You return her kiss

Katyana has pulled away, but not far. She remains only inches from you, as if she is uncertain what to do next. It was only a few hours ago that you enjoyed a moment alone with Lady Rosaline in the adjoining bedroom, so you are still quite satisfied insofar as the needs of the flesh, but there is still something irresistibly alluring about the woman in front of you.

And so, you lean forward to kiss her again... not so quickly as to startle her, as a woman like her would be on guard against attack even at a moment such as this, and being naked and unarmed must make her feel ****. She draws back a fraction of an inch at first, but then accepts the offer, and you feel her lips once more. This time, the kiss goes deeper... she opens her mouth slightly and you slip your tongue over the inside of her lips for just an instant, feel her stiffen and gasp in response before responding with her own passion, tentatively reaching her tongue into your mouth as well.

Her body moves closer, and you reach up to take her by the hips, feeling the smooth, soft skin... she shivers, and moans softly, as your fingertips touch the soft swelling at the underside of her breasts -

Suddenly she pulls away, jumps away, pushing against your shoulders and making you grunt involuntarily with the sudden shooting pain from your fresh wound. Her eyes are wide and frightened, her cheeks still flushed with the passion of the moment.

"No!" she exclaims, her voice still husky with the lust she was feeling just a moment ago. "No, this... we must not do this, you are my... that is to say, you are my father's enemy. This cannot be."

"Katyana," you say quietly, trying to keep the pain from coming through your voice - it is fading back to the dull ache that it was, however. "All we have done is kissed, nothing more."

"Then there must be nothing more. I cannot allow it, I must remain strong!"

"You are, and you have. There is no weakness in enjoying a kiss, or in desiring something more. Perhaps this is not truly the time for such indulgences, but there is certainly no shame in it either."

Katyana looks back at you, her eyes still fearful, then away again. "I have intruded too much on your time, Sire," she says, looking at the wall. "You have the duties of a king, and especially under the circumstances I must impose upon you no further. I should take my leave..." she makes her way toward the door.

"You may wish to take your cloak as well," you point out.

"What? Oh..." her face burns crimson. "Yes, yes of course! Er... there is still a dagger in the sleeve."

"You may keep it, my lady. It seems you may have need of protection. I trust that it will not be turned against me or any of my people."

"Thank you, Xavier - Sire! Yes, I will take my leave, and I will see you at the feast of course. Where should I... that is, do you wish for me to rejoin the guests, or..."

"Lady Trina will escort you and your guardsmen to the castle library," you tell her. "Under the circumstances, it is probably best that you do not mingle with the guests before they see with their own eyes that I am not badly hurt. There are some who may unjustly blame you for what has happened."

"That is best, yes. Excuse me, I will now take my leave."

Once she is gone, you stand up, pushing with only your right arm. Your shoulder still hurts from the effort, but not unbearably. Master Sanjay had offered potions for the pain, but you know from experience that his medicines dull the mind and senses, and for the moment you still need both; his potions can wait until it is time to sleep. "Mshindi, enter!" you call out, and he immediately does so.

"Sire," he says, bowing his head. "I have heard that the Vixen wounded you with my own weapon; I am the only one in the castle who uses arrows tipped with blackstone. I offer my apologies."

"It is not necessary, Mshindi; if anything, her decision to use your arrows may have saved my life. Let us speak no more of it."

"Thank you, Sire."

"On to other matters, then. You deserve to know that Lord Velimir's men, under Lady Katyana's command, are in our woods," you say. "We now stand on a knife's edge, and a wrong move will plunge us into war. It may already be inevitable, but how we move in the next few hours may determine Lady Katyana's place in this conflict - and I need not tell you that Elyssia's chances of victory improve greatly should she come over to our side. Lord Velimir is a man capable of many things, but to openly attack his own daughter seems beyond even him."

"Yes, Sire."

"I know that you and your kinfolk have good reason to hate the Warlord, and a reckoning is due for what he has done to the M'Kubwa Tribe. But conflict between your people and Velimir's men could be the spark which starts a war before we are ready. For that reason, Katyana's people will be moved from their current camp to the high meadow, and Katyana herself will stay here in the castle with her two guardsmen. I am placing you in charge of seeing her camp moved, in part because I know I can rely upon you, and in part because I want them to see a man such as yourself in a position of authority. Lady Katyana will provide you with a message bearing her seal, and General Ferdinand will provide you with ten of his best to accompany you."

"When do you want this done, Sire?"

"As soon as the message is prepared, Mshindi. Send in Sir Benedicht as you go, please."

"Yes, Sire. I take my leave."

Mshindi departs, and a moment later, Benedicht enters.