THE FEUD #1

CHAPTER 4

It's late morning when Emmaline and I surface from our shared suite. Wearing our matching two-piece yoga outfits with our hiking takkies on, we're excitedly discussing where we will hike today. A hike through the forest is one of our favourite things to do with the palace being isolated in the countryside and the wilderness playing in our backyard. We’re heading for the hunting dog’s yard, to fetch the four liver-nosed Ridgebacks, their harnesses in hand. I detest the sport my father so loves to participate in, deeming it cruel to the wild animals that roam in the forests surrounding us. Still, the gorgeous looking dogs know no better and still want to be loved and taken for walks. Shortly before making the exit out into the courtyard that would lead to where the dogs are kept, Ragnar and William appear from around the corner of the passageway, cutting us off. Emmaline immediately appears amused while Ragnar's mood darkens considerately.

“Hello boys.” Emmaline greets cheerfully, her cheeks pink against her pale skin.

I manage a shy smile as my brother throws up the wall of cold indifference – a tendency of his – giving me no real indication of how he really feels about the situation between William and me. If you can call one ill-timed picture a situation.

“Neither of you have seen Axel, have you?” William asks carefully.

I don’t miss the nervous way he glances at Ragnar stoney face, “We have been searching for him.” he finishes.

“Oh, I know!” Emmaline grins – obviously she knows, “His father told the servants to pack his things and that he was leaving with him to their manor house. That was last night already.”

Ragnar shares a common look with William, a shared meaning passing between them that only they understand. An odd sort of surprised expression passes between them. Like a secret message. Like they know something that we don’t. Something important.

“We were clearly unaware.” William plays it off, smiling as if he is embarrassed, “We should have just asked the servants, I don’t know why we didn’t. Thank you for informing us.”

Emmaline nods in agreement, “Yes, why didn’t you?” She wonders aloud.

William again casts nervous eye’s at Ragnar, “Well, we didn’t want to encourage any sort of scandal should he be passed out somewhere or abed with some lady.” He says, turning shy and blushing profusely.

They turned to leave – a little too quickly.

“You seem concerned, why brother of mine?” I smile sweetly, a futile effort I know.

Ragnar sighs like my question has inconvenienced him greatly, “Why would I be concerned about him going home? Novena honestly.” He drawls. “Sometimes I think you don’t use your head.”

I narrow angry eyes at him.

“We should go.” Ragnar says, meeting my eye’s – green fixed on green.

The lingering look sends me into a defensive hype, “Nothing happened!” I blurt out.

William looks as if he could die on the spot as all the blood drains from his face and he casts nervous eyes at Ragnar who looks ready to punch him.

Ragnar looks at me with reproach, “But it doesn’t look good, does it? You need to be more aware of how your actions reflect on our family. You need to be more mature in your decision-making.”

I glare at him, but he’s already turned his attention elsewhere – back to whatever has them both so bothered. I suppose it’s something shared only between their friends group, something both William and Ragnar would know about that is worrying them so greatly. It’s much easier to read William than Ragnar. I feel a thump of excitement as the boys go off on their way.

“They are going somewhere. Something’s wrong with Axel, I can feel it and those two are off to the duke’s manor, I know it.”

Emmaline's eyes flash with her own mischievous excitement, “Are we going to follow them?”

A broad smile spreads across my face while Emmaline smirks at me knowingly.

*

I was right. Oh, I just had a feeling that I would be when Emmaline and I had seen Ragnar taking off with William in one of the palace’s luxury cars. The Bonnesse Manor is a fairly far drive and darkness has already descended upon Smithberg city long before we arrive at its border. Not surprisingly, with Smith erg being a couple hours from our palace on the outskirts of Ladonar. I slow the car we travel in as Ragnar and William come to a silent stop before the Manor, turning their lights off to blend into the cover of darkness. Following their lead, Emmaline and I wait for them to appear from the inside of the car and head for the manor on foot before we park behind their car and quickly rush to keep up. The bright-lit city is never completely dark, a soft orange glow illuminating the area, even through the trees surrounding the manor.

“Oh, this is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to us!” Emmaline whispers excitedly.

“There’s a reason they rushed to Axel’s rescue.” I say soberly, “We know what kind of a father the duke is, maybe he’s even worse behind closed doors.”

Emmaline shrugs, “I can’t imagine another reason for them to drive all this way… I wonder what we will find?” she muses in a way Emmaline usually does.

No lights illuminated the cold looking manor house as we carefully approached. Still the place seemed to be in immaculate condition despite its haunted feel. The house is spread widely and elegantly across the green lawns that beautify its stone features.

“Where’s the guards? Shouldn’t there be security?” I wonder aloud.

Emmaline’s finger points to the far end of the manor, “There they are.” She says while we both watch as the boys attempt to reach a window higher than they could reach.

“Let’s go.”

The guys are attempting to throw their fourth stone at the glass in defeat when we come up behind them, startling them near witless. It's a sight Emmaline and I find truly amusing right up until Ragnar pulls out a gun and points it at my face.

“What the hell Novena!” Ragnar snaps, lowering his weapon as William covers his eyes with his hand in relief at seeing us instead of whoever – clearly someone much worse – he thought was coming up behind them.

Ragnar’s eyes flash in the moonlit evening as he reaches out to grab my arm and force me closer to the house, “Do you have any idea what you are even doing? This isn’t a game!”

I see the effort it takes to keep his voice down.

“And well I know it, Ragnar. I didn’t expect you to drive all this way if it were. If Axel is in some kind of trouble we want to help.” I say, determined to stay and help.

I watch Ragnar racked with indecision as he debates whether to tell me to leave at once before realising I probably wouldn’t turn around and go home after coming all this way, even if he asked nicely.

“We could land up in a great deal of trouble by being here, remember that. And whatever you two see, you keep to yourselves.” He warns.

“Yes yes, so what’s the plan?” Emmaline says, getting to the point of this whole rescue trip.

William finally opens his mouth to draw our attention to the slightly open window above our heads, “That’s Axel’s bedroom, I know from the last time I was here. Maybe we could lift one of you and you could get in… check things out?”

“That’s a horrible idea.” Ragnar says peevishly.

“Alright then, let’s hear your idea?” William asks, making Ragnar narrow his eyes.

I quickly realise that he doesn’t have one. He says nothing.

I smile at William as he raises a black brow at Ragnar before continuing, “Who wants to go?”

“Why not… I’ll do it.”

Ragnar and William link fingers a moment later, creating a step to hoist me up high enough to reach the window and gain entry. They bend down, readying themselves for my weight. I brace myself on their well-formed shoulders, very conscious of the fact that I’m touching William again after last night. I mentally shake myself; William is Ragnar’s friend.

“Be careful Nov.” Ragnar says, using my family nickname.

This really must be important to him. I give him a reassuring smile before they lift me up into the air. I fumble as fast as I can with the window, trying to unhook it and allow the window to swing out further. I stretch my finger through the narrow gap, blindly feeling for something holding the window in place. I feel a cold metal resistance touch my hand and I immediately lift my arm causing it to unlatch. Pulling the window open wide, I attempt to pull myself in through the gap. By the time I finish using the support of Ragnar’ and William’s hands, their arms have begun to shake from the exertion – sweat building even in the light breeze of spring days giving way to autumn nights.

“And here I thought my training at the Three Sisters was a waste of time.” Ragnar grins broadly at Williams' remark.

I climb in off the window’s ledge and into the dark stillness of the room. Moonlight filters in through the rows of glass panes throughout the cold space. Goose bumps rise on my bare arms, perhaps from the cold or the sinister feel of the house. Still, I found myself wishing I had thought to change out of my tight-fitting yoga pants and crop top before chasing my brother across the state. Carefully I move deeper into the wooden floored, bland walled room. Nothing about the room indicates that it belongs to someone. It’s too neat and clean. Plain – like a hotel or guest room. There isn’t a single item that seems to belong to Axel anywhere in this bedroom. I’m about to turn back to the open window and tell the others just that when heavy footsteps approach startle me. I hesitate only a moment to decide whether I should attempt to make it out the window before I drive under the double bed sitting in the centre of the spacious room, my heart jumping only a moment, as I wonder if I’ll fit – I do. Breathing deeply to calm my racing heart, I listen as the door loudly opens.