His mother was sure the lord cared for her, that he wanted what was best for her so really a talk between men should be nothing to be nervous of.

“Earl” the older man corrected, “I’m an Earl now”

“Im sorry” Gaelen nodded “Lord Earl… may I speak with you?”

Watching as the older man nodded he began to relax. “It’s about my mother… I know what happened last night”

“You do?”

“Yes.. sir.. your lordship… I wanted to ask for it not to happen again?”

“And why is that?”

“She’s not ready sir… she’s mixed up and she didn’t mean for things to occur the way they did”

“She didn’t seem to be complaining last night?” the lord replied smugly.

“Perhaps not” he agreed, “but I don’t think you were much for listenin”

“Don’t you really? You think I forced her?”

“No milord, but I think you didn’t give her much option… she thinks you care fer her, an im askin that if you do. You’ll leave her alone till she’d ready fer courtin”

“Courting is that what we’re doing?”

“Yes milord, it is isn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t have put it in those words” the lord conceded.

“It doesn’t matter” Gaelen reasoned, “but can you please leave her be?”

“No I don’t believe I can”

“Please Milord, she’s grievin … it isn’t fair to push her so. She doesn’t know how to say no to you”

“That’s as it should be” the lord replied.

“Milord and if your carin at all fer her at all, you’ll let her be”

“You think I care for her?”

“Yes Milord, So she says”

The lord nodded accepting the notion “If that is what she believes, then I see no reason’s to shatter the illusion”

“You don’t care for her then?” Gaelen demanded his heckles rising.

“Your mother is like all of them… a whore” the lord decided, “however she happens to please me”

“She not a whore” Gaelen growled, “She is a grieving woman…. What exactly are your intentions?”

“What do you think they are?” Gabriel reasoned.

“I don’t know” he muttered, suddenly feeling very out of his depth he wasn’t accustomed to dealing with nobility’s and there was something suddenly cold about this man.  He had come under the assumption that the Lord cared for his mother that his interest was perhaps a little misguided but was meant with the best of intentions.

“What did you think? That I loved her intended to marry her perhaps??”

“i…. “ Gaelen mumbled.

“Look im going to be blunt your mother is here to keep me happy.. If she does, I will give her a good life. A better one than your father offered her at any rate”

“My father gave her the best life he could” Gaelen reasoned feeling defensive his anger rising. The realisation slowly dawning that whatever this man and his mother had once it was gone, he no-more cared for her now than he cared for some dug he may have stepped in.  “I still think you should leave her alone” he dared bravely.

“Did she tell you I’d bought her?” the lord asked. “That she was now my property?”

“No milord she didn’t” he replied as the sickening feeling in her stomach grew.

“Well I did, your sisters too…. So I dare say whatever you may think is now irrelevant”

“I…. and what about me?” he stuttered his thoughts selfishly suddenly darting to Hannah. Aealmead was a long way from her.

“You still belong to Lord Baeumont” he replied, “You will return to your home in the new year”

“And my mother will remain here…. As what? Your mistress?”

“That’s about the jist of it” he smiled.

“What if I tell her …. What if I tell her you don’t care for her?”

“That would be unwise” the lord reasoned, his face stern. “I did mean what I said… as long as she continues to please me I will take care of her”

“What if I don’t think it’s better?” He retorted angrily, “What if I tell her?”

“That would be unfortunate” the lord replied coolly “Did you know in the east, noblemen have haram’s full of women… not a single mistress as is the western practice.  The trick is Gaelen, your mother belongs to me now. She will provide for me regardless of what either of you want.  However that privilege could easily be extended to your sisters…. Gayle is of age now isn’t she?”

“No she is not!” he growled.

“That’s a shame “Gabriel purred “Then again, I was never much one for rules”

Nodding the young man practically thrust the dishes into her hand, who’s stupid idea had this been anyway inviting the Darkfires for Christmas dinner. He didn’t really need to ask, of course it had been his mothers. She was a Hamdun after all. 

He’d done as she’d asked, he’d spoken to Tarik and made arrangements to marry Danica and Tarik had agreed in principle though no formal agreement had been made.  He suspected this was at least in part due to the fact the news of his and Alices involvement had reached the king.

None of that however seemed to phase his mother, the meddling woman was determined to get a formal agreement by the end of the holidays.

Danica looked like a weasel, Duncan decided a weasel with wavy hair. Where on earth did the young girl get them from anyway both Tarik and Jasmines hair was straight.  She had followed him around like a bad smell all day. He took that as evidence at least that she knew somewhat of the possibility of the arrangement and her interest perhaps would not have bothered him so much if Quillen didn’t find the whole thing so amusing.

It was the worst Christmas ever.

Even Meagan’s presence hadn’t lifted his sprit’s. He didn’t know what her problem was but it was clear her and Christopher where in the middle of some huge fight, she’d point blank refused to open any of her husband’s gifts and the only time he’d heard her speak to him it was to mutter that fact that she hated him.

However perhaps the crowning frustration of the day was the fact that Alice wasn’t here and that even if she were he knew she’d have barely spoken to him.  These days all he got from her was glowers and snide remarks. She maintained that she and Farid where still just friends but every time he caught them ‘talking’ he knew there was more going on than that. Perhaps the bumbling idiot had yet got up the courage to ask her yet… but he was building up to it and Duncan no longer had confidence she would reject him.

“Duncan… you coming?” Quillen asked suddenly running into the room and towards the front door.

“Where you going?”

“To the pond, It’s frozen over Ailith is going skating she said we could come”

“Sure” Duncan nodded eagerly, dumping the cutlery for dinner unceremoniously on the table.

“Can I come” Danica piped up.

“No!” Quillen interrupted sharply, “I’m not spending the whole time looking after you, while you whine about it being cold”

“Aww..” she protested “I won’t whine I promise! Besides Duncan wants me there, don’t you Duncan?”

“No!” he scoffed, frankly relieved that Quillen didn’t want his weasel faced sister hanging around. This was the first chance he’d had all day to get away from her. It wasn’t so much that she was annoying it was more that she was simply ‘very annoying’

Not waiting her reply, he grabbed his coat hearing only Danica whine about the unfairness of it all as he ran out the door after Quillen who hadn’t even waited to listen to his sisters protest.

Reaching the pond Duncan and Quillen came to a screeching halt to find Ailith wasn’t alone, behind her stood a large boy, with silver white hair. “Who are you?” Duncan demanded not recognising the boy his heckles instantly rising.

“Tristan” the boy smiled, holding out his hand in welcome.  Despite the silver hair the boy was no-more than a year or two older than Duncan, he was however of a much stockier build and his hair formed a stark contrast against his strongly tanned complexion.

“He’s a Silent Strider” Ailith explained, Duncan didn’t know precisely what that was he’d heard mention of the name once or twice in Garou story’s and that was enough to tell him all he needed to know.

“Oh right” he mumbled, “So what are you doing here?”

“Just passing through” the boy replied, “My tribe are traveller’s we don’t stay in one place long”

“That’s good” Duncan decided, before suddenly realising how rude he was being. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded” he apologised quickly.

“Yes you did” the boy grinned, “It’s alright”

“Gabriel …. I…. this its utter madness… what would people think?”

“Who cares what they think?”

“I… this is all too much” she mumbled “I need to think”

Nodding he seemed to accept it, “I did it for the right reason’s you know” he added, “I didn’t buy you like an object, I did it so I could take care of you”

“Yes” she nodded “I know that… I need to go back downstairs. It’s Christmas morning the girls they will wonder where I am”

“Understandable” he agreed and no sooner than he had, she hurried out of the door.

She had hoped, no prayed that the boy’s had not yet ventured out of the room they had been given, but as she arrived at her room she found all of the children waiting for her.

Only Gaelen showed any sign’s of knowing what had transpired. Her hair a mess there no point trying to deny it, her eye’s fell to her feet and suddenly she felt like the child.

“Ma its Christmas!” Gayle chattered excitedly, “Where are the presents?”

Composing herself she managed as smile trying to avoid Gaelen’s icy glare, “In my bag, she replied. They were only simple things, homemade was all she and Stephen could afford but still as her ma always told her it was the thought that counted and she knew the children didn’t expect anything more.

Heading to the bag she reached in, and pulled a few items out handing them around until the only one left was the one for her eldest. “Merry Christmas Gaelen” she whispered handing it to him scarcely brave enough to look up.

Gaelen took it, un-wrapping it roughly to reveal his father’s knife. “Thank you” he replied.

“It was your Da’s he would have wanted you to have it” she reasoned.

“Da would have wanted a great many things” he reasoned cooly, “judgin by the state of you, he ain’t getting many of them”

Unable to bare it she burst into tears.

“Gaelen!!!” Gayle hissed, “Yeh great ninny, why did you do that?”

“It’s alright Gayle” Helena interrupted, “let’s not fight on Christmas”

“I aint” he glowered, turning and thundering away.

It was several hours before she managed to corner her eldest alone, “Gaelen can we talk?” she asked watching as the young boy turned his father’s knife over in his hands.

“Why?” he growled.

“I understand your upset… I didn’t mean for it to happen”

“Then yer shouda kept yer legs closed” he hissed venomously.

“I tried… but things got… complicated, you’re a young man… you don’t understand”

“I understand plenty” he retorted.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen, I didn’t even want for it too….. but he wasn’t listening”

She watched as her son’s face suddenly changed. “Did he force ya Ma?” he growled.

“Well no not exactly”

“Did you say no ma? Pa always said if a girl said no or stop or the such like yer always should. I tease Hannah sometimes but she always know I’ll stop when she means it”

“I told him I wasn’t ready” she reasoned the tears suddenly flooding down her cheeks, “He’s a good man Gaelen but he … I guess…. He just needed me”

“Did you tell him to stop ma?”

“I pushed him away… I told him I didn’t want too… but he was so… and I didn’t want to hurt him” she mumbled.

“I’ve heard enough” Gaelen hissed, standing he tucked his father’s knife into the belt of his pants and headed purposefully towards the door.

“Gaelen what you doing” she panicked, knowing that look on her sons face she raced after him and caught hold of his arm.

“Ma get off me” he growled shaking her free. “Let me deal with this”

“Gaelen please don’t” she begged “He didn’t mean anything by it, he loves me that’s all he always has… “

“Ma, Da would want me to take care of you, now let me deal with this. I ain’t gonna hurt him… just gonna straighten out a few things”

“You can’t!” she retorted, “Your still just a boy and im still your mother”

“No Ma, I’m the man of the house now” he reasoned “His Lordship said that himself”

She’d been invited down stairs for Christmas dinner with the rest of the staff in Sara’s Castle but the truth was no-one in the house felt like celebrating too many close friends and family had died for that.

Skye had been returned to her mother’s keeping and Christopher had taken Meagan up to the Karogar Cabin for the holidays. However this left Anya somewhat alone, Vincent had promised to spend the evening with her but right now it certainly didn’t feel like Christmas.

This said she was determined not to feel sorry for herself. Hopping down from the windowsill she headed back down the stairs towards the cellar where she’d seen the Dutchess sleeping.

Entering the small study she didn’t really know why she had come, she’d thought to have a poke around and see if she could work out what the people had come looking for or even if they’d found it.

However instead her hand came to something else……  a piece of parchment carefully folded and hidden beneath a loose piece of brick. Not especially well hidden she was amazed the baron if not the inquisition had found it before opening it up she began to read.

Anya Please do not be alarmed. 

My name is Siren Archangel but by now you will know me as Sara.  Right now you are wondering how I knew you would be here, how I knew you would find this. The answer is very simple, Isabel informed me of your importance and I warded the hiding place so only you could find it.

By now I am sleeping and you know of our nature, what I don’t know however is how you have taken the news. You are probably mostly confused, perhaps a little scared the future must be unfathomably thing for you right now.

However you are not alone, I have left my childe to protect you. Vincent you will find is a caring and wonderful man she exceeds all expectations I had for him.  It was my idea for the two of you too marry, however it was not for the reason’s I gave him. 

The truth is Anya Isabel has seen great things in your future and great turmoil in that of my race. The clans are split and war is coming and trust me when I say Kindred war can be the most bloody of all.

You however are the key…

Over the next few months you will need to make some important decisions, the least of these will be whether or not to allow my child to turn you.

As a mortal unknowing of kindred society, clan’s of politics’ you have a unique perspective, an unbiased and uncoloured view of the world.  Able to see what is right for Grimstead without decades of scheming and manipulation, you can help my childe make decision’s I could not.

If you stay mortal life with Vincent will be difficult and often dangerous. Getting the elder’s of my kind to listen to reason will be difficult, age and power cloud their judgement they consider themselves above mortal opinion’s or beliefs.

However in choosing the life of a kindred your first challenge will be that of convincing Vincent to turn you, this is not an option he will consider willingly, he is suborn and considers this life a curse and one he will not willingly inflict on you.  This said however as Kindred, with a powerful bloodline in support you will more easily  sway the elders votes.

The truth is Anya I have made mistakes, I have done unthinkable things and while I try to undo my own mess I am running out of time. I will shortly go to slumber and while Isabels gift cannot tell me when or why she is sure it will happen soon.

So in what little time I have left I am leaving you this message in hopes that you can work with Vincent to clean up my mess. I will be as honest as possible and tell you all I know… it will not paint me in the most angelic light for I am no angel.. may god and heaven forgive me.

Twenty years ago a Mage called Tremere approached me and asked for my help capturing Tzimisce vampires.  For a long time I have believed that Vampires should try and live amongst humans as equal’s and friends, this is however not a view shared by the Tzimisce and at the time I convinced myself that I was doing a good thing by helping to eradicate a clan which in my mind represents all that is evil in our kind.  

The Tzimisce are monsters let it be clear. Without humanity they flaunt their nature, by build great cathedral’s of flesh and having dealt with too many to doubt their evil, I saw an opportunity to stop them.

However the council of kindred still permit and accept this clan’s existence and regardless of the blackness of their nature I was forbidden from doing anything that would cause a war by my clan. I went against this order and I agreed to help the mortal mage.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, the Tremere mage had idea’s beyond simple eradication and in 1022 Tremere and three other mages successfully managed to turn themselves into kindred using Tzimisce blood.

For a while it was a brave new world, four new Kindred the likes of which the world had never seen, they learned quickly and have become quite powerful. They created a new form of Kindred Magic they call blood magic and taught me how to harness fire.

Things however did not remain quiet. I underestimated the power lust of these four kindred. Four years ago the mages approached some members of the Kindred Council asking for admission into Kindred society, under the name “Clan Tremere”  the council refused without discussion.  

Mages have long since been a thorn in the side of kindred, a conflict that continues endlessly without resolution.  Scared of what would happen if other mages learned they too could be turned Clans Tzimisce, Gangrel and Nosferatu have joined together with the sole purpose of finding and destroying these four mages.

Tremere have now begun to swell their numbers realizing it was their only chance for survival and they have been recruiting other mages from within their own house along with any talented mages they discover within Grimstead.

Do not underestimate the cunning of these men, they are at war on two sides with the vampires clans led by the Tzimisce and with the other houses of mages who believe the Tremere are a crime against the magical order. This however does not make them vulnerable.

They are extremely clever and as we speak search for an antediluvian they believe slumbers beneath Grimstead with the sole intention of committing the most heinous of Kindred crimes diablerie, taking it’s power for their own knowing the kindred council will have no choice but accept the Tremere if they possess the only awake antediluvian and if that happens I shudder to think what chaos these mages will create.

There we have it … I was responsible for creating or at least helping to create the biggest threat that Grimstead has ever known.

I need you to stop it, I need you to make the Kindred see this is more than just a kindred problem I need you to help them understand.

Siren

Anya stood for a moment staring at the parchment, it was ridiculous absurd even. She was just a girl what could she do to stop a Kindred war?

It had been the angry sort of sex, the sort that two people had after a fight when there was still a little anger left. At least it had been for him, for her it had been a blurr of trying to get him to stop, to understand that it wasn’t a step she wanted to take with him and while he hadn’t forced her because she hadn’t truly said no.

She understood now how he’d changed, the old Gabriel would never have listened to her so incompletely.

Now she had betrayed her husband’s memory and its hurt so much she could scarcely move for the pain of it. Less than 5 days since his death and she was climbing out of another man’s bed, reaching a sitting position she burst uncontrollably into tears. She had wanted to make a quick getaway in the hope that the girls would not notice she was gone, but as the tear’s rolled down her face and Gabriel began to stir she realised that was impossible.

“Why are you crying?” he asked as his hand reached out and touched her on the shoulder, shying away she turned to look at him.

“I’m sorry…. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t be here”

“Of course you should” he reasoned “this is where you belong”

“No” she shook her head, “No it isn’t …  I should be at home.  Please take me home”

“It’s Christmas” he reasoned, “You shouldn’t be alone”

“I should be at home with my family” she reasoned, “Not here in another man’s bed”

“You arnt cheating you know” he chuckled, in a way that made her feel small “Your husband is dead”

“I know” she nodded “but that doesn’t make this right. I need time… I should be with my children”

“They are just downstairs” Gabriel reasoned, “We will have dinner with them”

“I know… but not like this… what will they think.. The girls they might not realise where I’ve been, but Gaelen he’s a smart lad, he will know”

A knock at the door prevented her from saying any more and without pause or delay not even enough time for her to grab something to cover herself Gabriel called “Enter”

The door swung open and the young maid from the night before entered carrying a tray with two cups. “I bought tea” she smirked clearly pleased that her assumptions from the night before had been proven correct. Looking down Helena could barely stand to look at the smugness.

“Thank you, Tara … could you bring us food and make sure Helena’s children are awake?” he asked.

“Yes Milord” the young girl nodded placing the tray down on the cabinet beside them.

Waiting until the young girl had left Helena turned back to him “Oh Gabriel! Why did you have to do that?”

“Do what?” he asked reaching over to grab a mug from the desk.

“Call her in, let her see me here”

“Helena I won’t hide in my own house” he reasoned, “People will know soon enough”

“I don’t want my children to know” she reasoned, “They lost a father…. “

“Helena!” he barked. “For goodness sake, enough! This is my house”

“I want to go home” she dared.

Gabriel sighed “I wasn’t going to tell you this till new year … but I’ve made arrangements”

“What sort of arrangements?” she asked panic suddenly overwhelming her.

“Arrangements for you to stay…. Long term” he replied carefully.

“Long term? How long term?”

“Forever long term” he reasoned, “I bought your indenturment from Lord Beaumont, a bit of a waste really considering the king gave me control of his lands. Still it’s done now… You belong to me”

“Why?! Why would you do that?”

“Because you please me” he reasoned, “Because I lost you once and I won’t lose you again”

“But no…. “ she panicked, standing and grabbing her clothes  “My children… what about my children, I can’t just leave them”

“I bought the girls too… I’ll give them jobs here in the castle they won’t be far away”

“And the boys..”  she asked hurriedly pulling on her dress over her head.

“Valdermar wouldn’t part with them, I’m afraid. They will go back to his estate at new years”

“They are JUST boy’s Gabriel, they can’t look after themselves” she reasoned hurrying around the bed to talk to him.

“Helena they will be fine, don’t you see …. You and the girls you would have drained them. Now they can be men earn a living without you”

“They are not men” she shrieked “They are boys!”

“Gaelen is almost fourteen he can look after the younger ones”

“Gaelen is teenager with his head full of girls and other such junk” she retorted “Don’t do this Gabriel … I need to be with them”

“I would have thought you’d be grateful” he retorted, “I offer to take you out of poverty and this is how your repay me. I’ll take care of the boys don’t worry… seeing as im the earl of the estate now it’s seems sensible to make sure they thrive”

“Gabriel you’re not thinking straight” she reasoned “I know you think what you’re doing is the right thing, but it’s not … what we had, was a long time ago. It won’t be the same”

“I know that” he growled angrily. “Don’t you think I know that? This time it will be better”

The Baron seemed in a hurry but not so much that he used the speed she’d seen him use once or twice before.  As though he wanted to give the devastation around him the respect it deserved. Dead lay everywhere.

It was clear the castle had been taken by surprise, there was no sign of an army or great battle simply people dead, some still in their night things.

“What Killed them?” she asked nervously, tight knots forming in her stomach.

“The Tzimisce”  he replied grimly. “You can tell by this…. “he said kneeing by the corpse of a dead woman, tilting the face towards her.  She gasped, the woman’s face was somehow changes… the mouth and nose where gone, as if she had been made of clay. Someone had simply rubbed them out.

“What happened to her” she asked, her voice coming out in barely a squeak.

“The Tzimisce can craft flesh and bone.  Their own and that of others ….. “ Vincent replied, “It’s a disease really” he explained.

 “The people here didn’t stand a chance” she decided.

“No they didn’t and it’s my fault.. If I’d left Arabella here this would not have happened”

“Arabella could kill this thing?”

“Not alone but she could have called me. I could have got here in time. Then things would have been different”

“This isn’t your fault” she reasoned.

“How do you know” he retorted angrily, “You don’t understand, everyone I bring into this life dies. Do you want to know why I haven’t created a child?”

“Why?”

“Because they die!” he hissed, “I was not Siren’s only child… yet I am the only one that still lives. It’s a dangerous and terrible world Anya, One in which you are completely alone. You can’t trust anymore”

“You  trust Isabel and Arabella?” she reasoned.

“No I don’t” he hissed. “Arabella would kill me and drink my soul the moment she saw an opportunity and Isabel… to her I am an amusing plaything, she’ll kill me the moment the mood takes her…  I should never have bought you into this” he decided.

“But you did” she reasoned, “I’m here now… come on, let’s find Sara.. I mean Siren” she corrected still unused to the duchess’s true name.  

“I think she would rather you called her Sara” he smiled “Siren was the name given to her by her Kindred maker… he said it suited her because she lured him into creating her. She hated it as almost as much as she hated him.…. No I think she would rather you called her Sara”

She noted how sad he sounded when he spoke of his maker. “You love her?”

“Yes” he nodded, “As a mother, my kindred mother you understand?”

“I suppose” she nodded.

“Come then let us find her” he nodded, offering out his hand. She took it, ice cold he’d clearly not even thought to warm himself now she knew the truth. It was slightly unsettling but she took it and ran with him through the corridors.

Eventually they reached a small room, beneath the main bulk of the castle the door was slightly ajar and she could see the lock had been smashed off.  He paused as though frightened of what he might find before pushing the room open. 

The small room was In a state of disarray, furnisher and bookcases where lying in a mess. Someone had been clearly been searching for something. The question was had they found it.

The Baron wasted no time, clearing the rubble out of the way while she looked on, kneeling she watched as he seemed to fiddling with what looked like a loose piece of flagstone.  That quickly revealed it’s self as something more.

Watching as he heaved the heavy rock out of the way, she peered into the darkness to what looking like a cage containing someone or something with a shock of red hair.

“She’s alright…. “he smiled back at her clearly relieve. “I don’t think they found her”

“Either that or they weren’t looking for her” Anya replied.

They had been given servants quarters in the basement of the castle. However despite their humble appearance, they were the finest thing Helena had ever slept in.

Gabriel maintained she was a guest, but something seemed strange it was as though none of the servants expected her to leave.

Much of the first half of the day had been spent trying to contain her two youngest daughters excitement, but eventually they disappeared having found a new play mate leaving Helena alone.

It was the first time she’d truly been alone since Stephan’s death, it was quiet without him. Strangely still … She dozed for a while on the bed and had a little cry thinking off all the things that would now be changed.

Sometimes in the dead of night she’d wondered if she’d chosen the wrong man, but now Stephan was gone she realised she’d made the right choice. He had been a good man, a noble one.. a good father he’d looked after her and his children as well as he’d been able.

A knock at the door woke her from her doze; clearing away the few stray tears from her cheek she climbed from the bed to answer it.

A young girl was on the other side, folded clothing in her arm she handed it to Helena. “His lordship has been sighted on the bridge, you might want to bathe and change” she smiled.

Looking down at the clothes she took them, a simple gown… clean and pressed nicer than she’d ever owned with Stephan but simple enough that they were clearly clothes meant for a working woman.

“His lordship might call for you” the young girl pressed, “He sometimes does after a long day”

“He does what?” she asked, missing the meaning.

“Sometimes he calls for a lady to visit with him after he’s been at the castle” she replied.

This time Helena caught the meaning, the young girl clearly thought her a whore. While it wasn’t surprising she felt the sudden urge to correct her. “I’m not here like that” she spluttered, “I mean … there would be anything wrong with it if I were, but I’m just a friend.. that’s all”

“Yes mam” the young girl smiled, knowingly “He often puts ‘friends’ up down here… just last week the queen stayed next door”

Irritated that the young woman was poking fun at her she snarled, “I am ‘just’ a friend” she insisted, it was clear the young woman was from a good family, about Gayles age’s she was almost certainly educated, probably the daughter of a merchant or knight.  She didn’t like the way the young woman looked at her as if she was somehow better.

“I didn’t mean any disrespect” the girl replied, clearly aware she’d somehow upset her and suddenly bothered by the fact. “It’s just that his lordship often has female visitors and I haven’t known one to be just a friend before”

“Well I am” she replied indignantly.

“I’m sorry mam” the young girl nodded. “Well…. His lordship will be home soon, so you might want to freshen up just in case he wants to see you”

Helena nodded watching the girl walk away before taking a breath and heading back to the bed. Even the servants knew why she was here or at least they were not as naive as her children and knew why he thought she was here.

A short while later she found herself guided into Gabriel’s private lounge. “Lord Hamdun” she smiled, it felt odd to be clean.  Nothing ever really got clean at home sometimes they were close to clean or almost clean but never got truly clean. Bathing as something that happened in ponds or lakes in the summer months in the winter you were lucky to get a bowl of warm water to wash in.

“Call me Gabriel” he replied, his face oddly stern. Clearly not in the best of moods the hair’s on the back of her neck prickled.

“Is something wrong?” she asked watching as he poured a drink from the decanter that was clearly not his first.

He grunted in response, knocking back the drink swiftly. “Would you like one?” he offered “Perhaps something less strong?”

She nodded nervously and watched as he poured a glass of something which could have been wine or mead into a second glass.  Heading over towards him, she took it as he passed it to her and took a nervous sip.

“My wedding has been cancelled” he informed her “My betrothed proved herself as much as a whore as my wife” he decided pouring another glass.

“I’m sorry” she apologised “You’ll find another”

“Will I?” he glowered, “I’ll have to look to the mainland for a wife now; there are no women of age left in Grimstead”

“You’ll find someone” she assured him, understanding his distress he was not the young man she had once known. He was a man well into his middling still without a son his own mortality quickly catching up with him. She wondered then if he’d ever been happy, was she the cause of his situation?  Had he somehow not moved on when she married Stephan.

Suddenly he moved and she found herself caught in his embrace his lips against hers she struggled against him. Wriggling free she gasped for air. “Gabriel don’t” she whimpered, “Friends, just friends”

“You reject me?” he asked releasing her before reaching once again for his glass, “It’s fitting a suppose the woman who rejected me first continuing to do so”

“I’m not rejecting you” she whispered, reaching out for him. “Stephan..”

“I don’t want to hear about Stephan” he growled agrily shaking her away. “He’s dead!”

“I know” she replied “but … I miss him”

“I’m not asking you to stop” he reasoned, “Just don’t reject me, I can take care of you”

“I know” she nodded “you’ve been kind”

“I have always loved you Helena. Always …. Right from the first moment I saw you.. I was a young boy then I wasn’t in control of my life. It’s different now Helena I can give you everything, give you and your children a good life”

“I know and I’m grateful, honoured that you offer but I can’t… “

He nodded, picking up the decanter he took his glass towards the couch. “Earl” he sighed slumping into the chair. “The king he made me an Earl… to apologise, he bought me off with a title because his niece was a whore”

Helena nodded, he hands shaking she took another sip of the wine to steady herself. She wanted to help him but she didn’t know how. He was clearly upset and distressed looking for comfort in all the wrong places.

“What’s wrong with me?” he asked, pleadingly. “I am rich powerful yet every woman I love, tries to leave me”

“There is nothing wrong with you” she assured him moving to take a seat beside him.

“I still love you” he sighed, “And even though I know you could not love me, I would take anything you offered even after all these years”

There was an uncomfortable pause; she didn’t know quite how to reply.

“Could you not even pretend?” he asked. “Could you not even pretend to love me?”

“You wouldn’t want that” she reasoned.

“Yes… yes I would” he replied, “Did you ever love me?”

“Yes of course I did” she replied truthfully.

“Then why did you not wait for me?” he asked, “I waited for you”

“Because your father would never have allowed it” she reasoned, “I didn’t want to ruin your life”

“Losing you ruined my life” he reasoned, reaching out for her again.

She backed away “Gabriel please” she begged.

“Don’t ruin my life again” he whispered, pulling her towards him.

Her body and mind screamed at her but he seemed so lost so fragile she suddenly found herself worried what he would do if she rejected him, so instead she let him kiss her and she prayed Stephan would forgive her.

“Are you thinking about the people in the church?” she asked.

“No” he replied sounding troubled. Looking up from the window he reached out his hand touching hers.

She flinched. Drawing away from him, it hadn’t been a conscious action and the look on his face when it happened caused her to instantly regret it.  “I’m sorry” she apologised.

He nodded and turned back to the glass. “It’s alright. You think I killed them?”

“Did you?” she dared, turning to Isabel who by now had stopped her chatter with Skye and was paying close attention.

“I don’t know” he replied, “I don’t remember…. I don’t think so”

“Isabel tells me there was a demon?” she dared, “You kept it in your head”

“Yes” he agreed “I realise now it was vain and foolish, I let my vanity get the best of me. I thought I could control it. I was wrong and it broke free”

“It took control of you?” she guessed.

“No… I don’t think it wasn’t to risk me regaining control, it left me as soon as it was able.. went into the priest… there was so much confusion, the hunters where all so focused on me they didn’t know what hit them”

Suddenly she felt something nuzzle into her. Peering over she found Skye her arm’s wrapped around her waist the look on her face saying more than words ever could. This was not a conversation for now.

“Where are we going?” she asked instead, she’d noticed a while back that they were not going in the direction of home.

“Siren’s” Vincent replied, “This whole thing was a setup, so the kindred Valdermar’s sister was working for could get to Siren. It worked as well… I called Arabella … Isabel all the other kindred to help me deal with this. I Left her un-guarded …… ”  

“What would they want her for?”

“A great many things” Vincent decided “None of them good”

Time was slipping away from her but she had wanted so desperately to be allowed to come and spend Christmas with Faulke but now she was here she realised what a terrible lie it had been.

The words seemed to jump around on the paper in the flickering candle light and her head pounded. She did not understand what the spell was telling her to do, she did not understand it at all. 

It wasn’t that she’d made no progress learning the life magic’s over the past few months; she had some luck with healing and had even managed to mend the broken wing of a small bird. However no matter how had she tried she could not fathom out how to insure a pregnancy.

“What is it you’re studying?” Maud asked peering over her shoulder towards the text. Asha knew the old woman couldn’t read any more than Lar’s could but she showed an interest any way.

“It’s a spell” she explained, “It’s for … making babies”

The old woman chuckled, “You won’t need one of those, you and Faulke will work that one out by yourselves I’m sure”

“Not for me” she replied hurriedly, “for my Lord, he… has had trouble, but I don’t understand it”

“Why not?”

“Well…. “ it was hard to explain. “When I knit skin or bone, I lay my hands on the person and I can visualise the problem…I imagine going to where the problem is and can see how to fix it. My da says ma looked at Gabriel once, she said there was nothing wrong with him. Everything was working and where it was supposed to be”

“Maybe the problem was with the woman then?” the old lady suggested.

“No” she shook her head, “The lady had two babies with other men”

“Then perhaps with a new wife things will work themselves out?”

“I can’t risk hoping for that” Asha explained. “I keep thinking that perhaps something was going wrong in the process… I mean, I know the man fertilises the woman….. but ……. “ her voice trailed off.  “just don’t understand how” she explained.

“Didn’t your mother have that talk with you?” Maud asked misunderstanding.

Asha blushed, “No… I mean.. yes … it was my father and he stuttered though the whole thing” she explained. “I know how… I just don’t know… HOW… I know what happens in the bedroom.  I don’t understand what the body does after next… when I knit bones I can imagine them whole, cuts I can imagine it closed… that… I wouldn’t even know what it looked like, does it all mush together and make a baby?”

Maud chuckled, “Well I can’t help you with that”

“I’ve got the spell” she reasoned, “I just don’t know how to use it”

“Well im sure you’ll understand it better when you and Faulke are wed” the old woman suggested. “Perhaps when you have a couple of babies of your own?”

Asha sighed, yes she was sure she would. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t considered the idea. Watching what was happening in her own body was one of the first ways she’d learned to fix things, but getting pregnant just so she could see how it worked was not a on her list of things to do.

“How dare you” Daniel growled, “Do not presume to know me”

Danson remained quiet, Daniel was struggling enough.

Everyone knew the king was barely keeping control in his own castle never mind in the rest of the kingdom. That matched with the fact a wedge seemed to have been driven between him and queen since Helewys death, meant that the king was often found to be ill tempered and highly volatile.

Danson honestly wished he could help the young man, but Daniel was not accepting help from anyone at least Thomas had known when to ask for help.  

Dawn sat quietly in the corner, last nights sheets folded neatly she clung onto them as though her life it’s self was a stake.  He felt sorry for her, she hadn’t complained throughout any of the events the night before. She’d lain as still as could be while he’d done what needed to be done.  Afterward she’d cried, but she’d only allowed herself that comfort, when she thought him soundly asleep. 

Guilt now weighed heavily upon him. Some might think what he did was mercy but it didn’t feel like it. Never before had he lain with an unwilling woman and while she hadn’t tried to turn him away neither had she wanted it. Logic told him she would not hate him for what he did in fact all laid bare she would most likely grateful for the events ‘her rescue’ If he was such a rescuer why did he feel so badly about it?

This morning had equally traumatic on the discovery of her in his chambers a midwife had been called, she’d been poked and prodded to ascertain the state of her virginity.  The midwife was most likely rough with her perhaps so much she could be called cruel. Dawn was a harlot and whore found in the bed of a man that was not her husband she will have been treated as such.

Still despite the disapproving looks and whispering, she hadn’t protested or complained. Her only defence when ask why she had done such a thing, was that it was better than the alternative.

Yes she was a brave girl indeed.

“Im willing to marry her” Danson reasoned giving her a reassuring look. She was clearly too nervous to provide much in the way of a response but he got as close to a smile as he’d managed all morning.

 “You’ve already married her!” Daniel retorted angrily.

“You know?” he asked surprised.

“Yes I know and you better hope for your sake Gabriel doesn’t find out”

“Gabriel can’t hurt me”

“I hope your right” Daniel hissed. “Tell how exactly do you plan on stopping him?”

“That depends” Danson reasoned, “If he’s got any sense at all he’ll back the hell off,  going against me would be very unwise… the last thing he wants is to be fighting a war on two sides. He has his hands full with the Vaux’s if he chooses to take on this battle, I will ally with Orrick and he will suddenly find he’d bitten off more than he can chew. Gabriels an arrogant bastard but even he’s not stupid enough to think he can take me and the Vaux’s on”

“Thomas always said you were a cocky son of a bitch!”

“Cocky.. no” he disagreed. “However I have considered the options and I decided the risk was worth it”

“I don’t understand why you even got involved”

Danson considered for a moment telling Daniel the truth. The decision had not really been that hard, that it didn’t even have that much to do with wanting to save Dawn.

It was simple.  Danson knew the king would not forgive himself if anything happened to the girl. If he’d allowed her betrothal to go ahead any chance of Daniel maturing into a worthy King would be lost, but instead he simply shrugged “My reasons are my own”

“No they damn well aren’t” Daniel scowled.

“Fine then simply believe that I could not allow Dawn to be married to a man who would harm her”

“And you intend to tell Gabriel that?” Daniel scowled.

“Of course not” Danson replied, “I was intending to tell him that loved her… it seems a more acceptable lie”

“Damn you Danson, I should have to flogged, your lands stripped and power taken”

“You don’t believe that?”

“No I don’t” Daniel hissed, “Do you  have any idea the trouble you have caused me? How am I going to placate Gabriel after this?”

“Forgive me your Highness but sometimes there is only one thing left to do with a rabid dog. Gabriel is desperate for a child and for that he needs a wife. He seems to have lost all reason but frankly what confuses me most is why you keep him around? Perhaps it’s time you took action against him?”

“Action” Daniel scoffed, “What sort of action do you propose. Do you have any idea how many men Gabriel has, how much money?”

“Yes your Highness, forgive me but it’s my job to know. I admit Gabriel is problematic he’s powerful but I do not believe he is unstoppable”

“Well I am glad your that confidant”

“Your highness, I’ve told you before that im happy to arrange things… perhaps when Gabriel arrives we could arrange a duel to placate his honour that could solve all our problems?”

Daniel sighed seeming to calm. “You mean to kill him?”

“It would solve the issue” Danson reasoned.

“Gabriels not a swordsman and nor is he an idiot he would never agree and frankly I expect more from you”

“I just meant that he is going to want his honour satisfying and this is what men do. However perhaps you’re correct, Gabriel does strike me as a coward only capable of fighting frightened young women”

“Sir Shieldsmith!” Daniel growled, the use of the knight’s proper title indication enough that the king was at the end of his tether.

“I’m sorry your highness” he apologised, he was just about to continue when the door to the Kings chambers swung open and Gabriel stormed in,  the frosty glare he gave evidence enough  that he’d already been told what had occurred.

“You….” Gabriel hissed.

“Lord Hamdun calm down” Daniel instructed, “Take a seat and we can discuss it”

“What is left to discuss” Gabriel hissed, his anger overwhelming he shot a glower towards Dawn who now shook so visibly it took all Danson’s restrain not to go to her. “This whore has already done the damage”

Danson suddenly found himself up out of his seat, grasping Gabriel by the collar. “Curb your language!” he hissed, “Or shall be forced to cut your tongue from your head”

“Get you filthy hand’s off me” Gabriel demanded brushing him aside, his senses regained Danson obliged. “You just make sure you give her the respect she deserves”

“I thought I was” Gabriel sneered turning back to Daniel. “So how exactly did this happen he demanded, under your very own roof?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know” Daniel replied. “but it seems Dawn and Sir Shieldsmith here have been having some sort of relationship. I only found out this morning when a maid found her in his room”

“Are we sure they……?” Gabriel hissed.

“Yes a midwife has checked, they have been together intimately”

“I thought you had more sense than this?” Gabriel hissed towards him.

“What can I say, she’s a charming woman” he replied, un-phased.

“So what now?! I suppose you expect me to take her still?”

“No” Daniel replied “I would never expect that… I had Sir Shieldsmith marry her this morning” he replied to Danson’s surprised.

It seemed there would be no need for a second wedding after all.

“And where exactly does that leave me?”

“In a difficult position I don’t deny” Daniel nodded, “I will still grant you her dowery as compensation, Sir Shieldsmith will take her home with him and provide her with the life she deserves”

“I doubt it” Gabriel scowled, giving another sharp look towards Dawn. “However this is not about money” he reasoned, “I need a wife and as you are well aware there is a lack of un-married woman in Grimstead”

“What about on of Sir Bendett’s girls?”

“Never!” Gabriel hissed, “They are maids?! You really expect me to marry a girl like that?”

“They hail from a good family” Daniel reasoned.

“Not good enough!”

“Then perhaps using Dawn’s dowry you can look for a bride on the mainland. A powerful man like yourself should have no problem finding a wife. Danson don’t you have sister’s? Perhaps you could speak with your father and arrange to compensate the lord”

“My sisters are spoken for” Danson replied though gritted teeth, scarcely able to believe Daniel had even made the suggestion.

“Then just how do you plan to compensate me?” Gabriel glowered.

“Well I was thinking of making some changes to the barony’s” Daniel replied, “I thought we could come to an agreement”

“What sort of agreement?”

“We both have a problem, in addition to your patience and understanding over this matter I was hoping you could assist me?”

“You want more help?”

“Yes and no… I need help but that help comes with rewards?”

“I’m listening”

“Lord Baeumont is running his land in to the ground, the second estate he’d ruined I might add” Daniel explained, “You and your family have done well with your estate, I think it’s time you were rewarded.  How does the Title of Earl sound?”

“Earl Hamdun?  I like that?” Gabriel agreed the nobleman smiled smugly.

Danson felt the sudden need protest. As usual Daniel had no clue what he was doing? Giving Gabriel even more power was not the answer.  Shooting Daniel a panicked glance the king purposefully ignored him.

“I would Lord over Brightden?” Gabriel clarified.

“That was the idea” Daniel agreed, “Valdermar need guidance and I no-longer have confidence he isn’t going to run this estate into the ground, as he did with Graymont. It has already seen a drastic downturn in population. Rumour has it he’s losing men at a rate of knots”

“I would keep Aelmead?”

“Yes of course you would control your own estate as normal, however in addition to that Valdermar would report to you, rather than me”

“Which other estates would I control?” Gabriel asked.

“I erm…. “ Daniel fumbled, having clearly hoped Brightden would be enough “how about Griffinmoor?”

“No!” Dawn suddenly interrupted, standing from her seat upon hearing the name of her brothers inheritance.

“Dawn please” Daniel reasoned, urging her to sit.

“But it’s my brothers” She protested.

“It will still be Adin’s” The King assured her. “When he returns from University he will need guidance and help running his estate at least until he gets the hang of it. Who better, than one of our most successful noblemen?”

“But…. Why can’t you help him” she reasoned and Danson found himself in full agreement with his young wife. This was a horrible idea, giving a man who already possessed more than his fair share of wealth, lordship over two more estates.

While it was true Valdermar and Aiden would still be in direct control, they would in many respects be accountable and ultimately controlled by Gabriel.  Danson sighed, perfect! in Daniels own words Gabriel was rich and powerful why not solve the problem…. By giving him more.