Fin stared at the man in front of him blankly, something he expected the newcomer to bristle about given his far warmer reception from the ennobled Ladies.

To the cook’s surprise however, Reese Flint didn’t seem to mind at all.

The Bard pulled up a chair and seated himself in front of Fin, ignoring the mess of innards on the table, and turned his gaze expectantly to the redhead.

“What is it you’re here for?” Fin was more confused than annoyed at that point, but then again it never took him long to make the journey to the other emotion.

“Stories, Mr. Ashowan. A good Bard and Minstrel endears himself to the community to learn their stories. Their passions, their sorrows, their… lives. We then try to encapsulate it through the most noblest of art forms; music.” Reese placed his hand on his chest and gave a small bow from his seat while giving a flourished wrist motion.

“You come here… when I am trying to cook for hundreds of people… to ask me to tell you… stories?” Fin’s expression was unreadable, but the young man didn’t seem to be phased in the least.

“Of course! You can cook and talk can you not? I see you are an independent fellow who likes his quiet- I noticed all your aides work outdoors. I’ve found though that the quiet ones can be the most interesting at times! I once was bedding a lovely tavern owner who hadn’t spoken more than five syllables the entire evening, and wouldn’t you know it? As soon as I start kissing their-”

Fin cleared his throat loudly as he continued staring in shock at the man before him.

“Right. Not everyone likes the details. Anyway, turns out this tavern owner used to own and run a brothel, but when the girls got too old, this kind person opened a tavern for the girls to work in instead!”

The Bard finished, looking entirely convinced in his reasoning. As he stared at Fin’s stricken expression, the musician decided to continue his persuasive antics to entice the cook to share his inner thoughts.

“Take this gossip about a love triangle between yourself, the King’s assistant, and the aide who works under you for example! That alone is enough fodder for an entire ballad or two. Though, I must tell you, it isn’t nearly as awkward as bedding a witch and a mage at the same time and them only discovering the fact while in the middle of the act. Did you know a witch and a mage are two very different things?! I’ll tell you now in case you ever are in such a situation yourself- they become very violent when you tell them of being ignorant of such a thing.”

Fin debated punting the man out of his kitchen then and there.

“Let me tell you, if you ever get a chance to bed a fire witch? The sayings are true. Fire witch on the streets, brings heat in the sheets.” Reese fanned himself slightly as his eyes drew distant with memory.

Fin blinked. He had never in life ever heard a man be so abundantly open about being a slut. Not while sober anyway…

What was more, was that Reese took obvious delight in the entirety of seducing, sleeping with, and talking about it with the world.

As amusing as the Bard was however, Fin had work to do, and he opened his mouth to tell his guest. Reese on the other hand felt there’d been too many seconds of silence, and so plundered on with his usual reckless abandon.

How was anyone supposed to interject a sentence if all he did was talk?!

“I once had a particularly exciting evening with a Troivackian, and let me tell you, that entire populace in my experience cries more in the throes of passion than a newborn babe.”

Fin’s jaw dropped. He both wanted to hear more and not at the same time. While he was attempting to make up his mind, Reese predictably continued talking.

“I see now that my chatter has encroached on time spent better on getting to know you! So tell me, you tall drink of water, what’s your story?” Reese Flint winked and beamed his most enticing smile yet.

In the seconds that ensued the Bard’s lengthy introduction, Fin finally found himself slowly snapping out of his stupor. Freed from the strange hold Reese had had on his ability to function, he slowly resumed his preparation of the duck on his table.

“I’m a private person, who doesn’t like random people crowding my kitchen.”

While the words were curt, the tone in which they were spoken were hesitant and faint.

“Fair enough! I’ll come back again tomorrow. Don’t you worry Finlay Ashowan, you and I will be thick as thieves in no time. By the way, I loved your sausage.” He said while standing swiftly.

“I beg your pardon?” Fin’s mind went blank.

“You made sausage last night for dinner, and it was just perfection. Just like you.” The man gently wiped his thumb across his lower lip, a movement that Fin wasn’t sure why, but drew his attention immediately.

“Just a thought for you though, have you ever slapped a couple buns over the meat? Pile some good sauce in there and I think you’d have a messy but fulfilling time.”

Fin’s jaw dropped for what felt like the hundredth time that day. His face was frozen between a smile of amusement and shock.

“You’re the professional though, so ignore me if that isn’t how you’d like it.” The Bard then proceeded to all but skip out of the kitchen, leaving in his wake a seriously perturbed cook.

Fin looked down at the floor where Kraken sleepily cracked open a bright green eye.

“He’s going to come back everyday until I talk more with him isn’t he?”

‘Unless it isn’t really talking he’s interested in…’ Fin thought to himself briefly before shaking his head and the thought free of the confines of his skull.

Kraken gave a large yawn and resumed his slumber, leaving Fin sighing and continuing his preparation for dinner alone. Never in the witch’s life had he been so at a loss for words for such a prolonged period of time, but then again, he’d never met a man like Reese Flint before.

***

Fin stood awkwardly in his cottage in the presence of the King and Annika after having received a discreet message from Mr. Howard. The shutters were closed, the fire dwindled down to embers as the summer heat weighed down every breath, but the witch had lit enough candles that the room was cast in a bright glow.

Annika stood to his left, her hands clasped in front of her, and the subtlest of frowns on her face as the King stared levelly at the both of them from his seated position at the table with his back to the fireplace. Annika was clad in a plain black dress, and had worn black leather gloves for the clandestine meeting. With their cloaks on during the cloudy night, the noble duo were nearly fully invisible.

The redhead hadn’t a clue as to why he was there, and sincerely hoped no one had caught wind of their kiss earlier that week.

“Thank you for allowing us in your home Mr. Ashowan. It would’ve been too obvious if I had summoned you to the council room, and it would’ve placed Lady Jenoure in an even more awkward position with the suitors present in the castle.”

Fin gave a brief nod as he tried to ignore the aggressive tingling in his body at Annika’s close proximity.

“Forgive me, the two of you have met yes?” The King began sternly.

Fin tried his hardest not to let out an audible sigh of relief mixed with a laugh.

It was then he made the mistake of looking at Annika to share in the glad tidings of not being discovered. She had in fact looked to him as well, and the moment their gazes locked, it was as though every drop of blood in Fin was pulled to her.

“Yes your highness. We have met.” Annika replied, swiftly returning her cool gaze to the monarch.

“Excellent. I have summoned you both here in light of a few pressing issues as of late.” The King stood, his hands clasped behind his back as he strolled in front of the two in front of him.

“It has come to my attention that Lord Piereva is suspicious of you, Mr. Ashowan. He has assigned a man to patrol by your kitchen every hour and report what he sees. Is there a reason for this?”

Fin felt his spine stiffen, and while he sensed out of the corner of his eye a shift in Annika’s stance to peer at him, he didn’t dare look at her again.

“I believe for some reason Lord Piereva learned that my father is the current Chief of Military for Troivack.” Fin explained, bracing himself for the follow up questions that would have to undoubtedly follow.

To his immense surprise, none took place.

The King frowned deeply as he nodded to himself while continuing to study Fin closely.

“I see. That is problematic indeed… they will most likely assume you are a spy. Or at the very least try to recruit you.” The noble reasoned while he leaned against the table behind him and crossed one leg over the other.

“Your highness, why is it you have called for my presence?” Lady Jenoure bowed her head demurely and almost made Fin roll his eyes at the sight.

“Annika you have a unique advantage in that you have a maid who is under the employ of your brother reporting to him. A maid that could report… false information should you allow it.” The King began slowly.

“Yes your highness?” Annika asked after sending a darting glance at Fin. It was odd that the King was bringing up her espionage activities when he claimed to have no knowledge of the depth of relationship between herself and Fin.

“I want you to continue feeding your brother’s belief that Fin is the spy. It will occupy his time, and he will not be able to take action against Mr. Ashowan while under the castle roof.” He explained while watching the two people in front of him carefully.

“Sire, you would like me to be a decoy?” Fin realized, surprised.

“Yes. I understand this puts you in some peril. For that I am sorry, and I can assure you we will do everything we can to keep you safe. However there are concerning reports we’ve received that we need a little more breathing room to examine.” The King explained vaguely, though he did appear apologetic while looking to the witch.

“It should be fine with me. I’m not that interesting of a person anyway.” Fin shrugged.

Both Annika and the King snorted.

When they realized that they both had had the same reaction, the two nobles stared suspiciously at each other.

“Lady Jenoure is there a reason why, when you do not know Mr. Ashowan well, that you found what he said funny?”

Fin knew better than to doubt her ability to lie.

“I know what I’ve heard around the castle. For someone who is allegedly ‘uninteresting’, he has an impressive variety of opinions about him. Some admire him, others hold him in respectful regard, a select few are wary of him. It takes a complicated man to warrant a complicated reputation.” Annika explained wisely, while shooting Fin a look so dirty that he felt he needed to bathe immediately after the meeting.

“-Or it takes a private man with an imaginative staff.” Fin grumbled, quietly.

“A good observation.” The King gave a single slow nod to Annika, pointedly ignoring Fin’s remark. The royal still appeared slightly uneasy, but the explanation had sound reasoning behind it.

“Mr. Ashowan, I want you to write down nonsense with random numbers, and hand them to anyone of import that strolls through your kitchen. An example would be if you wrote; The Dragon has found six eggs, prepare a basket.”

Fin nodded. Simple enough. He could write several in advance to save time.

“I will tell the nobles you are practicing your ability to write and that they are to give their appraisal of your penmanship. It sounds ludicrous enough to draw a great deal of attention to you from Lord Piereva, so be prepared. The noble women of the castle are quite curious about you so they may not think too much on the odd situation.”

Fin had to fight off the urge to cringe at the idea of having to see and deal with multiple nobles in a day.

“I’m sure Mr. Ashowan would relish the opportunity to meet more of our esteemed, titled peers.” Annika sounded genuinely sincere in her comment, and it was Fin’s turn to shoot her a withering look that she ignored wholly.

“Excellent. Annika, I want you to direct the maids attention to the strange goings on- as well as address your notes on Mr. Ashowan’s reputation.”

Lady Jenoure nodded dutifully without a word and at last satisfied, the King straightened, and fixed his gaze on Fin once again.

“Should you feel you are in danger at any time, please let me know by issuing a code to Mr. Howard. Let’s say… ‘The roasts have gone bad’.”

Fin nodded once more, and the King then turned to Annika.

“We will take our leave this evening.”

Gracefully, she strode over to the hook where they had both hung up their black cloaks. She shook her cloak slightly before sweeping it over her shoulders, keeping her gaze downcast the entire time.

Fin struggled to keep his eyes off of her, and failed horribly. Fortunately the King was too preoccupied in donning his own cloak, and failed to observe this obvious show of emotion.

“Have a good evening, Mr. Ashowan.” The leader of the country gave a single solemn nod before opening the door, and stepping out into the night.

“You as well your majesty, and Lady Jenoure.” Fin bowed low, it was the only way he could stop himself from staring at her.

Once the door had closed he stood erect and rubbed the back of his neck while staring at the door.

‘If anything that visit just confirms how ill-matched we’d be. This cottage is all I could offer her.’ Fin looked down as Kraken suddenly brushed against his leg. It was when he looked down to the small animal that he noticed that he had inadvertently been clenching his fists.

Fin managed a tight smile down at Kraken whose pupils were the size of marbles. Black tail swishing, the feline then sauntered over to a small black pile on the floor in front of the door.

Fin frowned as he stepped forward and bent down.

His heart skipped a beat when he recognized what he was looking at then.

It was Annika’s gloves.

The rush of happiness, worry, fear, and excitement burst through him.

She’d dropped them on purpose.

She was going to come back to see him and… and…

‘Then what?’