The Scar

Standing on a mountain over looking a large open field The King and one of his Generals look out into the distance. " There will be a lot of bloodshed tomorrow Sire." The General a cousin of the King on his mothers side was one of the five thousand elite men that the king brought on this campaign. Grabbing the Generals shoulder the King looking out into the sea of green grasses and into the tree line " I look forward to fighting with my men tomorrow, We will march in to battle and destroy whomever is in our path."

The King a warrior always fought along side his men, Never fearing to lay his life down for his people and his men felt the same way to have a king lead his troops into battle is a rarity but Maximus was different. Even though he was king he was still a warrior his advisers saved there breath telling it was not right for a king to fight in battle. But the king a ripe 25 years old already conquered most of the neighboring kingdoms this was the last one that stood in his way.

The King a handsome man 6 foot tall with a warriors build his long blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail. " Darkness falls soon lets prepare for the morning battle." as they started back to camp. The campfires burned as the men gathered around the king as he pulling a dagger from his belt handing it to one of his men. " Let the ritual begin." The King yells. Before each battle the men shaved there body hair they did this for numerous reasons but the biggest one is so that every man looked the same they looked like equals on the battle field. This tactic proved useful then the enemy could not tell who was who, No fancy armor for the ones with rank ,no feathers, no gold plated armor everyman outfitted the same the king looked just like a regular warrior.

When the sun awoke from its slumber in the east the king and his five thousand me stood in the field looking at the enemy troops formed in front of them blocking there path. With a mighty war cry the troops engaged in battle, swords and shields clashing against flesh and bone. Blood flowing from the wounded into the green grasses turning them red. The battle raged on as the sun made its daily trek across the sky. The longer the battle waged the higher the body count was on both sides the afternoon sun beating down on them as the last few enemy troops retreated back into the treeline. " Victory is Ours " the King shouted to a chorus of cheers.


After tending to the wounded and burying the dead darkness fell on them there five thousand troops reduced to almost three thousand. Judging by the dead the other side lost just as many if not more. That night there was no celebration a quiet calm was over the camp they knew there was more battles to fought and won.

Threw the night the king awoke to the sounds battle in his camp. Emerging from his tent as soon as it opened a blow to the back of the head rendered him unconscious. When he awoke he found himself bound together with twenty men the camp was burning bodies of his men everywhere. " We will let the queen decide who lives or who dies." on of the soldiers say with a sneer. The twenty men all chained together being lead by a high ranking soldier on horseback to who knows where. They traveled till daylight before coming to a huge castle . " The Queen wait's hurry slaves." Giving a strong tug on the chain. as they cross the drawbridge.


ooc

open to a female writer send pm if interested.

*Bump*

Still looking for a female writer for this one any takers pm me if your interested.

Queen Nadia was a reluctant addition to the throne of her small kingdom. She had been the youngest daughter of the aged king who had ruled before her and the last of a long line of succession to the throne. She had been in line after several brawny older brothers, but one after the other, each of those brothers had fallen ill and died mysteriously. Nadia had always suspected her next oldest brother but it could never be proven.

Unfortunately, shortly after her last brother became the one next in line to the throne, his triumph was cut short abruptly as a missed jump during a hunt resulted in a broken neck. Naturally her father hadn’t wanted to turn the throne over to his daughter, but he’d had little choice. For the next few years he had drilled her in duty until she lived, slept and breathed it. Then he died and she assumed the throne, much to her subjects dismay.

Nadia proved to be a capable queen though, she had the bright inquisitive mind she’d been born with coupled with her fathers teachings. Using a combination of both, she led the kingdom into prosperity. She was 23 when the rumblings of war reached her ears. She heard of king Maximus rampaging through the neighbouring kingdoms and it became quickly apparent that hers was in his way as well. Unlike her close neighbours, Nadia had time to prepare and she began gathering forces, both from her kingdom and the refugees from other places. By the time the battle drew near, her forces were amassed and she knew she would be able to give Maximus a run for his money. If he wanted her kingdom, it would cost him dearly to get it.

She didn’t fight with her army, though she heard that he had. She could have, but it was more likely that she would have just been in the way. She did send a message though, “Bring Maximus to me.” It wasn’t a request.

The day of the battle, Nadia was encamped close, but a reasonable distance away for safety and as such, she received regular battle reports. She knew her army was sustaining heavy losses but there was little she could do about it. She called for a retreat to regroup. She was shocked to see there was little over half of her army left and it forced her to make new plans. She was glad that Maximus had taken equal losses but she was saddened by the loss of life on both sides.

Night fell once more and her army moved once more. Stripping both men and mounts of anything that might sound a warning, they set out, sneaking into the enemy encampment, taking them utterly by surprise. On her orders, Nadia’s men left few survivors. It was a pity, but Nadia knew if she left many alive, they would just come again. These men knew no surrender. Nadia had never seen King Maximus, but she had a basic description and so, every man who fit the description for the most part was spared and dragged before her in chains.

It was then that she made her first appearance, her tall slender form wrapped in a heavy cloak against the chill of the early morning as she paced before the bound men. Her blonde hair hung free, falling in a straight cascade to her hips, her blue eyes snapping as she studied each man. She knew the king was blonde, but her irritation knew no bounds when she discovered that each man was hairless and therefore impossible to distinguish.

Finally, She chose the man who seemed to have the most regal bearing, striding over to stare down at him. “Maximus, your days of ruthless conquest are at an end! Make your peace with your maker quickly for today you die!” With a nod to a soldier, the man she’d identified as Maximus was dragged away from the others. A few moments later, the mans head left his body in a gory rush as her men cheered. She turned to leave.

“Your Highness?” The questioning tone stopped her and she turned back. “What of the others?”

Nadia considered then said, “Split them up and put them on work crews. We’ll see if their backs can toil for the good of a kingdom instead of its ruination.” She paused then said, “Hogarth wishes to visit his new wife for longer than a day at a time and so I am in need of a new servant. Perhaps a slave will do for the moment, depending on his temperament.” Her gaze travelled over the bound men once more and she nodded to a tall muscular one. “Him. Clean him up and I will see if hes trainable.” With that, she spun on her heel and left for her tent once more.

Maximus watched as the Queen Nadia walked up and down the Row of chained prisoners. Each man making eye contact with the queen as a act of silent defiance. When she stopped in front of Maximus's cousin his heart sank a little when her words rang out “Maximus, your days of ruthless conquest are at an end! Make your peace with your maker quickly for today you die!” . Maximus knew what was going to come such a noble warrior to have his life cut down to protect his king.

The head of the general being put on a spear and paraded around like a morbid trophy a result of there act of cowardliness. No self respecting warrior or king would break the the silent code of meeting your foe on the field of battle. This was only the act of barbarians uncivilized people who fear there enemy. This enraged Maximus when seeing that a woman called for the night time attack it enraged him even more.

As she gave the order to split them up to use for slave labor Maximus knew there was hope for escape for some of his men. When she spun around looking him in the eye and chose him to be her personal slave. Violent thoughts ran threw his head she was just in arms length he knew he could snap her neck with his bare hands. The thought was tempting but he knew that he would be cut down shortly there after by her men.

Being led to the dungeon Maximus was thrown into a dark cell alone with his thoughts . When you assume that the dog you train is a dog you don't realize that it's a wolf until it's too late. He knew that he had to be strong for his men and his kingdom he would not go quietly the warrior in him would never allow that to ever happen.

Nadia had read the defiance in the eyes of the men she had faced, the flat out hatred in the eyes of the one she’d chosen to keep. She also knew she was taking a serious risk by keeping one so dangerous so close. If she’d been asked, she wouldn’t have been able to say just why she had done it. For now though, until camp was struck and they headed for home, the prisoners were kept secluded, yet separate from each other as well.

The march back was uneventful and Nadia took care that before they set out, she instructed her army to ease the pace of its horses, saving the prisoners much wear and tear not to mention abuse they would have suffered normally. Somehow, she doubted they noticed. Upon reaching her home, the majority of the prisoners were shipped out to their assigned stations and her personal choice was tossed in the dungeons to await her pleasure.

Nadia left him there for a week. The only thing she did do, was to instruct his jailer to strike his chains and allow him the freedom to roam his cell as well as arraigning decent quality meals for him. She wanted to use him, not let him rot and therefore become ill while he spent time in the dank place.

Knowing the sort of men who had made up the majority of Maximus’ army, Nadia wasn’t surprised when a report reached her a few days later that a prisoner had escaped from the work party she’d sent him to. She knew that it meant eventually no matter how diligently her guards looked, the escapee would make it back home. She only hoped that word of their kings death would cool off that kingdom. She couldn’t afford more war.

That impediment was why she had ordered the night attack. She knew it went against the commonly accepted rules of engagement, but she had to do something. She and Maximus were to closely matched on the battlefield; to regain a measure of peace, she had done the unacceptable. Some would understand that, others wouldn’t. in any case, it mattered little. The deed was done.

The idea had been to let her prisoner cool off and realise his situation, which is why she had left him down there for a week alone before approaching him. To take him from one walk of life and plop him against his will in one totally different would require a great deal of patience and persistence on her part. That was also why she didn’t go unarmed for that meeting either. A small dagger was concealed in the folds of her dress and she knew how to use it well. She might not have been skilled enough to take to the battle field, but she was eminently capable of taking care of herself.

A nod to the jailer opened the cell door and she eased inside it a bit warily. She met the eyes of the man inside and stared at him without a word as the door closed with a thud behind her. She had an infinite amount of patience, she would wait and let him speak first; the better to judge his temperament and potential. Besides she thought, if the silence carried on to long, she would retaliate by leaving. He would learn the folly of that after she’d left.

For seven days Maximus sat in his cell his as his emotions ran high. From beheading of his cousin replaying in his head to the screams of his men from the midnight attack on his camp. As the food came in Maximus threw it back at the guards for the first two days. Despite his best efforts to get into the heads of his guards it was to no avail. None of them raised a fist at him this boggled his mind he knew that if he could pull one of them into a fight he stood a good chance to escape.

On day three Maximus decided to eat to keep up his strength there would be no escape if he did not have his strength. The longer he sat there the more that the rage consumed him sitting in a dark corner with his fists clinched waiting for the moment when someone came to take him away. Even tough saddened by the loss of his cousin Maximus was glad that they thought he was dead this would give him a better chance to survive. The troops that where sent to work details knew that maximus was alive and being held somewhere else his hopes where that one of them would get a chance to escape and get word back to his kingdom but even if such a escape happened it would be a long arduous journey taking the better part of a month on foot.



When the door opened maximus did not look he knew who it was her fragrance preceded her. " You must be a fool coming in here", as he staired at the floor." I could kill you by the time you hand gets to that dagger your hiding." Maximus's eyes slowly running up her form before standing up. Walking up to her cracking his knuckles as he staired down at her. The rage in his body shown on his face seven days in a cell did not break his resolve.
A sneer on his face as he walks away from her then turning back to face her, " Such a act of cowardness a midnight raid I should have know it was called for by a woman." Pacing back towards Queen Nadia almost nose to nose," you think you can break me how pathetic, Please a month in this place would not change me. You should have killed me when you had the chance I will never bow at your feet."

Nadia had learned of her prisoner’s defiant act of not eating long before she had come down. It was a part of why she had waited a week. He had given in as she knew he would, though she also knew he reasoned it as a way to retain his strength. Though his goal was achieved, it was still a capitulation to her desires. The first of many.

The pure rage in his gaze almost made her flinch as he approached but she remained calm, meeting his gaze with a cool, blue eyed look of disdain. " Such a act of cowardness a midnight raid I should have know it was called for by a woman." somehow she held still as he paced menacingly closer until they were almost nose to nose, " you think you can break me how pathetic, Please a month in this place would not change me. You should have killed me when you had the chance I will never bow at your feet."

Unlike his, Nadia’s voice was without inflection as she came right back and riposted , “Who said I wanted you to bow at my feet? Even my most loyal of servants is not asked to do that. Break you? Perhaps, but that is completely up to you. I will teach you a new path, using whatever means necessary to do so. How hard that retraining will be depends entirely on you.”

For the first time, Queen Nadia let her anger spill over in her voice as she attacked his cowardice accusation, “Murdering women and children in their beds? Raping and looting as your kings’ army crashed through the countryside simply for the sake of doing so? Are those the acts of a man or an army who deserves the courtesies of proper battle? I did what nobody else could. Because they were tied to tradition, no matter the consequences.”

Here Nadia looked at him straight in the eye. “You have a choice man, You can stay in here longer or you can clean yourself up and at least pretend to want to change. Doing so, might increase your chances of escape, or at least the opportunity to kill me, whichever comes first. I will leave it up to you. If you choose to attempt the second option, inform the jailer. He and his will assist your first steps.” She arched an eyebrow at him as she said, “Attempting to escape at this point will have you hunted down and whipped for disobedience. Again, it is your choice..”

With that, she thumped on the door to the cell and exited when it opened. She wasn’t dumb enough to turn her back on the furious man and backed out. She knew it wouldn’t be this easy, yet she wondered what his choice would be.

The Queens words pierced thru maximus like a sword. He knew that there was things done by his men durring conquests but to him those were the spoils of war. He watched her back out of the room not taking her eyes off him, she had good reason to. When the door slamed maximus walked up to it drawing back his fist and punched the door with all of the strenght that he had. A loud thud echoed threw room and the hallway out side.

Maximus remained silent for two day thinking about what he should do. Then it came to him he would let her think that he was willing to submit to her but while out of his cell he would plot to escape. He did not fear her beatings taken many over the years as part of his warrior training to weed out the weak ones. with his mind made up he started to summon the guards before stopping in his tracks. His mind going threw his options one more the he quickly realized escape was the only way out he would risk being captured agian but he had to try.

Beating on the door summoning the guard " I have made up my mind tell the queen. Get me something to clean myself up with."

The thud of his fist against the wall made her jump, but Nadia kept walking without an additional response. She knew then, he would be stubborn. She decided to give him 2 days to change his mind, then she would send a strong hint by sending the usual gruel and bread that most prisoners were given instead of the relatively healthy and hearty meals he had now. See what he thought of that!

Nadia wasn’t a dumb girl by any stretch. She knew that when word was sent up to her that the prisoner in her cells had a change of heart that it would be a ploy to escape, either shortly after he was let out, or after he thought they were convinced he had changed. In any case, before she permitted his release, she made arraignments with her head hunter to have him watched. Closely. She also let it be known what would be required if he escaped. She knew he would, it was just a matter of time.

The jailers opened the door to Maximus’ cell, a pair of them, one standing guard over the prisoner as the other lugged in a tub and several buckets of water to fill it half way. They took no chances, watching him while he bathed and dressed in the clean, though patched clothes that were provided. Then he was lead to the small library Nadia waited for him in. She was standing, sort of leaning with one hip perched against the side of a large desk when the guards brought him through the doors.

She looked him over then and nodded. It was a far sight different than what he’d been like when he’d been thrown in the dungeon the first time. She had spent a considerable time thinking and here she looked at him. “I have claimed you for a personal slave, yet I don’t know your name. As I don’t have a tendancy to call people by ‘slave’ I will need to know yours.. I usually assign positions according to ability, but for you I will make an exception. Where would You like to be placed?”

She was curious what his answer would be for it would tell a lot. If he wanted to work outside, it would mean escape and she could prepare, but inside would be more troublesome for it likely meant he wanted to kill her first.

Being lead threw the castle Maximus studied the layout his strategic mind fast at work forming a plan. As they approached a small library his eyes met hers. After two more days in his cell he knew that he had to play along and buy himself some time till the time was right to escape. With his hands behind his back he listened to her offer. Thinking to himself if given the chance to work outside would help his chances to escape.

"My name is Lucius", Taking the name of his fallen cousin to mask his true self from her. When Maximus was young he was often mistaken for his cousin Lucius both similar in size till there teenage years when Maximus started to mature. He often answered to it only by habit when they was around there grandmother.

His heart still full of hate as he masked it with a facade of calm over his face. Maximus hated to play this game with her but he knew that it would be a short one. Once he had the chance the right moment he would run. Quickly remembering there was a blacksmith outside he looked upon her face, I am a blacksmith by trade I would best serve you there." He was a man of many talents being a fast learner has taught him many skills even as a king he still worked with his people side by side. There was no job that Maximus could not learn and excel at.

“I am a blacksmith by trade I would best serve you there."

Nadia nodded after both his name and trade were given. A blacksmith…so he wished to work with horses then. Likely in an attempt to steal one and escape faster to put more distance between them. Quickly though, her mind assessed the information and formulated a plan to deal with it.

To him, she said, “I am well aware you are not at this time ready to swear any sort of allegiance to me or my crown and as such I will not insist on it. You are at the beginning of a long journey and due to the small steps you have taken on it so far, you are not yet trusted. I will place you in your desired position, but you will be watched. I will constantly assess your progress and we will speak again soon. I am in need of a personal servant, I know you heard me say that. Perhaps when you are ready you might become my bodyguard. However, trust is earned, not given.”

Shortly afterward he was lead from the room. Nadia continued with her normal tasks as did the rest of the castle. The only one out of place was the man that watched the one called Lucius. It wasn’t until that night though, when the guard changed for the third time, that the security surrounding the man failed. It was shortly after midnight when the guard nodded off at his post, his snores issuing loudly as his head slumped on his chest.

Maximus awoke to the sounds of the guard watching him snoring. His cell door open he knew it was time to act. Silently he delivering a sharp blow to the guards neck rendering him unconcious,Maximus dragged his body into his cell. Quickly looking over the guard to Maximus's delight he was about the same size. Stripping off his armor and placing his cloths on the guard. Putting on the guards armor as he donned his hood Maximus walked out unnoticed. Under the cover of darkness Maximus acquired a horse and the escape was underway.

It was not long before Maximus realized that he was being followed by the headhunter. His heart raced as he tried to get away but the skilled headhunter was not easily shaken from his target. As the chase went on the headhunter tired quickly pulling out his Bow and arrow taking aim at Maximus. With a steady aim he released his arrow it flew swift and true to it's target hitting Maximus in the right shoulder knocking him off his horse. Laying on the ground with the wind knocked out of him as the headhunter approached a swift kick to the head foiled Maximus's escape rendering him unconscious.


Throwing his lifeless body on his horse the headhunter rode back to the castle. Once there two guards grabbed Maximus returning him to his cell this time he was chained to the wall. The headhunter walked to the queens chambers and knocked on the door. Just his presence there was a sign that Maximus tried to escape. The headhunters deep voice echoed threw the hallway" My Queen, I have recaptured Lucius he tried to escape. I'm afraid that I had to shoot him with my bow he is in need of medical attention."

Nadia hadn’t been asleep. She had known that Lucius would attempt an escape. That was why she had told the hunter to put on his laziest guard; one that would surely fall asleep on duty. In Nadia’s mind, it was better to get it over with rather than taxing her guards until they were unable to properly do their job.

" My Queen, I have recaptured Lucius he tried to escape. I'm afraid that I had to shoot him with my bow he is in need of medical attention."

Nadia nodded. “See that it is provided then. I won’t have him sicken due to lack of care in that respect.” She inquired where he was and said, “Leave him there for the night after he is treated, in the morning he is to be brought out to the whipping post at first light.”

It didn’t matter that the instructions for three different people were given to one, Nadia knew the person required for each task would be informed. It was only then that she went to bed. As she lay there in the darkness though, she founds herself wondering how she was going to get through to him. Somehow she thought that the upcoming whipping wouldn’t do it. However, he needed to learn there were consequences to his actions.

She was awake early in the morning and dressed quickly. Instead of her usual garb, she wore a pair of loose fitted trousers and a over shirt; something she usually only wore in the field. Since she was the one who sanctioned corporeal punishment, she was also the one to dispense it.

Striding out to the field where Lucius stood bound, she glanced about. As expected, there were few spectators which is why she had chosen the hour. This was not to be an overly public whipping. She hoped in some way he would appreciate that.

Standing before him, she waited until his eyes finally met hers before she said sternly, “No matter the justification felt or the motive given, the crime of attempted escape comes with a heavy price. Twenty lashes, to be administered forthwith. A repeated attempt carried a death penalty for prisoners of war, unless the queen or king of the realm commutes the sentence.” Her eys carried the clear warning the second time would be a guessing game which way she would go.

“Jailer if you would please.” Did his eyes widen as she was handed the whip? Perhaps it was her imagination.

The whip coiled in the dust. With a smooth motion she drew back her arm and moments later the first trail of fire licked across his back, the shirt he wore providing little protection. “One.” Again it fell and again her voice sounded without inflection. She was surprised though. Usually by the time a prisoner’s shirt hung in rags and his back was criss-crossed with welts and bloody stripes, he was either screaming or unconscious. Not this man. She never heard a sound other than his breathing and the crack of the whip until his head sagged and rolled bonelessly on his neck at the fifteenth stroke. That surprised her too. Usually they fell unconscious by ten.

When he came to once more, he found himself back in the cell he’d spent so much time in. He lay on his stomach on a pallet of blankets on the floor, his arms bound together above his head. A cool substance was being worked into his back. If he looked, he might be surprised to find it was Nadia who administered to him. She was tough but fair; just because she had doled out punishment, didn’t mean she didn’t take care of those she considered her subjects. Prisoner or not, she had taken him in and therefore accepted responsibility for him.

As Maximus regained conciousness the next morning finding himself chained to the wall his wound patched up. His eyes were barely open for ten mintues before he was lead out to the field. Upset with himself that he let the queen set him up. Maximus knew that it was too good to be true guard falling a sleep a horse waiting to be taken. His rage returned as they tied him to the post. He heard Nadia walking towards him. Threating to kill him if he tried to escape agian Maximus hoped that a rescue would come for him.

When she asked for the whip Maximus acted suprised figured that she would kill him than to waste her time trying to change him. When the first lash I the whip came it burned his back like fire, He focused on his breathing to forget the pain. With every lash Maximus had to not give her the satisfaction that he was in pain. Taking the lashes of the whip till his body could take not more passing out from the pain.

Maximus awoke a while later on the floor of his cell. The burning subsiding as a cold feeling replaced it. Maximus looked over and was shocked who he saw, he tried to move but could not. He staired at Nadia the rage still burning inside of him. " Leave me be woman. I don't need your help" turning his head away from her looking at the wall. " Why not kill me save yourself the aggrivation. You know I will never swear allegance to you or your crown. " Maximus laid there stairing. At the wall. " You set me up ... The guard sleeping .... The horse all a trap that I walked into."

As Lucius attempted to move from under her ministering hands Nadia frowned. " Leave me be woman. I don't need your helpWhy not kill me save yourself the aggrivation. You know I will never swear allegance to you or your crown. You set me up ... The guard sleeping .... The horse all a trap that I walked into.”

Still his body strained away from her and Nadia lost a bit of her temper, shoving him roughly into the blankets as she muttered, “Damn it! Hold still! You hate me so badly that you have to fight even when I attempt to help you? I suppose you would be happy if these cuts got infected rather than allow me to touch you.”

She leaned closer, her lips hovering just above his ear as she whispered, “I’ve had donkeys easier to train than you but it doesn’t make you untrainable, just a challenge. I like challenges.” She straightened, her finger resumed rubbing in cream as she carried on,

“Of course I set you up, your ploy was rather obvious after all. You think to treat me as a stupid girl, which I am not. Bear it in mind for your next attempt. I also knew it was better to allow you your chance early in your training, learning you face consequences to your actions is the first step to bettering yourself.”

While she had been talking, Nadia’s fingers had slowed against his skin and she looked down in some horror to find herself practically stroking his flesh! Her face flamed and she was glad his head was turned so he missed it. She almost jumped to her feet and said briskly, “I guess you aren’t ready to come out yet. Perhaps a few days of being a prisoner will make you change your mind.” She knew it was unlikely, but just then she needed to escape and that let her do so. She left the cell and fled, leaving him with his thoughts.

Maximus laid there his back still sore from the whipping he got as he processed in his mind what she said. “I’ve had donkeys easier to train than you but it doesn’t make you untrainable, just a challenge. I like challenges.” Maximus a growl in response to her comment. His mind blocking out her touch as he focused on the wall studying the Grey stone and it's texture.

Turning his head as she left watching her not back out like before, But practically running away from him raised a few questions in his mind. Maximus laid there for two days thinking and planning his next move. Going over every possibility in his head trying to work out a plan. Nothing came to mind he knew he could not escape fearing that the next time his death would be the result. Then it came to him like a bolt of lightning from the sky, it's time to limit test our new queen he thought. Yes thats it...I will let her think as she wishes till I can let her guard down and to escape or maybe hold out for a rescue. Both were long shots he knew but he had to keep up his hope not wanting to submit to her he had to stay strong even if playing her game was what he had to do.

Queen Nadia Looked down at the missive the messenger had given her, her normally smooth brow puckered. She understood wanting to escape, to make it home to loved ones and family but this was beyond her. Everything she’d heard of the warrior king screamed bloodthirsty tyrant, yet if he had been so bad, why had the escaped prisoner from the work gang stolen back and retrieved the body, presumably to take it home? Not only did it slow the man down, but it increased the chances of him being caught.

This was still on her mind when the head jailer came and reported that her prisoner wished to see her. Just for spite, she made him wait an extra hour before sending for him. Due to the fiasco of the last time, Nadia didn’t go to him. Instead, he was lead to her library where she was found working on a ledger of accounts.

She glanced up at him after some long moments, her gaze sweeping over him as if judging, then almost dismissing him. Finally she asked, “I suppose you are going to tell me you have truly changed your mind this time. Therefore my question must be, How can I trust you?”

Even as she said it, she was sure that it was yet another ploy, but until he showed his hand, she would be forced to play along. After all, how could she expect change from him if she never permitted him the opportunity?

Before he could answer her, she added another question, “What was your king really like?” She should have waited, but the question played on her mind. She wondered what He thought, as an average representative of the place.

He waited patiently for the guards to take him to Nadia. The walk to the library starting to be a familiar walk to Maximus. As maximus stood in front of Nadia her eyes like daggers shooting threw him. Knowing that she trusted him as much as he trusted her. Then the question Maximus what he was like this baffled him,second thoughts maybe of killing his cousin.

Maximus was a man of the people, a warrior who rose threw the ranks giving everything he had for king and country. Before Maximus our kingdoms was in ruin , poverty,famine it was anarchy. Till Maximus took the crown punishing the ones stealing from the people. Maximus was not afraid to get his hands dirty working beside his people up till the day YOU killed him. The accusations you make of him yes true but Maximus punished those who commited those acts,when he found out about them. How many kings work..fight beside there own people. I can answer that none. Maximus stood there pleading his case before her but having no idea why to her Maximus was dead.

"As for me ,My new Queen," That pained maximus to even think that but knew he had to play the game to save his head. "I have done much thinking and I'm ready to go down the path you have chosen for me." The fire raged inside him as he held back suppressing his true feelings to give her a facaid she was looking for. "I will not attempt to escape no more,I give you my word."

Maximus was a man of the people, a warrior who rose threw the ranks giving everything he had for king and country. Before Maximus our kingdoms was in ruin , poverty,famine it was anarchy. Till Maximus took the crown punishing the ones stealing from the people. Maximus was not afraid to get his hands dirty working beside his people up till the day YOU killed him. The accusations you make of him yes true but Maximus punished those who commited those acts,when he found out about them. How many kings work..fight beside there own people. I can answer that none.

She nodded in response without a word for some moments. That report made the unknown man’s actions make sense, along with the loyalty his men had shown their king. Especially this one. He didn’t seem overly dangerous; except when he was looking at her anyway.

Flatly, unsure if she was trying to make him feel better about his kings fate or if she simply was sharing the information she stated, “His body has been taken, presumably home since it seems one of your comrades did the deed. Perhaps your king will even get a state burial. Isn’t he lucky?” Somehow her voice managed to sound sincere even though she was positive he would skew her words.

Before he could take offence verbally, she went on. “Since you have proven yourself untrustworthy, I should keep you in chains and close enough to be watched. However, you have given me your word that you won’t try another escape. In this age, a man’s word is his bond and I would expect you to keep it. So saying, I will release you to the grounds and castle with the simple instruction that you are not to leave without accompaniment. You will occupy yourself with whatever tasks might be assigned to you through the day, but in the evening you will clean up and join me for dinner so I might assess your progress.”

Her words were simple and direct, she seemed to buy his convictions, yet she watched him closely, her eyes giving nothing away as she mentally girded herself to the task ahead for it was obviously not over yet. Nothing was won so easily, it was just a matter of time to see what the new trial would be.

Upon hearing that the body was taken Maximus knew that this was the ray of hope he searched for. If the solider that taken the body of his cousin makes it back to his kingdom with out being caught by Nadia's men it would be a matter of time before they discovered that it was not Maximus. Deep inside his mind he prayed to the gods that his solider would be successful.

Once there they would be able to tell even with out the head one lone scar from a childhood accident would tell them that it was not Maximus. The scar not much but enough to notice if you was looking for it a feint six inch scar on the inside of his right arm close to the armpit only his closest advisers new of it they would defiantly check for it when they inspected the body.

" Yes it will be a grand affair, as he started to chuckle, Maximus was one not to make a big deal over things he was a very modest man for a king. I'm sure it will be a celebration like none have ever seen before Maximus would have wanted it that way a celebration of his life not morning over his death." Standing there before her Maximus did not let on about what would come. It would be a matter of time before an army was raised like none Nadia has ever seen before storming her castle walls. Until then he had to keep his head try to build a false seance of hope that he was changing to be a loyal servant .

Surprised that she did not hold him in a cell but giving him a second chance this made Maximus wonder about her true intentions with him. Maximus looked at Nadia as genuine he could sound , " Thank you my Queen, No I shall not even think of escape I am willing to accept the path that you have chosen for me." The gears inside his head turned as he thought how to get under the skin of his new " Queen" how far could he push her. Now Maximus would play her game to see how far she would go without taking his head.

" Yes it will be a grand affair, as he started to chuckle, Maximus was one not to make a big deal over things he was a very modest man for a king. I'm sure it will be a celebration like none have ever seen before Maximus would have wanted it that way a celebration of his life not morning over his death."

Nadia quirked a brow upwards as his mirth spilled over. She couldn’t figure out why he seemed so pleased about the concept but having no explanation for it she shrugged it off as immaterial. His words next assuring her of his sincerity to change were almost a slap in the face for she knew they were a lie no matter how prettily they were spoken. She ignored that too though, beginning a game of cat and mouse as she decided to play along. Give him enough rope…he would hang himself with it.

She said, “Since you seem to enjoy the outdoors, go there, Wolfgar will give you something to do. Just remember, you have a dinner engagement and I expect you to be clean. I realise you don’t respect me or my station, but you will show respect for the meal and the work that went into it by not appearing for it dressed as a slob.”

With that, she returned her attention pointedly to her paperwork. He was clearly dismissed. When the door finally closed behind him, her breath puffed from her lips in a small sigh. She wondered if she had perhaps bitten off more than she could chew with this one. She hadn’t expected it would be easy, however, she could tell this was going to tax every brain cell she possessed just to stay one step ahead of him.

Deciding on a course of action, she settled into the rest of her day, avoiding the temptation to check up on her newest servant. It was hard though, she wondered what he was doing, how miserable he was making Wolfgar and how he was settling in, now that he seemed to have decided to play along for now. Most of all though she forced herself not to worry about if his newest plan was to try to cut her throat one evening.

That night, she waited in her rooms, her elegant floor length forest green gown accenting her ample charms, her hair drawn up off her slender neck. She waited there for word that her ‘guest’ had arrived. There was no way she would give him the satisfaction of knowing she had waited for hours while he stood her up or something just as silly. While she waited though, she eyed the bowl of fresh fruits and wondered if she would be making a meal of them rather than the suckling pig she knew awaited her through her own stubbornness.

Maximus followed Wolfgar outside The sun felt good on his skin after being locked away in his cell for so long. Maximus did not care what Nadia threw at him, wearing a smile on his face all day no matter what dirty back breaking job Wolfgar ordered him to do. The only words out of Maximus's mouth was " Yes Sir" , The news of his cousins body being taken excited him gave him a new hope.

Later that night returning to his cell the guards gave him a formal change of cloths that would suit dinner with the queen. After bathing himself under the careful supervision of the two guards maximus changed into the new cloths he was provided they smelled brand new fresh from the tailor. Even though they was a bit on the tight side in places they should meet the queens expectations. When he was ready the two guards escorted him to a large dining hall. The candles in the center of the table lighting up the room as maximus gazed at the paintings on the wall.


Still wearing the smile on his face he thought to himself how long should he play the game with the queen before he made his next move. Maximus hoped that her stubbornness would be her downfall wanting to change him mold him into something he was clearly not. Patiently he waited for Nadia as his mind drifted off wondering about his kingdom and what the status of the one who got away was.

A servant informed her when Lucius entered the dining hall and she nodded her brief thanks. She was honestly surprised that he was there and she wondered what his game was. She chose to make him wait a little longer; after all, she was supposed to be the one in charge, not dictated to when her presence was required other than of course, the things whose timing was unavoidable.

Finally, she left her apartments and made her way to the dining hall. She opened the door silently to see him looking at a painting on the wall. While he couldn’t see her face, she half smiled. It was one of the ones she had done, a field scene of men at rest, the machines of war in the background, yet set aside for an afternoons relaxation. It was also one of her favourites. Also, a big reason she said nothing about it.

She slipped silently further into the room but as he was a warrior, she wasn’t surprised that he either heard or sensed her presence for he turned around. Nadia silently took a seat and gestured to one to her immediate left. When he took a seat, she looked at him with a pleasant half smile on her face. If he wanted to pretend to have changed his ways this fast, she would pretend to believe him whole heartedly.

An amused little voice in the back of her mind asked about her acting skills as she asked pleasantly, “How was your first day? I hope Wolfgar wasn’t to hard on you?”

" Nothing I could not handle my Queen", Even thought the work was backbreaking and repeative he did no care it got him out of that cell for the day. Maximus also noticed Wolfgar liked to talk something that maybe he could use to his advantage down the road. Maximus could tell that she was a little nervious around hi
an act ,maybe he thought.

"The painting on the wall it is very good. It captures the warrior spirit very well after a battle. It speaks to me on many levels as a warrior the victory of battle but at the same time the loss of life that is a result of such."

Maximus gazed over Nadia's form it was hard not to stare. Even though he despised her and everything she stood for he was still a man. Looking away so it was not obvious he went back to the game he was playing with her. "How was you day my Queen."

Nothing he couldn’t handle. Yeah, she’d just bet on that…Wolfgar was well known for handing the newest workers the dirtiest, most back breaking jobs, just to see if the workers were able to handle it. There again, he was exceedingly well built, it was possible he hadn’t felt the effects of a full days toil but she doubted he was a s blasé about it as he seemed, not deep down.

It was only because she was eyeing him covertly that she caught what she thought was him looking at her but she dismissed it. It wasn’t as though she was and great beauty, sure she had a flawless complexion and a decent build, but her skin wasn’t as soft as some of her peers, nor was her hair as fine. The list of what she wasn’t was a goodly length and as such she had spent so much time focussing on that, she had overlooked much of what she was. Therefore it was easy to dismiss what may or may not have been him looking at her or at least in her direction.

“How was your day my queen?”

She blinked at him. Her day had been spent in her tower studio working on a new portrait to hang in her ‘gallery’ along the staircase wall, but to admit that would invite ridicule or worse, he might express interest and she would feel obligated to show him and then he might see the fact her newest portrait already looked startlingly similar to himself, for all the fact it was roughed in.

Finally she said, “My day was good, all the usual problems associated with running this place seemed to take a day off for a change. Makes me wonder what troubles tomorrow will bring.” As if she was uncomfortable with talking about herself, she turned the conversation back, determined to remain polite and appear genuinely interested. “So, tell me about yourself. Other than warring, what did you do? Do you have a family that might worry if you are coming back? Anyone special in your life? Children?” Sure, she was fishing for information, but she was unwilling to admit just why as she firmly told herself that it was to find out if a search or rescue party would be organised for him and therefore what she would have to do to the defences to prevent it.