The dinner was fit for a lord, a King even. And Duncan enjoyed every morsel of it. But the view from across the table was what really made it memorable. 6 feet separated the Lady from him and how he could defend her from an arrow through any of those tall glass windows, from this far from her, was a nagging concern. But the setting had been laid out in this manner and thus he didn't question it. The sight of the two archers cloaks wrapped tightly around their bodies and huddled against the icy cold brick of the half wall that ran around the balcony put Duncan more at ease. Not because he thought they'd stop an attack but because they'd serve as a warning if one did come, which gave Duncan enough time to be by the Lady's side.<br/><br/>But right now, his eyes were feasting on her as much as his tongue was on the food. And he'd give up half his life if his tongue could feast on her tonight, he thought.<br/><br/>Duncan stayed away from the wine although he'd kick himself for it later but he wanted to be focused and alert on this first night of the "Gesture". Gweneth seemed almost not interested in her company and went through the motions of a casual conversation, but even in this mood, she seemed as beautiful as when he first set his eyes on her. Every now and then her eyes would meet his and there seemed to be a hint of flirtation but only for a brief moment. She seemed to be used to men like him undressing her with their eyes and perhaps that is what made her this rich. Did men undress her with more than their eyes? He suddenly felt jealous and anger replaced jealousy when he realized what he was feeling.<br/><br/><em>"Damn her beauty!"</em>he thought. To hell with how much he wanted her. He needed to keep her safe for the next 13 days and perhaps at the end of that time, she'd reward him with more than just 3 more pouches of gold. He licked his lips at the prospect of having her and she, for some reason, seemed to read his mind for her blue eyes flared almost a reddish hue before it was doused in the usual calmness.<br/><br/>Duncan escorted the Lady to her private chambers high in the mansion. His eyes moving from shadow to shadow and his ears pricking up at every rustle of a curtain or sound of a distant door closing. She walked behind him, just a few paces, but walked with almost an arrogant stride.<br/><br/><em>"By God I should have demanded 500 gold!"</em>he thought. How was he to protect her when she didn't even seem to care all that much? This will be more work than he thought it would be.<br/><br/>They arrive at the end of a dimly lit corridor where the Archer stood at attention, holding her private chamber's door open for her.<em>"Who was this man?"</em>he wondered.<em>"Why did she trust him to be this close to her?"</em>he asked himself. She obviously seemed to think that he was trust worthy but at the same time he seemed to Guard her out of some form of duty.<em>"Did she bed him?"</em>He felt anger rise again and stormed in past the bowman and into the large room.<br/><br/>4 maids were already pouring hot water into a large basing big enough for 2 people to lay in. The scent of lavender was strong. Candles were lit at every nook that could hold one. Satin curtains draped around the bath hiding nothing.<br/><br/>Gweneth walked in behind Duncan and smiled at him as a mother would at a lad who just walked into a place he was not used to being in.<br/><br/>"Is it safe to take a bath in my own chambers, Duncan?" she joked. "Am I safe?" she proceeded to walk towards the bath and begin to undress as she did. As much as he wanted to tear every garment from her shapely body himself he felt out of place in this setting. She knew he wasn't used to this and she was making him feel uncomfortable. And he hated her for it.<br/><br/>"I don't know if you are, My Lady. You might drawn in that there scented water if you're not careful" he smiled as he tore his eyes away from her behind.<br/><br/>"Many a maiden have drowned in a foot of water clutching the hand that held them under...". he trailed off as he turned around and walked away. She was safe here and the bowman was close at hand. And he was happy that he had made her stop and turn around at his last words. Perhaps it was a promise? Perhaps a threat? She won't know for sure and he liked leaving her with uncertainty.<br/><br/>His smile was swept away in an instant as he felt a familiar tingle at the base of his skull. He looked at the bowman and pointed at him. "Be at your Guard for evil lurks this night!"<br/><br/>The bowman looked calm but Duncan saw him move his cloak to reveal a short sword. His Armanian short bow by his side his eyes already looking for anything out of the ordinary.<br/><br/>Satisfied that the bowman was vigilant Duncan ran downstairs and out the back door. Dragon's Bane gleaming in the moonlight night as he kept the sword half drawn as he slowed to a walk. His steps placed silently as he hurried along the edge of the high walls, barely making any sound. The feeling he felt was stronger now yet seem to ebb and flow as he tried to find it's source. This was no mere immortal, but some<em> thing </em>that was not dead nor alive for the feeling was there one moment and gone the next as if shifting from one form to another.<br/><br/>Reaching a corner Duncan leapt up and pulled himself up onto the high wall and crouched there listening, his eyes scanning the road below and the rooftops beyond. He looked at the direction of the front Gate and saw two people barely visible in the dark night. He made one out to be a Guard and by the looks of him was one of the guards that manned the Gate when he arrived. The other was a shorter figure that seem to bow as it spoke with the taller one. Duncan dropped down onto the cobble road silently and was about to head towards the Gate when the feeling stopped.<br/><br/>Just as if a candle was snuffed out. There was nothing. No sense of what he sensed before. He stopped and looked around. A man looked out his window and spat outside. A woman was cursing him from a room inside. A dog ran across the road. An owl hooted in the distance. But there was something missing... Duncan turned around and headed the opposite direction. Perhaps he'd catch the sense if he rounded the corner.<br/><br/>Little did he know that a few feet away, a shadow watched him from behind an old barrel. Unblinking eyes focused in concentration wielding the dark powers of the undead as it blanketed the wielder making<em>it</em>almost invisible.<br/><br/><em>"This one might be a problem..."</em>she thought. "...but not tonight." Her eyes shifted to the two standing at the Gate.<br/><br/>"Tonight I feast," a small arrogant smile curling Valerie's lips as she gazed down at the pretty maid and portly guard " on sweet wine . . . " as with a flutter she disappeared.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>