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Anastaseah heard them behind her, but she did not look back to see exactly where they were, but the sound of horses, dogs, shots from men rang out a the sound of a steady boom in the night. Increasing her heartrate and propelling her legs forwards.

She ran through the forest. Her pace relentless…punishing. She could barely breath. The panting of her labored breath swirled in frantic circles before her lips. Her chest convulsed. Her inner thighs burned. Her body rebelled against her. Cried out for her to stop…or at the very least slow down, but she could not, would not.? She had only one thought, only one goal penetrated her focus.

Have to get away.

The delicate pounding of the thick fat rain fell to pour down upon her shapely form soaking her in bone chilling moisture. Her whole body shivered. Her skimpy ensemble did nothing to keep away the chill, offering no protection against the whipping storm biting at her face, legs, feet. The simple now dirty white chemist she wore under the rough old cloak only clung to her, plaster against her flesh hindering her forward movement.

Thunder roared. Lightning flashed overhead across the open field striking a tree. The large majestic giant that had quite possibly stood proud for hundreds of years fell towards the ground. Falling limps and branches just barely missing her. She didn’t notice.

She simply ran, because she could do no other. She was damn near close to collapsing from exhaustion. The nasty stitch in her side begging her to stop, so much so, that her body began to slow down on its own accord.?

The darkness of the night seemed to grow more and more…ominous as she ran deeper into the tree lined forest surrounding the place she thought would be her home. She remember when she came here. It held such promise…such wonder now…now it was cold…lonely…void…certain death.

Anastaseah could hear the sound of sobs in the background mixing with the call of her name, Gentle calling. Begging her to stop…to come back…but she would not stop.? She knew it was a trick. He was good at that. The tricks the lies, the deception. She wanted to believe that maybe…that he could…maybe she should stop…talk…tired legs began to slow.

Maybe she was wrong…by the goddess she hoped she was wrong.

Searing heat flooded her shoulder as the pain of the bullet that just grazed her skin burned through the cloak and the flesh beneath. Stupid…Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Picking up her pace again, Ana ran cut right.

Have to get away.

Cover she needed cover, she thought as she ran into the thick canopy of vegetation. The brush clawed at her body. Low lying branches snatch at her clothing, trying to pull her down.? She could not let them win.? The pain of this life was too great and the confusion of what she felt dizzying and nearly stifling.

How did this happened?? How did she come to find herself here…this confused…this lost…

Anastaseah felt the wetness upon her cheeks and knew that not all of the liquid running down her face was from the storm raging about her. He knew now that the pitiful wailing she heard all around was not just the wind. She didn’t want to give credence to it either. And If it wasn’t for the terrible pain in her chest and the fact that he eyes were now so blurred and filled with liquid to the point where she barely see, she wouldn’t have never acknowledge to herself that she was actually crying…

Oh damn it all to bloody everlasting hell. She never cried and now was not the time.? She was strong. She was proud. She was of noble heritage. She would survive this, get through this. She had to focus and allow one thought to prevail…

Have to get away.

She just had to keep from being caught until she could find herself back within the solace of her own lands. In the bosom of her own people. Once there, there would be no way her people would allow this one to do what was planned for her. Not after how hard they fought to make sure she stayed safe.?

Have to get away.

Anastaseah had no idea where she was going just that she knew she had to keep moving. Despite the bruises and welts that decorated her back and upper arms wanting her to find comfort, she had to keep moving. Despite the numbness of her dainty bare feet making her stumble she would not stop. Despite her the cuts and scratches upon her legs, the abrasions on her inner thighs begging her to stop. Despite her pounding heart which felt like it was about to explode and racing out of control pulse and her rapidly leaving stamina one thought spurned her one

Have to get away...far, far away.?

Ana fell, face down, up to her eyes into the grass and dirty and mud of the cold wet marsh below. Grime poured into her mouth, dirt covered her body threatening to suffocate every pore of her being, but still she continued. A tree limb reached out to grab her cloak, rearing her back, lifting her off the ground, choking her. She pulled at it, fighting its hold, tearing her cloak free from her body.

Have to get away...far, far away.?

Louder still the sounds of horse hooves, dogs and men.

Her mind screaming ‘Just a little further, please, please, please, just a little further. Her legs caught up in the rags of her clinging wet dress gave her to give. She fell to the ground once more, this time plummeting head first down a rock covered slope. Thank God she thought, as she tumbled over the side of the slope. Hopefully she would break her neck and then she would be free from the insanity her life had become.

~~~

Avrid Deverill drew his horse up next to the precipice and looked over. Rainwater dripped from his hat brim, soaking the back of his neck yet again. His men were tired, wet, and hungry, as was he. Even the hounds, usually enthused about the hunt no matter the weather, seemed somehow worn. Small rocks and clods of mud dropped towards the sea below, disappearing in the thin cold mist.?

There, on the wave washed, jagged rocks just within view was what looked to be the woman’s corpse. From this height, even though thoroughly soiled, Avrid could make out the once glaring white chemise. The body was unmoving. He could see no reason to risk sending his men down that treacherous incline simply to confirm that she was in fact dead. No mortal being, even a witch if that was even what she had been, could survive that fall.

“Tell his Highness,” Deverill stated slowly to one of his huntsmen, “that the witch has killed herself trying to escape.”

The men cheered, rejoicing that their task was, if not successful, at least over. Clapping each other on the shoulders, and petting the massive heads of their hounds, they prepared to head back to the village. They were bound back to warm fires, hot food, ale, and the comforts of their women.

Deverill, for his part, looked longingly at the form below. Hidden by the cold rain a few warm tears ran along his cheeks, joining the cloying water soaking his rough beard. “Ah, Ana,” he sighed softly to himself, “if only I could have had more time to plan!”

Knowing that he would never truly be warm again, at least not in this life, Deverill turned his horse from the edge and followed his rapidly disappearing men.??

~~~

Pug strolled along the thin width of coarse sand that separated sea and stone. He, like his fellow mudlarks, searched for flotsam. Anything of value that the sea had vomited forth during the night’s storm could bring a copper or two, perhaps a warm meal or a bed. They were a ragged bunch, bone thin, their clothes little more than the bits washed up by the sea. He was stunned by the glorious swath of soiled white silk that suddenly spread before him, as soft as a sea fog. He reached one bony hand out to grasp it, and met warm flesh.

“What’cha find, Pug,” one of his mates called.

“Summit,” he called back, “looks like a girl, eh? Come and gives us a hand!”

A gaggle of grimy, scrawny, scabbed children surrounded the unconscious woman and drew her from the sand. “Where you wanna puts her, Pug?” one asked.

“Owbouts down?” another groused, and they all laughed. For all of their filth and poverty they were actually a simple, joyful bunch, finding happiness in their simplicity.

“Snoggin nock,” said Pug, “till we cans suss the what of her. She’s be safest there.” Snogging notch, where the older children like Pug and his Lucie went to do very un-childlike things.?

“Fancy havin’ a go, Pug?” another of the older mudlarks asked. Several chuckled.

“Naw,” he responded between heavy breaths, for they were exerting their meager resources moving the woman, “she’s a sumthin-sumthin, not fer snoggin’. Maybe we can sells her, if we finds a buyer.” Truth be told snogging her was his first thought, when he had found her, but there was something he couldn’t quite understand stopping him. Perhaps, tonight when he rested in his own nest, he would ponder her and pleasure himself instead.

They dragged her limp form into a narrow cave mouth that rose and widened into a large open cavern. Bringing a battered porcelain ewer of? fresh water, Pug forced a little into her parched mouth. The mudlarks then left the ewer there beside her, and a few crusts of slightly moldy bread, before covering her with a filthy scrap of a blanket and heading back out to lark. Mudlarks had to eat, after all.

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Anastaseah was awoke with a gasped. Surprise to find that she lay atop a soft, sandy mound. A coarse blanket about shapely curves. Her dark raven’s wing mane hair lay across her ebony face.? She could smell the surf and sea…and somewhere in the faint flittering of her mind the strong distinctive smell of burning wood.??

Where was she?? The last thing she remembered was being in the mud...running…her head whack something hard and then…nothing. Anastaseah groaned at the feeling.? Did she get far?

She did not appear to be back in the dungeon cell that had been her home of late…nor was she naked…chained to one of the legs of the king’s thrown in the common room which had been her fat for the last three days.

Had she really gotten away? Could it be true?

These past few weeks had been the most humiliating and excruciatingly painful days of her life. The things he had said. The examination she had been forced to endure. All he thought about her…said to her?? When she knew that her fate was sealed, she had no choice. She took the first opportunity she had to make a break for it.? The survival of her people, of her family name depended on it.

All seemed so helpless. Anastaseah balled herself into a tight ball and indulged in tears she usually never usually shed. How long had it been since she cried…near a year ago when…However, since the day her life ended, she cried more than quite a bit now. She told herself she needed to get a hold of herself. That this was not actions befitting of her station, that this was not at all like her, but for the moment, her situation felt so very was desperate, as such she engaged in a very desperate act.

Ana cried not for the fact that her husband was apparently going to force her into slavery for the rest of her natural life. She cried not for the fact that she had disgrace her people, her parents and her family name. Not for the loss of her life or even her baby.

No, the reason that cause this normally proud, strong woman was reduce to a useless mass of quivering sobs was the fact that the love of her life no longer loved her.? He now despised her; hate her for all she was worth. Had told her so to her face before a dining hall full of his nobleman, countryman, kinsmen and servants. Stefan thought her the worst kind of harlot, the vilest kind of whore. In his eyes, she was an adulteress and there was only one thing a king could do with an adulterous queen apparently.

Shifting her weight, it was then that she caught sight of another in the room with her. Gasping Anastaseah quickly forgot about her tears and focused on her survival.? She jumped backed from the makeshift bed and grabbed the first thing she could get her hands on, a porcelain pitcher sitting beside her. The sudden movement made her dizzy, but she fought back the nausea.

"Who are you?” she called.

~~~

As he watched his woman sleep, for he had found her so she was his, Pug wondered what she might be. She was dressed in fine silk, so perhaps a pirate captain, washed from the deck of her ship during a storm. She was no innkeeper’s daughter, nor common fishwife, as one would find hereabouts. Her hair flowed across the sand like molten night, so dark and smooth it was. Her skin was smooth as well, clear and blemish free save for the few scratches and scrapes she bore.

Pug picked a louse from his hair and crunched it between his brown teeth, chewing softly.

Perhaps she was a kelpie, or seamaid, who would seduce him with song before dragging him back to the water with her, to a watery grave. Pug looked at her small, perfect feet and then his own calloused, misshapen ones. No, that was stupid, seamaids and kelpie sported fishy tails, not small perfect feet.

He could hear her weeping in her dreams, Pug too wept sometimes at night. When the pickings were slim from the sea, and he had nothing to eat, and the men on the docks beat him for begging. He looked at her closer, seeing the fresh bruises and cuts. Yes, she must have done something very bad, to have been beaten so.

‘Who are you?’ the woman asked in a dry raspy voice, startling him.

At first Pug was afraid to speak, so beautiful was her voice. It was soft and sweet as seafoam. He sat perfectly still against the cold stone, his filthy brown clothes, skin, and hair blending into the cave wall. “S’called Pug,” he finally replied, “I fount you.”

I found you. To a mudlark that meant possession. He found her, so she belonged to him, that’s just how it was.

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Anastaseah watched him closely. His demeanor was calm, easy. He had be the dirtiest think she had ever seen in her life. And it was only now that she realized she wasn’t in a room, but in a cave.

Did he live in this place or was this the safe place for them to ride out the storm…she remembered a storm. And the pain to her shoulder and head told her she was injured. Eyeing him closely, reading him one last time, Anastaseah nodded. She would do something she could not afford to do; she would trust him and pray to God for the best.

Besides she was too dizzy to remain standing. Sitting the pitcher, which she could now see was broken, back down. She said “Pray forgive me for threatening you with bodily harm, after you were kind enough to help me…offer me shelter…my manners are atrocious. My humblest of apology and sincerest of thanks to you for your rescue and kindness,” she said her voice soft, husky and richly accented.

“I am Que…Ana…Nic.., Quinn” she stuttered.?

It would not do to let him know who she was. That would be asking for trouble. If she was still anywhere near Solaria, she had no doubt Petroff and Stefan would have some kind of reward for information leading to her return. To someone that looked like him, what every Stefan was offering, no matter how meager would act as more than enough incentive to sway his mind against her.

“It is my pleasure to meet your acquaintance Pug.” She said with a soft friendly smile. Thankful that in the dimly lit darkness of the cave he could not see her crystal blue eyes against her tawny mocha skin. A sure mark of her people if her dialect and way of speaking didn’t give her away.

Anastaseah Nicola Demetrius had come to Solaria to fulfill the terms of treaty between their two warring people. When she was still just a babe and Stefan just five, a terrible blood feud began between the neighbors Solaria, a sea faring land in the southeast and the mountainous and forest rich Ranuvia.? The stories of how it began were varied. However, there was one truth. After nearly a generation, only three remained from the Demetrius and McCalester family line. The Queen Anastaseah and King Stefan and his older brother Petroff, respectively.?

When she had come to Solaria to wed Stefan, there had been a grand parade. However, that had been nearly two years ago. She could only hope that an urchin like himself had paid no mind to politics having better things in life to worry about.

Just then, her mind went back to what he had said when he introduced himself, she frowned slightly. He said he found her. Most assuredly it passed out cold since she had no recollection of what happened to her after she lost her footing and fell upon the rocks. Maybe he could help shed some light where she was. “You said you found me. Can you please tell me where it is?”

~~~

“Snoggin’ nock. Fount you in the sand outsides, figgered you felt offa ship or summit. Quinn’s a nice name, you a pirate captain?” Pug grinned, revealing brown, broken teeth that fortunately couldn’t be seen well in the dim light. “You gots some treasure?”

He stopped for a moment, remembering his other thought, “or mebbe your master beat you, thown you out. You dresst nice. I gets beat when I can’t find enough stuff larkin’ an’ hasta beg.”

She talked funny too, not like a pirate at all. Maybe she had money, some coppers hidden away, and Pug mentally kicked himself for not searching her while she was unconscious. He could have taken that fancy silk she was wearing too, sold it. He had missed his chance to caress her nude body.

“S’ some bread there,” he said hopefully, pointing at the sand next to the broken ewer of water. Maybe she would snog for a few moldy crusts of bread, but somehow Pug didn’t think so. He glanced at the cave mouth, realizing that it was getting darker. He had wasted the day here watching this woman instead of combing the sand for spoils, and now when he returned to Hog’s End he would be beaten.

“S’gotta go, gettin’ dark,” he said standing. “Gone go get beat now.” With that he scurried away and out the cave entrance. The air took a chill, as the wind had turned inward off of the sea and now blew into the cave.

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Ana looked down to where he pointed next to the makeshift bed. She couldn’t see it, but she had no doubt it wasn’t the best quality. He didn’t seem to have much based on the looks of him, but she could see he was a kind soul for sharing what he had with her. “Thank you. You are most kind, sir. And no. I am not a pirate. I am a barmaid.

It wasn’t a lie. She had been a barmaid once upon a time.?

She needed to know where she was. Was she still in Solaria? Was she anywhere close to the mountains? Could she get word to her people? Those answers would have to wait because what he said next stunned her. “wait...what.” She said, slipping back into her former life, losing the very formal speech that had become second nature to her.? But he moved so quickly, quicker than she could catch him since her head was still pounding and dizziness threatened to take her under.?

Did he say he was going to get beat?

Ana as best she could moved quickly to crawl off the makeshift bed, which caused her head to pound so hard she had to close her eyes, she moved towards the mouth of the cave where Pug had gone. Looking out, the wind whipped her hair about. “Pug,” she called.

The youth was gone, speeding wraithlike along the thin width of sand towards the feeble lights of a small village. Wraithlike, for he was almost that, so thin were his limbs.?

As he got to Hogs End his mates were all in line, spoils clutched in their bony hands waiting to see if they would sell. Lucie passed him a swatch of fine, but soiled, silk along with a small silver charm. “S’figgered these was yours,” she said, “since you fount her an’ all. Kept ‘em safest for you.”

“Thankee, Lucie,” Pug responded, “shares the spoils.” Sure enough, the charm and silk brought enough coppers to buy a full loaf of two-day at the bakery and a quart of ale as well. Pug and Lucie ate like royalty, sitting on the sand below Hogs End.

Pug considered taking Lucie to the nock for a snogging, but remembered the woman there.

“So,” Lucie said, apparently thinking the same thing, “what you gone do with that woman you fount? Gone sell her?”

“Don’t know how to sells a woman,” Pug admitted. “Never fount one alive afore.”

“I’ll ask ‘rount, wommin-like,” Lucie offered, “sees if there’s a way t’ sell her.”?

She leaned against Pug then. “Snoggin’ Nock is full,” she whispered, “but none’s unter the quay.” Without another word Pug picked up the remaining bread and ale, took Lucie’s hand, and they slipped under the broad wooden boards of the quay.

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Ana sighed as she sat back along the cave wall. Her hand went to her necklace...it was gone...that was all she had of her parents. Tears filled her eyes. Closing them against the pain, she thought back to happier times.

Her mind drifted back to her first few weeks in Solaria. When she and Stefan were learning each other.?

“Looks like I win again.” She said, lowering her bow, turning to the two men behind her. She had scored a bullseye. Hitting the target from several feet away.?

They had underestimated her. Secretly she loved it when they did that. It felt so much sweeter when she beat them. Turning to her betrothed and his friend. She lowered the bow. “Would you like to try two out of three?”

“Don’t risk it, Stefan,” Avrid advised, “tis yet another trap.” Both men laughed.

“Perhaps we could use another archer on the front gates,” Prince Stefan replied, eying his blue eyed bride to be. “My dear, you could but stand upon the gate tower and slay them as they stood in awe of your beauty.”

Avrid looked askance at Princess Anastaseah. Though his friend the Prince spoke in jest, he knew just how prophetic his words could be. “S’truth, Stefan,” he offered, “if she can handle a sword as well you should have the armorer take measure of her!”

“You flatter me,” Anastaseah said with smile at her betrothed and his best friend. “However I’ll have you both know that I have been trained to handle a sword.” She said hanging the bow to a valet that stepped forward. “Thank you kind sir,” she said to the man with a genuinely kind smile.? “And I can throw one rather impressive right cross,” she said with a wink.?

“Tis only flattery, my love, if it is exaggerated,” Prince Stefan replied, “I spoke as one so smitten.” Avrid simply rolled his eyes at his friends' words. “But it’s nearly time for supper,” he said, passing his own bow to the valet. He offered his hand to the Princess and added, “shall we, my love?”

Knowing his own place was not at the Royal table Avrid said, “I shall join you in the morning, My Prince, for grouse hunting?”

“Of course, Avrid,” Stefan responded, “perhaps we shall put some fresh fowl on the table tomorrow night.”

Ana took Stefan’s hand. And stepped closer to him. “It is flattery and we both know it.” She said kissing his cheek.

At Stefan’s words she blinked. “Wait...What...Avrid you will not be joining us? But you must. I have gotten very much used to our talks during our outing. Surely Stefan as one of your closest friends Avrid can join us while we dine.”?

“I should remind you, Princess, that I am a commoner,” Avrid explained. “Not only would it cause a scandal, but the King and Prince Petroff would certainly take offense. No, Princess, I can not dine at the Royal table.”

“Yes,” Stefan concurred, “Petroff especially would take offense. He is already upset that it will be I taking the throne after father. He understands, of course, but it sits unwell with him.”

Ana frowned. “I need not be reminded of who you are Avrid. You are a Knight of the Realm. 开云体育 your king dutifully. And you have been chosen by your Prince to act as my personal protection. That should account for something.”

?“Besides, if I remember correctly,” she said to Stefan, her voice soft,? but there was a slight annoyance there. “Petroff abdicated the throne when he chose not to abide by the terms of the treaty. Which, truth be told, I am so happy it is you I will marry and not him. Especially considering the first thing he said to me was he feels sorry that his brother has to throw away his future to marry the Ranuvian guttertrash, forgive me if I care not what he thinks.”?

“That would give me the right to stand behind you, Princess, and watch you eat.” Avrid chuckled. “Forgive me, but I would rather sooth my own hunger.” He was smiling, but her knew the real reason for Petroff’s dislike of the princess, and it had more to do with her sex than the land of her birth. He had not only heard the rumors, of course, but witnessed the actions.

She turned to Avrid, hands on hips. “You are not helping Sir. Shh.” She said putting her finger to her lips.

“Stefan.” She began turning to her fiancé, reaching for his hand. “You are the new generation. You have this unique opportunity to show that the old ways are not always best. After all, look? at what the old ways did to our families. You be the can change.” She said holding his hand in hers. You can show everyone that this new land will be for the people. That with our union, you are forging a new destiny that honors loyalty and service and is inclusive regardless of rank or title. Imagine? the message you will send to Petroff and your nobles. That you are ready, and fully capable of being the king and providing the direction both our lands need.”

“When I am King I can be the change. We can be the change,” Stefan replied, “we are supposed to be the change. While my father rules, sadly, the old way must remain.”

“He’s right, Princess,” Avrid concurred, “the King is still powerful, still popular among the gentry and commoners alike. Your new order, your union, is but a faint spark. You must allow the flame to come forth before trying to burn down the castle with it.” He shrugged. “Otherwise it could be easily snuffed out.” He turned to the Prince. “One day will I gladly sup at your table, Stefan, but not today, sadly”

“One bright day,” Stefan echoed.

Pug had saved a copper from the night before, and he stopped by the bakery at dawn to buy a quarter loaf of two day bread and a bottle of watered down ale. The baker was already busy, he had been baking for hours, so he gave Pug a half loaf with his ale for the same price.?

The urchin scurried off, eager to feed his woman before having to comb the barren sands for anything of value in order to survive another day. He hoped that Lucie could find a buyer for their woman soon.

Anastseah felt the tears fall down her face at the memory…one bright day…

Alas that day would never come. She watched the King...he wasn’t happy with the treaty either. Like Petroff he wished her dead. She remembered walking through the castle walls hearing him say to some of his nobles ‘after all it was a blood feud the bitch should’ve died.’?

She didn’t have to guess who the bitch was.?

Ana sat with her back against the wall, she was shivering in her sleep...cold… because the wind off the sand. She blinked open her eyes and she gasped at the sight of Pug in the early morning sun.

“You scared me.” She said “are you alright?”

At first Pug was dumbfounded, nobody had ever cared if he was ‘alright’ and he had no response. Quinn’s eyes were stunning, the way they caught the dim light entering the nock and threw it back. Finally he offered, “s’good. Brinkt you some two-day bread an’ beer. Needs the bottle back or the baker beats me,” he added as he handed the woman both.

Glancing towards the cave entrance he said, “s’gotta go finds things now so’s we can have coppers for t’ buy supper.” He turned towards the entrance, then turned back. “S’ a mudlark, y’know? Finting things on the beach t’ sells.” He grinned then, displaying broken, rotten teeth. “I fount you.”

She smiled taking the items. “Thank you for sharing with me. That is very sweet of you.” When he mentioned he found her, she nodded. “Yes, you did. And I am very appreciative.”

When he turned to leave suddenly she didn’t want him to leave. She didn’t want to be alone. She had been alone so much lately. “Can I... help” she said. “I do not want you to get beat. You have been so kind to me. I want to repay you. Would you allow me to assist you today?”

Pug looked at her. “S’you ain’t no mudlark, Quinn, somebody sees you with us, somebody asks why. Somebody takes you away. Maybe somebody bad, ain’t much goodness in Hogs End. Lucie’s smart, she’ll findt you a place-place to be, you’ll see.” He winked, “you’ll see. I’ll checks on you later, after middays.”

With that the scrawny mudlark was gone, slipping out like a shadow.

Ana sighed. She appreciated what Pug was saying. But she could not stay in a cold damp cave all day and night in a damp filthy chemise. She needed real clothing. She needed shoes. She needed to get home. So dispute the thumping of her head, Ana stood. “Pug,” she called moving out of the cave, climbing down on shaky legs until she made it to the beach.

She stopped, looking up to feel the warm sun shining on her dark features. Heating her skin.

It was shortly after midday when Pug returned with an equally scrawny woman dressed in similar rags and also barefoot. She smiled at Ana with broken teeth. “Ahm Lucie. S’broughts summon to checks you out, Quinn,” she offered.

With that a largish man with ruddy red hair and beard, going grey, stepped into the cave, turning sideways to navigate the narrow opening. He took in a breath, stifling a gasp, when he saw Ana. He then looked at the two mudlarks, who shied away from him. Turning back to Ana he asked, “can ye cook, girl? I can’t put someone with your looks out wi’ the customers. The wife’s down ill, probably for a fortnight or so, and I need summon to cook.” He glared at Pug and Lucie as he added, “after that, if you wants to stay on, sup to you.”

The warm friendly glow of a smile crossed his face and his light brown eyes twinkled. “Unless you wish to stay hidden away in this cave?”

Ana had moved back into the cave and had fallen asleep when she heard Pug’s voice. Ana smiled at Lucie. “Hi, you must be Lucie. Pug has said so much about...” Ana’s voice trailed off when she saw the large man enter the cave. Her eyes narrowed and she quickly stood and she moved back. She looked to Pug for answers.

However the man spoke. At his words she frowned...her looks? Did he know who she was? Was she still in Solaria? Pug never did answer the question.

“Yes, I cook.” When he smiled she was put a little at ease. “And I can care for your wife as well if you like as well. I require nothing but room and board, but Do you at least promise to pay Lucie and Pug a fair wage.

He chuckled softly at that. “They’ll get a finders fee,” he glared at the couple, “not a purchase price. Ye can’t just sell people, even if ye fount ‘em fair an’ square like.” He pulled a pair of coins from his worn apron and passed them to the mudlarks, whose eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
?
“Now you two don’t go spending that all in one go, here? People’ll think ye stolt ‘em an lock ye both up.” Lucie and Pug were gone in a wink and a whistle.

“Name’s Davius,” the big man said, turning to Ana. “I run the ‘King’s Last Supper’, it’s an alehouse in town. I’ll not ask why you came here, or where you’re from. This is Hogs End, the arsehole of Solaria where everyone who’s at the end of their rope winds up.” He looked her up and down. “Come along then, let's get you cleaned up and mend those scrapes and bumps.”

Ana blinked as the two that ran away. “They tried to sell me?” She said with a sigh. “I meant that little to them.”

That made her sad a little. She had meant nothing more than a means to an end for them.? She supposed she couldn’t blame them. They were poor and she had come to learn that the poor could be desperate when they were trying to survive.

His sudden announcement about asking nothing about her was suspicious. Only certain people made those kinds of announcements. It made her wonder what kind of those people he was. Hogs End was still in Solaria. She needed to know how close to the northern border and the Capital she was. But that would have to wait.

She nodded. “How did they approach you about purchasing me?”? Ana said as she stood. Walking closer to the man in her dirty ratty silk chemise “do you happen to have a cloak.”

“Of course, my dear,” Davius said, removing his own cloak and placing it over Ana’s shoulders. He led her out of the narrow entrance, once again turning sideways himself, and down the narrow strip of coarse sand.

“It was known in town that I’m in need of help,” he explained, “and sos Lucie approached my scullery maid askin’ if I wanted to buy summon what was found on the beach t’ help.” He huffed, “well I didn’t know what to think, never heard of mudlarks finding summon alive, let alone sellin’ em!”

He stopped and looked at her then. “I’ll not ask your business, tis yours for the tellin’, but I’ll not carry a tale either. Can’t say the same for other folk, town is full of gossip.” He winked, “just so’s ye know.”

“Thank you,” she said of the cloak. As she moved out into the sun with him she smirked when he explained the situation with Pug and Lucie. “I do not suppose I blame them. Pug mentioned twice getting beat. It alarmed me. But I suppose selling me is the only way to insure that doesn’t happen. I do not blame them at all.”

Ana was not one to beat around the bush, so she said “then would you advise me to stay out of sight once we arrive in Hogs End?” She asked hoping he understood her meaning.

“Not knowin’ your situation,” Davius replied, “I can not tell ye yay or nay. I can only say that tongues wag.” They came to a wide wooden stair that led to the quay where fishing boats would tie up later in the day. Right now the dockside area was nearly deserted, and the few people about paid them no mind at all as they passed.

It was a short walk to the ‘Kings Last Supper’, a ramshackle but clean alehouse not far from the docks. The sign over the door betrayed a King seated before a great feast, but the King’s features, garb, and crown were Ranuvian, not Solarian. As a matter of fact, the crown was obviously the one that had been worn by Ranuvian monarchs for centuries.

“Welcome to the best alehouse in Hogs End,” Davius proclaimed, “and I’m not just sayin’ that because it’s mine.”

Ana saw the sign and felt tears fill her eyes. So this is what the Solarian’s did...they disgraced and made fun of her father and her people. Using the nobility of her family and ancestors as props for a tavern of all places.

Everything in her wanted to slap this man. Then stalk away with her head held high. But she didn’t. At least not yet.

His answer to the question meant that although he was disgraceful enough to use her lineage, he was unaware of the mark of her ancestors based on her eyes and coloring. So maybe she would be safe here for a time.

“Thank you for your hospitality sir. Will I be allowed to wash and freshen up before I start my chores and duties?”

“I see by the look in your eyes,” Davius offered with a raised eyebrow, “that you haven’t heard the tale of Arbalest the Second of Ranuvia.” He sat down on the long bench that ran along the wall of the tavern, and patted the seat beside him. “Have a seat, Quinn, before you go to wash up, and I’ll tell you how my inn got its name.”

“Hogs Head,” he began, “is the southern cape of Solaria. The weather is very fickle, we have shipwrecks all the time and hence more than our share of scavengers, the mudlarks. About a century and a score of years ago old Arbalest there was on a trading and diplomatic mission to his friend,” the innkeeper chuckled, “yes friend, Rastivan, King of Solaria.”

“Hard to believe in these times, right?” he asked. “Anyway, the Ranuvian fleet ran into bad weather off the cape and put in here, as the king was incredibly seasick. I would think his ‘last supper’ was probably a bowl of broth instead of that feast on the sign, but I wasn’t there.” Davius sighed. “Anyway, Arbalest decided to finish his journey over land, and so he took a coach and a small detachment of men northward along the highway.”

“He ran afoul of bandits dressed as Solarian soldiers, or perhaps renegade Solarian soldiers, or perhaps even a detachment on patrol. Nobody really knows. In the fighting Arbalest was mortally wounded. Meanwhile Rastivan heard of his friend's change of travel plans and sent his own son, Crown Prince Aorik, southward with an escort of soldiers.”

“Well, when Aorik arrived the surviving Ranuvians thought the bandits were returning, and defended themselves. Aorik was killed. The Ranuvians accused Solaria of Regicide, the Solarians claimed that Prince Aorik was murdered in cold blood, and a blood feud ensued. It has lasted from that day until this.”

Davius looked at the sign swinging slowly in the breeze. “And that sign depicts the last time our kingdom was at peace, a foreign king enjoying our hospitality.”

He looked at Ana then. “Best get cleaned up,” the innkeeper advised, “‘tis slow now but when supper comes we’ll be busy.”

Ana kept her face serene as Darvius explained the Solarian version of the blood feud. It was an interesting tale.? “I see”

Considering she had to live through the blood feud and she was the only one left of her family from its wake
and the fact that it had killed Stefan’s sisters and mother and younger brother she knew the blood feud was way deeper than and interesting tale from moreover a century ago.

She had lived in twofold...at the hands of the Solarians when she was a child and at the hands of her husband only a few short days ago.

She looked at him and nodded. “Based on that story, the blood feud between Ranuvia and Solaria was just one major misunderstanding.? I know for a fact the rest of Solaria do not look at it that way.? Are you saying that Hogs End is neutral ground? That the people here do not see Ranuvia as the enemy? And it is this thought that allows you to use that image for your Alehouse? Unless of course they see it as you mocking the enemy then I guess no one would care. What do you think? For the people of Hogs End is Ranuvia the enemy?”

Davius laughed. “For the people of Hogs End everyone is an outsider. You might find that common people and kings have quite different thoughts about war as well. The ‘misunderstanding’ was just the start of course. Once the nobles found out it’s easier to control a populace in war, well, nobody really wanted to stop it. At least, at first. Now, a century or so later, nobody knows how to stop it, the hatred has festered too long.” He sighed. “T’won’t end till they’re all dead.”

“But it has stopped. Crown Prince Stefan of Solaria has married Ranuvia’s only heir Princess Anastaseah. Together they will unite the two counties and build a new tomorrow. Do you not believe this is what will happen? Do you not believe this can happen?”

Davius just smiled then. “I will only believe it when my own eyes gaze upon it. Right now my eyes have gazed upon the time, and if you’re going to get washed up in time to fix supper then we’d best get you settled.”

He led Ana to a small, sparse, but clean room. “There’s a dress or two in the armoire, and an apron. The pitcher and bowl are for washing up, and the garderobe is down the hall on the left. I’ll send Bess, our serving wench, up with some ointments and clean bandages for your scrapes.

“Of course,” she said standing. She quickly moved upstairs to where her room was. She saw the cuts and bruises on her face and arms. Sighing she washed. Then she dressed in the simple grey skirt and white shirt tying the apron. Pulling her long dark hair into a messy bun, she came down stairs. Ready to help in anyway she could.

The huge fireplace in the kitchen was already going, the hearth was full of pots. A huge cauldron hung over the fire. Loaves of bread sat rising beside the warm bricks. Davius stood in the middle of a score of kitchen help like a maestro with an orchestra. Seeing Ana he admitted, “my Elise does this so much better than I. Have ye ever commanded an army, Quinn? This is much harder.”

Turning to the staff Davius pronounced, “this is Madam Quinn, she’s t’ be fillin’ in for Madam Elise. She’s in charge, see? Give her any of yer blarney an’ ye’ll have me t’ deal with. Now get back t’ work.”

As he took Quinn aside he asked, “I know ye said you can cook, Quinn, but are ye comfortable commanding servants? Do ye think you can run the kitchen?? If not sing out now and I’ll stay back here, only relying on your culinary skill an’ taste buds.”

“I can do both. And command an army.” She said with a wink. “Go. Tend to your guests. And when I have a moment I’ll take Madame Elise something to eat. Now off wit’cha.” She said then turned back to the kitchen.

“Shall we?” And then she jumped right in. Taking charge and giving orders and helping where she could.