Ayla woke up early in the morning. The fire still burned in the fireplace. She tried to move, but something heavy had her pinned to the bed. It took her a few moments to realize it was Robart. He was spooning her, his big arm wrapped around her waist, caging her. When Ayla tried to wiggle her way out of his grip, but she winced, feeling sore and remembered last night. She took a big breath and tried to get away, wanting to get dressed, but Robart tightened his grip each time she tried to move. She wondered if he was truly sleeping.

Then an idea occurred to her, and she tried to turn so she could face him.

Little by little, Ayla turned around until she was looking at his face. Robart had his eyes closed, so she studied him for a while. She looked at his chest. Robart didn't have hair on it, only the tattoo she saw last night. Ayla traced each strange letter with the tip of a finger, wondering what it meant and why he endured the process to get words on his body. From what Ayla heard, once, while she was having dinner with her father, brother, and some knights, the barbarians decorated their bodies with tattoos. They used animal bones and hand-tapping the ink into the skin. Once her curiosity was satisfied, she looked at his face. For the first time, she could appreciate how handsome Robart was. Some of his hair was on his face, so she reached a hand to brush away. It was the first time she was touching his hair, and she liked the feel of it. With gentle movements, Alya tucked his hair behind an ear and then looked at his face once more. She gasped when a pair of silver eyes were staring at her. Robart was awake, looking straight into her eyes, and she felt shy under his gaze.

"Good morning," she whispered to him.

Then Ayla realized she talked before him. She covered her mouth with a hand while her eyes when big. Her heart was beating like a drum. She should know better by now. If Robart punished her, it was all her fault.

To her amazement, Robart took her hand away from her mouth and placed a kiss on her fingers.

"Do I really look that scary?" Robart asked.

"It's just that...." Ayla started saying and stopped.

Robart frowned. He really disliked when people stopped talking in the middle of the conversation.

"You always do that. Stopping in the middle of the sentence. Is that a habit of yours?" Robart asked while he frowned.

Ayla shook her head and lowered her gaze, looking at his chest. Robart muttered some profanities and put a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Look at me when you talk to me!" he said, and his tone sounded a bit more harshly than he wanted.

His tone made Ayla's eyes go round and big, and if Robart saw it, he didn't say anything. He waited for her to talk.

"It's just that I spoke before you," she said after a few moments of silence.

Robart waited for Ayla to continue, but she fell silent again.

"And?"

Ayla wasn't sure what Robart meant by his question. Wasn't he mad at her for talking first?

"Well, you know," she said and licked her lips nervously.

Robart had his eyes on her and saw each movement she made. And when he saw that little pink tongue, Robart remembered last night and how good it felt being inside of her. His cock got hard but knowing she must be sore, he decided this was not the best moment to fuck her again. Robart made a mental note to ask for a healing potion from Milton.

"Know what?" Robart asked, lifting his eyes from her pink lips to her eyes.

To Ayla, Robart was a mystery. He never reacted the way she thought he would. Like now, for example. Why wasn't he mad at her? He just seemed confused.

"I spoke before you, and you have all the rights to punish me," Ayla said in a low voice.

Ayla wanted to lower her gaze, but she remembered Robart's words.

"That's what you think? That I am going to punish you for talking? You are allowed to talk whenever you want, Ayla. No one will punish you for doing so."

Ayla had never heard of something like this. She could talk whenever she wished, and she won't be punished for it? She licked her lips again.

This time Robart couldn't stop himself, and cupping the back of her head, he started kissing her. This caught Ayla by surprise, and she jerked away, and Robart stopped the kiss, looking at her.

"Relax, I only plan to kiss you," Robart said.

When Ayla relaxed, Robart kissed her. She still tasted very sweet. Then he imagined her mouth sucking him, and he groaned, breaking the kiss.

"I have to get ready for the day. You should stay in bed a little more," Robart said, and looking out the window, he added, "It is going to be a cold day. If you don't have anything important to do, stay inside the room."

Robart got up from the bed and started getting dressed.

Since she arrived at the Castle, Ayla wondered what she was supposed to do. Surely as Queen, there was a lot for her to do.

"Umm... now that I am Queen, what am I supposed to do?"

Robart looked at Ayla and studied her for a moment. Perhaps if she had little tasks to do, Ayla could get used to her new life faster.

"You know how to read and write. What about mathematics?" he asked.

"I only learned basic mathematics."

"That will do. The Cold Season is approaching, and we need to be prepared for it. Can you make a list of the food stock we have in the kitchen?"

Did she hear right? The Cold Season? Does this mean that it will get even colder than this? Ayla didn't think it could get colder than this. Sure, the Castle was warm, but she wanted to feel the warm Sun on her skin. But on Nordmar, the Sun wasn't warm, and Ayla would never spend another day in her little garden, reading or doing embroidery, while the Sun kissed her skin. Ayla looked out the window, and she frowned. The day looked grim and cold. How could people live in a place so cold as Nordmar?

"Ayla?"

In a moment, Ayla snapped her head back to Robart. She still hasn't replied to him, and Robart was getting a little impatient.

"Yes. I can do that," she replied. "But how can it get even colder than this?"

"Cold? You will feel real cold when the Cold Season is here."

"Then what to do you call this Season?" Ayla asked.

"The Warm Season."

"The Warm Season? But it is always so cold!"

"If you are cold I will make sure to warm you tonight," Robart said and grinned.

"R-Robart!" Ayla said and blushed.

Robart couldn't stop himself from teasing her. He loved when she blushed.

Once fully dressed, Robart when to Ayla and brushed his lips on her forehead. He still wondered why he was so fascinated with her. He wasn't in love with her, but this didn't stop him from wanting her. And he couldn't deny she was beautiful.

"I will see you later. Don't forget about that list," Robart said and left.

Once Robart left, Ayla got out of bed, and she bit her lower lip because it hurt her when she walked. She only hoped the pain would fade away because she was sure Robart would want her again tonight, and she could not deny him in bed.

Robart was eating breakfast with the Paladins, talking about training when Milton came running. In his hands, the Fire Mage had a parchment.

"Robart, a raven just came with this message. It is important," Milton said and gave Robart the message.

Robart accepted the parchment. He read it fast while he started swearing in another language- in the old language of Nordmar.

"Something the matter?" asked Tizgar.

Tizgar has always been curious, and sometimes his curiosity got him in trouble. But he was strong and loyal. The day the Paladin consecrated his life and sword to Innos Robart was also present. It was rare for a knight to become a Paladin. In order to become a Paladin, a knight had to prove himself in battle and that he is ready to sacrifice his life for Innos. Once a knight was chosen to be Paladin, he went to a Fire Mage Monastery where the Arch-Mage anointed him as a Paladin. After that, the new Paladin took out his magic ore sword, kneeled in front of the altar, vowing to dedicate his life and sword to fight the evil. If Innos accepted the oath, a light descended upon the Paladin and his sword. This is what the Fire Mage and the Paladins called consecration.

"Minecrawler, in the Old Mine. We have to leave immediately. Milton, bring us as many healing potions as you have. Gorn, Tizgar go to the kitchen and ask for travel rations. Murak, Sigmor, and Lester go get the horses ready. Reynold, Godefray get the weapons ready," Robart gave his orders.

After that, Robart left the dining hall, going to his room.