Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Avalyn woke with a start and took stock of her achy body, everything hurt more now than it had earlier and she wasn't appreciative of it. After letting go a heavy breath, she remembered what woke her, “Mikhail?"

“Yes?"

"Did you just sneeze?”

“Yes."

"Excuse you.”

"Thank you, there's food over here on the table. Your hand maiden dropped it by just a few minutes ago.”

Avalyn whimpered and groaned as she struggled to sit up. By the time she locked eyes on Mikhail, she was panting. Her stomach growled angrily. With a goal in mind she struggled out of bed, and tumbled over the side, entangled in her sheets. Mentally she cursed her aching muscles that she couldn’t get to work the way she needed, she managed to kick the sheets loose and stood up free.

"Princess!" Mikhail bolted up right, eyes like saucers, "You're indecent!”

"I'm in my room." She grunted, uncaring, trying to get to her feet, ”What are you so concerned about? There's nothing to look at, remember?”

Mikhail sputtered, he did indeed remember, and had been wrong. Although he was more concerned about his neck, he was on thin ice as is it was with the king. The princess was strutting around unabashed in her lacy underthings. She made her way to the table where Mikhail couldn’t decided a place to rest his eyes. Anywhere not the princess. Except it really wasn’t a bad option.

She sat heavily in the chair in front of the food and started shoving food in till her cheeks puffed out. She sat back and sprawled in her seat.

“How very lady like," he commented now rather taken aback; unsure on how to process what he was witnessing.

"I'sa goo' fing I'm no' a laywee.”

"Uh-huh." He decided he was definitely amused, and settled a bit. He chanced a glance at her. "How's your back?" She shrugged, still chewing. Her eyes flickered toward him, sharp as always. He wasn’t sure what it was she had seen, but it seemed she had an answer to unasked question. He chuckled and stood, "Sit forward.”

She obeyed without argument, when he saw her large bruise, he hissed, "That has to hurt." She hummed in reply. She propped her head on the table, and pushed her chair back, giving him ample room to maneuver as he went and retrieved her jar of ointment. When he opened the small the small jar he nearly dropped it from its sharp odor. Cautiously, as if it might explode, he set it on the table and took a small helping, warmed it in his hands and started at the small of her back. By the way she flinched, he hadn't warmed it enough. Mikhail was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his thoughts platonic. The information the King had revealed to him earlier that day was still spinning round in his mind and didn't help the matter any bit. As he worked the balm in, he noted how lean she really was, all the more surprising, it was an athletic lean. He could make out her spine and ribs, but the muscles in her shoulders and arms were defined; in quite a similar fashion as a practiced swordsman.

"Where is it?" He asked, trying to keep a nonchalant attitude.

"Where's what?" She grumbled back. She had started to fall asleep to his massage.

"Your sword?”

"Which one?”

"You have more than one?" He looked around the room but didn’t see anything revealing. Though he wasn’t her jailer and didn’t peruse through her personal affects.

“Yesss." She hissed her word as Mikhail rubbed a bit too hard against her spine.

Mikhail found himself seething. It wasn't proper that she have such weapons or such training, "Who taught you?”

"My previous Knight Commander, he wanted me to learn just in case. He said he knew too many girls who had been hurt by monstrous men. A lot of my pretty things are disguised weapons. I never go anywhere unarmed.”

She made sense and he couldn't fault her for it. Anything that could go wrong in a battle, usually did. He was however surprised by her last comment.

"I haven't seen any weapons on you." He thought back, astonished. He had a keen eye for that sort of thing.

"They're a lady’s weapon. Integrated in the things I use all the time, you aren't supposed to know they're weapons.”

Astounded didn't seem to be the adequate word for Mikhail at the moment. He had no idea his princess was always armed and he didn't even know it.

"What's the time?" She asked.

"The bell rung for nine just a few minutes before you woke," He looked over at her, still lying on the table. Her eyes were looking outside with longing, his were roaming all over her. He was in awe at her beauty, "Ava, would you please cover up?" he asked desperately, averting his gaze to a corner in the ceiling. He heard a heavy sigh and the chair slowly scraping as she got up and padded into the other room. She came out in a light silk robe, it wasn't really doing his mind any better, but at least her skin was covered.

Instead of coming back to her chair she went out on her balcony, letting in a refreshing breeze into the room, and disappeared beyond the doors and drapes.

After a moment he himself got up and followed her out. It was dusk and the sky was dark and spotted with just the brightest of stars except for the western skyline. It held out and glowed a brilliant pink over the water, turning the city black, despite all the lights from the festivities. The music of it drifted on the breeze.

Mikhail was torn. He knew Avalyn had been desperately excited to go out into the city today. He was so tired though, and all he wanted to do was sleep off the day's events. Far too much had happened, but she was right about one thing. She was always trapped here. While she kept him preoccupied, even he went out to the city most evenings for a drink, or to late dinners with friends. She never did. ”How does sneaking out sound?”

She turned and eyed him with suspicion. He never suggested that she break the rules, but he telling her they should do so was cause for questioning.

"By sneaking out you mean…”

"Get dressed, we're leaving.”

Her eyes lit with excitement and she rushed past him, pausing only momentarily to kiss his cheek.

000

Mikhail looked around, checking that all was clear, around and waited till the sentry on the wall turned to walk down the ramparts and face out to the city. He knew his next patrol wasn't going to be around in the area for another two minutes. With Avalyn in tow, he sprinted across the courtyard to hide in the shadow of the wall.

They trotted down, following the wall until they approached the stables. They heard murmuring on the other side of the door, "Open it." Avalyn whispered, giving him an excited push. He shushed her but did as he was told. With tense muscles he cracked one of the doors open to see a couple stable boys sitting on hay bales, playing dice around a small lantern.

"Find me a rock." He whispered, not a moment later a palm sized stone was placed in his hand. With a toss in the air for luck, he threw the rock down the center aisle. It went far past the boys and hit the far wall with a loud clatter. The boys jumped up to investigate, and the horses banged in their stalls, startled out of their slumber. The moment the boys backs were turned the two rushed inside and flew down to the left to the farthest aisle of horses.

"Why are we in here?" Avalyn asked.

"You really think the only way out of the palace is through the guards station and the front gate?" He asked with an arrogant attitude, "I know every way in, out, and around the palace."

He guided her to the last stall where a horse, recently woken looked up at them with curious and bleary eyes. Mikhail ushered her in and followed after. Avalyn greeted the now ever more curious horse, and steered him out of her Knight Commander's way. She watched him slip a finger in a small chip in the wood wall and pull. To Avalyn's great surprise, a whole door appeared.

"My goodness, it's huge!" She gasped.

"Almost like it's big enough to allow a horse through." He stepped through and beckoned her to follow. She peered in around the door and followed slowly. When he closed the door, the dim glow orange glow from select torches disappeared and they were left in darkness.

"Is there a light here we can use?" She asked in a nervous whisper.

"Yes, but if we don't need it, I'm not going to use it. We aren't in any sort of emergency, give me a moment to let my eyes adjust." They waited in the pitch black tunnel. Mikhail leaning against the door, and Avalyn standing rigid, grasping his hand tightly. Trying to strain her ears to hear anything ahead. All she could pick up was their breathing, and rustling of cloth. The horse sniffed at the door noisily once, but Avalyn's eyes didn't adjust. Not as it appeared Mikhail's had when he started off, pulling her along. There was absolutely no light for her eyes to pick up.

Avalyn tripped and squeaked when she realized that the tunnel descended. Mikhail steadied her and started to talk. Being both very nervous and excited, her senses on high alert, it took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her.

"What did you say?" She could feel him send her an irritated look, but he repeated himself.

"This tunnel goes under the palace walls, the wall goes down an extra ten to fifteen feet."

"What is it for, though?”

“Emergencies."

Avalyn's nose started to crinkle as they went deeper. A dank smell of wet rot suffocated her nose, she said nothing, and discreetly covered her nose.

"Smells none to pleasant, does it?" Mikhail commented, having noticed her movement. How exactly, she wasn't sure, but she giggled at his comment. To her relief and surprise their descent ended, again with her tripping. Mikhail steadied her again, and to her great surprise he didn't share a witty comment.

"How can you see?" She asked exasperated, finding it frustrating and embarrassing that she was the one stumbling about like a drunkard idiot. Her ears picked up his quiet, rumbling, chuckle.

"Just have better eyes, Princess, it's why you pay me." The Princess grunted and rolled her eyes, unimpressed, "You shouldn't roll your eyes, Princess, it's rude.”

"Alright, there is no way you saw me roll my eyes!”

Mikhail let out a real laugh, one she hadn't heard in awhile, "I can hear you roll your eyes. You're too predictable.”

Avalyn bit her bottom lip until it hurt, in an attempt to not roll her eyes again. However he realized, she wasn't sure, but he seemed to know she was struggling not to roll her eyes again and he chuckled.

"Is that the end?" At the end she saw odd silver lines, like claw marks hovering in the air. Excitement renewed she picked up her pace, catching Mikhail by surprise. When they approached, Avalyn put her hands on the black before her to feel dry rough wood. It was only by Mikhail tugging her back that saved her from banging her head again on the sloping door. She could finally make some things out with the small bit of moon light shining in through the cracks. Mikhail stood, nearby, looking down at a key ring in his hands, trying to feel for the key he needed. With a satisfied a-ha, he unlocked the door and shoved it open. Leaves and dirt debris fluttered around them, and Avalyn took an excited peek around him before coming out.

"Are we in the King's Forest?" A loud bang behind her made her jump and spin around. Mikhail was looking guilty, holding a rotted piece of the door in his hand. The door was covered in grass and a vine with white flowers. With an oh, she reached for one, "What kind of flower is this?”

"Moonflowers, how do you not know what these are?" He asked as he rearranged the shrubbery on the door.

"I don't know, do they only open in the evening?”

"Yes, actually, which would explain why you wouldn't know, but still they're a romantic flower. I thought you would know everything about romantic flowers and all that kind of girly lady stuff." He hesitated when he saw her face and chuckled, before tossing his chunk of wood out into the depth of the trees, "Come on, let's go.”

Avalyn was gripping Mikhail with a death grip on his arm, bouncing up and down in excitement as they made their way through the festivities. She giggled as a costumed acrobat rolled up to her and presented a flower. She gave him a copper and he kissed her cheek and danced away.

"There's so much sound, so much music..." She sniffed the air, closing her eyes, "And that smell." Avalyn hummed appreciatively.

"Are you hungry?" Mikhail asked, eyes set on a nearby vendor, "I think your smell is coming from over there.”

After obtaining their prizes, they meandered together down the streets, admiring the festivities, the masked dancers, pretty dresses and all the colors. Everywhere hung colored paper lanterns that held little candles.

"Mikhail?" She asked nervously, as an idea popped to her mind. She looked at him to watch him peel the tail off his last piece of glazed shrimp and passed it over to her. She quickly nipped it out of his fingers. He blinked a few times. His mouth having gone dry in shock. When his mind started functioning again after the seemingly flirtatious act, she was already moving on with what she had started saying. He also realized her hands were still full. He cleared his throat, "Take my fingers, why don't you?”

She paused, her face flushing with embarrassment. She swallowed her bite hard, “sorry.” He took the chunk of steak from her hand for penance. She made no move or sound in objection. Just started to pull off another.

“What were you trying to say?”

”Oh, yes.” She stopped and looked about, before studying Mikhail’s face. “Can we come back again on Wednesday?" Her eyes were large and pleading, but she remained silent. Wednesday was the last day of the festival and most certainly the most fun. His gaze turned to his last stick of grilled meat, he pulled a piece off and handed it to her. She took it and bit into it to find the beef was wonderfully sweet and juicy like the shrimp had been with that delightful smoky undertone. He was trying to buy himself some time as he thought about her request. "I think I prefer the steak bites." She said as she chewed carefully. He agreed with a full mouth.

"I'll think about it. You do have your own lantern ceremony in the palace.”

"I know, but I want to know what it's like out here. These people have fun to have fun. Everyone is so worried about image in the palace. I guess with everything going on, the trip to Emerald Woods, the funeral, all the guests for the tourney… I shouldn’t have asked. It’s a lot.” She picked at her food, avoiding his eyes.

Mikhail had to remind himself he wasn’t the only one with a lot on his plate. She still believed she was being paraded around to be bought and sold to the highest bidder or the strongest competitor during the upcoming meet. She had a lot of foreign and domestic dignitaries to mind and appease. He tipped her head up to him by her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, “You’re allowed to ask of me whatever you wish, Princess. It is your right. Like I said, I will think about it and see what we can do.” She gave him a small smile and nodded. Though the disappointment was gone, she didn’t look hopeful.

"Shall we go to Drake’s?"

He made a show for her tossing the last bit of steak in the air and catching it. She giggled. He gave her a grin and dragged her to Drake’s.

They were greeted with enthusiasm, "Lord Mikhail!" A large man boomed from behind a glass display case, "And his lady. By the gods, at long last it appears someone finally caught your eye, and by Sephraeti, you found you a purty one." He came around to greet his customers properly, moving his large self around with practiced ease. He bowed and kissed her hand, his bushy walrus mustache tickling, "Now my Lord, what can I do for you? Are you here to get another piece of your set?”

"No, just came to admire, I think.”

He nodded in understanding and turned his attention back on Avalyn, "Well m'lady, can I show you some of our finer trinkets? Far more suitable for a lovely one such as yourself to carry around than a large blade as your fine young man here does. come this way, even a pretty lady needs protection.”

Avalyn looked to Mikhail for permission before she dragged off. Mikhail chuckled and nodded at her, she was safe enough here, “May I ask to whom I am acquainting?”

"Where are my manners?! I am Grady Granger, master of this fine establishment, here.”

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Grady." Avalyn peeked behind her to see Mikhail speaking with another gentleman on the far side of the store, He himself had looked over at her from the corner off his eye, ”What's this set you were inquiring Kai about?”

Master Grady smiled, "It's one of my finest designs. Of course the whole set is expensive, so he's been buying it in pieces. From what I understand he has the dagger, vambraces, and greaves. Would you like me to show you?”

"Oh please, if you would." With a smile he bustled off and disappeared into the back of his store. A moment later he returned with a drawing pad, seeming aware she was being discreet, he kept the pad turned away from Mikhail, still over in the far corner.

He laid them before her and showed off the matching design between armor and weapons. The design was elegant. There was forest scenery over the wide pieces. Wolves was the common theme between all of it. "These are beautiful! do you take credit? I haven't much on me.”

"Of course my dear, what are you interested in getting?”

With a quick look through all the drawings, she pursed her lips, but her mind had already been made up, "All of it. What ever he doesn't have.”

Master Grady gave her a questioning look, "That is quite a bit, Sweetheart, are you sure?”

Avalyn smiled and nodded, "To whom am I crediting? Do you have your signet?”

"To Master of the Treasury at the royal palace," She said, passing her signet over the counter. Master Grady had been in the process of melting wax when he paused to observe, after his beady eyes did a critical examination, he gave a deep throaty laugh, "I didn't think it possible the Knight Commander could look at any girl other than his princess." He said conspiratorially, eyes twinkling with amusement, "Watches you like a wolf watches sheep, that one. Aye, your guardian shall get his armament. I'll make this a priority, and it will be done just in time for the tourney.”

"He'll be the prettiest one out there." She added.

"The most well protected, and the most dangerous.” He gave another deep chuckle, "And rumor has it, he has a beast of a competitor coming into town to try and impress you for your hand in marriage. Good thing his princess has seen to it he is well prepared." He pressed her ring into the wax at the bottom of the transaction papers with her signature.

“Begging your pardon, but what is it you speak of?”

Master Grady gave a knowing grin, "Lord Knight Commander spoke of it the other day. A prince comes. Apparently his father has been badgering your father since they day you were born to have you. Now the son comes in hopes to wi you through force. He’s a mean one, according to my Lord. And if he is worried, you know he’s not a good one.” His face had gone dark as he spoke.

"Neither my father or Kai have said anything to me." She pouted, sending an accusatory glance back at Mikhail, who caught it, "Which is well enough I guess, I'm not immensely impressed by boys beating each other up with sharp sticks. Or thinking that at all will impress me enough to marry.”

“I don’t think you need worry anyhow. Mikhail won’t fail in keeping you safe. And it’d be a cold day in the Beyond when the people of Avalon lets you get traded to a monster. You’re a national treasure, darling. My Lord knows it most especially, don’t you, sir?”

"What lies are you telling her Master Granger?" Mikhail asked suspicious, coming up behind Avalyn, "Filling her head with fanciful tales?”

“Hardly, My Lord. I was just reminding your lady… what a treasure she is.”

Mikhail grunted, as if it could be debated. She elbowed him and glared up at him. Master Grady boomed a laugh that made others turn to look.

"Who's coming to the palace for the tournament?”

Mikhail didn't answer right away as he stared at her then at Master Grady with accusation, "No one you need concern yourself with, hardly worth your time." His eyes flickered over the papers, "What is this?" He reached for them but Master Grady pulled them away.

"It is your lady's business.”

"Horseshit, those were my designs!" He turned on Avalyn, "What did you do?”

"Why didn't you tell me you were building an armor set?”

"Not really any of your concern, my lady.”

"My safety is always my concern, you'll be getting your stuff by-“ she pointed to Master Grady.

"Thursday." Master Grady nodded.

"By Thursday. You are welcome, Lord Mikhail." She bounced her rolled copy of the agreement on his chest, and he snatched it out of her hands.

"You didn't have to do that." He said quietly.

"Yes I did. I can’t be married to just anyone with a pointy stick.”

A slow smile spread across his face suggestively, "That is not what I meant." She cried frustrated, "Why do you have to do that?”

He gave a warm chuckle and reached for her hand, "Let's go." Master Grady's chuckle followed them out.

000

Avalyn had gotten elbowed hard in the back as they had left Drake’s Forge Armory. She saw stars and the world spun in differing directions. Mikhail had been playing the buffer through out the evening. But someone had been desperate to get into the store. He caught her before her knees could buckle and walked her to a near by table. A server came out to greet them as Avalyn tried to keep her roiling stomach under control. Mikhail ordered hot drinks for the both of them. He sat close to her, rubbing the back of her neck in hopes to keep her grounded.

She brought her face up from out of her hands taking in a deep breath through her nose, “Will you survive?”

She took another deep breath, exhaling hard, “It’s debatable.” Mikhail chuckled and rubbed down her shoulders.

“Here, drink. This will help.” She took the warm drink he proffered. Ava shook her head, she hadn’t even noticed the server come and go. She drank and hummed appreciatively. The hot cider warmed her from the core.

“Thank you.” She whispered. Her eyes were drawn to street performers juggling ridiculous items. They flickered over to Mikhail as he let out a heavy sigh.

“I have to be honest.” She swallowed slowly, now very nervous, but her eyes were trained on him. He looked into his cup and twirled the contents, “Despite all the grief I’ve given you for sneaking out, I am grateful you did.”

“I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. I do find it odd you’d thank me for something like that.”

Mikhail finally met her gaze, “Your father is a fair man, a fair king. But sometimes I feel like he forgets what the real world is like. What his people are going through. He stays stuck in the palace and he keeps you there too. When you started sneaking out, you saw things that didn’t quite meet your standards of how things should be. You made sure things changed. You wish the very best for your people, you want to know what goes on in their lives. It's admirable.

"That dress maker, whose shop was crumbling, you asked me to fix it. To see to it that it was as beautiful as the gowns she made. When I marched down there with my troops and the engineers and their builders, she sobbed and begged for me to stop when we started crating all her gowns, suits and materials. I told her we were tearing it down. When she finally cried why, I told her the building wasn't structurally sound, a safety hazard and the princess wanted it rebuilt.”

"What happened next?”

Mikhail took a moment to reply as he recalled the memory, "She gapped at me and started to cry again, telling me she didn't have the means to rebuild let alone support herself as it was being built. I remember being frustrated beforehand, not understanding why she would be so against such a gracious and generous offer. I realized I hadn’t explained it well. That this was at your expense. I told her if she desired to work while it was being rebuilt, she had a job with the palace tailors and an apartment if she didn't having housing else where. She was dumbfounded. After a few months of it being built I went back to check on her. She was bustling about her shop, completely swamped by all the customers and had many young women under her employ. The renovations had made her popular. When she spotted me she told me not to move and she ran to the back and came back with a sack of coin. She had managed to work back every coin that had been spent on renovation in such a short time. I insisted that you would not want her to not give even a copper bit back. She was indeed insistent upon it, for your kindness had saved her business. I told her it wouldn't really be a kindness if it was paid back, and asked instead for a gown. I think she was more touched that she could be given the opportunity to create a gown for you over her shop being rebuilt. That’s where that gown I got you came from.

"Then there is that old coot of a librarian who you made me go and repaint his shop and shelves. He asked me to rearrange while I was there, ‘with so many strong able young men, it will be over quick and easy.’ Phah! It took forever! Do you know how heavy those books are?" He asked, now genuinely outraged, it was all Avalyn could do to hold back smile, "You know what he did after we were done? He invited us to have tea and muffins with him. This poor old man, invited us to share his meager rations with Lordlings of wealth and ravenous appetites. It was humbling. I think I had a harder time getting over your sneaking out because it usually meant more charity work and it was getting to be too much time away from you.

“And while I am being fully transparent, your father has known the whole time, while I have been assigned that you've been sneaking out. I kept him informed all the work and changes you wanted done. It was he who approved them. The money never came from your trust.”

Avalyn sat silently, shocked, mind blank. She wasn't sure what to make of this, and her feelings were kind of hurt that he told her father, she stared into her empty glass. “He’s known this whole time?”

“Yes. He’d been furious at first but I came to your defense. Reminded him he had lied to you about taking you out himself. That he was hypocrite for letting his wife and other children out but not you.”

Ava’s eyes went wide, “That was incredibly stupid.”

“He said the exact same thing. I thought he was going to throw me out on my ass right then.”

She prodded him on again, “Well, what happened next?”

“I said another stupid thing. I told him people weren’t going to be honest with him if he wasn’t honest with them.He didn’t let the let the last Knight Commander be honest and upfront with you. Look at what it had cost him.”

Avalyn’s mouth dropped open, “No you did not.”

“I did. And he looked if I had slapped him. I left then. Nothing else needed to be said. He needed time to stew. He had made himself a liar and a pretender. I don’t care for either.” He chewed on his lip and played with a ring on his finger.

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

“I suppose it’s because I only hope that I can be the kind of man that can and will help see all of this through for you. I know what it’s like to have no allies around when you need them. I never want that for you.” When he finally looked at her, he saw tears glistening in her crystalline blue eyes. He jumped to his feet, “Pr- please don't cry." He came around, kneeling before her and brought her small hands to his mouth, “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

"I'm just fine, Kai. Just caught me off guard. How are you faring?” She reluctantly pulled one of her hands from his warm grasp and rubbed her eyes. She really didn’t have many friends, and it was nice to hear she had one in him from the start. Even without knowing it.

“Me?"

Avalyn rolled her eyes, "No, the man over there I'm talking to.”

Mikhail squeezed her fingers before kissing them, minding his sass, "I'll be okay, I've been expecting it. No one expected her to last this long to begin with.”

"I can't imagine that it makes it any easier.”

Mikhail was silent, "No, I suppose it doesn’t. We should head back. It’s very late.” She nodded, reluctant for this night to end. Slowly they made their way back to the palace, not worrying about sneaking onto palace grounds. They took their time walking the corridors, everyone was in their beds other than the guards. He stopped by her door and with a nod to the guards they disappeared down the corridor.

She rested his hands on his front as she waited for them to be out of hearing range, "Thank you for taking me out, you didn't have to do that. It was fun, though.”

Mikhail nodded and accepted her gratitude, and noticed her big eyes and lingering touch. He touched her jaw, and traced its line and leaned down to kiss her. Thumping on the door behind them stopped him and he pulled away and Avalyn giggled, "I guess he missed me.”

"Understandably," Mikhail replied stiffly.

"Would you like to come in?" She offered shyly.

"It's probably best that I don't, Princess. Wouldn't want to give anybody the wrong idea.”

"Would it actually be wrong?" She asked with a sly grin.

Mikhail smiled back, "Not likely by much." There was another round of desperate scratching at the door, "I'll take that as my cue." He leaned down and kissed her soft cheek, "Good night, Princess.”

"Good night, Lord Mikhail."