Reign put the last few touches to what he was wearing. “I’m going to leave him down there for a few more minutes, at least until you are dressed and ready to impress.” Reign said as he walked to the door. Elizabeta nodded and finished getting ready. 

Once both Elizabeta and Sarah were ready they walked into the hallway with Sabin trotting behind them, and Reign had the footman bring the Mayor into the sitting room.  Sarah walked into the sitting room, causing the Mayor to stand up, but just as he was about to sit down Micah opened the large doors “The Lord and Lady Vaungervale” Micah announced and stepped to one side letting Reign and Elizabeta into the room with Sabin in tow.              

The Mayor straightened himself again and cleared his throat and watched Sabin trot in and go and lay down in front of the fireplace.

 Reign and Elizabeta walked over to the two large red overstuffed chairs and they sat down. “Please sit down.” Reign said gesturing to the mayor. “Th…thank you.” The Mayor said. “Now what can we do for you Mayor.” Reign asked leaning back and spreading his arms.  “There are a few things that I wanted to work out with you Lord Vaungervale.” The Mayor said wringing his hands. “Ever well.” Reign said.  The Mayor cleared his throat again and stood up, “First off I want to personally apologize to Lady Vaungervale for the harsh treatment she received from us.” He said and bowed to Elizabeta. Reign looked at Elizabeta, who was just staring at the Mayor; she then stood up and looked at him. “I recognize you apology, but what you did to me is unforgiveable.” She said with a growl in her voice.  Reign took her hand and looked at her, Elizabeta nodded and sat back down, Sabin got up from his place in front of the fireplace and walked over to Elizabeta, he nudged his head into her hand and she started to pet the top of his head.  “Alright after that one Mayor you have 30 seconds to give me one good reason why I should continue talking with you.” Reign said leaning forward in his chair.

The Mayor nodded, and turned in his spot and looked at one of the men standing in the far corner. He nodded and the man walked out the door. A second later the same man walked in the door holding a rope in his hand, he stood off to one side and pulled on the rope. The Mayor stood up and walked over to the man took the rope from him and gave it another rough tug and a skinny red headed girl came stumbling into the room.   Once the girl righted herself the Mayor pulled the girl over to where they were sitting.  The Mayor undid the pull rope leaving the girl’s hand bound. He took the girl’s shoulder and gently pushed her to the floor, and he sat back down on the couch.  “A gift for you, Your Graces.” The Mayor said gesturing to the red head on the floor. “The family gave her up willingly.” He continued.

 “She was checked by the doctor before we came.” He said digging an envelope out of a small pouch hanging off his belt. “The doctor guarantees that this girl is a virgin.” He said handing the letter to Reign.  Reign opened the letter and nodded. “Do you have a name girl?” Reign asked.  The girl shook her head. “No, the family that I served didn’t give me one.” She said. The Mayor kicked the girl, and she jumped. “What did I tell you.” The whispered sharply. The girl yelped and looked at Reign. “No, master, the family that I served did not give me one.” She said and looked at the floor.

Reign nodded and then motioned to the one attendant wearing red and standing near the low hanging painting. The burly attendant walked over to the girl and took her by her bound hands and led her over to painting. He stopped in front of it he put his hand in the large grey circle and the painting disappeared, when the girl saw this she started to whimper and cry.   The man grabbed the girl by the shoulder and pushed her first down the stairs and the man walked behind her.  All while the Mayor watched in horror.  “Do not worry Mayor, she will sleep to death.” Reign said. The Mayor nodded.

“Is there something else you wanted to talk about Mayor?” Reign asked, breaking the Mayor attention away from the painting. The Mayor shook his head and stood up. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me Your Graces, I take my leave.” He said bowing to them, and turned on his heel and walked to the door.

As soon as he was out the door Reign and Elizabeta laughed.  Reign looked at the letter again. “It looked like this girl is only about 10 years old; the doctor has confirmed that she is still a virgin.” He read. “The family she came from was her own but she was a red head and the rest of the family was blonde, so there for she was made to be a servant.” He continued reading.   Reign put the letter on the side table.  “At least the Mayor was able to convince a family to give her up.” Elizabeta said.  Reign nodded and stood up, and walked over to Elizabeta and took her hand and led her to a stand. “I want to dance with you.” Reign said pulling her closer.  Micah walked over to the record player and put the needle on the record.  Reign smiled and took Elizabeta by the waist and started dancing. Elizabeta looked at Micah and nodded. He walked over Sarah and bowed and held out his hand. Sarah curtsied and took his hand they danced with Reign and Elizabeta.  Sabin walked over to the fireplace and laid down watching the two couples dance.  The music waltz out of the record player and the couples waltzed.  Just as the music ended a servant walked into the room, “Lunch is served.”He announced. 

They stopped and they walked out into the garden, with Sabin trotting behind, and they sat down at the rot iron table and the servants started to bustle around serving lunch. One servant brought out what looked like a breakfast tray but he set it on the cobblestone. Sabin walked up to it and sniffed it, another servant came out of the door carrying a covered sliver platter and a large silver bowl, he walked over to the tray and set the bowl and platter on the tray, Sabin wagged his tail and sniffed the cover leaving a nose print on the cover, the servant lifted it and walked back into the castle.  Sabin sniffed at the contents of the platter and then he started to eat. Reign, Elizabeta, Sarah and Micah started eating their lunch2. Quiet conversations were talked about over lunch as they ate.  As they finished their lunch 5 servants came out and waited for them to finish.  Once everyone had finished the servants came in and started taking away the used dishes and took them into the castle to be washed. Micah and Sarah followed them into the castle.

Reign got up from the table and walked over to Elizabeta, “Well now it seems we need to go and get Sabin his own stuff.” He said looking at Sabin. Elizabeta looked at Reign and smiled. “Yes, he is apart of the family now.” She said looking at Sabin who was sitting by and cleaning his pads.  “Sabin come here.” Elizabeta said holding out her hand. Sabin got up and trotted over to her. “It seems his leg is doing a lot better.” She said watching him trot over to her.  Elizabeta knelt down on the cobblestone, “Come here boy.” Sabin came closer, “Here lay down.” She said patting the cobblestone in front of her. Sabin sniffed the cobblestone where her hand had touched and he laid down on his left side. Elizabeta took off the splint and ran her hands over his leg. “Feels like it is completely healed.” She said wrapping the cloth around the two stick.  Elizabeta stood up and looked down at Sabin. “Come on you get up and try walking.” She said but Sabin just laid there his tail thumping on the cobblestone. Elizabeta just giggled at him. “Sabin.” Reign said, and the wolf jumped to his feet and trotted over to him tail wagging. Elizabeta nodded her head, “it’s much better.” She said.

To Chapter 7