The Protector

Chapter 5

Articus had never known what Braigh truly meant by being in love with a woman until this pretty woman started to caress his face. Yet, by the time she brought her face to his, he began to feel like he was doing something very wrong. Just as she was about to kiss him, he turned his face away.

"What are you doing?"

"Why, I'm trying to kiss you." She smiled, her hand stroking his cheek.

"Are you trying to kiss me because my brother paid you?"

Relni looked at him calmly.

"Yes. It is because your brother paid me."

Artie was curious. "Why? Doesn't it disgust you to kiss strangers?"

Relni sighed. "It is my job. It feeds my little brothers and sisters."

"How many are they? Where are your parents?" He asked, wondering what could force someone to work like this for money.

"I have two little brothers and one little sister. My mother died giving birth to the youngest one. My father died from the plague moons ago. It has been a rough winter."

Despite being drunk, Articus could see her plight in her eyes and the way she spoke about her family. He was angry at how his father's subjects were living so poorly right under his nose. He would talk to father once he was well.

"Tell me about your brothers and sisters."

Her eyes became cloudy and she smiled.

"The eldest one, Gord, is a great cook. He is but ten years of age. He dreams of opening his own kitchen one day." Her eyes danced in mirth as she spoke. "The younger two are a few years apart, but inseparable. They are bundles of energy, always keeping me busy. They may be small, but they have Gord chasing them down Bourbon square every evening."

"I wish I had younger siblings like them."

"Do you not wish to be kissed, then?"

"I do not know. I have never been kissed." He told her, his ears bright red by now.

As she came towards him, he could feel his heartbeat getting faster and faster. Despite himself, he began to imagine a future with Relni by his side. By the time she had pulled her lips away from his, he had named their children.

Until they heard a noise outside the door.

"Open this door, wench! You haven't given me value for my money yet!" A drunken voice slurred.

Articus was furious. He was ready to defend her honor, but she smiled at him ruefully and opened the door.

"I'm sorry, I must go. You can take your coin back from Margo. You can visit one of the other women she has. If you wish to simply talk, come again some other time, sweetheart." She said to Articus. She sighed and walked out the door, and he watched her waist being grabbed roughly by the drunk man as he pushed her into another room.

He was furious and heartbroken. Here, he had imagined a future with the woman and she was being taken away without her consent by another man. She did not know who he was. Maybe he'd let her go once he knew who he was.

"Unhand this lady in the name of the king!" He said, grabbing on to the back of the man's sweat stained shirt.

"Why, you little scoundrel!"The man said, grabbing Articus by his collar.

"Remove your hands from me, vile filth. I would have you know that I am pr-" Braigh slapped his hand on Articus' mouth just in time.

Braigh had heard the commotion and had come up the stairs just in time.

"Alright, that's enough. I think my friend has had too much to drink."

Braigh dragged a protesting Articus out of the alehouse.

"I think this was enough excitement for today. Let us go back to the castle."

"But he had forcibly taken Relni! Are you not going to stop him? This is against father's law!" Exclaimed Articus, taking hold of Braigh's arm.

"Relni isn't a highborn lady, Articus. She was paid by the man. And our money has been returned by her madame. This is her work." Said Braigh, trying to calm Articus down.

Articus couldn't help thinking about poor Relni. If he was older and stronger, he'd have never let that man take her. He wished he were king, just to be able to take his revenge on the man.

"So how far did you get with her? Did she do her special? She is very good." Braigh smiled, musing to himself.

Articus punched him in the face.

"How dare you talk of her like commodity?"

"Artie, like I said, it is her work. She is paid-"Braigh said, cupping his now swollen nose.

"She does it because she has to feed her family! She doesn't want to! You've used her! You're no different than that man who took her away!"

"Are you fighting with me because of a common whòre?" Braigh said, angrily.

"How dare you call her a common whòre. She's as much a whòre as you are a bast-" Articus was stopped from completing his sentence by the crestfallen look on Braigh's face.

He took a step back and looked down.

"Why did you stop speaking? You're right. And I am constantly reminded of the fact for every living moment of my life. But I am not one by choice, might I remind you." For the first time in his life, Articus saw tears in Braigh's eyes.

"Now if we're done reminding me of my low birth, let us return to the castle before Desmond finds out.", He yelled as galloped away on Pyro.

Articus knew he had made an irreparable crack in their relationship.

A/N: Hi! Thank you so much for reading so far! As a thank you, I will be updating two chapters together today! Please don't forget to comment and vote :)