Chapter 5 Masked

After a while of following the prince, they had made it outside to what seemed to be a garden. There were a few small, round, yellow-wood tables with some chairs.

"I hope our tea isn't cold, sorry if the walk was long," the prince apologized as he sat the tray down before pulling out a chair. "Sit?"

Gosling's eyes lingered on him for a moment before she moved over to the chair. Once she sat down he pushed her in some with little effort. His scent gently wafted her way when he had leaned over her before it vanished when he took the seat across from her.

She lifted the tea cup to her lips finally and sipped. It was much cooler now, but she wasn't sure if she liked it. It was invading her senses, making her head hurt in a consistent manner but the pain moved to different areas.

She pinched the side of her head squinting at him. "Why did you want to speak somewhere else?"

She wanted to ask what was in this tea, but she still wasn't sure of this man or place. If a servant overheard her, who knows what may happen. Another reason why she even drank some of this tea, she wondered what would happen if she didn't finish it.

Gosling was so lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the prince answer her question. He sipped his own tea quietly, watching her as she stared at the tea, her fingers grasping her hair.

"Is it too cold now?"

Her head snapped up to his gaze and she nodded. "Yes, sorry. I didn't want to be rude so I was deciding whether to keep drinking it or not."

His face broke out into a grin while he laughed. "No need to stress over tea." He took her cup and poured her tea into his cup. "I'll finish it off, no worries. Also, I assume you want to keep your identity confidential." He glanced around before leaning towards her. "Our servants are usually kind but some do like to gossip. My father on the other hand...isn't so kind."

"Why?"

"Well, he's the king so-"

Her eyes narrowed on him like daggers. "No, why are you helping me?"

The light seeping from him seemed to have begun to fade away if it hadn't already disappeared completely. Gosling couldn't tell if he was afraid or something else.

"I just...sorry." He sat back, straightening up in his seat. "I suppose my actions are strange." He started playing with the handle on the teacup. "I just couldn't leave you out there. I knew if someone from our patrol group found you, you would have been killed or worse."

"What's worse than dying?"

His eyes had darkened. "Plenty of things." He stopped fiddling with the teacup and lifted it to his lips. "But you keep that mindset, it may be your savior."

Her eyes left him and finally focused on their surroundings. The land back there was large, covered with a variety of fruit trees and flowers. But the plots closer to them seemed to be close to dust.

"I thought you said I was safe here."

"You are...if you're masked-"

She whipped around with her eyes blazing. "Masked?"

She watched him grip onto the cup and swallow. "The tea masks your powers from others. The food prepared and my own scent I hoped masked you enough from my father. You possibly would be accepted here...but he may have found you as a threat by first glance. I just want everyone to get to know you first. Well, if you choose to stay."

Gosling was ready to flip the table. But in reality, he possibly had done what was best. Now to think about it, he had drunk the tea as well.

Her hands gripped onto her gown. "Why did you drink it?"

"So we could still detect each other. The tea will last a week, the longest is two. That should be enough time for you to settle somewhere hopefully."

"Why would I want to detect you?"

"If you ever needed help I'm here, you don't seem to trust me much already. Imagine if you couldn't detect my scent-"

"Alright, I guess I understand." She crossed her arms frowning down at the dead area near them.

His eyes followed her gaze and a frown made its way on his face as well. "Sorry my father used to work over here, the view must be unsettling."

"You apologize for him a lot." She looked beyond the lifeless plot that only took a small portion of the land. "Who works on that section?"

"All of us used to, now it's usually-" He stopped himself shaking his head. "We have more valuable things to discuss. Where are you going to go?"

Her eyes darted over to him. "I'm staying here, isn't that obvious?"

He sat there for a moment, staring back at her. His mouth moved a little before finally producing words but still, were jumbled. "I- um correct. I mean yes, that makes sense. I'm sorry for my rude behavior." His face seemed to be showing a red hue as his eyes flew all over the place. Suddenly he was up from his chair and walking back inside. "You should get a tour around the place then."

She blinked for a moment before scrambling to get everything on the tray, before following behind him quickly with the tray in hand.

Somewhere else far away, servants were searching throughout the fortress as Tauren barked out more orders to others. All the guests last night were gone, only remains of drinks and food had shown evidence that there was any celebration. Shards of glass had already been cleaned up and any other messes or hints to an invader.

"Somebody eat this food up and drink the rest of this bowl. The rest can be thrown out!" Tauren growled before fleeing the scene into the hallway.

The servant who had helped Gosling escaped was just about to make a turn, when Tauren bumped into her. She almost fell over as he glared down at her.

"Have you found her?" his voice rumbled.

"N-No sir, but I-"

He put up his hand, making her seal her lips shut. "I don't want to hear any of it. I'll have some of my men look for her. If she can't be found inside she must be outside."

As Tauren stormed off, somewhere else Gosling found herself getting into the same "carriage" thing previously when she first saw the prince. He had called the ride a car, whatever that was. The car had stopped after a while and the prince helped her out of the car. Before them was a pale red-yellow brick building. By length, it seemed tiny but looking up it was quite tall, which almost caused Gosling to fall back.

Once they were inside, she was met by a massive wave of sweetness. She gripped her head gently as a short young man popped out from behind a corner.

"Ah, Prince Dorian, always a pleasure to see you." The man beamed up at him with some flour on his cheek and forehead. When his eyes glanced over at Gosling his face reddened. "Mor-Morning ma'am, how can I help you?"

Dorian returned the smile back at the man. "She's with me, just acquainting her with the community."

The man nodded then focused back on Gosling. "Well you are always free to come, I'll give you something on the house!" He had disappeared before either of the two could stop him.

Dorian turned to her with a little laugh. "I thought this would be the best place to stop just in case if you were hungry or thirsty we could get something. Also, it's very pleasant here."

A new ripe aroma filled her nose. "Have a sweet tooth?"

He grimaced a little. "I meant the people."

"I got you some of my apple pie!"

The man before had popped back up right between them, making Dorian and Gosling jump.

Dorian recovered much quicker than Gosling and shot the man a smile. "It was very sweet of you to get her a whole pie, but I don't mind paying you for it you know."

"Nonsense, you do more than enough." The man waved his free hand at him then he started to move in closer to Dorian. "Besides, let me shoot my shot."

Dorian shook his head laughing but raised his hands up in surrender just as there was an eruption, swinging open a door that seemed to lead to the back.

"Oh, mighty Montague." The man's eyes grew wide before he shoved the pie into Dorian's hands. He darted off into the direction of the mess, disappearing in the puff of white that was flour.

Dorian and Gosling looked at each other before glancing back at the flour that covered the door and part of the walls.

"We should probably-" Dorian was interrupted by another explosion, this time it was red. Gosling shuddered, turning away but with another peek she realized it looked a lot like icing rather than blood. Suddenly, she was gripping her head, a new scent was circling around her now.

"ARES!"