NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: The Baron
Wrong or right, she was pacing down the halls with this tall guard whose face she couldn't see thanks to the mask that covered half of it.
The only thing she had access to was his ginger hair.
With his hands gripping hers tightly, they were out of the main building in less than fifteen minutes. What looked like a big messy maze to her was very simple for him.
"The gates would be locked. The king is dead," he said as they both tried to catch their breaths.
"For how long?" Iris asked, not bothering to even say a thank you.
The man gave her a long stare, his piercing blue eyes digging into her soul.
"Maybe till they find the killer?" He shrugged his shoulders. Then without a warning, pulled her towards a grassy field that led to thicker bushes.
"Shhh," he said to Iris who was letting out low shrieks everytime they came across cobwebs.
It was dark, but the mam seemed to be very familiar with where he was going.
He led them to an old abandoned sewage, opened the iron like cage, and moved through the dark, small passage.
"Where are you taking me?" Iris asked, feeling self conscious. Now that she was far from the main castle building and away from Master Qin, She had to know why this man was helping her blindly.
"Out of here. Isn't that what you want?" He replied flatly as if he had just helped her with a cup of water and not out of the most Guarded place in Aestheria.
The passage came to an end and they were invited by another thick grassy alley outside the walls.
"We're outside the castle?" Iris exclaimed in what was a mixture of joy and surprise.
"Well, it's a pleasure meeting you, miss with the blonde hair," The man said, walking towards a tree where a brown maned horse stood.
"Why did you help me?" Iris scrunched a brow, as she watched the man mount the horse.
"It's not that personal." he said, taking of his gaurds mask. His face was now in full view and she had to catch her mouth from falling.
God, are all the men in Aestheria's capital so handsome? Too handsome it could be lethal.
From his red hair, to his electrifying blue eyes. Deeper and more colorful than hers.
Beauty.
"Look blondie, I also needed to leave the castle, and you looked like you needed a lot of help. So i helped," He shrugged his shoulders.
Is that a habit of his? Or was he just unbothered?
"Really?" Iris raised a brow, shaking the thoughts of his good looks of her mind.
"Look, not everyone wants something in return when they help," he said, then slowly started leading his horse towards the sloppy parts of the mountain.
"Thank you so much, uhmm…" Iris yelled from behind him.
He turned, gave her a small smile, then said, "Mateo." he laughed. "And you are welcome, blondie," His horse was almost out of view.
Iris watched as the ma ln ride down the woody hills.
"Shit," she turned to look at the long castle walls behind her.
She was free from the brothels clutches. But would she be able to make it down this big mountain and to the Baron's house?
It was cold and with the clouds up in the sky, chances of rain was quite high.
She dragged her feets as fast as she could towards the direction Matteo went. If he was leaving the castle, that meant it was the right way.
"Hey," A voice disrupted her thoughts.
"Matteo?" she raised her head to look if it was really him.
"You're back," she said, shocked that she didn't notice his return.
"Well, It seems you still need help," he stretched an arm.
She stared at him for a split second, not knowing what to think of his kindness.
The intentions he might have.
"Uhmm," She squeezed her palms.
Staring between the castle, the long path down the mountain, and the cloudy sky, Matteo was yet again her best option.
"We don't have all night, blondie," He gruffed.
She took his hands and he helped her climb the horse.
"Hold on tight," he said and she did just that, wrapping her hands firmly around his
hard, rigid, muscly body.
"Where is it that you said you were going to?" he yelled through the sound of wind swishing and filling their ears as the horse galloped with speed down the rocky hills.
"The Baron's house," Iris answered with the same pitch.
"This is the capital. There are over 20 barons. You need to be more specific," Matteo said.
Squeezing her eyes tightly, she tried to remember the name her grandmother had scribbled on that paper.
'Hencler?'
No, that's Dominic's name.
She shook her head at the shiver that the memory of the name caused.
"Lord Andros!" The words came out desperately.
"Hmm, Lucky you, it isn't that far." He said, speeding up.
Soon, they were down the hills and in the main city.
Life looked normal there. Commoners going about their normal nighttime routine.
The news of the king's death hasn't reached there -if he actually is dead.
The drama back there reminded her of one thing, one person.
With an aura that makes time freeze.
That makes her breathing pause.
"If I may ask, what business do you have with Lord Andros?" Matteo said, slowing the horse down.
"Uhhh," Was theonly sound her lips could utter.
She can't explain this without giving a highlight if her life.
"Just an important visit," She said.
He shook his head.
"Well, we are here," He pointed at the walls of the Manor.
It was big. Nothing extraordinary, and definitely not as big as her home in Taff Hills.
"What do you want," An annoyed voice echoed from the other side of the fence.
The only thing they could see were his eyes which scannned her bare skin hungrily.
She needed to get out of that dress. As soon as possible.
"I'll like to meet with lord Andros," Iris said
with spoke.
The man scanned her body with lustful eyes.
She stared at Matteo who looked like he was trykng hard to stop himself from jumping up to the tower and hitting the man.
That made her note the facf that he didn't stare at her with those type of eyes through out the journey.
She gulped as the man's stare intensified.
"Lord Andros does not deal with street sluts." The man spat. "Get out!"
Her face burned red and she tried to steady her feet. Matteo's hands held her, stopping her from falling.
"I am not a slut!sehhe daid, slmost screaming.
"I am Iris Thorvald, the lady of Taff hills, and I demand to meet Lord Andros," She said.
The man stared at her one more time, before laughing hysterically.
"The lady of Taff Hills, Dressed like that?" He said in betweeen laughs.
"Look, you can't get to my Master's bed, but mine is wildy open!" he grinned.
"One more word and I promise to cut that filthy tongue," Matteo finally broke his silence as he pulled out a sword.
Something flashed in the guards eyes. Anger perhaps.
He was definitely going to throw them out. But the appearance if a carraige towards the walls stopped all the drama..