Act II

Han had worried over Adrian after the incident at the party for the next few days. The staff of the house was more subdued than normal. Even Vanessa had temporarily ceased her usual tantrums and remained within her room. No one had seen the master of the keep for several days and Han was beginning to become worried. What if something had happened to him? He couldn't bare think about what could have befallen the proud prince.

Everyone was relieved when he appeared towards the ends of twilight, hale and healthy. Or at least, what was hale and healthy for Adrian. He looked a little worn out, but whole, nonetheless. He spent the next week locked in his room and would allow no one to see him. The servants whispered amongst themselves that it was because he was love sick over the Lady Anallya. Vanessa had quailed that rumor with a glare and a few lashings on those that she heard whisper the rumor herself.

For once, Han had to agree with her.

Days passed before he was summoned again to Adrian's music room. It was twilight, as always. When he had entered the room, he found Adrian half dressed in black pants and a pale button down shirt that was only buttoned half way and untucked. His hair was coming loose from its ribbon that held his hair back in a queue and he was gazing up at the rising moon. Han's breath caught in his throat. All he could do was stare at Adrian and clutch his violin case close to him.

He watched the prince for a few moments, catching a faint tune being hummed by Adrian under his breath. It was that same tune he always hummed, but this time he seemed more at peace. He caught snatches of phrases when Adrian began to sing softly to himself. Han's eyes went wide as he heard some of the lyrics. Something about being abandoned by God and never seeing his angel again, and then about his angel descending from the sky and coming to him before he died and to say good bye.

As the last strains of the song died quietly away into the night, Adrian began to hum the haunting melody, and it seemed to soothe the young prince's soul. Han watched as Adrian closed his eyes and hummed along with a tune only he could hear. Han was deeply moved. He watched in fascination as Adrian lost himself to the melody and marveled at his beauty.

Han flushed in embarrassment. What was he doing, thinking such things of his new master? Such thoughts were unheard of and unacceptable. Especially from a servant, regardless of the fact that he was a bard. He looked down at the floor and scowled. He needed to keep himself from thinking such thoughts.

Why deny yourself?

Han looked up, startled. There, before him, stood Adrian Cross, staring at him with those cool silver/blue eyes. The bard took a reflexive step back. "E-excuse me, sir? Did you say s-something?" he stammered out.

Adrian watched him for a moment. When he turned away, Han let out an inaudible breath of relief. "Please. Play something for me. Whatever you like," Adrian ordered absently. He meandered away from Han as the bard quickly set up his violin and rosined his bow. Within moments, Han was playing whatever came to mind that he thought would fit the prince's mood.

He lost himself in his music, and closed his eyes as he played. He swayed back in forth in time to the rhythm of the music, swelling the melody in a crescendo and backing off in a decrescendo. He went on for what seemed like hours when he felt an arm encircle his waist and warm breath against his neck. Han's eyes flew open in terror. He knew it was Adrian who was holding him as he played and he nearly froze. He continued playing, however, but the vibrato was no longer caused by him, per se. It was caused by him shaking violently from the fear that now swelled inside his chest, but he dare not stop. He was too afraid to stop. He continued to play until he couldn't take it any more.

"Sir!"

His voice was like a knell in the quiet room whose noise had only been Han's violin. He pulled himself away from Adrian forcefully and turned around to stare at his master in terror. He clutched his violin close to him protectively, as if it would protect him from whatever Adrian would do. When the prince took a step toward him, he fled the room, leaving the door wide open.

He ran as fast as he could down the hallways, brushing past servants, until he reached his room. He locked his door and carefully placed his violin down on a small dresser before flinging himself into his bed. What was going on? Why had Adrian approached him in such a fashion? Tears were rolling down his face as he tried to overcome his fright. He hugged his pillow to him tightly and sobbed into it. It wasn't until almost dawn did he finally fall asleep.

***

Adrian couldn't believe that he had almost lost control of himself. It was all he could do to keep himself from pursuing the fleeing bard. Instead of satisfying his burning desire and going out to feed, he let himself suffer from the agony of it. Pain was so close to pleasure. He had almost relished in the pain that it had brought him as he had sat in his chair. What a delicious feeling.

He mused over what he would do today. He was still young enough to go out in the daylight for a limited amount of time, but not for long. Perhaps a walk would do him some good. The more he thought about it, the more the idea sounded good. He stood up from his chair and dressed himself quickly. He flung open the doors to his room and swept out of it and down the staircase to the main hall, calling instructions to prepare his horse as he went.

The staff went into a flurry of action to hurry with his request, and within minutes he had a mount ready and waiting for him. He mounted his horse and squeezed with his knees to signal that he was ready to go. The horse, responsive to his master's need, took off at a trot, gaining speed at Adrian's discretion. Even though the sun hurt a little, this was better than being cooped up inside his keep. He was able to relax, despite the sting in his eyes. He rode all the way into the town that bordered his lands and slowed the horse down to a trot. He nodded to those he knew and looked about himself at the small shops, houses, and inns that made up most of the town.

He passed by several shops of mild interest, but none caught his eye. He continued on, bored, until he spotted a woman with strawberry blonde hair arguing volubly with a shop owner over the price of some cloth. More than just a little interested, Adrian reigned his horse in and dismounted. He handed the reigns over to a boy that he hailed over and pressed a silver piece into the boy's palm, instructing him not to wander off. He entered the shop nonchalantly and wandered over to a few ingots of silk and feigned interest. He could hear their argument more clearly now.

"Five gold pieces?!" The woman was outraged. "Your sign says five silver pieces! Not gold!"

"That is only for the cotton, madam," the clerk said with infinite patience, as though he were trying to explain something to a child. "What you want to purchase is the silk. That is five gold pieces."

Adrian chanced a glance over at the woman and the sales clerk. The woman was clearly enraged, and rightly so. Although, he couldn't blame the clerk for wanting to make extra money off of a foreigner. When she opened her mouth to say something, Adrian smoothly interjected.

"There is another place nearby that sells the cloth that you require, my lady, if it pleases you."

The woman rounded on him and Adrian blinked several times in surprise. She wasn't dressed like most women did. She wore a dark red, sleeveless shirt and dark green pants with side pockets and a large brown, leather belt loosely about her waist and heavy, brown boots. About her shoulders was a plain, tan traveling cloak to keep out the chill. Her hair was more blonde, but there were hints of red highlights in her hair and her eyes were a vibrant pale green. On the floor at her feet was a travel pack filled with what he assumed were provisions.

Quickly masking his surprise, Adrian bowed low to the strange woman. "I offer you my humble services, my lady. If you wish, I can lead you to the shop that which I speak of." He straightened and kept his face carefully under control. He watched as the fire died away in her eyes and she regarded Adrian coolly.

"Yes, it would please me," she replied in low, throaty tones. Not husky, like a woman who considered herself a man, but seductive in a way. Completely different to the light airy tones that he usually associated with women. This only served to intrigue him more.

Adrian gestured to his horse outside, which was, miraculously, still there with the boy still holding the reigns. "If you would accompany me to my horse, my lady..." The clerk shot him a look of relief, but he ignored him. His attention was fixed solely on the woman as she left the shop. He followed her outside and stopped short. "Forgive me for my rudeness, my lady." When she turned back around, he bowed again. "I am Adrian Cross. It is a pleasure to meet you." He straightened back up once again.

The woman watched him for a moment before replying. "Solara," she replied curtly. "Now, where is this shop?"

Adrian was highly amused. The corner's of his lips twitched ever so slightly. "Just down the road, Lady Solara."

Solara gestured to the road that lay before them. "Well, then, please be so kind as to show me the way."

Adrian hesitated before asking. "Are you traveling through, my lady?"

"Yes. I need provisions and new cloth for clothes. As I'm sure you noticed, I'm not having much luck."

Adrian arced a pale, moonlight brow. "Are you traveling alone?"

Solara gave Adrian a cool look before responding. "I am." It was almost a dare.

Adrian seemed surprised. "And I suspect that you would like a place to stay for the duration of your visit, my lady?"

Solara narrowed her eyes, but nodded silently.

"My lady, I must warn you, this place is not safe for a lady traveling alone," Adrian explained in cool, polite tones. "If I may be so bold as to offer my humble abode for your stay here, free of charge. No strings attached."

"Why help me?"

"I want all who travel through my realm to be safe, especially those traveling alone. I would not want any harm to come to you during your stay," Adrian explained.

"Your realm?" Solara echoed.

***

Solara couldn't believe that she was actually staying at the keep of the prince of the realm. At first, she had thought that he would press his advances on her during their foray about the town, picking up whatever she needed. She had been pleasantly surprised that he didn't. With that simple act, she was vastly pleased with her escort for the rest of the day. He bought whatever she needed for her travels, despite her protests. She had been beyond words when she had seen the keep and could only stare up at the foreboding structure with a mixture of awe and trepidation. She couldn't explain it, but she felt a little uneasy around the keep. She liked the idea of spending the next couple of nights at the fortress even less.

If only she could find Krin! She thought of the woodland/faie creature that had taken care of her since her change....She shrugged mentally. No use thinking about it now. She needed to keep going forward and somehow make it back to her family. Maybe she could convince Krin to come with her...

"This is where you'll be staying, my lady." Adrian's quiet, cultured voice snapped Solara out of her reverie.

Solara looked about the room and blinked several times at the splendor that occupied her room. This was surely a room fit for the finest and most noble of guests. Everything in there looked expensive: the curtains, the four post bed, the in-tables on either side of the bed, the sheets, and the dresser. It all looked as though it would have cost the prince a pretty penny to pay for all of this.

"I am truly sorry that I could not get something more...appropriate ready for you," Adrian apologized. "It was...such short notice."

Solara continued to stare about the room. "No, no. This is..astounding. I've....I've never seen anything like this before. It's splendid. Absolutely gorgeous."

Adrian smiled faintly in amusement. "It pleases me that you find the accommodations so...adequate." He gestured to inside of the room, an invitation for Solara to enter. "Please. It's your room now until you feel that you are ready to leave. In the meantime, it is only appropriate for the host to entertain his guest." When Solara turned to regard Adrian he continued. "My bard is performing one of his pieces tonight and it would please me if you would, perhaps, join me..." He left the thought hanging in the air.

Solara looked down at her clothes, which weren't exactly fit to attend a performance. She didn't own any dresses or an appropriate suit, either. She needed a bath. Badly. Her hair was matted and in tangles. Her hands had been roughened by travel...no, she wasn't fit to attend a performance of the prince's bard. Or anything at all, for that matter.

Adrian seemed to sense her discomfort and her predicament. "Perhaps when you have freshened up appropriately. I can have a bath prepared for you, if you wish...."

Solara leaped at the offer. "Yes, please. A bath would be wonderful." She looked down at herself. "Could I have something suitable to wear for the performance, as well? But, I'm not too fond of dresses...." she added as an afterthought. When she looked up, the prince had that faintly amused smile on his face that made you wonder if maybe you missed something funny.

"I shall be sure to find something suitable for you," he reassured her. "One of my servants will come by to inform you of when your bath has been drawn." He turned and left the guest room.

Solara watched as another servant, this one male, closed the doors solemnly. She let out a long sigh and deposited her travel bag by the window. She didn't want to sit down on the window ledge for fear of making it dirty. She had a good look around the room and found everything to her liking. There was even a door that lead to the main reception area, a sitting room of sorts, and realized that she had a suite. It wasn't long after this discovery that a maid dressed in dark blue and white came and announced that Solara's bath was ready. With a sigh of relief, Solara picked up her travel bag and followed after the woman.

***

Dinner had been served to her in her room, much to her relief. She didn't know what she would do if she had to eat in front of that prince again. For some unknown reason, she was always on edge around him. She got the distinct feeling that something wasn't quite right about him, but he seemed pleasant enough. Maybe it was because he lived here all alone with on the bard and his servants to keep him company. Maybe that was why he had invited her to stay at the keep.

Thinking of companions, she needed to find Krin. They had been separated when they had traveled through the gate that she had opened. There was no telling where Krin had ended up. Regardless, her friend could take care of herself quite well when it came to battle. There was no doubt about that. There was that nagging feeling at the back of her mind though: what if Krin couldn't find her? What would she do then?

Solara shook her head. Krin would find her. They were connected by the power that they use. Krin would have no problems tracking her. It was just a matter of time. That was the kicker: how long would it take Krin to find her? It could be days, weeks, even months. The Creator alone knew how far away Krin had landed.

She sighed. No use torturing yourself over possibilities. She would just have to sit and wait. Maybe she should see the sites around the keep and in the city to occupy her during her stay.

Solara flopped down onto the bed. She was getting too wound up in this. She needed to go to bed. She let out a huge yawn. Yes, sleep was the first thing on the agenda. Right after the bath.

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