Don't just give me that evil smile, tell me what you are planning, lady Dorcas urged her husband, her eyes watching him eagerly, and he nodded his head,
"okay, okay, you are so impatient, but I will tell you, you deserve to know.., Simon said and smiled at her
"Any day now, she urged him, sitting up, and leaning closer to him,
"Well, my spy, just told me, that lord Fredrick, count of lithium was well.., asking Francis for help, and decided he was going to reward him well, he couldn't find our what the reward was, because it was with that red haired peasant, and it is rumoured that he is a tough...
"A red haired peasant?, who is he, lady Dorcas asked him..
"Try not to interrupt me, Simon sighed angrily, and took a deep breath, "He is Francis's brother and best friend, and Naya's love, he thought bitterly, "so the point is, I see a way to kill Francis, he said and stood up, laughing like a maniac..
"You are not done telling me your plans, lady Dorcas said on top of her voice and he smiled taking her hands, "
"Oh,, my dear, I am going to cause his death but of course In a way we are not going to lose Naya, he kissed her and smiled at her...
"Now that sounds like a plan.., I can't wait, lady Dorcas said smoothing his tunic, that wasn't even rumpled
Francis went home with his men, they lost some good men, and it was not a happy day for them but they came out alive, he was fine, as long as nothing happened to Theo, then he looked around and saw him holding the bracelet made if vines and thorns, and he sighed, he knew Naya gave that to him, he made his way towards him..
"I miss her too.., Francis said softly and he sat beside him, he was sitting on a rock by the river, just staring..
"I.., I don't know..., I miss her so much, Theo said with a voice filled with pain, as he caressed the bracelet..
"How you would like a troublemaker, still baffles me, Francis said again..
"Yeah, she was a trouble maker, and I live her, but you are not permitted to say that, Theo said laughing,
"Theo I think it's the other way round, I am her brother, Francis said and joined him in laugher
"You are probably right, Theo said after a while, "But she was to be my wife, I asked her already.., he said and Francis sighed dramatically
"I told you, I won't accept that, he said and Theo looked up at him, and stood immediately
"Then I challenge you to a duel, Theo said flexing his hands,
"Hell yea, you are on!, Francis said as he stood up and lunged at him throwing his fist in a punch, and they dodged and threw punches, fighting till they were tired, and laughing like children they fell on the floor, panting heavily and laughing in between pants..
They were like that for a while, just panting and laughing together, trying to catch their breath, then after some minutes..
"Francis what if she was alive out there suffering and we don't know, Theo said in a quiet voice..
"Come on Theo, you know she is dead, she is, don't do that to yourself, that was an Asian, Francis lied, he felt the same since he met that woman, what if, what if, but he knew Theo would have it worst if he voiced his concerns, so he dared not, he kept it to himself..
"I won't forgive myself, ever, he said fiercely, then looked at Francis.., "we have to be more careful about the wars we fight now, I won't.., I refuse to lose you, you are all that I have,,, Theo said with a strong voice and Francis looked at him...
"okay, you are right, Francis said nodding, "I am so hungry I could eat you, he said and they both laughed hard..
~Three days later
Frederick was feeling so down and guilty, they lost alot of men in that fight, he felt like he was responsible, well maybe he really was, he sat by the rushes in the hall, and stared at his food, it was breakfast time and he was alone, as his daughter was still in school, and she had a show to attend to..
He was still brooding when his footman said a squire was there to see him, he wondered what the business of the squire was, and was about to ask him to send him away,
"Sir, he said it was important,, of life and death, the footman said and a tired Fredrick asked that he be allowed in,
"What can I do for you?, lord Frederick queried the boy bowing in front of him, he had a brown hair, and looked too scrawny
"I am from Edinburgh , my lord, and I am here as a mere and humble servant, only seeking justice.
"That doesn't answer what you want, or why you are here, or did Francis send you?, he asked him, and he shook his head,
"Nay my lord, I am here because I heard something that bothered me for days now, the squire said, "I am training to be a honest and loyal man, so I can't be a party to what I heard, I have to clear my conscience, the boy said again and it piqued Frederick's interest,
"Go on, what did you see?, he asked the boy,
"His grace, and my lord Francis is planning to come and finish the job, and take more than what you are willing to give them, and I know it is bad and evil, and I don't want to be a party to it, he said looking away, I hate to betray him, but I have to warn you, that's is it, he said then stood up to leave after bowing..
Frederick couldn't believe his ears, he knew it, he just knew he shouldn't have trusted Francis, he trusted him now the outcome would be fatal, it would leave his Mary an orphan and a destitute one, his head was light, his heart was heavy, he had little men remaining, he didn't know what he was supposed to do, but he had to try..
"When are they planning on attacking me?, Frederick asked him, and he stopped
"Tomorrow, my lord, he answered without turning to look at him,
"Thanks, he said to the boy as he departed,
"Whitley!, Frederick shouted come here at once, when his man came, he instructed him to gather the men telling them of the betrayal of Francis and his people, But he didn't look like he believed him, but Fredrick believed him because he didn't trust Francis, then he asked him to find some mercenaries the absolute best he could find on that day, and he nodded to go his bidding, he would pay all he had to, use all his resources to protect his daughter and himself..
Francis was alone in the yard, he just finished a hectic work, and he was so hungry and tired, so he was resting, he had been working all day, he asked Theo to take over from where he stopped, as his servant brought him water, then he drank deeply...
"Your grace, a voice called to him and he turned to see a young boy, looking rough with brown hair bowed to him, he didn't recognize him,
"What do you want?, he asked him sternly and was pleased to see him shivering
"I..., I want to report something to you...., your grace, he said uncomfortably
"Okay, let's hear it, Francis said..
"Well, I am a humble servant from lithium castle, but.. but, I can't bear what my lord is planning, he wants to finish you up sir, lord Fredrick is planning to kill you so he won't have to honour your deal, he said in a hushed tone and Francis stood up quickly,
"What do you mean?, do you lie, cause if you do I will cut off your tongue and feed your corpse to the animals, Francis said angrily and the lady fell to the floor,
"Please your grace, go and see that our men are already prepared for battle, they are planning on attacking tomorrow, the boy said crying, then he stood up, "I have to go your grace, I will be missed soon..
"So I am to believe that you are doing this out of the kindness of your heart?, Francis asked eyeing him suspiciously, then he covered the distance between them, holding on to his neck, squeezing his neck, he whispered to him.
"If I find that you are lying, I will make sure I kill you slowly, and take your family as my slave, he threatened and the lady nodded quickly, unable to breathe, struggling to stay alive. then Francis threw him to the floor and he scrambled away..
Theo walked in on him as he was pacing the yard, his face filled with worry...
"Do you intend to hide all day, and make us do your work your grace, Theo said, and when Francis stopped pacing and faced him, but still had that serious look on his face,
"Theo, I am in no mood...
"What Is the matter, my lord?, Theo asked him, his face becoming hard as well, "Who do I have to kill..
"Nay, Francis cut him, "Theo I got a report that the earl is planning on dishonouring our agreement, that he wants to attack us, Francis said looking at Theo
"That would be foolish, and not worth it, Theo said narrowing his eyes, "I don't think it is true, Theo said watching him
"You are right, he has no men and I am way stronger, he said, thinking hard, he may just be a liar...
"Who told you that?, Theo asked him,
"A squire, and he is gone, Francis added...
"Why did you let him go?, Theo queried, and when Francis was quiet he sighed,
"I have to go and observe things, with the scout, we can't just take a squires word, let me check it out, to see if he is really raising an army, Theo suggested...
"Theo I can't let you go, unless you promise not to engage them, do not ask questions as well, if you see his men prepared for battle, just rush back and let us deal with them, Francis said, and when Theo said nothing he grasped his shoulders and shook his slowly..
"Promise me!, he yelled at him, and Theo nodded before rushing out, he hoped that that earl was not planning an attack, he really hoped he wasn't so foolish, he thought quietly as he mounted his horse and kicked it, bolting out like lightning to confirm what was happening.