Stalks of Gold: Original Second Chapter
Stalks of Gold just passed 125 reviews on Amazon, so I’m happy to be sharing the original second chapter from the first draft! Remember this is from a rough draft, that I scrapped a lot from, so be kind and enjoy seeing just how different the story ending up being!
That hadn’t exactly gone as planned. Sandor trailed behind Aurelia for a moment, figuring out his response. He watched her walk away from him for a second before slowly following her. She clearly wasn’t interested in talking anymore, and Sandor had no idea how to convince her he was on her side. He didn’t like the tax any more than anyone other than the king did.
Well… Sandor glanced at Aurelia ahead of him. There were parts he did like about collecting the tax. One part to be specific, Aurelia. Truth be told, he could tell Aurelia and Meldon they had to deliver their flour to the castle like the other mills, but he liked going and getting it. He liked seeing Aurelia even though he knew she didn’t like seeing him. She made the trip interesting, and he had a feeling that if he ever got her to want to talk to him, he’d enjoy the trip a whole lot more.
“Well, what can I do to be considered a friend?”
Aurelia’s stride faltered for a moment, and Sandor caught up to her. She stopped and pursed her lips for a moment. “I don’t think a tax collector could ever be our friend.”
Sandor smiled. “I’m not a tax collector. I’m a guard.”
His smiled faltered slightly. That was true, but it wasn’t completely true. He didn’t think she’d been any more willing to think of him as friend if she knew the truth.
“Do you collect the tax?” Aurelia asked, looping her other arm under the basket’s handle.
“Yes.” He frowned.
“Then you’re a tax collector as I’ve never encountered you doing anything else.” Aurelia straightened her shoulders and started walking again.
“I’m a guard every other day of the week. What if I saw you when I wasn’t coming to the mill?” Sandor walked faster, turning to face her slightly.
“I’m sure you have better things to do.” Aurelia tilted her head up at him.
He blinked at her.
She sighed and shook her head, “Like your job, as a guard?”
Heat crawled up his neck. “It’s not an every second of every day commitment.”
“Coming to the mill would take a large amount of time out of your day. All for the good opinion of the miller and his daughter?” Aurelia reached up to brush her hair back.
His eyes followed her movement, watching how her long, pale gold hair moved over her shoulder and down her back. He quickly turned his gaze back to her face. Was he being too forward? Too transparent?
He forced his shoulders to relax. “Maybe I want everyone’s good opinion. You’re just insistent I don’t get it.”
“You’re insistent you don’t deserve it yet.”
Yet?
“So, I could deserve it?” Sandor couldn’t help the grin on his face.
“Anyone could,” Aurelia shrugged.
“So, what does deserving it look like?” For a moment, Sandor worried he’d needled her too much, but then she grinned.
“And asking that is why you don’t deserve it.” Aurelia’s eyes shone with a lightness he hadn’t seen before. He liked it.
She stared at him for a moment, and he swallowed thickly. She’d never looked at him so intensely before. He hoped it was a good sign. She said, “I’ll know it when I see it.”
What did she mean by that?
He stopped at her words, but she kept walking. She certainly wasn’t going to make it easy for him, but she’d smiled at him. It was worth it.
He caught up to her as the mill came into view. He turned to Aurelia to try and strike up a conversation again, but she was already going through the door.
Sandor sighed and followed her inside.
“Sandor! How great to see you!” Meldon quickly greeted him as Aurelia tried to slink out of the room.
“Good to see you again as well.” Sandor smothered a smile as Meldon caught Aurelia by the arm and spun her back around to join them.
“You came in with my lovely girl, did you run into her while she was in town?” Meldon asked, walking Aurelia back over to him.
“Yes, I did.” Sandor smiled at her while she gripped her basket tightly.
“Then I’m sure you saw the beautiful yarn she spun. I told her she ought to take her spinning to a better merchant, someone who could recognize quality, but she insists her merchant gives her a fair deal. Honestly, the stuff she spins is fit to used for the king’s clothing,” Meldon beamed, wrapping an arm around Aurelia, preventing her from backing away.
Aurelia’s face flushed bright red, but her expression stayed distant. She turned her head, so her hair fell into her face.
“Then the king is missing out and he’ll never know it.”
That earned him a harsh glare from her. He grinned in response.
“Father, Sandor is a busy man. We shouldn’t keep him long.” Aurelia spoke softly, but her look was the farthest thing possible from her kind tone.
“Of course, the flour it’s all right there by the door, sir,” Meldon said, letting go of Aurelia to gesture to where he’d set aside the flour for Sandor to take.
Aurelia slipped out the back door, and Sandor wished he could have gotten another chance to talk to her.
He picked up the flour, throwing the bags over his shoulder with ease. He gave Meldon a smile and said his farewells. He headed out the door, glancing back one last time at the door Aurelia disappeared through. He shook his head and went on his way.
One day he’d get it right. The few opportunities he had gotten to talk to Aurelia he’d always said something stupid. It was like he saw her and just couldn’t resist putting his foot in his mouth. It didn’t matter what it was; Sandor’s special talent was being able to upset her no matter what the topic was.
He wondered if he could justify visiting the mill sooner than usual and apologize for insulting her judgement. He really had no reason other than to just see her, and he wasn’t close enough to them for it to be just a friendly visit. The other guards wouldn’t care if he skipped his usual shift, so that wasn’t a problem. Of course, if his brother heard about him not taking his position seriously, he’d probably lose it not that he really wanted it.
Maybe it would be better if he just waited until he saw her naturally.
He absentmindedly dropped off the flour to be counted with the rest of the tax filtering in from the city. The tax collectors muttered their thanks to him like they did the other guards. With the constantly increasing taxes, none of the collectors wanted to be the targets of people’s ire. The guards took it instead.
A few bowed their heads respectfully while others eyed him warily. Sandor watched as the other guards got more polite reactions. He ignored them, rubbing his shoulder as he left. The ache in his muscles was always worth it he believed.
He wove his way through the castle’s courtyard and around where all the taxes were being gathered. A few people stopped when he went by, but he didn’t acknowledge them, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
The second he stepped inside the castle, he spotted his sister heading his way.
“Sandor! I heard you just returned,” she said, as she stopped in front of him.
“Yes, I did my part in collecting the taxes, and I should be going to my regular post soon. I don’t want to give Eadric any reason to notice me,” Sandor lowered his voice as they started walking.
When the servants spotted his sister, they stood to the side and bowed or curtsied.
“The only reason Eadric would stop noticing you would be if you died,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Trust me, I heard all about you from him this morning, ranting about how you aren’t grateful for all he does for you.”
“Grateful?” Sandor scoffed. “You know, I don’t need his help. The only reason I stick around is for you. I could be out seeing the world, saving lives, or, or, something meaningful.”
“He keeps you here, keeps me here, to keep an eye on us,” Loraine spoke so none of the servants could hear, but it wasn’t a secret. “I could have been married years ago if he didn’t believe in keeping his enemies close.”
“We’re not his enemies.” Sandor scowled.
“No, we’re not, but he thinks we are, so neither of us are going to be allowed to have our own lives until he gets a proper heir.” Loraine brushed her hands on her skirt. “I’m praying that when the dignitaries arrive marriage is the first word out of their mouths.”
Sandor laughed, “For you or for him?”
“Him, for your sake!” Loraine chuckled. The few people in the hallway deliberately looked away from them. Loraine quieted, straightening herself up, wiping her smile off her face. “I shouldn’t be laughing, not with how important their visit is.”
“Has he put you in charge of all of it?” Sandor frowned.
“Yes, if things don’t work out in our favor, it’ll be all on me.” Loraine stopped. The hallway they were in was empty.
“It’ll work out. It’s surely not as bad as it seems,” Sandor put his hand on his sister’s arm.
Loraine stepped closer, pulling Sandor in for a hug. She whispered, “It’s bad. It is very bad. I don’t think Eadric even realizes how bad.”
Sandor wrapped his arms around her. “How bad?”
“We need nothing short of a miracle to save us.” Loraine rubbed Sandor’s shoulders. “Promise me that if things go wrong, you take care of yourself first before anyone else.”
Sandor pulled back. “Just what do you think will happen to us?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t trust our brother or the dignitaries enough to believe this will work out without someone shedding blood.” Loraine squeezed Sandor’s shoulder. “Unfortunately for you, you make the perfect scapegoat.”
The look in his sister’s eye scared him. He took a step back. He didn’t like Eadric anymore than she did, but surely, he wasn’t capable of that?
“Eadric wouldn’t do that. He’s upheld our father’s promise for this long. He respects his memory too much to…” Sandor trailed off, dropping his hand to his side. “Despite how much he hates me, if he wanted me dead he would have done it the second our father died.”
Loraine shook her head. “I would not be so trusting if I were in your position.”
“I don’t know that I’d call it trust.” Sandor frowned.
“Well whatever it is, be careful. Promise me you’ll look out for yourself.” Loraine held his gaze.
“I promise.” Sandor swallowed thickly.
Loraine nodded and glanced around. They were still alone. She smiled. “Good. I don’t want anything happening to my favorite brother.”
“The same goes for you. I don’t want anything to happen to my favorite sister.” Sandor clapped her shoulder.
“Loraine!”
They both froze. Sandor’s dropped his hands to his sides, clenching his fists. His back snapped straight. Loraine stepped away from Sandor.
They both turned to face the man headed down the hall towards them. He cast a large shadow when he stormed towards them. Even from where he was, Sandor could tell he wasn’t happy to see them interacting.
Sandor quickly turned to go.
As soon as he took one step, the other man cleared his throat. Sandor turned back around. He took a deep breath as the man came to stop beside Loraine. The man crossed his arms and gestured at him.
“This is ridiculous, Eadric.” Loraine grabbed their bother’s arm, but he shook her off immediately.
“Please, don’t,” Sandor said, waving her off. He bowed deeply, as low as he could. He looked up at his siblings. “Pardon me for my rude behavior, your majesty, but I must not neglect my post, King Eadric, Princess Loraine.”
His brother nodded and waved his hand, dismissing him.
Sandor straightened up, turned his back, and walked away.
I’ll release the next original first draft chapter when Stalks of Gold reaches 150 reviews on Amazon!