by J W Murison
‘Well you and your people aren’t used to magic, I should have known better and told you of my misgivings, but I knew if anything went wrong someone would look after me and get me out, I trust you.’
Graun smiled, ‘thanks for your trust, it means a lot, but it’s something we are going to have to learn to deal with. Gareth told me we are relying too heavily on Highland men, there just aren’t enough of us to go round, everyone is trying to hire on Highland mercenaries.’
Scout grinned, ‘well to be honest, there just aren’t many men out there who are willing to work for a cart full of shit.’
Graun laughed, ‘well you have me on that one Scout, as for this mission, I think it’s a bust. I think I'm going to have to tell Gareth to forget it for now, we just have no idea where they have gone, he has five sons so that's six potential breeding centres we have to find.’
‘Do you want to try for the other one first then?’
‘That's what I’m going to suggest,’ Graun stood, ‘want to go listen to more music?’
‘Sounds good to me; we going back tomorrow?’
‘Aye.’
‘Pity, it’s a nice camp this, well set up.’
‘It is isn’t it.’
CHAPTER 6
The princess Catherine sat on a chair opposite Melina. Royal protocols were in full affect and she had curtsied and addressed her as your highness. Melina had served refreshments to the young princess. They had talked small talk, discussed common friends and acquaintances. When tea was finished and the small talk over Melina dismissed the servants.
The polite smiles slipped from both their faces, ‘so what is it you really want to discuss your highness?’ Catherine set the ball rolling.
‘What do you think of my palace?’
‘It’s very nice.’
‘Makes your rooms in Clover castle look like my old stables doesn't it.’
Catherine’s mouth tightened, ‘am I just here so you can insult me?’
‘Not at all.’
‘Then why are you rubbing all this in my face?’
Melina was being evasive, ‘opulent isn’t it?’
Catherine sighed with frustration, ‘yes,’ she conceded, ‘your palace is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. It’s just a pity your husband is determined to see it all turned over to a pack of yokels.’
Melina nodded, ‘That's not going to happen if I can help it. Did you know that he believes that once he has broken up this nation, he is going to return to the Highlands? He is going to ask permission from your father to build a small settlement for people like us, Highlanders who have married Eagles in the two hundred mile zone between his nation and yours.’
Catherine frowned, ‘Why?’
‘Because we Eagles find it hard to go much higher; we get sick. He believes your father will give him permission.’
Catherine shook her head, ‘that won’t happen; my father is terrified of the Highlanders and your husband in particular.’
Melina smiled, ‘I know that, as does my father, but Gareth considers your father a friend.’
Catherine smiled, ‘Kings don’t have friends, they have allies and alliances. Your husband is a fool.’
‘He isn’t a fool, nor is he forgiving of friends who betray him. There are many on the Highland council who believe they have paid the dept they owe the Clover Kings in full and the treaty should be abandoned. They see now how much easier it is to live at lower levels. Some covet the forbidden zone while others have ambitions much bolder.’
Catherine was aghast, ‘how do you know all this?’
Melina’s mouth gathered into a tight line, ‘I am an Eagle; we can talk to each other with our minds alone. When married, even to a human we can read our partners minds. Gareth is quite adept at hiding many things from me now but every now and then, especially if he is upset, I can slip into his mind to see what’s bothering him. He considers King Leopold a friend and would resist anything other than a direct order from the great council; and it would have to be the full council, before he took any kind of offensive action against your father.’
Catherine was shocked at the revelation, ‘so if my father refuses to let Gareth settle in the forbidden zone you think that would force him to act against him.’
Melina laughed, ‘oh my dear you misconstrue my intentions completely, do you really think I want to give up all this for a stone cottage and a forge. No I want Gareth to stay here, to become the man he is destined to be. If he is here then he is no threat to your father’s Kingdom, the Highlanders follow him where ever he goes, so even if the great council do decide to take back the forbidden zone they won’t have anyone to lead them, or even anyone to fight. It will only become a real issue if Gareth returns home.’
Catherine felt relief flood through her, ‘so you want help to stop that happening.’
‘Yes.’
Catherine rolled her eyes upwards, ‘I think I see where this is going. You want me to open my legs for him.’
Melina smiled, ‘crudely put but quite accurate.’
Catherine sighed, ‘my father is here to offer me to him, so you have little worries.’
Melina shook her head, ‘you would think so wouldn’t you, but all of you underestimate him badly. The problem with Gareth is he doesn't want another wife, he doesn’t see the need for one. He is happy with me and me alone, he will refuse your father.’
Catherine smiled wanly, ‘that's what I told my father but he believes he can put the right pressure on Gareth to make him marry me.’
‘Then your father is the fool, I know my husband’s mind better than anyone, he will not capitulate. I have argued with him many times as have my parents but he simply closes his mind and walks away now.’
‘I could seduce him,’ Catherine suggested.
Melina laughed aloud, ‘he would put you over his knee or throw you to his men.’
Catherine was alarmed, ‘you are serious.’
‘Very.’
The worry lines began to appear on Catherine’s brow, ‘your highness, I am getting confused now; what on earth are you trying to say?’
Melina smiled gently, ‘before I tell you my plans I want to know if you desire him, if you want to stay here and bear his children, are you prepared to be a second wife?’
Catherine smiled slowly, ‘there would be conditions.’
Melina shook her head, ‘Remember you cannot ask anything of Gareth.’
‘This has nothing to do with Gareth; this is between you and me and I would ask a little time to think things out.’
‘I will give you a couple of hours but that is all, I need to transform myself into Eagle form to fertilise my eggs by dawn tomorrow and we have planned a quiet night together.’
‘How long do you have to stay transformed for?’
Melina smiled, ‘do not think he will weaken through time. You have only one chance of becoming his wife and that is with my help.’
Catherine’s smile turned sly, ‘The wedding would be at Clover Castle, you would not be present. Neither would you ever return there in your lifetime. If Gareth and I go to the Clover lands it would be as King and Queen. Your children would never lay claim to the Clover Kingdom, while mine will never lay claim to the Eagle throne. Your children will never take precedent over mine if they are in Clover lands although they will be made welcome. I will have my own suit next to Gareth's I know you share the same one but that will stop, you can have the suit on the other side of him.’
Melina held up a hand, ‘I will be in Eagle form for the better part of a year; I have already prepared a private suit next to the one we share now. You can have free access to him for that year but afterwards we shall have equal access to him and will come to a polite agreement on it then.’
Catherine was silent for a few moments, ‘so what is he like in bed?’
Melina hesitated and then smiled, ‘you will not be disappointed. He has exceptional self control and enough stamina to satisfy both of us.’
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Catherine’s eyes became a little dreamy, ‘We will see.’
‘Then we are in agreement,’ Melina asked.
Catherine smiled, ‘of course, together we may be able to dissuade him from giving all this up.’
‘I hope so.’
‘So what’s your plan your highness?’
‘We will be sisters soon, call me Melina.’
‘Melina, I remember when we used to call you Birnie, you hated me.’
‘No, I never hated you I was just jealous, you were a beautiful princess attracted to the man I had fallen in love with. I thought you would get him, I never dreamed he would free me.’
Catherine looked thoughtful, ‘I understand now, I always wondered about that, but now you are prepared to share him, why?’
‘We are both royal women of the blood; we understand how things are and how they should be done. Gareth doesn’t; your desperate for a husband and have been attracted to Gareth since you met him. I know you; my biggest fear is that during my confinement he may turn to some attractive servant girl of which there are plenty around here. You know what happens when they do that.’
Catherine’s face turned with disgust, ‘They get them pregnant then you have a load of royal bastards running round trying to grab the throne.’
Melina agreed completely, ‘That's right they are a danger to everyone including their own father. Brought up by fiercely ambitious women, it is not something I want in my palace.’
‘Nor I Melina, so really it’s the devil you know rather than the devil you don’t.’
Melina was amused by the phrase, ‘As I have said we are of the blood and know how to conduct ourselves.’
Catherine cocked her head slightly, ‘What made you think I wouldn’t hold on to find a King all to myself?’
‘We both know how you feel about Gareth, and we both know there isn’t a palace in the whole of the Clover Kingdom or beyond that is anything like this, it is even more opulent than my father’s palace. I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it and I knew you would feel the same; I would rather share it than lose it. There is enough here for both of us to feel like queens and we have a man who will make us feel like a woman and is strong enough for both of us. I can assure you neither of us will ever feel neglected.’
The colour in Catherine’s face changed a little, ‘Father has received enquiries from the King of Moray; he is 60 years old and without son. His wife died from a bad fall from the battlements, it was rumoured he threw her over in a fit of rage when he was drunk. Rumour is he beat her every time he was drunk which I believe is most nights. Of course father doesn't want me to marry him but he has little choice really. I persuaded him to try Gareth one more time.’
Melina smiled, ‘then we are in full accord.’
Catherine also smiled, ‘we most certainly are. Now to the plan.’
‘Ah yes the plan. First question is, would you like to get pregnant straight away. I can tell when you are ovulating, you should fall quiet easily.’
Catherine blanched, ‘You mean to trap him!’
‘Of course,’ he has a very heightened sense of honour.
‘Then both of us would be pregnant at the same time, is that such a good idea?’
‘Maybe not; now there is no way I will be able to persuade Gareth to sleep with you, so this is what I propose.’
When Catherine left she was totally scandalised, but also intrigued. She went straight to her father. He listened quietly to what the two women proposed and a smile began to spread slowly across his face. When she was finished he leaned across and patted her hand, ‘you would have made a great King if you had been born a boy, I'm very proud of you. When will this happen?’
‘She proposes a few weeks, can we stay that long?’
‘Of course we can, I will speak to the Eagle King, I'm sure we can think up something to delay our departure.’
CHAPTER 7
Gareth listened to Graun and shook his head in dismay, ‘I think we can presume the other breeding centre has done the same thing.’
Graun disagreed, ‘maybe not, it would be wise to check before jumping to conclusions.’
Gareth sighed, ‘aye yer right Graun, I think this job is making me lazy.’
‘I think you have that much to do Gareth you’re getting frustrated.’
Gareth wasn’t pleased at the revelation, ‘That can cost lives and its obvious these people have taken precautions, elaborate precautions. They don’t realise we are immune to their magic yet.’
Graun nodded his agreement, ‘that's the way I read it; it would be wise to strike this other camp before they find out.’
Gareth agreed, ‘want the job.’
Graun couldn’t help the grin that split his face, ‘still up to your eyeballs in idiots?’
Gareth sighed heavily, ‘Tell me about it, man I just want this over and to go home.’
Graun stood up, ‘what the fuck for? You’ve got more here than you'll ever have at home.’
Gareth shook his head, ‘Have you ever heard the old saying, more is less.’
Graun cocked an eyebrow, ‘no.’
Gareth grinned, ‘me either, just thought I’d throw that little gem at you.’
Graun shook his head, ‘Where did you get it?’
‘Oh it’s just some old Eagle saying, some great soothsayer, he lived thousands of years ago and walked about in rags spouting crap like that.’
Graun looked at Gareth as though he was queer, ‘Did someone kill him?’
Gareth shrugged, ‘Don’t think so.’
Graun thought it over, ‘weird, I would have cut his tongue out at least. More than likely killed him so he couldn’t breed, ever.’
The two men laughed easily together then Graun reported back to his men. He dismissed the fighting men and kept the Scouts, he noticed young Steven amongst them. There was also another Eagle woman present and Graun realised she was Stevens wife; she was eyeing Alan and The Beasts wives with as much trepidation as Steven was The Beast and Alan. The two sisters were watching the new couple as a cat would a mouse. They were experienced fighters; Steven’s wife had spent a lifetime in a cage. It amused Graun somewhat. The rest of the team was made up by familiar faces. Malcolm was with them but Stan was now back at the forge.
Graun stood them round a big table with a map on it. He explained what they were going to do. He dismissed them for the day telling them to have a night off because at sun up they would be leaving to try to find the other breeding centre. He returned to his apartment within the palace, he had ripped the opulent trappings from it a long time ago. It was now quite Spartan, only a few weapons adorned the walls.
He sat down on a padded bench and stretched his legs. There was a swish of silk. He knew who it was without looking round. She remained there for a long time motionless. Eventually he lost the game, ‘is my bath ready Chloe?’
‘Yes master.’
He felt his muscles tense, ‘you’re not a slave any more, you don’t have to call me master, you know that.’
‘You enslaved me when you laid me on those cushions and took me.’
Graun bristled, ‘Not exactly how I remember it.’
There was a swish as she retreated from the room. For a moment he contemplated forgetting about the bath, but the luxury of it drew him. He knew his soiled cloths would vanish and be returned by morning dry clean and soft to the touch. It was one of the things he had missed at home, yet he would never admit it to anyone. The soft trappings of such luxury were not the kind of things a war chieftain sought or admitted to. She used a large sponge to soap him down and a bucket of ice-cold water washed it off. Before she would have led him into the hot pool and soaped him down again. This time she left with the bucket and never returned until he was in the pool.
He watched her as she went about her job. The short peach colour silk smock she wore was held at the waist by a twist of gold cord. Her hair was bound up high on her head and a few golden ringlets fell free. She wore simple jeweller
y that enhanced her natural beauty. The old sea King had surrounded himself with beauty, male and female although his personal choice of lover’s was the boys he castrated and buggered.
Yet the palace was full of these beautiful women and girls, all untouched until the Highlanders had arrived. Yet his idea of beauty differed from those of the Highland men. In the Highlands the women were broader of shoulder and wider of hip, with more curves. Here the women were chosen because they were slim, in Graun’s eyes almost boyish, yet he could not deny their beauty. As a personal maid to the sea King this one ranked far above the others in beauty. He watched her every move. She noticed and it seemed to irritate her yet she remained calm.
‘How have you been?’ He asked at last.
‘Fine master,’ she offered nothing else and it began to get under his skin.
‘Do you want to know why I came back?’
She carried on with her task, ‘I'm sure the master had his reasons.’
‘Why don’t you come in here?’ He asked eventually.
She eyed him coldly, ‘you once told me I could chose whom I slept with.’
He cringed inside knowing what was coming ‘that's right, I did.’
‘Then I choose not to have sex with you or sleep with you.’
His head dropped, ‘then why bother coming here at all, why not just send in one of the other girls.’
‘Because my mistress ordered me to.’
‘I see, have you found someone else?’
She frowned, ‘why would you care, you have a wife and children at home. They are your life not me, you made that perfectly clear right from the start.’ She hesitated, ‘there was a time when I dreamed you would give them up for me, I was wrong, a child’s dream. I grew up master; when you left me forever. If your back I am sure it isn’t for me, you’re probably just bored, but I cannot live my life on a dream.’
Graun actually felt wounded, he hadn’t realised how much he had missed this beauty until now, ‘I understand, I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.’
She gave him a small smile, ‘you did not hurt me master, I hurt myself. You never lied about who you were or your intentions. I was the fool who fell in love, not you. You cared; it was more than I had ever received from any man in my life. I think it went to my head a little. The time I spent with you was the happiest time of my life and when you left for good I contemplated taking my own life, because suddenly I had no reason to live, or so I thought.’