• “Mr. Garedith!” Orla looked up to see what was going on, the male figure from within the group of snickering girls and armored men, had escaped his enclosure, and was walking towards Drake. “Mr.Garedith” called the man with open arms as if they had known each other for a long time. “I have not seen you in ages! How have you been?” Drake, already standing, reached for his coat from the back of the metal chair, almost completely ignoring the man. “I see you are in a bit of a hurry, I hope I am not delaying you am I?”The man tall with golden hair and a broad friendly smile he wore robes of fine silk in colors, Orla had only seen in her church stain glass windows down the road, from her home in the country. His skin was rosy and had warm hue to it. The golden haired man saw Orla staring at him and smiled to her, Orla blushed and kept her head down after that. “Is this lovely lady with you, Mr.Garedith?” asked the golden haired man
    “Yeah,” answered Drake, “just some common whelp I’ve taken a fancy to, for the moment, nothing worth a second look, in your taste” Drake’s words hurt Orla, who had been staring at the detail of metal work on the table’s surface , even though she had been called worse in the past Drake had been nice to her why would he say such mean things now? Was she that embarrassing to be around in public?
    “I would not be so sure, Mr. Garedith” responded the golden haired man “I am really, the only one who could be the judge of that” then Orla herd him snicker “even though, I do only pick the finest of young maidens, to even be around, me” Orla looked over at the group of young women that still stood in a group by the guards they were all extremely beautiful but one looked familiar, on the far edge of the group stood the girl, Orla had seen earlier before Drake came to pick her up, something wasn’t right though, now the girl seemed to be smiling and exceedingly pleased with herself while dressed in a deep scarlet silk dress . Orla started to move towards the girls but a hand placed upon her shoulder stopped her.
    “Orla” gasped Drake, the golden haired man tried to examine her face but Orla just pulled the hood down to cover her more. “Well, maiden, will you not remove your hood, so I may look upon your face?”Orla shook her head and tried to move away but he had a firm hold on her shoulder. “My! How rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself!” the man stepped back still keeping a firm hold on Orla and gave a half bow. “I am Sir Duke Iolyn, cousin to the divine Royal family.” Orla’s heart stopped, she now knew why Drake had wanted to leave so badly and why he had said all those mean words. Orla looked over to see what she should do next, but Drake seemed just as scared as she was.
    “Sir Duke Ioyln, cousin to the divine royal family,” said Orla in a stern voice doing her best to hide her alarm “I please ask that you unhand me, and let my escort and I leave.” Orla was trying her hardest not to run away or cry, but Iolyn could probably feel her whole body shake from fear.
    “My, a fierce one, are we?” Iolyn laughed “of course you may go, maiden.” Orla relaxed and sighed with relief. “Once I see that face of yours, you may go where ever you like.” Orla tensed up again she started to shake once more, but with anger, instead of fear.
    “But why…?” Orla started “I’m nothing more than a peasant girl, from the countryside.”
    “Why?” Iolyn laughed, “Because, I have found that any girl, from the royal courts, to the pig coop, can be beautiful!” A crooked sly smile that reminded Orla of someone else, rose upon Sir Iolyn’s face, “How you treat them may be different, but, in the end they are all mine.” Orla wanted to smack him right now but knew it would be a war she would eventually lose, so her hands remained in balled fists hidden by her cloak.
    “T-they are all t-toys to you?” Orla shuddered trying to keep her anger under control.
    “More like dolls” Iolyn said, “That sit there, look pretty and, on occasion, make me very happy, but yes, my treasured playthings. They are all well taken care of, don’t you think?” Sir Iolyn suggested indicating the small group of silk wrapped dolls behind him. Orla looked up at the group and finally saw how quiet they had gotten; they all stared at her, and also tried to see beneath the cloak as Sir Iolyn had. Slowly Orla untied the knot at her neck releasing the cloak fro her shoulders making Sir Iolyn loose his grip on her Orla moved forward towards the girls. As her shield from the world fell from around her just enough to see her face, many of the girls gasped or seemed in a state of shock but the brown haired blue eyed girl just stared at Orla as she came closer to her until Orla stood In front of her, the guards didn’t stop her or even move. Orla didn’t seem to care anymore her anger had won.
    “Are these your dolls sir?” Orla said in a voice that had forsaken all emotions.
    “Y-yes t-they are,” Iolyn sounded scared of something. Orla turned slightly just enough to be able to see him staring back.
    “Do they want to be your dolls?” Orla asked, the lack of emotions stayed in her and seeped into her core and filled the area with a dark aura, as Orla finally turned to look directly at Iolyn he couldn’t see her eyes but he still seemed awestruck. Unknown to Orla, she stood before Iolyn with the aura of a queen before squealing swine.
    “Of c-c-course they d-do!” Iolyn hesitated “W-why w-wouldn’t they?” His eyes fell to the ground then his voice steadied “Th-they are fed with massive feasts, dressed lavishly in silks, and foreign jewels, given luxurious gifts of sweet perfumes and rare pets. Why would they not want to be with me?
    “What of love?” Orla’s eyes stared straight at Iolyn never showing any fear or hesitation but what Iolyn could not see he could feel a powerful force he could not escape.
    “What of it? It is of no use to these girls, they are pretty, and why only have the love of one? When you can have adoration of many?” Iolyn seem very pleased with his answer but Orla did not. Drake couldn’t stand it any longer and finally stood next to Orla and whispered into her ear.
    “Orla, my dear’st, this in not a battle or war, you can win please it’d be a shame, I’ve barely gotten to know you, just’a loose you.” Orla looked over towards Drake realizing her position she put her head down and walked over past Iolyn.
    “What is it? What has Mr.Garedith told you?”Iolyn seemed shaken up Orla didn’t know why all she did was tell him her mind.
    “Good day, sir Iolyn” Orla said as she picked up her bag from the chair she had been previously sitting in before the storm had walked over then walked toward Drake.
    “Wait…” Iolyn called as Orla and Drake started away from the park. Drake put his arm around Orla and stood in between Orla and Iolyn incase another argument was to arise. “Mr.Garedith, as you have previously known, I am to be holding a grand ball at my estate, in honor of my royal cousin’s 17th birthday, it will be a magnificent party, and I was wondering if the young lady would like to be invited.” Orla looked at Drake, she really wanted to go to the ball, she had never been to one before, and has always longed to see the Cinderella at the ball from the stories she used to read as a child.
    “It’d be up to ol’ Kail but I think you’d be smart enough to know his answer.” Drake knew he was being a harsh, but Orla had proven herself stubborn, once she had her head wrapped around a thought, the thought was there to stay. Orla looked at Drake knowing that she was unable to go to the ball, “Orla don’t look at me like that, only your brother looks at me like… damn your family and their gorgeous eyes…” Orla laughed but tried to hide it in her hand with a big grin. Drake blushed as he realized at what he said. “Sorry for my crude English” he tried to apologize but this only made Orla laugh harder and the sound of Orla’s laugh compelled Drake to blush a deeper tone of red. “Wait here, please.” Drake ordered looking down. He walked over to Iolyn, rubbing his face hoping the red in his face would fade. “She’ll accept the invitation but do not expect her company at the party.”
    “I can see by your face you have taken a real fancy to this country spice” Iolyn joked but his face turned to stone too soon and his voice low, too soft for Orla to hear his parting words to Drake, “Just remember this dear Sir Draken Garedith Heartlock of your place and it would be terrible if she found out how much your loving brother misses you terribly and would love to see you on his 17th birthday, you know are always welcome back into the castle, at any time… If you do not mind, the consequences, that is.”Drake jerked back from his cousin’s grip.
    “Never mind, Orla will now have to decline your offer, and with and merci from the heavens wishes to never see you again, alive or dead!” Drake stormed away in the direction of Orla, Orla on the other hand seemed confused but decided to stay quiet. Drake led Orla back through town and didn’t stop until they were back in front of the house. “I’m sorry” Drake said the sound of his voice was a mix of fear, anger and exhaustion. “I never of ought to of gone this far in the spider’s nest” he moaned burying his face in hands, “I should never of asked you out today of all days!”
    “Let’s go inside” Orla said trying to make sense of what he was saying.
    “No, I’ve done enough damage here already, I’ll have to retire now…”but before Drake could finish his sentence Orla grabbed his hand. Startled Drake looked up at Orla’s confused smile.
    “You’re tired; I’m tired, how about we go inside, rest, and have a nice cup of tea?” afterwards you can go about as you please moaning through the streets like a ghost of your spiders and days. Drake smiled his big, sly, smile.