Love Knows No Time

Claimer: I do own Aleera and the idea for this story

A/N: This is a repost. I had the story posted on AFF.net for awhile then took it down and decided to repost it

Prologue Part 1

 London, England   1786

"Alright, we're only going to be here for a night or two, then we're moving on," Matthew Sanders said, looking at the six people standing in front of him, two women and four men. "So have your fun, but be back here before sun up, okay?"

"Can't we stay a few more days?" James Sullivan asked, looking at his friend. "There's so many brothels for me to visit, and two nights aren't enough time for me to visit them all."

"No, James, we're not staying here so you can go out whoring every night."

"I'm not going out whoring tonight," James replied, "I want to find a wife for Brian here this time."

He looked at the solemn looking man standing next to him. "He's been alone for so long that I don't think he remembers what it's like to be with a woman."

Brian didn't say anything, he just went and sat down in the chair by the window, staring out at the night sky.

"Leave him alone, James," one of the women said. "It's not his fault."

"I know that, but I was just saying that he hasn't been with a woman for almost twenty years."

"Because you've been with all of them," the shortest of the men said. "He can't get close to them."

"Shut up, Jonathan," James snapped, taking a step towards the smaller man who darted behind the man he was standing next too. "That's right, hide behind your master."

"James, shut up," Matthew snapped, glaring at him. "Do what you want tonight, but remember, be back at this inn before sun-up or we're leaving you here."

James didn't say anything, he only turned around and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

His friends heard him stomping down the stairs.

"Are you sure you want to keep him with us?" the woman who had spoken in Brian's defense asked, looking at Matthew.

"I'm sure, Valary," he replied, smiling at her. "He's been us for too long to just leave behind."

"Are we going to do anything or are we just going to hide out here?" the other woman, who looked exactly like Valary, asked.

"What would you ladies like to do?"

"Well, we do need some new clothes," she said.

"Michelle, you just got some new clothes last month," the man Jonathan had been hiding behind said.

“Oh, Zachary, you don’t know women very well, do you?” Valary asked, looking at him.

“Not really,” he replied.

“We are in London,” she said, “and being in London means that we can buy clothes befitting our statuses.”

“What statuses? Travelers who only stay in town for a night or two then vanish?” Matthew asked.

“We still can go shopping,” Valary said, taking his hand in hers. “Let’s go, Matthew.”

“Fine,” he sighed. “Jonathan, Zachary, watch over Brian. I’m worried about him.”

“I can hear you,” Brian said, not looking at his friends. “I’m not deaf or invisible.”

“I know, but James was right. You’ve been without a woman for too long, my friend.”

“I don’t need them,” the other man replied. “James is foolish to think I need a wife to make me happy. I’m fine with my life the way it is.”

“If you insist,” Matthew said. “You’re more then welcome to join us, if you want.”

“I’m fine here.”

Matthew didn’t say anything, he just looked at Valary and Michelle.

“Shall we go, ladies?” he asked.

“Yes,” they said in unison, dragging him out of the room.

“Brian, we’re going with them,” Zachary said. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“I’m sure.”

“I’ll stay here with him,” Jonathan said, looking up at Zachary. “Go out and have some fun.”

Zachary didn’t say anything, he only nodded before leaning down slightly to kiss Jonathan on the cheek, then he turned and left the room, leaving the two men alone.

“Brian, you need to forget about what happened,” Jonathan said, taking the chair opposite his friends. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it was,” he said quietly, still staring out of the window. “If I hadn’t told her where our home was, we would still have one.”

“You didn’t know she came from a family of hunters,” the younger man said. “You didn’t know she would betray you.”

“But it is still my fault our home was destroyed,” Brian said, looking at Jonathan. “That you almost died. Zachary still doesn’t trust me fully around you.”

Jonathan sighed.

“Dwelling on the past is only going to hurt your future, Brian,” he said, then he stood up. “I’ll be down stairs if you want to talk some more.”

The older man didn’t say anything, he merely nodded and continued to stare out the window.

With a last look to his friend, Jonathan left the room and Brian alone to dwell on the past.