Seducer of Souls - Chapter Three and Four

CHAPTER THREE

Draken watched Ann undress.  Savouring the elegant way she bathed in the shallow tub his servants had provided.  He actually sat in his bedroom two floors above the small dark room that imprisoned her.  All that decorated her room was a table, chair and a small bed, while his bedroom held rich draping and large four-post bed.   Deep in meditation, his minds eye travelled, enabling him to view the future queen during her most private moments.
Draken breath grew shallow as his excitement grew. Her slim, yet shapely figure filled his already avid imagination.  He really did have to know the pleasures of this woman.

A dark, sensual voice echoed in his mind causing him to loose his concentration.  The girl looked round, maybe sensing the part of him that invaded her privacy.
Cursing he drew back his eye and returned from the deep meditation.  The source of the voice unsettled him.  His mother had come to visit.  Draken felt uneasy at the thought of Ann meeting her, fearing his mother's obvious mental instability would drive Ann to desperation.
Once again, Ann's resilience made him wondering about his current strategy.  His father had used fear and torture to break his queen, but Ann had tolerated those tactics well. 

His mother's presence brought unwanted complications and not for the first time, did he wish his mother had the same frailties as his father. Draken senior's health had deteriorated rapidly over the last few years, which enabled young Geran to rule without interference.  However, his mother was 10 years younger than his father and still in reasonable health.

Draken stretched the stiffness from his limbs and went to greet her in the main hall.  Whilst heading down the staircase, she appeared through the great oak doors. 
Niriam stood tall, a graceful woman.  She wore a soft golden dress that split at the waist revealing dark riding trousers.  Her dark hair bunched up high on her head, having long since gone grey she now used tanning and wild berries to disguise the fact.

Geran smiled tightly and gave his mother a light kiss.
"You are not happy to see me then?" said Niriam.
Geran shuddered under his mother's hard gaze.  Her bleached blues eyes never reflected any warmth.  He often wondered if they ever had.
"I know why you are here.  But the girl is not ready to meet you yet," said Geran.
"I doubt she will ever be ready for me or good enough for your father," Niriam retorted.
Geran bristled but kept his silence.
Noticing his annoyance Niriam said, "No one could equal your sister."
"Of course," said Geran.
But privately he knew it was not his sister memory Ann competed with but his mothers formidable reputation.
Changing the subject, he asked if she had eaten yet.
"No.  I rode here on Suki early this morning."
Suki was the sibling to his own dragon Toka.  He had inherited Niriams love of reptiles.
 "Why don't we share breakfast before you meet Ann?" said Geran.
"Why the delay?"
"I keep her busy at nights, so she tends to catch up on her sleep in the mornings," said Geran.
Niriam's eyes glazed.  Realising he had awakened old memories, he gently took her arm leading her into the dinning room.