"It's refreshing, isn't it?" the regent grinned smugly, "Perhaps it is because I was first and foremost a commanding general to our army, and then a 'royal leader' figure, if you will."
Vincent now couldn't suppress a smile from escaping, "Indeed…"
His superior cleared his throat and tugged at the long cape that adorned his back as it flowingly splayed outward to the ground, "But you have come to discuss business, not to indulge in stroking a man's pride. Come, tell me what happened; I have yet to see Ladislaus report to me."
"In all honesty, Sir, I would much prefer it if you heard it from his lips," Vincent averted his eyes under the man's calculating expression, "I have come to discuss the officer who commanded the Ottoman army."
"Ah," the regent nodded, "You seem to forget that you are simply a captain in my ranks, due to nothing but my support."
"Of course, but I must ask why you had not informed me of the fact that my brother was their leader," Vincent locked his gaze back on the man.
A pause too great filled the room, one that made the younger ever angrier once more.
"He is clearly not just another Ottoman to you, then," the regent folded his arms across his broad chest.
"Decidedly not," Vincent shook his head vehemently, "He is far worse in my eyes. He not only turned his back on my family, Christianity, and his homeland, but also turned against the Order of the Dragon –my sole purpose for being."
"Ladislaus–"
"Don't," the noble closed his eyes, shut tight.
Richard sat there, deprived of her right to speak and too scared to defend her cause. The thought of him striking her frightened her, but seeing him as rigid as un-carved stone made that thought come alive. Instead, she braced herself against the shelves of food and watched.
"You…you have been seeing a certain member who shouldn't even belong to our army," Ladislaus controlled his voice with a vice grip, though it wavered.
"It–"
"I said be silent," Ladislaus warned as his blue eyes grew darker.
Richard fell silent once more.
"Now, news of your 'exchanges' has reached my ears, and I will tell you this: I will not allow you to share pleasantries with this man nor anything else. It was difficult enough to stay silent as you defended his cause for living and not being executed, but now you speak with him? Alone, no less?" Ladislaus leaned on one of the shelves as well and placed his arm to rest atop one of the rows of salt.
Richard paused, until she realized through a gesture on his part that she was allowed to speak.
"Then your informers are selling you fallacious rumors," Richard raised her chin, "I have only run into him in passing down at the stables in the courtyard once. I have shared nothing with him and we were certainly not alone."
"Then you were in the consent of someone else then? Perhaps Walter?" Ladislaus's expression lighted into premature relief.
Richard panicked. Mentally, she paused before she could blurt anything out. If she said no, telling the truth, it would get her into a whirlwind of more trouble than she was already knee-deep in; but if she lied, then she knew Ladislaus would, sooner or later, and hopefully later, ask Walter what she and Vincent had talked about. Walter disliked Vincent, yes, but knowing that her dignity was on the line, he would stick his neck out for her. She was certain of this.
A little too certain.
"Yes, Ladislaus, Walter was with me," Richard stated with reassurance, "He was helping me tend to Hadúr's wounds."
"'Far worse in my eyes'…I'm curious, did you see him on the battlefield?" the regent questioned.
"I did."
"So you killed him then."
Vincent averted his eyes once more, "I was about to when the Ottoman's foot artillery arrived to save them from their own judgment."
The regent's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "How convenient."
In response, Vincent narrowed his eyes, "I assure you, my Lord, had I known that Radu was leader of the army, I would have been able to tell you how armed and dangerous they were. However, my leader saw fit in omitting that little fact at the briefing before Ladislaus and I left."
"With sound reason," the regent added with an edge to his voice, "No matter your motives now in supporting this country, Radu is first and foremost you blood. You cannot run away from that. What you can do is eliminate it. I gave you a chance at proving yourself worthy to fight amongst our ranks as a soldier of Christendom. Nothing could draw the line of trust any better than to kill your own brother for The Order. If I had warned you, I know you would have privately objected, and do not tell me otherwise."
Vincent bared his teeth angrily, "I would have, but that does not mean I would have countermanded that order, that I would have not done it. I would still have executed your order in killing him."
"I could not risk that chance. The army was headed our way, and I needed to figure out if you meant your word," the regent stated with finality.
"I am not a person of idle promises, my Lord. I stick to my word," Vincent clenched his fists and began to breathe heavily in anger.
The regent looked at him passively, noting the change in posture and his threatening and exposed glare. The young man had so much anger in him, he didn't even know what to do with it. Perhaps, the regent thought, perhaps he should stay within the castle walls where he could keep an eye on him. He was more useful in the castle as it was, what with informing him of tactics and strategies of what the Ottomans did. After such a negative response received, the regent suddenly wondered if he should not tempt Vincent by forever surrounding him with Ottomans.
"However, you would be much more useful to me alive than dead…" the regent then thought aloud, confusing Vincent.
"Very well," Ladislaus answered, only half-believing her story, "Then I shall make a proposal to you: stay away from him, and I'll let this little mishap go unnoticed by our father. But, if I hear that you have been sneaking around to speak with him, which, I honestly would not put past you, then the first person I shall inform will be father."
"I have nothing to hide," Richard bluffed, "He is one soldier in a sea of many more to me. Nothing more."
The noble scoffed at her surefootedness, "It couldn't be that difficult as it is because he will most likely be forever away at war with me against the Ottomans. A fool and a disgrace to our family would only be able to keep bumping into him, understand?"
"Completely," Richard nodded, however begrudgingly. Nevertheless, she presented a happy and cheerful face.
"What are you proposing?" Vincent pressed with a stern gaze, his mind coming up with wild and radical ideas as to where his superior was leading him.
The regent slowly moved around the large table in a rhythmic pacing motion, "I shall make a proposal to you: stay in the castle and give your orders here. You would be of much more value to me alive here, where it is safe, than out there against the Ottomans. We need your military expertise and first-hand knowledge here, where I can see you."
Vincent blinked a couple times and pressed his index fingers to his ears, "Forgive me, I think I did not hear you correctly. Did you say you wish for me to stay?"
The regent continued circling his table of scrolled maps, "You heard me correctly."
"Here?" Vincent tilted his head in confusion, "Here. Here?"
His leader laughed as he paused to look at the soldier, "Is it so hard to believe that I want you where I can use you best?"
"Here? In the castle? Where I am idle? Not out with the men fighting?" Vincent continued in shock.
"As my advisor, Sir Vincentislaus," the regent slowly walked over to the young man and placed a large and calloused hand on his shoulder, "You will be treated and cared for here. In return, you are allowed separate quarters, private, only for you, and you will report to me daily to discuss strategies in thwarting the Ottomans."
Vincent glanced at the intrusive but slightly paternal gesture and smiled, "My Lord, my math might be off, but the last time I checked, I met your advisor mo
ments before outside in the hallway."
The regent lightly squeezed Vincent's shoulder, "You did, but he is neither soldier nor initiate to the Order. You shall be my second advisor."
"So let it be," Vincent agreed with a handshake, "May I choose a room for my own liking?" He asked curiously, a sudden excitement crowding his senses.
The regent opened his arm to the door, "Certainly. You may decide which room is to your liking. I will have a guard escort you to the different rooms. Guard!"
"Perfect," Ladislaus cracked his neck and straightened his stature, "Then I shall go and attend to my father's business. He will want my full report of the battles. I should head out before he conjures up an insane plan that only he sees will work."
Richard bowed her head reflexively and watched him easily open the latch to the door. Before she could say anything further, he was out of the room and heading up the nearest set of stairs to the upper levels. Shaking her head, she sighed and closed the door.
"What an idiot," she whispered, "I am no fool. Sir Vincent initiated the conversation; I did not seek him out, nor would I ever," Richard stated a little too proudly.
Snorting indignantly, she quietly walked back to her room. She passed the myriad number of windows along the way with beautiful glass and window-seats where one could sit and enjoy the pouring rays of sunshine throughout the day. Most of them on the lower levels amounted to nothing more than a recess that was cut into the thickness of the wall where, behind, an arrow loop was a vertical wedge-shaped space designed to give an archer more flexibility in aiming his bow. But the ones near the top were wide and protected by an iron grille. They could even be closed off by wooden shutters.
She paused by one and gazed out at the horizon of hills that surrounded her home. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and simply concentrated on the soft heat she felt given to her from the sun. The sensation was comforting as she felt its warmth seep past her dress until she could even feel it on her stomach and legs. Her breathing slowed to nothing as she wished to do nothing but open the window and fly out, out into the sky and far away. She imagined being a bird, cage-less, wild, free, and soaring across the rolling hills.
Richard smiled and opened her eyes. Slightly crestfallen as she remembered the bars on the windows and the glass that prevented her from freedom, she sighed, disappointed, and turned around to head further into the castle. And electric shock bolted through her body and veins as she saw Vincent standing there, watching her.
"My Lord!" She exclaimed and instantly controlled her breathing, "What possessed you into thinking it was appropriate to watch me like a deranged person?"
Taken aback at her sudden hostility, Vincent was slightly shocked that, moments before, she looked akin to an angel, "My apologies, my Lady. I meant to inform you of my presence, but you looked so…"
"So what?" Richard's glare cut into him.
Vincent smiled wistfully, "You looked like you had found freedom in that moment, and I would be the last person to deprive you of it."
Richard felt herself involuntarily smile at that comment. The comfort that adorned his face was crushingly attractive. Her muscles began to relax and her heart rate returned to a steady pace, though still elevated. How could he know that? How could he read her so well? Was she that obvious, or was he once in her same position? She shook all of her thoughts and decided to ignore them, adopting a different idea altogether. Following her instincts. And once she realized that she had accepted this, Richard sensed an exhilarating feeling rise within her, one that she wished not to curb.
The young Lady lifted her arm to him, and he reflexively reached for it, bringing her hand to his lips, and kissing the top of her hand. This time, she let him keep the moment longer before she retracted her arm.
There was a pleasant pause in which both Vincent and Richard did not know who should be the first to speak. He chuckled softly as he heard Richard clear her throat in an obvious attempt to refocus her attention.
"Y-you have returned," Richard captioned the obvious, and by Vincent's open smile, she closed her eyes, realizing how foolish that had sounded.
"I'm glad you noticed," He played and looked her over covertly as her eyes were closed.
She looked astonishingly beautiful with her hair braided in soft curling waves, and how one stubborn curl sprung free from its coil to dangle right in front of her face, taunting him to reach out and place it back behind her ear or to run it back into the thick ropes of her braids with his fingers. It took more strength than he imagined to keep his hands at his sides, and just when Vincent had formed a sentence in his head to start the conversation, he lost it as she looked up into his eyes and laughed, her eyes slightly rolling dramatically as she could read his face all too well.
"...I know you must think this preposterous, but my brother…" Richard paused awkwardly, "My brother…"
"Lord Ladislaus…" Vincent continued for her, already knowing what would be said would be chosen with delicately placed words.
Richard nodded, "Yes…he…he foolishly believes that…" her face colored slightly as she checked around her suspiciously, "…I need to leave," she picked up a corner of her dress and began to walk proudly off.
Vincent inhaled her scent as she walked past him hastily. He refused to believe that he should let her go without further explaining what she had already begun to say. Vincent knew it would be rude of him to insist on hearing the rest of it, but it was even more rude of her to tease him like that.
He turned on his heels, "My Lady, what have I done to cause such a negative response within you?"
He was ever thankful that she paused, but she refused to turn around and face him.
"You must realize that I have to keep a clean life within the castle, as it is expected. I must not…" Richard bowed her head shamefully, "I must not lower myself to spending time with every man in the hallway that I see. It would not be appropriate, and it certainly would not be conducive to my good health."
"You think my intentions toward you are carnal in nature?" Vincent questioned, his eyes now fixated on her sharply.
Richard turned around and met his harsh gaze, shocked that he would say such a thing aloud, "As you will come to learn, it does not matter. One poor rumor bouncing around could…it could sully an innocent reputation…could put people one cares about in danger, along with the couple's own danger of exposure."
Vincent chuckled, "Are you always this rational when it comes to men?"
"I have to be clear," Richard insisted, "Else it would leave ambiguity as a welcome friend, always visiting my doorstep."
Vincent dared to walk slowly up to her and soften his gaze, only focusing on the fact that her eyes looked deeper than the bluest sapphire he had once found in the sand as a child, "I only feel loyalty to the one who saved my life. If that is wrong of me, then say the word and I shall never speak to you again, my Lady. I only wish to please my liberator."
"I…" Richard lost all form of an argument as his polished manner and smooth voice covered her in shivers. He leaned in so far that their shoulders almost touched. She had never been quite so close to a man before, other than Walter; but that was for the occasional hug. His deep, rhythmic breathing slowed her heart down, but his eternal grin played with its every beat. Within her last bit of self-restraint, Richard reminded herself that there was one step she was unwilling to take: and that was to look up into his eyes; that act would present far too many choices for him to use against her. The farthest she allowed herself to feel was the warmth radiating from his body. It seeped through his armor and served a great contrast to the chilling winds that were picking up; but Richard caught her body from visibly trembling, "I will not allow such manipulation!"
She shook herself, breaking the trance, and recoiled away from him. Richard nearly regretted the act as she saw Vincent's face sink to a look of sadness. It was obvious that she had injured his feelings, but she had to inform him of the consequences.
"I would never intend to hur
t you–" Richard started.
"Nor I you," Vincent cut in.
"–but for my country. I have no choice. I must do what I am told," She finished sternly.
"You always have a choice, my Lady," Vincent stated fervently.
She began to walk once more, declining to continue that topic, "In any case, I bid you goodbye and farewell. I'm sure my father has another battle for you to command with my brother. You best report to him now."
Vincent rolled his aching neck and shoulders, "I think not. the regent has given me the opportunity to remain in the castle as his advisor."
Richard tripped on a protruding stone in the hallway and felt her dress tear. The noise of the fabric splitting in half expressed her failing nerves completely at that moment. She gathered it up quickly and whirled around to face him again, in the process getting slightly dizzy, "You what? He what?"
Her clumsiness forced a smile out of him he could no longer suppress, "He wishes for me to stay in the castle. Though, by the looks of it, you are less than content with that idea…"
"Merely caught off guard," Richard was fast to correct, "Your news carries weight. It's just…" Richard remembered Ladislaus stating that Vincent would be away at war with him, and how easy it would be to avoid Vincent.
"I see…" Vincent nodded abruptly, his tone suggesting he could read her face as if it were a book placed in front of him, and bowed, signifying the end of their short conversation, "You think me better off completely away from you. On the battlefield. I see it now."
The young Lady's heart began to beat faster, "N-no. I thi–"
Vincent raised a hand, to which Richard flinched, "It is the same look that every Hungarian gives me. That look of disgust, repulsion, and severe disdain. That I am not worthy of your time, that I should remain in the dungeon I was put in at the very least."
"You are placing malicious and indirect words in my mouth," Richard raised her voice as she noticed a guard and a woman walking toward them.
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