Kethril (4 page)

She turned to watch where they were walking,
but continued to swing his arm. It helped to relieve some of the
tense energy. It was taking all Tathan’s effort not to run off with
her. Why did she have to get married to bring peace? It would be so
much easier if the two countries would stop being stupid and just
be peaceful with each other.

Why did he fall for untouchable women? His
first love had been an assassin. Most of the women he had spent
time with were capable of killing him in one way or another. Either
that or they were in a position where their fathers would pay to
have him killed if they found out. At least two of the bounties on
his head were for that reason.

“I’m going to scout ahead,” Sir Danth said
to no one in particular. With that, he jogged ahead. Tathan looked
back at Liselle who shrugged. She looked at the princess holding
his hand and frowned. He didn’t respond to her disapproval. Nothing
he said would put her mind at peace.

Just before sunset, they came across a
pattern of stones in the form of an arrow pointing toward the
forest. They exchanged glances and followed the trail, assuming Sir
Danth had left the marker.

A few minutes later, they were next to a
small waterfall that splashed into a pleasant pond. Sir Danth was
nowhere to be seen, but had set up a firepit and gathered wood for
them. Tathan gestured and spoke a few words of magic, causing
flames to appear and jump to the wood in the pit.

Anilyia gasped, making Tathan realize he had
never lit a fire with her around. Liselle or Vevin were better and
faster when it came to casting.

“How did you do that?” The princess folded
her arms and tapped her foot. “I know you’re not a wizard, but I
saw you cast the ball of light back in the caverns and now you make
a fire with magic.”

Tathan didn’t know why he felt guilty. “Well
. . . I just made gestures and spoke the necessary words and . . .
poof,” he explained with a rascally grin. The grin turned to
laughter when Vevin started throwing lightballs around and making
them go ‘poof’. The princess didn’t look impressed.

“I saw what you did, but I don’t understand
how you learned it. Magic is only supposed to be practiced by
wizards,” she explained.

“Really?” Tathan asked in surprise. “In
Dralin, everyone knows a little magic. It comes in useful for lots
of different situations.”

“Dralin is a den of wickedness and horrors!”
she exclaimed in shock. “You actually lived there? Are you evil and
deformed?”

Liselle and Vevin laughed loudly. They were
setting up a cookpot for dinner. Tathan sighed. “I am not evil or
deformed . . . well, maybe a little evil,” he answered with a wry
twist of his mouth.

“Dralin is known throughout the world as the
most dangerous city to live. Magical poison fills the streets,
deforming citizens. Monsters hide in alleys and even children eat
unsuspecting strangers.” The princess paced back and forth while
making wild gestures. “If you lived in Dralin, you should be evil
and deformed like everyone else there.”

Tathan stared at her for a moment. Then he
cocked his head to the side, put his right arm out behind him, his
left arm in the air, stuck his left leg to the side and made a
funny face. “I’m not deformed. Why would you think that?”

Vevin and Liselle howled in mirth. Tathan
joined the merriment and the princess followed suit. They sat on
logs Sir Danth had arranged. “Where did he go?” Liselle asked.

“I was wondering the same thing,” Tathan
said. “I get the feeling he’s still scouting and doesn’t want to be
around us for now. He was embarrassed by his reaction this morning.
He’ll rejoin us when he’s ready. Until then, let’s give him
space.”

“Is that wise?” Liselle asked while adding
ingredients to the stew she was making. “If he’s off on his own, he
could become violent again, or do something stupid.”

“Like what?” Vevin asked.

“I honestly have no idea. He’s just so
unhappy right now I don’t think he should be alone,” she
answered.

“He needs the time alone.” Tathan peeled a
couple of roots for the pot. “He was alone for centuries, then
suddenly had to deal with people and has been doing so for months.
It
has
to be hard for him to redevelop social skills after
so long. Giving him solitude will allow him time to come to terms
with all of the changes he’s been through.”

Liselle didn’t look convinced. “Do you think
so?”

“I know so. I’ve been having a hard time too
after spending most of my life alone. Even in cities I was usually
by myself.” Tathan gestured at the three of them. “You’ve been
wonderful, but I’m not used to being so close to people. That’s why
I snuck off into the forest this morning. I needed time to think
and . . . I don’t know. I just needed time.”

Anilyia was sitting next to him with her
thigh touching his. “I don’t like it when you go off and leave me
alone.” Tathan thrilled at the contact. “What are you, Tathan?” she
asked him.

“Huh?” he responded eloquently.

“What are you? Are you a warrior, wizard,
servant, criminal or something else entirely?” The fact that she
was challenging him didn’t stop her from staying as close as she
could get.

“That’s a good question, Tathan,” Vevin
chimed in. “I think you’re a thief, but I like you anyway.”

“Are you a thief?” the princess asked in
trepidation. Tathan had finished peeling and cutting the roots. He
cleaned off his knife and put it away, so she took his hand
back.

“I still love you, Cousin.” Liselle smirked.
“And I already know you’re a criminal.”

Tathan glared playfully. Anilyia squeezed
his hand. “Are you really a thief? I know you’ve stolen my heart.”
He turned to look at her, seeing complete vulnerability in her
eyes. It was poetic and a little cheesy, but he knew she was
sincere.

“Yes. I’m a thief,” he admitted. He half
expected her to release his hand, but was relieved when she didn’t.
“Not just a thief. I’ve done everything from caravan guard to . . .
babysitter.”

“Babysitter?” Liselle asked.

“She wasn’t really a baby, more of a
teenager, but a guard in Dralin had a daughter and needed someone
to watch her and keep her safe for a little while. He saved my life
so I agreed,” Tathan explained. They looked at him in shock. “What?
I didn’t say it was a good idea, but I owed him one. The girl knows
how to pick a lock like a master now though,” he said with a
grin.

“Oh, that’s just wonderful.” Liselle rolled
her eyes.

“Actually, someone had already taught her
and she had her own set of magical picks. Anyway, I’ve stolen a few
things and been arrested more than once, so I guess you could say
that I’m a criminal.” He shrugged. Tathan didn’t feel bad about
being a thief, but he wanted his cousin and the princess to like
him.

“Have you ever killed anyone?” Anilyia asked
without expression.

“Yes, more than once.” Tathan hoped she
wouldn’t ask how many.

“How many?” she asked.

Tathan sighed. “Never ask a person how many
people they’ve killed. In fact, you shouldn’t even ask if they’ve
killed someone. I only answered because I care how you feel about
me.”

“Thank you. I love you even if you are a
criminal. How many people have you killed?” Anilyia stared at him
with those luminous eyes.

“More than I care to admit. I have no
intention of answering that question,” he said firmly.

“You didn’t tell me you love me. That’s the
second time I’ve said I love you and you didn’t acknowledge it,”
the princess accused, sadness causing her shoulder’s to slump.

“He can’t be in love with you, nor should
you be in love with him!” Liselle exclaimed in frustration. “You’re
betrothed and the fate of kingdoms lies in your safe return. I’m
certain the prince would object to sharing his wife with a
thief.”

“I’m aware of that, silly flower girl,”
Anilyia replied haughtily. Blue flames ghosted behind Liselle’s
eyes, as they tended to do when she felt strong emotion . . . like
anger. For the first time Anilyia ignored the flames. “Why must I
be responsible for the actions of two foolish kingdoms? They will
not let me rule or make decisions after all. I am merely a copper
coin to be bartered. If our kingdoms wished to have peace, they
would do so irregardless of whether or not I am married.”

Liselle didn’t have a response for that and
the fire in her eyes died. Tathan squeezed the princess’s hand in
comfort. Anilyia pressured Tathan again. “I love you. Do you love
me, Tathan?”

Tathan sighed. “I don’t know.”

Confusion washed across the princess’s face.
Liselle frowned. “That’s not an answer, Cousin. Do you love her or
not?

“
I don’t know
,” Tathan insisted. “I
think
I love her, but I just don’t know.” He turned back to
Anilyia. “I feel good when I’m with you. The problem is that I
don’t know if it’s because you’re so unattainable or if it’s how I
truly feel. I’m still trying to figure it out.”

“I don’t like that answer. You’re not very
good with answers, Tathan,” Anilyia accused.

“I know. It’s a failing of mine,” he replied
with a twitch of his lips.

“Yes, yes it is, Tathan. That’s alright.
I’ll wait until you realize you love me. I know you do.”

Liselle frowned as she stirred the stew. The
wonderful smell was causing all their mouths to water. “What if he
does love you, Your Highness?” She emphasized the title. “What will
you do?”

“I will do whatever he wants me to do.”
Anilyia was sincere, holding her chin high. “If he wishes me to
return to Mayncal to be married in return for great reward, I will
see to it that he is showered with wealth. If he wishes me to run
off with him to become a criminal and steal things, I’ll do that.”
She leaned her head on Tathan’s shoulder and brought her leg over
his lap. Looking up at him she said, “I love you, Tathan. If you
love me too, we’ll let my daddy and his friends figure out how to
make peace on their own.”

Tathan didn’t know how to respond to having
the fate of two kingdoms on his shoulders. Regardless of whether or
not the countries
should
be at peace, things just didn’t
work that way. If he took the princess home, peace would be likely.
If he didn’t, they would almost certainly go to war, dooming their
people to years of suffering.

It had been Liselle’s idea to save the
princess, charged to her by Yebisu, the Yellow Bird of Sunshine.
Letting his cousin make decisions as to which quests they should
accept didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. He had a feeling
that if he continued to listen to her, they would end up trying to
save the world while everyone in it tried to kill them.

“You don’t have to answer now,” Anilyia
assured him, nestling her head further into his chest. She was now
sitting completely in his lap. He hadn’t even realized it.

“It’s a good thing,” Liselle said with a wry
grin. “I’m not sure he’s capable of speaking at the moment.”

***

Dinner was excellent and they took turns
cleaning up in the pond. The boys were told to go away while the
girls bathed. When the boys bathed, the girls stayed and watched.
Liselle watched Vevin while the princess stared at Tathan.

The last bit of light was glowing in the
western sky as they dried off, dressed and sat down, both leaving
their shirts off much to the delight of the ladies. Tathan asked,
“Why do you two get to watch us while we take a bath but we have to
go away when you do the same?”

“Because you’re boys, we’re girls and that’s
the way it is,” Liselle explained as she stoked the dwindling
fire.

“What she said,” Anilyia agreed.

“I’m not a boy. I’m a man.” He flexed a
toned arm muscle. Anilyia wrapped her arms around it and purred.
White scars crossed the suntanned skin in a few places, which the
princess began tracing with a fingertip, creating goosebumps on his
skin.

Every morning and evening, he would do
exercises to stay sharp. He didn’t take out his sword very often as
it would upset the ladies. Much of his routine was meditation.
Tathan had discovered that his mind was the most important thing to
keep sharp. A clear head had enabled him to escape rough jams more
than strength, speed or swordplay ever had.

“I know you’re a man,” Liselle admitted. “I
never said you weren’t.”

“Yeah, but you keep calling us boys.” Tathan
tried to ignore the feelings created by the princess’s fingers
running over his chest.

“So?” Liselle raised an eyebrow, suggesting
that he was being irrational. She turned to Vevin. “Does it bother
you when I say boys?”

Vevin hated when she dragged him into
disagreements. “I’m not a boy or a man. I’m a dragon,” he pointed
out without answering the question.

Liselle persisted. “Yes, but does it bother
you when I call you and Tathan boys?”

“No. I’m a dragon,” Vevin reiterated. “You
can call me whatever you like and I’m still a dragon.”

“There you are,” Liselle said conclusively
to Tathan. “Vevin has just proven my point.”

Tathan tilted his head. “Huh?”

“I don’t get your logic either.” Anilyia’s
fingers made their way down to his abdomen.

“It’s simple. Whether I call Tathan a boy,
man or dragon, he is what he is and it shouldn’t matter to
him.”

“He’s not a dragon,” Vevin disputed with a
frown. “I know that for certain.”

“Yes. I know, dear.” Liselle patted his
knee. “It’s just an example.”

“But why would you call him a dragon if he’s
not?” Vevin asked in confusion.

“Yeah.” Tathan jumped on the logic, pointing
at Vevin. “What he said. I’m not a dragon, so you don’t call me
dragon. I’m also not a boy, so you shouldn’t call me a boy.”