Chapter 6

She always preferred to travel by foot. Ever since her fall from Cyron's horse when she turned just fourteen she has feared riding horses.
She followed Lord Brynn on foot beside his horse who occasionally snorted in her direction or whinnied when a door mouse crossed their paths. Her trip to Wales was going to be a long one. After all she was travelling from her land in what travellers called Scotland to another country down south. The total journey would take them three weeks if she remained on foot. Many times Lord Brynn attempted to persuade Robyn into travelling on horse but she would always refuse and say "If it is needed that we must move quick in silence, the horse will make me a bigger target."
After a day of travelling Lord Brynn dismounted his horse and tied the reins around the nearest willow trunk, the bark marked where previous ropes had been tied and secured.  The horse folded its legs under itself to lie down thankful for the rest after the days travel. Lord Brynn ruffled his hair shaking the sweat that had kept there through the day.
"Long day wasn't it?" Robyn couldn't tell who he directed the question at, nor whether he had intended for one of them to answer, her or his horse. She looked up into the leaves and sighed in agreement anyway.

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."

Chapter 4

Robyn and her mother had carried their sister and aunt back into in the barn, collected what little of Robyn's things she had and burnt the barn, the flames consuming all and yet the smell of burning flowers in the garden and inside the house made her quick funeral sweet instead of such a harsh memory, covering the smell of burnt flesh. Cyron had gone off to war and knew he would be granted a knew house as every knight would be by the King once they returned successful to the land. Returning to the castle the guard reapplied the shackle to her mother and lead them inside towards the King in the Throne room.
Quietly Robyn followed her mother, nervous of her new surroundings as she had never seen inside the castle before nor what the King had even looked like. Her mother stayed silent and knelt down beside her awaiting the King's entrance.
After a few moments the King entered the room and sat without a word in his throne, chin up proving he was of a higher position than her.
"Natalia, what is this?" He signalled for her to stand and explain why she had come to him with watery eyes and blood stained dress. "Did you not wash your own dress this morning?" He bagan to pronounce his words very clearly but with a harsh tone. Making sure he was well understood.
"Sire, my sister was killed...Claurice Deliquo, we just found her at her home in Eyeria's village." Her voice was low but with full apology bread into it.
"This is Robyn, she had just turned thirteen Sire, she is my daughter." Quickly moving from the subject her mother then wrapped her arm around her daughters shoulder, helping to calm her shaking.
"She has no where else to go Sire, and I know she is a very strong young lady." Promoting her daughter seemed to have worked because the King stood from his throne, lightly dusted her sleeve when standing and walked closer to the little girl in front of him.
"Robyn is it? Well...I don't need no more maids here we are full. Why don't you ask Deisel if he needs one" He chuckled to himself. Deisel being one of the many hounds the King kept in the Kennels in the back of the castle.
"Sire, she is more capable than that if I may intrude" A voice from behind them came bounding in. A young boy no older than Robyn had walked up to the King and shoke his hand. "Father, I've seen her in Eyeria. She's quick, little sure but that always makes it easier not to get caught." He carried on standing by his father's side.
"Then fine it is decided, Robyn Deliqua you will work for me, you will train every day till blood sweat and tears come from you. You will have an hour a day to see your mother but that is only once you have completed all your tasks of that day and only after the sun rises. You will not leave this castle without my permission and you are refrained from speaking to any other maid or knight in this castle. Then once you turn 21 and I have no use for you, I will set you free. You and your mother." He sat back down on his thrown and smiled approvingly, knowing he had already won against her by adding the final words about her mother to the agreement. She could do no more than nod her approval.
"Take her to the Red Cloth" Soon the child found herself being whisked away from her mother and out of the room, a cold and hard shakle being attached to her foot and a hot iron being pressed to her skin with the emblem of a crown burning her flesh and causing her to scream.
Eight years had passed since then.

Chapter 3

In the time before the great the Great Eclipse Robyn Deliqua had been just thirteen years old, preparing her self for the Coming of Age ceremony that every girl had to have once they had turned thirteen. The ceremony was to celebrate the girl moving from childhood into becoming a lady, not only did this now mean she could start learning how to ride properly on horseback but that she was now old enough to join her mother in working for the King as a scullery maid in his castle if he was impressed enough by her. This was seen as a great honor for women as they then got a chance to live within the castle with the Royal Family and be under their protection. With their husbands and fathers working away for the King in the war their protection was needed. However, no maid ever spoke of the mistreatment they would recieve from his majesty, just looked away with a saddened memory replaying in their eyes. Whenever his greed became him, he would summon them into his chambers only then to have them the next morning a changed woman. Like Robyn's mother once had, many maids would enter the Kings chamber full of loyalty and blindness as to what followed only to be disreguarded the next morning, glum faced and no longer their cherpy selves. Inside the castle, all staff including guards were sworn to secrecy, and if you kept the secret and were important to the Royal Family, then you may have been lucky enough to have the King grant you a personal maid, to whom you may order as you wish seeing as they were obligated to follow.
Robyn had been outside the castle walls mischieviously teasing the guards as she always did whilst waiting for her mothers visit. For an hour a day the mothers who worked for the King were allowed outside the castle to see their children or to attend their duties outside the castle. This ment that Robyn had to stay with her aunt Clarice who hadn't been fortunate enough to be chosen at the ceremony. Her mother, head low and arms hugging her chest tight walked out of the big iron gates and up to the first guard Robyn tried to tease. She showed him her ankle and he smiled, the whole time she looked lovingly at Robyn who had now began smiling back and standing innocently awaiting her mothers freedom. The guard rustled the keys around his belt, unhooked them and began unlocking the shackle from around the womans ankle, it was these shackles and the crown emblem that had been burnt over your heart that had proved you were property of the King, a sign for others to not touch you or face his judgement more like.
Once she had been set free her Robyn ran into her mothers arms, a warm embrace both sweet and needed. The guard hurried them on as they started their journey through the field and back to the small town her aunt lived in. Her mother spoke little but her body language showed Robyn that she was listening. Occasionaly a small smile would press on her thin lips, causing Robyn to smile and enlighten her mother with more tales of her day with aunt Clarice and her cousin Cyron. Even though Cyron was four years older he had always made a fuss of her and had started showing her how to plant forget-me-knot flowers in their garden.
"Little bird, im tired. Let your mother rest and we shall then continue on, we have plenty of time." Her breathing had deepened and her voice quiet but filled with exhaustion.
"Alright mother, but we don't have that much time" Robyn excitedly replied, quickly sitting next to her mother on the sweet smelling grass, picking daisies from the ground.
"But we really don't have that much time mother, his majesty prefers to keep you to himself. Doesn't he realise that I need you more than he does? Doesn't he know how selfish he's being?" That caused her mother to sharply turn towards the girl. Sternly she took hold of Robyn's hand pulling it away from the grass "Don't you ever speak of the King in that way again. Do you hear me? He has been good to our family," she paused "he pays Claurice three times what we would have earned from selling our crops, he makes sure we have enough money to have a roof over our heads and food in that big belly of yours." softening her expression she smiled as her daughter started laughing at the joke.
Standing again, they made their way on down the small man made path through the field towards the village. Half an hour had passed by the time they had reached the house where Aunt Clarice lived. It was more of a barn that they converted into a living space since thats all that they could afford. A house in this land ment that you were under protection of a knight or had sworn yourself to the King, something Claurice made sure never to do. She was the independant one of the family who believed the King was a fool and shouldn't be trusted as much as Robyn's mother did.
Suddenly Robyn's mother burst off into a run towards the door that had been smashed in of the barn, Robyn quick on her tail. "Claurice! God dammit don't you do this to me! Claurice get out here." She shouted, but with no reply. Looking around they realised that they house had been broken into, the chair had been smashed on the floor with wood splintering in every angle. The pottery she so loved to make had be left in a mess on the table, which was unusual since she believed everything had to remain in its place.
"Mother...." Robyn's voice carried through the dust filled air towards her mother who turned quickly towards her. Running over she saw the girl looking out of the window towards the back garden. There lying in the new flower bed lay the aunt they had been searching for. What was once baby blue forget-me-knot flowers had been soaked in a red thick blanket. Her mother screamed and ran straight towards her sister.
"Robyn go get help now." Panic seared over the mothers face as she picked up the womens shoulder to rest her head in her lap, tears began trickling down her pale cheeks. Claurice's throat had a long thin line were she had been cut, blood had continued to pour out showing that the wound had been recent. Frantically Robyn's mother tried to keep the wound covered by her dress, covering her neck begging for no more blood to be spilt.
A few minutes later Robyn returned with a knight from the village, he toke one step into the garden, looked at the maid and at the body emotionless in her arms and back at her.
"What happened?" He asked sternly, no other emotion but anger showed on her face.
"I don't know, we just got here to find her like this. Please you must help us, you see I haven't got long and my child has no one else." The mother pleaded desperatly as her sisters blood continued to seep through the dress.
They knight came closer and knelt by the body, using his hand to close the womans eyes.
"I''m afraid there's nothing else I can do, she's gone." He looked up to the woman whose eyes had been red from tears. "You bear the King's mark" he gestured to the tip of the crown burn on her chest that could be seen under her maids dress. "Take your daughter to the King, she is old enough now he may take her on."

Chapter 2

Returning back to King Hydale took the assassin two weeks on foot. Carrying a bag smothered in dark red smudges. The smell of death following close behind. A tall broad shouldered guard in full metal armour greeted her at the castle's gates. His sword pointed at the girls heart ready to pierce it if he thought she was an enemy or threat of his majesty. She lifted her chin, her face covered in dirt,and even though she no longer wore the mask she had used on her mission, the cloak kept her face hidden. He nodded and opened the iron gate granting her entrance. He knew who she was and what she could do if he so much as toke a step closer with his blade in her direction.
She travelled hastly up the many steps, knowing her route to the King's private court room all too well. Pushing open the big white door to the court room she made her way in, following the red carpet laid out in front of her. She stopped just short of three steps leading up to King Hydales throne, empty as always. She dropped her dirty bag and rubbed her shoulder, it had been a while since she had had a good nights sleep and some proper food. Taking in another deep breath she braced her self for the debriefing. As always King Hydale would want the full detail and more. He thrived off the bloody stories that she would tell him of his fallen enemies.
The assassin closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of marching soilders in the yard outside the courts walls, the twittering of birds sat on the windowsill of the back windows and the nearing steps of boots with a rustling of chain attached. She was soon knealing as King Hydale walked in from behind the throne. Only those trusted by the King could enter the court room, and only those special to the Royal family knew of the secret passageway that hid behind the tall throne, hiding an almost impossible to see door.
"Welcome back, I see you have returned from your duty. Do you have what I seek Robyn?" His voice echoed off the marble walls with a slight thrill of knowing what was to come. Robyn kept her head low and gestered to her bag, "Sire, Lord Albert and Lady Martha cannot bother you any longer." He waved his hand for her to show him the items in the bag. The smell of the rotting flesh caused her to turn pale and she could see even he hard a hard time ignoring it.
Throwing the severed hand of King Albert with his familys ring still hugging his middle finger towards the King had his face light up. Flies swarmed around the flesh as dried blood cracked on the surface. The King looked at the assassin questionly. She replied. "He struggled." Answering his silent questions about the uncleanliness of the cut in such a bland tone of voice. Robyn then stood, and looked directly at the King.
"Sir, if we may.." before she could finish the King cut her off, playing with his new toy- the ring from his deceased enemy "my dear sweet Robyn, your pay is in your chamber. That is all, you may leave now."
"Thank you sir." That wasn't what she wanted to ask about but it was clear that the King was too busy with his new trophy to listen to her at this moment anyway. Deciding that it was best to leave the talk about her freedom till the next day, Robyn retreated to her chambers on the fourth floor, leaving the rotting bag with her King to enjoy.
Once Robyn had returned to her chambers she let out a sigh and removed her dusted cloak, throwing it onto the chair near the door.
"Once again, another failed attempt. Don't worry" she reassured herself, brushing her hair from her eyes, "tomorrrow, tomorrow's the day you'll earn you're freedom from this hell-hole of a place and be free to travel like you once were." Looking down she rubbed at her ankles, memories of her shackles still haunted her from her past causing her to shiver at hte thoughts.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A darkened shadow glimmered on the shattered glass from the broken window. With a flash of lightening the shadow slithered away creeping further into the darkness. No one had discovered her intrusion yet, nor the fact that she had climbed her way up the rusted drainpipe and kicked in the front window of the manor. Thanks to the storm and the deafening crashes of thunder, her attack was falling into place quite easily.
Concealing herself behind her dark mask and hooded cloak, she managed to blend into the darkness disguising herself. A small child skipped unaware in the corrodor outside the open door softly humming to an unrecognisable tune. What was a child so young doing out of bed at this time of night? She didnt have time to question, it wasn't her job to question. Her job was to obey, to kill for her King and Country when he so asked for it.
She was his assassin and leader of the Red Cloth; the private armed forces group that would silently be the Kings guard dogs whenever a new threat presented itself to the country.
Seeking her opportunity she shimmied into the hallway, lit by nothing more than a silver candelabra hung near a portrait of the same child. The face in the portrait seemed to have aged more with the shadows now painted on it. Its eyes staring into the viewer, as though it were real and seeing into their soul. She quickly looked away afraid of the judgement it would give if it knew of her intentions for the Lord and Lady of this manor.
There were six doors in the hallway including the one that she had appeared out of. The nearest one to her right had a wooden plaque hanging from the brass handle saying Kian. She assumed that was the child from earlier and carried on down the hallway, listening for any other intrusions.
The last door on the left had footsteps growing louder, she could hear the mumbles of a conversation between two women from just behind the door. Taking a deep breath she backed herself up against the door behind her, twisted its cold handle and stepped in, closing in it time with another crash of thunder. Just in time as two maids stepped out of the room opposite carrying two empty silver platters, trudging down the hallway and towards the stairs at the far right.
Briskly turning to face the unknown room she found herself staring at the Lord and Lady of the manor, asleep and braced in eachothers arms under a thick ivory duvet, in what looked like a king sized bed seperated from the other furniture of the room. On the floor lay a white gown laced with a soft pearl coloured thread, crumpled next to it were the black trousers and shirt that belonged to Lord Albert himself.
She crept to the side of the bed where Lady Martha lay, her blonde hair illuminated by the lightning made her seem no older than early twenties. It was a shame that she two had been scheduled for execution. Her beauty would have made many Lords jealous, or maybe that was why the King had ordered for her to go as well?
Unwrathing her dagger from her belt's sheath she raised it to Martha's neck and made a quick and deadly cut. Covering the womans pink lips with her hand to silence her choking from her sleeping lover.
She stepped back and looked at Lord Albert. His snorring covering the sounds of her choking and approaching footsteps to his side of the bed. She cleaned her blade on her sleave, keeping it as proof of her kill to her King.
After another deep breath she raised the blade above her, ready to make her final blow on the next strike of thunder. Lord Albert moaned and opened his eyes wide, staring back at his awaiting reaper in disbelief.

Writing a new tale.

Hey guys, MiniGrafter here.



So recently I got inspired to start writing my own novel, and after reading so many I had a good idea about how to write it and what it should be about. The latest one is called Blood of a Robyn and yes I know that you're supposed to spell it as Robin but it makes more sense when you read my story.
Its set a few centuries back but is completely fictional so some of the countries names, and characters are not real!!!!!!!

Robyn who is the main character has been under her Kings power for over 8 long and hard years, carrying out his dirty work as his secret assassin, and as part of the Red Cloth secret services. However when a Lord Brynn comes to take Robyn away, she's about to discover that the side she has been fighting for may not have been the right one.  Can she pick the right side and finally have her and her mothers freedom or will her past haunt her and jeopardise her future?


Thanks guys I hope you enjoy, feel free to leave comments :)
MG