Fear

Chapter 12

This time, I was aware of my bodyguards. Luke lead the way, Grant holding my hand at one side, Adam stationed on the other side of me with Matt behind us. They absorbed all the buffeting from other hurrying pedestrians.

- I assume they can't be seen?

Only you can see us.

I kept my eyes on Luke's back. He was just as muscular as Grant and heavily armed. A long knife was held in a sheath that ran down his spine. On his right shoulder, he carried a quiver of arrows, on his left, he had slung a bow, the string facing me. At his hip, I could see another knife in a sheath hanging from his belt. His boots were made of thick black leather and tipped with a scuffed metal - steel, I assumed. Just to complete the whole picture, his long black hair was tied back at the nape with a length of black leather. He was just...black all over.

- He is not someone I'd like to have as an enemy.

Luke is deadly. He is our weapons master.

- Matt?

Matt is an arsonist. He has mastered the art of pyrotechnics and can make fire with ease. John is an assassin. Charles is our chef, chief cook and bottle washer. Adam was my personal bodyguard.

- Why is Adam not with us?

He follows further behind. He has his brief. There is nobody better to do the tasks I have assigned to him.

- Are there any more?

In my team? Yes, four more. We wait on them before we move. Two days maximum, we expect.

- All men?

One is a woman, if you can class her as a woman. She is a witcher and specialises in magic.

- A witcher?

A witch in this language of yours. A crone. Someone who deals with magic, both black and white.

- Interesting. What do your men do without a female around?

They fulfil their needs as required whenever we are near a place with available females. This is why the other four are tardy. Bess had to deal with a clingy woman that Nigel had bedded. It has caused a furore in the town. You don't want to know the details.

I heard him chuckle. I was not asking. I walked into work with a grin plastered on my face. It was still there after I checked in and walked to my seat. I draped the coat around the back of my chair as usual and sat.

"My my! You seem happy today." I looked up to see my section head peering over the screen that divided me from my neighbours. "You met up with your new beau?"

"I did. He seems very fine." I smiled an authentic smile.

"This is an excellent start to the day, Eloisa. I am genuinely pleased for you."

And for himself.

"I hope we develop a friendship." I added.

Only friendship? Oh sholry, I do hope we develop into something more than friends.

"It's a good foundation, Eloisa. A husband should be your very best friend."

On that, I will agree.

I smiled broadly again. "I will work on it."

I almost gasped with surprise as I spotted Adam enter the section head's office. I felt Grant's hand on my shoulder, cautioning me. He stood behind me, invisible to everyone. The section head moved away as I picked up the first document from the IN tray and began to work.

Don't worry, sholry. Adam has his orders. He will complete them. Remember, he can't be seen. Even if it were possible to see him, he would still complete his task without detection.

- He is that good?

The best.

It was some time before I saw the door open again and Adam slipped out. He raised a thumb, presumably at Grant, before walking boldly behind another worker to make his way out of the building.

Your records will now be complete. Your section head will probably discover the missing pages misfiled in another person's file. Relax.

The day continued much like any other day, the endless piles of paper arriving and leaving my desktop, taking me up to the lunchtime siren. All over the room, paper was discarded as everyone stood to make their way to the canteen. Grant and John joined me as the staff crowded the corridors. Few people managed to get close to me, John and Grant keeping them at bay with their bodies. I tried to shut out the memory of a naked Grant from my mind. It was a struggle. I heard him chuckle at my side.

You like what you saw?

I just grinned. I was not going to stoke his ego.

Once I had my meal, I found a table and sat to eat. My section head found me again looking extremely pleased.

"Curiously, I have found your missing paperwork, Eloisa, misfiled with others. I'm happy to see that everything is in order. You have quite an exceptional record. I feel you will not be with us long."

"Why?" I frowned at him, the familiar sensation of fear rising in me.

"With abilities like yours, you would be more suitable in the government offices. I'm surprised you were not allocated there."

"I go where I am placed."

"As it should be, I agree. All the same, the wage is greater in government offices, and it will guarantee you a suitable match for a husband."

"I'm content with what I have."

"You will rise, Eloisa. Of this, I'm certain. Still, this will bring some good status to our department."

He departed with a light step, clearly relieved and satisfied by my report.

- Will this bring further problems for us?

Not at all, sholry. He will get papers for your transfer, and will gain greater status for your 'discovery'. You will simply not appear in your next employment. Your file will 'vanish'. Your journey begins shortly. You head toward a new future.

- With you?

Most definitely with me. He beamed delightedly at me, his eyes bright with happiness. I noted how his eyes crinkled at the edge when he was happy. I smiled at him, his happiness infectious. You are stunning when you smile, sholry. I must make you smile more often.

- Did I not smile when I was a child?

Of course! But you are an adult now, and it is no longer the smile of a child. It has the power to make a strong man weak, especially me.

- But you are biased. You love me.

Do you not love me?

- I do not know what love is. I've not experienced it yet.

His eyes darkened as they gazed into mine. His expression changed and became full of wonder. Never?

- Not in my present memories.

I will show you how wonderful it can be, Eloisa. I knew you were alone, but had not even dared to imagine that you could be innocent too. I can't believe I could be so lucky that you have kept yourself whole all this time. How did you know how to use your tongue the other night?

- Reading. I enjoy romance novels.

His eyes widened and a slight smile curved his lips. You have some idea of the act of loving then?

- Some.

But not experienced it before?

- Not yet.

Grant groaned, his eyes shutting, his hands resting on the tabletop clenching into fists. Stop my trembling heart! You are any man's greatest dream - a virgin queen. I can't believe you are mine. I love you so much, Eloisa.