Chapter 5

Snapping out of the past memory Robyn shoke her head and sat up, it appeared that she had fallen asleep in her chair in her chambers. The smell of fresh made bread soon had her stomach grumbling and caused her to clutch it as an attempt to silence it.
"I'll take a shower, then something to eat"
After the much needed shower Robyn set off towards the dinning room where a long banquet had been laid out for the King. How much food does one person really need?
She waited in the corner of the room until the King had stopped talking to another visiting Lord.
"Robyn! There you are, my sweet Robyn. Come join us, Lord Brynn has traveled ever so far from a small country named, oh what was it called?" The King spoke with a mouth full of bread and berries.
"Wales sir, I come from a land not far from here called Wales. Where our valley's run deep through our mountains and blood run's through our veins whilst poetry through our hearts." He seemed impressed with himself and full of pride. His accent was strong and he spoke quick, making Robyn take hushed but quick steps just so she didn't miss a word he said.
Sitting opposite the King she soon made herself a plate, cooked chicken with a light crisp coating, sweet potato that had been mashed up, and fresh made bread with berry jam lay out in front of her. She couldn't choose which she preferred to have first.
"We have come to take on some of those from the Red Cloth to do a mission for us. With permission from his majesty of course." Even those from other lands still asked for our King's permission, even if it wasn't his fight.
"Why of course Brynn, a fellow aristocrat such as yourself gets my full blessing. Robyn why don't you go along with Brynn. You'd be perfect for the mission!" Swallowing his mouthful he beamed at Robyn.
"But Sire, I was hoping we could discuss our agreement?" Robyn added before he could ignore her once more and continue discussing her travel arrangements to Lord Brynn.
"Oh hush girl, we shall discuss matters after dinner." He replied, astonished by her apparent rudeness of interrupting his conversation with Byrnn.
After a few minutes of silence Robyn soon went back to digging into her meal. The smell had compelled her into tucking in until her stomach cried no more. The taste warmed her mouth and raised her body temperature causing her cheeks to flush a soft pink as she ate. Ignoring the King who greedily took bites of every meal he could put his sausage fingers onto, she kept her head low yet paid close attention to this new Lord who had plans to take the Red Cloth leader away.
Lord Brynn lifted his eyes towards Robyn who was happily enjoying her meal. His ears remained listening to the King but never did she leave his sights. She's pretty he thought. Could be wife material if she wasn't so lethal with those hands of hers.
"Robyn, what do you think of joining me to Wales? I know your King has now given his gracious permission but let me hear your thoughts." He pushed his plate to the side and toke a sip of his mead from his cup readying for her answer.
"Well. I was hoping that his highness would grant me mine and my mothers freedom like he promised me eight years ago." She leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed over her shoulders, watching him un-amused.
"Eight years....wasn't that before the Great Esclipse?" His question directed at the King who did no more than nod as he gulped his drink, yelling for a maid to refill his cup.
"Child you should let that time go, with all it's promises. That was when this land was full and crops grew heavy. Since that battle your land needs all the help it can get. Your mother and yourself would do well to stay with your master and remain working." Taking another swig of his mead he too sat bag and chuckled to himself.
She hated the way he used the word 'master' as if she was so simply owned by this man sat in front of her. She may have once worn his mark but never was she his. "With due respect, my mother and I would be better off this land and onto another. Where she can rest her tired feet and I earn a proper living wage." She smiled to herself at the thought of a small home where her and her mother rested their feet by an open fire merrily chattering away to each other about their peaceful day. Her attention was drawn back to Lord Brynn as he stood, one hand on the table the other ruffling his hair.
"My dear, it is your decision. But i'm sure if you completed this mission, not only would you then be free to live with your mother down in Wales but also have your freedom granted to you with no other draw backs." He unclenched his fingers from around the table and bowed with respect to the King who once again nodded at his notion and at his finishing statement before bowing to Robyn and walking back to his horse awaiting him at the stables.
Robyn looked at her empty plate debating the offer. Could this really be her chance to have freedom finally? The King had given his word...or nod at least that this time it was real at least. What was this mission anyway?
A few minutes of idle running into different places trying to find the stables had Robyn out of breath and flushed in the face. Finally arriving at the stables she saw Lord Brynn just mounting his horse with stable hands pottering here and there making the stables absolutely immaculate for the Royal Family and important nobles who visited.
"Robyn, have you decided?" With his black jodhpurs on and blue coat hugging his body in a perfect fit Robyn finally got to see what this man looked like without the table and food in the way. She admired his position on the saddle. The appaloosa coloured shire was beautiful and such a proud creature. He himself seemed powerful with pride sat on it's saddle too, his posture was perfection. He looked as though he was made to sit on that horse to ride off into the sunset. He seemed no older than late twenties himself. His face had matured in all the right places with a slight stubble growing around his rounded chin and a little on his top lip. His eyes were the colours of the forest. The dark green the colour of a trees bark and the green of the sweet spring grass.
"Yes, I have." She paused as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm coming with."