Alexander’s POV
The rain was pouring down outside my “window” - there was no glass in it. It was basically just a hole in the wall, and if I wanted to keep the wind and weather out, I could fasten a leather skin over it. Oh goodie. But the rain seemed fitting for today, since that the possibility of me getting killed was unnervingly high.
The day after we had arrived here, I had thought I was as good as dead, but apparently the goddess of procrastination had decided to bless me. The scholars/wisemen/whatever geeks had been busy with something. I never bothered to find out what.
Now, 3 days later, they were apparently ready.
I cast a nervous glance towards the door where I knew Siobhan would be standing outside, he had barely left my side - or more like the door - in the time we’d been here. Drawing a big breath of air, I tried to think of all the lady-like princess things I could do to convince them that I was a noble lady. Or simply that I was of the female gender.
Should I walk around with a book on my head? Bite and apple and faint? Lose my shoe on some random staircase?
“What do real royals do?” I muttered in despair. Siobhan wouldn’t be able to hear me through the door unless I yelled - I had already tested that. Okay, a straight back was probably something all royals had. Should I courtesy when I saw them?
A knock on my door threw me out of my speculations. Quickly I bent down and took of the translator bangle. Chances were they were going to want me to speak, and I didn’t want to risk them understanding me when I did. Even if it meant I wouldn’t know what they were talking about. Siobhan opened the door just as I straightened after hiding the bangle under the mattress.
“The advisors are ready now,” he said. It was weird not understanding him. It was also weird how much a bath had helped. His black hair lay smoothly on his shoulders, reflecting the light, and he was wearing loose pants and a shirt without sleeves, showcasing his bronzy, sleek muscled arms. Focus, Alexander. I forced my eyes away from those criminal arms and exited the room with all the noble grace I could muster.
We went down long hallways and turned so many times that I would without a doubt get lost if I tried to find my way back alone. Even though we were deep inside the castle, there was no need for torches. The place was basically made up by 7 wings connected by a ridicules amount of paths, suspension bridges, and smaller buildings. I imagined that if you saw it from a bird perspective it would look like a star. Siobhan had given me a tour around some of the gardens, which was how I had learnt. I had hoped that I would find some escape paths, but, alas, no such luck.
Siobhan finally stopped and knocked on a white painted door. The door was immediately opened by a little wrinkled old man. He barely looked the size of a seven year old. With a tight-lipped expression he looked me over before beckoning me to enter.
I followed slowly, trying to keep an eye on the man and on Siobhan at the same time. The room we had entered was full of floor-to-ceiling bookcases, which were full of old and new books. But there wasn’t a speck of dust on any of them. In the middle a round table could be seen under a labyrinth of books.
Four other wrinkled men emerged from wherever they had been hiding and looked me over with the same expression wrinkle number one had had.
“She does not look to be from the far east nor the far south,” one of the men said while staring at my face. “I would say she was from around here if not for her height and her defined cheekbones,” another added. I checked that my back was straight again, just to be on the safe side. Wrinkle number fiver made a talking motion with his hand and mouth and then waved his hand at me.
“My name is Alexander and, uhm, I like taking long walks on beach?” The men looked at each other in turn while shaking their heads and mumbling.
“That is not a tongue I have heard before. Could it be from an isolated island somewhere?”
“No, no. That is absurd. It must be from the north-east region!”
“We have explored and mapped every country and every culture there, she cannot be from the cold east.”
My stomach kept turning as they pulled out maps and bickered with each other. So far it didn’t seem like they could agree. Was that a good or a bad thing? I glanced back to find Siobhan. He wasn’t there. Fuck. He was probably outside the door waiting for this to finish. And by the looks of it that could be a while.
“Is it possible? Could she be from the desert countries? That is one of the few places we have yet to fully map, and that region is filled with small and big tribes. Each with their own religion and culture.”
“But the bone structure! That is not a desert woman.”
The arguing continued for so long that my feet began falling asleep. Finally it seemed that they reached, if not a conclusion, then a stalemate. The wrinkled men stood there huffing and puffing from their increasingly heated argument.
“If we cannot agree where she is from. Shall we at least try to figure out her standing?”
“We cannot test her knowledge since we do not understand her.”
“Her dress has been brought to us, I shall get it.” Wrinkle number two scurried off to return with the green kimono I had worn. The men began examining it like it was an antique piece of art. Not one detail was missed. Finally they all nodded and called out to Siobhan, who opened the door so quickly I had a suspicion he’d been ready to barge in any minute.
“We will inform The Emperor of our conclusion at the meeting today. You may go now.”
Siobhan lowered his head slightly in respect before taking me gently by the arm and leading me out. “Guess all we can do now is wait, huh?” Alex said and smiled down at me. I wanted to understand him. Odd as it was, I had come to regard Siobhan as my only friend here. Even if he was only with me because he’d been ordered to do so. Well, that’s depressing.
“You better be ready to make a daring rescue if they decide to chop my head off, you hear,” I told him seriously. Siobhan listened to me with rapt attention as if he focused hard enough he’d be able to make out what I was saying.
Siobhan led me through the many hallways back to my luxurious room. It was big, almost as big as the one I’d had in the Petit Lion. The white marble walls were covered by paintings and tapestries depicting great battles and tragic love stories. On the floor was spread out soft silk carpets that were simply heavenly to walk on. But the centre piece of the room was the most amazing, a huge mahogany canopy bed with bedposts carved to look like trees, and between the branches were draped white see-through pieces of fabric. It wasn’t a bed, it was a work of art.
Siobhan stopped just inside the room and looked around. Seemingly satisfied that there was no danger he made to turn around. “Wait, wait,” I said and held up a hand. I ran for the bed and quickly got out the bangle, I was just about to put it on when I got an idea. I wonder how he’ll react...
Siobhan’s POV
I watched as Alex straightened with a curious and mischievous look on her face. A gleam drew my eye to the item in her graceful hands. It looked to be a jewellery of some sort. Alex slowly began walking towards me. I thanked the discipline that had been drilled into me since young, because keeping my eyes from drifting down to her hips as she walked was a tremendous challenge.
She stopped when she was only a metre away from me. Her delicious scent engulfed me and I took a deep breath. Stop it, moron! Alex held out her bangle and I took it by reflex. She probably needed help getting it on her wrist. Ignoring the little voice screaming with joy at the chance to touch her fair skin, I held out the bracelet thingy ready to put it on her.
It wasn’t her wrist she held out though. With careful movements she began lifting the hem of the burgundy silk dress she was wearing, slowly bearing her foot and ankle. I looked at her to see if she was laughing at me. Had she noticed my unbefitting desire for her and was mocking me?
She met my gaze with big innocent, honey brown eyes. Of course she hadn’t. Such a thought would never enter her mind. She was too innocent. Drawing a big breath to calm myself I went down on my knees and leant forward.
Alexander’s POV
How the hell was this possible?
How could all the other men in this godforsaken place have the hots for me. Yet the only guy I actually wanted to fuck seemed completely unfazed by me. Wasn’t showing your ankles to someone the equivalent to wearing your lingerie in public?
I stared at Siobhan’s face as he closed the clasp. Nothing. He wasn’t interested in me at all. He has to be asexual then. Siobhan stood, bowed lightly, and then left the room. Fucking hell. I muttered some curses before throwing myself on the bed.
Who cared anyway? Certainly not me. I could just find somebody else. Alexander van Heimar did not lack partners to get his freak on with. Except everyone thinks you’re a girl now. With a feeling of horror I realized that I could probably never have sex again unless I could find my way back.
“How come this is what I worry the most about? I really need to get my priorities straight,” I muttered and turned around so I could bury my head under the covers.
A low knocking shook me out of the light slumber that had taken hold of me, a few seconds after a petite skinny woman in the attendant’s attire entered.
“Lady Alex, may I help you out of your gown?” she asked while making gestures with her hands. All the servants did this, since they thought I couldn’t understand them. I stood and let her do her thing. As soon as she had loosened all the strings and bindings that were keeping this freaking tent together she turned around.
After much effort I had finally gotten her to understand that I was “shy”. While she was turned around I quickly got off the red nightmare and slipped on the white sleeping-gown. It was slightly see-through so I hurried under the covers.
“Goodnight, Lady Alex,” the attendant said after picking up the dress, and then with a small bow she left. So far, so good. No guards had come to drag me away, and no one had realized that I had a penis. They simply thought I was shy and had tiny, tiny boobs.
One day at a time. One worry at a time. It seemed that I was safe for now, but I had to find a way back. Had to find one of those loophole thingies. Well, fat chance. They weren’t going to let me out of their sight. Even if I did manage to get outside and find a loophole. How would I lose my guards?
Deciding that I wasn’t going to solve any problems right now, I turned over and let sleep claim me.
Siobhan’s POV
I sighed in relief when the next guard came to take my place. But the relief didn’t last long.
“Bastard,” he said in greeting and smirked. Jerk. Never liked the guy. Vaughn was a man who’d entered the royal guard so he could be violent without being punished for it. The number of times he’d beaten a thief half to death were more than I could count on my fingers. Luckily he hadn’t become a squadron leader. He’d never been able to pass the tests.
“Vaughn, keep your eyes open,” I said and forced myself to walk away from Alex. Even if I wanted to be near her at all times, that was impossible. And perhaps it was better if I got some distance between us for a couple of hours. After giving me the honour of letting me help her put on the ankle bracelet, I’d had to leave the room immediately so she wouldn’t see the way I reacted to her. It was wrong. I was a bastard and a lowly soldier, she was a noble lady from a far off country.
Yet no matter how many times I told myself that it didn’t work. And to make matters worse, she wasn’t just pretty. The way she laughed made my whole body tingle and the way her expressions changed was captivating. I was beginning to think that not understanding her was for the better, because if I could, I bet I would like her even more. And if she finds out she’s going to hate you. I remembered the frightened look she’d had on her face when she noticed the way the men around her had been staring that first evening. She trusted me. What would she do if she learnt I was no better than them?
No, I would cut off my desire for her - if that was possible - and protect her. As I should. As is my place. With grim determination I flopped down on my bunk in the barracks and closed my eyes.
“Oh, hell.” As soon as I closed them, I saw her, smiling at me her eyes shining with mischief. I needed to get her out of my head.
~
“Hey Siobhan, get up. There’s an urgent meeting for all the available squadron leaders,” Grady said and shook me so violently my teeth clacked together.
“Where?” I asked while sitting up and swinging my legs out over the edge. “Jupiter’s Hall,” Grady answered and grabbed my shirt so I could put it on. “Tell me what happens?” I grinned at Grady. “Don’t I always?”
Jupiter’s hall was located in one of the east wings, and the barracks I slept in was located in the western wall. If I hurried I could be there in 7 minutes or so. Other squadron leaders joined me on the way and together we jogged down to the halls.
I imagined that there couldn’t be many present, since most of the leaders were out fighting in the Emperor’s name. I still would be if it hadn’t been for Alex.
Jupiter’s Hall was decorated with all kinds of rocks in warm brown, orange, peach colours. On a sunny day it looked like pure gold, and in the early dawn a new layer of colour was added that I would never be able to describe.
Up on the dais in the far end of the hall the Emperor sat with the consort at his side. She had yet to give birth to their child, but she looked like it could happen at any moment. Her swollen belly almost couldn’t fit in the dress she was wearing. She looked happy, a serene smile gracing her face as she stroked her belly lovingly.
The Eye entered from one of the smaller side doors and silence fell over us. The Emperor waited for him to join him at his side before turning to look at the crowd gathered. The lines in his face had gotten more prominent during the last three years of war and conquering. And these meetings were not a rare occurrence anymore.
“As some of you may have noticed- ,” The Eye began, his voice hoarse from fatigue. He had been riding back on forth between allies and armies. The Emperor didn’t trust anyone more than him, so he had been working without pause since the campaign began. And it was showing on him, too. “ -a woman has been a guest at our castle.” Some of the men snickered at each other and made obscene comments. I couldn’t stop a snarl from escaping. The Emperor had on purpose not let a lot of information about Alex out before they knew more of her circumstances. The questions about who she was and where she was from had been asked me so many times that I had stopped bothering to answer. But apparently the secrecy was over now.
“Her name is Lady Alexander,” The Eye couldn’t pronounce her name properly either, “and she is from a far away country and does not speak our language. She is our charge until her companions show up, and you will treat her with the same respect as the consort. The 27th squadron leader, Siobhan son of no one, is her personal guard. Should any problems arise you may go to him.” More than a few sent me either envious or suggestive looks. An urge to roar at them pressed against my chest, but I fought it. It was simple guard humour. Not serious. I’d done the same when the consort had first arrived, before she was married to The Emperor. Sometimes we’d even sing songs about forbidden love between royals and servants. But this was different. At least to me.
“Now, to a heavier matter. The Sixth General has fallen ill under mysterious circumstances- ” a murmuring spread like wildfire among the squadron leaders. The Sixth General, Henry ab Sciron, had been the youngest of all the generals and charged with the duty of keeping order in the bigger towns and cities. He was also the one in charge of exacting taxes. He had been chosen as general just two years ago when the former sixth general had been killed during a siege. Usually there was only a general election once in every ten years.
“ -He has not been conscious since early last evening, therefore we may have to elect a new general soon,” The Eye finished and gave us a moment to discuss it among ourselves. I stayed calm, I had no desire to become a general. And even if I did it wasn’t going to happen, a bastard among the highborn generals was unheard of. They were chosen among the squadron leaders - which there were 300 of - and even though The Code said that it could be any of them, it was only noble born who were chosen for the 10 spots. And one of these 10 would be granted the even more honourable and powerful title of The Watchful Eye - The Emperor’s right hand.
The Eye continued after a short a while, and briefed us on the latest news and troubles. The sun was nearing the peak of its travels when we were finally finished.
“That would be all,” The Eye said and turned to talk privately with The Emperor.
We all filed out and went back to our duty. But the talk was going; would we get a new general? Who would it be? Had you seen the woman? How long was she going to stay? Etc., etc.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I turned to see Riley standing with an offended look. “To guard Lady Alex,” I answered even though it was quite obvious where I had been going. Riley took three quick steps and grabbed hold of my arm. “Oh no, you’re not. This is your day off, remember?”
“This is my optional day off,” I said with clear pronunciation and tried to shake him off. That guy held on better than a leech. “But we’re going drinking like we always do,” he whined and pulled my arm some more, “are you saying you would rather stand outside a door than going drinking with your squadron, oh great leader?”
“Riley, you can’t hold your liquor any more than you can get women.” Riley punched my shoulder playfully - how did he even manage that while holding on to me? “Hey man, I get the ladies just fine. Speaking of... how’s it going with your puppy crush?” Immediately my lips thinned out into a straight line.
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“M-hm? I’m not buying it.”
“Then go to someone else’s store.” Just piss off already.
“Is that a blush I’m seeing?”
“Fuck off, Riley,” I growled and tried to pry him off again. Only his ability to annoy everyone around him was greater than his ability to hang on. “I think I know who you want to fu-“ I spun around making him crash into the wall.
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!”
“Prickly, prickly,” he laughed, “Why don’t you shut me up by proving me wrong then?”
“We both know it’s impossible to shut you up,” I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger. “Goddammit, fine. I’ll check up on Alex then meet you guys at the usual tavern.” Riley let go with a victorious yell, winked, and jogged off. Sometimes I felt like I was the father of ten unruly adolescent boys.
I nodded at the guy who had replaced Vaughn, before knocking on the door. Waiting a few moments so Alex had a chance to compose herself - or whatever it was noble ladies did - before entering, I pushed open the door. The sight of her hit me right in the gut like it always did. In the light from the midday sun her hair looked like it was a blazing fire. As soon as she laid eyes on me and smile spread on her rosy lips. God she was beautiful.
I made sure to close the door behind me. “Hey Alex.” I knew I shouldn’t address her in such a friendly manner - which was why I only did it when we were alone - but I wanted to be closer to her, and this was a harmless way to do it. This was the closest I’d ever get to her. She’s going to leave soon anyway. I tried not to think about that.
Alex had turned on the bed so she was laying on her stomach, her eyes looking directly at me. She was wearing a simple and elegant white gown today and her hair was spread around her in wild tangle. “You’re probably really bored,” I said noticing the books laid out on her nightstand - who could have put those there when she was obviously unable to read them? “Tomorrow I’ll show you some more of the gardens, until then...” I spotted a paper and a quill that had been laid out and quickly scribbled on it. The letters we messy and crooked. Writing hadn’t been what we soldiers had been trained the most in, only the basics. “...show this to the guard if you need me, okay?” Alex accepted it with a confused frown. I pointed at the paper than at myself a couple of times, hoping she understood.
By the time I arrived at the tavern, I was already tired enough to go home. Knowing Alex had been left with those dirty, lusting men all alone and undefended drained me of energy for going drinking. Logically I knew that those feelings were wrong in more than one way. This is pathetic and you know it. I pushed op the door to the dingy tavern that we had chosen to be our place, and was greeted by my thoroughly drunk squadron. And it wasn’t even afternoon yet. As I said; unruly adolescent boys.
“Siobhan! We saved you a spot and a girl!” Grady yelled, a girl of his own placed on his lap. Many of the others were following his example. Actually the only one who wasn’t sucking the face of one of the lovely things in the establishment or in the middle of courting one, was Oswald. The only married guy in the squadron, something which he was often teased for.
The girl Grady had mentioned sauntered up to me. I glared at the guys, who were laughing and smiling at me. The woman had long-ish red hair and brown eyes. She was nothing compared to Alex. Trying to be respectful, I politely told her I wasn’t interested. The guys laughed even more at that. I sighed. This was going to be a long, long day.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I'm working on trying to set the setting and giving you guys some info about this "world/universe", before I dive into more plot developing.
So yeah, let's see how it goes.