October 20, 1345.St. Martin's Fort,The high town of Leithill,Border Town between Myknos and Imras.Princess Alyn Midika TuttonAs Alyn watched Duenna Eleftheria sip the chamomile tea delicately from a fine white china set, she struggled to keep a guilty expression off her face.In a few hours, she would have gotten rid of the huge stumbling block to her mission but at what cost? Ever since she had arrived at Leithill, Lord d'Estaing had made it his mission to avoid her at all costs and she had made it her mission to annoy him to the point where he was forced to place the older lady on extra watch duty.At first it had been bearable, but over the past few days, it had grown suffocating. She couldn't step one foot outside her door before the Duenna appeared ready to provide whatever she may need inside her room.It suddenly seemed like she was in prison. A rather comfortable one at that. To think she had thought Duenna Nefeli overbearing.The older woman's presence wasn't entirely

20 October, 1345.The Walled City of Rothwell,Capital of Myknos.Lady Odeya Katarina BlackOdeya returned Nicolas' kisses with the same ferocity with which he kissed her, his soft lips igniting little fires within her body. She hadn't realized how much she needed this, needed him; his touch, his scent, his lips, his body, all the elements that made up this fine male specimen she currently had underneath her.His hand caressed her hips and slid upward to cup one of her breasts causing her to arch her back on top of him, her too tight dress digging painfully into her ribs.Reaching back to undo the ties that kept her captive in the ridiculous dress, she sank deeper onto Nicolas, her lady parts sheathing his bulge. He groaned and moved his hips causing tingles of electricity to run through her and she jerked on top of him.Hurriedly undoing the last clasp, she watched as his pupils darkened as the dress slid off her shoulders baring her breasts to him, the sight forever etched into h

October 23, 1345.Cassidy's Fort,The Queen's Mound,Imras.Princess Alyn Midika TuttonAlyn looked around at the fully armed foot soldiers marching through the mountains to the Western pass. They had set off before dawn with her and her entourage; a retinue of maids assigned to take care of her every need and female soldiers, at the very middle of the battalion. Trust Hayden to trust his men with his life and not with hers.Their's was a safe position because they would be far from battle if they were to encounter any resistance and at the same it was the most dreadful. They were pelted constantly with mud and horse dung and were on the receiving end of their smells. The roads leading to the mountain pass hadn't been charted by a force this large in a long time so the roads had washed away and a carriage would have been unnecessary load. At least they had given her a comfortable riding habit and a well trained gelding that navigated the rocky roads with ease. Not too long after, sh

October 23, 1345.Cassidy's Fort,The Queen's Mound,Imras.Princess Alyn Midika Tutton"And if I don't?" She heard Hayden ask. "Well. You've already seen how accurate my archers are." Sparing her a crooked smile, he added, "And I get to keep your woman."'What?!' Alyn wondered. She was no bargaining chip but then again was she really in any position to argue. The savages had them surrounded and one wrong move from anyone would mean instant death.Her head turned to Hayden just as he looked at her, a grim look coating his usually playful face. A look she knew brought more foreboding than the rumble of thunder and lightning signifying an oncoming storm.He turned away from her to face the leader of the savages that still watched her with those piercing blue eyes that betrayed nothing akin to human emotion."For years our people have lived in harmony. A system that involved neither of us having to cross blades. Why then do you choose to attack those riding under the Kings Banner, Vae

October 23, 1345.Stormhold Castle,The walled city of Rothwell, Capital of Myknos.Prince Nicolas Alexander TuttonNumbness, that's all he felt as he was dragged into the courtyard with chains binding his hands and feet. The executioner stood proud with his axe stained a dark red with the dried blood of hundreds of men before him.They had murdered his father and mother and although he would like to tell himself his father's murder hadn't affected him, his stupid heart said otherwise. At least Alyn had escaped somehow, he didn't think he woukd have been able to live with her death. As they dragged him up the steps to the platform where the chopping block had been stationed, he turned to see Khasi sitting on the throne like she was already queen, smiling down at him with a victorious smirk. She spared him a few moments before deciding she had seen enough of him and with a flick of her hand, the guards dragged him forward.Blood danced in his vision and his head spun as they pushed h