23. Torn

King Rurik is already seated at his large throne and you feel his eyes burning into you as you walk in. The shirt he's wearing is the same color as your dress and you get the impression he's further flaunting his possession over you. After eating you start walking in Rurik's direction but are quickly intercepted by his attendants who whisk you out of the hall. "When can I speak with the King?" You try to keep the annoyance out of your voice as you know the people are only doing their job. There's a moment of silence before a slightly older woman speaks up. "He will come for you when he needs you." Frowning at her words you remain silent as you're lead through a different corridor. To your dismay you're brought to a large weaving room and find yourself subjected to more lessons. The day passes by slowly as you absentmindedly work your fingers around the material before you. When the people finally get up and start exiting the room you breath a sigh of relief. Tossing the messy, and likely unusable, weave to the side you quickly follow them out. The sun is beginning to set as you're finally shown back to the great hall, which, is now full with more people.

A large table has been pulled up before the King's throne and you're seated a few places down from him. This time you find that it's yourself who keeps stealing glances in his direction all night. Sten will be returning from his hunting trip soon and you don't dare imagine what his reaction will be. You're unsure how many casualties occurred during the attack but that will be the least of his concerns. The question is, will he be able to piece together where you are? The thought looms in the back of your mind as the night continues and you hardly notice when you're escorted away again. You're shown back to Rurik's large quarters and pace around the room anxiously. After an hour passes by you reluctantly retire to the bed to continue waiting. The next morning when you awake you sit up quickly and look around. The only evidence the King was there last night is the new pieces of parchment laid out on the table and a half empty goblet. You feel a twinge of disappointment but try to put it out of your mind and concentrate on Sten. There's no way you know of currently to get word to him but perhaps you can find out. A chest of clothing had been brought into the room for you the night before and you move over to it. Choosing a slightly more traditional gown you dress quickly and slip out of the room before the attendants arrive.

When you're about half way down the hall you hear their voices as they make their way up the stairs. Looking around, you move over to one of the doors and are relieved to find it's unlocked. Quickly slipping inside you shut the door behind you and turn the key that's sitting in the keyhole. You hear the voices move past a moment later and breath out a sigh of relief. Now that they're gone you spend a moment taking in your new surrounds. A large table sits in the middle of the room and you're surprised to see even more pieces of parchment strewn about it's top. Most of them are also maps but a few of them are covered in different series of runes. You only recognize a few of the characters since you're still in the process of learning how to read them. None of the words you can make out seem to be anything of consequence and you move on. Mounted along the walls are different skins and hunting trophies. The most notable is a large bear skin mounted on the wall to your left. Making your way over to it you run your fingers through it's surprisingly soft fur. As you're admiring the large beast you jump slightly when you hear a rapping on one of the windows to your side.

Your back tenses as you remember you're on the second floor but eventually slowly turn around. Exhaling deeply, you let out a nervous laugh, when you see a large Raven perched on the ledge outside the window. You start to turn back away but the Raven pecks at the glass again in almost urgent manner. Frowning, you slowly walk over to the window and startle when it suddenly takes off. Glancing out the now empty window your eyes slowly move down and your heart beat quickens. King Rurik is just leaving the keep and walking down a path that leads to the small wooded area behind the fortress. Without thinking you find yourself quickly exiting the room and making your way down the stairs. The attendants typically take you around the back ways and by retracing their footsteps you're easily able to make it outside without being spotted. As you're leaving from the small back exit the servants use you see a cloak hanging by the door and grab it. You feel slightly guilty but make a mental note to return it when you get back. The wind has died down slightly today but the snow is hard and frozen over making it slightly difficult to keep your balance.

You can't see Rurik anymore now that you're outside but you remember which direction he was heading towards. The land in this area must be quite lush and fertile as you can tell the forest beyond the walls is different than the one you earlier traversed. Slipping out of the small door in the wall it's only a couple of more yards to the forest. You think you can make out the traces of footsteps in the hard snow before you but are unsure. The trees in this forest are a dark color and while their trunks are still rather thick they only extend a few feet taller than you. Long spindly branches reach up out and around you tugging at your cape as you walk by. After a few minutes, you hear voices up ahead, and stop walking for a moment. You're unable to make out what they're saying and cautiously move forward more. Rounding a bend, you stop short when you see a group of figures in the distance. You quickly slip behind a tree and lean against it, breathing shakily. You don't think anyone saw you but you can't hear anything but the pounding of your heart. After a moment your breathing returns to normal and you're finally able to concentrate on the words being spoken. Rurik's distinctly authoritative voice can be heard and you shiver at the words you hear. "I want this dealt with, now."

"My lord, is this necessary?" Another person speaks up but there's a slight hesitancy to their voice. "You've already destroyed his village and taken what you wanted. We don't even know if he will try coming." There's a long pause before you hear the same person quickly acquiesce and tell the King it will be done. The group slowly disperse a moment later but you stay leaned against the tree for a few minutes. There's only one person Rurik could have been talking about it and you feel quite uneasy now. Sighing, you pull away from the tree, and walk around it. The forest is quiet as you make your way back but after a moment the uneasy feeling returns. Something rustles behind you and your muscles stiffen as you feel someone approaching. Whirling around quickly you're confused to see the empty forest behind you and realize the uncomfortable feeling has mysteriously vanished. Shaking your head you try to dismiss the strange occurrence and move forward. When you get back to the keep a group of attendants rush to you and seem relieved but annoyed. You ignore their questions and scoldings but follow them as they lead you back upstairs. You're not sure what bothered you more, Rurik's words, or the strange feeling you had in the forest. Either way, you have a lot more to think about now.