The challenge wasn't lost on Payne, but all he does is let out a hearty chuckle.
"I think I remember something similar to that happening a few years ago," he replies with a grin and a wink.
"Though I'd say that isn't particularly a secret, is it?" he adds.
He seems to get lost in thought for a moment, before directing a stern gaze at Lillian.
"Will you use whatever I tell you for fun or for. . . less fun motives?" he asks politely, but the implications of the question were clear.
Lyanna just shrugged her shoulders with a knowing smile. Perhaps someone bad done a better job concealing such ludicrous things into the garden. Or around the palace. Perhaps she would be the one to do so just for fun. She knew how to move around without getting caught.
She gave him a sly look. "I suppose that depends on what you tell me. If there's a giant slide that you've managed to keep hidden from the public all this time, well, I don't think I'll be able to contain myself from using it every chance I get."
She was asking purely for curiosity. For now that was. She had only heard rumors and whispers about the palace. Even if she was here for a job, she still wanted to do some exploring of herself. She had heard about the grand libraries and wanted to spend every free moment she had in them. When not stalking the Duke or trying to find the reason for magic disappearing. Or tending to the queen.
"Well, surely if there was a giant slide, I'd be going down it a lot myself," Payne smiles. "So I don't think there is one, at least not one that's easily accessed. As for other secrets, well. . ."
He tilts his head.
"Have you, by any chance, been down beneath the earth? In a cave, or a cavern?" he asks.
His expression was serious, but there were some hints of playfulness. He watched Lillian close to gauge her reaction to his question, trying to find any signs of fear or apprehension at the thought of being underground.
Lyanna looked at him curiously. "No, I haven't been beneath the earth but tight spaces have never bothered me to much." Not exactly the truth. She had used the sewers before to get around but vowed never to go back after she had almost drowned. It was not a fun experience. She had been vomiting for days afterwards.
Her curiosity was peaked now. She wondered if there was something hidden under the palace now. Something useful, or not, depending on what she was gunning for. But curious all the same. And if he didn't tell her she would very well find out for herself.
She moved out of the way as a couple maids with buckets of laundry passed by them. Unfortunately that meant stepping into Payne's side. But it was either that or risk colliding with the maid's and shed rather not have that. She had just arrived. She wasn't in any rush to start a scandal. Yet at least.
"Apologies," she murmured to the prince as she put a little distance between them. As much as she could with their linked arms.
Payne nods thoughtfully before a mischievous smile crosses his face.
"Alright. Then, I'll swing by later in the day, on the pretenses of giving you the tour - which I will, don't worry - and I'll show you the castle's best kept secret," he says playfully.
As Lillian moves out of the way and presses herself close to Payne, he has the sudden realization that this is the closest he's been to. . . well, any royal in a long, long time. The though simultaneously confuses him and makes him smile. Even though it was only to avoid causing the maids problems.
He sighs.
"It's fine. No need to be so formal and uptight, you know. I'm not going to have you fired by talking to me casually or relaxing," he chuckles.
Lyanna smiled despite herself. Despite knowing what and who he was. That his very blood was her enemy. And yet here he was, teasing her and playing with her. It could certainly be a front but if the rumors were true, he had never paid much attention to the women at court. Or ever.
"I will look forward to it then." And she found that she was. She was ready to see what he had in store for her. And curious as well to how she might use it.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Perhaps not but your mother might. I am in her employ am I not? I woukd risk being dismissed over titles." Still, the gleam in her eye said quite the opposite. At least in privacy. She wouldn't risk it in the company of others.
As they walked, she wondered with each step how in the world she was going to haul all of her things this way. She may have over packed but she couldn't part with the things she brought. Not the clothes or shoes or accessories. And certainly not her books. That was the heaviest of all her trunks.
(I'll have something tomorrow. Sorry. Life happened.)
"I sincerely doubt it, Lili. My mother wouldn't fire you if I explained to her what I had said. She's more reasonable than you think," Payne counters, his royal vocabulary giving way to the way the poor spoke. He'd even subconsciously called her the common version of her name.
He starts to hum a farmers ballad, seeming more and more. . . common with each step.
"Seriously, I can deal with the luggage. Been a while since I did some heavy lifting. The staff needs the help anyways," he smiles, unknowingly countering Lillian's thoughts.
(No worries. I've been busy working anyways.)
Lyanna was surprised at the shortened name he had given her. Even more so because it wasn't her name. Not truly. It was Lyanna Lavone, a notorious assassin. Not that she could tell him that. She couldn't tell anyone that. It was frustrating having to conceal her identity but she understood its necessity. However, she hid her moment of silence by forcing that sweet blush to her cheek.
"Who am I to deny such an offer?" Especially if it allowed her to watch as the muscles bulged on his arms. He may be her enemy but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate a pretty face and a nice body.
She wondered for a moment how she might train. She would still need to do so to keep her body in shape and poised. She couldn't train in the training room or courtyard. It would be too obvious. She would have to find a way to use her room. Perhaps she could trick the prince into archery with her. She could work on her aim some.
Payne looks startled at Lillian's blush.
"Why are you blushing like that? Did I do something, or. . ." he blurts out.
He grins.
"I could even cook while doing it. I think I'd make a great wife in that regard, wouldn't I?" he laughs brightly.
Lyanna widened her eyes in surprise at him. She had never been called out by anyone before for the reactions she had. Most too it as an almost shy girl, naive for the flush that would taint her cheeks. "Oh, I uh-" She shook her head. "Nothing."
She stopped abruptly, turning to look at him. The corner of her lip turned up and she raised an eyebrow up at him. "Oh? You shouldn't have told me that. I'm already planning on dragging you to the kitchens to cook for me any chance we can get."
She could not cook. At least not very well. She could make the basics and even that she sometimes burned. She could bake sweets cookies and cake. Strange that she could do that and yet give her a pan and she would burn anything.
Payne only looked more confused at Lillian's next reaction, but shrugs at her words.
He laughs, pushing Lillian playfully with the arm she was holding.
"Bold, aren't we? Relegating your new wife to the kitchen when she has muscles like these and a face like a nereid's?" he teases.
He could cook anything but pastries, really.
Lyanna threw her head back in a laugh. She clung to his arm even as he playfully pushed her. She bumped his hip with her own in return. "Bold? I'd say direct. And to answer your question, I dint see why you can't do both. But luggage first please."
She smiled up at him. Dangerous. He was dangerous and she had a soft spot for pretty men. She was toeing the line but as long as she didn't go over, she didn't see anything wrong.
"So how nice are my quarters? I must say, I do have a bit of an expeseive taste. If it's not up to my standards I think I'll need to make a visit to the market." For furs and rugs and painting and curtains. She wanted to enjoy her new home, no matter how temporary.
"Ah, the wonders of women. . . if only they could all be as blunt as you," Payne chuckles.
Payne thinks for a moment. Having seen both slums and rich places, he had very diversified views for "expressiveness" and "standards."
"Compared to most other rooms, it is richly decorated. It even has carpet, a luxury only enjoyed by me and the rulers of the kingdom," he shrugs. It was clear he was simply reciting a practiced line, but it should be enough for Lillian, he thought.
He looks to the left and stops.
"Speaking of, here it is. Go right in, I'll be up in 20 minutes with the heaviest trunks to get them out of the way," Payne grins.
"I think it's good to say what's on the mind. All this dancing around with words makes it so hard to understand what one is truly saying." Not that she didn't know how to do so. Lyanna was excellent at playing the game at court. She used it plenty on other missions she's had.
"I don't expect any of the other women to be so direct, but I would like to think that with you in my company I can be myself. At least when we're alone."
And perhaps he woukd do the same for her. And reveal something she could use.
She took his words into consideration and nodded her head. She woukd likely still add her own touch to it. How she woukd smuggle it all out when the time came, she wasn't sure. She could figure that out later.
She looked at the door they were stopped at then back at Payne. She smiled at him, releasing his arm. "Then I expect for you to be on time, by good wife." She winked playfully before disappearing through the door.
"I'll be honest with you, I hate liars. It's why I despise most nobles and don't always get along with family. I'm talented at it myself, but I'd sooner stick a rusty dagger between my legs and go horse riding than lie," Payne snorts. "Basically I'm glad you're not lying to me. Otherwise we'd have to divorce."
He says that last bit with a cheekey grin.
"Yeah, I know. I'll get started right away, dear," he laughs.
He goes back the other way and enters his own room, changing into simple common clothes before sneaking out to the carriages.
He starts with the heaviest trunk, hefting it with no visible effort on his part.
He hauls it up to the room and kicks on the door to let Lillian know he was there.
If only he knew Lyanna was the biggest liar kf then all. Her name wasn't even Lillian. And that was just the start of a long list of lies. But he would never find out until it was too late and she had escaped the palace. "Ah, but you cannot be granted divorce without my permission wife." She matched his grin.
She bowed her head as a simple goodbye and walked into the bedroom. She lost her breath for a moment. It had been more extravagant than she had anticipated. Then again, she did live in a home with dozens of assassins. Almost anything was better than that.
The four poster bed was made out of carved wood. There were engravings on it and painted in gold. The sheets on the bed were silkier than anything she had ever touched. There was a large window pane that looked down into the courtyard. There was a small sitting area to the right and a desk to the left of the room. And don't even get her started on the fixtures.
She was startled when there was a knock on her door. Had she really been standing there that long admiring her room? She opened it to reveal the prince. She pulled the door wide to let him in.
"Such a good wife," she crooned with a grin.
Payne rolls his eyes and retorts in kind.
"Says who? I'm clearly the more beautiful one here," he teases.
When Lillian opens the door and says that, Payne grins back at her from around the trunk.
"Oh hush. Least you can do is tell me where I should put the bloody things. I may be strong, but it feels like you put the entire library, bookshelves, room and books, into this one trunk," he snorts.
Lyanna laughed quietly, the blush staining her cheeks. It was genuine this time. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
"That's probably the books then," she murmured. She had brought a few more than necessary. A lot more than necessary, actually.
She pointed towards the desk. "You can place it over there. I promise the others are not so heavy as this. This was the only one with books." And it had been so heavy even she hadn't been able to lift it on the carriage. Another person had to help.
"At least you're able to carry it yourself. It took three people to get that on the carriage. I'm surprised the horses fared as well as they did with such weight."
Payne looks bemused.
"I'm worth an entire coach of horses myself, you know," he replies, setting the trunk down on the desk in question.
He brushes his hands off on his rough canvas pants and takes a deep breath.
Two servants haul in a trunk and Payne watches.
He shrugs at Lillian after a moment.
"Tell them where it goes," he says casually, heading back down to the carriages.
He grabs two trunks - clothes and other things from their weight - and hauls them up to the room.
Lyanna directed the staff as they brought in more of her things. After this tour, she would likely spend the rest of her day unpacking and organizing her things. And coming up with a plan. One that would likely involve the prince that was here with her.
She thanked them each and pressed a few coins I to their hands for the help. She thought about changing into a new dress. This one smelled of carriage. But she decided against it. The prince would be there any minute and she didn't want to hold him up.
"Thank you," she said as Payne arrived with more of her things. "I'll sort it all out later. For now, I am very eager for our tour."
Among other things. She wanted to track the guards and their movements. And see if she could spot anything that was being hidden.
Payne grins, setting down the trunks.
From somewhere, we don't ask where, it's plot convenient, Payne pulls out a bundle of clothes.
"Put those on. They'll be better for where we're going than what you're wearing right now," he smiles.
Upon further inspection, they'd be similar to the rough spun but durable clothes Payne was currently wearing. A pair of beechwood colored pants, durable cowhide boots, a simple light blue belted tunic.
(Bahaha XD)
Lyanna looked at the clothes he was offering her and held back making a face. One of the things she had been excited for about coming to the palace was that she could finally wear all of her nice and extensive clothing. She could look like a lady. And yet the prince here was asking her to put on clothes she would wear on a job.
With a sigh, she took them from Payne and walked silently to the bathroom where it took her no time at all to change. The pants were a little too tight, hugging her every curve and sticking to her thighs. And the shirt was a little too big on her. She didn't know where he got these nor did she want to.
She slipped her feet in the boots and walked back into the bedroom. "Alright, I'm ready to go."
"You don't have to wear them too terribly long. We just don't want your nice clothes to be ruined," Payne grins.
He walks over to the window and glances over at Lillian, dropping a wink before disappearing out of it.
Lyanna slowly grinned at him. "I don't mind getting a little dirty, wife. But I appreciate you looking out for my clothes."
She watched as he strode to the window, winked at her, and then dropped out of it. She gasped in surprised, blinking. Well, she hadn't expected that. But, she welcomed the adventure and challenge all the same.
She didn't hesitate to follow him out the window. If he was leading then to death, at least she would have the satisfaction of knowing he was dead first. She swung her legs over the window sill and dropped.
"Well, I'm sure the maids would mind," Payne laughs.
Payne was balancing casually on a ledge that stuck out about half a foot out from the wall. Payne's head was a good foot beneath the window sill.
He catches Lillian by the waist and grins.
"I got you, sweetheart," he says, letting her go once she was situated.
He starts sidling along the ledge, heading left for about 20 feet before he comes across a corner. He glances up and then back at Lillian.
"Watch very carefully," he says.
He then turns so his back is facing towards the wall, then lets himself fall backwards. A section of the wall flips, and Payne disappears.
Lyanna did not need him to grab her. Not by a long shot. But she also knew she was supposed to be posing as a Lady. And a Lady should not have such balance like that. Like an assassin. So instead she smiled up at him.
"Thank you," she said, taking a step back once she was securely on the ledge.
She followed him along the ledge, watching him with an arched eyebrow at his words. Her eyes widened as he disappeared.
Well, she had made it this far. No turning back now. She turned and let herself fall.
Payne nods.
"You're welcome," he replies.
As Lillian falls, she'd wonder just where exactly in the castle she was. Of course, that train of thought would only last about half a second before she topples into Payne's arms.
"Nice of you to drop by." he quips, setting her down.
The area they were currently in was very dusty, clearly an older room near the bottom of the castle, though how that was possible nobody would know. After all, they had just been on the second story of the castle.
