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Beauty
Lies in the Eyes of the Wolf
Ophiliana's stepfather is blackmailed into
marrying her off. Brandæis's father orders his men to storm the Lady's new
home. Is Brandæis the white knight dressed in black Ophiliana has prayed for,
or just another person that will let her down? Rated: PG-13
Name Pronunciation Guide:
Ophiliana (Oh-feel-ie-an-ah)
Brandæis (Brand-ayas)
Rhict (Rickt)
Iver (Eye-ver)
Phari (Far-ie)
Kairn (Car-n)
Tryn (Tri-n)
Dere (Der-ri)
(incomplete)
Chapter One: Bargaining Beauty
Ophiliana’s
hand lazily dragged through the reflective water of the water lily pool. Her
gray eyes, fixed in her pale face and framed by her long black hair, stared back
at her from the rippling water. She sighed, splashing the water and disturbing
the image of her face upon it.
Her eyes raised and fixed upon a blond haired young man that regarded her from across the garden. He smiled kindly when her eyes met his blue ones. She returned the gesture, but her eyes remained unaffected as her lips tipped up. He turned away to speak with the man at his side.
Ophiliana sighed. The blond man was Prince Kairn. He was her friend, yet she had always wished for more with him. Unable to keep her feelings hidden, she had informed him of this, and he had assured her that they were nothing more than friends. He had also told her that his father had accepted a treaty engagement with a neighboring princess for him. He tried to be understanding, but he was just making things worse.
Ophiliana tore her eyes away, looking back towards the water. She was nothing, not a princess, not a lady, just the stepdaughter of a powerful lord. Her father had been the son of a struggling merchant, who had been killed when she was merely a child. Her mother’s beautiful face was the only thing that had attracted her stepfather, Lord Iver. And Lord Iver had brought them there to City Hallis.
She was no longer a child, no longer held the childish ideals that a white knight would come riding into her life and sweep her off her feet. But still she wished for a change, something to carry her far away from the life she had grown to know. And that change, if it would appear, was long in coming.
***
Lord Tryn stared at his most trusted, yet insubordinate warrior, not to mention his only son, Sir Brandæis. The dark haired knight glared at him with infuriation burning in his eyes.
“I don’t think that Guilderis could recover after an attack from our forces,” Brandæis said calmly despite the anger at his father’s weak choice of an opponent.
Tryn laughed. “Hardly. Guilderis is instrumental in our overtaking of Hallor. And I must have Hallor.”
Brandæis sighed. His father had large dreams of domination, and finally, when Brandæis’s own band of knights under his father’s ultimate command had become renowned within and without their borders, he had the tool to do it. Brandæis had long known that Tryn only cared for his battle accomplishments, but he would not attack the nearly defenseless Guilderis merely because he was ordered.
“How? There is nothing there, except farms.”
“No?” Tryn arched a gray eyebrow. “Guilderis houses the royal retreat. We must eliminate this before we march on City Hallis. The royal family must have nowhere to run.”
Brandæis frowned, but would make one final point before admitting obedience. “I must have your word that your soldiers won’t from pillaging the farmers and non-resisting city dwellers before I order my own men to march. And you know you cannot win this fight without your knights.”
Tryn nodded. “You have my word that no complying citizens will be harmed.”
Brandæis gave a curt nod before turning to alert his knights that they would soon ride into battle.
***
Lord Iver was in a black mood. Ophiliana’s mother, Lady Phari paced between her daughter and her husband. Her own expression was calm, although Ophiliana could see signs of distress lurking behind her mask.
“Rhict is a dolt, if he thinks that he can threaten me,” he blustered. His dark beady eyes darted to Ophiliana and her body stilled. Iver never looked her way, and when he allowed her a glance, good results never followed.
“However,” the aging man continued with a redeeming tone. “His evidence would hold true before a court-”
“What evidence?” Phari interrupted, but Iver ignored her.
“-and I cannot risk the disgrace.”
“What disgrace?” Phari continued.
“It is none of your concern.”
Phari’s eyes narrowed. “I am your wife. I fail to see why this shouldn’t concern me.”
Iver frowned. “Because you are my wife and you are nothing more than a woman. You forget who took you and Ophiliana in when no one else would help you.”
“Sometimes I think dying on the street would be better than having accepted your jaded offering!” Phari snapped.
“Continue with this attitude, and I will see that you will!” Iver returned. “And as for you wretched daughter, she can help me yet, more than I could have ever hoped.”
“What?” Ophiliana couldn’t help but ask.
“I am giving your hand in marriage to Rhict. He will assume the title of Lord and become heir to my fortune in return for his silence on a controversial issue. You shall depart for Guilderis tomorrow evening.”
Ophiliana’s mouth wouldn’t move, although numerous questions ran through her head, but the matter was closed when Phari fainted. The look on Iver’s face told her that there would be no further discussion. Her fate was sealed.
***
Kairn gave Ophiliana a look filled with sorrow. There was pity mingled with that emotion, but she chose not to recognize it. “You leave tomorrow?” he asked.
Ophiliana nodded, letting her eyes drift away from him to the building of City Hallis. It was not only him that she left behind, but any future that she would have had within these walls. There was no future with the prince, nor would there ever be. She had accepted that, but she would still regret leaving him. He was her friend.
“Yes.”
“I wish you the best of luck.”
Ophiliana glanced back at him and the only sign of distress passed in her eyes for one fleeting moment. Kairn didn’t notice. “This Rhict man only wishes to marry me for my title and the inheritance my stepfather will give him. There is no luck, nor love, where we are concerned.”
“I…”
“Merely say that you will miss my friendship, and I shall be happy.”
Kairn smiled and the guarded look that had haunted his eyes quickly passed. “You have no idea how much your friendship will be missed.”
Ophiliana smiled, but the happiness reflected on her lips did not reach her eyes. No white knight could save her from Rhict and her friend did not recognize her cry for help. Hope for her was quickly dwindling. But there was still one person left with control over her fate.~ on to chapter two ~ Home ~