ANDREW BLACK

Chapter 17

Merlissa Highmore

A day earlier.

After saying goodbye to the Boone daughters, - FINALLY! - Merlissa was being shipped along with her cousins to the Richards. Lunch with the Richards was not the way Merlissa planned to spend her afternoon. First for the fact that Richards had no daughter and she was forced to engage with Mrs. Richards all afternoon but at least she had Audria. Second being that Audria and Mrs. Richards got along too well that Audria told her things she couldn't tell the queen- her mother. This meant that they rarely ever left Walldern Vineyard earlier than the next day by then Merlissa had reached a terrifying level of boredom that even the previous night's sleep could not get rid of.

Times like these had Merlissa wishing she could switch her dress for pants, so she could go hunting, at least she'd be out and about. Or at the very least be allowed to consume conspicuous amounts of alcohol. Then there was a third problem that had been nagging at her since she sent out the letter the previous evening. She was positive now with a clear mind how terrible an idea it was, some would consider it wicked but to be entirely honest, she didn't think they'd take it too seriously. I mean she was still alive after all. A sudden jolt to the carriage forced her to the present. She looked over at Audria, who looked equally confused. Merlissa could hear a crowd outside, she wondered what was going on.

Opening the carriage door, she was greeted by a guard who immediately said, "my Lady, Prince Daemon said you must remain within the carriage." Merlissa's brows scrunched as her curiosity spiked but the guard made no motion to move out of her way. She looked from him and his flock, catching the sight of two women who were watching her and speaking amongst themselves. Merlissa quickly averted her gaze. It was nothing new that people spoke of her, they had become so accustomed to it that now they did it in her face. 

'As always,' she thought slumping back into the carriage.

"Given up already?" her cousin asked amused, going to make her own attempt. On opening the door, the guard repeated the same instructions.

"Ohh..." she began stretching to see beyond the flock of guards to the crowd gathered in front.

"Why such a large crowd?" she asked.

"I am afraid I do not have the answer to that my Lady," the guard replied.

Audria turned to him, "doesn't it make you curious?"

"Not in the slightest bit, the only thing that should fascinate me is guarding yourself and Lady Merlissa my Lady," he replied immediately in a monotonous voice.

"I sense a lie!" Audria exclaimed.

"I do not understand how you mean my Lady," he said in his regular bored tone.

"You must be a little curious," she insisted stretching further but she could only see the crowd and how they blocked her from whatever held their attention. Audria was certain her brothers were at the frontlines already and Daemon was probably barking orders to regulate the crowd and she was here at the back, away from the fun. "Just a little peek, no harm," Audria continued her pleading but the guard refused to give in.

"I am afraid I cannot allow you my Lady." Still Audria tried to push her way out, but the guard held her back awkwardly trying not touch her inappropriately.

"Careful where your hand roams" she said, and the guard suddenly retracted his hand causing Audria to fall forward landing on another person.

"Is this how you watch the princess!?" the man barked unintentionally in Audria's ears, Audria subconsciously brought her hands to her ears covering them to dull the ringing. "Ohh sorry about that princess Audria,"