They began to circle each other, eyes alarmed.
"And who is this mighty enemy of yours?
Magnus smirked. "Actually, he is not really an enemy..."
He stepped to the side just in the right time when the captain advanced with a sudden thrust.
"A brother?"
"Kind of..."
"Ah! Sibling rivalry I see. An all time classic life story. Brothers are the greatest rivals. What's he like?"
"Exceedingly fast and merciless. And extremely confident."
Magnus slid forward to seize an opening but the captain was fast despite his age, he pushed Magnus' weapon off.
"What's his weakness?"
"I don't know. If I do I had already defeated him long ago."
"Is he as tall as you? As big as you?"
"He is about my height, but not as big as I am."
Another clashes and clangs as both danced in thrusting and parrying.
"So I suppose you're stronger than him?"
"Maybe, but he's so damn fast, like the wind. And he bends and moves with a killing ease, like a panther. In a blink, his sword already caught me in the eyes."
"Have you ever killed somebody?"
"God, no! My conscience would not be able to tolerate it."
"Has he?"
For a moment, Magnus was silent. But finally he made reply.
"Necessarily."
" A ruthless warrior he is, isn't he? While you are a merciful one. That's why he is unbeatable for you. He has the guts."
"If I have to kill somebody to defeat him, I'd better never be able to defeat him forever."
"I won't suggest it either. I've seen too many massacres in my younger days and there was nothing glorious about it."
Magnus charged with a forceful thrust but the captain blocked his sword and disarmed him, made the weapon flung away.
"Damn, captain! You're hell of a warrior!"
Magnus stared at him in astonishment when the captain said
"Listen, we'll turn his strength to be his weakness. You said he's extremely confident? And you have never been able to defeat him? Good. He will underestimate you, and you can take it for your advantage. Watch until the moment is right... and make your move at the time he least expect it..."
***
"You never told me you have a brother." Ava tried to sound idle as she started a conversation. She was walking home with him.
"Yeah" he replied after a short while, sounded reluctant. Seemed like it was an unpleasant topic for him, but she didn't care. She needed to know more about him.
"What does he look like? He must look a great deal like you."
"Even better." He grinned, staring at a distance. Ava doubted it. Nobody could look better than him.
"He's better than me in anything. Absolutely anything. It was always like that since we were kids. He's the pride of the family."
He said it in a nonchalant way but Ava could sense a tinge of jealousy and bitterness in his words. Although she had been raised with a bold, fiery sister, she was glad she had never experienced something like siblings rivalry. On the other hand, from his talk with the captain before, she guessed his family was not a common farmer. He was a good swordsman and he had just mentioned something like "pride" and she assumed that he and his brother were raised and educated well. Probably his family was a prosperous farmer or a middle rank military. A sudden thought occurred in her mind. Maybe he was a soldier on leave.
"How about your parents?"
Ava changed subject to shake him off from the thought of his brother, but he still couldn't get rid of it.
"They adore him, they praise him, they speak highly of him all the time."
"I mean ... are you close to them? Your father or your mother?"
"Not at all" he chuckled as if her question was amusing.
"My father despises me, I was never good enough for him. He always regrets the fact that I am his son instead of ..." He halted at once.
"That can't be true." Ava protested. "You're such a fine, intelligent man. Your parents should be proud of you. I've never met a man with many excellent qualities as you are."
"Really?" Her heart skipped a beat as he smiled at her, looking right into her eyes.
At the moment, they reached a small wooden bridge over a trench. She had passed the bridge many times before, but this time she stepped on a broken path and almost slipped away. He grasped her arm swiftly, saved her from falling, then he held her hand, guided her safely along the way.
He held her still when they walked out of the dangerous track, and didn't release her hand afterward. It was the first time she had ever walked hand in hand with a man.
She ceased to talk, suddenly forgot about digging up details. His hand was rough and calloused against her dainty hand. She loved the feeling of his hand carrying hers, firm and assuring, as if he would lead her through any long, winding road. As if he would keep her safe and never let her go. They walked in silence, yet she felt like they had shared an unspeakable something worth more than a thousand words.
Again, the way home was far too short. He didn't release his hold on her until she was right in front of the door. They said farewell and she entered the house, leaning her back to the door after pushing it close and smiling alone as she closed her eyes. Something had happened today, and it was a good thing.
Shortly after, Lady Byrne was coming. Ava was glad Magnus had already gone.
"I heard you've always walked home accompanied by a handsome lad recently."
The lady didn't bother to hide her curiosity. Ava glared at Polly, it must be her telling the lady.
"What's his name? I know almost everyone in this town, maybe I know his family."
Ava kicked Polly under the table, hinted her not to tell. Ava really liked the old lady, but she was a terrible gossiper. If she knew anything about Magnus, she would spread the gossip over the town, and Ava didn't want it to happen. Polly got her message very well, she stared back at her in answer.
With each passing day, she managed to keep it a secret from the lady. Ava had been very careful every time Magnus walked her home, she had always checked from the distance if Lady Byrne's carriage was around. The lady was desperate to know, but Ava managed to avoid talking about it in a friendly way, eventually the lady gave up, but still glanced at her curiously sometimes, and she pretended to be unaware. She didn't know how long she could keep it a secret, but when the time came for the lady to find out, she could only hope she had already knew Magnus' feeling for her. She had no doubt he had something for her, but thus far, he barely said anything about it.
***
It was an enchanting evening. The whole country was having a May Day celebration and people had started to gather in the town square since the afternoon. A Maypole had been erected at dawn, brightly decorated with colorful ribbons, boughs and garlands. Soon after the sons and daughters of May proceeded the ritual, the festivities began. Men and women danced around the Maypole in loud music and merrymaking.
Magnus pulled her into the dancing revelry and they were blending with dozens of couples. He was swinging, twisting, spinning her on her heels till she felt dizzy and they couldn't stop laughing. She was absorbed to the gaiety and music, completely oblivious about how long they had been there.
Thereafter, he lead her out of the noisy festivities into a quiet trail leading to an immense barley field. The stars above looked like a million bright specks sprinkled over a black canvas.
"I think I lost something." He spoke in a muffled voice.
"What? Let's get back, maybe we can still find it." Ava was about to turn around, but he held her back.
"No, someone has stolen it."
"What? That's too bad... What's lost?"
"My heart..."
Suddenly he pulled her so close until their bodies crushed. He kept hold firmly on her waist. Her heart stopped as he looked deep into her eyes.
"You're the one who stole it, pretty little thief..." His eyes were sparkling like starlight.
"What I got to do with you now?"
Her voice was a bit shaking when she replied
"I will give it back to you..."
"Don't," His warm breath brushed her cheek like a sweet caress.
"Just let me have yours"
And he bent down and settled his mouth to hers. The stars over the sky were shining so bright tonight, but the fireworks she saw as she closed her eyes were even brighter. It wasn't her first kiss since the disgusting Roger had her first. But it was her first kiss indeed, for it was real. It was mutual, consensual, from the heart. It was a kiss from a man she had fallen in love with, for the first time in her restricted twenty years. It was a first kiss that she always dreamed of.
When he walked her home later that night, she prayed he was the knight heaven sent, coming into her life to save her like a tale she heard long long time ago, once upon a bedtime story.
***
They walked along the same path to her home the next day in the afternoon, hand in hand, fingers entwined. Last night he had confessed his feeling for her and she had let him know she felt the same way. After lots and lots of exchanged glances and stolen kisses, her home finally got near. Ava scanned along and found no signs of Lady Byrne's presence. There was no carriage around. They walked until they reached the wooden fence of the cottage.
"It's hard to say goodbye." He gazed into her eyes, bending to kiss her one last time. "See you tomorrow, love."
The door swayed open behind her and a woman's noisy babble burst from the house. Ava turned her head in shock to the doorway, knowing instantly who was standing there.
Lady Byrne looked as surprised as she was, even more. Her mouth dropped open like she was seeing a ghost.
Ava totally agreed Magnus' entire appearance could be described as jaw dropping, but Ava had never seen the effect on women so literally. She was just thinking Lady Byrne was overly dramatic when the lady hurried toward them and performed a low, elegant curtsy.
"My Lord! What a pleasant surprise! I sure didn't expect to see you here!"
***
"You didn't know who he is?!!!" Lady Byrne screeched frantically. Magnus had escaped shortly after a little polite talk, leaving Ava to cope as best she might on her own. "My goodness! He is Lord Magnus Hyde, his family has owned this land for hundred of years. The ruling duke is his cousin. Lord Magnus is third-in-line of this little empire." The lady continued in bold enthusiasm. "Theirs are one of the leading noble families in England. They are possessors of many estates and rich farming lands. They are incredibly wealthy. My dear Ava, you have caught a prince and you didn't even know it!" With every word tumbling from the lady's mouth, Ava felt her heart sank. She didn't want a prince, an heir, a nobleman with all the glorious grandeur. She wanted Magnus as a man, either a farmer, a soldier, or another commoner... a man she could lay her hope on, a man she could make her own. Now that she found that he was actu
Without the slightest bit of doubt, Ava knew immediately who he was. As soon as people saw him, they would know he was no sort of ordinary man.Heaven had been most generous to this man, bestowing him with tremendous enviable feature. He had such a handsome face with a pair of dramatically beautiful eyes. Striking in their rare gunmetal blue color, they were shielded by thick, long lashes. His straight, perfect-shaped nose made him look aristocratic. His lips had a natural shade that would make the prettiest women jealous, along with a firm jaw that balanced out his refined features.Of all his glorious features, one that distinguished him the most from the other men was his silvery locks, highlighted with strands in a darker shade. He was apparently among a few men whose hair went gray prematurely. Gleaming under the chandelier light, his hair was cut fashionably short. A locks of silver cove
Ashton Hyde, the fifteenth Duke of Vermont was observing the latest potential trouble his reckless cousin would throw himself into.Of all the young women of nobility across the country, even some foreign princesses, Magnus chose this one. An infamous, scandalous chit known as an offspring of the Duke of Livingston and his mistress. So typically him, to be such irresponsible and senseless.Once again, it was his duty to stop his cousin before everything went too far.He knew this woman. He had seen her in London before. One evening in a soiree, he was sitting in the corner in a weary mood, surrounded by some gentlemen fellows. The dull conversation was getting tedious when a vision caught his eye.It was her, walking down the grand spiral staircase in a perfect grace, dressed and bejeweled as fine as a princess. She was such a visi
"Yes, you" he motioned in impatient gesture to her like she was some servant. "Go fetch us some champagne."Stunned, she didn't know how to react. She recognized some men were standing around him, probably the ones he referred as 'us'. The men were staring at her now.The duke arched his brow in annoyance."Now" he said impatiently."Do you understand what I'm saying? You'd better be quick. I don't like waiting."Bewildered, Ava stared at him blankly. The duke had mistaken her as a maid. And such an arrogant brute, how badly the way he treated a maid.Seemed irritated by her unresponsiveness, he glared at her."Have you gone daft? Or are you totally incapable of doing such a simple task? I'm afraid I'll have to dismiss you.""I beg your pardon" she heard her own voice rang in her ear."I'm afraid you had been quite mistaken,
"You haven't said a word to me this morning. Come now, sweetheart... what makes you so angry?"Magnus walked beside her. He had skipped his lesson with the captain this morning, waiting in front of her home very early to walk her to the market."Magnus, what were you thinking, bringing me to the ball last night? Has it never occurred to you that your family would not like me at all?""I don't care what they're thinking. All I care about is you and me, us...""But it's not that simple, Magnus. Sooner or later we will have to face their rejection... Your family will never let you have a relationship with a woman like me...""No need to worry about that, my dear. They won't bring us down. I love you and you love me. It's all that matters.""Magnus, the duke drove me out last night!" Ava said desperately. Magnus' face went pale."What... what did he do to
A few days later, Ava received a message from Magnus to meet at the tower in the perfect time, she knew what it meant. Sunset. He had given her another key to the back gate so she could come anytime. He had been very busy in his training recently, so they didn't often meet. She went to the tower through the back gate.At the back of the manor, it was as quiet and peaceful as usual. The shaft of afternoon sunlight through the leaves added a glorious touch to the silent beauty.She climbed up the stairs and reached the top. She was just about to step outside when a sight struck her and she nearly bolted from shock. She moved aside quickly, hiding herself behind the wall, her heart was pounding wildly. The duke was standing in the tower's balcony. She recognized his silvery locks at once. Ava felt her whole body quivering. She had to go as fast as possible. Peeking from behind the wall, she intended to rush down quickly without making any sound
Darling, I hope I didn't make you wait too long..." Magnus came to an immediate halt when his gaze met another person waiting for him there. Ashton turned from the canvas, leaving the paintbrush and the palette to the easel.Damn, Magnus thought. What a perfect timing."Ash... I think you're someone else.""Obviously."Ignoring his taunting reply, he looked around at a glance. He hoped Ava had not come here yet."She has gone."Magnus got stiffened at once."You've met her? Damn, what have you done to her?""It's nothing important. I have to tell you, forget that wench. She's not right for you, at all.""And I have to tell you, mind your own fucking business.""Anything regarding our fami
"Easy, sweets, easy..." He calmed her."He will not find us here. He had never come here again for a long, long time.""Are you sure?" She glanced around the room cautiously.He nodded with an assuring smile."Take a look around, you'll enjoy some of very fine arts here."She moved closer to one of the paintings to have a better look. Soon she was fascinated by the magnificent beauty before her. She found a series of old paintings in similar style nearby. With a further observation, she considered the arts seemed to be made by a young artist, probably a child. A very talented one. A thought flashing in her mind. Was it him who painted them all? She remembered how beautiful his painting she had accidentally seen yesterday."Oh, you're bruising my pride, sweetheart." Magnus' hurting voice came from behind."Ashton doesn't need one more person to admire him. He already got more than