Allies
1367 Words
It took longer than I wanted it to to make our way through the tunnel. I kept bumping into Felix's back as we felt out way through. It wasn't until Felix had made me walk in front of him that we saw light.
"Finally," he muttered as he pushed me forward.
"Quit it," I told him as I hurried towards the light. It was only a line of light from underneath a door. I smiled as I felt around for a door knob. I finally found it and fell forward when the door opened.
"Oh!" I heard a voice yell as I was pushed to the ground by Felix falling. The door was a couple feet from the ground and there was no warning.
"Hello," I muttered as Felix got off of me and pulled me up. We had ended up in a kitchen and there were several women that had stopped to stare.
"Don't mind us," Felix said as he grabbed my hand and dragged me through a doorway. We entered a large hallway with large pictures across the walls.
"Where do we go?" I asked him, trying to ignore the fact that he was still holding my hand.
"Well," a voice said from behind us, "you would probably like to see Sir DeNeigh, I suppose."
We spun around to find a man with white hair and a thick moustache. He wore dark clothing and a warm smile on his face.
"Yeah," I said as I stepped forward. Felix's hand tightened around mine and I pulled him along, "could you take us to him?"
"Of course," the man bowed, "follow me."
Felix sent me a glare as he started forward. He finally let go of my hand as we followed the old man. We walked past large rooms and larger doors that looked impossible to open. We walked up a brightly lit staircase and the man knocked on the door. It took a few moments for a muffled voice to yell for us to come in. The old man opened the door and waved us in. We stepped inside what looked like sleeping quarters as the door shut behind us.
"Sir DeNeigh?" I said as I stepped forward. The bed was huge with an overhead cover with curtains flowing down it. The bed itself was covered in pillows and messed up blankets.
"Ah," a head poked itself out from under the mass of blankets, "Alaina Jordan. Nice to finally see the face of a girl I've heard so much about. Sorry to say but I'm rather disappointed."
"Excuse me?" I asked as he climbed out of the bed. He was an actually disappointed sight as well. He was short and chubby. His face, round and uneven, was red and blotchy. He wasn't wearing a shirt but only white trousers.
"Well," he said with a shrug, "I'd been expecting someone a little prettier."
"Prettier?" Felix asked angrily before I could respond.
"Aye, just look at-"
"Hey," I said putting my hand over Felix's that rested on his sword hilt, "I don't care if I'm pretty or not. Never have. But you invited us here and I was wondering why."
"Simple," DeNeigh said, "I've been contacted by Erin."
"And?" Felix asked, his voice hard and still angry.
"And he asked for my assistance," DeNeigh said, "he offered me a large sum of money in order to find you and your little clan."
"Did you accept?" I asked cautiously. I had taken an involuntary step back and Felix was pulling out his sword.
"It was an almost irresistible offer..." DeNeigh continued.
"You won't take us alive," I told him just as Felix shoved me behind him and pointed his sword at DeNeigh. He looked down at it in disinterest.
"I didn't take it," DeNeigh said simply as he sat down on the bed. Felix looked taken aback as he kept his sword at the man's throat.
"Why didn't you?" I asked.
"I will never side with a monster," DeNeigh said, "no matter the money they offer me."
"What does that mean for us?" Felix asked.
"It means that I now need an ally," DeNeigh said, "I'm afraid I told them off and they didn't seem too happy that I said no."
"You want us?" I said.
"Yes," DeNeigh said, "you are the only other ones that would stand up to him."
"Under what terms?" Felix asked.
"If they attack me then you must help me," DeNeigh said and continued after a pause, "and if you require my services, then I must provide them to you."
"We can agree to that, "I said after me and Felix shared a silent nod.
"When do we sign?" Felix asked.
"Soon," DeNeigh said, "however, under tradition there is a celebration involved."
"A celebration?" I asked.
"Yes, for the becoming of allies and the toast for a long alliance," DeNeigh said.
"Is it necessary?" Felix asked as his shoulders dropped.
"Yes. It must go on or the city would be in an uproar," DeNeigh said, "however, I think they just want an excuse for a few drunken nights."
"Would it be offensive to you if we didn't attend?" I asked.
"Very," DeNeigh said. Felix sighed and looked at me. I shrugged and Felix turned back to him.
"When is it?"
"Two days," DeNeigh said with excitement I have only seen in a child.
"Fine," Felix said, "we'll stay for two days."
"Wait," I said and stepped forward, "you wanted us not to be seen."
"True, however, that was in case you didn't accept my alliance," DeNeigh shrugged, "but you did. So, now I'm not as weary of Erin."
"Are you to provide us with sleeping quarters?" I asked.
"Of course," DeNeigh nodded.
"Very well," I nodded, "I'm glad we came to this arrangement."
"Agreed," he said with a grin, "Mister Alfred will lead you to your rooms."
We nodded as we left the room. We found Alfred leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs.
"Follow me," he said and led us through the small castle. We walked in silence and it wasn't until we stopped in front of a door.
"For you, Miss Jordan," Alfred nodded at the door. I smiled as I pulled it open.
"I'll come check on you later," Felix told me as Alfred led him away. I nodded as I shut the door. This was not what I was expecting. The room was huge as was the bed. There was a large fur carpet in the middle of the room and a large window at one end. I walked over to it and pulled open the curtains. There was the castle courtyard and the walls that separated it from the city itself. I saw guards hurrying around as well as commoners beyond the walls.
"Ma'am?" I jumped and spun around. There stood a woman in servant garb that was holding the bags that were on my horse.
"Yes?" I asked as I stepped towards her.
"Your horses have moved to the royal stables inside the castle walls. We retrieved these for you," the woman said with a bow.
"Thank you," I told her as I took the bags away from her. There were only one big leather sack of mine. There was also the water cap and gold purse she had managed to grab.
"Anything else you need, ma'am?" she asked.
"Not at the moment," I said with a smile. She did not smile back.
"I will be back to inform you about dinner," she said as she left the room. I nodded and threw the bags onto the bed. Great.
"Amazing," I muttered as I collapsed on the bed. The blankets were not scratchy which was a nice surprise. My eyes fluttered closed until there was a light knock on the door.
"Hmph," I rolled off the bed and into a crouch.
"Madam Jordan?" a woman's voice said from behind the closed door.
"Yes?" I asked as I stood and ran a hand through my hair with a yawn.
"Dinner is ready," the voice said as I unclipped my cloak and threw it onto the bed.
"Coming," I said as I followed her down the hallway.
- Writer
