Authors Notes: I don't own Orphen. It would be nice, but I just wrote the story ;)
This is set after Sorceror Stabber Orphen: Revenge.
Review please! It's a work in progress and I'd like to hear what you think.
MORE TO COME!
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Chapter 3: Lost In The Crowd
Cleao hurried out into the morning sun. The street was already crowded with people shopping for through the market square. The thin blond pushed her was past a group of people picking over fresh fruits.
Cleao wondered down the street not really looking at the stores she was passing. 'Why now?' Cleao moaned to herself. 'Mother, I just can't. Not now. But how can I tell you that with out braking your heart?'
"Pardon me!" A large woman huffed as Cleao slammed into her.
"I'm,,,I'm sorry." Cleao stammered, seeing the portly woman for the first time. "I didn't see…"
"I would say you should be! Young people these days!" The woman scowled at younger woman. She turned from Cleao and rejoined her just as plump friend.
'Jeeze, what a jerk! She makes Orphen look good.' Cleao frowned after the stranger.
Taking a moment, Cleao regarded her surrounding. The street venders had thinned out some to give way to actual shops. To her right was shoe store and the left was dress shop. Smiling a little at her luck, Cleao slipped past the two overly stuffed women, who had stopped to admirer one of the street venders' wares, and into the dress shop.
"Good morning," called an overly cheerful woman from behind the counter.
"Morning," Cleao replied as she immediately headed to the evening dresses that adorned the right wall. She scooped up a cream colored strapless dress and held it up against herself to admire in the nearby full length mirror. "Do you have matching shoes?"
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Orphen had lost sight of Cleao instantly as she steeped into the throng of shoppers in the market square. 'Damn.' He cursed silently to himself. 'One more reason to avoid cities. Too many people.' He pushed his way towards the direction where Cleao had vanished.
He nearly tripped over Dortin who was watching Volcan steal fruit off a cart.
"Hi Orphen," Dortin looked up at the sorcerer.
Stuffing a fruit hastily into his shirt, Volcan sneered at Orphen. "YOU! How dare you show your face to me after what you did last time?" The troll swung a fist up at the taller human. "I, Lord Volcan, should…"
"Shut up, Or I'll blast you to the next city," Orphen smiled wickedly at the two.
"Uh, Volcan, we shouldn't,," Dortin tried in vain to gain control of his bother's temper.
"Hah! You wouldn't dare! There are too many people and you're a goody goody wizard who wouldn't dare…" Volcan's gloating was cut short as the two were thrown up into the air by a well placed magic bolt. The trolls flew off over the tops of the near by buildings.
Orphen smiled to himself. Getting some of his anger out felt good. 'Was it anger? Or something else? Damn it. I don't have time to doubt myself.' He glared in the direction where the trolls vanished. They had cost him time, now he might not be able to find Cleao.
With the passing amusement fading from his face, Orphen once again started pushing his way through the mob of shoppers. He paused at a near by shop. Glancing in the window, he found it impossible to see anything besides the display. 'Damn', Orphen cursed. 'This will take all day if I have to go IN to every store.' He began to wonder if he should have sent Majic.
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Cleao made her way past the clock tower as it struck five. "Now was that a right or left at the clock?' She stood there at the corner looking down one street then the other. She had spent the entire day shopping.
She held onto a number of bags as she debated on which direction to take. She was even a little proud of herself as she had managed to pick up a dress and matching shoes. 'Oh! And gifts for her sister and soon to be brother in law.' The last thought caused her to frown a little.
Deciding that the woman with the two children a few streets back had said right, Cleao crossed the road and headed to her right. The sun was setting and sending the city into shadows. There were gas lanterns lining the streets, but not all were lit yet.
After a few more minutes of walking with unfamiliar buildings surrounding her, Cleao let out an exasperated sigh. 'Face it Cleao, you went and got yourself lost.' She stopped and glanced up the desired street. 'The market should have more people. Where the hell am I?' She turned about slowly looking again at the building encircled her. Not one had the faintest glimmer of recognition.
"Orphen? Majic? Leki? Where are you when I need you?" Cleao spoke aloud to the empty street. 'Well, might as well keep going this way. I am bound to run into someone. I mean for gods sake, this IS a city.'
Cleao readjusted her grip on the bags before starting to walk again. 'Maybe I should have passed on that book set for Majic.'
She walked on through the city looking for a street name that sounded even remotely familiar. It was become apparent that this area was residential and not the market square where the inn was located.
Cleao came to a small park with a fountain and some benches. She plopped down to give her feet a rest. Taking in the commons she noted that fountain was one of those new art things. It didn't look like anything, just all shapes. Her stomach protested her lack of meals. She had been so wrapped up in shopping, then this morning…
She pulled her feet up to her chin. 'Why me? I mean, Mom should know that,,,well, I'm not Mariabella. I dropped school to go see the world with a total stranger.' A smile crossed her face as she thought about all the great times she had shared with Orphen and Majic. 'I know Dad would have understood. He would be forcing me to…' Cleao's thoughts were interrupted by the feeling that she was not alone.
Glancing up she saw to her dismay three men on the other side of the fountain watching her.
She silently cursed herself for leaving the inn in such a rush that she had left her backpack and sword at the breakfast table. She had fully intended on actually leaving for Totocanta that morning.
Before standing, Cleao pulled her trusty dagger from her boot. She tried to carry all her packages in one hand as she began to walk again, continuing on the course as before. The bags were too heavy to carry them one handed. She had to resign herself to taking a lighter bag in the hand with the dagger. She decided that she would just have to drop the bag if the need arose.
Cleao quickened her pace as she heard footsteps behind her. Her heartbeat quickened as she chose a random street to take. 'Keep your cool!' The voice of reason screamed in her head. 'You are already lost in a city you don't know anyone in. You can't afford to end up in a dead-end alley with thugs at your back.' The words she knew were true, but fear clawed at her chest. She only had a few runs with trouble where she was alone. Of course, Orphen had showed up to save her. 'But he doesn't even know where you are. Hell! You don't know where you are!'
That was it, Cleao broke into a run taking an other turn. Her vision was beginning to blur as she felt a hot tear roll down her face. 'Damn it, don't cry. Not now!' Cleao rubbed the back of the hand with dagger against her eyes.
Her blood was pounding so feverishly in her ears, she was unable to hear if there was anyone pursuing her.
She had been so sure that she was capable of being on her own and didn't need anyone, but now?
Cleao let out a shriek as she tripped over lose pavement. She lost her balanced and fell forward. Bags flew from her hands along with the dagger.
She scrammed to reach for the lost weapon as a hand grabber her wrist. The person roughly yanked her around.
"You know this isn't a safe place to be after dark," a man leered down at her. She recognized him as one of the men form the park.
"Especially for a young woman." A second man appeared from behind the first.
"Back off," Cleao amazed herself at the steeliness in her voice.
"Or what?' The first man smirked.
"I'm warning you!" Cleao tried to yank free of the man's grasp, but failed.
With a mirthless laugh he pulled to her feet. "Come now, how about a kiss?" He pushed his face into hers.
Cleao responded with a knee to his groin.
He yowled in surprise and pain. For a moment he forgot about the blond he was holding onto.
Cleao pulled free and ran. She could hear the man yelling for 'them' to stop her.
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Orphen had spent his day searching the city for Cleao. He had checked all the shops only to find that he had missed her. He had managed to pick up her trail from the shop keepers memories of a spirited blond woman. 'That had to be my Cleao. My? Ugh, what the hell is wrong with you? My? She's not some possession. She is a woman. One who causes me no end of aggravation. Today is a perfect example of how she can get me…'
A scream cut straight through his thoughts. It was a familiar scream.
"CLEAO!" Orphen bellowed, praying that she could respond. He bolted down a side street in the direction of the fading scream.
He rounded on three men pinning Cleao to a wall of a building.
"Back off!" Cleao was threatening, even as two of the men had her wrists and elbows pinned. "I'm mean it! This time I'm going to make sure you never have kids!" She kicked out at the third man who was holding Cleao's dagger.
The man gave s short chuckle. " Let's find out about that, shall we?" He avoided anther kick from the feisty woman, only to be thrown about twenty feet by a blot of energy.
The two men holding Cleao looked dumbly at the sorcerer as he advanced on them with death in his dark eyes.
"IwouldlethergoifIwereyou." His voice dangerously low.
Cleao was released and she ran along that wall towards Orphen. She had a feeling that being between Orphen and the men might be worst then what that man had planed for her.
Once Cleao was safely away from danger, Orphen turned his attention back to the men. "I call thee, Orphen concentrated his energies into his hands, "Sisters of explosion!" Slamming his gloved palms down onto the ground, the magic that had built up was released into the pavement. The ground shook as the magic coursed towards the two men who had stopped to help the first man up. They turned in an attempt to flee, but it was too late. The earth bucked and exploded upwards. The men were sent flying in all directions to slam back onto the ground and to be thrown back up again by another explosion.
'Whoa, Orphen is MAD,' Cleao numbly thought as she watched the man crash into the ground again.
Orphen turned from the beaten men, his gaze falling upon Cleao. She was a mess. Her pants and blouse were stained. He noted the tare in her blouse and the bloody lip.
The men started to grown and pull themselves up. Without missing a beat, Orphen whipped his hand up and with a simple snap of his fingers there was a final blast.
"Come on, let's get you back to the inn." Orphen said walking up to her.
"I can't! Not yet." Cleao protested. He was glad that she still had her spirit.
"What do you mean by that?" He said a little harsher then he meant to.
"I dropped my packages. I need to get them." She turned and began to look for her lost items.
"Hold on, let me help." Orphen pushed some of boxed aside that had been tossed about from the force of his spells.
Within a matter of minutes Cleao had all of her bags back and the two were heading back to the main road and the inn.
They walked silently the whole way. Orphen had taken the most of the bags, leaving the one with dress for her to carry. She felt better with her dagger tucked snuggly back in her boot and Orphen at her side.
Cleao let her mind drift, not thinking of anything in particular. Though she was interested to try on her new dress again.
Orphen resigned himself to waiting until they had returned to the inn before checking her over for injuries and to get the story out of her. He kept instep with her the entire way. He did note she was walking a little slower then normal, but she wasn't complaining. Of course Cleao not complaining made him worry more about her. He wondered if he should hunt those men down and finish them off.
"Orphen?" Cleao's voice snapped him back to reality. She had paused just outside the inn.
"Huh?" He stopped a step ahead of her. The light from inside the inn bathed the two in a soft light. He reminded himself that he needed to look after her wounds once they were inside.
Cleao shifted the bag uncertainly. She stepped closer to him looking down at her feet.
'What the hell is eating her? Oh, right. She must be really shaken up still.' Orphen reallocated the bags to one hand and took the one Cleao was carrying.
She looked up with surprise. Orphen smiled back at her. "Come on, what ever it is, you can tell me later. Ok? I want to get you inside and in a hot bath. Then I want to see you in my room for some healing. Got it?"
She grinned back, only to grimace at the pain and a fresh taste of blood in her mouth. "Got it," she replied with a hand to her mouth to try to calm the pain.
Orphen shook his head. "I've never been glad of that big mouth of yours until tonight. I bet Majic heard you all the way back here." He allowed himself a laugh. The tension seemed to have eased a little now that he had her back.
"What?!" Cleao tried to look indignant at his statement. "I bet they heard you back to Tower of Fangs." She stuck her nose up and pushed past him into the door. Pausing she glanced over her shoulder with a smile. "I've never been happier to see you Magic-man, then tonight." She turned and vanished through the door.
Orphen smiled then fallowed her in.
Majic sat with a large cup of tea at the nearest table. "Master! Cleao! Oh thank the Heavenly Ones that you are..ok..?" The words faded as he saw Cleao's torn clothes and bruises. "Cleao, what happened?" He was on his feet rushing over to them.
Leki jumped off the table and circled around Cleao's feet mewing up at her.
"Here, make yourself useful." Orphen jammed the packages into Majic's arms. "Cleao, go use the bath in my room. I'll be up in a minute with something to eat."
Cleao was use to his bossiness and scooped up the Wolven cub. She was also too tired to argue with him. "Ok," she mumbled as she started up the stairs to the rooms.
"Master?" Majic asked softly. "Is she ok?" A look of concern crossed the apprentice's face.
"I think she will be," Orphen watched Cleao until she was out of sight. He turned to look to see if anyone was in the kitchen.
"Master, should I…" Majic began.
"No." Orphen turned on the young man. "I'll take care of her. Just don't wake her early, got it?"
"What about Mariabella's…" Majic started to ask, but changed his mind as he saw the look on Orphen's face. "You're right, Master. It's late and tomorrow is another day. Good night!" He added cheerfully before hurrying away to his own room.
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Cleao pealed her filthy clothes off in a heap in the middle of the bathroom floor.
Leki though about hopping onto pile of clothes, until he got a good sniff of them. He looked up at her with one ear cocked.
"I know, sorry. You'll need to find another place to sleep. Why don't you go claim that big cushioned chair?" Cleao offered as she sat on the edge of the tub as she waited for it to fill.
The cub yipped happily and bounced off to lay claim to the chair.
Cleao smiled after the Wolven before turning back to the bath. The water was just about half way up the side.
'That will just have to do,' Cleao yawned slipping her feet into the warm water. She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to stay awake long enough to get her injuries healed tonight. She figured that she could wait until tomorrow to get that done. But she would take her bath now, since it was already drawn.
She lowered herself completely into the tub. Letting the water sooth her body and mind from the day's misadventures, she closed her eyes.
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Orphen pushed the door open balancing a tray of food in one hand. He spotted the blue fur ball on the chair as he entered. Leki was already asleep.
Placing the tray down on the nightstand, he sat down on the bed. He pulled his boots off. He sighed being glad to be back. That everyone was back and safe.
The sound of water flowing brought his attention to the fact the bathroom door was open.
"Cleao, what are you thinking? This isn't you're private room." Orphen stood stretching prior to making his way to the open door. "And the door was unlocked. What if I had been some…Cleao?!" Orphen throw the door open as water flowed over his feet.
Cleao lay in the bathtub, with her head propped on the edge of the tub, sound asleep. She stirred ever so slightly as he called her name.
"Damn it," Orphen grumbled as he turned off the water and pulled the plug. He grabbed the towel that hung on the near by hook. "Come on. Get up." Cleao moaned, but nothing else.
Tossing the towel back on the hook, he bent down and pulled Cleao's limp body out of the tub. He leaned her against his body as he reached back for the towel which he then wrapped about her, sort of.
Scooping her up, Orphen carefully made his was out of the bathroom on the wet floor. He stopped a moment considering what to do. Finally he carried her to his bed where he gently laid her down. Within a few moments he had her under the blankets and resting peacefully.
'She is most definitely going to blow me up in the morning,' Orphen mused as he pulled his soaking clothes off. 'Yep, I am a dead man.' He thought as he climbed in next to her. 'And yet, somehow, I don't care.' With a flick of his wrist the lantern went off. He pulled the blanket close and slid an arm around Cleao's waist. '...To reassure her? Or myself?' Again it didn't really matter which was the reason.
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Thank you for all your comments! More to come!
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