She made that damn noise again.

He raked his fingers through his hair as his nostrils flared on a sharp intake of breath needed to clear the rising tension. She noticed his agitation. She was nothing if not observant and before she could make things worse by inquiring after him he quickly made his excuses and strode from the dining hall.

His children were already tucked safely in their beds but nothing soothed him more than to see the vision of their innocence. With steps made agile and quiet by years spent training his body to be a lethal weapon, he slipped into their rooms and observed their cherished existence.

Assured that they were indeed safe and secure Lethe felt some of the tension melting. But it took only one thought to revive that rush of needling energy: Where in the hell was Leoline?

Somewhere, somehow, on this journey to this new land, their roles had reversed. Here he was bunkered down with the ladies and the children, concerned primarily with sanctuary and protection instead of out scouting and confronting.

And it was because of her.

His steps had carried him through the motions of securing the perimeters. Double-checking the placement of the guards and even scrutinizing the wards. So, of course, as thoughts of the source of his growing agitation nearly consumed him he would discover himself directly confronted with her.

It was a combination of his concern for Leoline, his frustration at being pinned inside, and admittedly his growing lust for his liege's beguiling wife that had him growling, "What?"
And like a gauntlet thrown she accepted the challenge, drawing back her prim little shoulders and prissily responding, "Nothing." Just as short.

The curtness of their exchange brought with it a pinch of remorse. After all, it was not her fault that he was on edge. He sought a reply to diffuse the tension when...

She made that damn noise again.

A tremor rippled the golden skin of the warrior as he constrained the impulses that rode him hard. There was something about Meleigh's annoyed and disdainful little sniff that drove him to consider options that should never even occur to him. As she turned and departed his presence with the arrogance of her aristocratic upbringing it took everything in him not to demonstrate exactly what kind of noises her mouth was better suited to make.

He needed out.

He needed a drink

And he needed a woman.

And they damn well better stay in that order.

She didn't dare wait, for to do so would only risk the opportunity that presented itself. And if she went now while it was still early she could arrive by the afternoon hour. This way there existed no undue risk with the fall of the day into the hours of the unseemly. She knew well the evils that walked the land once the touch of the sun could no longer expose them.

An hour later she was underway with an armed escort. Travian insisted in the place of his lord. The children were safely distracted by the skilled tactics of the nursemaids. Reminded that she needed to look into hiring a teacher she found she could not focus on such mundane things while her heart raced in growing petrification of her boldness.

Caught within her mind's hold she was unaware of her surroundings until they arrived within RHyDin proper. Ordering her escort to a variety of tasks she was able to slip away on her own private mission with no one the wiser.

She easily navigated the busier thoroughfares and was enmeshed in the crowds within seconds. The weather wavered fitfully between rain and sunshine but she paid it no heed. There before her was her intended destination.

She hesitated outside the door to the Inn. A tilt of her head sending the cloak fluttering in slate blue waves about her shoulders and unveiling her platinum hair to the glinting caress of the sun. She'd come this far the lift of her chin seemed to say, the soothing breath perhaps a bit deeper as she sought courage and resolve. One gloved hand firmly pushed the door ajar and she stepped within, blinking at the difference in light.

A small spattering of patrons took little note of her arrival and for this she was thankful. Careful to make no eye contact she ignored the rapid patter of her heartbeat.

Aware that her hesitation was revealing she took but a second to adjust to the interior light. Her riding boots lending her confidence in the assured sound of her step as she made her way toward the bar. Crystalline pale her gaze swept the room curiously.

She was not put off by the lack of a tender. She had done her research and was aware of the oddities of this Inn, at least those commonly accepted as normal. Appearances were everything, and with this in mind she swept past those who conversed hearthside and offered no hint of her discomfort as she boldly stepped behind the bar.

Her boldness deserted her for a moment as she considered the implications of her insanity. A quick glance upward revealed the panic in crystalline pale eyes almost devoid of color so light were they, blue? grey? a shade unseen as she quickly returned to scanning the contents of the bar. There, the ledger just as she'd been promised.

And the others faded to black. Forgotten in that moment as fevered, gloved hands claimed that book and quickly parted its pages to uncover a fearful revelation. She was uncertain if what she wanted was to be right, vindicated and assured of her skills or wrong, safe and protected from danger with the other innocent souls. A tremble gave hint to the answer she discovered within the pages.

Frightened eyes flickered toward the stairs that did indeed lead to a very probable den of sin. Swallowing hard she replaced the ledger and set a coin atop the bar to pay for her trespass. Trembling despite the heat she rushed through the commons and out onto the busy street, her breath a frightened bird trying to escape the confines of her constricted chest.

Unaware of any observations she sent another frightened glance upward to the windows of the second floor of the Inn. Without Leoline there to guide her she was unsure of what to do with her newfound certainty that his most despised foe slept there within the walls of this establishment.

The straining backs of men and women drew a fervent whispered prayer as she aided in the cheering chant that kept the rhythm needed to hoist the stones ever upward.

The walls of Lore Keep were going up. The cathedral tower would house the Shepherds of the People and had been the center of their attention for almost a year now. It took time to build. And even more time to build correctly but as the Estate had grown to a Hamlet and the Hamlet to a Village, Meleigh could not contain the rush of pleasure she felt at the sight of the Abbey's unfolding.

The stream of refugees from the homeworld had trickled to such a slow number that many wondered if it remained wise to keep the portals open, but Meleigh could not shut them down despite the danger that they represented. Armed men and women guarded the gates that had been strategically placed a distance from their newly established Haven.

Roarke, his voice pitching between a deep baritone and a squeaky tenor, hoisted his little sister Evey to his shoulders as he pointed out the straining pulleys, "That counteracts the weight."

As he began a lecture on leverage and fulcrums Meleigh felt a pang for his serious demeanor. She knew how badly he missed his father. She also knew how much his siblings had come to rely upon him in Lachlan's absence.

Whatever had pulled Lachlan and Leoline away from them all, it had better not have been at the bidding of some woman.

Furious with herself for allowing that spurt of jealousy, Meleigh angled her focus upon the plans for the day. Shame pinked her cheeks as she realized she immediately found her thoughts sifting over to Sevier. Despising her hypocrisy she was thankfully diverted by the cheers of her people as the last stone was put into place.

The moments of indecision were no longer lengthy nor did they ever manifest themselves in outward displays before her subjects. It was her duty to see to the salvation of her people and to this duty she remained devoted.

Everything came through her desk. Everything. And yet her desk did not get cluttered. She was rigidly organized and this manifested itself in seeing promptly to matters as soon as they came in and for those that demanded a lengthy stay within her attention she created a place for them in the shelves that lined her office.

Despite her status she required no throne room though her people had built her one. She preferred to do her business in the private sanctuary of her ruthless organization.

There was only one area of her life that was chaotic. And only one area that tangled up her thoughts and sent her spinning into the maelstrom of contradictory impulses.

Sevier...

Even now she stared without seeing at the list of the newest refugees that had come through the Gate. Their names, former statuses, holdings, and skills listed in the perfect manuscript of her loyal Evan.

She needed to focus on their placement. Needed to take note of what stores they brought and what stores they would need. Would they take land? Carve out another homestead or would they become a part of the urban dwellers here within the walled settlement that was fast becoming a populous hub?

It would be peaceful at the cabin. Quiet but for the lap of the lake water and private. None ever disturbed her when she went there, giving her those rare moments. And he would be there. Waiting for her.

The sharp dip in her stomach was accompanied by a fluttering sensation of nervousness. She flushed and found the list she was holding was suddenly needed to fan herself.

She shouldn't go. She knew better.

The door to her chamber was politely rapped upon in the signature knock of her Chamberlain. Bidding him entry she forced herself to focus on whatever business he was bringing to her attention, all the while pulling at the knot of her thoughts on a continuous see-saw of a refrain.

All of the angst was really for naught. For she knew in the end she would go.

She couldn't not.