Assassin's Promise

[chapter 1] the return of an old friend

Stonethorn Castle was a gloomy place. The summer Lady Adala the Assassin resided there was especially gloomy and boring. Adala had no one to Assassin an dher close friend, Dianna of Dale was accompanying the Great Queen Adalia on a short trip to Calipso Island. Adala, having nothing else to do, would wander aimlessly about the castle.

One stormy summer day, when Adala was walking to the castle's Rose Garden, a servant came up to her bearing news of her friend.
"She is coming today, Lady Assassin," the servant said quickly and excitedly. "She, the Lady Dianna, also said that she is being accompanied by two sirs and that the Queat Queen Adalia may be accompanying her too. It you hurry, Lady Assassin, then you may be able to see them come in the front gate. I have heard that they are riding in a agrand carriage."

Adala dissmissed the servant and speedily walked to the front gate. The Great King was also there. Adala quickly curtsied to him and went to the carriage doors to greet her friends. The Great Queen Adalia was the first out of the carriage and, being another one of Adala's close firends, the Queen caught Adala in a swift embrace before she greeted her husband, the King.

The next to appear from the depths of the carriage was Dianna, followed by the two gentlemen whom Adala had not met. Dianna and Adala embraced each other while the two men waited in silence. Adala noticed that the two were looking down at their feet.
"Why are they doing that?" Adala whispered to Dianna.
"It is their tradition to look at their feet until they are introduced to a lady," Dianna replied.

"Sirs," Adala said quickly. "I am Lady Adala." The two men kissed her hand and introduced themselves.
"I am Sir Raphael the Bard," said one with dark hair and sad brooding eyes. He had the look of a bard and Adala seemed attracted to the sad demeanor of his face and the forlorness of his expression.
"I, Lady, am Owen of Foxtown," said another with luminous blue eyes, yellow hair, and a plesant smile.
"it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,"" Adala said smiling. "I assume that you will be staying here, surely, at lelast, until the Queen's son's baptism."

"I suppose not, though, we are at the Great Queen's disposal," Raphael replied.
Raphael and Owen bowed to Adala and slowly retreated to their rooms, saying that they needed time to prepare for dinner with the King. Raphael sat on the bed in his room, tuning his harp. Adala's face, her keeness of mind, they attracted him as a bee to honey. He winced as he accidentally brushed against the scare that lined his left cheek. It had been five years and it still pained him.
Raphael leaned back on the bed. It was cool, with a soft drizzling rain and, before he knew it, he fell asleep.


....

That's it for now, minions. hope you enjoy it. and, vortican todd, you may reread this to your heart's content, for I surely cannot stop you and I do not wish to!

otho, minions,
A.A.