It was getting hotter now. Even though the walls of rock that shadowed us and kept us cool, the heat could be felt as it rose. It was the fifth day as we rode off the trail that kept wounding through the mountains. We were finally on the west side of the mountain, and the desert could be seen from here.
"Sir Brad, what are we here to do?" I asked.
"We are searching for a treasure Count Reglay would like to study. It is supposedly found in here, somewhere, lost in the sands of desert and time," said Brad. "But our main goal is to scout the area, report who lives here and the such. Later, Lord Pent himself will come here."
"Really? Okay," I said, shrugging. "What kind of a treasure?"
"It is a magical artifact. Though I cannot feel magic's touch, Orchid will be able to lead us if it isn't too faint. And perhaps your friend, Erk."
"I see. What does it do?"
"Count Reglay never departed us any more tidings than what I have told you."
"Oh…"
We rode under the beating sun as the mountainous region fell away to fields of grass and patches of forestry scattered about. We rode south now, and I could almost feel the moisture in the air diminishing. Eventually, we came to a torrent of a river, crashing from the east where the mountains poked against the sky to the west, where a sea sparkled at the horizon, melding with the sky.
Troy still wouldn't give up with his wooing.
That evening, we were figuring out how to cross the river safely. Erk built us a nice crackling fire, which I sat next to. The temperature dropped sharply, and not a trace of cloud floated by in the sky.
I watched the water thrash at rocks or boulders in its midst. It was unmerciful. Our fliers set out in search of a bridge or any means of crossing the hazardous flow of river.
"Do you think Troy's wyvern can lift a horse and drop it on the other side?" I asked Erk.
"If the horse didn't struggle and if the wyvern doesn't have much of an appetite, perhaps," he said, reading a book by the light of the fire.
"We might be able to blindfold them," I said.
"They will struggle once they lose the ground from under them," said Brad.
"True," I said with a sigh.
Troy returned to us, the wyvern landing gently to the ground. The Cassy and Elradir were still wary of the wyvern as it snapped at them teasingly, but the others didn't even flinch. Troy leapt off his wyvern and strode to us, sitting cross-legged, putting out his hands to the fire.
"No luck in finding a bridge. I did see a near dead tree that could prove a bridge, but if it were to fall into the water under the weight of horses, then we're done for. But I did find a cave. Nice and cool in there," said Troy, his usual smirk missing. "Did Minuette or Fiora return?"
"No," said Brad.
"You think it's hot now, wait 'til we get to the desert!" I said.
"That is the first time you ever spoke nicely to me," said Troy.
"Pff! It's the first time you forgot to show off before you landed. Have you given up then? Because it would save you a lot of disappointment."
"Why? Have you someone else in mind to share your life with?"
"Yes. That better clear your head up enough to flirt with someone who might actually appreciate you."
"Like who?"
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Pff! Minuette's right. You're an idiot born with a rock for a brain."
"Hey! I'm warning you! Don't dare you insult me!"
"You're right. I haven't the time to argue with all the fools in the world."
"Hey!"
"Quiet, Troy! Do you always have to be so loud?" said Orchid, glaring at him.
"Those words bring back painful memories," said Erk. I giggled.
"Come on, Erk. Serra wasn't that bad," I said.
"That is easy for you to say. You didn't have to be with her as she plotted fast-money schemes and asked you to buy her at least four different robes every time you went to refresh supplies."
"I guess not."
"Like who?" asked Troy. All this time he had been thinking.
"Like who what?" I asked.
"Like who appreciates me."
"Oh, that. Have you ever tried being nice to Minuette? Maybe that will brighten things for us all."
"Minuette!" Troy gasped. "She'd rather have never met me at all!"
"Well, that's all I have to say on that subject."
"It is Kent, isn't it?" said Erk.
"Kent what?"
"The one you have in mind?"
I stayed silent, but I can tell I was glowing crimson in the fire. Erk grinned.
"You two are always together and bickering. But you still make a perfect couple, I think," he said.
"That's what Wil meant…" I said, remembering Wil's words.
"Wil was the one who brought it up to me."
"He must have been telling Florina about it…"
"And it's practically spread to everyone in Lyndis's Legions. Do you know how hard it was to keep Serra quiet when she heard it?"
"And that was why Sain asked…and that was why Wallace said we would meet again…"
"Perhaps. Now here comes Fiora…" said Erk.
"Who are all these people?" asked Chad, brightly. "You must tell us about your previous travels with Lyndis's Legions! Why, I'm sure a bard would do well to sing of it!"
"Orchid, help! Minuette's hurt!" cried Fiora. We all just noticed the second pegasus that followed Fiora's. Minuette was held in front of Fiora so she wouldn't fall off. Blood seeped down from the unconscious girl's arm.
Orchid immediately helped Fiora put her to the ground as we quickly made a ring around Minuette.
"I-I do not know what happened! Just that she dropped out of the sky from her Tangerine's back!" cried Fiora in a panicky way.
"Calm down, Fiora! You have to be calm. Or else things will be worse. Besides, that wound looks very healable," said Chad comfortingly. Orchid nodded and lifted her Heal staff and the wounds disappeared with the light that faded away after the staff was used. Minuette opened her eyes and moaned as she picked herself off of the ground.
"Hi…what happened?" asked Minuette, completely unaware of the danger.
"You just fell off of Tangerine's back with this wound. If I hadn't caught you, you surely would have died!" said Fiora. Minuette nodded.
"Do you know what happened to you before you fell?" I asked.
"There was…just…darkness around me. And then it began to hurt," said Minuette.
"Darkness? Dark energy?"
"Dark energy...And it just came up to me even though it couldn't since I was in the moonlight and just…started to hurt," said Minuette casually. "Whatever it was, it's over. I'm fine. So, did you find anything Fiora? Troy?"
I lay awake in my bedroll as I thought of what it felt like when the ray of dark energy hit me. It tore at my leg and the feeling of it ripping apart my muscles screamed at me. I shuddered again. I thought back to what Minuette said.
What I believe is that a shaman attacked her, like I was. In the time I spent with the mercenaries, I'd forgotten about the dark cloaked figure that had been following me. What do they want with Minuette?
We had decided to visit Troy's cave, since we had nothing else to do. It was a cavern in the mountain. The gaping darkness inside made even Cassy fidget nervously.
"Anyone remember to bring a torch?" asked Brad.
I checked my pack, then found the torch. "I got one. But I wouldn't depend on one torch to get us through. We don't know how deep the cave is, how far it goes, where it goes! We don't know what's inside, and we could get lost. This cave could run through the entire mountain! I don't think it's a good idea to just go in like this."
"What's wrong? Scared of a little darkness?" asked Troy, taunting again with his smirk.
"It's not the darkness, but the unknown that scares me. Who knows what we will meet there!" I said, blushing. Then I remembered the cloaked figure that attacked me and shivered.
"She talks a lot of sense in this," said Brad.
"And I can't say I'm particularly fond of bats," said Fiora.
"This might be the only way. Besides, we'll just head south. No other direction. There has to be more than one opening to this cave if it's so big. I remember seeing an opening on the other side," said Troy.
"We could give it a shot. Let's just go as far as we can without losing sight of the entrance. Then we'll light the torch. Who knows, maybe we'll be able to see whatever Troy saw," said Chad. "Come on! Into the cave we venture boldly, not knowing what lies beyond the veil of darkness!"
"Exactly why I don't want to go in," I said. "But if it's the only way, let's get going."
I dismounted and led Cassy by the riens and them into the cave, which was dark after the first five feet.
"I can't see where we're going, guys," I said.
"Guess we need the torch already," said Chad cheerfully. He took the torch from me and had Erk light it. Chad handed it back to me. There were stalagmites slicing the ground. The ground was wet and slippery, shiny with water. The ceiling was lined with stalactites and icicles. Giant icicles.
"Let's hope an earthquake doesn't occur right now," I said, looking at the huge icicles and there piercing points.
Ironically, Troy's wyvern bumped his head in the entrance, causing some of the rocks from the mountain above the cave to fall from and shaking the icicles violently. The wyvern hissed with pain as it used its tail to massage its head. Cassy eagerly prodded me forward when she heard the hiss.
"Like rider, like wyvern," I said.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" said Troy.
"Nothing, nothing," I said. I continued to lead until Troy came up from behind me and snatched the torch away. "What are you doing?"
"You move too slowly," he answered. Taking the torch, he led us from there, deeper into the dark, mysterious cave. "Whoa…look at these," he said pointing to purple glowing crystals on the cavern floor to the side.
"They glow. Do you think we can break one of them and use the light?" I asked.
"Perhaps," said Erk.
"Let's see," said Troy, trying to break one of the crystals. "Here, you hold this."
He was about to hand me the torch when one of the crystals broke off and he dropped the torch in surprise. A moment later, a Fizzzzzzz echoed through the torch as the flame on it was diminished.
The people behind cried in alarm. At the sound of so many voices, a series of squeaks and flapping of wings filled the cavern. I heard Fiora shriek. After a moment, the flapping and squeaking died away. But Fiora continued to shriek.
"Fiora! Quiet!" yelled Orchid. Fiora's shrieking died away.
"Troy…where's the torch?" I asked, my heart thumping at my throat. The empty pit in my stomach filled it with fear.
"Ah! Here it is!" I heard Troy say. "Ugh! What's this? Yuck!"
Then, a steady grumbling could be heard from right in front of us.
"Troy," I squeaked, shuddering uncomfortably. "What was that?"
He was silent.
"Troy?" I whispered.
"Shh!"
I saw the light from the crystal fade as something got between the rays and me. In front of me was a huge shadow that rose. The light outlined the figure of Troy stooped down, slowly picking it up. He gradually brought it up to us. Whatever was in front of us moved back a little. And kept moving back. It shrank and shrank until it hardly seemed knee high. Then…
HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
"A snake!" whimpered Minuette. "I hate snakes…"
I saw Troy kick something in front of him.
HISSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I heard the grumbling noise, but it was fading away.
"Kiya!" I exclaimed when Troy began to laugh. The echoes were so loud; I jumped backward into Cassy, who moved back, stepping onto Brad's foot.
"ACK!" came Brad's voice.
This made Troy laugh even harder.
"I guess this is the end, my friends," said Chad. "Troy has finally lost it."
I could see from the light of the purple crystal that there were tears on Troy's face. "Hah! Sorry, guys. I really scared you."
"Where'd the shadow go? And the giant snake…" I began.
"Firstly, that giant snake would probably be as long as my arm. It was the shadow of the snake that was huge, not the snake itself. Secondly, when it hissed, the echoes bounced off each other, making it sound much louder. Thirdly, I found the torch very wet. Yuck!" said Troy. "Hey, there's water here…"
"Well, you didn't have to laugh so loud! You scared the wits out of me!" I said, punching him in the stomach the way I did Sain. "And don't groan like that. You deserve it. Who agrees with me on that?"
"Me," said everyone but Chad and Troy.
"Now then, Amelia, you shouldn't be so hard on him," said Chad.
"What do you mean? The horse stepped on my foot!" said Brad.
"That was an accident," said Chad.
"No…" grunted Troy. "I'm okay. It's gonna take more than a punch to the stomach to take me down."
"I'll remember to knee your crotch next time," I said.
"Oooh! She didn't even go that far with Sain!" said Erk.
"I'll remember to complain to Count Reglay that I prefer a different tactician. You haven't been very nice lately," said Troy.
"Come on, guys! Get a move on!" said Minuette from behind us.
"Okay! Great, now my boots will get soaked with this water," complained Troy.
"You're no better than Serra," said Erk.
"We can't aimlessly blunder into water like that, you idiot," I said, pulling Troy back by the end of his sleeve when he took a step forward. "Have any idea how deep this water is?"
"Nope," said Troy. He lifted the purple crystal, revealing that the ground dropped away and black water that could be deep. It was crystal clear, and seemed to be trying to reach for us. The only movements were the ripples of the water that seeped and dripped from above. Had Troy taken a step more, he would have slipped into its grasp. "Oh…oops."
"Oops isn't going to get us anywhere, Troy," I said, annoyed. "Now help us think how we will get passed this with that rock of a brain of yours."
"We could fl ––
"With the stalactites this low? I don't think so."
"Why are you so mean? You have to point out the fault before I'm even finished."
"It's my job not to do anything stupid. Now, anyone who has an idea that wouldn't be considered a Troy Idea? In other words, a stupid idea?"
"Troy Idea. I like the sound of that. Anyway, let's take a look," said Minuette as she came up beside me and searched a way past our predicament. I thought I saw a hurt look on Troy's face, but he immediately flashed it past.
"We have to head back before sunset, or else we won't have the light to guide us back out of the cave," said Brad.
"Can't we just swim? How deep could it be?" asked Chad.
"I can't tell. Someone have a lance I could borrow? Wait, never mind," I said. I took out my staff and let it spring out to full length, scaring Troy as he jumped back instinctively. I took hold of one end, careful not to touch the blade and went to the edge. I lowered the staff into the water testily. It stopped after a foot or so. "You guys mind pretending to be old men with canes? Use your lances to guide you through. Make sure the horses don't fall in deep water."
The purple light was beginning to dim. "Hey! What's the deal?" said Troy, talking to it. Everyone else was silent for a moment.
Suddenly, a fire glowed in Erk's palm, lighting his face in a strange way. "I will lead. Troy, lead my horse," he said. "Minuette, can I borrow that lance?" he asked when he stepped past me. Minuette, who had a lance with her still, handed it to Erk. Erk stepped forward to the water, gently sending splashes of water, ripples disturbing the smooth water. Using the lance to feel his way, he continued to go on through the water, prodding at the stone at the bottom. We finally made progress through the cave, eventually a light shining at the end like the door to the outside world again –– which it was.
"Ah! You finally proved yourself useful, Troy," I said upon seeing the light.
"I am at your service," said Troy.
"Shuddup." (Shut up, but real fast.)
He sighed.
I breathed in the warmer air with relief. We were finally out of that cave.
"That was quite fascinating! Let's do that again some other time, shall we?" said Chad.
"No!" said everyone else.
"It's not worth getting kneed in the crotch, that's for sure," said Troy.
"I'm glad some things get to you," I said with a triumphant smirk.
"We have to set up camp now," said Fiora.
We all got to work then.
"The heat! It's too much!" groaned Troy as we marched through the desert.
"A man must prevail over hardships! Otherwise, he's not a man!" said Chad.
"Please, not lessons to great honor and fame now."
"Troy, you're not the only one working up a sweat right now, so stop complaining!" I said, pulling up my hood for shade and so my face wouldn't be sunburned. The robe I wore easily covered the rest of me. I could tuck in my hands into the long sleeves and straighten the robe so it would cover my bare knees. My boots protected my feet. I felt the constant urge to scratch my feet, which were stuck with sand in my boots.
"Hey! I have to fly! Therefore, I get more heat up here," said Troy.
"Heat falls to the ground while cool air rises, moron."
"Oh…"
And so went several days as we used Erk and Orchid's magic sensing powers for a guide to the treasured artifact, wherever it may be.
"We're in the middle of a desert looking for a magical artifact that could be buried anywhere in the sands!" I muttered, bored and exhausted, for the heat melted away my resilience.
"It's here," said Orchid. "I know it is."
"Really? So we can head back now?" said Troy eagerly.
"We are here to scout and see who lives here and the such," said Brad.
"Let's go see that!" said Minuette, pointing to a large castle, gray and dark. And very, very ancient, it was. I had a feeling the doors were not opened for centuries.
"Are you sure that's not a mirage?" I asked. "We could be heading toward it for hours before we find out."
"Well, I'll go see it," said Troy.
"Hold on. Who knows what stupid thing you'll do. I'm coming with you," said Minuette.
"Yes, it has to be here. But should we just start digging in the sand for it?" asked Orchid.
"No. Our mission was to scout the area for anyone who might oppose Count Reglay or any interesting tidbits of information," said Fiora. "And it seems like this place is deserted, if we don't count that…" she said, looking at the castle.
"It's real!" cried Troy when he returned. We made our way to the building. The heavy doors set into it were pretty hard to push for Troy, Brad, Chad and Malondar, and not until Troy's wyvern slammed it with all its might did it finally budge…and break down completely. We had to climb up and our horses jumped onto the door.
"Hello? Hello? Anybody there?" I called out. We had entered a chamber large enough so even the wyvern could fit inside without ducking his head low. "Nope. This place seems to be abandoned.
"Not quite," said an old voice. A man with blue robes and a long white beard stepped into our view. "Ah, I knew you would be coming around now."
"H-How? Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Archsage Athos."
"Impossible! You have to be thousand years old then!" said Troy.
"No, not a thousand. 980 years, to be exact," said the robed man with an understanding nod.
"Archsage Athos, the legendary…" began Fiora, but lost her words. I had learned enough of the history from Erk's books while we traveled earlier.
"Unbelievable. To think that we would be blessed to meet such a sight!" said I.
"Yes," said Minuette.
"Oh, don't make too much fuss about it. Come inside and I will fix the door. The sand is blowing in," said Athos. We all moved off the door. As we dropped to the ground, we saw the doors resume a vertical position, as if pushed up by a mighty force, and placed back into the doorway. "Useless thing…always breaking down every thirty years or so."
I watched the old face etched with wrinkles. He smiled when he saw me.
"Yes, you are Amelia. I know the troubled situation you are in. Come in, then, follow me. We shall dine on a feast, for I really had no company to attend to for quite a while," said Athos.
We all followed after Athos to another chamber with a high ceiling. I didn't have the stomach to eat with when it was filled with butterflies. I am much too excited to eat. It proved the same with everyone (but Troy, who ate enough to make up for the rest of us). They were all too shocked, too thoughtful to eat right now, no matter how much coaxing Athos did. The food simply appeared at a wave of his hand and disappeared with another.
"Ah, and you will need bedding tonight. I will see to that. And what you were searching for, Pent may come to retrieve it. Your work is done. You should return to Count Reglay as soon as you can, though I do invite you to stay a day or two more," said Athos.
"There aren't bandits and the such here to attack him when he comes?" asked Fiora.
"There will be then, yes. But he won't be in trouble. Ironic is the word. Ah, and tell him that he may leave his wife here in safety's hands."
"There will be then? That means we have to get rid of them now!" said Minuette. "That's what we're here for."
"It won't help, no matter what you do. But there will be no trouble for Lord Pent."
"Well, you can't possibly expect us to return now with this for an explanation!" I said, flustered.
"Ah, that is where I come in. Take this ring to Pent and he will know that I sent you back," said Athos, handing Fiora the ring encrusted with an emerald in the shape of a diamond in white gold metal. "But before that, a group by name of Taliver bandits in the Bern Mountains. They are deciding to invade Eutruria. They will within the next month, so if you would so kindly take care of them?"
What an awkward person this guy is. But hey, if someone needs saving, I'll have to be there for them. Fiora nodded, rather awed. Minuette just stood frustrated, watching Fiora.
"I can't believe we made this journey for no stupid reason!" burst Minuette.
"Your hardships will be paid. Just you wait," said Athos with a stern glance at her. "But until you decide to set out for the bandits, please make yourself at home."
As if things couldn't get odder, Minuette greeted me the next morning. And instead of glaring at me the way she did after she fell off her pegasus, she treated me like a knight to their queen.
Home has been the only thing in my mind lately. I want to see my family; I want to hug my brother and practically kill him doing it; I want to eat Mother's cooking and shop with her and wash the dishes for her. I want to see Dad and go skydiving like I did before. I want to see my grandma, the one that wouldn't stop teasing me. The one I couldn't say I liked very much. And I want to see my grandpa, who wouldn't let me play and sat me to Algebra and Biology whenever possible.
I want to smell the gas the cars let out and watch more than my share of TV and surf the net and listen to my radio. I want to talk endless hours on the phone with Lindsey, my closest friend. I want to get home and be spoiled and hate the teachers. I want to tap dance for my aunt, who wouldn't stop badgering to me about it. I want to draw for my cousin, Angeline, and play tag with Ray and Jasper, my brother's best friends (who absolutely despise me, and they have reason to).
But I won't get anywhere by wanting or wishing. I have to find out how to get home.
The Taliver Bandits were ferocious.
They were merciless, slaying men with their axes and swords, dangling the children by their necks sickly, and it was worse for the women. Some women were cornered in an alley, guarding children and running from the bandits that gave chase to them. Once caught, the women were taken to the East, to the Bern mountains. So many lives were lost. There were houses and huts burning, being looted, the church being taken apart brick by brick just for the reaction the bandits received from the people. The village was doomed.
Almost doomed.
That was before we actually reached the village.
"STOP!" I cried out, devastated. There was a pile of burning villager bodies to the right, flame eating at them. Some bodies of children were still lying on the ground, eyes wide in fear of the torture they faced at their last moments. These were the same Taliver Bandits Lyn had been talking about.
Everyone stopped for a moment, even the bandits. They glared at us when they saw us. Then, one with a large nose with a big fat wart sticking up and cruel beady eyes stepped up to me.
"Whatcha wantin'? Go 'way, go 'way! We have nothing 'gainst ye, so go 'way before we change our minds!" said the bandit.
"We're not going anywhere," said Fiora, taking her lance and shifting into a battle position, "until we're finished with you."
The rest of the mercenaries took this as a cue for battle, getting their weapons ready.
"Listen, you," I said in a trembling voice. Tears were already streaking down my face as I wept for the dead. I swiped the sleeve of my green robe to wipe them away. My horror and grief turned to a steel madness. With a strong voice fueled by fury, I said, "I'm going to make you pay for all the people you hurt. Do you understand pain? Of course not! You're all cowards to attack a village unwarned. And now I will make you feel the pain you inflicted on others, you understand?"
"Look at this! This shrimp talks bit too boldly; ye think mates? Let's take these out, and show them the might of the Taliver Bandits!" said the bandit. Seems like he's leader. "Show them yer metal and give them a good wallopin'!"
The other bandits abandoned whoever they were attacking and focused on us. They backed away and waited for us to move first.
"Troy, Minuette, you two ––
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I said to Fiora when she began to order the mercenaries to attack. "That's my job!"
Fiora looked at me intently, then nodded.
"Brad, Chad, you two take the southern portion with your silver swords. See how the entrace there is narrow? Take them out one by one there. Malondar, use your bow at that wall. Troy, Minuette and Fiora take out your axereavers and get the rest. Erk, Orchid, go with the paladins," I said.
"I should stay with you. You need someone to defend you," said Erk. After a moment's hesitation, I gave in. He was right.
And so they set off, slaying the bandits one by one. Malondar had weakened the enemies tremendously as they neared Troy. With one swipe from Troy's lance, the bandits fell to their demise. Minuette and Fiora were using guerilla tactics to bring down the reinforcements that appeared to the east almost without limit. Erk fended off several axemen who managed to sneak past the warriors and charged towards us. The paladins took down the bandits that clustered at the southern entrance to the village. I had Orchid tend to the villagers when I saw the might of the paladins as they simply charged down their enemies in several moments.
Within the hour, they were all done for. The battle was so simple with these powerful warriors who could easily won, even if there were only three of them, against Lyndis's Legions. It pained me to see such skill had not been at Lyn's disposal. It could have helped us a lot.
"Damage report," I requested when the warriors returned to me.
"The church can be fixed by midnight. The people who lost homes can go there. The fields outside are still burning," said Brad dismally.
"Four houses already burnt down," said Troy. "Two are still intact, and three others are either burning or are partly broken down…"
"The well! The bandits poisoned the well with those leaves!" said Minuette.
"You mean Oreach leaves?" asked Fiora.
"Yes."
"The bodies of the dead…what is there we can do for them but bury them? The ones that aren't burning in that pile, that is," said Orchid.
"This is horrible," said Fiora. "These villagers have lost relatives, homes, food, water, and can't even afford to bury the dead with the proper burial rites."
"Those damned Taliver bandits, they are to pay for this! Every single one of them!" said Troy.
"This is a tragic day," said Chad in a low, mourning voice.
"Well," I wiped my watery eyes. "We can't sit here and do nothing. Come on, we have work to do."
Once again, we were on the road. We had done all we could for the village, and now we were going to play messenger to Lord Pent for the villagers and Lord Athos. It took us a week or so. At Lord Pent's, he at once decided to contact the royal family of Eutruria about the village. Once that was taken care of, we told Lord Pent about what had happened with Lord Athos. The excited gleam in his eyes that flashed when he saw the ring, I realized, was the same as when he decided to send me off with the group of mercenaries. And I decided it was best not to butt in when that happened.
Another employer was employing the mercenaries, so they left hastily. I gave each of the girls a hug and just shook each of the men's hands (except Troy's. Ew…I just waved to him).
I watched the clouds in the sky rolling through it like waves as I followed Erk and Lord Pent. I usually tagged along with Erk when Lord Pent and he took their afternoon walk to communicate with the spirits of nature and such. Neither of them minded, which was good.
There were so many birds chirping, and I found it rather challenging to recognize the calls. There were too many chattering. The path we took alternated with trees and shade, and plains with rolling hills for a while. There were grasshoppers that I always tried to catch, though I failed miserably. It was fun, though. There was a pond where frogs dashed into the water from lily pads. Dragonflies would hum across the surface of the water, and fish would pop up in time to snatch them form the air.
I enjoyed these walks. There was so much to observe and admire. But the downside was, I had way too much time to think. I can't stop myself from thinking. I never can.
And, as usual, I thought about home.
What would Cassiele be doing right now? I believe he had a big science project coming up. I wonder if he was paired up with a girl. If he was, I would've taunted him so much! That would have fun. Drats. I can't do that to anybody here. Erk only speaks to Louise and me, and avoids all other girls. He hardly spoke to anyone while we traveled with the mercenaries other than Brad, Chad and me. Come to think of it, I still haven't heard Malondar utter a single word!
And I can't tease anyone else. I don't know anyone else my age or so who would be hanging out with a girl. If I did tease Troy, he'd just say, "Cool." Then he'd ignore whatever else I say. He and Minuette have been hanging out a lot lately. I don't mind. But now I don't have any reason to prank him with Orchid. I don't need blood feuds between him and me, anyway.
It has been around five or six months since I came here. I'm not sure how much time has passed back at home. Probably three or four. I don't get how one dimension's time is different from the others. It seems the same here. Forget it, I don't need to work my brain too hard here. One good thing about Elibe; you don't have any need of algebra. That's good news. Lots of good news.
I plucked a brown leaf from the forest floor and scrunched it up in my hands.
Ew! I just squished a bug! Gross!
I wiped my hands on the bark of a tree after checking it to make sure there wasn't a bug there. Then I hastened my steps and hurried down the path after Erk and Lord Pent, who had stopped walking suddenly.
"Why the frown?" asked Erk.
"Ew…I sort of…squished a bug in my hand…only I didn't know it was there," I replied.
He grinned. It was quite a rare sight.
"The poor bug," said Lord Pent with a smile of his own. "Come Amelia, we have to talk." He began to stride down the path again as I glanced at Erk. He shrugged. We both jogged down to Lord Pent.
"I think," said Lord Pent, "that you should stay with my band of mercenaries so you can further your training."
"Really?" I couldn't believe my ears. So am I being hired?
"Yes. They are going through Ilia to Bern for their next mission. You can accompany them."
"I'm cool with that."
"Cold?"
"No. I'm fine."
Then there was an awkward pause for the three of us. I better watch my tongue. Or else it could get me into embarrassing positions…like this one.
We returned to Castle Wrigley shortly. After lunch the next day, I was teaching Erk Cassiele's 'secret' handshake that he did with his friends. Don't ask how it happened. It just did.
"Up high," said Erk as I slapped him a high five.
"Down low," I said. He tried to give me a five, but I slipped it away. "Too slow. Okay this is how you do it…"
It began with the up high, down low thing. Then it had the knuckles and the two people performing the 'secret' handshake would pass each other while swinging their hand, the one closer to the opposite person, up and in a circle. As the two people passed, the hands would swing up and slap a five at the highest point and swing down, still in a circle and slap another five at the bottom of its reaches.
We were rehearsing it when Lady Louise stepped into the hall.
"Amelia, might you come with me please?" she asked in her sweet voice.
Erk and I shared quizzical glances. I shrugged and followed her.
"You live here with us from time to time, and I have come to think of you as a daughter, Amelia. You…don't mind, do you?" asked Lady Louise.
I smiled and shook my head. "Not at all, milady."
"You don't mind if I treat you like a daughter?"
"No. That would be…nice," I said, mind racing back to Mom.
"Then you must come with me! We will shop today and return with bundles of lace and satin and velvet for you to wear. Come along, now."
"O-Okay…" I stuttered, rather surprised and knowing not what to think.
My mother would take hours on deciding what to buy and what not to. Lady Louise, however, spared herself the agony and just bought whatever caught her eye. She bought fabrics of all types and colors, laces and veils and so many other articles of clothing. I couldn't help but wonder how much she spent the entire day. The way she scurry and choose, the salesperson had to work very hard to keep up with Lady Louise. Then she went on to trinkets, buying to pairs of earrings, a necklace, two bracelets and a circlet. I had my ears pierced, which wasn't very fun. And as she promised, we returned with bundles of things.
Lady Louise took many measurements of my body so she could have her servants sew it to fit perfectly. She designed the clothes and gave the designs drawn on a paper to a servant, who left quickly to relay it to the people who sewed together the dress.
Three days later, I was sitting with her and learning to be a young lady. I sorely wanted to save myself from this, but Lady Louise was strict upon having me taught to be a fine young lady.
Stand tall, don't bend forward; keep your head high and neck stretched; speak sweetly at all times; never, never, never lose your temper; this is how you hold a cup of tea; don't bite your lip like that; jumping up and down like that is not at all lady-like behavior; don't stomp like that, graceful flowing light steps only; don't use dirty language, though I know you don't; blah, blah, blah, blah.
And so, every evening, I had lessons like this. I couldn't say I hated them. They were interesting –– actually, Lady Louise made them interesting. I was taught to cook a bit, to sew (which I did horribly at), to dance (and I had Erk for a partner. What horror we two faced!), and to sing (which I did really well).
Within a week or so, my steps were light and graceful, my speech was more like that of the people of Elibe and slang-less, and I found myself taking on a sweeter nature. Is this what Mom had warned me about? That I wouldn't be myself when I returned?
I was about to tuck myself into bed when I noticed there was a mirror built into the wall at the far side of the room. I haven't seen myself in the mirror lately, so I glided out of the bed to it. What I saw shocked me.
I didn't really look like the image I had of myself anymore. Not even close to it.
My dark hair, which grew a couple of inches, curled magnificently at the bottom. Otherwise, it was straight, encasing a slender peachy face. My eyes seemed to be greener than ever, kind of like spring oak leaves. All the baby fat that was in it before disappeared, leaving a mature face in its wake. My eyebrows curved in an angle I did not recognize. My cheeks were delicate and cheekbones protruding noticeably in a sort of proud way. If testily smiled. It gave me an affectionate look. When I frowned, I did not at all recognize the way my brows creased dangerously over my glowering eyes while my lips were pursed.
I stepped back to examine the rest of my body. It looked slender and frail, but in my defensive karate stance, quick and deceiving. My belly was naturally tucked in now. Good. I didn't look fat. I swirled and watched my reflection mimic me. I walked around. It looked like I glided over the air. I glanced around, even though I knew no one was around. Then I jumped. Nope. Not at all lady-like. I blew up strands of my hair that got in my face. In my reflection, I saw that it gave me a comical look. I grinned. And I smirked. And did every possible expression with my face.
After I finished snickering at my weirdest expressions, I drew the covers over myself and turned out the lamp beside my bed.
And I had no idea of what Lady Louise had in mind now.
A/N: Whoo, it's been a while. Thanks for reading! :D
