WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 31: Welcome Guests

For hours after that Farrell wandered alone outside the town, beyond its walls were there was little but wide open plains. Annabel eventually ventured off alone to look for him. She found him easily enough.

‘Are you alright?’ she asked him.

‘What are you doing out here alone?’ Farrell replied without turning.

‘I was worried about you.’

‘Why?’

She went quiet.

‘I’m surprised you were allowed to come out here on your own’ he said. ‘You’re too valuable to lose. A Weather Maker …’

‘The others don’t know I’m here’ Annabel answered.

He turned to her.

‘Don’t worry about me’ Annabel smiled. ‘If I am forced to, I can defend myself.’

He turned away from her again.

‘I’ve been having these strange dreams lately’ Farrell told her in a mumble, his voice sounding coarse as he spoke. ‘I thought that in time they would go away. But not only have they not gone away, they’ve gotten worse.’

‘What are these dreams?’

’In these dreams, I see a young woman, standing in the woods with her back to me. When she turns she speaks to me, saying the same words every time. Find me……’ Farrell bowed his head. ’I don’t know why, but I feel….I feel like I know it’s her. My daughter……Amaia…’ Farrell drew a slow breath to calm himself, balling his fists to stop his hands from shaking. ‘Now…I hear her voice in my head, I feel her presence beside me, as if she were standing there in the flesh’ he turned to look to the side of him as he spoke, and then away again. ‘I know she is not there, but each time I look, I feel as if I might see her.’

‘A spell has been placed upon you’ Annabel told him. ‘She wants you to replace her.’

‘I can hear a whisper in my ear, even now. It may not be just my imagination. She’s out there somewhere, waiting to be found, to be brought home, and I’m going to replace her.’

‘What are you going to do?’

’This…Tristan’ he spoke with a sneer. ‘He knows more than he’s letting on, and I’m going to replace out what it is.’

‘What are you going to do?’ Annabel asked again, nervously now.

‘It’s ok’ Farrell said. ‘I’ve got a plan.’

‘That’s a stupid plan’ Woodworm said the second Farrell had finished explaining. ‘You’re an idiot. That would never work.’

‘Why not?’ Farrell argued back, dejected.

‘Let me get this straight’ Flunkit began. ‘You want us to replace where the prince Tristan lives, break into his home when he is not there, and replace someone close to him to interrogate.’

‘He knows more than he’s telling’ Farrell urged. ‘I just know it.’

‘He does seem to be deliberately holding back information’ Annabel agreed.

‘May I remind you also that he is a prince’ Flunkit added.

‘A prince’ Blunkit added. ‘He is a prince.’

‘Look forget who he is’ Farrell spoke loudly, his patience wearing thin. ‘I believe we can do it. Weren’t you two assassins?’ he said to Blunkit and Flunkit.

‘How do you know that?’ Flunkit asked him.

‘I told him’ Blunkit said. ‘In the cave…after you left.’

‘Oh.’

‘Isn’t this the sort of thing you used to do all the time?’ Farrell asked the both of them.

‘We never did anything like this against royalty. He is a prince you know.’

‘Shut up’ Farrell snapped.

Barrel began to laugh.

‘If you start that shit again I’ll kill you myself’ Woodworm snarled at Barrel jabbing a finger at him.

‘Stop it both of you’ Carrot ordered.

‘Are you serious about this?’ Flute Stick asked Farrell.

‘I am.’

‘You do realise it would take us a while just to scout the place, once we replace out exactly where it is that it. We can’t just go barging in you know.’ Blunkit said to Farrell.

‘You mean you don’t already know where he lives?’

‘We worked for the king’ Flunkit sighed, weary at having to explain this. ‘Not the princes. And anyway, he’s the thirteenth in line. He’s the least important, why would we know anything about him?’ he scratched his chin in thought. ‘North of Blackrain he said…should be easy to replace though…’

‘I thought assassins knew about a lot about things’ Farrell said.

‘Sorry’ Flunkit shrugged. ‘We are not magicians.’

‘It’ll be very dangerous’ Shawn told him.

‘I think it might work’ Arlen said, speaking for the first time in ages.

‘Really?’ Farrell said, surprised at this.

‘Someone would have to stay here to look after Annabel’ Arlen said to Shawn, completely ignoring Farrell. ‘I think it should be you.’

‘Alright’ Shawn replied.

‘I will stay also’ Arlen added. ‘There needs to be more than one to stay behind I think.’

‘Um….alright’ Shawn said again.

‘Well’ Arlen sighed loudly speaking to no one in particular. ‘Since this does not concern us, I think the three of us should leave.’

He, Shawn and Annabel left the table.

The others watched them depart in silence. Blunkit was the first to speak up.

‘If you are serious about this’ he said, ‘my brother and I would first have to do some work. In the meantime, think carefully on how you want to proceed.’

Weeks passed, and while the brothers Blunkit and Flunkit were gone, Farrell had time to work the details of his plan. It wasn’t perfect, but by the time they did arrive back at the inn, Farrell felt reasonably confident enough to proceed.

They left quickly to begin their journey on foot, leaving Arlen and Shawn behind to protect Annabel.

The morning after Farrell and the other mercenaries had left to begin their mission, and Shawn had risen early to dress and have breakfast before Annabel woke. He did this to give her privacy, so that when she did wake, she could dress and do her lady things without an interruption or male presence.

Shawn paused on his way to the door, glancing at her one last time before he exited the room. She lay on her side, blankets wrapped tightly around her, even in the warm morning. She looked like a caterpillar wrapped in a cocoon, and the way she slept with her mouth open, dribbling on her pillows, looked ever so amusing.

Shawn smirked at this, turning away and closing the door quietly behind him, heading downstairs.

Here he found Arlen sitting at one of the tables, eating his breakfast.

‘Morning Shawn’ Arlen said.

Shawn pulled up a chair opposite Arlen.

‘That looks good’ he said, eyeing the plate before Arlen.

‘It is delicious. I’ll order another from the kitchen.’

A short time later, Shawn tucked into his breakfast. Opposite him, Arlen who had finished his watched Shawn eating in silence.

‘How is Annabel?’

‘She sleeps heavily’ Shawn replied. ‘And snores really loudly.’

‘Ha!’ Arlen barked throwing his head back.

‘So how long do you think we’ll have to stay here?’ Shawn asked him. ‘How long do you think until Farrell and the others come back?’

‘I don’t know’ Arlen said. ‘Could be a while. In any case…’ he said leaning back and stretching. ‘I think you should get used to hanging around here. I don’t think we’re going anywhere anytime soon.’

‘You’re probably right. But…’

‘What?’

‘How should Annabel be kept entertained?’

Arlen tilted his head curiously at this, a smile playing about his lips.

‘Talk to her. Get to know her. You’ll replace out what she likes.’ He grinned at Shawn. ‘I’ll see you around.’

Arlen rose from his chair. He left the inn, and didn’t look back.

Shawn remained at the table, deep in thought. It was several hours later, near midday, that Annabel finally emerged from her room. Shawn had waited for her all this time, keeping himself occupied by reading one of the few books the inn provided. He had nearly finished it by the time Annabel arrived downstairs.

‘Shawn’ she said. ‘There you are. Could you replace me some food? I’m starving.’

‘Lucky for you they happen to be serving food at this time’ he told her, closing his book and pushing it away from him across the table. ‘But I don’t think they will like it if you start asking them for food at random times of the day.’

‘I know’ she said, taking the empty seat Arlen had sat and staring at him across the table. ‘I was just so tired.’

‘I can imagine’ he said to her. ‘A lot has happened for you in the last twenty four hours.’

Her expression saddened a little, and Shawn wished he hadn’t said that.

‘I’ll go replace you something’ he said hastily to her. ‘What do you want?’

Shawn ordered food with her, and a short time later they ate together.

‘So’ Shawn began, lifting his fork to eat, ‘what sorts of things do you enjoy doing?’

Annabel glanced up at him. ‘Are you trying to flirt with me?’

‘What?’ Shawn started, beginning to blush. ‘No! I…’

‘Relax’ Annabel giggled, amused by his reaction. ‘I’m just teasing.’

‘I’m glad to see you’ve become relaxed enough to make jokes’ Shawn sighed in relief. ‘When we first found you…you were so scared.’

‘Well’ Annabel sat back. ‘It’s much easier to relax without those burly mercenaries around me. They’re so intimidating. The company I share now is so much better.’ She glanced across the table at him. ‘You’ve done a wonderful job protecting me’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

He smiled back at her, feeling his heart skip a beat.

Outside, Arlen sat in the streets on a bench, soaking up the sun, deep in thought.

Something caught his attention however, breaking him from his trance. Shawn and Annabel were leaving the inn together.

Arlen watched them go, then smiled to himself.

‘So’ Shawn said to Annabel as they walked. ‘Is there anything in particular you would like to do?’

‘I know’ Annabel beamed. ‘Let’s rent some horses and ride across the land.’

‘We should stay here’ Shawn frowned. ‘It’s safer in this town.’

Annabel scowled.

‘I’m sure there’s plenty to do here’ Shawn told her.

‘Hey, why don’t we go look at the shops.’

‘Oh no’ Shawn groaned. ‘That’s just like something my sister would say.’

‘You’ve got a sister?’ Annabel said perking up. She sat upon a bench they were passing, tucking the dress beneath her. ‘Tell me about her.’

‘Well’ Shawn began, taking a seat next to her. ‘Her name is Gracie. She’s twenty years old. She loves animals. She is stubborn as a mule, and has a fowl temper. But she is very loyal to her family.’ Shawn frowned in thought. ‘She’s always willing to help, as long as it benefits her that is…she dreams of owning her own farm one day, so she can breed and train horses.’

Annabel leaned forward on her knees, smiling at him. ‘She sounds like quite a character.’

‘She is’ Shawn replied, the edges of his lips curling in a smile and his eyes becoming distant as he thought of her. ‘It’s been a while since I last saw her. I’ve been so caught up in everything that’s been going on, that for a short time I completely forgot about her.’

‘You two are close?’

‘Yes’ Shawn nodded. ‘I miss her very much.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Annabel sang happily. ‘She’s safe where she is I am sure. You will see her again, I just know it.’

He smiled encouragingly at her.

‘So’ Annabel said stretching like a cat. ‘Tell me about yourself.’

‘Me?’

‘Yes.’

Shawn began to shift uncomfortably. ‘There’s not much to tell really.’

‘Oh that’s such a man answer’ Annabel scolded. ‘That’s just the sort of thing my brother would have said.’

‘You have a brother?’

‘Don’t change the subject.’ Annabel shoved him playfully. ‘Tell me about yourself’ she repeated.

‘What do you want to know?’

‘What’s your favourite colour?’

Shawn raised an eyebrow. ‘Seriously?’

‘Yes’ Annabel rolled her eyes.

‘I don’t have one.’

‘Uuhhgg.’

‘Sorry’ he shrugged.

‘Alright’ Annabel persevered. ‘What do you like to do? You know….for fun.’

‘What in a normal day?’

‘Anytime’ Annabel groaned.

Shawn made a thinking face. It was several seconds before he answered.

‘I like riding, spending time with my family, spending time with friends.’

‘You have a good life then?’ Annabel asked him when it was clear he wasn’t going to elaborate.

‘I do.’ Shawn glanced sideways at her. ‘Don’t you?’

‘Yes’ Annabel replied. ‘I do, my family are very good to me…but…’

‘What is it?’

‘All my life, I have dreamed of leaving my home, of travelling and seeing the world……I never thought it would happen like this.’

‘Well…’ Shawn’s eyes glinted. ‘Life takes us all on strange and winding roads. Nothing ever turns out how we plan.’

‘So how did you come to be here? Why are you on this quest?’

‘Amaia is my cousin.’

‘Oh’ Annabel said in surprise. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘I may as well tell you this as well. Arlen is my uncle.’

‘Oh.’ Annabel said again. ‘So, the three of you are all related. You, Arlen and Farrell.’

‘Yes.’

‘So…the others?’

‘They’re just mercenaries we hired to help us.’

‘How much are you paying them?’

Shawn glanced at her. ‘Come on’ he said rising. ‘Let’s go look at the shops.’

They walked side by side leisurely through the town, at one point passing a small group of children as they made their way through the streets. The children of varying ages were sitting quietly upon a wall by one of the buildings with a goat by their side; they were all dressed in brightly coloured clothes, including the goat. These were gypsies.

‘You never really told me about yourself’ Shawn said to her as they walked past the children.

‘There’s not much to tell really’ she replied.

‘Now don’t give me that again!’ Shawn frowned at her. ‘I want to know more about you. What sort of things do you like?’

‘I like’ Annabel began, tapping her chin in thought as she pondered, ‘…dancing.’

‘Dancing?’

‘And playing some instruments.’

‘What sort of instruments?’

‘Now don’t get greedy’ Annabel laughed. ’I’m not going to tell you everything about me. I will tell you some, but you’ll have to replace out most of it for yourself.’

Shawn smirked slyly at this, flashing his perfect white teeth at her and running his fingers through his blond hair.

‘You’re teasing me.’

‘Come on’ Annabel said to him tugging his sleeve. ‘Let’s look at some shiny things.’

‘Shiny things?’

‘Jewellery.’

‘Oh.’

‘Come on.’

They wandered about the town for hours looking at this and that. At least Annabel did most of the looking; Shawn for the most part simply allowed himself to be dragged around and feigned interest in the things she showed him.

Hours later when night was creeping upon them, and the sky began to darken, mysterious figures began to appear in the streets.

Beautiful women of dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes, wearing brightly coloured dresses with bare bellies, emerged from hidden places. Some slipped out of dark streets, some out of brightly painted carriages pulled by white and black horses with excessively long manes and tails.

One of the women, so much like the others drew close to Shawn as she skulked by. She looked deeply into him with her dark eyes large and beautiful, sauntering past and stroking his chest as she did so.

More of them came, and they began to gather in number. Men and women and children all dressed in bright clothes. They gathered on street corners and in the squares and wider roads, many of them danced, many played instruments such and drums, violins and flutes. Others called out to passersby, encouraging them to buy the foreign products they were selling.

They were loud folk, calling out to others to watch them dance and play. But the people of the town did not complain, for the gypsies brought them pleasure, especially the women, with their beautiful slender bodies and exotic dark skin. Many men were drawn closer.

Annabel paused to consider one of the male gypsies playing the violin. A handsome young man with a short beard and wearing black eyeliner, he dressed in the same bright colours as the women who danced around him.

‘You think you can play that thing?’ Annabel said to the gypsy boldly.

‘Perhaps the lady would like to try and best me’ the charming man smiled.

Annabel strolled confidently up towards him, snatching the violin and bow from his grasp and turning her back on him. She lifted the instrument, resting it on her shoulder. She began to play. Her fingers quick, and the movement of the bow precise. She played a quick and beautiful tune. Though far from being offended the young male gypsy began to clap and holler loudly in pleasure.

‘The girl can play!’ he cried. ‘Let her not play alone. Drums’ he called to the gypsy children who sat nearby. ‘Hurry!’

One of the older children picked up a large drum and began to beat it as Annabel continued to play. As she reached the next verse, she was joined by more instruments. Two of the other gypsy men joined in with her, playing in entirely different tune to accompany her own. It was a well known piece that Annabel played, and the others were able to join in with her melody with ease.

Shawn began to clap and laugh as the gypsy women began to dance around them with arms held high.

The group played a beautiful piece, many layered and full of life, growing quicker and more complex as it neared its end. When it was finished, many clapped for her, both the people of the town, and the other gypsies, and of course, Shawn as well. The young man Annabel had stolen the instrument from gave Annabel a seductive look as she handed the violin back to him.

‘Such skill the lady has’ he spoke smoothly in a foreign accent.

‘I hope I didn’t best you’ Annabel gleamed.

‘Not a chance’ he smirked back.

He took the instrument from her placing it against his shoulder, looking as natural as if the instrument was a part of his body. He struck up another tune, leading the way for the others to follow suit.

Annabel danced with another of the handsome young gypsy men. Covered extensively with tattoos on his bare arms and shoulders, his body was well defined, lean and muscular. He wore excessive gold jewellery and long thin strips of purple and blue coloured cloth tied to his wrists which he danced with, twirling them through the air.

Shawn danced with one of the women. Tall she was, wearing a dress of many layers that flowed smoothly, she held the sides of the skirt up for him like wings as she danced, twirling often. She had flowers in her hair that fell freely about her shoulders, and danced with vigour, throwing her skirt about and tossing her head. The gold coins hanging from a chain around her waist and chest jangled when she danced. A beautiful creature she was.

As the song ended and the next began, the young man Annabel danced with bowed to her, never taking his eyes from her. He handed her a flower as he did so, flicking it out seeming from midair and lacing it between her fingers.

‘For the pretty lady.’

The next dance began after the sun had set. Shawn and Annabel danced together for a short time beneath the lanterns that hung above them, lighting the streets below. Shawn a short time after was taken away from Annabel by another young gypsy woman to share a dance with. A short time after that, he was lost in the crowd. When he did return, he had brought Annabel a gift. It was a beautiful silk purple shawl, pattered with silver moons and stars. It smelt of perfume and incense. Annabel accented it graciously.

Long into the night this went on, until Shawn and Annabel finally retreated to their beds back at the inn. Annabel, so exhausted fell on her bed and was asleep almost instantly without even changing into her nightdress.

Shawn beamed down at her, feeling a strange warmth inside. He changed quickly before going to bed, but not before looking for Arlen. He wasn’t in his room, or elsewhere within the inn.

Shawn decided to put it from his mind. He lay his head down upon his pillows, sighing in contentment. He closed his eyes, and was asleep in minutes.

‘Ok’ Flunkit began as they gathered in a hidden place outside Tristan’s home. ‘Let’s make this quick. Blunkit and I know where the guards stand in this building, they are here, here, here, here…’ he pointed out the locations on a crude sketch he had drawn of the house on a piece of paper. ‘Woodworm, Flute Stick and Carrot will stand watch here, here and here’ he pointed. ‘If anything happens give the signal, that bird-call I showed you earlier. You know how to do it by now. Not much else to say’ he continued in a bored tone. ‘Farrell, you’ll come with me and Blunkit…lets go.’

‘Wait, hold on a minute’ Farrell said grabbing him to stop him. ‘Shouldn’t we go into more detail?’

‘We don’t normally do that’ Flunkit dismissed. ‘We normally just throw ourselves in. We know what we’re doing.’

Blunkit nodded in agreement beside him.

‘Right’ Flunkit said, ‘let’s go.’

‘Wait’ Farrell said again, grabbing onto Flunkit’s shoulder.

‘What?’ Flunkit huffed wearily.

Farrell’s words caught in his mouth, and he couldn’t think of anything to say. So he shut his mouth and let go of him.

‘Right’ Flunkit said again. ‘Let’s go.’

Carrot helped the three of them climb through an open window, and Blunkit, Flunkit and Farrell entered the grand home, Farrell doing so awkwardly with his arm still in a splint, thinking briefly to himself.

Gods I’m getting too old for this…

Blunkit left their side for a moment to ‘clear an area’ or so he put it, leaving Farrell and Flunkit to walk the corridors without him. He met up with them a short time later.

‘Right’ he whispered. ‘That’s done, now we head for our target.’

‘Who’s our target?’ Farrell asked, just realising that he should have asked this obvious question earlier.

‘His wife’ Flunkit whispered back. ‘She’s normally in the office at this time writing letters and notes.’ He beaconed for Farrell to follow. ‘It’s this way.’

When they reached the study, the door was left open for them and they peered into the room, seeing a slender woman with beautiful golden hair tied neatly behind her head. She leant forward on a desk with her back to them, and was indeed writing as Flunkit had said she would be.

Blunkit signalled the other two to stay in the doorway as he moved into the room, silent as a breath on the wind.

He approached to the woman, who was completely oblivious to his presence, and moved closer until he stood right behind her.

Blunkit grabbed her from behind, clapping a hand over her mouth so she could not make a sound. He pulled her back and out of her chair, the chair toppled on its side as Blunkit dragged her.

‘Good job’ Flunkit hissed from nearby. ‘Now quickly, knock her out so we can take her with us.’

She had grabbed the only two things in reach when Blunkit had surprised her, the quill and the paper she had been writing on. As Blunkit slipped his hand around her neck and began to tighten, she scrawled a note onto the paper as quick as she could and held it up for them to read.

‘What?’ Blunkit said uncertainly, loosening his grip slightly as he read it.

The woman shook the note again, encouraging them to read it. Flunkit and Farrell stepped closer, entering the room and closing the door quietly after them.

‘I can help you’ Farrell spoke aloud, reading the note.

The woman lowered the page, writing hastily before showing them the paper again.

‘Trust me?’ Farrell read. ‘The fuck we do. You’re Tristan’s wife, why in the hell would we….?’ He fell silent as the woman began to write again, the quill scratching noisily on the paper.

‘He hates me’ Flunkit read.

‘Oh I’m getting sick of this’ Blunkit sighed. ‘I’m going to let you go’ he said. ‘Scream. Make a noise, or be awkward in any way and I’ll make sure you regret it. Is that clear?’

She nodded vigorously, unable to speak through the tight grip Blunkit still held her in, his hand still firmly over her mouth to keep her silent.

Blunkit released her, and she fell forwards, hunched over and coughing hysterically.

‘Is that any way to treat a woman?’ she said rubbing her neck and turning to face them. ‘I hope you don’t greet all women this way.’ She tossed the quill and paper onto the desk behind her and placed her hands on her hips, seemingly completely unfazed by seeing strangers in her home and being grabbed and nearly choked. ‘Who are you?’

‘Shut it’ Flunkit spat. ‘We’re asking the questions here.’

‘Fine’ she sighed wearily. ‘Would you like a drink at least?’

The three men all blinked stupidly at her.

‘What?’ Farrell stammered.

She smirked in amusement at them. ‘Perhaps you want me to act as you expected.’ She fell to her knees then, clasping her hands together before her and sobbing. ‘Please don’t hurt me. Please. I’ll do anything, I’ll tell you anything you want, just don’t hurt me.’

They just stared at her in confusion. Farrell glanced towards Blunkit and Flunkit either side of him, wondering what they were making of this. But they seemed just as confused as he was.

‘I don’t play that bullshit’ the woman said, dropping the act and rising to her feet. She leant back against the desk. ‘You came here for information I presume’ she said crossing her arms. ‘Perhaps something regarding my husband? I’ll tell you what I know and will do so willingly.’

‘But…why?’ Blunkit asked uncertainly.

The woman shrugged. ‘We were never really that close. I wasn’t lying when I told you he hates me. The only time we’re ever getting along is….well…’ she smirked at them. ‘I have a duty as a wife. My name is Olithia by the way’ she added as an afterthought. ‘Just in case you wanted to know.’

‘We want to know about Amaia’ Farrell interrupted, getting right to the point.

Olithia blinked in surprise at this. ‘Amaia? How do you know of her?’

‘I’m her father’ Farrell said.

A great smile spread across her face at this. ‘Is that you?’ she beamed, suddenly greatly amused. ’I never thought I’d see the day where I met her actual father.’

‘What do you mean?’ Farrell asked hesitantly.

‘I don’t know what bollocks he’s been feeding you’ she went on smiling widely, ‘but I’m sure it runs something along the lines of…himself being the real father and yourself being the pretend father? Is that right? And now he’s looking for her again. He wants your help doesn’t he?’ she asked them. ‘He wants you to help him replace her again after he lost her.’

They all exchanged glances.

‘What do you know?’ Blunkit asked.

‘That he is not to be trusted’ Olithia answered shortly. ’He’s lying to you. My daughter nineteen years ago was stillborn. So grief-stricken was he, that in his mind he adopted another of the same age my daughter would have been. Amaia, your daughter’ she said to Farrell. ‘He watched her for years as she grew, and over that time he developed strong feeling for her and he began to believe his own lies, after a time thinking them to be true. And when the king’s soldiers came to take Amaia away, he was there to protect her. He took her away to where he believed was safety.’

‘But…’ Farrell began. ‘Why did the king want her?’

‘Don’t you know what she is?’ Olithia asked him, eyes gleaming brightly. ‘Surely you must know.’

‘I want to hear you say it’ Farrell said.

‘Weather Maker’ Olithia replied. ’That’s what she is, like her mother Ramana, and her mother before her. It runs in the family you know, and I have no such powers…’

The door burst open suddenly, and many figures stormed into the room.

Things didn’t end well for them, and they were discovered and surrounded before they had the chance to ask Olithia all they wanted to ask her. This happened for several reasons. Firstly, they had stayed too long in the palace, which was dangerous enough on its own. Secondly, Barrel’s laughter as he waited outside had attracted attention, and thirdly, one of the unconscious bodies Blunkit had left behind had been discovered.

‘Oh cack’ Blunkit exclaimed as Tristan, surrounded by armed soldiers strode towards them, shoulders hunched and body shaking, barely able to suppress his rage.

‘We found one of the men you knocked out’ Tristan snarled through gritted teeth. ‘Maybe next time you should hide them better.’

‘I told you I was getting too old for this’ Blunkit said casually to Farrell.

‘Lock them all up!’ Tristan ordered his men. ‘Put them in the cellar with the others until I decide what to do with them.’

Blunkit, Flunkit and Farrell were all led away by the guards and locked in the cellar with Woodworm, Flute Stick, Carrot and Barrel, who hadn’t stopped laughing yet.

When they had been taken away, Tristan rounded on his wife.

‘I think you should let them go’ Olithia commented off-handed. ‘They are rather charming, don’t you think?’

‘Be quiet woman!’ Tristan barked. ‘I’ve had enough of your poison.’ He turned to one of his guards that remained. ‘Keep them there’ he ordered, ‘and let them rot.’