Free Web NovelChapter 167: Men (1)
Scarlet dressed and left her bedroom while Ian had his turn to get ready for the day. She first decided to look for Alana since she would have been curious about the fire.
As Scarlet made her way down to the first floor, she heard a lot of noise which was unusual for the estate at this time since she liked for it to be quiet.
"Ryan?" Scarlet said, surprised to see the familiar face at the door already. "I wasn’t expecting you for another day."
Ryan Callahan, Commander of the Callahan knights and leader of the border, looked up the stairs at the woman he was about to search for. "The ride here was faster than we planned. We ended up making fewer stops. Did you just wake up?"
"A little while ago but I did miss breakfast so if you and your knights are hungry, I could have something prepared now. What are they feeding you for you to be so tall?" Scarlet wondered, inspecting his height which appeared higher than she remembered.
Scarlet welcomed Ryan with a hug. It was always a good day when he came around and even his noisy knights.
"And you look like you have become shorter. Your grandmother won’t like thinking that you are changing to become weak and I must warn you, since she knows that I am here, she plans to visit us. You haven’t forgotten all your training have you?" Ryan asked. freёweɓnovel.com
Scarlet might have turned to be a businesswoman but Ryan did not want her to forget how to protect herself. She was still a Callahan and a Woods by blood so she had to know how to put up a good fight.
"I have not forgotten, but I have told all of you that my talent comes with using guns," Scarlet said, confident that she could beat all of them when it came time for hunting.
"Collins and your guns," Ryan muttered.
"Callahans and your swords," Scarlet replied.
Ryan smiled as it was clear that her ability to not lose a match when it came to words was still there. "I heard about that ex-husband of yours. Is he still alive?"
"I do not know. I do not listen to what happens with him. I thought you were here to speak with Luke or did you come here by orders of someone to kill Jack?" Scarlet asked as the timing for Ryan’s arrival was a bit too suspicious.
Scarlet only saw Ryan when it came time for all the family to gather to have a week spending time together or if there was something that he was needed for in the palace. She didn’t know about any wars and as far as she knew, the border was still in a good place with the Castros.
"It is both. I also hear that you are having trouble with Luke."
Scarlet narrowed her eyes, suspicious about how he came to know all about what had been happening in Lockwood. She hadn’t been calling or sending letters to the border for anyone to know of her troubles.
Since Scarlet lived far away from the border, her relatives there tended to be more overprotective as they were already worried about not being near to help her. They didn’t know of her divorcing Jack right away since she didn’t want to trouble them.
"I cannot reveal my sources," Ryan answered.
"It is my mother, isn’t it? Florence is loyal to me so she wouldn’t call any one of you and my father isn’t one to call around to speak of what is happening with me. I should have known right away that it was her. Where are my manners?" Scarlet asked herself, now realising she had Ryan standing in his wet armour.
"The rooms were already prepared. You know your way around so I don’t need to have someone escort you. I will have food prepared for you and all your men. Oh! Alana has been staying with me or did my mother tell you that already?" Scarlet wondered.
Ryan smiled as he already knew about the conflict between Alana and Luke as well as Alana being here. "You can speak with my mother if you like."
"To know what? About swords and the fact you are ignoring her wish to get married? I shall save myself the trouble. I have been speaking to your grandmother about the orphanage here and the one at the border. I have much to send so you can take it back with you," said Scarlet.
"You have a guest?" Ryan questioned, watching as a man he did not know came down the stairs. "Does this belong to you or Alana?"
"He is mine," Scarlet answered. "He is Ian Kingsley. Son of Lord Hank Kingsley but he isn’t close to his family so please do not mention them. Be nice or I might find myself picking on you as I did when we were younger."
"You do know that I am taller than you now, right?" Ryan asked. She wouldn’t be able to boss him around anymore.
"As if your height was ever the reason why I could get you to do anything. Play nice or you will have to stay in the palace and we all know you lack patience when it comes to Luke," Scarlet said, knowing her threat would work.
While Ryan joined her to play in the palace during his visits, the two future rulers never got along. Ryan and Luke had two different ideas of fun so it was left to Scarlet and the other children to have the two play together. It was important for the Castro king and the leader of the border to get along.
Ryan forced a smile to play nice with Scarlet’s guests.
Scarlet pinched his cheek just as she used to do when they were younger. She was older than Ryan so she couldn’t help treating him like a young brother sometimes.
"Ian, this is Ryan Callahan. The relative I told you was coming to stay here. His knights are here as well so we have more people to join our picnic. Ryan, meet Ian," Scarlet introduced the two.
Scarlet stood in the middle of the two men, having a good view as they shook each other’s hands. She thought it was going well until they wouldn’t let go and she realised they were trying to test who was stronger.
They were both smiling so that was a good sign they could get along well but Scarlet didn’t care for their game and walked away to find herself food. "Men."
