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Three guards sat at a wooden table, playing cards casually. They looked up as I approached, sitting taller than they had been. I wasn’t plain by any means, but I was not rehearsed in the laws of seduction. I didn’t know how to move my body or what to do with my face. Even when I tried, I just ended up looking like some weird chicken, strutting through the street. I smiled, trying not to overdo it.
“What do we have here?” one of the guards asked with a devilish smile.
I relaxed, trying to seem casual. “I didn’t think it fair that the whole city gets to celebrate, while the men who work so hard to keep us safe are stuck down here, unable to attend the festivities,” I said, trying to sound seductive.
“Is that so? You decided to bring the party to us,” said another guard.
“I did,” I said, placing the whiskey on the table.
The guards smiled, reaching for the bottle. One of them pulled up a chair for me to join. I took it, watching as they poured the rich golden liquid into their wooden cups. They all shot the whiskey back, then poured themselves a second helping. This was too easy, I thought.
After their third cup, one of the guards looked at me with pure lust lurking behind his eyes. He smiled, reaching for my leg. I remained still, praying the effects of the whiskey would kick in at any second. I bashfully grinned, trying to hide my discomfort.
“What other party treats did you bring us?” He asked with his heavy breath on my neck as his hand slid up my thigh.
“I can retrieve some sweet cakes for you if you’d like,” I responded, trying to avert his attention from me.
He laughed. “I can think of something better than a sweet cake,” he said, moving towards me. One of the other guards slammed another cup in front of me, breaking the guard’s attention.
“Come on now, Reese. You haven’t even offered the woman a drink,” he said, pouring the whiskey into a glass in front of me. Shit.
“Oh, that’s okay. I don’t drink,” I said, trying to seem casual.
“Well, tonight you do. Now, drink up,” he said firmly. The third guard shook his head as if to try and stay awake. It was taking effect, just not as fast as I needed it to. The handsy guard began to sway in his chair as he downed another glass of liquor. “Go on girl, drink,” he barked. I took the glass and slammed the liquid back, placing the empty cup on the table. My face soured as the warm liquid coated my insides. He smiled with delight.
“Thank you,” I said politely. He nodded with satisfaction. I watched as all three of them fought to keep their eyes open. They slurred their words as they looked at one another, trying to figure out what was happening. The first guard went down, slamming his head on the table as he passed out into a deep sleep. The second one fell out of the chair into a bucket and broom against the wall. The third looked at his comrades and then at the bottle of whiskey, connecting the dots together. He looked back at me in shock.
“You—” he muttered before falling back out of his chair to the floor.
I rushed to the bodies, searching for the keys. I had less time than I thought, now being intoxicated myself. I could already feel the drug working through my system. It would affect me a lot faster due to my size. I grabbed the keys and went into the cells. Conner was slumped against the wall of a cell in the front. He sat up as I approached, his face swollen, and his mouth covered in blood.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, reaching towards the iron bars.
“Getting you out, what do you think?” I snapped. I fumbled with the keys, trying to focus as my vision went blurry. I inserted the key into the lock, releasing the latch. I fell instantly to the ground as his arms reached for me.
“What is wrong? Are you okay?”
“I had to drug the whiskey I gave to the guards. They made me drink with them. I’ll be unconscious any moment. We need to move now.” He supported my body with his and we moved up and out of the courthouse basement into the busy streets of the celebration. I was warm and everything was spinning as I fought to keep my eyes open. My legs gave out and I fell to the ground. I felt Conner pull me up and along the street with him, searching for a safe place to wait out the effects.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Four bells. The dark alfar had been spotted.
The crowd erupted in panic, racing to gather their children and loved ones as they sought refuge. Market stands were trampled, and food and ale poured into the street. No one cared about the soiled goods. All they cared about was avoiding being captured by the dark Alfar court. Conner slid a hand under my knees and behind my back, lifting me up, just before my vision gave out completely. The last thing I remember hearing was the echoing of the bells and the screams of my townspeople.
I woke up the next morning feeling like I had been worked to death. My body was limp, and my head was spinning. I pulled myself up just in time to relieve the contents of my stomach in the hay next to me. Wiping my mouth, I looked up to see Conner smiling at me from across the barn. He handed me a cup of well water and then slid down next to me.
“Thank you for coming for me,” he said softly.
“You didn’t leave me much of a choice. You’re a stubborn bastard, you know that?”
He laughed, twirling a piece of hay in between his fingers. His smile faded as he focused on the strand of hay in his hands. “I love her, Gen. I don’t know what I am going to do,” he admitted.
My heart felt heavy for him. This was the first heartbreak in his young life, but it surely wouldn’t be his last. I reached out, taking his hand. “You’re a good man, Conner. Any woman would be lucky to have your affections. Though, I must say, you have expensive taste.”
He laughed at me, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “Tell me about it. I know you don’t understand, but I must find a way to redeem my family's name. I’ve watched, read, and studied since my father lost everything. I can be of use to the advisors if they would just give me a chance.”
“I know you could, and I believe you will make something of yourself, but realistically, it won’t be in this town. You need to get out of here. Start somewhere fresh and new where no one knows your family. They only know you and your talents. The Frey is large. You can go wherever you want,” I said.
He exhaled in defeat. “That would mean I would have to leave Danielle.”