Adrien left the throne room and found Felix and his Ned once more in the guardroom.
“Well, boy? How went it?” Ned demanded in his gruff tones.
“I am to see her tonight,” Adrien replied, her thoughts still with the exotic beauty who had won her love with but a glance.
“Ah!” cried Ned, as the other guards laughed. “I know that look! She’s stolen your heart, lad, isn’t that the truth of it?”
Adrien sat at the long wooden table and accepted the cup of ale passed to her by a brawny, calloused hand. “I do believe she has, though I’d have sworn before it was not for the taking.” She took a long draught of ale to ease the dryness of her throat.
Ned clapped a hand upon her shoulder. “It’s a rare man who’s not affected by her dark loveliness, true enough,” he told her, with a glance back at Fel
