Roulan had been following Eloise almost everywhere she went. Leon watched him chastise her often when she’d used her abilities. Whatever he was up to, involved controlling Eloise. He’d find out in time, Roulan wasn’t as shrewd as he thought.
Rising and testing the tip of his sword with his finger to make sure it was cool; he sheathed it then leaned towards Roulan.
‘I’m sure if there’s any trust issues, we’ll be able to wheedle them out before it's too late.’ A wide grin spread across his face. ‘I’m away to sleep, my Lord, I’ll say Goodnight and see you in the morning.
Roulan nodded and sat by the fire a little longer before retiring to his own bed; he’d try and speak with his father again in the morning but for now, he needed sleep.
***
Eloise couldn’t get comfortable and continually tossed and turned on the hard floor beneath the tent. Huffing and turning over, Eloise couldn’t imagine getting through another day and night of traveling.
‘You’re thinking too much, just try to empty your mind, and lay still.’ Nissa pressed.
Nissa ached just as much as Eloise, but knew whining and getting worked up wasn’t going to help her sleep.
‘Another two days of this will be the death of me.’ She grunted, and gave the only pillow that hadn’t received her rage, a hard punch.
‘Look on the bright side.’ Nissa burst out.
Eloise snapped back. ‘My father is marrying me off to a man that no one appears to know anything about! I’ll probably never get to sleep in a soft bed or take a hot bath ever again. Now remind me where the bright side is?’
Sighing deeply, Nissa had to agree, her future didn’t look that rosy. Eloise’s father couldn’t think much of her, even though Kai had secured a wealthy estate for himself at Blackhill and the surrounding areas, it didn’t change what he was, a slave. While his achievements should be commended, she couldn’t imagine what his existence had been like and pitied his desperate life.
The fame of his victories as his slaver fought him in the fighting pits of Darkmide, traveled throughout Middenland. Nissa heard the stories of grueling fights to the death. Sometimes the victors would die later from their horrendous wounds. It wasn’t enough they profited from his fighting, but they also used the strongest victors to breed; giving them young, fertile women for sexual pleasure and watched as they performed. They were nothing more than animals put out to stud. Nissa’s ears had been eager to listen to the gossiping among the palace servants, but hoped Eloise didn’t hear it.
Kai and his comrades in arms, causing a rebellion, slaughtered all the slavers in a night of blood and horror. The tales of what they’d done where graphic. Maybe the slavers deserved their fate; they were renowned for their cruelty and lack of compassion to the unfortunate who landed at their door. After the massacre, the pits were closed. Kai and his band of warriors patrolled the region regularly to stamp out any revival.
Knitting her lips together, Nissa raised her eyebrows in sympathy and understanding to Eloise’s plight.
Chapter 3
Jace rested his arms over the gate and stared up the cobbled road waiting for the messenger to arrive from Brightstone. At least once a fortnight, there would be a communication for his father from a friend in Brightstone castle, advising him of King Garlan’s movements.
At twenty-two, Jace had his whole life ahead of him. Son to Caster and Ellanor of Stonegarth, he’d been graced with his mother's good looks, and his father's temperament; strong willed, honest and trustworthy.
Seeing the rider approach, Jace quickly stepped onto the road to greet him, eager to take the post to his father.
Jace marched into the breakfast room; out of breath from the long run back to the house, he greeted his mother and father.
‘It’s here!’ Jace handed the letter over to his father, who took it with eager hands.
Ellanor stared at
Rising and testing the tip of his sword with his finger to make sure it was cool; he sheathed it then leaned towards Roulan.
‘I’m sure if there’s any trust issues, we’ll be able to wheedle them out before it's too late.’ A wide grin spread across his face. ‘I’m away to sleep, my Lord, I’ll say Goodnight and see you in the morning.
Roulan nodded and sat by the fire a little longer before retiring to his own bed; he’d try and speak with his father again in the morning but for now, he needed sleep.
***
Eloise couldn’t get comfortable and continually tossed and turned on the hard floor beneath the tent. Huffing and turning over, Eloise couldn’t imagine getting through another day and night of traveling.
‘You’re thinking too much, just try to empty your mind, and lay still.’ Nissa pressed.
Nissa ached just as much as Eloise, but knew whining and getting worked up wasn’t going to help her sleep.
‘Another two days of this will be the death of me.’ She grunted, and gave the only pillow that hadn’t received her rage, a hard punch.
‘Look on the bright side.’ Nissa burst out.
Eloise snapped back. ‘My father is marrying me off to a man that no one appears to know anything about! I’ll probably never get to sleep in a soft bed or take a hot bath ever again. Now remind me where the bright side is?’
Sighing deeply, Nissa had to agree, her future didn’t look that rosy. Eloise’s father couldn’t think much of her, even though Kai had secured a wealthy estate for himself at Blackhill and the surrounding areas, it didn’t change what he was, a slave. While his achievements should be commended, she couldn’t imagine what his existence had been like and pitied his desperate life.
The fame of his victories as his slaver fought him in the fighting pits of Darkmide, traveled throughout Middenland. Nissa heard the stories of grueling fights to the death. Sometimes the victors would die later from their horrendous wounds. It wasn’t enough they profited from his fighting, but they also used the strongest victors to breed; giving them young, fertile women for sexual pleasure and watched as they performed. They were nothing more than animals put out to stud. Nissa’s ears had been eager to listen to the gossiping among the palace servants, but hoped Eloise didn’t hear it.
Kai and his comrades in arms, causing a rebellion, slaughtered all the slavers in a night of blood and horror. The tales of what they’d done where graphic. Maybe the slavers deserved their fate; they were renowned for their cruelty and lack of compassion to the unfortunate who landed at their door. After the massacre, the pits were closed. Kai and his band of warriors patrolled the region regularly to stamp out any revival.
Knitting her lips together, Nissa raised her eyebrows in sympathy and understanding to Eloise’s plight.
Chapter 3
Jace rested his arms over the gate and stared up the cobbled road waiting for the messenger to arrive from Brightstone. At least once a fortnight, there would be a communication for his father from a friend in Brightstone castle, advising him of King Garlan’s movements.
At twenty-two, Jace had his whole life ahead of him. Son to Caster and Ellanor of Stonegarth, he’d been graced with his mother's good looks, and his father's temperament; strong willed, honest and trustworthy.
Seeing the rider approach, Jace quickly stepped onto the road to greet him, eager to take the post to his father.
Jace marched into the breakfast room; out of breath from the long run back to the house, he greeted his mother and father.
‘It’s here!’ Jace handed the letter over to his father, who took it with eager hands.
Ellanor stared at
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