Chapter 5: The invader

Jocelyn wiped her eyes and stirred at the unsteady movement of the drapes and cried out at him pushing back.

Her heart thumped tossing the sheets back to face him, she lost color and he appeared concerned until she regained her composure again.

"I didn't startle you, did I?" He asked and she hardened flicking her hair back.

"No, I was picking up a well deserved treat and rest" She said flicking her hair off her sleeves.

The sight of her was daunting, her hair was down in tangles and she wiped the saliva off her lips with her unkempt fingers.

"You don't understand the gravity of your offence" He towered over her.

"Oh me?" She pointed and bewildered by his cool demeanor.

"Trespassing in my chambers..."

Her lips twisted.

"...is not only an infringement of my privacy but my pride!" He thundered.

She gasped when he pulled her arm, she pushed back but to her dismay, it barely moved, his grip was firm as a rock.

The guards rushed in and he nodded "Sire, I did not see her when she came in_"

"Silence, you've once again proven your incompetence, I'll see to your sentence when I'm done with her_"

"Oof" She dropped on the bed and the guard stiffened and without question, left the chambers.

His face became angry but he did not have the strength to invest on his anger. He paced to the window.

"What else did you disclose?"

She strained her ear at that and twisted her wrist and sat up "Nothing, as trivial as this exchange may seem, it's starting to get a little tedious"

"You will not tell me the reason why you desecrated my room with your presence?" He turned reading through her.

"What are you looking for?" He said sternly.

"Oh you recall what I hope for,"

He scanned her profile and she gulped on her words.

"Isn't it obvious?" She walked casually to him and he clasped her wrists before she cupped his handsome face. "Oh, rigid aren't you, scoundrel?"

Bradford grinned at this trick on him, "Even if you sell your soul to me, it isn't worth a dime. You'll never be free"

She fumed yanking her arms off, "I'm not as timid as you imagine, king"

She walked to the bench settling down to wear her heels, his eyes blazed on her legs and soft skin. He looked up when she sat up straight.

"I want to know why you brought me here. I only got carried away, that's all"

"How did they let you in here?" He eyed her maiden's dress and veil.

"I have my strategies" She straightened her dress. "I have a right to know or should I come to conclusions myself, scoundrel?"

His jaw clenched "Don't surpass your boundaries, Jocelyn, speaking of boundaries. Back to your quarter" He said again with that firm grip dragging her to the doorpost where the guards stood.

"Take her back to her quarters and don't let her out of your sight"

"Hold on scoundrel, is this some kind of a wager? I will not be handled like this, do you hear me?"

He sneered and Elliot watched her leave from a nook and his dark eyes following her.

...

The maid named Ashley slumped on the cell, her eye was swollen and blood was seeping from her lips. She heard the squeak of the cell gate and shrieked.

"No, please, not any more" She entreated crying.

The warden that tortured her pulled her head up and from her left eye, the lights danced in front of her eyes and she blinked back tears at the king coming.

"Please, no, have mercy. I've told you everything I know_" She muffled when he patted her head.

"Don't fret child, I will spare your wretched life, if you tell me where she is"

She trembled "I don't know, your majesty, I saw her with a man, they were both wearing masks, I was given a mandate by the princess to leave. Beyond everything else, that's all I know" She sobbed.

He sneered, Jocelyn wore a mask that night, did she plan on running away? Given her fixation on being crowned princess and the throne. She looked forward to it.

Perhaps she fled or it was another person bent on ending his reign as king. He even swallowed his pride to make the next system a matriarchy for her sake, to the elders, it seemed like he was just being a wisecrack.

As long as he had an heir then he had a chance to extend his bloodline. He thought long and hard that he almost forgot the vermin that was in front of him.

She had an alibi and she kept saying the same thing, her loyalty to the kidnappers must be strong.

He questioned himself for not being more vigilant, he questioned the guards and blamed everyone else but himself.

He gave one conscious stare at her and she shuddered flinching.

"Don't torture her any further"

"Thank you, your majesty"

"You will remain here and you will not set your eyes on anyone you know and love again, with little food and water"

She stirred "I beg of you, I don't know anything else, please!"

The cell door closed.

...

The eighth day,

She folded up her clothes and slotted them into the shelf, with little freedom and movement, she could associate with the guards if she needed anything.

She grimaced sweeping the floors and wiping her head at the clean room, the door unlocked and a guard looked in.

"Lass,"

She was only to move out by three o'clock for a meal and she held her hands together as she was escorted to the bistro where other servants sat.

The lot moved around to find their tables and she grimaced at the poor lighting and heads turned and the place went quiet, gazing at her, she clenched her fists and walked inside.

Elliot saw her and his drink slammed on the counter "Behold, the queen walks among us!"

"Who are we to receive such a bedazzling sight?"

Patrick, a fellow of his rubbed his chin "I don't know, I've got my gold on this one"

She sneered walking to the table where the chubby cook served lunch from an old cauldron.

His double chin deepened at her arrival he carved out a white mash and dunked it into her plate.

"What is this, pray tell?" She let out in evident anger.

"Sloppy mashed potatoes, fresh off the menu, princess" He grinned shoving a spoon and passing it to her.

"Is that right? Then I'd like a turkey dinner with a dash of sauce, cauliflower cheese and wine"

"Don't get sassy on me, you're holding up the line"

She flustered and took her bowl, she hated being here, to mingle with servants. She found a vacant table and huffed going to sit down.

She grimaced at her bogus white tunic tucked in a black skirt and cheap midnight blue woolen scarf on her shoulders, her head was tied with a satin scarf leaving her golden hair to flow down, putting her in with the rest of the commoners.

At first impression, she jabbed at the food and it squashed as her spoon squelched into the mashed meal and she tried to eat it, the smell was not encouraging. She pulled out the strand of hair.

"Eek!" She tossed it away and wiped her tongue with her scarf.

Lucinda strolled to her just at that moment