Strena Adventures With Cerpheres Part Eight

 The Rumours On The Road 

The two had to walk on a longer road, making sure to test the ground.

“Sure do hope that, that would be the last detour!”

“Me too! Even though I loved these little adventures, and believe me, you have been nothing but marvelous, but I miss seeing all the other books that I need to read.” He moaned as he draped himself on her. “And I really do miss tormenting Chashy!”

He giggled as she frowned.

“And why do you? After all, he could kill you at any time!”

He laughed and looked slightly drunk.

“That’s precisely why! It’s so much fun. He takes things way too seriously! Personally, I think he needs to loosen up and enjoy life a little. Plus,” He laughed. “It’s rather adorable to see him getting all wound up!”

“What?”

He kissed her cheek.

“I can tell that you think so too or is it that you just like to look at his strong, handsome face?”

That was when she stepped back as her cheeks felt slightly hot. 

“What? No! Well-”

He got up and gave her as he stroked her cheeks.

“If that’s the case, why are your cheeks so red?”

“Wh-what? No! Ew! That is just wrong!”

“It’s alright! You can be honest!”

“Look, he can kill me at any time! After all, I am a bastard too, and he is more like a second father to me, anyway!”

He shrugged.

“And in a fair few weeks, he’ll be your great-uncle-in-law!”

She opened her mouth to speak but closed it as she could not help but notice that he did have a pint. He would be her great-uncle-in-law as he was Bash’s uncle. Yet she could tell that she too saw him like an older brother figure or father figure too.

“By the way, did you get the name of the one who is trying to kill me?”

“Nope!” 

“Why do you sound disappointed?”

“I guess I am disappointed! I would have very much liked to have met the one who had the gall to send an assassin after you!”

That was when she narrowed her eyes.

“Tell me, is it normal to have a recurring dream for over five to seven years?”

“No. Why? What happens in it?”

She told him.

“Hmmm!” He purred as he touched his lips and tapped. “How strange!”

“But does it mean anything?”

“Maybe! I’ve heard that those with magic can have prophetic dreams. So maybe you do get to kill this man?”

At this she pulled a face.

“What?”

“Is that all I’m going to do? Just kill?”

He shrugged.

“Well that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes you need a knife to clean a room.”

Her sour look deepened.

“But I don’t like being a knife! I want a home! I want a bed, a proper bed! I want to spend the rest of my life writing! Writing about other people and places! I want to be able to wear a dress again, without it bringing out the evil in me! I don’t want to have to spend my whole life keeping up my guard and looking over my shoulder!” She cried. “I hate it! I hate what I have become! I hate what Uncle Zaryb or Wolfox or whatever has turned me into! I just want to be normal and live one second of my life!”

She found herself breaking down before she felt fingers behind her neck, tickling her. Despite her anguish, she could not help but laugh as she hit the floor, laughing. Even then he did not relent 

“Stop it!” She laughed.

Yet he continued and did not stop until she punched him.

“There we go!”

“What?” She panted.

That was when she saw a group of travellers from her country walking up near them.

“My! You’re a long way from home!” She commented.

“Yes.” Said one.

“You too!” Spoke another.

“So what’s your story?”

“We’re here to confirm something.” Said the first with a serious look in his eyes.

“And that is?”

“Our ruler isn’t who he says that he is.”

“Oooh scandal!”

Strena rolled her eyes.

“And who is that?”

“He claims to be Rocher, an illegitimate child of Emperor Nazor and Lesser Lady Lorreise of Bromnsdale of the north. So we are going to Brownsdale to see if he actually has been there.”

“And to see if there really is a Lesser Lady Lorreise.”

She nodded.

“Well I do remember a Lesser Lady Lorreise but she was Miémorian-”

“Memory.”

“What?”

“Apparently, people from Miémory are called a Memory not a Miémorian.”

They nodded.

“Your daughter is very learned!”

“You ought to do something about that.”

“Nah! And she’s not my daughter!”

“Then who’s daughter is she?”

She looked up and shook her head.

“A person that I have been travelling with.”

“Oh.”

“And he is adamant that I know things.”

“Oh.”

“Who are you again?”

“Amenei Alim.”

“Anaua Alim.”

“You?”

“Strena Azlok.”

“You?”

Cerpheres took off his tricorn and bowed low, flicking his tricorn out.

“Prince Captain Cerpheres Lockheartsmith!”

Anaua looked at Strena with narrowed eyes and took a closer look at her face.

“Does he have magic?”

“Why do you ask?” 

“All royal bastards have magic.”

They frowned.

“I didn’t think of that.” Amenei admitted. “Thank you.”

“Still, we can’t stay long. We must be off.”

Yet, as they walked away Anaua kept looking at her suspiciously.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Not the right time.” She admitted as they kept going until they could see the camp in the distance.