All characters in the story are above the age of eighteen.
The King and the Barbarian
"I must have her."
You utter the words without any preceding motivation. Your mother and wife Alisha look up from the documents.
"What do you mean? Whom do you mean?"
"Freika."
"The barbarian woman."
"None other."
"But you cannot have her! She is not one of your subjects, she is a temporary visitor in the kingdom."
"Nevertheless I shall have her."
"Oh, Cumagan, you are the king and yet you must sometimes be told, like a little child, that you will be sick if you stuff yourself with candy."
"Freika would be a rare treat."
"Could be, will not be. My dear son, you can be strong-willed, occasionally, but it is nothing against the stubborn pride of these barbarians. Their small tribes live among the crags in the mountains, coming down into the plains only when they need to get certain necessities. Their independence is their life."
"Have they men that can breed them?"
"I do not know. Even if they were dying they would rather die than ask outsiders for help."
"Perhaps I could persuade her to accept my help."
"How? Cumagan, if you offered her heaps of jewels she would not have you, if you offered her the title and estates of a countess or duchess she would not have you, if you offered to marry her and give her half the kingdom as a wedding gift she would not have you. She is proud."
"That may very well be true. Nevertheless I shall have her. Or at least try."
You leave your mother in the office and go your chambers in order to change clothes. Something affluent, but not royal. A mantle with a hood that can hide your face when suitable to do so. You put jewels in your pockets and hang a pouch with gold coins from your belt, though you greatly dislike the concept of buying a woman instead of her giving herself willingly. On the way to the stables you meet Serna, a captain at the royal guard. Most of her slender body is covered by an armor that is a marvel of jointed metal and chased artwork. But it cannot compare with her rosy skin, straw-colored hair and sparkling sapphire-blue eyes. If you did not have something else on your mind you could have spent a frolicsome moment with her on the hayloft. Serna makes a little bow.
"Your majesty, you seem to be in a hurry. May I be of service?"
"Not now, my dear captain. I am just taking a ride. To Maverham."
Serna wrinkles her brow.
"To the capital? Alone?"
"Yes, if you do not mind."
"I do mind, your majesty. You should have an escort."
"I intended to go incognito."
"Even if you are incognito it is my duty to think about your safety, your majesty. Take at least two guards with you."
"No."
"Then take me."
"Serna..."
"Do you not trust me, your majesty?"
"I would trust you with my life, but..."
"Then it is right that I should follow your majesty and protect your life."
"Very well...You come along...If you also can be incognito."
"As well as your majesty."
Serna quickly finds a purple mantle with a hood. Two horses are saddled and you ride away. You advance speedily through the pleasant weather. The horses pass some peasants with heavily laden carts. At the outskirts of the great city you see mansions with walled gardens. You enter Maverham through the eastern gate, which is placed inside a triumphal arch, at the end of a drawbridge. Serna utters a few words to the guards and then you ride on. Today you do not notice the daring and decorative structures, the graceful and well-dressed women. Something is definitely wrong with you.
You tie the horses outside The sword in the sheath, the rather mediocre inn where Freika is staying during her visit. You suspect that she is not in her room at this time of the day and goes to search her at the market, followed by Serna. The hoods on the mantles are up. You are not sure about their usefulness. The market is lively as usual. Goods from the whole known world are sold here: pearls from Solistra, spices from Jahilir, silk from Chiane. Women are inspecting wares or haggling over prices. Only one person walks through the crowd, seemingly indifferent to the people and valuables around her. Freika. It is not difficult to spot her. It would not even have been difficult to spot her in the confusion on a battlefield. She is tall and erect, not very muscular, but moving with the litheness and calm confidence of a panther. Her eyes also suggests a cat animal, they are very green with a glimmer of gold. Her auburn hair is strictly collected at the back of her head. Around her sculpted neck she carries her only ornament in a thin chain, an emerald as big a thumbnail and as green as her eyes. Contrary to prejudices concerning barbarians she is not wearing furs or rough skins. She is soberly dressed, mostly in brown leather. The sight of her makes your heart beat faster.
"What do you think of her?" you ask Serna
"A competent warrior probably", the captain answers.
"And?"
"Is there more?"
"Are you blind?"
"She is...pretty, perhaps."
"Not pretty, beautiful."
"You want her, your majesty?"
"Would not you want her?"
"Perhaps..."
Freika leisurely leaves the marketplace, unmoved by the offers of the eager merchants, and strolls in the general direction of The sword in the sheath. You make a decision and hurries after her, with Serna at your heels. After a moment you catch up with Freika and steps in front of her. With lightning speed one of her hands goes to the broad knife in her belt. To put her at ease you bow deeply. You hear a disapproving grunt from Serna, but ignores it. Slowly you straighten up and smile towards Freika.
"Oh, beautiful lady from the wild mountains, may a humble traveler ask for a favor?"
She eyes you suspiciously, from head to foot.
"I am not a lady. And humble travelers do not wear such expensive clothes. Neither do I have the habit of granting favors to strangers."
"But you to not deny your beauty? That would be supreme foolishness, a lie of gigantic proportions."
Freika smiles, slightly and disdainfully. She relaxes and remove her hand from the knife.
"The foolishness lies with the young nobles believing that I am a courtesan. Are you one of those?"
"Young, yes. Noble, perhaps. Is the love of beauty foolishness?"
"Beauty is secondary to strength."
"You have both, in great supply. To caress you must be like caressing one of the large and supple beasts in the jungle..."
You stretch out a hand towards Freika. With the same lightning speed she touched her knife she grips you around the wrist. She does not squeeze hard and yet the strength is undeniable. In your mind you envision the rest of her body, how her unclothed beauty and strength would affect you...
"Do not hurt the king!"
The cry comes from Serna. A rustle of metal and she holds out her sword, its sharp point almost resting against the throat of Freika. The barbarian look at the captain, eyes of emerald meeting eyes of sapphire. Then she releases your wrist.
"The king?" asks Freika warily.
"Yes, I happen to be Cumagan the fourth. By accident of birth, not my own fault", you say, trying to sound disarmingly frivolous.
You put a hand on Serna's arm, making her lower the sword. Grudgingly Serna returns the weapon to its scabbard.
"I apologize for captain Serna. She has my wellbeing at heart."
"She should apologize", mutters Serna, "If she had any sense, she would be on her knees, begging for mercy."
"I never apologize when I am right. To a king or anyone else", Freika states calmly, "And I have the right to defend myself if someone raises their hand against me."
"I did not intend to strike. Only to caress."
"I am not a cat."
"Not a tame cat, assuredly."
"Do you intend to tame me, king Cumagan?"
"No...Not unless you would like me to do that, magnificent Freika."
Freika smiles again, still condescending, but a bit friendlier. She crosses her arms over her chest.
"If you want to spar with me, king, I can get a sword and meet you in battle wherever and whenever you wish."
"Oh, don't tell me that you will only give yourself to someone that can defeat you in combat. I do not need to exchange sword blows with you to know that you are the superior fighter. And I can accept that, because I do not wish to fight with you."
"Then you are a weak king."
"Perhaps weak in some things. Weak when it comes to good food, comfortable living and beautiful women. But not weak in performing my duties...or seeking what I desire."
"Your desires matters little to me. Almost not at all."
"Hold back your insolent tongue!" snarls Serna.
"Please, Serna. If I want her to hold something back, it is not her tongue."
Freika bursts out in laughter. It sounds wonderful and makes you smile.
"Neither do I want you hold back your laughter, heroine from the misty heights."
"Well, Cumagan, you have my attention. What do you want?"
"Perhaps we could talk about it in a more secluded place..."
"As you wish...Follow me."