Ryder looked sadly at his maid, Rylee, he could tell that she was tired and stressed about the one friend that they couldn’t find. Rylee was spending a lot of time with her daughter, she had obviously missed her very much.

He had not told his father about how he was adopting the little girl into his possession, his father would get angry but Ryder knew that his dad wouldn’t notice unless he was told anyways. The man, Merrick, had kept to himself quite a bit, the twins Robyn and Rylan seemed to have grown attached, they always loved to play with him and the man didn’t mind, he didn’t have much to do anyways.

Ryder didn’t know what he was going to do, Merrick wouldn’t want to just become a Ricoinian and live here yet he didn’t have anywhere to go and Ryder knew that his father would not allow him to stay at the palace once he found out. Rylee sat at the small lake with her daughter watching the twins play in the shallows.

Tyra was still very shy, she had barely spoken to anyone but her, Ryder was trying very hard to win her over. He got up and sat beside Rylee, the girl looked up and him shyly and gave him a small smile, it was progress.

Meanwhile

Raid was awoken from his light sleep to his door opening and closing, he peeked out from under the blankets to see his maid come in and approach his bed. He stretched lazily and sat up in his bed. The girl set the food on the short table beside his bed, took a step back and stood as if waiting for an order.

He smiled at her, Kathryn must have told her that he liked his breakfast as soon as he woke up. She has made hot cereal that was still steaming, along side it honey, milk, and jam, also some sausage, eggs, and toast. He had already grown attached to her cooking, she cooked good wholesome meals, not small petite gourmet meals like he had been forced to eat every so often.

He thanked her for the meal and gestured for her to sit, she had been on her feet since before the sun rose, she must be growing a little tired. “What time is it?” he mumbled, still tired.

She looked up, oh yeah, he remembered that she couldn’t talk. She stood, he thought for a moment that he had offended her. She went across the room and threw back the curtains. He squinted as sunlight flooded into the room, the sun was already high, it was almost noon.

He sat up in his bed, how had he slept so long and still be tired. He ate most of his breakfast and then got to work. He looked at his notes he had written down after questioning Rylee and typed up a flyer with her description and such, he looked up at the girl who was now gazing out the window.

“I don’t have anything for you to do, you can go outside and roam around if you like.”

She turned around and gave his a questioning look, like she didn’t believe him.

He clicked a button and papers started shooting out of the printer, he printed off an inch thick stack. “Here, just take these to Stoker, he should be in the guard tower, do you know where that is?”

She nodded.

He scribbled a note on a small piece of paper and set it on top. “Give him the note and then you’re free to look around the palace grounds, if I need you I will send for you.”

She nodded and took the stack of paper. She hesitated, making sure he wouldn’t change his mind before walking out the door. She hugged the papers to her chest and held the note between her fingers, she kept her head down and walked quickly towards the guard tower. She turned a corner and bumped into a larger body, she stumbled back and scurried out of the way, keeping her head down.

“My pardon, I didn’t see you there. Are you alright?”

She glanced up once, the man bore a striking resemblance to Raid, he might be his brother, that meant that he was royalty, she bowed deeply and edged around him, she bowed again and started walking quickly. She climbed the stairs up to the guard tower. She knocked on the door and heard an impatient muffled“Enter” come from behind the door.

She pushed open the heavy door, the room was dark except for a lamp on a desk, there was a large man sitting behind the desk looking frustrated. She remained near the door, waiting for him to grant her permission to come forward.

“Well, what do you want, don’t hide in the shadows, come where I can see you.”

She came out of the shadows to where the lamp light hit her and he rose. “Oh, my apologies, I didn’t not know you where a lady. How might I help you?”

She set the papers down on the desk in front of him and held the note out for him.

“Not much of a talker eh?” he asked as he took the note and read it. “Alright, you are dismissed.”

She bowed deeply and retreated out the door, shutting it quietly behind her. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, he had said that she could roam around outside, but she felt like she should be doing working, cleaning for him or something. She strolled around for a little bit, debating what to do.

“hey there.”

She looked up, there was a man, 4 of them actually ambling towards her.

“Whats a pretty little thing like you doing our here all by yourself?”

She sensed that they didn’t want to just talk, she backed away but they surrounded her quickly.

“What’s your name babe?”

She tried to run past him but he grabbed her and shoved her into the arms of one of his friends.

“Now where do you think your going?”

She struggled but he held her firm, the man grabbed her face in a punishing grip and brought his face close to hers.

“Hey!”

The man jerked back and they all looked up to see Stoker

“What the hell is going on here?”

“Nothing sir, just having a little fun.”

“Where are you supposed to be?”

“Ugh, training sir.”

“I suggest you get there pretty damn quick.”

The man scowled but new better then to challenge the captain of the guard’s authority. The man released her and they walked away.

“You alright?”

She nodded and rubbed her arms, she was probably going to have bruises.

“You run along back to Raid before you end up in anymore trouble.”

She nodded and bowed to him before turning and hurrying back into the main palace. When she entered Raid’s chambers, he was at his desk, still sifting through papers, and thick record books.

He glanced up at her, “Didn’t feel like wandering outside?”

She shook her head.

“Well, I don’t have anything for you to do, I’m busy.”

She nodded, he was hunched over looking stiff and tired.

She knew exactly what he needed, she went into a connecting room, she ascended the two steps to the large, bath, that was more like a small pool and ran some hot water, steaming but not scalding. She added salts and some potions that she found on a shelf to make the bath relaxing. When the tub was full she turned off the water and tested it with a finger, perfect.

She entered back into the other room and crossed to Raid. She took the thick record book and pen out of his hand and set the down on the table.

“What are you doing?”

She curtsied and then took her his hand, urging him to get up.

“Look, I have work to do.”

She went behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, massaging slowly.

He moaned and slumped in his chair, she took his hand again and led him to the other room.

When he saw the bath he sighed, “I guess I could take a little break.”

She unbuttoned and pulled off his shirt, all of his muscles were tense, she didn’t know what he was so stressed about but she wanted to help him get some relaxing time. She opened his belt buckle and pulled it off, she undid his pants and started to pull them off but his hands stopped her, “I’ll take it from here sweetheart.”

She curtsied and stepped back. He finished undressing and then stepped into the pool. He signed and reclined in the tub, resting his stiff neck on the padded edge. He closed his eyes and just let the hot water sooth his body. He felt hands on his shoulders and jumped, “Dammit girl, don’t sneak up on me like that.”

She gave him a worried look and slowly slid her hands back to his shoulders. She gently massaged them, then moved to his neck, and then his arms. She tried to work knots out of his chest but it was proving difficult, she had to hang half way into the tub.

“Just get in the tub honey.”

She didn’t know if she wanted to do that...but if he was going to do something with her, he would have done it already right?

She pulled off most of her clothes, leaving her undergarments on, she put on foot in the water.

“I don’t think so, you could use a bath too, take it all off, don’t worry about it baby, it ain’t nuthin I haven’t seen before.”

She swallowed and obediently pulled off the rest of her clothes. She slid into the tub, his hands positioned her so that she was straddling him. It was getting a little to intimate for her comfort, but she had no choice.

Her hands worked on his chest, the muscles slowly relaxed beneath her fingers. She worked her way down, sliding backwards massaging his powerful legs all the way down to his feet before coming back up.

“You’re good at that.” She nodded. She placed both hands on his shoulders and pushed down gently, he took her hint and slid his head under the water for a moment and then surfaced.

She lathered her hands with soap and scrubbed his hair. She submerged him against and quickly rinsed out his hair before he came back up.

She then lathered a wash cloth and started washing his body, also massaging gently to keep the muscles loose. When she was done he pulled her back up and pulled her body up alongside his.

“Good lord girl, I don’t know your name but I think you must be an angel.”

He lay there for a moment, with on arm around here, it was peaceful, but then it was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Raid called out irritably.

“Your brother.”

Raid mumbled a curse and rose; he wrapped a white towel around his waist. He looked at the girl still in his tub, “You get clean, then come to my bed chamber.”

She nodded and he smiled at her, he couldn’t help it, she was so innocent.

hey, I know its been forever and no one thought I was going to ever update, but I did, I hope you like it, now that school is out I have more time but I’m gonna start work, if you like it, or want me to keep writing PLEASE review, I’d like to know what your think, I need responses.