Micah pushed open the door and held it for Elizabeta; she walked through the door and the group of hushed. The two of them stood before the crowd of servants. “Thank you all gathering out here.” She said looking over the crowd.  “I have called you here because we are needed to get ready for an up coming ceremony. The ceremony will begin at the end of the week.” She said. “I will confirm all rumors.” She said looking at Micah. “Micah and Sarah will be joining Reign and I.” she began. “At the end of the week Micah and Sarah will become like us.” She said looking at everyone.  The crowd cheered and clapped. “I need everyone to work together and get the castle ready for the ceremony.” She said. Everyone cheered again. Elizabeta clapped. “Thank you all again for coming you are dismissed.” She said with a smile. The whole crowd bowed all at once and then they all separated. 

Elizabeta looked at Micah “That was easy.” She said with a giggle. “Done, even before breakfast.” He said.  Elizabeta smiled.  Before I came to find you, I went down to the chef and had him start getting breakfast prepared.  Micah offered his arm to Elizabeta again and they walked over to the rot iron table. And they both sat down.  “If I might Mistress, the last couple of days have seemed very strange.” He said looking at the table. “How so Micah?” she asked. “Well Sarah and I have not been bed side for you and Master Reign in quite some time.” He said.  “Well you and Sarah have been with us for sometime and once in awhile it’s a good idea for you to take a rest and with the up coming events you and Sarah need to rest and not worry about us.” She said putting her hand over Micah’s.  Micah looked up at her and smiled. “Thank you Mistress.” He said smiling back. Elizabeta just nodded and looked at the servants walking into the garden. “It seems our breakfast is here.” She said. Micah nodded and smiled.  The servants sat their breakfast in front of them and they began to eat.

Reign and two servants rode down the dusty road with Sabin running in front of them down to the quiet little village.  As they entered the village they were met by two guards wearing very cheap looking armor.  “State you business.” One of the guards said. “Lord Vaungervale to meet with the Mayor.” Reign said. The two guards looked at each other and then one of them ran off into the village. Reign and the two servants began to ride into the village. “Halt, you must have permission from the Mayor before you can enter.” The lone guard said. Reign dismounted from his horse and walked over to the guard.  “You are rather courageous aren’t you?” Reign said. “Thank…thank you Lord Vaungervale.” He said stammering.  “That wasn’t a complement” Reign said with a growl in his voice.  The guard made an attempt to swallow what was in his mouth, and then he fell to the ground. “Well done M’Lord.” One of the servants said from behind him.  Reign turned around and smiled at bowed to them “Why thank you, that is the first time I have ever made someone faint just but talking to them.” He laughed and mounted his horse and they trotted into the village square where they were met with a group of citizens holding torches and pitchforks.   Reign dismounted from his horse again and handed the reigns to one of the servants. Reign looked around. “You here to greet the Devil?” he asked looking over the crowd.  A lone man stepped out from the crowd.  “We are here to stop you from taking our children.” He said with a very shaky voice.  “You all came out to stop me?” Reign said with a sarcastic tone to voice.  “Yes!” the crowd said together. “I’m impressed you all came out here.” He said. “But you see I will not stop taking at least one of your children, I will not stop coming here until I see that the debt that you owe to Lady Vaungervale is paid.” He said stepping up to the crowd, who all ran back a few steps to keep their distance from him.  Reign just laughed and turned on his heel and walked into the village. “So where should I start?” he asked looking at the rows of houses.  He looked up and down the cobblestone road. “Ahhh I’ll start there.” He said pointing to a white house.  A few gasps came from the crowd causing Reign to turn around and look at them. “Is that a special house?” He asked with a sheepish grin. He then turned back around and started walking to the house and Sabin running in front of him and stopping in front of the house. 

As he made his way down the road Reign heard footsteps behind him, he then stopped and turned around.  When he did he found that half the crowd was running after him. Reign held up his hand, and the two servants rode their horses in front of them and blocked their way.  Reign nodded and finished making his way down the street.   By that time Sabin had made his way back to where Reign was standing and looking up at him.  Sabin gave a bark and sat down and Reign looked down at him.  “You want to do some hunting?”  He asked. Sabin jumped to his feet and started barking wildly. “Ok, ok, ok, take it easy Sabin!” He said laughing. 

 “Let’s go hunting.” He said and they both ran down the cobblestone road.  Once they made it to the white house Reign stopped in front of the door, he knocked and then opened the door held it open so Sabin could go in and then he just walked right in, not bothering to close the door behind him. 

Reign walked up the stairs and opened the first door, empty, he walked out and to the second door, where he was greeted with the barking of a little dog and three children huddled on a single bed in the corner.   Reign stepped over the little barking dog and walked over to the children.  He looked at the middle child and held his hand out to her. “Come with me child.” He cooed, and the girl let go of her siblings and got up on the bed and walked over to where he was standing and took his hand, and when she did she fell into his arms.   Reign nodded and walked out of the room, down the stairs and out the door with Sabin trotting behind him.  Reign then walked over to where the two servants were still seated in their saddles he handed the girl to one of them.  He then walked over to the crowd.  “I have one girl; many of you know who she is.” He said. “I will take her back to my castle and have her checked by my doctor to insure she is still a virgin, if not she will be brought back.” He finished.  “I am going to give you one weeks time to send me another girl to my castle, if I send this girl back you must send to me 2 girls.” He said looking at the crowd. The crowd nodded in unison. “Good.” He said and walked past the crowd and over to his horse and got into the saddle and started towards the village gate, and then he stopped and turned around. “No, you know what, I think I am going to take that back, I think that I will take the second girl tonight, just get it over and done with right now.” He said.  He then turned his horse around and trotted down the road and into a small brink house. He dismounted his horse and he stopped at the door and sniffed the air. He then shook his head and moved onto the house next door. He stopped and smelled the air again, this time he gave a small nod and he walked into the house and up the stairs. Once he made it to the landing at the top he went into the door on the right and walked in on four girls, he then looked at two of them and held out his hands.  “Come with me child.” He said to each of them and two of them got up and walked over to him, and fell into his arms when he touched them.  He then walked downstairs and out of the house. “Let that girl go.” Reign called out to the one servant. “Yes sir.” He said tapping the girl on the forehead and setting her on the ground.  Reign tossed the two girls over the front of his saddle and the got back up into the saddle and looked at Sabin, “lets go home.” He said and started back down the road with Sabin trotting along side him.

Once he had passed the two servants they turned their horses and followed behind Reign and Sabin.   Once they reached the gate the two guards were already standing in front of them. Reign pulled his horse to a stop and looked at the two guards. “I thought that I dealt with you earlier.” He said. He then looked at the two guards smiled and they both ran away into the village. “That was too easy.” He said clicking at his horse and they all went back home.

To Chapter 18