Corriane walked out of the caves, happily walking towards her chambers. The chit would be sleeping for sometime. She could go for a bath or mayhap she could have her hair styled again. She was in such high spirits. Nothing could dampen her mood today.
One of the bloody men could walk about and she would not be angered by their presence. Today was a good day indeed. Life was at last smiling upon her, as it should! She had seen much too much grief for her life.
A small smile occupied her lips as her skirts trailed behind her. She wanted to laugh, but a lady never laughed, only smiled. She felt giddy, ecstatic. Her day could only increase in it's goodness. Everything was wonderful, beautiful.
Corriane walked inside her chambers, smiling widely when she noticed the warm bath water which had been prepared for her. A hot bath would be wonderful! Quickly, she removed her clothing and stepped into the bath, her head resting against the tub. Just as she was about to close her eyes, the door to her chambers opened, allowing Fredrick entry. Even his intruding did not damper her spirits. In fact, she welcomed it.
"Would you like to join?" Corriane questioned lazily as she smiled up at him. She actually wanted him to join her, and not because she needed something. No, she wanted to reward him. He had been exceptionally helpful. It had been her mind, but he had been a puppet to her plans. He deserved some sort of reward. Fortunately, men were not so hard to please.
"Mayhap another time. Where is the chit?" Fredrick questioned as his gaze raked over her nude form.
"Passed out in the dungeons." Corriane answered haughtily. She hadn't even been able to reap her full pleasure and the bint had lost consciousness. What good was she? Nevertheless, she would get her chance soon enough.
Something in Fredrick's eyes flashed.
"Why is she unconscious. She is nay to be injured." Fredrick growled.
Corriane looked at Fredrick, her earlier high gone. The insolent man! How dare he side with that wench! He should be asking her how she was feeling, instead he cared about her! How dare he! Corriane was boiling with fury.
"I see no reason why you are so upset. If you want to fuck her, wait until she awakens." Corriane said tartly. She despised the male kind. They were all the same. They all deserved to rot in hell.
"What did you do to her?"
"I castigated her." Corriane said nonchalantly, scrubbing her arms of filth. In doing so, she was able to successfully hide the shaking of her arm, or the slight quiver to her body. She felt angry and betrayed, but she would never let him know. No man would ever have power over her again. They were treacherous, thinking with only their pricks; nothing else mattered to them.
"How?" Fredrick ground out. If anything had happened to the lady....Fredrick would have Corriane's head.
Corriane rolled her eyes but ground out, "I scourged her."
"Ye wench! Why would ye do such a thing!" Fredrick hissed as he began to pace in front of the tub. Corriane's earlier ecstasy completely diminished. Instead, it was replaced with a burning anger which coursed through her veins, nearly scalding her.
"I had no knowledge of your affection's towards the girl." Corriane said scathingly. She was sick and tired of men, tired of their games.
"I have no affection for the wench. If I am to best laird Knight, I need her healthy. Not to mention the advantage I could have over laird Rivers."
"Do not worry of Tristan, he is mine to deal with. I suggest you deal with lord Rivers. That is, unless, you wish to be bested by him once again." Corriane said, a wicked smirk occupying her lips. She knew she had struck a nerve. Fredrick's blotched, red face was sign enough. The prick deserved it, treating her as if she were an errant child.
"Worry not of my relations with Rivers, instead, worry of what Knight shall do to you once he learns the state of his beloved." Fredrick snarled.
Corriane smiled a smile which was void of all happiness, or mirth. It was a cold, bone chilling smile. Once which spoke of maliciousness, or perhaps grief, rather than happiness.
"I intend for him to find out. He shall not know of our location for at least a months time." Corriane said coldly as she raised herself from the tub and began to dry herself. Unperturbed by the venom in Fredrick's words.
"Doona underestimate yer opponent."
Corriane stayed silent, opting to dress herself. Once that task was complete, she went to the corner of the chamber and began to reapply linen to her scarred arm. Another remind of the hell which was her life, of what was taken away from her.
"Did ye hear me?"
"Aye, I heard you. What you do not seem to understand is that I know Tristan as you know not. There is no such thing as underestimating." Corriane snapped as she finished her bandages and began on her hair.
"How exactly do ye know of Tristan?"
"That, is not for you to know." Corriane said coldly. She was fed up with Fredrick's interference. It was through her he even had an upper hand on Tristan. If it weren't for, Fredrick would still have his tail in between his legs. Not only had she gotten Tristan, but lord Rivers and the daughter of lord Dracmore as well. Two birds with one stone. And yet, he treated her as if she were the fool! She would end him soon enough. The men would obey her, she had no need of him.
"Where are ye going?" Fredrick snarled as Corraine made a move to leave her chambers.
"I need to go see the state of my guest." Corriane said as she stared at him boldly in the eye. She would not cower in front of him.
"I shall come with you."
"I think not." Corriane said as she clutched the vial in her hand, it was time.
Fredrick watched with narrowed eyes as Corraine walked passed him and towards the door, the chit was beginning to get on his nerves.
Corraine walked calmly, her head held high, towards the lower part of the caves, knowing its twists and turns by heart. Not a single torch occupied the stone walls to give light to the passages, but she cared not. The less people knew of its location, the less chance for the wench to escape. She wanted to tear Fredrick from limb to limb. Sadly, she was still in need of him. But she knew a certain lord who would gladly see to the task for her.
Corriane entered the cave in which she kept Sapphire, the light casting an eerie look upon her too pale face. The bint was awake.
"You are stronger than I had thought. How long have you been awake for?"
Sapphire remained silent, watching Corriane with cautious eyes. Sapphire did not miss the way the she clutched the vial in her hand, she prayed her plan worked.
"You have finally learned to hold that tongue of yours?" Corriane asked with a cruel smirk, her early joy returning.
"I have learned not to speak to those who lack proper intelligence. It has an effect on my own intelligence, you see. Ignorant people have a knack for dragging one down to their level."
Corraine's lips curled into a sneer. She would teach the chit!
"Fredrick seems quite fond of you."
Sapphire stiffened, but did not let Corriane's words daunt her.
"Are you asking me or are you telling me? Either way, it makes no difference to me."
"I see I had spoken too soon. Nevertheless, I believe I can rectify the situation." Corriane said as she advanced towards Sapphire, vial in hand. She would not be bested this time.
