In His Service

By Raven Scott Taylor

The crisp air hit me as I walked down the empty hallway towards the King's chamber.

Excitement, fear, uncertainty, tingled and twisted my nerves into knots. It was as if lightening struck my body, causing everything to become heightened. I could see the cracks in the stone walls, frost clinging to the dents of the floor.

Each step I took brought me closer to him and I found myself wondering if I was making the right decision. Others had come before me. Some lived to tell the tale, while others were never heard from again. Was I to be like the other girls? Lost and forgotten? Or did I have something I could bargain with to extend my life for one more night?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven Scott Taylor
• Release date: Jan 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463988985

Raven Scott Taylor

Just a simple girl who believes in happily ever afters and that love is the ultimate source of magic.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Gift

ALTHOUGH IT WAS A WARM summer's night, I couldn't help but feel a bite in the air. Goosebumps ran along my arms as I followed the guard through the empty hallways towards the King's chamber. Panic gripped my very soul stealing the warmth of my blood as the sound of my feet echoed down the stone corridor.

Rumors had it King Louis wasn’t all that generous of a King. There were traits about him that would cause even the faithfully devoted to turn and run. But I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t bring myself to stop the procession, for me there was far too much at stake. My freedom rested on the results of this night. Either I came back with the riches I needed to buy my servitude from the Madame of the Rouge, or I die trying. I suppose that was the reason for many stray girls like myself to walk this path.

Still doubt lingered. For the last three nights I watched girls from the Madame's house volunteer their services for King Louis' pleasure. For three nights, I waited in the shadows to see those girls return. Yet, they did not. For all I knew they had lost their lives to the king of France. Their bodies vanished without a trace. It seemed to me the Madame was well compensated for her loss, but, I still couldn't help but wonder what became of them. After all, I was on the same path they once treaded, for tonight I had volunteered to join the Grand Master of the King's House to come and attend his Majesty's needs.

When the call was made my heart sank into my chest. My fingers went numb and I found the air in the room evaporating to practically nothing. The Madame slapped me hard, knocking the sense back into me. Inhaling deeply I accepted the position with high hopes. Still, here I was most likely the next to disappear behind the veil of secrets and shadows.

Run. You don’t have to do this. Take the corner and make a run for it. You know you could. The guard is three times your size. The polished armor clearly has never seen battle. You could make a break for it.

My heart pounded in my ears as I kept my eyes averted to the ground as trying to control my body from shivering. I knew I didn’t shiver due to the chill in the air. It was more likely my nerves that were shot. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder what all the fuss was about.

There were a few girls who had made it back alive to tell their tales of their evening with King. They spun great and wondrous tales of how kind and gentle the king was to them. They even spoke about how tender and soft his lips felt against their skin. But I wasn't as fair as the other girls with plump breasts to suckle. I was considered average by most that came into the Madame's house looking for a good time.

It was a comfort to know though the King’s Magistrate favored me and tonight I was to entertain his royal majesty. If