"Go into the King's bedchamber now," said the lady Keeper of the King's Chamber. "Do what I told you and you will have little to worry about. Sometimes he has drunk too much and he falls asleep, but sometimes he is full of passion! He can be quite forceful at times. Just accept him with good grace and you will be alright. Whatever you do you must obey him!" There was a clear warning in her voice.
"Where's the wench?" said the King in a booming voice. The Chamberlady held the door open for her. There was no choice but to go in to the lion's den. She went into a well furnished hostel room.
Some of Guthelm's Generals were coming out as she went in, unkempt, warlike, mean looking men, who looked as if they could order massacres without any pangs of conscience. Now the business of war was over for the night and it was time for the King to relax. He had been feasting and drinking already with his battle hardened servants of war.
Having sat in a room with some of the King's other women and his chamber servants she knew the King liked his ladies. She also knew that he had plenty of them, that he discarded many and liked fresh ones. The women here were mostly the battle followers, not the wives and concubines he kept at home in Grumandria. This made her even more frightened, scared of the dislike of her new master and of the competition. Although she hated this King already for the death of her father and the ruin of her city she was obliged to try to please this monster for the sake of her existence in his 'court'.
As she stumbled nervously into his room, Guthelm lumbered towards her, inspecting her immediately with a casual interest. "So you're the wench from the councillor's family? You're a good looking wench! I can see Valdark was right. He promised he would select the best for me and he has." She sensed immediately that the cruel King was drunk, which did little to ease her growing senses of fear and repugnance.
"What's your name girl?"
"Remzain," she reminded him, tongue tied before this beast of a King, whose reputation she had heard even before this unexpected conquest.
It was evident to Remzain that Guthelm was not as impressive as he might once have been. The paunch from too many rich meals, washed down with too much wine or beer had taken its toll on the King's girth. He seemed to wheeze as well, suggesting he could no longer be the unbeatable warrior his fearsome reputation spoke of.
"You're going to lie down for me wench, and let me take a good look at you. Take that dress off!"
She wanted to ask, 'Now?', but this was the fearsome barbarian King. This man was used to being obeyed and his violence was unpredictable. She did not dare to question him. His intent was clear. She found she had no words to say.