Three Sisters

Chapter 9 Lady Ariadne

Early the next morning, Rimsak rose to go check on Falcon and get his mount ready. They'd have to ride the horses up to the keep, then he'd have Malik go sell their nags. He'd get the girls better horses than those military mutts.... He glanced about the tavern before he headed out. Huh, he didn't see Malik...

Terra shook Talea awake when it was time to get up, Tillie was already on her way downstairs. Talea groaned as she forced herself to sit up. "How long was that walk of yours?" Terra couldn't help but ask.

"From just after you and Tillie went to bed until you saw me come in." Talea replied with a faint smile as she struggled to open her eyes. She sighed as she got ready to go downstairs, trying to not let on how exhausted she felt.

Rimsak came back in a while later on. "Good morning, ladies." He said as he came towards them. "Has Malik come down yet?"

They all looked at eachother, "If he has, we haven't seen him." Terra replied.

"What are we doing today?!" Tillie asked energetically.

Talea tried to look normal, but was having just a little bit of a hard time...

"We are going to visit one of my favorite keeps." Rimsak told her, "Ah and like I told Talea last night... The Lady Ariadne will be expecting myself, Malik and three of Lord Haskill's daughters," KlRimsak said as hr grinned at the girls, "So behave yourselves. You should enjoy Lady Ariadne."

Terra glanced over at Talea wondering when he had told her this bit of information.... and why she was avoiding eye contact... There was something definitely up, and Terra told herself that at the first available moment she was going to get Talea alone.

Tillie smiled, just a little confused, "The daughters of... who?" She asked, "Why do we need to do that?"

"It keeps prying eyes off your trail." Rimsak explained, "Haskill has many children and bastard children. No one will question it." He looked about, "I wonder if Malik plans on joining us."

The sisters were beginning to wonder that to, but Tillie spoke up, "How about we have some breakfast while we wait on him?" She said, "By the way... When are Talea and I going to get our lessons?"

"When we get to the keep... we will first have to introduce you lot to the Lady Ariadne and I need to get you better horses and- Malik!" Rimsak exclaimed as the Century finally came downstairs.... without his armor on, wearing only loose pants.

"Huh? Oh fuck." Malik exclaimed as he spotted Rimsak, before he practically ran to the knight.

"What are we doing? Why are we up so early?"

"Gotta go to the keep"

"The keep?!" Malik asked, before he groaned, "Right... can I meet you there?"

"No. You won't be allowed in..."

"Fucking hell... okay...." Malik sighed, "Go get the horses. I'll be out in a few minutes."

"The hell are you doing?" Rimsak asked, definitely curious now.

"None of your business!"

The three sisters looked at eachother. They had been around Malik for a while, but had never seen him like this! What WAS going on with him?

Rimsak shook his head, "Malik, be careful."

"I am careful!" Malik shouted over his shoulder, as he headed back upstairs.

"Right, let's go get the horses." Rimsak said as he shook his head once more before heading outside. Falcon was already saddled and ready to go, same as Rimsak. The draft stallion looked up as his rider approached, but otherwise just stood there where he was tied.