The Gift (Closed)

[a_libertine]

Valero finished with the rough plan of what to do with the lands around the Cold Mansion and Ferdinand's role in those plans, however long or brief that time may be.

As Isolla returned, Valero took his goblet of wine from her. Ferdinand took his goblet and with a grin downed his wine and put it on the table. He sauntered off leaving the King and his new play toy alone.

Valero sipped at his wine, "You have something to say?"

 

[island_girl]

Isolla realized that she had done a poor job of controlling the expressions on her face as Valero questioned her. “I hav-“ she started to say but then remembered that Valero had already made her situation clear to her very forcefully. Any reply she made would only serve to provoke him. “I don’t believe it is my place to say anything.” Isolla answered as neutrally as possible.

 

[a_libertine]

Valero affirmed her conclusion, "Correct it is not."

He stood, then headed back into the palace with, "Follow me. "

He went through the main hall where they had been previously and turned into a main passage. Servants and minor nobles cleared a path for them as they walked by. He could sense that Isolla was making quite an impression as most of the men gawked at her as she went by.

He arrived at an office and breezed in with a "Carry on."

He walked up to the farthest desk and checked his calendar. Nodding he looked at the woman sitting behind the desk, "find accommodations for this one. Not elegant, and not too far from my suite. She needs to be able to serve me as needed."

 

[island_girl]

Isolla blushed furiously as she followed the king through the main passageway, incredibly aware of how naked she was as various servants ad courtiers gaped at her. Despite rumors to the contrary, women walking around the palaces of Curawn was not a common sight. Isolla felt glad that she was not recognized. They finally came to an office and at Valero’s instructions the woman walked Isolla through the palace, taking mostly the smaller servants passageways until they arrived at the small room. Barely a dozen paces long and half that in width, it was sparsely furnished; a small bed in one corner, with a bronze wash stand opposite and a wooden wardrobe. A small slit in the wall opposite the bed let some sunshine and a cool breeze in. The woman closed the door behind her as she left and Isolla heard the sound of the lock being fastened. Isolla turned around in her new home. The first thing she did was check the wardrobe for clothes but it was empty. The bed was hard and scratchy.

Isolla cleaned herself at the wash stand, wiping away the sweat and dirt from the day’s events. A short while later a servant brought her some food, all the while ignoring her requests for some clothes to wear, even a blanket. Isolla sat in the bed waiting for what Valero had in mind for her as the sky slowly darkened outside.

 

[a_libertine]

Valero spent the rest of the day in meeting after meeting, discussing one thing after another, some of great importance, others of so little it may as well be none. Regardless of the relative worth of each conversation, the participants were all worth the time and effort necessary to placate them if need be.

The day wound down with a state dinner commemorating the treaty. The dinner was stuffy, painfully boring, and far too long for sanity to stay in place. The one entertaining part of the night was when the ambassador of Zena asked about Isolla and Valero said, "She is caught up in her own situation."

It was after sunset when Valero climbed the tower steps toward his rooms, and as importantly, the small room where Isolla was being kept. He opened the door to her room and saw her sitting on the bed. "Follow me," he said.

Turning on his heel, Valero went the final flight of stairs to his chambers. There he instructed his man servant, "Get her a bowl of something light to eat."

He turned and looked at her, his eyes taking in her entire lush body. He licked his lips unconsciously and asked, "What have you discovered about your predicament, with your hours of solitude?"

 

[island_girl]

Valero led her to his chambers; a large and opulent room with expensive paintings and tapestries. Gilded furniture stood around the room. “Nothing.” Isolla replied to his question. “You left me alone in a empty room.”

 

[a_libertine]

Valero looked at her in shocked disbelief. "Yes, the room was empty. Yes the door was locked. That time was designed for you to think about what got you into the position you found yourself in."

He pivoted with a heavy sigh. "That then was a waste of an afternoon."

He turned back, his eyes burning, "Why do you think you ended there? Why did your beloved King give you to me? To seal a treaty?"