"Flames of Eternity" Chapter Three By EmmaLee

Bertagnole & S.C. Lang

I had been given chambers in the western section of Castle

Randor, overlooking the marketplace of the vast city. Autumn was
lurking just off the horizon, truth be told, it had more than likely
already fallen upon my kingdom of Barrington, but the days here were
still warm and summer-like.
My chambers were fit for the second-in-command of all
Ravencrest’s occupation, lavishly furnished with silk tapestries on on
the walls and a window with actual glass in it. A hallway separated my
sleeping chamber, with it’s massive iron-framed bed and lush pillows
from a dressing room, and another one for bathing. Huge throw-rugs
with fancy designs covered the hard floors, and teams of candles and
sweet-smelling scented sticks were placed everywhere. A large wooden
bowl with fresh fruit had been set on the table in the main room; a
full tankard of ale sat next to it along with three ornately decorated
crystal goblets.
The chamber, indeed his entire castle, was a grand testament to
Ammen’s love of having the best of everything. And in Ammen’s eyes,
the best clearly meant the most expensive. Still, the man was the
Overlord of Ravencrest, it wouldn’t be proper to have such a powerful
man dwelling in squalor like the commoners I was watching mill about
the marketplace from my window.
I was in a bitterly foul mood, for my special request to Overlord
Ammen had not been honored. Oh, he stood there, in his regal gown and
exquisite crown of gleaming sold gold, and announced in a voice as
loud as thunder that full and complete ownership of my angel, (he had
called her Selena) was granted to me. This degree had made her just as
much my property as the lands he had bestowed on me as well, yet no
female had been brought forth.
The insult had burned a hole in my stomach for the rest of the
night, which never seemed to end. Ammen offered no explanation for his
failure to honor his promise; instead he smiled in his oily grin and
told me not to worry. “The girl will be in your chambers by midday
tomorrow, my friend.”
Now, it was midday and there was still no Selena. My anger
swelled inside me like a pie inside the large ovens the kitchen of
Barrington Castle.
With nothing else to do, I simmered in my anger like a piece of
meat in a pot and watched the goings on in the marketplace, in the
vein hope that I’d spot Selena.
At first light, the activity had been slow, just a few early-
risers buying sticks of butter, or small sacks of sugar to satisfy
their cooking needs. A few drunken lads had run through the main
section of the market yelling obscenities at the woman-folk and
pushing old men to the ground. I had watched with an amused smile as
a few armed guards gave the hooligans chase. I could remember a time,
not so very long ago, when Lansing and I would’ve been those drunken
lads, tipping over stands with goods on them, and generally being a
nuisance.
I missed those days. The summers of my youth in Barrington
seemed to vanish like a vapor before they even had time to get started
properly. Well, I suppose that really wasn’t so; I was just always
entwined with stately duties. Whenever I could break away from being
Prince Zyphran, Lansing and I would lose ourselves in the grand woods
surrounding the castle hunting fox, boor, and deer.
Lansing would become consumed with the hunt.
Even from a very early age, Lansing was destined to be a solider,
he just fell into that life as easily as the red banners of Barrington
blew in the breeze. As a toddler, he would always try to sneak up on
the stray cats that somehow found their way into the castle proper. By
the time he was three, he was catching the felines with ease.
Somewhere between in fifth and sixth year, his enjoyment of
hunting cats became something of an obsession; an obsession that
did not escape the notice of my Pa, who had come to love the infant
castaway as his own flesh and blood, and the order was given to teach
Lansing to hunt. The blond-haired lad with the intense eyes took to
his teachings like moon took to the nighttime sky. Within months,
Lansing had traded capturing cats to killing hares, foxes and other
small game. Often, I was sent out into the woods to hunt with Lansing.
I always enjoyed the time I got to spend with him, though sometimes he
would frighten me with how intense he got while on the hunt. His eyes
would grow hard and cold, and his face would look as if it was carved
in stone. Even though I was his elder, and his prince, he would brook
no distraction from me once he began tracking his prey.
I stood by the window, a half-eaten green apple in one hand, a
goblet of strong ale in the other, and watched the swarm of people
conducting their business far below me. I had opened the glass hours
ago, and the sounds, sights and smells of the marketplace assaulted
my senses like storm clouds against a blue sky. The more the commoners
entertained the colorful calls of the vendors trying to sell their
wares, the more of Randor’s armed guards became visible.
My gaze landed on a solider with golden hair and a new-grown
beard, a hard stare peeking out of his gleaming helmet, a notched
and nicked broadsword firmly held in one hand, a heavy wooden shield
in the other. He was alert and ready for battle while the rest of
his comrades were lackadaisical in their duty. I had to smile as I
finished off Ammen’s ale and dropped the expensive glass goblet out
the window to watch it splinter into a million shards as it found the
ground, how much this intense soldier reminded me of Lansing.
By the time he turned seventeen, Lansing had traded hunting
animals altogether for the thrill of hunting men. While I was locked
up behind closed doors learning how to end the war against Carygrove
that had just invaded our land, Lansing was learning how to fight it.
A thin dark-haired girl wearing a worn brown dress and a blonde-
haired man donned in a red tunic and dark brown leggings, caught my
attention as they entered the marketplace. They had their backs to
me, and I thought they made an odd couple; her with her demure manner
and him stiff and awkward, as if he didn’t know what was expected
of him. My heart went out to him, for I could well relate to his
discomfiture. Nothing made my skin crawl quite like shopping did. To
me, it was woman’s work, and this poor bastard clearly held the same
opinion. The girl seemed to know exactly where she wanted to go, and
all the vendors greeted her with warm smiles and eager waves. She had
a wicker-basket in her hand and began making swift work of filling
it with this and that, always finding time to give the vendors a few
words.
Eventually, my mind, and my attention, began to wonder again.
I tried to concentrate on the Fires of Eternity, and their keeper,
Regyna. Legend has it that the beautiful sorceress lives in, or
around, Randor, though nobody knows just quite where. Some say the
magical stones rest at the bottom of the Eastern Sea, while others
claim they are buried deep within the jagged mountains that boarder
the northern and eastern sides of this sprawling city.
In hindsight, I’m sickened that I wasted my request on such
a foolish passing fancy. Some king I was, a pretty face in a crowd
was all it took to shake me from my true mission; and that’s all she
was, after all, just a face in a crowd. She was a nothing, a nobody,
a lowly commoner. I was after something much grander than her. I
was wanted immortality. I hungered for power unlike anyone had ever
enjoyed before. I sought sheer greatness. I wanted the fabled Fires of
Eternity.
My stare falls on the intense soldier again, and that brings
my thoughts back around to the subject of war. War made me think of
Lansing.
Now, my War-General was twenty-four and I was twenty-six; three
years into my rule, victory over Drakor’s forces had been achieved.
The cost to my kingdom had been severe, the loss of life alone
reaching into the thousands, however, the gains had been mind-blowing.
Nobody could deny me my conquests. I had defeated a deeply detested
enemy in Carygrove, I owned more land than my father ever did, and I
was the second-in-command behind the Overlord himself. Yet, I was seen
as a boy still by so many. Even by most of the soldiers in my vast
army, though they didn’t dare express such thought where I or Lansing
could hear them.
A feminine laugh drifted up through the window and captured my
attention. It was the girl in the worn brown dress. She was now in
the arms of her uncomfortable companion, and as he swung her around
so that I saw his face and then hers, I nearly fell out of the window
with shock.
It was Lansing! And that rotten backstabbing bastard had his
hands all over my request. He had his hands all over Selena!

How many times in a day could this happen to one person? I struggled
to regain my composure as once again a set of strong hands steadied
me. Taking a deep breath, I smiled apologetically ready to give my
excuses and be on my way. I looked over his shoulder eyeing the entry
hall before me, judging the distance to my escape.
“You.” His eyes followed mine, understanding that I was leaving.
With a gentle grasp on my arm, he pulled to the side of the doorway,
the smile never leaving his face. “I have been watching for you.
Please don’t leave. Stay. Enjoy the celebration with me this eve.”
I stared into his eyes in surprise. Taking in how truly handsome
he was. The blond hair and blue eyes only enhanced dark tanned skin,
earned from many days in the sun. “You have been watching for me?”
He grinned nervously as he pulled again at the tight collar around
his neck. “Forgive me, I am Lansing, King Zyphran’s War-General. I saw
you as we entered the city, now to find you here tonight.” He shrugged
and his smile grew. “Please stay, the celebration is just getting
started; let me escort you for the evening.”
Relief flooded through me, surely he had mistaken me for someone
else, as I had taken on a new form since he had entered town. There
was no way possible I could be the one he thought I was. With a gentle
smile, I placed my hand upon his as it rested on my arm.
“I am sorry Lansing; you must be mistaking me for someone else. I
was not about the city when your Army arrived. Please forgive me for
my clumsiness, I really must go.” With a small curtsy, I try to move
past only to have him grasp my arm tighter.
“Please my lady, would you reconsider. I would be most honored to
spend some time with you.” His eyes pleaded though he held himself
tall and proud.
With a simple shake of my head, I refused once more. “I’m sorry; I
have things to tend to and can not remain. Perhaps another time.”
 He wasted no time in taking me up on my offer. “How about in the
morning, might I meet with you then?” His grasp on my arm released as
he offered. “Will you meet me outside the castle gates at sun up so
that I might take the time to know you?”
Knowing that I would not again take the form of Lady Isabella and
that there would be no way for him to find me again I nodded. “I will
meet you upon the sun rise at the castle gate, now please I really
must go.” With a polite smile and a nod, I pressed past him and
started through the entry hall towards the castle exit. I could feel
his eyes on me as I moved and held my breath hoping that he would not
stop me again.
“Wait!” he called his voice echoing through the entry hall. “Your
name, please tell me your name.”
Turning I flashed him another smile and a small wave. “In the
morning, you will find out all in the morning.” Carefully watching my
step not wanting to stumble again, I quickly walked through the large
wooden doors and into the night air. My feet descending the castle
stairs in record time as I made my escape.
As I hit the last step I turned making sure that I was not being
followed, taking deep breaths of the cool evening air as I tried to
remain calm, reminding myself that there was no way he knew who I was
and that I was overreacting in my fears of my true identify being
revealed.
Seeing no one behind me I slowed my pace to a brisk walk and exited
the castle grounds quickly, making my way through the still crowded
streets as I headed to my home. Vendors called to me hoping to make
a sell but I waved them off with a smile as I weaved through the
musicians and children lining the road.
I approached my home several minutes later, taking a moment to say
hello to the guard who sat in front of my house, assuring him that
I had not been in contact with Selena and still had no idea to her
whereabouts. As he wished me goodnight I stepped into my home closing
the door behind me.
Going straight to the bedroom I light a small lantern and I once
again change my appearance back to Selena, she was whom I was most
comfortable with and I did not plan on leaving the house again for
anyone to see me. Once that was done and I had changed into a simple
nightgown and sat down upon the bed to think over the day’s events.
Even I had to laugh at the events. What were the chances of one person
running figuratively and literally into both the King and his War-
General in the same day, let alone within the same hour?
Reaching for the hairbrush that sat on the small simple wooden
nightstand next to the bed, I started to brush out my hair as I tried
to figure out why King Zyphran would request ownership of one such as
me. We had never even spoken; he had no idea who I was. Yet he had
requested me. I knew with his looks and honors his bed would never be
void of willing, beautiful women. He could have chosen any female in
the city and they would have gone willingly but yet he had requested
the one who looked ill and plain, the one who wished to stay as far
away from him as she could.
Tossing the brush back onto the nightstand, I pulled back the
covers as I debated what I should do. The safety of the stones lay
in my hands, and some deep gut feeling told me that King Zyphran
was after the stones. I knew it was probably best for me to leave
the city, reside in the cave until he left but yet another part of
me pulled me to stay, find out all I could of the King and his War-
General and find a way to fight them on equal ground.
Leaning over to blow out the lantern, I pull the bed sheets aside
and lay back onto the soft feather mattress. Fatigue overcomes me
quickly and I fade into a restless sleep with dreams of the stones
golden light surrounding me, calling out their warning.
Banging on my front door woke me what felt like minutes later but
from the fading of the darkness around me, I knew it had to have been
hours. Jumping from the bed I ran into the front room of the small
house as the banging continued. Knowing the guards were searching for
Selena I hesitated until a woman’s voice cried out to me from the
other side of the door.
“Selena, wake up, it’s Lilly, she had been injured and is asking
for you. Selena wake up.” The voice cried out.
I threw the door open with only a small thought to my own safety.
I drew the woman into the house with a gentle tug, slamming the door
closed behind her. It was one of the local vendors who lived close to
the inn Lilly’s father owned.
“Tell me, how bad is it?” I asked, as I turned walking back to the
bedroom and changing from my bedclothes to a brown cotton dress.
As I reappeared, the older woman shook her head. “It is not good
Selena, she may not make it, she could only whisper for me to get you
before she lost consciousness.”
Had I been alone I would have just willed myself into the shadows
of the alley near her home but I knew this woman would insist on
escorting me there. I had to force myself to remain calm and not do so
anyway. There were few that I had loved in my centuries but Lilly was
one of those who had touched my soul and I loved her deeply.
“Let’s go. Have they called for the doctor?” I grabbed my shawl,
throwing the thin white material over my shoulders as we ran out the
door.
I had only made it to the end of the walkway before I heard a loud
male voice call out. “There she is, grab her.”
Turning, I saw three large elite guards coming at me with
determined looks. I turned to the woman as she watched in fear as the
men grabbed me by the arms.
“Please, go to her, I will be there. Go; let her know I am on my
way.” I gestured with my head for her to leave before turning to the
guards. “Please my friend is injured, I will go with you to the castle
but please first let me go to my friend, she may not live. Please,” I
pleaded with them. “Give me this one request and I will go with you.”
“Our orders are to bring you to the Overlord, which is what we will
do; we can not be stopping for you to visit with a friend, what do we
look like your knitting circle?” One of the younger guards teased as
they led me to the horses.
Panic ran through me and I let my feet drop from underneath me
forcing them to drag me, dust bellowing around us in the darkness as
my feet dragged through the dirt. “Please, she is dying. You don’t
understand, I must go to her, please let me go!”
“You may plead your case to the Overlord but he is already angered
that you were not delivered to the King last eve. I do not think he
will listen to your pleas.” Large arms picked me up setting me upon
the horse in front of one of the other guards.
I closed my eyes trying to find a way out of this as the horse
started to move. I knew I could just will myself away, but the
attention my sudden disappearance would bring was something I could
not risk. I struggle as the guards arms surrounded me, my fist
flailing in all directions as I tried to escape. If I could only make
it to the shadows, I would be able to lose them.
I cried out and yelled, drawing people to the streets to see what
was going on. It was near sunrise and the city was just starting to
come to life. As I struggled, the guard tightened his arms around me.
I tried to bring my feet up to my chest making it harder for him to
grip me and in doing so we both started to lose our balance. We would
have both gone over if it had not been for someone suddenly grabbing
the reins of the horse and forcing us to a stop.
“Release her this instant.” A loud voice bellowed. “Release her
now.”
Turning my head from my struggle, I let out a heavy breath as I saw
Lansing standing before us. His entire demeanor changed from the man
I had met last night. Before me now stood the War-General, not just
Lansing. He was ready to fight; barking orders and he left no doubt
that he expected them to be followed.
“Are you deaf? I said release her now,” his eyes hard as steal as
he challenged the guards who held me.
“With due respect General; the Overlord had requested her brought
to the Castle at the King’s request. We must deliver her per his
orders.”
Reaching up with strong hands, he pulled me down from the horse
in one swift motion. “I will deliver her to the Overlord myself, I
relieve you of your duty, she is now in my custody.” His strong hand
held my arm as he pulled me to his side and away from the horses.
The guards looked from one to another unsure of what they should
do. To argue with the War-General was a show of extreme disrespect,
yet to disobey the command of the Overlord was much greater an
offense.
Turning to Lansing I begged. “Please, I was just made aware my
best friend is injured, I must get to her before she dies. Take me to
the Overlord, to the King if you must but first please let me get to
Lilly. I must see her before she dies.”
His deep blue eyes softened as he listened to my pleas, his grip
on my arm easing enough that I could have ran if I had desired.
Nevertheless, I waited, hoping that he would assist me; with him by my
side other guards would not hassle me as I made my way to Lilly.
His eyes met mine and he saw the fear and worry in that possessed
me. He took one more look to the guards and nodded. “Leave us, I will
escort her to her friend’s and then I shall deliver her to the castle.
Trust that any issue the Overlord has with you handing her into my
custody will be handled. I take full responsibility for her as of this
moment.” Turning his back on the guards in a form of dismissal, he
looked to me. “Now, where is your friend?”
I let out a relieved breath and pointed. “Two streets over, in the
old section. Please we must hurry I was told she may not live.” I took
hold of his hand all but pulling him after me.
Turning he called to two of his army who stood behind him. “Follow
us; we may need assistance if this is as bad as she informs us.”
Falling into step beside me, he kept pace as I ran towards Lilly’s
home.
“Thank you. Thank you for allowing me this. I was on my way to her
when the guards grabbed me. I know not what need the Overlord has of
me, but I know I must see Lilly first.” I made my way through the
streets expertly avoiding the vendors setting up for the day.
“You do not know why the Overlord has requested you?” He asked
keeping perfect pace with me, his body strong and not even winded by
our quick speed.
“No. I have no idea, they mentioned King Zyphran had requested me,
but I know not why. I have never met the King and surly he would have
no use for one such as me.” I turned the last corner and pointed once
again. “The inn, she is in the inn.”
I took off ahead of him running through the doorway as I followed
the noise in the inn to the dining room. What greeted me took the
breath out of me. Lilly lay pale and still on the floor, a large pool
of her own blood surrounding her head. It seeped into the throw rug
that covered the floor and slowly soaked into the plain lavender dress
that she wore.
 Upon my entrance, the crowd parted and I fell to my knees beside
her. “Oh Lilly, no! He really did it to you this time didn’t he?” My
fingers reached out to touch her cheek, relieved to find it still
warm. Glancing at her chest I could see a struggled rise and fall of
her breathing.
“Get a doctor!” Lansing yelled to his guards, “Bring him here now!”
“Wait, I can not afford a doctor.” A drunken voice boomed from the
kitchen. “She is too far gone, I can not afford to waste the money on
her when she will just die anyway.”
I stood, anger and rage flooding through my body. Taking every bit
of strength to hold back my powers and not kill the man on sight. “You
bastard, you did this to her and now you sit and watch her die without
even trying to save her!” My body shook as I started to approach her
father.
“Wait.” A strong arm stopped me holding me back. “Go, get the
doctor, I will pay for him.” He nodded to one of his guards before
looking to me. “Are you sure this is the man responsible for this?”
I nodded, “It is not the first time that he has done this to her, I
have no doubt if you question the help here at the inn they will back
up my story.” I glared at her father a moment more before turning back
to Lilly.
“Arrest him, take him into custody, I will be by later to question
him.” Lansing ordered and his guard stepped forth grasping Lilly’s
fathers arm.
“She lies, Lilly fell. She has always been clumsy. She fell and hit
her head on the table. I swear it she did.” He father struggled as
the guard took him, but in his drunken state was no challenge to the
young guard.
As they continued to deal with Lilly’s father, I placed my hands
upon Lilly’s head, closing my eyes I used my powers to see into her,
letting my powers seep through my hands and into her head, easing the
swelling and damage done to her. I dared not do too much, at risk of
the others noticing, using only enough to keep the glow from my hands
from being seen by the others around us. I hoped that I could do more
if I got a chance to be alone with her later.
Lansing kneeled down beside me, his supportive hand going to my
shoulder as he whispered to me in a gentle voice. “We will do what we
can for her. I promise, if the doctor they bring can’t help her we
will take her to the castle and have our doctor there try. I promise
you she will get the best care possible.”
Turning to him with tears in my eyes, I could only nod. How I
wished I had forced Lilly to leave here sooner, wished I had not left
her alone, knowing the danger she was in. I felt the blame for this
squarely on my shoulders. Frustration at not being able to heal her
completely also tore at my soul. I hated having to hide who I was,
what I could do. So many I could help yet had to hide for the safety
of the stones.
“Thank you, Lansing, I will repay you for your kindness.” I reached
up placing my hand upon his as it rested on my shoulder. “You have
been more than kind in your assistance today.”
The doctor and guard entered the room before he could respond.
Taking my hand in his he pulled me up with him as we moved aside to
allow the doctor to evaluate Lilly.
I stood on shaky legs as I watched, knowing in my heart that she
would survive this, but not knowing how severe the injury to her head
was, or if there would be any lasting damage from her being attacked.
It felt like forever before the doctor stood and turned towards us.
“I will not lie to you, it is bad, but I have seen much worse. The
swelling is not as severe as I would have expected for this kind of
injury and the bleeding has stopped. Now all we can do is watch and
wait. An injury of this kind, time is the only thing we have.” He
looked back at Lilly as she lay before us. “Damn shame a girl this
young. I hope they find the person who did this to her.” He nodded to
Lansing. “We need to move her to a safe place; she will need to have
someone with her most of the time for the next few days. We will not
know the extent of the damage until she wakes. Does she have a bed
here?” He asked looking around the room.
Stepping forward I spoke quickly. “She is not safe here; if he
returns he will kill her. Please take her to my home; I will hire
someone to stay with her if I can not be with her myself.” I paused
thinking about having to meet with the Overlord. Shaking my head
forcing my worries aside I looked to Lansing. “Can we please take her
to my home?”
Lansing smiled and nodded. “I will have my men move her right
away.” Looking back at the doctor, he spoke in a commanding voice,
leaving no room for argument. “You will care for her, no matter what
it takes or how long. I want this girl to be your top priority.
I could not help but admire the way Lansing took charge of the
situation. His true character showing as he did everything he could to
assist Lilly and I, both two young females who he did not even know.
I watched as he threw orders around the inn making sure the building
was secure and taken care of while Lilly recovered, wanting assurance
that she would have a place to come back to if she wished to upon her
recovery.
Orders in place, we watched as the doctor and guards loaded Lilly
onto a cart and headed towards my home. We followed closely behind,
both silent as onlookers watched in curiosity at our procession.
Lansing and I walked proudly side by side ignoring the questions that
were called to us from the crowds.
Once at my house we got Lilly situated into my bed. I left her
with the doctor and walked back out to the front room to find Lansing
leaning against the wall watching me curiously.
“Might I now know your name?” He asked with a half grin playing
on his lips. “I think that is fair payment for the assistance I have
given today.”
I could not help but smile back at him as I stepped closer to him
and held out my hand. “My name is Selena, and I am in your debt,
Lansing, I do not know what would have happened had you not happened
by this morning when you did.”
“Selena.” The name fell from his mouth like honey, and I could
not help but find enjoyment in the way he said it. “I was waiting
for a beautiful woman to meet me this morning by the gates,” he
winked. “When I heard you screaming I knew I had to investigate. It
was my honor to assist you and Miss Lilly today. I am also glad that I
could be of assistance where she is concerned. Things like that should
not happen, and I shall make sure that the one who did this to her is
handled accordingly.”
I nodded. “He has done this to her before, never this severe, I
only wish I had taken her from there sooner, saved her from this.” I
glanced back towards the bedroom and took a deep breath. “If you will
allow me just a little more time to find someone to stay with her, I
will keep my end of the bargain and you may take me to the Overlord.”
I played with a frayed edge of my shawl nervously as I awaited his
answer.
“Selena, I am not a horrible man, I will not take you from her now
when you are all she has. You leave the Overlord to me; you are free
right now to care for her.” He smiled at my obvious relief. “However,
I do have one request in turn for offering this.” He lifted his head
meeting my eyes head on.
Willing to do anything to stay with Lilly I nodded. “Anything,
I will do anything you ask. It is the least I can do for your
assistance.”
He laughed. “If I were not such a gentleman, that offer just might
get you into trouble, Selena, but what I request is really quite
simple. All I ask is that while you are here with her, helping her to
heal, that I might be allowed to visit you, sit with you and have the
chance to know the beautiful woman before me who fights armed guards
to assist her friend. Brushing his fingers through his blond hair, he
grinned. “I only ask for your company.”
I was shocked by the simplicity of his request, but even more by
the pleasure the thought of spending more time with him brought me. “I
would be honored to have you visit, Lancing. The pleasure of your
company would be welcome.”
He tilted his head and smiled. “Then the morning is has not been in
vain. My rewards are great.”
 I laughed and for the first time since the pounding on my door woke
me I felt a little bit of peace. “I will need to leave for a bit to do
some shopping, I do not have food here for Lilly should she wake. I
need to find someone to sit with her while I go out.” I turned walking
to the pantry finding nothing but a few old potatoes starting to grow
roots. Turning back around I jumped finding Lansing standing directly
behind me.
“I will ask the doctor to stay with her if you wish to go now. If
you do not mind, I will accompany you. Until I have had a chance to
speak with the Overlord it is best if you do not venture out onto the
streets alone.” Lansing stepped back as I walked past him.
I smiled at his willingness to assist me; I wondered what he would
say if he had known that I was really the woman he had been waiting on
at the gates this morning. I bit my tongue holding back a laugh at the
way fate had at throwing a curve at you when you least expected it. “I
would enjoy your company, Lansing. I am sorry you missed your date
this morning, I hope that my company now might make up for it in some
small way.”
He bowed deep and smiled. “I will go tell the doctor we will be
away, you gather what you need.”
Watching him head into the bedroom I could not help but feel I had
possibly made a new friend. Grabbing my basket and some money from the
stash I had hidden away, I smiled as I waited for him to return.
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