Chapter 3
Cybil woke up feeling disoriented; when she looked around she found that she was not in her room, nor the barracks where she usually slept.
The sounds of a baby suckling had her sitting up to see Alice nursing her new child and the midwife sitting there with a smile.
"What time is it?" Cybil asked groggily, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Just past sunrise... little Nathanial woke up hungry. I'm surprised you slept through it" Alice said, "Come officially meet your nephew Cybil."
Cybil smiled and went to sit beside Alice and looked at the tiny infant in her arms. Her eyes watered slightly at the resemblance to his father she remembered from old drawings of her brother.
"He looks like his father," she said softly; "You did well Alice, real well. Now I have to go... I have training to do and I also need to go get washed up and something to eat."
Cybil left the house and headed for the barracks where she cleaned up and donned some new clothes before heading out to the training arena where training was in full session.
Throughout the day she remained busy in the training fields, working on her fighting skills and hand to hand combat.
Once she was finished she entered the barracks which were empty, stopping dead when she saw King Andreas was there waiting. She made a face and let the door close behind her.
"What are you doing here your highness?" she asked acidly as she went to her trunk, and opened it.
"Now is that the proper way to greet your king?" Andreas said while he tsked, "Cybil, Cybil, Cybil... my dearest pet. You should show me proper protocol in my presence."
Cybil grit her teeth, she hated this man more than anything. If she could she would slice his stomach open with the dagger she carried.
She remained silent though as she rummaged in her trunk for something anything to keep her hands busy.
Andreas stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist; "What you looking for?" he asked huskily, as she pressed himself up against her. She tensed up immediately upon the unwanted contact.
"Nothing that concerns you, could you please leave. I have thirty minutes to be at the stables cleaning stalls."
"Leave them to the others, and stand up straight." Andreas murmured, as he reached to grope her breast. Cybil stood up straight though she didn't want to.
"MM... so fine... you know I don't think we even shared a proper kiss my darling, darling Cybil." Andreas whispered into her ear as he groped her freely. The spell he had on her making her immobile and easy to use.
"How often do I have to say I'm not interested?" she demanded angrily; "I don't want you or anything to do with you."
"Ah you'll change your mind sometime, my pet..." he answered.
Just as both hands came up the door opened, and Andreas stepped back twice to avoid being seen. He hissed when he saw Anothy enter the room.
"Am I interrupting something?" Anothy asked looking innocent as can be.
"No! No you aren't come on in" Cybil chirped up happily, gesturing for him to come inside; "Was there something you needed Lord Meryl?"
Andreas's eyebrows rose a bit, but he didn't say anything; "I will leave you to your duties then Cybil." he said, "Oh and I expect you to come to the ball tonight!!"
Cybil gave a quick nod, and waited until he left before letting out a quick huff of breath; "Thank you, Lord Meryl once again. Your timing was impeccable."
Anothy's eyebrows rose; "Was it now?" he asked, "How so?"
Cybil's eyes flared, "I'd rather not talk about it," she stated, "Now... tell me what brings you to the barracks?"
"Well I was taking a look around and wanted to see what was in this building." he said.
"I was just on my way to the stables. Look around all you like m' lord" she said, before walking past him to head for the door.
Anothy gently placed a hand on her arm, "Cybil, was the king giving you unwanted attention?" he asked.
Cybil's eyes narrowed, but then she slowly nodded; "Indeed he has, been doing so since I first met him." she said, before she gently extracted his fingers from her arm and headed out the door.
Anothy followed her and gently stopped her again; "Cybil, would you do me the honour of going for a ride with me before the gala that his highness plans for this evening?"
Cybil thought about it for a moment then nodded; "Meet me in about two hours at the stables. I'll have your horse readied and mine as well."
She ran the rest of the way to the stables while Anothy continued to walk the grounds. Watching the men train and the maids do their gossip and washings.
At the appointed time Anothy entered the stables and found his horse and Cybil with her horse waiting.
"Here, he's ready to go," she stated, as she gave him the reigns; "I have to give Lady Luck a workout so this will be a great chance to do so."
Anothy watched her mount up, and he followed suit before heading towards the main gate. Cybil followed through without feeling the twinge of the spell that would keep her from leaving and frowned.
They headed for one of the nearby fields far from where anyone was working, walking, or riding.
"Cybil, if the king is giving you any unwanted attention. Why don't you leave?" inquired Anothy finally after a long moment of silence.
"I can't, as much as I would love to!" she replied tersely, "I have tried many times, but the spell he has me under keeps me from leaving."
Anothy grabbed her reins, "What spell?" he asked harshly his anger apparent in his flashing blue eyes.
"I don't know what spell, just that if I leave the grounds without the King's express permission. I get such intense pain that I collapse from it;" she said; "My section commander has to ask for permission for missions before I can even leave."
Anothy's teeth ground in intense anger; he sat up straight and kicked his horse into a gallop.
When they slowed again, they were already returning to the inner bailey. They both dismounted. Cybil took the reigns of both horses and headed into the stable, Anothy followed.
"I can look after my own mount Cybil," he said, as he took the reigns; "So where is your family?"
"Well you know my brother had just died in the ambush, and Alice is my sister in law. My parents are still in Novalia; where my father works as a small time farmer even though he is a Duke."
Anothy stripped his saddle off as he listened to her talk about her family.
They worked together in silence for a long while. Just as they finished off wiping down their horses and giving them feed, King Andreas walked in and seeing the two his eyes narrowed.
"Aren't you two getting cozy ?" he asked; "Anothy you are needed inside. Cybil, I expect you to be in the hall for dinner and dressed appropriately."
Cybil glared, and nodded; "Very well I will be there m' lord" she said, "Dressed in more than my manly grubs."
Andreas nodded; "Good, I will see you at dinner then." he said before turning and walking back out of the stable doors.
Cybil hissed, but went back to work while Anothy put away his mount and walked out of the stables after giving his mount a carrot and a pat on the neck.
Once she was finished, she headed into the castle and up to her appointed room, where she washed herself up and sighed as one of the maids came in with one of the dresses that had been a "gift" from his highness.
"Ms. Cybil, you are so lucky to have the king's attention. Most of the ladies are jealous of how he looks at you" the maid said as she helped with Cybil's hair braiding the sides into a crown.
"They can have his attentions Mary" she said, "I don't care for them, and they can take him to their beds all they want. I don't want him there either."
Mary grinned; "You may one day change your mind, but if not then perhaps that Lord Meryl would make a good match for you." she said.
Cybil laughed; "Trying to play matchmaker Mary?" she asked; turning her head once her hair had been pinned up.
Mary shrugged with a smile, "Perhaps, but you are so beautiful Cybil. Even with a sword in your hand, you are so pretty."
Cybil hugged the woman gently; "Thank you Mary, but I do not wish to marry, at least not yet."
The two left the room, and headed downstairs to the main hall, Andreas stepped forward and extended his elbow; "Congratulations, Cybil you will be getting an honour seat beside me tonight." he said.
Cybil growled, but she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and walked with him to the head table, and took the seat that was pulled out for her which was on his right while Anothy sat at his left.
The meal was delicious, and despite the mix of feelings she had Cybil ate heartily. She took extreme care to look like she belonged at the head table and not amongst the rest of the folks gathered at the lower tables with the rest of her friends from the barracks.
The sounds of a baby suckling had her sitting up to see Alice nursing her new child and the midwife sitting there with a smile.
"What time is it?" Cybil asked groggily, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Just past sunrise... little Nathanial woke up hungry. I'm surprised you slept through it" Alice said, "Come officially meet your nephew Cybil."
Cybil smiled and went to sit beside Alice and looked at the tiny infant in her arms. Her eyes watered slightly at the resemblance to his father she remembered from old drawings of her brother.
"He looks like his father," she said softly; "You did well Alice, real well. Now I have to go... I have training to do and I also need to go get washed up and something to eat."
Cybil left the house and headed for the barracks where she cleaned up and donned some new clothes before heading out to the training arena where training was in full session.
Throughout the day she remained busy in the training fields, working on her fighting skills and hand to hand combat.
Once she was finished she entered the barracks which were empty, stopping dead when she saw King Andreas was there waiting. She made a face and let the door close behind her.
"What are you doing here your highness?" she asked acidly as she went to her trunk, and opened it.
"Now is that the proper way to greet your king?" Andreas said while he tsked, "Cybil, Cybil, Cybil... my dearest pet. You should show me proper protocol in my presence."
Cybil grit her teeth, she hated this man more than anything. If she could she would slice his stomach open with the dagger she carried.
She remained silent though as she rummaged in her trunk for something anything to keep her hands busy.
Andreas stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist; "What you looking for?" he asked huskily, as she pressed himself up against her. She tensed up immediately upon the unwanted contact.
"Nothing that concerns you, could you please leave. I have thirty minutes to be at the stables cleaning stalls."
"Leave them to the others, and stand up straight." Andreas murmured, as he reached to grope her breast. Cybil stood up straight though she didn't want to.
"MM... so fine... you know I don't think we even shared a proper kiss my darling, darling Cybil." Andreas whispered into her ear as he groped her freely. The spell he had on her making her immobile and easy to use.
"How often do I have to say I'm not interested?" she demanded angrily; "I don't want you or anything to do with you."
"Ah you'll change your mind sometime, my pet..." he answered.
Just as both hands came up the door opened, and Andreas stepped back twice to avoid being seen. He hissed when he saw Anothy enter the room.
"Am I interrupting something?" Anothy asked looking innocent as can be.
"No! No you aren't come on in" Cybil chirped up happily, gesturing for him to come inside; "Was there something you needed Lord Meryl?"
Andreas's eyebrows rose a bit, but he didn't say anything; "I will leave you to your duties then Cybil." he said, "Oh and I expect you to come to the ball tonight!!"
Cybil gave a quick nod, and waited until he left before letting out a quick huff of breath; "Thank you, Lord Meryl once again. Your timing was impeccable."
Anothy's eyebrows rose; "Was it now?" he asked, "How so?"
Cybil's eyes flared, "I'd rather not talk about it," she stated, "Now... tell me what brings you to the barracks?"
"Well I was taking a look around and wanted to see what was in this building." he said.
"I was just on my way to the stables. Look around all you like m' lord" she said, before walking past him to head for the door.
Anothy gently placed a hand on her arm, "Cybil, was the king giving you unwanted attention?" he asked.
Cybil's eyes narrowed, but then she slowly nodded; "Indeed he has, been doing so since I first met him." she said, before she gently extracted his fingers from her arm and headed out the door.
Anothy followed her and gently stopped her again; "Cybil, would you do me the honour of going for a ride with me before the gala that his highness plans for this evening?"
Cybil thought about it for a moment then nodded; "Meet me in about two hours at the stables. I'll have your horse readied and mine as well."
She ran the rest of the way to the stables while Anothy continued to walk the grounds. Watching the men train and the maids do their gossip and washings.
At the appointed time Anothy entered the stables and found his horse and Cybil with her horse waiting.
"Here, he's ready to go," she stated, as she gave him the reigns; "I have to give Lady Luck a workout so this will be a great chance to do so."
Anothy watched her mount up, and he followed suit before heading towards the main gate. Cybil followed through without feeling the twinge of the spell that would keep her from leaving and frowned.
They headed for one of the nearby fields far from where anyone was working, walking, or riding.
"Cybil, if the king is giving you any unwanted attention. Why don't you leave?" inquired Anothy finally after a long moment of silence.
"I can't, as much as I would love to!" she replied tersely, "I have tried many times, but the spell he has me under keeps me from leaving."
Anothy grabbed her reins, "What spell?" he asked harshly his anger apparent in his flashing blue eyes.
"I don't know what spell, just that if I leave the grounds without the King's express permission. I get such intense pain that I collapse from it;" she said; "My section commander has to ask for permission for missions before I can even leave."
Anothy's teeth ground in intense anger; he sat up straight and kicked his horse into a gallop.
When they slowed again, they were already returning to the inner bailey. They both dismounted. Cybil took the reigns of both horses and headed into the stable, Anothy followed.
"I can look after my own mount Cybil," he said, as he took the reigns; "So where is your family?"
"Well you know my brother had just died in the ambush, and Alice is my sister in law. My parents are still in Novalia; where my father works as a small time farmer even though he is a Duke."
Anothy stripped his saddle off as he listened to her talk about her family.
They worked together in silence for a long while. Just as they finished off wiping down their horses and giving them feed, King Andreas walked in and seeing the two his eyes narrowed.
"Aren't you two getting cozy ?" he asked; "Anothy you are needed inside. Cybil, I expect you to be in the hall for dinner and dressed appropriately."
Cybil glared, and nodded; "Very well I will be there m' lord" she said, "Dressed in more than my manly grubs."
Andreas nodded; "Good, I will see you at dinner then." he said before turning and walking back out of the stable doors.
Cybil hissed, but went back to work while Anothy put away his mount and walked out of the stables after giving his mount a carrot and a pat on the neck.
Once she was finished, she headed into the castle and up to her appointed room, where she washed herself up and sighed as one of the maids came in with one of the dresses that had been a "gift" from his highness.
"Ms. Cybil, you are so lucky to have the king's attention. Most of the ladies are jealous of how he looks at you" the maid said as she helped with Cybil's hair braiding the sides into a crown.
"They can have his attentions Mary" she said, "I don't care for them, and they can take him to their beds all they want. I don't want him there either."
Mary grinned; "You may one day change your mind, but if not then perhaps that Lord Meryl would make a good match for you." she said.
Cybil laughed; "Trying to play matchmaker Mary?" she asked; turning her head once her hair had been pinned up.
Mary shrugged with a smile, "Perhaps, but you are so beautiful Cybil. Even with a sword in your hand, you are so pretty."
Cybil hugged the woman gently; "Thank you Mary, but I do not wish to marry, at least not yet."
The two left the room, and headed downstairs to the main hall, Andreas stepped forward and extended his elbow; "Congratulations, Cybil you will be getting an honour seat beside me tonight." he said.
Cybil growled, but she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and walked with him to the head table, and took the seat that was pulled out for her which was on his right while Anothy sat at his left.
The meal was delicious, and despite the mix of feelings she had Cybil ate heartily. She took extreme care to look like she belonged at the head table and not amongst the rest of the folks gathered at the lower tables with the rest of her friends from the barracks.
The bell that Andreas used to get the attention of his subjects for an important announcement rang loud and clear through the hall. Everyone fell silent and raised their heads from their plates.
"Ladies and Gentleman of Mornalva. I am pleased to announce that my son has arrived safely from my wife's parents home in Grandula Bay." He said, turning to face the man known to all right now as Prince Meryl, "Welcome home my son, Prince Anothy Mornalva."
Everyone gasped as they watched Anothy stood up and nodded to his father. He turned to the rest; "I am glad to be home" he lied, "When I was notified that it was time to come home to learn that I would be taking the throne in a few years I couldn't wait to arrive."
He gave everyone a small smile, though it was strained; "I am looking forward to meeting with you all in the days to come as your prince and liege."
Anothy returned to his seat; out of the corner of his eye he saw that Cybil had turned pale and was staring at him with shock, rage, and humiliation.
Guilt went through him, for she had confided something to him only today that could have gotten her killed should he have told his father of it. However she did not know that he was back home for not only the reason he had given, but another one entirely as well.
Andreas lifted his goblet into the air, "Let us toast to the return of Prince Anothy Mornalva, And to the group of men and women who had gone to bring him home although not without a loss of one of their own. Cybil Novalia, and her crew did a wonderful job of escorting and defending the High Mages & my son from the ambushers that had attacked them. Great Job"
The rest of the tables gave a shout of encouragement and then gulped their wine down in a few swallows.
Cybil felt sick to the stomach, she couldn't believe that she had not realized the resemblance of Anothy to Andreas sooner. Now she had mistakenly told him about her woes. She stared at her plate not at all feeling hungry any longer.
"May I be excused m' lord?" she asked Andreas as he sat down again; "I am not feeling well."
Andreas gave her a hard look, but he noticed how pale she was and then slowly nodded; "Only for a few hours. You best be back before the music starts. I want you here to celebrate the homecoming of my son."
Cybil nodded, and stood up. She rushed from the hall and upstairs to her room where she was usually forced to stay often. She went straight to the chamber pot and tossed up the contents of her stomach.
Finally she crawled into bed and laid down, her mind reeling with the fact she had confessed things she shouldn't have to the man who was related by blood to Andreas.
It wasn't until a maid came to fetch her hours later that she returned to the hall where music and dancing was in full swing. She was immediately taken to the dance floor by one of the visiting lords who had arrived earlier in the day.
"Ladies and Gentleman of Mornalva. I am pleased to announce that my son has arrived safely from my wife's parents home in Grandula Bay." He said, turning to face the man known to all right now as Prince Meryl, "Welcome home my son, Prince Anothy Mornalva."
Everyone gasped as they watched Anothy stood up and nodded to his father. He turned to the rest; "I am glad to be home" he lied, "When I was notified that it was time to come home to learn that I would be taking the throne in a few years I couldn't wait to arrive."
He gave everyone a small smile, though it was strained; "I am looking forward to meeting with you all in the days to come as your prince and liege."
Anothy returned to his seat; out of the corner of his eye he saw that Cybil had turned pale and was staring at him with shock, rage, and humiliation.
Guilt went through him, for she had confided something to him only today that could have gotten her killed should he have told his father of it. However she did not know that he was back home for not only the reason he had given, but another one entirely as well.
Andreas lifted his goblet into the air, "Let us toast to the return of Prince Anothy Mornalva, And to the group of men and women who had gone to bring him home although not without a loss of one of their own. Cybil Novalia, and her crew did a wonderful job of escorting and defending the High Mages & my son from the ambushers that had attacked them. Great Job"
The rest of the tables gave a shout of encouragement and then gulped their wine down in a few swallows.
Cybil felt sick to the stomach, she couldn't believe that she had not realized the resemblance of Anothy to Andreas sooner. Now she had mistakenly told him about her woes. She stared at her plate not at all feeling hungry any longer.
"May I be excused m' lord?" she asked Andreas as he sat down again; "I am not feeling well."
Andreas gave her a hard look, but he noticed how pale she was and then slowly nodded; "Only for a few hours. You best be back before the music starts. I want you here to celebrate the homecoming of my son."
Cybil nodded, and stood up. She rushed from the hall and upstairs to her room where she was usually forced to stay often. She went straight to the chamber pot and tossed up the contents of her stomach.
Finally she crawled into bed and laid down, her mind reeling with the fact she had confessed things she shouldn't have to the man who was related by blood to Andreas.
It wasn't until a maid came to fetch her hours later that she returned to the hall where music and dancing was in full swing. She was immediately taken to the dance floor by one of the visiting lords who had arrived earlier in the day.