Chapter 3

Anne walked into the courtyard of the castle. She loved the bustle of the life in the castle. She watched with amusement the nobility currying favor with the King and others of the court fomenting intrigue. Her father had been given a commission by the King to caste a spell on the French and make them subservient to the King of England. Ahgur had accepted the commission with a warning to the King that it would take a long time to produce the spells. The French had powerful sorcerers also. He would have to nullify their power before he could subjugate the French population.

The sun caught her golden hair and she looked like she had a halo around her head. This was not lost on Benjamin as he watched her from a window overlooking the courtyard. He knew that he had to have her and he knew just how he would do it. He started down to the courtyard.

"Lady Anne, might I speak with you for a moment?"

Anne turned and saw the powerfully built man that she secretly adored approaching her and her heart skipped a beat. At six feet he stood over the other men of his time. His hair was as golden as her own and he was always polite and caring of her welfare when she was at court. She had been to his estate with her father in the past and she fell in love with the countryside. His fields were always well tended and his stables were the envy of the kingdom. She heard that he treated his people fairly and that they loved him. She often wondered why he had never taken a wife. Most men his age were married and had children. She had fantasies about her being his wife. She was past the age when most girls in the kingdom married, but her father was very protective of her and most of the men were afraid to approach her out of fear of his magic and his spells.

Benjamin took her hand and kissed it. Her heart jumped and she put her handkerchief to her mouth to hide her grin. She knew that she should reproach him for taking such liberties but she allowed him to continue.

"Lady Anne, please forgive my intrusion into your thoughts. I have recently purchased a fine mare. After training her, I find that she is a bit gentle for my taste and a bit too small for my size. I think that she would be perfect for you. I know that you would be gentle to her and the two of you would ride as if the mare was bred to be your personal servant. I would be honored if you would accept the mare and give her the home and love that she requires. I have no need for the mare and it would be a shame to give her to someone who does not appreciate beauty."

"Kind sir, I cannot accept such a gift. It would not be right. Besides, I have nowhere to keep a horse."

Benjamin held up his hand as if to silence her objections, "Please come to my humble home and try out the mare. I am sure that she is waiting for your caress on her mane and the feel of you on her back. You could keep the mare in my stables and ride when you want. My estate would be safe for you to ride and my grooms would care for your mare when you are in the castle. I beg you to give this mare your love and attention."

Anne looked at him and wanted to accept his gift on the spot. She was troubled at the thought of going to his estate by herself, it would not seem right for a maiden to be alone with an unmarried man.

Benjamin saw that she wanted to come and see the mare but that she was afraid of the talk that her visit would generate.

"Would you and the Lady Nora be my guests for a few days on my estate? I would welcome the opportunity of showing the both of you my hospitality. I am sure that once you set your eyes on the mare that she will become like a friend to you."

She hesitated for just a minute and he knew that she would be his, "Done. In two days time I will send my guards to escort you and the Lady Nora to my estate. I go now to prepare for your visit. I assure you that you both shall want for nothing while you are in my care."

As he walked away she wished that she had accepted his invitation before he had included Nora in the invitation. She had often caught Nora looking at the blond haired warrior with lust in her eyes. She walked into the castle to ask Nora to accompany her to the estate.

Nora was thrilled that she would be able to get out of the castle for a while. She knew that Ahgur would be locked in his laboratories for months working on his spells. If she played her cards right, she would coax the young man into her bed. She had wished for an opportunity like this for a long time. She needed a real man, not the pathetic old sorcerer who only wanted to look at her lush body. If she did not invite the occasional nobleman or cleric to her bed, her needs would never be satisfied. She had often dreamed of Benjamin's arms holding her and his lips on hers. The young warrior had often joked with her and told wicked stories. She was sure that he had a true interest in her as she had in him. There were many stories told by the women of the court about the handsome, blond haired warrior and his success with the women.

The two young women started packing for the trip to the countryside. As all women do, they packed enough for a month. Their belongings filled a cart so full that the horse had trouble pulling it. Nora knocked on her husband's laboratory to tell him that they would be gone for a few days, but he did not answer her pounding. She gave up and finished preparing for the trip. She packed her most daring nightclothes, hoping for a chance to seduce the blond haired Benjamin. She hid the most expensive of her body oils and perfumes in her chests. Benjamin would be hers soon.

In two days time the guards picked them up to escort them to Benjamin's estate. It had rained the day before and the roads were a sea of mud. The going was slow and the coach slid off of the road twice. It took an hour to get the coach back on the road both times. The women stayed in the coach while the guards worked to get the coach back on the road. Even though they didn't leave the coach, the mud flew up from the horse's hooves and coated them from head to toe. The cart with their clothes tipped over once and spilled its contents. Most of their clothes would have to be washed when they arrived at the estate. As they neared the estate a guard rode ahead to let the staff know that they were near. They arrived at the estate after dark and Benjamin was at the front of his manor house to greet them.

Chapter 4