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downed the wine and shoveled in the bread.  All that mattered to them was that they would receive their share of the booty.
                  Such was the mind of a mercenary.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Pelinom had an enormous keep that was four stories tall, five if one counted the tower rooms on the each corner turret of the roof.  The first, or bottom floor, was the basement with stores, the kitchen and the well.  One could access the second floor by a small stairwell cut built into the thickness of the wall. The second floor, reached by a retractable wood and iron staircase, held a small entry, an equally small solar, and an enormous hall with a gallery above. The third floor was cut in half by the great hall’s gallery and held two small rooms with a tiny room between them meant for servants to sleep in.  The fourth floor held two more large rooms and another servant’s room.  This was the floor where Kellington stayed.
    Jax took her to her enormous bower with its views of the north, south and east.   It should have been her father’s chamber but he had graciously given it to his daughter while he had taken up a smaller chamber on the third floor. 
    The first thing Kellington noticed when she entered the chamber was how cold it seemed. Normally there was a fire burning in the hearth. But the hearth was dark and cold, bringing to mind that Kellington hadn’t seen any female servants about.  In fact, she hadn’t seen any women at all.  She summoned her courage to ask about them.
    “The servants,” she turned to Jax, his enormous bulk standing in the doorway. “Where are all of them?”
    He regarded her a moment. “There are no women in my castles.”
    Her eyebrows flew up. “You killed them?” a hand suddenly flew to her mouth. “Are… are they on poles like the men out there? My God, am I… will I see them if I look out my windows?”
    He could see the horror in her eyes. It did a strange thing to him; it made him tell her the truth.
    “They are not on poles,” he said in his deep baritone. “They are in the chapel. I’ve not yet decided what to do with them.”
    He was startled when she suddenly rushed at him, dropping to her knees at his feet. “Please, my lord,” it was the one of the only times she had actually addressed him with formal respect. “Please do not harm them. They are my servants; some are my friends. I have grown up with these women. Please do not harm them in any way. I swear I will do anything you ask if you will only show mercy. Please .”
    He stared at her, remembering the last time he had seen her like this, begging for her father’s life.  He realized that he didn’t like to see her on her knees, submissive and begging. No, he didn’t like it at all.  He reached down and pulled her to her feet.
    “Get up,” he commanded softly. Then he walked away from her, inspecting the room as he went. “Is there no wine in this chamber?”
    The question was so off of the subject that it took Kellington a moment to realize what he had asked.  Confused, she turned around to the small table near the wall.  It held a pitcher with what she assumed, after taking a sniff, was mead that was several days old.  She took a cup and the pitcher and went to him.
    Jax disregarded the cup completely and drank straight from the pitcher. He downed it in two large gulps, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand when he was finished.  He regarded her as he tossed decanter to the floor.
    “Do you know nothing of war, lady?” he asked quietly.
    Kellington stood there a moment before shrugging dumbly. “As I told you, we do not see much war at Pelinom.  The Scots leave us alone for the most part.  I have never been a part of a siege.”
    “Then Pelinom is a rarity,” he replied, his dual-colored eyes still fixed on her. “War goes on all around it, but Pelinom stays safe in its own little world.”
    “That is true.”
    Something in his tone hardened. “But it is