Chapter One

Vic felt a presence. Odd, since he was alone and there were no covert hiding places in the long hallway. His jaw hurt from the punch he had taken earlier. His hand rubbed across his swollen chin. He was surprised to feel stubble peppering his face.
“It’s not like I have to look comely anytime soon. No wedding in my future” he said, listening to his voice bounce off the stone walls. He needed more tapestries. That would cut down on the echo, he thought.
Who are you?!?! The female voice was so loud he stopped abruptly and spun in a wide ark, his arms out in a protective gesture. He stood, listening.
“Hello?” he called, “Show yourself!” he demanded to the empty hallway. Again he listened to the eerie echo. A large window under the archway closest to him reflected his image. He stood, staring at his visage, arms spread, eyes wide, pulse jumping in the muscle over his jaw line. He looked terrified. Quickly, he dropped his arms, stood up straight and pulled at the hem of his tabard. He turned from the window and swiftly walked towards his bedchamber, frustrated by the possibility that he might be losing it under the pressure. No bride, no lands, I will be a pauper and now I will be in an asylum.
Vic entered the chamber feeling saddened by the day’s events. He lit the candles scattered about, pulled his clothing from his overheated body and fell onto his bed. Once there he could no longer ignore the voice he had heard earlier. What had it said? Who are you? It was curious that it had been a female voice. The question had been obvious. He’d been asking himself the same one all day. The same question he had just heard screamed in his head.
“Who… are… you…?” he said the words slowly, feeling the solid nature of them. Why not, who am I? “Odd.” He said and draped a forearm across his eyes.