Subsistent Lies

I had no clue what had came over me last night, but I did know it had nothing to do with Darius. As soon as I saw the picture of that man I got a terrible headache and fainted. To my disappointment I awoke to mama by my side in the sanatorium. When mama had thought me well enough she took me up to the chambers where I laid in bed puzzled over what had happened to me. A headache for me was rare and only happened when something horrible has happened, like when daddy died. I guess I wouldn’t have minded as much if I hadn’t saw what I did before I fainted. I saw me playing in a courtyard with a young boy when suddenly a figure came out of nowhere and starts fighting with the boy. I run into the castle and find a man on the foyer bleeding, the man from the picture is standing over him looking at me. I stand there screaming until I am snatched up by someone. I tried shrugging it off and going asleep, but the scene kept repeating in my dreams. Getting out my bed I went to the window to stare at the stars like I used to do with daddy when he was still alive. My mind began to wander and more pleasant thoughts began to enter my mind. As I was about to turn to go to bed I saw Forbes or what I thought was Forbes speaking to a man robed in a cloak. Forbes nodded at something the man had said and looked up at my window. I moved out of sight hoping he had not seen me. When I thought it safe I looked out the window again, but they were gone. I went to sleep thinking nothing of it and hoping whoever was down there did not think that I had been spying.

**************

When I awoke that morning everything seemed much better. I went downstairs just as mother was leaving. She huffed something about meeting up with Lady Jocelyn and quickly disappeared. After Gabriella and Zaria had their usual morning tiff, I headed off to find Darius. Mother had told me what he had done for me last night and he really did deserve a thank you. I went in search for him in the great hall when my mother came running to me, a tall man at her side. “Isabella, I would like you to meet your second suitor, Master Corbet.”

“My lady,” he took my hand and softly kissed it. I bowed and searched the great hall again.

“I will leave you two to get to know each other better.”

“But mother I…” I tried to grab her attention but she was already gone. I turned to this Corbet and saw him looking me up and down. Great, I would be the one stuck with a pervert of a man. So far none of my suitors were to my liking. I forced a smile and asked, “Well, Master Corbet, would you like to…take a stroll?”

He smiled at me and offered his arm. “A stroll would be to my liking.”

I nodded as we started to walk the long halls. “So tell me, Corbet, what is it that you do?”

He smiled down at me and said, “I am a merchant.”

“A merchant?” I asked.

“Yes. I excel in silks, furs, great things for the King.”

“Aye, the King.” I nodded.

I knew this to be a long stroll and tried to think of something to distract me. Even the dreams that had plagued my sleep last night would be heaven toward the liking of this man. “Might I tell you all of the other things that I have done in my travels?”

I feigned another smile as I closed my eyes, hoping Darius’s face would save me from this mans voice. It did and soon our long stroll had come to an end. An Earl had come to him on a matter for the King, he didn’t specify which one, and I quickly went in search for Darius. I had wasted a whole morn with this man and hoped not to waste another minute before my other suitor would find me. I finally found Darius, or at least his men, practicing on the King’s field. Many women at court had come to stare at them, quickly being shooed by their ladies. The sight of these men did nothing for me; it was Darius and only Darius that I sought out. I was going to give up and leave when I spotted him fighting in the far end of the field. He was wielding two swords and fighting two men at a time. But it wasn’t this that had made me sigh. It was the sight of him naked from the waist up. “Oh my.” I sighed contently as I leaned against the long pillar that separated the court from the hall.

It must have been many minutes that I stood there because one of the men he was fighting, Blaine, nodded over to me. Darius looked toward me and smiled. I smiled back as he quickly discarded his swords and walked over to me. I held my breath as I watched his muscles glisten in the hot sun, moving closer to me. “My lady.” He bowed and I tried hard to keep my blush. “You are well? I was worried after you fainted in my arms.”

It took me a minute to comprehend his words; how could he be dangerously gorgeous, before I said a little too fast, “I happen to be very well. I wanted to thank you for what you did last night.”

“T’was nothing.”

“For you maybe, but I still thank you for it.”

He smiled at me and nodded. “Well then, you’re welcome. Tell me, are you headed to see your next suitor?”

“I already met with my suitor.”

He frowned at this and asked, “I am sorry that I could not save you from him.”

I laughed and shook my head. “It does not matter. I do agree that a save from you would have been nice but you are way to busy from saving girls in distress. Tell me, why are you training?”

He raised a brow at me, and then smiled. “I can not allow my men to get lazy nor myself. I train to keep better in shape and to keep my title.”

“To be the best knight in Anevia?”

“Nay, the best man. Your sister has proven that she may be the best knight.”

I laughed at how he could so easily wave the matter off and asked, “Did she not wound your pride?”

He chuckled but shook his head. “Tis not my pride that was wounded. Aside from that, I could always blame it on my wounded knee.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I will tell that to my sister. But your knee is better this day. I saw you fighting two men at the same time. They must affect it greatly.”

“Aye, it does, but I’m also training it to not be plagued by pain. Anything may happen these days and I must prepare for it, ill or not.”

I nodded and looked down the hall. “Is there someone you wait for?”

“No,” I sighed.

“My sister, Zaria, she will come for me soon I am sure. I told her I only came here to talk to you and knowing Zaria she…”

“She will lecture you with being with a half naked man alone?” He asked, leaning against the pillar I was comfortably against. I blushed and nodded. “Why does your sister look over you so?”

I sighed. “It’s what she was raised to do. Mother and Papa were always busy with selling or traveling, and because she was the oldest it was her job to take care of Gabriella and me. She can’t help it, I can tell at times she wished she could just leave us be and worry for herself.”

He nodded at this information and smiled. “She seems very protective of you and your sister.”

“Aye, I wish we didn’t burden her though. She deserves to enjoy herself as well.”

He nodded and right on cue Zaria appeared with Calib on her arm.

“Isabella.” She sighed and walked toward me and Darius.

“Captain.” She bowed and he nodded.

“You must go to the chambers and ready yourself for dinner. Your last suitor waits for you, you know.”

“I know.” I sighed, and then looked toward Darius. He’s eyes were intently on Calib. “Darius?” I whispered gently and he looked down at me.

“I must bid you farewell. I hope to see you at dinner.”

He nodded and kissed my hand before turning around and walking back to his place on the field. “You are lucky mother isn’t here. If she knew-” Zaria started lecturing.

“You aren’t going to tell her are you?” I asked, cutting her off. She shook her head and I smiled. “Thank you.”

She only smiled at me before Calib came over and asked, “I will walk you ladies to your chambers.”

I gave Calib a soft smile but quickly shook my head. No matter what Zaria thought, she would be much better with Lord Gabriel. Calib was nothing compared to the men I had met this past week.

**************

Mother prepared us all for dinner and we quickly headed for the dining hall. I was not looking forward to this dinner and there was one person in particular for the why. Forbes was not appealing to me in any way, I found him a dirty scoundrel of a man who had no honor whatsoever. He was also a friend of Darius, how could Darius be a friend to someone of the likes of him? By the time we had reached the hall I saw that Forbes was already waiting for me. But I wasn’t the only one who dreaded this dinner. My sisters saw their suitors, Calib and Colin, and I knew they too dreaded this feast. Zaria gave me a squeeze of the arm before she went to sit next to Calib. I sighed as I found my way toward Forbes. He quickly stood and kissed my hand before we were seated. “How is my lady?” He asked, taking a bite out of the chicken they had placed on the table.

“Very well.” I tried my best not to gag at the sight. It really was horrible.

“I hope that your day was good as well.” He took another bite and a bit of blood trickled from his mouth and slowly descended down to his fat neck.

“Aye, it has.” I thought I would lose all the food in me at that sight and quickly looked down at my plate.

“Tell me about yourself, my lady.”

I quickly squeezed my eyes and gasped, “There is nothing to tell.”

Why didn’t the man chew with his mouth closed?

“Nothing?”

“Nay, but what of my lord? Tell me of yourself.”

“Well,” he gulped down a large goblet of wine and turned to me.

“I own lands east of here. I sell and buy them as they come.”

“Oh. Has my lord ever married?”

I remembered Darius telling me of him knowing of many women and hoped that this is what he meant. “Nay, I have never married.”

God, I really was sitting next to a pervert. “Oh.” I had nothing else to really say and neither did Forbes.

I thought I was going to die from the silence when Darius, how this man made me love him even more, came to my side and asked, “If it isn’t my good friend Forbes.” He looked toward me and smiled. “How did he manage to capture an angel such as you, my lady?”

“He asked for my hand and the King obliged to it, so out of respect I have agreed to meet with him.” I answered while Forbes downed another goblet of wine.

“Ah a lady in every sense of the word.” Forbes answered banging his goblet of wine on the table. “Now dear friend if you do not mind, this night is dedicated to me and Lady Fairavard getting better acquainted.”

“No, Forbes I don’t mind carry on.” Darius said taking an empty seat next to me.

I sighed in relief as Darius picked up a goblet of wine and took a sip. “I meant alone.” Forbes said between gritted teeth.

“Hmmmm. If the lady does not mind I do believe I would like to stay seeing as you have a history of, well, of sorts with the ladies.”

Forbes’s frown grew deeper as he looked my way. I only fluttered my eyes prettily and took a sip of my drink. After that I felt a little more comfortable and tried to engage Forbes into conversation, but he would not talk with Darius so near. Towards the end of dinner I began to feel relieved seeing as I would not have to spend anymore time with Forbes because I knew for a fact I would not be choosing him as my suitor. As I got up to retire to my room, Forbes offered his arm to me. “I’m sorry my lord,”’ I yawned,” but I find myself too tired to take an evening stroll.”

“Well my lady then please allow me to escort you to your chambers seeing as how our dinner was intervened with.” Forbes said pointedly staring at Darius.

I looked at Darius for help, but he looked helplessly towards King Arthur and walked off to attend to his King’s security. I sighed and idly took Forbes’s arm. He led me out of the dining hall and up to my chambers. There I parted my ways with him. “Well my lord I thank you for your escort. The night has been pleasant. I guess I will be seeing you at the announcing ceremony.”

“Aye you will, but before I depart may I ask what my lady was doing up last night?” Forbes asked reaching into his tunic for something.

I stared at Forbes quizzically and blushed. “I did not mean to spy. I was only looking at the stars and then I spotted you with that hooded person, please do not be mad.”

“Why would I be mad? I was only concerned for the welfare of my lady. Such beauty should not fade, be sure to get some sleep tonight.” He said bending down to kiss my hand.

“Aye that I will do.” I said controlling my stomach from vomiting; his kiss stung and it was revolting to me.

As he turned to leave I felt myself get lightheaded and everything around me become a blur. I stumbled into my room a bit wobbly and collapsed onto my bed. I heard someone enter, but I could not find the strength to open my eyes to find out who it was.