The Ancients (Book#1)

Ch.4- Midnight Tavern

Later that night in the tavern...

"Why is your bodyguard so damn young if you don't mind me asking?" Clay was drunk and placed his hand on the ambassadors shoulder as they drank more.

"I think young men are cuter than older ones, but you're actually very cute for a man who's older than me." Mary was laughing and leaning on Clays arm trying to not act drunk but she was, that was obvious to Clay.

"Actually I'm only one year older than you ma'am. I'm only 25 ma'am. The bodyguards heard Clay and became furious. "Well you're a beauty as well ma'am. Most women aren't as beautiful as you, did you know that?"

"I would have to agree with you, most men aren't as intriguing as you are." Clay smiled forgetting who she was; so he kissed her on the cheek and stood up.

"Well Mary I need to be going, it's getting late." He smiled beginning to leave the tavern. As he left her face was blushed a dark red. While Clay walked out of the tavern Mary's bodyguards surrounded him looking angry. "Boys I'm not in the mood, I could hurt you since I'm drunk." The bodyguards all suddenly rushed Clay, but suddenly he vanished and Clay was walking away past them all. "I told you all I'm not in the mood." Clay dropped all of their daggers to the ground and smirked walking off. Suddenly, someone threw a lance at Clay barely grazing his cheek. "Who threw that one I gave you props." He smirked, laughing a little. An out of breath, very small and unimportant boy stood there with the bodyguards.

"Is your name Clay hunter!" The boy seemed to be full of excitement as a smile appeared on his face.

"Yes I am Clay?", "Who are you?"

"My name is Timothy! I want to join your squadron! Please let me join you master swordsman! Please sir!"

"Okay. Welcome aboard young one, your job is to show up at noon tomorrow in the courtyard. Got it. I'll tell John ahead of time who you are so go home and get some sleep kid."

"Are you serious sir?"

"Yes, very, so get to it kid, go home." The boy left and the bodyguards were all standing together looking at the boy. Suddenly as Clay began walking away from the tavern someone grabbed him and pulled him inside a room. Clay shook off the person, looking more closely he noticed it was Mary.

"Mary! What are you doing!" Mary looked into Clay's eyes and smiled.

"I like you." Clay backed up a little shocked from that sentence.

"No you don't...." She looked at him confused for a moment.

"What do you mean I don't like you, I think I would know who I like."

"You don't know me Mary. Not me at least." She smiled and got closer to Clay's face.

"Then I'll just have to get to know you." Clay's face changed as he grinned.

"You do know it's not right for you to be with me right."

"I can like whoever I want." She then kissed Clay on the lips grabbing his hand and they took off to her chambers in the hotel she was staying in.

Clare .... I hope I can be free. Don't be angry at me for doing this, I was lonely, I hate not being with you. I will always love you and you alone Clare....

Early that morning Clay woke up in an unfamiliar bedroom. Clay sat up from the bed, shirtless, looking around he remembered what had happened. Looking to his side he found Mary hidden under the sheets next to him. Wow I really did do that last night.... I wonder if she remembers any of it, after all we were both very drunk last night in that tavern. Clay started getting off the bed getting dressed and he saw an envelope on the counter. As he walked over to the envelope Mary woke up sitting up from the bed.

"That's the invitation to the private meeting you spoke of." Clay smiled looking at her as he finished buckling his belt, he walked over to Mary and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning ma'am. So you're going as well then?"

"Please don't call me, ma'am, after all you are older than me. And yes I was invited a day ago by a man in a mask." Clay sat down beside Mary holding the envelope in his hand still. "Are you going as the King's royal bodyguard?"

"Yes I am, I'm just hoping that it's worth the payment."

"If you don't mind, What is your payment once your job is over?"

"I'd rather not say at this moment." Mary looked at Clay and smiled. Getting closer to Clay she gave him a kiss on the lips. "You're making me want to go back to bed with you." Clay smiled and laughed a little to her response.

"Well why not stay in bed then?"

"I still have to go train my men today, I'll see you later today at the meeting, till then Mary."

"That's way too long." She smiled, acting sarcastic. Clay grinned and kissed Mary again.

"A little longer in bed won't hurt anyone." Clay got back into bed with Mary. Sorry Clare I couldn't help it. 

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