The following week was busy. Preparations were made for Lady Mellisande's journey, and then scaled back when the Commander put his foot down on excess and deliberately drawing attention to themselves. It ended up being a very simple travelling group, aiming for safety in anonymity, rather than bluster. The steward was consoled and conversed with …
Alec was up early the next day. It was going to be a tedious one of meetings and questions and he needed the focus and discipline of drill to settle his mind. Arriving at the practice field, he moved into the warm-up routine he'd been drilled in from childhood. He then moved through sword, daggers, …
The under-steward's office was unnaturally tidy. Even the rubbish bin's contents were neatly folded and torn precisely in half before being placed in a careful pile within the basket. Mellisande made use of the writing materials on the otherwise empty desk to reply to Lady Aurelia and tucked the note into the letter box for …
The group handed their horses off to the stable hands and made their way through the Great Hall to the various parts of the castle that called for the hours before the evening meal. Lady Mellisande was waylaid by the steward's assistant, and something in his manner made Alec pause in his plan to turn …
A week passed with little to remark. Kid improved, although Nora reported nightmares. Alec managed to avoid private conversation with Lady Mellisande, although he was part of the bodyguard squad accompanying her on visits to the local villages to check on the well-being of local residents. He was amused and impressed by Her Ladyship's choice …
Alec returned to his office, having dumped the armful of lavender on the nearest available table in the solar and walking out, determinedly oblivious to the cries of dismay over the mess he'd supposedly made of the embroidery threads spread across it. He arrived just in time to head off Nathan's search for him and …
Alec looked at the clock ticking its way toward lunch and grimaced. He'd dealt with the guards from the day before and was now avoiding the requested meeting with Her Ladyship. It was a necessary hurdle though, she'd waylay him otherwise and he'd never get out to check on Kid. Nathan was on kitchen invasion …
Once washed, Kid's hair proved to be the promised white-blond and almost seemed to glow in the low light of the cottage fires. What also now showed were the bruises and scars on his too-thin arms and legs. Nora had come up with a men's shirt, supplemented with a blanket Alec somehow managed to wrap …
They moved into the gloom of the forest and onto a little-used path. Alec looked down at a nudge from his new charge. "The lady story please." "You want to know why she's scared and sad, yes?" "Yes." "The Lady Mellisande is the valued and indulged only child of Lord Humphrey of Wolfgrove." "Interesting choice …
I completed a vignette entirely in dialogue in Not a Ghost, and somehow managed to tug the string of a story that is demanding to be told. The two men tensed at a soft sound from behind them. Alec turned with a carefully studied relaxation. "Not so good at following orders kid. Hope you enjoyed …
The DNA of Stories 