Chapter 16: Snakes (2)
"It has not been one day since we returned, and we are already getting word from the border about trouble," Logan Brett, one of Rafael's knights, said while placing down the letter Rafael gave him to read. "They must have known we'd be back by now to send this. I'm a man who loves fighting, but I want to enjoy a good drink and women for a little while.
Logan looked at Rafael, who did not respond to his words. 'What the hell is he looking at?' He thought as something outside the window was taking up all of Rafael's attention.
"It won't be long before the King wants to send you back out again. They've been trying to control the border for now. Your mother will faint if she hears you have to go back out again," Logan said.
"We won't be leaving soon," Rafael replied.
He squinted his eyes to get a good look at the person walking around in the bushes down below. It couldn't be a thief or enemy since his land was well guarded. When the person turned, he saw their clothing and realized it was a maid. It was a little bit late for a maid to be outside doing chores now. Not even the guards were made to train this late unless Rafael thought they were slacking off.
"That's good to hear. We have a new batch of men who need to be well-trained before ever lifting a sword in a fight, or we'll be bringing back their corpses to their families. I split the men up into groups as you requested, and the training grounds plans have started, so the first competition will start as planned. I did good, right? Rafael," Logan frowned. He didn't do all of this work to not be given a compliment from Rafael.
"What are you looking at?" Logan muttered, standing up and walking to the window to see what was distracting Rafael. "A maid? Is she a secret lover? Of course not," Logan smacked his face since Rafael, of all people, would not have a secret lover. "Did someone hire a maid to spy on us again?"
Rafael continued to watch the maid, who he now knew to be the maid named Annalise. She wasn't putting a good image of herself inside of his head. She seemed to be always doing something to get herself in trouble.
"I hope she doesn't stay down there too long. A few of the men were near there this morning and spotted a few small snakes. We're going to take care of them tomorrow so no one accidentally steps on one of them. Do you want to have the honor of telling her?" Logan asked, as it would be a good conversation starter between Rafael and the maid he could not take his eyes off of.