Jacob's Arrival at the Castle

In the midst of our neighboring castle, my husband and Jake's esteemed wife were also nestled in the embrace of slumber, albeit in a dissimilar manner. Their intimate rendezvous reached its culmination an unexpected knock resonated through the door, arousing Jacob’s temper.

"Pray to tell, who could be seeking our presence at this hour?" he suggested, urging Vivian to attire herself in the adjacent lavatory while he attended to the caller.

Gracefully, Vivian rose from the bed and made her way towards the bathroom, while Jacob proceeded towards the entrance. He unveiled the door. His loyal servant stood before him, bearing an air of urgency.

"Pardon the interruption, sir, but this missive has arrived for your perusal," the servant conveyed, extending a missive from the palace guards.
The contents of the letter ignited a furious flame within Jacob's being.

"I had an inkling that I could not bestow my trust upon those two alone," he seethed, his voice laced with indignation.
"To think, she carries my progeny within her womb.”
“We must locate them without delay," he declared, summoning Vivian back into the room.

"My lord," she responded dutifully, her voice tinged with concern.
"It appears that your husband and my wife have absconded together." Bewilderment clouded her countenance as she sought to comprehend the unfathomable.
"How is this possible?”
“Were not the palace guards entrusted with the task of vigilantly monitoring their chambers?" she inquired, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"He was never meant to be within your quarters," Vivian lamented, his frustration palpable.

"Though the circumstances elude me, we must embark on a quest to retrieve them posthaste.”
“I implore you, Vivian, hasten your preparations."

With utmost haste, she commenced the arduous task of packing her belongings, ensuring that no essential was left behind. Within a mere two hours, they found themselves traversing the open road, Jacob vowing to return promptly upon locating my whereabouts.
"Curses!" he exclaimed, his voice resonating with exasperation.
"Why must she have embarked on such a reckless endeavor?”
“Rest assured, when I apprehend her, she shall face dire consequences for her actions."

I was abruptly awoken from a frightful nightmare.

"My love, what troubles you?"
I confided in Jake, "I had a dream that Jacob had found us."
With a reassuring embrace, Jake vowed, "If he ever does, I will never let him take you away from me again."

Despite his comforting words, I remained unsettled.

"In my dream, he shot you and I couldn't reach you in time," I revealed.
"Fear not, my love.”
"I will never let that happen," he promised.
"I saved you once, and I will do it again."


Jake held me close. I couldn't shake the feeling that Jacob was aware of my absence and would soon come after us.

"What about Macy?" I worriedly inquired.
"The moment he returns, he will hurt her until she reveals our whereabouts."
Jake calmly reassured me, "We are safe, and Macy does not know our exact location.”
“There are plenty of cottages like this one in the mountains.”
“Macy is a strong woman, she will be fine, my darling."

With Jake’s words of comfort, I was finally able to drift off into a peaceful slumber. Upon his return to the grand castle, the illustrious king made his regal entrance.

"Your majesty, you have returned early," remarked the guards in desperation.
"You imbeciles allowed my wife and her paramour to escape," the king bellowed.
"Do you not comprehend why I have hastened my return?"

"Who was responsible for her?" he demanded.
"The novice," came the reply.
"Summon him to my chambers at once," the king commanded.
"My lord, what fate awaits him?" inquired the courtiers.
"I cannot say, but it shall not be pleasant," the king replied with a steely gaze.
"He shall never again set foot in this palace," he declared.
"Come, let us adjourn to my study."

They arrived at Jacob's study. The trembling novice appeared before them.

"Fear not son, I merely wish to converse with you," Jacob reassured him.

They all entered the opulent study, adorned with exquisite furnishings and adorned with priceless works of art.

"Son, pray tell, what transpired?" inquired Jacob.
"I had the privilege of beholding the queen on the morn she vanished," the young man responded with a touch of melancholy.
"As you instructed, I accompanied her throughout the day, from the break of dawn to the twilight hours, attending to her every need."
"I faithfully stood guard outside her chamber, promptly relieving my comrades when their watch ended," he continued, his voice tinged with loyalty.
"During that interval, she remained within the confines of her sanctuary."

"What of the captain of the guard?" Jacob inquired, his voice teeming with suspicion.
"He was the one responsible for the rotation of sentinels," the guard revealed, his voice betraying a hint of resentment.
"I am grateful for your assistance," Jacob acknowledged, his voice resonating with authority.
"That will suffice for now."
"You are excused," he declared, his words carrying the weight of his royal decree.

" I mean excused from the palace," he added, his tone firm and unwavering.
"Sir," the guard acknowledged, his voice filled with deference.
"Do not test your fortune, boy," Jacob warned, his tone tinged with a hint of menace.
"Yes, your highness," the guard acquiesced, his voice filled with humility.

"Vivian, come hither," Jacob commanded.
"Yes, my lord,” Vivan responded, her voice filled with obedience.
"Retreat to our private chambers and await my arrival," Jacob instructed, with urgency.
"I must engage in a discussion with my wife's attendant."
"Yes, my lord," Vivian replied.

Upon the departure of Vivian, Jacob summoned his guards.

"Summon the maid forthwith, for I believe she is prepared to divulge her secrets," he commanded.

The guards dutifully escorted Macy into the presence of the king. Her once radiant visage was marred by a bruised eye, and her weakened state was evident as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Now, my dear, are you prepared to reveal the truth?" inquired Jacob with a discerning gaze.
"I am unaware of their whereabouts," Macy replied, her voice trembling.
"She departed without divulging any information to me."

Jacob’s piercing eyes bore into Macy's soul as he declared, "I know you are concealing the truth, Macy.”
“I am well acquainted with your mistress, and it is inconceivable that she would vanish without bidding farewell."
A sinister smile played upon the king's lips as he continued, "Perhaps a change of scenery will persuade you to reconsider."
With a forceful gesture, he propelled Macy into the opulent courtyard, where a sentinel stood, his weapon aimed at her beloved fiancé's head.

"Now, my dear, shall you disclose their whereabouts?" he demanded. Macy, her heart pounding with fear, maintained her resolve.
"I have already told you, I am unaware," she pleaded.
The sentinel fired a warning shot, the sound reverberating through the air.

"Very well," Macy relented, her voice quivering.
"I shall reveal what you seek, but only if you release him." The king, sensing victory, commanded the guards to set her fiancé free.
"I shall speak to you in the sanctity of my abode," she declared, her fiancé.
"Now, begone."

With a nod of understanding, her fiancé departed, aware of the task that lay before him. Jacob led Macy back to the confines of his regal office.

"Now, my dear, enlighten me with the knowledge I seek," he implored.
Macy, her voice filled with trepidation, revealed, "They have sought refuge in a secluded cabin nestled amidst the majestic mountains."

She paused, her breath catching in her throat.
"That is all I know, I swear."
Jacob’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he uttered, "Thank you, Macy.”

“I am well acquainted with the precise location you speak of, for it was a cherished retreat during our tender years, we frequented that very place as young gentlemen."
"You are now at liberty to return to the embrace of your betrothed."

Jacob ascended gracefully to our chamber, where Vivian reclined regally upon the bed, her anticipation palpable.

"Has she divulged the information we seek?" she inquired.
"Indeed, my dear.”
“I am now privy to their exact whereabouts," he responded.
"What course of action shall you undertake upon locating them?" she inquired further.

"First and foremost, I shall reclaim my beloved wife, and then I shall administer a valuable lesson to your spouse," he declared, his voice resonating with authority.
"I implore you, spare Jake's life," she pleaded, her voice tinged with concern.
"Fear not, my dear. I shall not extinguish his existence, but I shall certainly impart upon him a lesson he shall not soon forget."

"Please, ensure that his suffering is not too severe," she beseeched him.
"A well-placed gunshot to his leg shall not prove fatal, but it shall undoubtedly serve as a powerful lesson," he assured her, his tone resolute.
"You must depart swiftly," she urged him, her voice filled with urgency.
"I shall commence my preparations without delay," he affirmed, his resolve unwavering.

Meanwhile, within the confines of our rustic retreat, I awoke abruptly, my screams piercing the tranquility of the night.

"Darling, what troubles you?" Jake inquired, his voice a soothing balm.
"He knows our location," I whispered, my voice trembling with fear.
"Nay, my love, he remains ignorant of our whereabouts," he reassured me, his words a comforting embrace.

"It was but a mere dream," he continued, his voice gentle.
"Yet, it felt so vivid, so real," I confessed, my unease lingering.
"Rest assured, my love, you are safe in my embrace," he whispered, his voice filled with unwavering devotion.
"Return to slumber, for I shall remain steadfast by your side," he assured me, his words a lullaby.

I succumbed once more to the embrace of sleep. Though a lingering unease persisted, whispering that he may indeed possess knowledge of our sanctuary.