Chapter 2 - Y

I was sure that Dagran would see us. I'm glad Zael moves fast, though I didn't really mean to push him to the floor. I closed my eyes as he walked into the room, saying something about being up at sunrise for our mission. We're mercenaries so we get paid to go on random or sometimes ridiculous 'quests', but instead of us going out for a nice lunch or actually getting new gear, all of our cash gets spent on Syrenne and Lowell's alcoholism…

I didn't fall asleep until probably an hour or two later. By then Zael and Dagran were both sound asleep. However, it seemed that shortly after falling asleep, I was woken by a hand shaking my bed.

"Yurick, get up. It's time to go." Lowell was standing above me. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Most of my hair fell in my face. Last night Zael had undone my braids. It felt good when he did it, but I hated my hair in my face. I was thinking of cutting it, but then I see Dagran's hair and I think otherwise. I would look terrible with that hair.

I pulled my hair back and redid the braid as I looked around, noticing no-one else in the room. I stood and pulled on my boots, then followed Lowell out of the room and down the stairs. We didn't even have time for breakfast because Dagran was practically pushing us out of the door. Zael was walking next to me for a while, smiling one of his 'this is a great day' smiles. I thought it was cute but didn't show it. It would blow my cover if I showed any emotion in front of the others. I don't even know how Zael unveiled me, or when for that matter, but he did and now I didn't have a problem with it, but only him.

"Zael, may I speak with you?" Dagran stopped ahead of us and Zael fell back with him to chat. Of what I had no idea. I kept walking as if I didn't care, but to be honest, I was really curious. Eventually Dagran ran back up to the front of our group. I didn't see Zael with him. I turned to see him stopped a little down the hill from me. I was going to go see what was going on, but Mirania beat me to it. I walked forward reluctantly.

When we reached the castle, we were informed that we were here as guards for the Lady Calista that was to be engaged today. This was probably the second most important job we've ever been assigned to. Not the most fun nor exciting, but important. I shrugged and walked to my given position when ordered. Zael was stationed on the other side where I could barely see him. This usually happened. We were usually separated on duty. I think Dagran knew about us and that's probably why.

Nothing exciting happened at all until an announcement was made to the room that Lady Calista was entering the room. I didn't even get remotely uplifted as she walked into the room until a rush of confusion ran over me. Is that Lisa? No it couldn't be. I squinted my eyes to see her a little better. Oh wow. It was her. That's crazy. I shrugged, not all that surprised by it, and leaned back against the wall. I returned to being all together uninterested, but then I saw Zael staring up at her. What the hell? He looked really confused and happy. I say again, what the hell.

I was on my way downstairs to find him when he first brought her back to the tavern. Syrenne and Lowell started making all kinds of tosses at him bringing a girl back, but I wasn't as proud. In fact, I was pretty pissed. That stupid girl didn't even know she needed money to buy herself a drink. I sat in the room for the rest of the night wanting to stab myself in the ears so I wouldn't have to hear Lowell and Zael going on about her 'good looks'. If you ask me, she looks like every other average girl, only ignorant in their ways.

A frown of jealousy spread over my face. No. I will not be jealous of her. She's not his type. I remembered how he looked at her when we first met her; white hair, blue eyes, great smile. She was his type and I was jealous. Don't show that, Yurick. My jealousy usually makes me pretty ugly. I used to be jealous of Dagran for being close to him, but that was very irrational because they're brothers. Well not really, sort of adopted brothers, but still.

I let it roll off for the most part. She stood next to her fiancé for a while then started to walk away. Lord what's-his-face wasn't too happy about it but she left anyway. She walked out to the balcony and, to my dismay, Zael followed her. GOD DAMN IT! I cringed out of my new hatred for her. They were out there for a good ten minutes. What are they doing out there?

The building shook. "What the-," I muttered as I lost my balance. Then Gurak minions came raging into the room. "No! Seriously?" I half whined. I was glad no-one heard that.

"Yurick, Mirania, Lowell, you know what to do!" Dagran yelled. The three of us are mages. Zael, Dagran, and Syrenne are all physical fighters, Zael and Syrenne being duel weapon masters. I took my orders and began casting my flames around in a circle. Strangely, in battle when I cast I levitate, as where otherwise I just sit there. I never figured out why that is.

Between casting and the occasional stabbing with my dagger, I was distracted by Zael running in from the balcony. A sword hit my leg, thank god I was wearing armour, and sent me crashing to the ground. I stood and chased after the bastard who hit me. After I killed him, I ran back into the main room, seeing Zael fighting a really big Gurak. I presumed he was the king. I started to run in to help him, but stopped when I saw Lisa, Calista… whatever, getting her ass saved by him. I don't know why I stopped. In hind sight, I shouldn't have. He looked at me and called for my help but I didn't move. Subconsciously, I wanted her dead. I shook myself out of it and started towards them, but it was too late. The king had taken Calista and Zael was unconscious on the floor. Shit! What is wrong with me? I ran towards him and knelt down to him. I shook him a bit. "Zael? Wake up." I ran out of the room to get Mirania and ran into Dagran. I told him what happened and we both rushed back to Zael.

"He's alive, but knocked out." I said.

"Why didn't you help them if you saw this?" was the first thing he said.

I didn't even really know myself so I kind of lied. "It takes a while for me to cast a circle, Dagran. And I'm not a good hand to hand fighter. I would have been knocked on my ass, too, if not killed." It sounded so careless. I hadn't done anything. I just stood there and I was regretting it more every second. Zael gasped loudly and blinked a lot.

"Oh, Zael, thank god." Dagran hugged him. I had never seen that before. Dagran has feelings…. Wow.