Chapter 5: Nikolai

We entered the shop and I asked for anything that was suitable for Alvina who was looking around like she never saw anything like this before. I have to say, her wonder of taking in everything that I took for granted was…refreshing.

I smiled before the merchant was picking up some of the garments that would be suitable for Alvina's lithe body. Not that I know anything but I shook that thought away, coughing as Alvina was arching her eyebrow at me.

"This way, ma'am," the merchant said before I was looking around for the garments that I might be needing later. But I thought it would be best if I got them in Royal Molftus instead.

"Kolya, what do you think?" Alvina's voice filled my eardrums and I turned in that direction. And I almost staggered back in my steps.

Alvina was wearing the gown that was made of silk and lace and it fitted perfectly on her curves. I was trailing my eyes from her hair to her toes before Alvina was twirling around.

"Do you like it? I don't think it was too much but I hope it was nothing too expensive for you to cover. You know what, perhaps I take something else—"

"No, leave it. You will be wearing that," I said before I asked for the merchants to pack similar gowns in different colors. Alvina was arching her eyebrow at me before I smiled and produced some coins to pay for her garments.

"Thank you, my lord," the merchants said before Alvina was carrying her satchel before we went to the horse. I took the rein and we were walking to the inn that I can see the others were waiting. As we approached, Logan was whistling at Alvina.

"Well, aren't you look like a Lady now?" he said before Alvina just smiled at him.

"Thanks to Kolya that I bought some more dresses," she said before I was grunting and we were making our ways into the inn. Logan snickered before I was taking in the tavern that was in front of me.

Everyone was busy before they were looking at us. I nodded at them before I was heading toward the bar. The owner was looking at me with his eyebrows.

"Good day, sir. My companions and I were looking for lodging for several nights. I suppose you have some opening for 6 rooms?" I asked him before he was looking at Alvina. I traced his eyes as well before she was looking around with that big, wide eyes of hers.

"Sure, 10 shillings per night,"

"Ten? That was outrageous! I thought it would be 5 shillings per night?" Harold asked him before the owner shrugged.

"It's the peak season. Maybe you should have come before that," he said before he smirked at Harold. My friend took a step forward but I stopped him.

"We take it. And please, send our dinners to our rooms," I said before I was collecting the keys and went to the group again.

"You know he was ripping us off, Kolya. Why did you allow him?" Harold hissed at me before I was rolling my eyes.

"Relax, my friend. It will be on King's money and you know this expedition was much worth than to argue with him," I nodded at the owner before Harold clicked his tongue. I turned to look around before I smiled as Alvina was shifting on her foot.

Perhaps she was not comfortable wearing shoes.

"So, we have 6 rooms—"

"But we have 7 people. How come you ask for only 6 rooms? What about Alvina?" Ronny asked before I was looking at him and then I turned to look at Alvina. She was still looking around and there were some patrons that were interested in her.

My blood boiled before I cleared my throat.

"She will be sharing a room with me," I said before every eye was looking at me, except Alvina's of course. She was dumb that way.

"What, you cannot be serious—"

"What if her reputation was compromised?"

"Do you really think that was the best solution?"

"I don't think I like it more than you do," I said before I was taking Alvina's hand. She was looking at me before I pulled her to my side.

"But it will be the best for all of us. Get some sleep. I think we all need it after the actions in the Forbidden Land," I said before we were tugging toward the room that I picked for us. I unlocked the door and pushed Alvina through before I was leaning against the door. Alvina was taking in the scene in front of her and I was looking at her.

What was it about this woman that I cannot seem to figure out? Perhaps it was the way that she was looking at the world or maybe I was not thinking straight?

I pinched my temples with my fingers before Alvina was turning to look at me, concern was in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Kolya?" she asked before I turned to look at her. I smiled before I nodded my head.

"Yeah, I am fine. I just need some rest and everything will be alright. Why don't you clean up and we can eat dinner later?" I said before that Alvina was looking at me as if she did not understand what I just said.

"What's clean up?" she asked. Spot on of my guess. I sighed before I was looking at her again. She seemed like a decent lady but the fact that her brain cannot even process what I just said made me wanted to smack her.

Or kiss her, I don't know.

"Are you sure you're right on the head? I don't think that any decent person would not understand that," I said before Alvina was looking at me. The hurt was in her eyes before she shifted her eyes to the floor.

"Well, sorry to be a dumb person then," she mumbled before she was moving toward the bathroom. I did not know what came over me but I was pulling her by the wrist and turned her around. She gasped as she was leaning against my chest and I was looking into her eyes.

A very peculiar red-maroon eyes.

It pulled me in and I don't know who moved first but the next thing I know, I was kissing her. or was Alvina the one that kissed me? I was not sure but I was pushing her against the wall before I was putting my hands on her waist.

She moaned before she was gripping my arms, feeling my muscles underneath my clothes. I was roaming her body as I was pulling one of her legs around my torso before she gasped again. I closed my eyes, feeling the softness and lush of a woman that I don't think I would ever miss. Then, it hit me.

I pulled away, breaking the kiss as I was looking at Alvina. Her mouth was swollen and moist as if to invite me in again. but I shook my head before I was turning my back on her.

"The tub has been brought up. You can get clean up in the washroom. I just go now," I said before I went to the door and opened it, leaving Alvina alone in the room that was sure to provoke me to ravish her now and then.

*****

I did not know how long I have left her alone in the room. I was nursing myself to some ale, thinking about the failed expedition. I swore that I followed everything to the rules and right now, I was getting nowhere.

I sighed, sipping on the ale before I was opening the journal that belonged to my father. I was pulling the last bookmark that I read before I was settling the candle to illuminate my reading. Here it goes.

The Forbidden Land has been discovered by one of the First Settlers when they ventured to East Island. They did not know what to do about it at first, perhaps worshiping it and built a temple for them. But then, it was ruined from the weathering of 500 years.

Ever since then, I have documented every strange occurrence that seems to happen in The Old Winton. Someone's wailing at night, the sighting of apparitions, and someone even claimed that they saw a young, beautiful woman wandering at night, naked and alone.

They did not know what to say about that but someone told me the description of the woman. Red hair, porcelain, unblemished skin. I was intrigued to investigate but perhaps it was nothing, just an imagination of a boy that saw whatever they wanted in the Forbidden Land.

But maybe, there was truth in his words as well?

I rubbed my mouth as I was remembering the description of the young woman that wandered around the forest.

Red hair.

Unblemished, porcelain skin.

Then, it hit me.

With uncanny red-maroon eyes.

Was Alvina the wandering lady that was spotted by a boy years ago? Surely she would age by now but what if…what if Alvina was the product of those callings from the ruins after all?

Now, isn't that something to make sense out of?