>
> Jasi opened a tired eye hearing her enter the small living room. He was resting on the divan, a half-finished cup of wine set on a small table next to him.
>
> “That was a long goodnight,” he commented pointedly.
>
> “Uhm,” a flushed Elsanne agreed and walked to the water barrel. She splashed her face with water, worked some of it down her neck and bosom. She clasped the lip of the barrel with both hands, then breathed in and out to calm down, quickly realizing she couldn’t.
>
> With a soul deep sigh Elsanne walked towards the stairs leading to her bedroom, but stopped and turned around.
>
> “Gods,” a half asleep Jasi murmured, his eyes closed. “Why?”
>
> “Typically,” Elsanne started nervously crossing her arms before her chest, disregarding his plea. Loes was missing so she needed someone to talk to. “Would you say, I’m still married Jasi?”
>
> The eunuch groaned. “Typically such a conversation is better reserved for the morning after a cup of tea, or good luck finding one here, a cup of coffee.”
>
> “It’s a simple query,” Elsanne snapped and went to sit on his couch, shoving him further inside with her arse.
>
> “Yes,” Jasi grumbled. “You are. There.”
>
> Elsanne pouted and gave him a solid slap on the chest.
>
> “Didn’t Sigurd say that I can do whatever I want? Hmm?”
>
> “Ouch… sure,” Jasi moaned with a grimace of pain. “Here I am a free… man, beaten yet again. Where’s the justice one wonders?”
>
> “So given the time apart, this marriage is over right?” She asked not listening to his rumblings.
>
> “The marriage was over the moment you started thinking for yourself,” Jasi said and tried to find some room but failed and gave up.
>
> “Aye, but typically, it isn’t a good look to be seen, not that I was…” Elsanne paused unsure.
>
> “Find a priest and annul it,” Jasi blurted out. “Your Grace can pick any priest. Ordain one for crying out loud!”
>
> “Like Abrakas? They seem to call on him a lot here,” Elsanne chanced.
>
> “Whelp, anyone but him,” Jasi advised her. “Can your Grace relocate to your room now, so I can get some sleep?”
-
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Elsanne Eikenaar
Princess Heiress
‘Fair’ Anne Burton
Forty tons of gold
Part I
-We won’t object-
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[https://i.postimg.cc/kMk5259C/Forty-tons-of-gold.jpg]
Early second month of winter, 193 NC
Pirate Reefs straits
Lord’s Burrow approach
“How is it?” Elsanne asked Jasi, the eunuch busy trying to pluck a hair out of his nostril using her metal tweezers.
“Ouch!” Jasi griped with a grimace, his shaven head snapping away from the bronze mirror, the Corsair’s Gold creaking and groaning like it was ready to come apart and the weather that had weakened since they had entered the narrow channels through the reefs, still clearly heard into their small captain’s cabin. “Can I be frank your outmost Excellency?”
“Please, I’m looking for an honest opinion Jasi.”
“It’s a shirt your grace.”
Elsanne narrowed her eyes. “A fine silk shirt under an almost new red cloak,” she pointed out.
“I advise to close the front, the wind is murderous,” Jasi retorted checking his nose for any bleeding. “Those you wish to impress fancy dresses and the rest of the local crowd makes outrageous fashion selections to be impressed by a shirt.”
Elsanne pursed her mouth. “Get the door,” she ordered him tartly.
Jasi opened the door for her with a smile and a curtsy. “I shall strive to be less honest your grace,” he murmured as she walked past him. Elsanne stepped inside the corridor leading to the main deck, Sir Klaas snapping to attention seeing her.
“At ease dear knight,” Elsanne said. “You’ve found a cabin?”
“I was outside your door the whole night Princess Heiress,” the newly minted knight replied tensely.
“Oh, well then… we’ll be there shortly,” Elsanne assured him. “I shall visit the deck Sir Klaas.”
“I’ll get the hatch your grace,” the knight said and walked past her trying not to touch the unmoving Princess too much.
“Thank the allgods,” Jasi murmured standing behind Elsanne. “He’s tall and fit. That thing is a nightmare to push open.”
“I need help to climb the ladder,” Elsanne reminded him and the Eunuch sighed sadly.
“A vision urged me to stay at Eikenport, but I opted not to follow its sage advice,” Jasi muttered. “Your Brilliance needs a workhand more than an advisor.”
“Poor Loes is still with Radin,” she pouted looking over her shoulder, the eunuch’s reply coming without hesitation.
“Not what I meant your Grace.”
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The black basalt walls of the coral-covered reefs shot up straight from both sides of the ship, port and starboard. The men used long oars to keep it away from danger and help guide it through the breathtaking waterway. The rain had stopped, but the gushes of wind kept everything soaked spraying seawater on the deck of Corsair’s Gold. The beige painted sloop-o-war, with the mustard colored sails wasn’t unknown to Elsanne. She had sailed with it years ago after Prince Radin had won the tourney at Riverdor. The distant summer of 188 NC.
Gust was watching the sailors struggling to keep the vessel going with its main sails gathered, but it was controlled chaos really, as the pirates knew what they were doing. Elsanne approached, keeping a hand on her face to protect her eyes from the bursts of salty water.
“It is really beautiful we think!” she yelled and the tall knight from Scaldingport turned his head to look at her a bit worried. “I’m fine,” Elsanne assured him, losing her footing but regaining it quickly with the help of Sir Klaas. “Lots of pirate blood in me!”
“I think half the crew is drunk,” Gust grunted. “And keep drinking!”
“They have a high tolerance!” Elsanne replied with a grin. “I think they work better intoxicated!”
“Uhm,” Gust murmured unsure.
“So, you will love Lord’s Burrow,” Elsanne started, but seeing Gust’s expression reconsidered her words and went with something less loving. “You’ll be intrigued, it’s a unique city.”
“The pirates call it a port,” Gust noted clenching his square jaw.
“That too of course,” Elsanne griped, her shirt quickly getting soaked making it stick on her bustier all wrinkly which was an annoyance. Also cold as allhells, but she could withstand pain and cold for style.
“Robert has taken the news relatively well,” Gust commented staring at the black rocks going past them. They were standing on the starboard side of the ship to get a glimpse of Burrow immediately after the last turn.
“He was relieved his sister is still breathing!” Elsanne yelled, as the crew raised a ruckus, the watch bell ringing to warn the approaching Marquette to slow down. Leona was coming up behind them. A livid Captain Dawson had to come down from the quarterdeck, spyglass in hand to gauge the distance and spot who was sailing the Barque. The moment the Marquette reappeared turning after them, he started cursing very colorfully its captain.
“Gods darn drunks,” Gust cursed as well watching them, distrust marring his gloomy face. “Apologies Princess.”
Eh.
“Sigurd was devastated, but he tried to play it down,” Elsanne said not bothered with his language and briefly touched his left hand that was clasping the deck rails. Briefly because she wanted to see where Sir Klaas was standing, her initial plan was even more daring, but weather and a crowded deck had ruined it. Jasi had remained near the hatch and its arch arbor not wanting to bathe in salt again. She thought of using him as a shield, but glancing back to call on him could ruin her bun and Elsanne had already a lot of loose curls plastered on her face.
“What happened at that wedding is more disturbing,” Gust argued and stared at her retreating hand. Elsanne felt her cheeks flame up, all the cold lessening and her wet skin drying up.
Metaphorically.
“Poor Aafke must be devastated,” she gasped nervously.
“More about losing her husband one would hope,” Gust retorted and Elsanne frowned unsure on his meaning.
“LAND AHOY!” The boy from the ship’s watch shouted at the top of his lungs, an arm clasping a line and half his body dangling perilously over the edge.
“Here it is,” Elsanne said and stepped closer to the always warm knight to show him better.
“I only see docks your Grace,” Gust commented hoarsely. “Am I missing something?”
“They are built in layers of platforms, small bridges linking them, narrow passages from door to door in the role of alleys, even from roof to roof sometimes. It’s built in half-rings and it goes five rings in. It even has a small central square constructed right in the middle of the main docks,” Elsanne took a deep breath and realized Gust was listening to her intently and not looking at the approaching port. “Give it a chance, Sir Gust,” she added nervously.
“I shall,” Gust replied and the bow of the Marquette appeared next to them and gaining fast.
“Abrakas blooming tail!” Dawson cursed ogling his eyes at the dangerous maneuver so close to land. “What’s that salted bush be doin’ mister Trifton?”
“Reckon she be wantin’ to moor first for the brags ‘Yellow’!” A visibly intoxicated ‘Lucky’ Trifton replied.
“I ain’t blind!” Dawson blasted him and then stooped to glare at the crew loitering under him. “Unfurl the main mister Vail! Wake Barnet up! Unless he’s passed away, then don’t!”
“We can make it on this speed Dawson!” the quartermaster protested, but gave Barnet a good kick for good measure.
“Not first we ain’t,” Dawson hissed grinding his teeth, the startled Barnet jumping to his feet and then ducking behind the main mast thinking they were under assault.
“Hah,” Elsanne laughed nervously, seeing Gust furrowing his brow at their shenanigans. “A bit of friendly banter and competition!” she played it down, fat ‘Grizzly’ Weiss hanging half-out the port side of the Marquette showing them a crooked middle finger as they pulled ahead.
Eh.
That was rude!
“Struder!” Gust barked at the group of Castalor’s crossbowmen sailing with them. “Next time that fat whoreson sticks his head out put a bolt through it!”
“Gust!” Elsanne gasped in shock, the veteran Captain nodding. He got a couple of the heavy crossbowmen up with a curt signal. “Captain Struder, belay that order!” she yelled. “Don’t fire!”
“I won’t your Grace,” Struder assured her nonchalantly. “Unless he does it again.”
It was a very tense final approach to the crowd filled docks.
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“Seems old Atterton has gotten the word out,” Dawson commented glaring at Leona jumping from the stern of the Marquette spectacularly using a long line and landing directly on the docks, tumbling once and then crashing head first through a produce stand luckily carrying empty baskets.
People thought she had just killed herself, but the lithe captain jumped to her feet when they tried to help and refused any assistance.
“That’s so nice of him,” a soaked Elsanne replied and stepped on the docks carefully, the waves splashing making the terrain slippery. She crossed the difficult part with the help of Gust and Klaas, Jasi murmuring behind them about the lack of proper passage and helping servants.
“Klaas get that sword out,” Gust ordered the young knight, after eyeing the gathering of locals. “Half of them are armed.”
“Gust they’re pirates, haha,” Elsanne admonished him nervously, a smile plastered on her cold face. She raised her right hand just over shoulder height, all fingers kept together and moved it slightly left and right to greet the colorful crowd. The hard moist bustier was making a number on her nipples and the cold wasn’t helping in that affair at all, or the traditional waving.
“Is that the Princess?” someone asked unsure.
“Must be!” said another, much more excited. A third asking a little perturbed.
“What’s she doin’ wit the hand?”
A smart one raising his own hand mimicking Elsanne’s wave. The rest of the crowd following with a couple of enthusiastic younger lads raising both hands.
“Princess,” a smiling Atterton greeted her stepping forward. Van Fleet, Quint and Mutiny Carter grinning proudly behind him. “Seeing your return to Lord’s Burrow has excited the people and all but moved me to tears.”
“Thank you mister Atterton,” Elsanne replied warmly, her teeth clattering at the breeze blowing over the docks. “My heartfelt gratitude goes to the people of Burrow! Why, it feels like being back home here!” she yelled turning to the delirious crowd of mostly pirates. Lorians and Issirs, Cofols and half-breeds in the mix. A weird pink-haired kid watching from a rooftop. The crowd responded with a wild roar, those that heard her that is, but the rest followed the first rows wild cheering and it spread out fast.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“HURRAH FOR ANNE O’ BURROW!”
“THE HEIRESS!”
“THE LORD’S KIN!”
“THE PIRATE QUEEN!”
Elsanne chuckled at their enthusiasm despite the cold and then walked slowly through them, touching their undulating hands and even waving once more much to the gaudy crowd’s delight that responded readily to her greeting.
Atterton led them away from the black market district and towards the central portion of the settlement, where the taverns, shops and brothels were located.
“Adele Vale’s is the more respectable establishment,” he explained apologetically. “I gave orders for a small feast to be prepared.”
“Is that Leona’s mother?” Elsanne probed, sandwiched between Gust and Klaas who had feared the worst at the reaction of the crowd.
“Her aunt. Captain Erlad’s sister,” Atterton explained.
“Her parents are deceased?”
“Aye, your grace… that’s one way of putting it,” the old pirate replied. “Place is called the ‘Purser’, just like his ship.”
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In the twenty minutes it took them to enter the Vale family tavern, the winds changed. A soft rain started falling again, but the temperature went from chilly to scorching hot, the scalding gushes coming from the south twirling in the Pirate Reefs natural almost enclosed harbor area, Burrow’s docks and platforms, its alleys and its squares.
Elsanne found herself breathing heavy in her cloak, clothes drying up, as she took her place at the head of the many tables placed one after the other to create a big one. Atterton sat at the other edge, with Gust, Jasi, Klaas, Sigurd and Struger on Elsanne’s right and left. Dawson and Van Fleet doing the same across from her, followed by Leona Vale, with several other pirates finding tables at the far end of the large tavern amongst them ‘Mutiny’ Carter, ‘Salty’ Reed, ‘Blackmane’ Quint from Van Fleet’s crew, Byron Vail, ‘Lucky’ Trifton and Barnet from Dawson’s and of course ‘Weasel’ Clark, ‘Grizly’ Weiss and ‘Blunder’ Hook from Leona’s.
“We have a barrel of seawater trout thrown on the coals your Grace,” Adele Vale informed with a clumsy curtsy. “Two bottles of red and white wine for you and choice grog for the esteemed captains.”
“Gratitude for taking the time to prepare everything,” Elsanne said, the heat slowly getting to her especially inside the packed tavern. “And to the chef as well.”
“No chef in the premises Princess,” Adele replied readily. “We don’t favor the practice here.”
Right.
“Ahm,” Atterton intervened clearing his throat. “What will our choice grog be dear Adele?”
The middle aged of Lorian origins tavern hostess eyed him austerely. “Plenty of beer for the crew, ale for you and rum. We do not discriminate on the quality here Mister Atterton.”
“I’ll have the rum,” Atterton decided, Adele stopping him.
“You’ll have whatever grog I find afore me, unless Leona wants to help search the cellar,” Leona blinked unsure, more restrained than usual.
“I’ll help Miss Adele,” Mutiny offered from the back. “But I want nothing untoward. This wench be carrying plenty o’ sharp blades,” she warned her colleagues, who assumed affronted looks that didn’t convince anyone.
“Just with the cups, I have hired help for the food,” Adele told her. “It’s coming right out your grace.”
“Well,” Van Fleet said after she went in the venue’s kitchen. “This certainly ranks very high as far as dinners go. What with a Princess, a Lord of Scaldingport, the Baron of Colle and prominent captains present. I be offering a toast Princess, but alas Adele started serving these buckets of bread first.”
Elsanne glanced at Gust and the knight paused his chomping at the fresh fist-sized dough and swallowed.
“The fish might be tasty,” she whispered his way. “You don’t want to ruin your appetite early Sir Gust.”
“I find that fish needs help to fill one’s stomach Princess,” Gust replied reaching for a carafe of water. Adele and two younger servants returning with large platters of roasted fish. Six of them to start, each plate containing one fat, well-roasted in olive oil and crashed garlic mixed with tomato sauce trout. It was served with steaming coral mushrooms the pirates imported from Eikenport and red caviar. Adele had gone all in, Elsanne thought and looked for butter for her bread, but not finding any on the table she scooped some of the salty dish with the help of a piece of bread.
Jasi cut a thin fillet from the fish sides and placed it on her plate, placing a smaller piece on his along with some mushrooms, everyone digging in. Gust reached with a dagger he produced out of his waistband, cut the almost meter long silvery seatrout right the middle and used a fork to carry the hefty portion to his plate.
“Would perhaps the big platter have been more useful Sir Gust?” Jasi asked, seeing as the piece was much larger than his plate.
“No,” Gust replied and started working on his slice diligently.
Elsanne chuckled at his appetite and wiped her forehead with a soft hankie, she then returned into her bosom. Everyone was busy eating with enthusiasm not really bothered by the heat the turn of the weather had brought on Lord’s Burrow.
Leona who had already downed a goblet of rum stood up and cleared her throat.
“I’d like arr… to make—”
“It behooves me tis too early for toasts Vale,” Van Fleet cut her off rudely.
“Which is why I opted for an announcement in its stead.”
“What kind?” Atterton asked her, cleaning the sides of his mouth with a towel.
“It be… well, not a toast… obviously,” Leona murmured. “The…arr cargo, which we won’t name,” she paused to wink at those present… twice, as not everyone was in her field of vision. “Is on the move again.”
“What cargo be that?” Atterton asked.
Ah.
“Should we speak of this now Captain Vale?” Elsanne cautioned her.
“Leo,” Leona retorted and gulped down some more of her drink. “I don’t see another way Jade Eyes.”
“What is she talking about?” Van Fleet grunted slapping his hand on the table before he could control himself and his monstrous dog Pete was heard barking outside the tavern angry. Leona paled and had some more of her grog.
“Why is the matter discussed at this moment?” Dawson queried sounding annoyed.
Gust swallowed not fearing the bones and growled hoarsely. “There is a reason for it I reckon,” the hale knight’s plate clean of food. Gust glugged down his goblet of water next, Elsanne refilling it with her wine.
“It’s too much for me,” she explained softly, whilst batting her eyelashes, when Gust looked at her surprised at the gesture.
“What reason?” Dawson grunted. “Where is the ship?”
“Wait,” Van Fleet said sounding aggravated and glared at the pirate captain. “You know about this?”
“Leona, kindly resume your… whatever it was ye were doin’, so we can all be illuminated. It is a feast for the Princess and you’re steering us astray,” Atterton intervened calmly but firmly.
“The elusive ‘cargo’ ships…” Leona continued looking at ‘Yellow’ Dawson. “Were spotted loitering outside Illirium. They had stopped out of the port in the deep and used a merchant ship to restock their supplies is the word of my source,” it was the first time Elsanne had heard her talk like a normal person.
“So it had damage then,” Dawson noted.
“And company,” Leona added.
“What manner of cargo?” Van Fleet asked not amused at their banter.
Elsanne stood up with a deep breath. Everyone stopped talking and she made a face to apologize and had some of her wine. Not the best she had tasted, but far from the worst. The princess then let all that air out with a puff.
“A ship carrying… possibly a war loan for Kaltha,” she explained to her audience. “Issued to the Bank of Trust.”
“Coins?” Van Fleet asked Dawson and he sighed pensively afore nodding. “You rascal. Excuse me language Princess,” he grimaced and glared at Atterton.
“First time I’m hearing about it,” Atterton assured him.
“Only Leona and Captain Dawson knew of the details,” Elsanne explained. “The ship left Cediorum months ago, but never reached our waters. It was rumored that it had been involved in a naval battle near Novesium and part, or all his escorts had to return to port. We’ve lost contact after that.”
“They repaired at sea then,” Dawson murmured thoughtfully. “They couldn’t go to Regia obviously with all the tumult and apparently the south ports of Kaltha are not trustworthy enough.”
“Turtle Isles?” Atterton asked.
“Could be. With enough crew,” Dawson replied and grimaced. “What kind of escort? Did he learn that?”
“Who might be that?” Van Fleet queried.
“Nigel Grim,” Leona replied. “He has a cut as well.”
“Who else?” Atterton probed. “I assume the Princess and Dawson.”
“A hundred of my raiders shall assist Leona,” Elsanne elucidated and Atterton nodded in understanding.
“My employer,” Leona added with a deep sigh.
“That’s a lot of interested parties,” Van Fleet mused.
“It’s a very big ship,” Leona retorted. “The escort is a brig according to Grim. Two of them remain out of three. One o’ the two big ones, the others went back to Cediorum. The mix up happened there. Obviously this one has the gold.”
“How big?” Atterton asked.
“Grim says it’s a Galleass.”
“That like a galley Van Fleet?” Atterton asked and the Issir captain stood back on his chair thoughtfully.
“Is there a mistake? Does it have towers bow and stern?” Van Fleet queried.
“I reckon Grim knows his business, so aye…” Leona replied with a smack of her lips.
“What manner of business?” Atterton grunted.
“Lad be working an afterhours schedule is my guess,” Dawson said and rubbed his face with both hands.
“You don’t have the crew to handle both,” Van Fleet told him.
“Mmm,” Dawson murmured and stared at his goblet for inspiration.
“It would be remiss of me not to offer me assistance,” Van Fleet said.
“Mmm,” Dawson grimaced.
“Atterton?” Van Fleet probed and the old captain pressed his wrinkled mouth tight.
“One last score eh?” he looked at the Princess. “What will be the plan for the loot Anne? Apologies, but it seems more a brotherhood matter than a courtly one eh?”
“I need to fund my claim and assist my allies on Jelin,” Elsanne replied crossing her arms on her chest. “You need to keep the trade route to Eplas open for them as well, but also reinforce your own position. While I understand the need to have a share of the treasure, it shall be better if you used it to repair the facilities at Eikenport. Controlling the city means nothing, if Garth and the Cofols make the most profit out of it.”
“You can’t talk me out of my share Anne,” Dawson argued.
“Pay your crews,” Elsanne countered. “By all means. But use the coin to make Burrow a rich port. It’s in your hands. In fact, I was thinking Eikenport should have a governor the Brotherhood trusts. Like Captain Van Fleet.”
“Princess,” Van Fleet said not expecting her suggestion. “While I enjoy the place, I’m still a captain.”
“I think you can be a better governor,” Elsanne insisted. “Whip that place in shape was the phrase I believe?”
“Ahm,” Atterton said unsure.
“You get her meaning,” Gust grunted from his place at the table. “You find yourselves with two ports and Scaldingport’s open for your ships to trade safely. Caravans from Eplas are still coming from Triage. Trade won’t stop.”
“What about Castalor and the Straits?” Atterton asked.
“Leave Struder out of it,” Gust countered. “Castalor has its hands full with Lord Anker and the Kaltha Fleet. Take the deal on the table and chance it through the Straits if you fancy a raid, but keep away from the southern ports.”
“It does open up possibilities,” Atterton said to the other captains. “We could get our hands on iron for better ships among other things.”
“Lesia won’t be happy, or the Bank,” Van Fleet murmured.
“I reckon they won’t be,” Gust agreed. “But I also think they are about to have their hands full.”
“Word is King Jeremy can barely control the situation,” Atterton countered. News from Jelin were reaching Burrow faster now that they had opened the trade route to Scaldingport. “The lad has his capital under siege.”
Gust stood back on his seat, the chair creaking at the point of breaking and scowled.
“His fleet was smashed at Novesium,” Dawson defended Atterton’s opinion.
“Part of his fleet, but mostly empty vessels and Jeremy isn’t Lesia’s biggest problem,” Gust replied. “The late Wolffish didn’t win at Pascor on his own. A legion helped him and Lucius has another one in Asturia. Allegedly.”
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An hour later Elsanne walked in front of Gust, Klaas and Jasi following behind them on their way to their quarters. The night thick on Lord’s Burrow and the sounds of the sea calmer now that the rain had stopped. The southern breeze was still blowing though and kept the winter night strangely warm. She smiled at the frowning knight, Gust had a lighter mail shirt on, much as Klaas, the latter just hadn’t a plate armour made yet.
Apparently it was very expensive. Elsanne had promised to fund the order at Scaldingport, but it would take a while for the armour to be delivered.
“I particularly enjoyed you defending my plan Sir Gust,” she told him with a twirl, made possible due to her pants. Warm they were, but allowed for dangerous pirouettes, a dress could jam her legs and send her over the platform into the dark waters underneath.
“It was a solid proposal your Grace,” Gust rustled, probably well fed as he had eaten a whole trout by himself and her bowl of mushrooms. Jasi had taken the unfinished bottle of wine with him.
Elsanne nodded with a grin.
“You haven’t…” Gust stopped in front of her quarters, a two story wooden apartment belonging in the slums, but surprisingly clean and while small, it lacked for nothing almost with a kitchen, a bath/cleaning room, a floor-sized bedroom and a small living room downstairs. Atterton’s daughter Rose used to live there, before she had been killed on the job. Elsanne hadn’t pressed the drunk Commodore for more. “None of this mess is your fault Princess.”
“It’s my brother’s.”
“Not really. What could Antoon have done in retrospect? The Khan had prepared for war obviously. Could he have avoided to move as quickly to Rida? Then the city would have been lost either way. Now the tourney was a matter of luck and bad timing, even a mistake, again in hindsight.”
“Radin was better that day,” Elsanne argued not wanting to think of the past.
“Not if Rik fought through his injury, or if Ralph could just make sure Radin wouldn’t get up afore dropping his guard.”
“Sir Rik had lost an eye,” Elsanne reminded him. “And everyone thought Radin had lost the duel by that point.”
“Rik could have fought on and the duel ends when your opponent is unconscious or dead,” Gust grunted and Elsanne rolled her eyes, then approached him slowly.
“You’re trying to steer the conversation away from the beautiful night Gust,” she teased.
Darn good retort girl, Elsanne congratulated herself proud.
“I’m not,” Gust replied and Jasi groaned.
“I’ll go to lie on the couch,” he hissed, bottle in hand. “Never felt so tired in my life. Sir Klaas?”
“I’ll stay with the Princess,” the young knight said.
No Klaas. You can go… eh.
Hmm.
“As you wish. Goodnight Sirs, Princess,” Jasi said and opened the door to their place.
“Klaas a royal knight is sworn to secrecy right?” Elsanne probed.
“Absolutely Princess,” Klaas replied.
Good.
“Stand at the edge of the building please,” Elsanne told him.
“Princess,” Gust protested, but she stopped him putting her fingers on his mouth. She did it unwittingly before thinking it through.
Ahm.
“Isn’t Burrow lovely in the night?” Elsanne blurted out moving her hand from his mouth to his jaw and then his left cheek. To his credit Gust remained polite during her ministrations. Also warm as a fireplace in winter, which didn’t help. “The lights in the streets and the late night taverns,” Gust furrowed his brow, as four out of six venues on their street were brothels, but again kept that strong-willed mouth shut and his eyes on her face, illuminated by the slowly appearing Oras Eye on the night sky. “How it plays on the waters, surrounded by the tall stone walls, as if we’re standing at the center of the world. You can’t say it isn’t a beautiful place.”
Elsanne puffed out and stared at the towering silent knight.
“I rather watch you speak about it,” Gust admitted and her heart skipped a beat.
Arr...
“That’s… you can truly voice quite the unexpected and brilliant compliments Gust,” she purred and her thumb traced his lower lip daringly. Pulse quickening, a feeling of weird giddiness washing over her.
“Haven’t had much success in the past,” Gust confessed.
With you was his meaning.
“That head,” Elsanne remembered, her mind on other things.
“A trophy of your enemy,” Gust said. “Never to threaten you again.”
Aww, now I get it you big fool you!
“I do not feel threatened,” she whispered knowingly. “At this time.”
The hale knight stooped near her unsure.
“Princess?” he asked gently.
“Mmm,” Elsanne purred guiding his head nearer.
“Elsanne,” Gust murmured hoarsely.
Do it, by the all gods!
“We won’t object,” she assured him, gleaming jade eyes closing.
Gust tasted of fish, salted caviar and wine, but Elsanne didn’t mind. The Princess tasted alike herself.
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