Allure

Somewhere in Linsea

Maisy

Cold October mornings were a sight to behold every day for me. It was one of the advantages of living in the mountains.

The early settlers of the village were travelers who saw the mountains as a great place to stay and even hide from their enemies.

It's been years now and we still resided here. I watched the foggy splendor taking in the cold air and feeling satisfied.

"Maisy, where are you?" I heard my father call and instantly woke up from my daydream.

I had this habit of imagining to be somewhere else and tended to drift far off.

"Coming Dad, " I said and closed my windows.

The sight was ruined after all.

The wooden floorboard creaked as I rushed downstairs clothed in one of my mother's old gowns.

"Yes father", I politely acknowledged when I got to him.

My father was a middle-aged man strong for his age. Being the village' Chief, he mostly had nothing to do so he spent his life on his rocking chair, sipping a cup of palm wine and watching over the horizon.

"Maisy..." Her father said, sounding husky due to having much to drink at such an early time of the day.

"Yes, father." I bowed, praying he would send me to the ranch to pick up something.

Only then did I have some alone time, to meet friends and to ride the stallions.

After my mother's death, Father had been struct with where I should be and when I should be there.

Punctuality had become a part of me and although sometimes u broke the rules, the little I received was a slap and a warning not to do it again.

"I want you to go the ranch and remind Ewan to saddle up Ria for the big match." My father said.

Ria was his best horse and he mostly used her to win bets ranging from money to landed properties. Father hadn't lost a bet ever but Ria just put to bed recently and he was afraid she might not be up for the challenge tomorrow so she had to check up on her.

"Ok father." I gleefully replied, earning his glare.

"And those mess with the horses this time." My father warned.

I ignored his last statement and dashed outside.

I picked up a basket and raced for our orchard to pluck some apples.

Ria needed a treat if I was going to riding her this afternoon.

It was forbidden for women to ride horses but I had secretly taught myself and went on a joyride with Ria each time father sent me and Today was going to be no different.

"It's just like testing how far she can go, " I told myself before running for the plains.

***

"You are here early, " Ewan commented, brushing Ria.

Ria had chestnut coat as fluid as water, stocky limbs. The soft spring soil was no match for her hooves and in their wake sods would be sent flying in an arcing spray. Her head was extended forwards but the ears flat back, puffs of moisture escaped her nostrils with each breath she took. She wasn't exceptionally tall, fifteen hands at the most; but she was an impressive sight.

Ria reminded her of her mother who originally owned the stallion.

Ria whinnied me seeing me approach her. She then delightfully trot toward me.

I picked out an apple from my basket and fed her. She nibbled it away quick as lightning and licked at my fingers for more.

"Father said I should ask how she's faring, " I told Ewan who got Ria all saddled up.

"She's still sore but good to go."Ewan said, "and I assume you want to take her out for a test drive."

"Yes please."

"Ok." He gave in immediately knowing how demanding I was.

"But don't go far off." He put in.

I nodded excitedly and gave Ria another apple.

Ewan got me into Ria and I galloped away.

A loud whinny, thunderous hoofbeats, racing across the plains, barreling through sand and running like the wind. Into the plush meadow, we went, smelling the clean, fresh air.

It was an exhilarating experience.

We cleared the 10-foot tree lying in our path, narrowly missing the 6-foot ditch on the other side but then Ria suddenly stopped.

I tried to get her to go but she maintained her position and staring into a small bush with fear.

I turned to the bus and noticed it was moving. I held my breath and wondered who was there.

"Is...anyone there?" I stammered.

I heard a twig snap and was greeted by glowing green eyes.

Oh, God!

The sight made Ria uncomfortable and she kicked her legs.

I worried more about our safety and prayed no harm would come to us and most importantly I prayed no harm would come to Ria.

Father might love me a lot but he would definitely more than scold me of his best horse took the fall for my mistake.

The creature came into the open and I got a look at it.

It was a wolf, a white wolf.

I noticed blood was trickling heavily from its hide.

The creature did nothing. It just stared up at us.

I tried to calm Ria ensuring that she made no movement and hoping the wolf would leave is alone.

I had no idea wolves resided in Linsea. Most of the time, all we ever dealt with was Bears.

The wolf trudged forward but this time Ria would not be kept calm.

She stomped her feet to the ground scaring even the Apex predator.

The creature stumbled back into the bush out of fear.

I knew I shouldn't but knowing the animal was injured, I got off Ria and approached the shrubbery following the trail of blood.

The blood trail stopped and I spun around to go the wounded beast but instead I found something bigger.

It looked like a human.

I approached the body with caution hoping I didn't startle the animal but in place of the wolf I saw a human, a man to be precise.

Mud and grit had become enmeshed with raw pink flesh and was spotted with blood. One thing was for sure, it was bad.

I suspected the wolf had harmed him.

The injured man was five feet, ten inches, brunette and with quite a handsome face. He was dressed in a surcoat.

Then I noticed an emblem engraved on it.

He was a royal!

Maisy

My humanity kicked in and I checked on his breathing. He was alive. I could feel the mist of warm air in my fingers.

I tore up his already charred clothing to see how serious his injury was.

The pinkish wound stunk horribly and I wondered how long he had been there.

Two days at most.

I couldn't be of help to him now. He needed medical help.

Ria couldn't go past the shrubs so I had to take the injured man all by myself until I got to the open where I could place him on Ria and get help.

"Forgive me." I pleaded before grabbing his feet and dragging him out like he was dead.

His head hit a stump or two but the pain was worth it to save his life.

I finally got to the open. Ria whinnied seeing the new person I had brought along.

I drop the man to catch my breath and inspected his head for any minor injuries.

Thanks to me, he now had a bald patch and if he survived, 'He would really thank me for that'.

Ria nuzzled him.

Innocent animal, what did she know? Ria stopped seeing her moist tongue didn't help matters.

The handsome stranger just remained numb.

I got Ria to go down a bit and managed to saddle him in using all the strength I could gather. I joined, sinking into the saddle and we began our journey back to the ranch.

I had no idea what I

I was going to tell Ewan or my father.

Ewan had a satisfied look on his face when he saw me.

I knew he would have been worried sick about me.

God knows what went through his mind.

"You got me worried." He came closer to help me down when he saw the bundle behind me.

"What's that?" He demanded immediately.

His face deepened when he inspected the bundle.

"A human!"

Shock could not comprehend what his face gave away. Ewan wasn't the bravest and he tended to cower at anything that could possibly a threat to him.

I got off Ria without his assistance and managed not to knock the man off Ria's back while doing it.

There was a fifty percent chance I would not get the help I needed here.

"I found him in the prairie. I think he was injured by a wolf."

"There are no wolves in Linsea, " Ewan argued, refusing to buy my explanation.

"You have to believe me, Ewan."

Ewan ran his hands through his thick dark long hair, it was a way for him to try thinking.

"Maisy, I don't know what to do... Couldn't you just leave him there?"

"Unbelievable!" I couldn't imagine Ewan just uttered that.

"Ewan! Leave a human for dead just to protect my secret, I couldn't."

Ewan became so tense, I could swear he was beginning to cry.

"I know Maisy but if Spencer finds out I allow you to go on joyrides, I could lose my job. You know how hard it is to survive having no one but yourself."

I was torn. I couldn't betray Ewan but neither could I let the man die. I made up my mind to take the fall.

I climbed back until Ria and told Ewan what I had in mind.

"I make up some like that would keep you out of trouble."

I proceeded to go then I heard Ewan thank me.

I made a basic turn by pulling the rein and Ria turned to face Ewan blowing hot air in his face.

"You're welcome, Ewan." I acknowledged.

***

Spencer

Maisy hadn't made it back home for breakfast and I suspected she has gone on one of her joyrides.

I considered why I hadn't told her that I knew.

I rocked my chair back and began to contemplate what punishment I would give to her when she returned.

Of course, I couldn't be too strict but I knew I had to maintain balance.

She had been free-spirited lately and I worried it would put her in trouble.

She was the only one I had left after Eva left me in this cruel world.

I took a sip of my palm wine to deaden the weakness I suddenly felt.

It was only going to take my problems for a little while but it was a habit I could not stop.

My quiet morning was quickly ruined by the sound of hooves beating against the earth.

As if that wasn't enough, the beast yelled, as if telling the world of its arrival.

I could guess that 'whinny' anyway.

It was Ria.

That could only mean that Maisy brought her along.

I was going to lose tomorrow's bet!

I scampered outside to confirm my suspicion and how right I was.

Maisy got off Ria and walked up to me.

My fatherly instinct were at war, I didn't know whether to hug her for being safe o to scold her for bringing Ria.

Maybe both?

Before I could decide, Maisy went back to Ria and threw something quite heavy off her. The 'thing' rolled to the floor and I got a good look at it.

A human.

"What's all this?" I questioned my daughter.

"She ripped open a part of his clothing and exposed a stomach-churning wound that made me look away.

I would need my palm wine if I was ever going to look at it again.

"I found him while riding home. He needs help."

I walked towards the unconscious boy and examined him.

He was devilishly handsome even in his bad state. He reminded me of my glory days, It also reminded me what a threat such a face could cause to a girl.

"Where exactly did you see him?"

"On my way home, " Maisy replied, avoiding my stare.

"Ok. Call the healer."

Maisy nodded and ran to get him.

I gave my attention back to the boy admiring his dressing.

His style implied he was from the site and I could tell he came from a wealthy family.

My mind went to the various means the boy could be of use to me. I was still deep in thought when I discovered the emblem engraved to his collar.

"Impossible!" I muttered.

The emblem was a printed picture depicting a wolf with bloodstains on its mouth.

That emblem could only belong to a "Clarke"!

Maisy

I dashed to the healer as quick as light and returned the same way.

Unfortunately, the old man wasn't as agile as me so I made it home before he did.

Father saw me and began to raid me with another round of questions.

"Maisy, Where did you meet him?" He badgered.

"Dad, I've told you before. I met him on my way back home. He was unconscious, attacked by a wolf."

"In Linsea?" My father raised an eyebrow.

I blamed myself for babbling too much. Father already doubted how I met the boy but now he would think I was hiding something.

I did believe he was more afraid for me.

"Ok." My father said, cutting how conversation short when the healer arrived.

The healer was led to the patient and instantly got to work.

I saw him open his kit and pull out a bottle with a thick brown substance.

He wiped away the diets from the open wound and poured the contents of the bottle over the wound.

It made a sizzling sound and the boy grunted the in pain.

The healer continued his treatment and picked up a needle to stitch the wound.

That I could not watch. I absconded and went to take care of Ria. She had done a brave thing today, in fact, we both did.

I fed her more apples ignoring the screams of pain the man I rescued made as his wound was being stitched up.

When the screaming subsided, I went back inside and picked on a conversation my father was having with the healer.

It was first about his condition and I took it as nothing serious but then my father said something.

"What do you think happened to him?"

"The bite marks on him are signs that he was attacked by a wild beast." The healer replied.

I got inside, feeling pleased. Father would hate himself for doubting me and I... could not miss the moment.

My father continued talking to the healer outside about the boy.

For reasons I think I knew, he didn't want the boy to stay here.

Hot boys and girls who would rather stay at home didn't go so well in his stomach.

I attended to the boy refusing to be tainted by my father's baseless assumptions.

I noticed he was sweaty and unbuttoned a greater part of his shirt for him to cool down.

"Where did you come from?" I asked no one in particular.

I was really curious. We had no Kingdom close to Linsea and he must have been on a really long journey for him to arrive at the forgotten part of the world and worse he came without guards. It was unheard of.

I checked on his wound which was now closed up. It was still sore as I inspected it.

I rose to take my leave but out of the blues, he held my hand.

"Don't go." He croaked.

This was a really awkward situation for me. He wasn't awake but I didn't think he was asleep either. It must be the drugs administered to him earlier.

I got over my coy demeanor and gently got his hands off me. I took a deep breath and tried to leave again but he grabbed my hands again and pulled me to him.

I was literally on him and I had to thank the heavens, his eyes weren't open.

I would have shrunk.

"Don't leave me." He mumbled.

God! This was awkward.

***

Spencer

I saw the healer off.

I couldn't have ever imagined paying the bills for a Clarke but I did.

It was a small world after all. It was a bit unsettling to see a Clarke on this side of the world. They preferred to stay where their money and influence could get them what they wanted.

My face wrinkled when I remembered what my wife and I faced in their hands.

I couldn't wait to send the boy parking as soon as he recovered.

I didn't need any drama in my already simple life.

I searched around the house for Maisy. I needed ger to take Ria back to the ranch for the match tomorrow.

She wasn't in her room. My guts instinct kicked and I checked Katrine's room where the injured Prince was laid and what do you know...

She was right there in his arms.

"Maisy!" I instinctively drop in on both and separated them.

I was boiling with rage as I dragged Maisy out.

"What was that?" I demanded.

I didn't wait for her answer before I chipped in something else, "I'm very disappointed in you Maisy."

I spotted tears drop from her eyes but I was too mad to pacify her.

"You think I'm so cheap, that'll push myself on an unconscious boy because...he happens to be a royal? I should be the one disappointed.if only Mom was alive..." She retorted and walked off.

"Don't you bring her into this!" I yelled, "Take Ria back to the ranch. I didn't ask you to bring trouble to the house."

She didn't respond to me but I heard her leave the house and speak to Ria.

I felt disappointed as a father lashing out to my daughter and because of a Clarke.

I went back to my drink and drowned my sorrow before heading back to where 'Clarke' was kept.

"You know, I have the opportunity to kill you, to have revenge for all the pain your family has caused mine but I won't because I'm not a schemer like the rest of your family, " I mumbled.

"I don't know what you're doing here so far from Nodith but I can sense it's not good. I hope you'll never succeed." I rambled and took another sip of my wine.

Ahhhh, Happiness.

***

Eric

The uncomfortable sting I felt was more than enough to get me up. I rubbed my eyes and fluttered them open to remember what had happened.

Where was I?

I remembered the fight with Conrad...my mission... It all came in a rush and I got a migraine.

I got off the pelt I had been placed on and investigated myself. I was still with my pills.

I checked the wound I had sustained from the fight.

Conrad has gotten his pound of flesh and would have tagged me as dead already.

I made up my mind to thank the people who saved me before I got back to my mission.

I had to get to Linsea.

I staggered outside and checked the hallway if anyone was there. It reeked of Ale and I could tell someone was around earlier.

I couldn't wait for their return to thank them, there were issues at hand that needed to be resolved. I found my clothing and searched for my pouch of gold.

Conrad didn't take that, it was bewildering.

I left for the door and got down the stairs.

The house that accommodated me looked like an inn, It was built from wood, not the cheapest one though but it was still a far cry compared to the Palace marble walls.

I couldn't wait to finish the mission and get back to Nodith and show Conrad what a monster I myself could be.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice when a girl approached me.

"You're awake." She said.

That got my attention and I tried to give my reply whilst adoring her features. Sunbleached hair that was between gold and brown and her eyes were orbs of Chestnut brown reminding me of hot chocolate.

She had the most bewitching face that was complete with a smile that made her features simply outstanding but her face...

My wolf growled, uneasy seeing again what he thought was gone forever.

It took every inch of me not to take her down right there and make her mine.

All I could blurt was, "Tatia."