierced the room from outside, followed by a loud chuckle from Gareth. Talyis gave Novak a sideways grin as he crawled onto the bed next to her taking her into his arms. 

“It’s intact! It’s exact!” Delia shouted. Her heavy boots stomped hard against the stone steps as her racket clamored closer to their chambers. 

The door swung open, slamming the wood against the wall so hard Talyis wondered it didn't splinter, and Delia stood in the doorframe. Her large chest heaved as she smiled a huge toothy grin, which slowly melted into a frown. 

“I forgot you weren’t my friend,” Delia pouted and turned to leave. 

“Delia,” Talyis cried out. “I am sorry! You were right.” 

“Oh,” Delia cried and ran to her side. “All is right.” She wrapped her arms tightly around her friend. . Talyis hugged back, laughing and coughing for air and patting her back for release. “You never guess, I’m carrying me Gareth’s babe. Our little ones will grow up together.” 

Talyis smiled, “That’s good news, Delia.” 

“Congratulations, Delia. He will have the best in the land as a line to our throne,” Novak stated. He kissed Talyis neck and crawled out of the bed. “Spend time with your friend on your last night of maidenhood." 

Delia spoke to Talyis about the wedding, Delia’s future plans for her family with Talyis’s child. Talyis grumbled about Novak’s constant care while Delia laughed. They talked until Talyis fell asleep from fatigue. 

The entire village was alerted to prepare for the wedding and coronation of their prince. Many did not understand who was going to be taken as bride; others spread rumors that it was the Aricin wench that stayed within the castle. Many were very troubled by that rumor, but all made a point to see if it were true. Delia spent the day helping organize the decorations while Talyis slept, wanting to be strong enough to walk to the wedding circle. 




The Talons of a Dark Heart Ch. 11



At night, Talyis fought with Novak as he brought another chalice of the disgusting thick medicine to her lips. “I am sorry, love, but it will help you get better.” 

Talyis rolled her eyes and snatched the chalice from him, then quickly gulped down the drink with a grimace. It felt like slugs sliding down her throat. “No more after this, please, Novak.” The drink helped, but it always made her feel drowsy. She snuggled close to Novak, laying her head against his chest as he smoothed her hair back. “I want to make decrees after I am crowned,” she said sleepily. “I want to make things better for all, I am still the Princess of Onor.” 

“Rest, Talyis, all will be well in the morning.” 

Talyis peered up at Novak, he smiled down on her. His handsome features were so enticing and his eyes were again as kind as the boy that had chased her in the gardens. “I love you, boy.” 

“And I you, Princess.” He captured her lips with his. “Tomorrow our dreams will come true.” 

*** 

She woke up to the sounds of lutes and drums playing outside of the castle as the villagers processed through the forest to the castle grounds. The grounds were filled with revelers celebrating and dancing on the grass in front of the castle gates. She was feeling incredibly strong. She turned to her side to find Novak, but he had already left the chambers. 

She threw off the blankets and walked to the window to peek down curiously. The gates and lawns were filled with jubilant Aricin. . Many were dancing to the sound of the drum and lutes playing. Children chased each other, while others danced with colorful streamers that chased in lines in the warm breeze. Laughter rose to the skies, the beautiful blue skies without a cloud tainting their perfection. 

She ran to the window overlooking the village and saw many people in the streets dressed in their finest clothing in a parade with more musicians as they walked towards the castle. She giggled with disbelief until her when she looked out the third window overlooking the gardens. She couldn’t believe her eyes-- beyond the groups of people admiring her flowers, she saw two children running through the maze hedges. A little girl was being chased by a boy, her lovely white dresses flowing behind her like wings in flight, his raven hair in playful curls about his ears. She couldn’t believe that the boy that used to chase her, that she had always loved, that she was almost unable to forgive was now going to be hers forever, to love and be loved freely. 

Servants entered the room bringing pails of steaming water as Novak had ordered and filled the tub. Talyis smiled to herself as women added rose oils, goat's milk and honey to her bath -- Onor beauty secrets. Novak was going to great lengths to make her feel at home. She dropped her gown and stepped into the steamy frothy tub; it was luxurious. A servant stayed behind and helped wash Talyis’s back and hair, also attentive in case she were to fall ill. Talyis wanted to stay in the tub till it turned cold but Delia clamored into the bathing room. 

“Pigeon, you cant stay in that tub and catch yer death. Out!” she shrilled. Talyis reluctantly took the towel and stepped out of the tub. The servant began to dry her body off quickly. “We need you to get ready. Can’t you hear the villagers outside?” 

“Rejoicing or getting ready to shoot arrows at me?” Talyis said, nervously. 


“Nonsense, Pige, they are rejoicing and anyone who isn't will learn that you are the best for our prince and kingdom. Now, let’s get you dressed for your wedding.” Delia led the way out; the others could only follow. 

She held up a gown of white lace and braided red and gold ribbons into her curly black hair. Talyis showed Delia how in her kingdom women applied coal soot around their eyes to enhance their beauty and called for cherries to be mashed up for her lips. 

She was nervous. Everything had been such a challenge until now. Everything seemed to be going so smoothly. Novak did not come to see her, as was the tradition in her country. 

Finally, it was time for her to walk down the winding stairs to the throne room to marry the green-eyed man. Her heart pounded in anticipation of everything she had dreamed coming to fruition. 

When she descended the stairs to the hall, the villagers made a path for her to the throne. The room was beautiful, decorated in greens, reds and golds. Novak had arranged for plants to be brought in and made to resemble her gardens in Onor. She approached the throne, humbled at each step by the Arcin bowing before her, accepting her Relieved, she reached the empty chair beside Novak and sat. She felt like a little girl again, sitting on her father’s throne imagining what it would be like to be Queen. She began to think to her past with her father, but Novak squeezed her hand and she came back to the present. 

Novak stood. “Men, Women, Children of Aricin, today, I introduce you to your new queen and the love of my life, Talyis of Onor.” 

The room did indeed buzz with villagers talking upon this announcement. 

“Please, let us continue our wedding. You will find that Talyis is indeed kind, gentle and very wise. You will be greatly honored to have her as your Queen. She is carrying the heir to our throne.” Novak turned to Talyis and offered his hand to her. She took it and stood, trying to remember what Delia has taught her the night before about the Aricin wedding ceremony. 

Gareth approached the couple with a red cord and Novak smiled broadly, taking her right hand with his left, then her left with his right, crisscrossing their arms. Gareth bound heir arms together with the beautiful red rope and then the marital walk began with Novak leading. They walked in a figure eight to symbolize their eternal bond. Then he leaned forward, to kiss his beautiful bride while tears of joy trickled down his cheeks. 

Delia approached the couple. The room was silent as she carried the crowns on satin pillows. Gareth took Novak’s crown that had been modeled after his father's. The crown for Talyis made her gasp and sob. It was made of gold with a silver tree created from gemstones. 

She had believed it had been destroyed by her father, melted down into coins. Her father had told her this in retaliation for her defiance against him, wanting to wait for love and desire to one day wear her mother’s crown 

“My gift to you,” Novak whispered. “don’t forget you are Onor and I accept you.” She smiled happily as Gareth placed her mother’s crown on her head. 

“I present to you, the King of the Aricin, Novak, son of Belcar.” Gareth's voice rang out over the crowd. 

“Hail, King Novak!” the crowd chanted three times and cheered loudly. 

“And now I present my wife and your Queen, Talyis of the Aricin,” Novak roared and the room crescendo in cheer and applause. 

“Hail, our Queen Talyis!” Delia began and the rest of the room followed her lead. 

Gareth removed the red cord and then rebound Talyis's right hand to Novak's left. As a symbol of being a unit, moving and working as one, they would be physically joined throughout the day. 

“Now, the first decrees will come from your Queen.” Novak stepped back, smiling at his wife.

“Messengers!” Talyis called and three men ran from the back of the room and bowed before her. "My first decree is that if any Onor survivor is found, that they may seek life and livelihood here in Aricin so long as they put aside all strife between Aricin and Onor.” A scroll was given to the Messenger to run and proclaim throughout the lands to far off lands. 

“My second decree is that all Aricin land and any other kingdom lands that were stolen by my father’s conquests be given back to the people it was taken from. My third decree is that all Aricin should put aside their harsh feelings toward Onor and learn to leave in harmony and forgiveness. And my final decree today, is that no Aricin leader or Onor peasant or Aricin peasant shall expand by their kingdom or land by genocide, war, or personal battle." 

Novak then rapped his staff against the ground and the villagers clapped in acceptance of Talyis’s decrees. Novak cleared his throat and silence fell upon the room. “My first decree is that the future heir to the throne may and will be encouraged to follow love and will not have to marry to be crowned leader, rather my heir will take upon the throne at my natural passing. My second decree is to put away all spitefulness and treat anyone and everyone with respect and love as spitefulness, hatred and vengeance will not solve the greater problem. And finally I restore Gareth to the line of royalty and official declare his marriage to Delia.” 

They feasted on the best of Aricin and Onor foods. Novak had made sure that all of Talyis’s favorite foods were prepared. He grinned happily when she ate some of the Aricin food without complaint. She said with a full mouth that it wasn’t that bad once you get used to the spices. Novak and Delia roared with laughter. 

It was a good day and the castle was filled with happiness as they danced and played music. Novak noticed that Talyis was swaying a little unevenly and quickly held her close to him. 

“Talyis, are you feeling well?” Novak asked with great concern. 

“The room is spinning,” she said before fainting in his arms. Everyone around the couple gasped and Novak quickly carried her to his -- now their -- bedchambers. 

She lay in bed, her head tossing to and fro. Delia came up with a chalice of the liquid which Talyis drank after a weak protest. 

“Let the party go on,” Novak said. He tried to reassure Delia, but she saw the worry in his face. “Please, let them celebrate. She will be fine. She has to be. It’s only been a long day.” 

Delia sighed deeply and left. Novak laid down next to Talyis and rubbed her forehead and her belly that looked more like five month pregnant and not eight. He kissed her still lips as she slept and prayed for her to heal. 

Talyis woke up in the middle of the night, in her wedding gown. Novak slept beside her. She turned to him and smoothed his long raven curls from his sweaty brow and kissed him awake tenderly, holding his cheek in her small hand. 

She smiled contentedly. “This has been the best day ever. I love you.” She kissed him fervently as the fire danced and crackled, light playing with his beautiful angled face. 

“You should be resting,” he murmured as she kissed him ardently all over moving down his bare chest. 

“It’s my wedding night. Make love to me, Novak,” she said seductively. 

“No, love, you are too weak,” he protested even though he was melting as her kisses moved further down his belly. 

“Please, it’s our wedding night, I swear I wont hurt you.” She chuckled and dragged her tongue around his bellybutton and his stomach vibrated with his laughter. 

“I’m sure you won’t.” He tugged at her shoulders and she collapsed onto his chest with a purr, listening to his heart beat. Novak sighed as he tenderly smoothed her hair back. “But you are not completely healed; and you fainted at the wedding.” 

“I feel fine.” She unfastened his pants while she trailed her wet tongue down his chest. “It’s whether you can handle me.” 

Novak growled lustfully and picked Talyis up, depositing her in the middle of the bed. He wanted to rip her wedding lace from her body but instead attacked her with deep kisses as she tugged at his pants from removing them his body, her fingers played about his groin, teasing. 

“What’s this?” She felt something odd on his skin and stopped, , sat up abruptly. The candlelight played over her heart-shaped face. 

“I am yours.” Novak replied with such simplicity it melted her. 

He placed her fingers where his pubic hair once grew to traced the brand that mirrored her own, lined with his pelvic area above his shaft. It was her royal symbol burned into his skin. Its raised bumps were warm from healing, and she realized he had done this recently. 

She leaned closer to him and kissed her brand on his body. Novak helped her pull her gown over her head and reveled in the sight of Talyis, his love, spread out before him and beaming with love. The hair on her mound never grew back because of the brand. He leaned forward and gently kissed his brand. 

He began to rain kisses around her mound and inner thighs so close to her labial lips that swelled longing for his touch. 

“I wanted to show you,” he said between kisses, “that I will always love you and value you above myself.” He finally attacked her clit which was throbbing for his touch. His wet tongue swirled around the heated nub and pleasure shot through her body. Her hips undulated for him. Her clit glistened with his warm wet kisses that called the rest of her sex to flow. 

She hitched her breath in anticipation as he pressed the tip of his swollen head to her wet pussy, stroking it up and down. His precum joined with her own juices. “My body belongs to you and-” He stopped his pursuit of driving her to climax and pressed her hand to his chest. “This heart belongs to you.” 

She arched her back and squirmed underneath him., “Novak, stop teasing me,” she growled as she pressed her hips closer to his. He obliged, pressing his thick penis head between her lips. Her entire pussy squeezed in desperation for more. He slid in all the way, filling her completely; his penis stretched her velvety channel, playing with the bundle of nerves at the top of her pussy. 

She screamed in ecstasy as he pulled out and pushed into her, and then he held himself still within her, reveling in her warmth. Her hands reached for him, he took them within his own and kissed her fingertips distracting her before he plunged into her once more. Her eyes widened and he began to thrust harder, making her drip onto the sheets. 

They panted together in one chorus. He grinned wickedly and pressed his finger to her hidden clit and circled it tortuously, teasing it out and bringing her to the heights of passion. Her nerves rose to fever pitch with every stroke of his fingers and each stroke of his shaft until she could was no longer in control of heself. Her pussy clenched his shaft hard and each hug made him feel thicker within her. He released a feral growl as his seed exploded into her and he felt her explode at the same time. 

He very slowly pulled out. He let his fingers graze her pussy lips as he withdrew and he could feel the small aftershocks of orgasm race through her. He chuckled removed himself with a quiet hiss, instantly missing her warmth. He brought her into his embrace and traced his finger tips over her stomach lazily, edging closer to her clit until her body quivered once more with pleasure. 

*** 

Talyis curled closer to Novak, her dewy mouth slightly opened as she snored softly. Novak turned the gimmel ring on her finger while she slept. The princess he had loved his entire life was also in love with him. He couldn’t help but wish that he had known what he knew now about her love for him before he had taken her innocence. 

They could have been so happy together all this time. Instead her labored breathing worried him as she slept. Her eyes watered behind her lids as tears leaked onto his chest. She wasn’t crying; in fact she was sleeping peacefully and happy in afterglow. He curled his arms around her and held her tightly before laying her down gently. He tiptoed out of the room and over to Gareth’s and Delia’s chambers. 

“Delia,” he whispered through the open door. “Delia.” 

Delia snored loudly and wrapped her thick leg over Gareth's hip. 

“Delia, please wake up,” he said, louder this time. She snorted awake, looking around in the dark. Novak held up his lantern so that she could see him, and she quickly pulled her robe about herself and jumped out of the bed. 

“What?! Is she okay? Is the baby?!” Delia panicked. 

“No, Delia, everything is fine. I need some elixir for her. She is still very weak and I am worried.” 

“Don’t you fret, I will make some right now,” she said. She yawned, still a bit sleepy, but her energy and lightness were already showing through. 

Delia led Novak to the kitchen. She lit a fire under the kettle and began to through in the different ingredients to brew the medication. Novak sat at the long table the cooks used to prepare the meals and watched attentively. 

“When the babe comes, I will need to know how to care for it. She will be very weak,” Novak sighed. 

Delia frowned and scrunched her nose. “Stop talking like that. Talyis is strong. She dealt with the likes of you most her life, she’ll be able to handle the rest.” 

Novak smoothed his long curls behind his ear and inhaled deeply once the kettle was finally covered. “She was so happy today wasn’t she?” 

“Oh yes,” Delia brimmed, “And when Gareth put her mother’s crown on her head, she was as bright as the sun. What a beautiful bride. Ah, what a lovely day!” 

“Delia, thank you for being a friend to Talyis. She needed one when I was so foolish.” 

“We’ve both learnt a lot ‘bout ourselves, I suppose, with this twisted mess,” Delia said. She arched an eyebrow at him and returned to stirring the concoction. Novak knew she meant more than their common loss during the war. It was a surrender of her fight with him and forgiveness in the same breath for her rage when he had caused Talyis’s near drowning. 

“Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart Delia,” he said . 

“I love her.” Delia tightened her lip to stifle her own fears. “She will be fine, Prince- I mean Your Highness,” Delia reassured him. She poured the elixir into a chalice. “Let it cool a bit. Put a bit of mint leaves to her chest, that should soothe her, too.” 

Novak carried the small satchel of mint leaves that Delia had tied together and the chalice back to his chambers. He placed the hot glass on the window sill to cool. He carefully peeled the blankets back from her body and delicately rubbed the mint leaves onto her chest, being careful not to wake her. 

“Do you plan on always meddling with me in my sleep, Novak?” she whispered into the dark. 

“I am sorry, Love, I only meant to-” Novak stuttered guiltily. 

She caught his hand with the mint and urged him to continue. “Thank you.” 

She hummed as he continued to rub the mint sprigs into her skin, enjoying the scent that came to her nose. She took a few of the leaves from the satchel and traced his lips with the mint, laughing when he bit the leaf like a tiger. She took another leaf to munch on herself. 

“These are for your chest, not for eating,” he told her. 

“Or other things,” she hinted, and kissed him deeply. The mint tangled between their lips, pleasantly refreshing. Her hands slid to his chest, pushing his robe aside; the robe that she had worn while he was at war as she tried to recall his embrace, his scent. She started to line single kisses down his chest to the satchel of leaves at his side. She took another tangy leaf and chewed it. More torturous kisses dragged down his body until she had come across the brand on his skin. He hissed loudly as she blew warm air across his skin, the mint hint of her breath spiking sensations on tender skin. 

He groaned loudly, anticipating the effects of her minty mouth where she planned her next attack. He inhaled sharply and his stomach knotted as she wrapped her mouth around his shaft. His nerves tingled as her tongue danced along the underside and the burning sensation of mint in her mouth drove him wild. 

His nerves strained as she lazily bobbed her head, sucking sounds penetrating the air as his wife laved his cock. Her curly black hair bounced with her head over his cock, tickling his inner thighs as she sucked him hard. Her hot mouth tightened around him and every sensation in his body seemed to originate from his balls as she sucked him into her throat. 

He was could barely hold himself back, his cum wanting to douse the minty flames. He grunted loudly as his entire body tensed before he exploded. Talyis looked up, her brown eyes peeking up from his cock as he climaxed.