All eyes swiveled to the opposite bank from where the voice spoke,
including the water creature's, but none were prepared for the
blinding white streak that flashed by and headed straight for Sakura.
As fast as lightning, the white streak attacked the hands that held
the princess.
Screeching her protest, the creature pulled her hands back, releasing the nearly lifeless girl in the process. Sakura, collapsing on the water-strewn beach, gasped for the air her lungs screamed for. Not waiting for an invitation, Li was the first at her side, followed simultaneously by Kero, both assuring themselves of her well-being. After several moments of coughing and panting, Sakura managed to look up and sputter, "Who?"
The single word being the same question on the protectors' minds, all three looked up at the astonishing sight. Standing in a defensive position in front of Sakura and Li was a familiar looking white beast with eyes glittering and teeth bared.
The water creature stared at the beast, eyes wide, an expression of utter confusion crossing her face. The white beast hissed viciously, intending on protecting its charges absolutely.
Angry blue eyes flicked briefly to Sakura. She watched the entire confrontation from the safety of Li's arms, color slowly returning to her cheeks. Eyes narrowing, the creature's gaze returned to the beast, still tensely protective. Then, in a stunt that astonished all three humans and two protective beasts, the water being uttered a defeated hiss before sinking into the water, bubbles fizzing from her departure.
Relaxing from its position, the white beast carefully sniffed the air before it was sure of their safety. Satisfied, it turned and slowly approached the princess, wary of the swordsman's suspicious looks.
To break the tension, Sakura offered the valiant animal a soft smile and reached out her hand. Perking, the creature leaned forward to gently lick her fingers.
Sakura's smile grew. "Thank you very much... for... for saving..." Suddenly, she felt weak, and without another word, sank back into Li's arms.
"Sakura? Sakura, are you okay?" he asked nervously.
"She's okay," Kero confirmed, examining the girl closely. "I think she's just exhausted. If anything, what she needs is to rest."
"No, Kero," Sakura moaned softly, eyes fluttering. "We... can't... waste time..."
Kero frowned. "Don't be ridiculous! You can't go anywhere in your condition! You need to rest!"
A splash behind the group alerted their attention to the forgotten fourth party.
"You're more than welcome to share my camp, if you need to."
***
The drifting aroma of cooking food aroused Sakura. Eyes flickering open, she tried to sit up, only to be pressed back down by a wave of nausea.
An unfamiliar voice chuckled. "You'd do best to lie still, Princess. You're body hasn't recovered from yesterday's shock."
Obeying the command, Sakura kept her eyes open and turned her head toward the stranger.
The newcomer was a young man who appeared to be the same age as Li. Silky, cobalt blue hair hung curled about his ears and face, and long bangs cushioned a broad forehead. A small pair of gold-rimmed glasses did not conceal the rich, dark eyes of an endless cerulean color that sparkled delightedly. A strong jaw line and warm smile suggested a friendly, intense personality. The stranger sat poking at a lively fire, his loose, dark blue drapes and traveling cloak unable to disguise the well-built form beneath.
As she studied his physique, Sakura suddenly became aware of her rude staring and looked away, cheeks rose. The young man observed the action with amusement, and his smile grew. "No need to feel uncomfortable around me, Your Highness."
Sakura's cheeks brightened. "But it was incredibly rude of me to stare like that."
"Personally, I take it as a compliment," he replied calmly. "Especially when being observed by the Princess of Falyndor."
Her face now a bright red, Sakura looked back at him. "Well, please, at the very least call me Sakura."
The stranger brightened. "Only at the price of you addressing me as Eli."
Comforted by his proposal, Sakura giggled. "Sounds like a fair price."
In sport of the joke, Eli took an informal bow. "As a trader, I pride myself in fairness and the quality of the items I sell and trade."
About to speak up, the sudden appearance of a new individual sparked her interest. The familiar white beast's head poked up from behind a rock, and chirped pleasantly at the princess.
Sakura smiled. "Hello, again."
Eli turned to the beast and grinned. "So, you've decided to return?"
With a nod, the creature suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of the young man in a swirl of light. Sakura blinked, surprised. "Is it yours?"
Eli looked up at Sakura, pausing thoughtfully before he answered. "Not really."
Sakura's head tilted. Eli smiled at the gesture, and continued to explain. "What I mean is this little fellow doesn't really belong to me, but rather I take care of him, anyway. He comes and goes as he wishes."
"I see," Sakura replied, nodding. The beast's head spun around to face her, and before she could blink, it was sitting on her lap, observing her curiously. Sakura laughed and reached out to stroke his tiny head, glancing at its unusual features. "Is it a Kreetal?" she asked.
Absorbed in the small beast, Sakura didn't notice a strange glint appear in Eli's eyes. "No, actually, although I did think the same for a while. But there isn't any variety of Kreetal that own jewels on their forehead or are without a pair of wings. I've checked."
Confused, Sakura looked up at him, frowning. "But the way he disappeared and appeared- from the rock to you, then to me. Isn't that a Kreetalian characteristic?"
"Well, that particular method of transportation is unique to the species," Eli commented thoughtfully, "but what that creature does isn't like that. Rather, he posses quite a degree of speed, enough to enable him to move faster than a human eye can comprehend."
"Oh," Sakura replied, nodding. "I suppose that makes sense. I saw the same thing when he got caught up in that fight with Zia."
"Zia is your Kreetal?" Eli asked.
Sakura nodded. "Yup, she's my best friend. speaking of which," she added, looking around. "Where is everybody?"
"Your friends? They should be here shortly."
As if on cue, the small Kero emerged from the forest carrying a sack of water, followed by the Kreetal with a similar sack. Upon seeing the revived princess, both dropped their burdens and raced to her side. Zia crawled all over the laughing girl, licking every area of her face unprotected by her shielding arms while the guardian was content to watch.
"Zia, enough!" Sakura ordered playfully. "You're tickling me!"
Finally relenting, the Kreetal allowed the princess to sit up before promptly returning to her lap, cuddling up in her arms. Sakura returned the embrace, smiling. "I'm glad to see you, too. And it looks like your wing is better," she added, noticing the absence of the Kreetal's bandages. Zia looked up at her master and nodded proudly, chirping.
"Glad to see you're feeling better, Princess," Kero said warmly.
Sakura smiled. "And I have all of you to thank for it. Including you, as well, Eli," she added, turning to the trader.
The young man returned the smile, eyes glittering. "The pleasure was mine."
Turning back to Kero, Sakura asked, "So, where are Li and Mei-"
"It was your own fault!"
"But Li!" Meilin exclaimed, bursting onto the camp. "My tongue! It's burning!"
Li appeared behind her, lifting two large sacs of fruit. "I told you those were char apples, but you wouldn't listen to me."
Meilin crossed her arms over her chest, sulking. "It's not my fault I mistook them for red gahna fruits. They look almost exactly the same!"
Li ignored her protest. "That still doesn't excuse the fact that you're incredibly-"
"Li! Meilin!" Sakura exclaimed cheerfully.
Both humans stopped, startled by the princess's greeting. A little stunned, Li involuntarily loosened his grip on the sacks, letting them slide to the ground while Meilin's scowl returned.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Li asked, walking forward.
The princess smiled. "Yep. I'm fine, thanks to you guys and Eli."
Li stopped and spun around to look at the trader. With a smile still lurking on his face, Eli held his gaze, doing nothing to ease the swordsman's suspicion about the stranger. After a moment of intense silence, Eli shrugged, grinning. "Like I said, I was more than happy to assist."
Briefly throwing the newcomer an irritated scowl, Li made his way toward Sakura and knelt beside her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Never been better!" she replied confidently.
From behind them, Meilin snorted. "Thanks to me, might I add."
Exchanging exasperated glances with the young swordsman, Sakura tried to remain cheerful and looked at the girl appraisingly. "Yes, thanks to you. And as always, you did a fabulous job!"
Meilin's scarlet orbs eyed the princess suspiciously. "Naturally. I am the best."
Li rolled his eyes. "Meilin."
Ignoring the man's groan, Meilin lifted her chin and stalked away toward the fire.
Suddenly, a loud grumbling alerted the man and woman's attention. Confused momentarily, Li eyes flicked toward Sakura's stomach, than up to meet the princess's gaze. Sakura's face turned a bright red at the sound of a second gurgle. Li smirked.
"Very impressive, Princess," he remarked.
Sakura's expression instantly turned from embarrassed to defensive. "It's not my fault! I haven't eaten since yesterday!"
A chuckle brought their attention to the trader. "Guess we'll have to do something about that, haven't we?"
***
"So, Eli..."
Sakura looked up from the flames to face the friendly young man whose attention quickly focused on her. The action did not go unnoticed by Li, however, as his eyes narrowed uncomfortably. And while Sakura took to the charming strange immediately, he could not say he shared her easily won trust.
"Yes, milady?" he replied smoothly. Li's scowl deepened.
Without speaking, Sakura's eyebrow quirked expectantly.
Acknowledging the look, Eli chuckled and bowed his head in apology. "Excuse me, Sakura," he corrected himself.
"Thank you," she replied, pleased.
"You were saying?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes. You haven't told us much about yourself. Where are you from?"
From his comfortable position on Sakura's shoulder with half of a yellow fruit in his paws, Kero's eyes darted toward Eli. Was it just his imagination, or did the man's eyes just suddenly seem- familiar? A look of almost enigmatic pleasure crossed his face that the guardian could have sworn he saw somewhere before. But almost as soon as it appeared, the expression was gone, and Kero instantly dismissed his foolish thoughts.
Though aware of the beast's momentary scrutinizing glance, Eli showed no sign of it as he spoke. "I'm not really from anywhere. I travel around too much to really call anyplace my home."
Sakura nodded. "That must be rather sad, though."
Eli smiled, shaking his head. "One would think so, but with my friend, here, accompanying me," he indicated the white beast seated beside him whose ears perked acknowledgingly, "my travels have been quite pleasant."
Sakura subconsciously ran a finger along her own Kreetal's spine who purred loudly in response. "I know what you mean," she agreed, smiling. "Zia has always been wonderful company."
Eli nodded, pleased, and leaned forward, resting his chin on his folded hands, watching the princess. "So what about you? Where are you all heading to?"
Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but Li interjected.
"We were supposed to escort the princess to a town nearby," he replied curtly. "She has business to deal with, there."
"Oh really?" Eli said, interested. He obviously chose to ignore the blatant attempt to thwart his curiosity. "Which town?"
Li's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid the name slips me, for the moments."
Eli nodded, grinning. "Well, you must be headed for the village of Nordence. There aren't any other towns around for miles."
Kero brightened, joining the conversation. "Yes, Nordence! That's the one! We were heading in that direction when we got. delayed. Isn't that right, Master Showron?" Kero added, eying the swordsman expectantly. The young man nodded, exchanging brief glances with the guardian before returning his focus to the trader.
Eli smiled understandingly and leaned back, making himself comfortable. "Yes, I thought so." Thoughtfully, he glanced at the princess, asking curiously. "Have you ever visited Nordence, Sakura?"
After receiving meaningful looks from both Li and Kero, Sakura tried to keep up with the story as best she could. "Actually, no. That's part of the reason I'm visiting, actually. On behalf of my father. He couldn't make it himself, and asked me to take his place."
"I see," Eli replied, heaving a contented sigh and looking up at the darkened, star-spattered sky. "Well, you're in for a treat. Of all my travels, I'd have to say Nordence is among the places I visit time after time. The people there are very nice, and the culture itself is exquisite."
"Really?" Sakura said softly, genuinely interested.
"Oh, yes. It's really a bustling little village with a lot of pride for themselves. And it's in their right, as well. The town has a lot to offer. It's uniqueness lies in the unusual concentration of skilled craftsmen from quite a variety of skills- from sword smithing to glass finery to jewelry making to woodworking. It's all of the finest quality, and some of the best in Falyndor."
Before Li or Kero could stop her, Sakura found herself exclaiming, "Why don't you join us, Eli? For one who knows the village and the way so well, I'm sure your help would be much appreciated."
Eli resisted the urge to smirk when he noticed both the guardian and swordsman groan in disbelief as his gaze rested upon Sakura. With a warm, charming smile, he replied sincerely, "If it's no trouble to your entourage, I'd love to accompany you."
Sakura smiled. "Oh, don't worry. It's no trouble at all. Right, guys?" Turning to glance at them for approval, she was surprised at the series of shaking heads and disapproving looks. Suddenly realizing what she just did, she offered the two a small, apologetic smile. "Oops?" she whispered.
Pretending not to notice the tension he knew he caused, Eli continued to speak. "If I am to become your escort, Lady Sakura, then I must insist on introducing you to someone upon arrival."
Forgetting her mistake, Sakura turned to look at him curiously. "Really? Who?"
Eli did not answer, but merely grinned perceptively. "Someone I think you'd like very much. A character, much like yourself, with an endearing personality and rather charming qualities."
Sakura grinned. "Well, if you think so highly of this person, undoubtedly I have to be introduced."
Eli's smile softened. "As dear a friend as I've ever known," he agreed.
Sakura noticed the tenderness that overcame the trader's expression as he spoke, but decided against remarking about it. Instead, she asked pointedly, "So, how long will it take to reach Nordence?"
Snapping out of his trance-like state, the young man replied, "With an early start tomorrow, we will be walking along its streets before sundown."
With a nod, Sakura emitted a yawn before settling herself down once again. Without need for further request, Zia promptly blinked from Sakura's lap and returned seconds later with the same sleeping mats and blankets.
Kero nodded accordingly. "The Kreetal is right. If we are to be ready to go early tomorrow, we should get some sleep while we can."
Li nodded, and silently retrieved his sleeping gear from the Kreetal. He decided to set his mat near Sakura, but in a position where he could keep an eye on the trader. Despite Sakura's natural friendliness and acceptance of the newcomer, his own instincts told him otherwise, and he continued throwing warning glances toward the young man to assure him that he held no trust with the swordsman.
Kero, too, felt rather agitated around the stranger, and for reasons not too dissimilar from Li's. The guardian could sense an underlying power within the young man, like he could with any person, but something about his presence unnerved him. And until he was sure what it was, Kero was content with being equally wary of him.
Meilin's purpose of distrusting Eli stemmed from her lack of trust for anyone she met, including the princess and her companions. And her irritation concerning the attention he showed Sakura, as well as the jealousy she felt at noticing Li's similar annoyance.
Sakura, however, showed no discord toward the trader. His calm demeanor and soothing presence reminded her of her father, and she willingly found herself driven toward accepting the man without feeling threatened. Sensing the animosity emitted from Li and Kero toward him, however, Sakura did her best to keep her friendliness to a respectable distance, if only for their sake.
With a sigh, the princess settled herself into the blanket folds, feeling a warm sense of security with Kero and Zia nestled on either side of her and Li resting close by. Encompassed by the warmth of her friends, Sakura soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Eli watched the proceeds of the odd group closely. Gazing resting from one sleeping form to another, a grin slowly grew on his face when he stopped at Li. The young man slept with a frown on his face, and his sword nearby.
Eli's eyes narrowed. "You're affections for the princess are admirable, young Showron, but you have nothing to fear from me." With a smirk, he added to himself, "I wouldn't dream of trying to tear Sakura from such a formidable opponent as you."
With a satisfied sigh, Eli sank down into his own sleeping gear. The white beast curled up in front of him, turning its head to impart a questioning glance. Eli grinned.
"No, my friend. For now, we'll see how she develops on her journey, both her skills, and her relationship with Mr. Showron," he added, a sneaky glimmer in his eyes. "Until then, we'll just see what happens when we arrive in Nordence."
***
Heykyra13: Well? Whatcha think? Eli's finally been introduced! Only a few more characters, now, until the entire cast has been complete. Will Sakura and the gang reach the sorcerer's place in time? Will he help them? What about her father and Tori? Or worse, Kain? And who is this person Eli wants Sakura to meet? To find out, tune in next time for another episode of.... okay, I'm just gonna stop there... *gasps and grabs throat* Oh No!... Too much... cheeziness!...
Next chapter: Who the heck are all these creatures that keep attacking Sakura and why in the do they keep going after her? ... well, just to let you know, you don't find out yet... *WHACK!*... I know, I know, I'm sorry... but there will be more encounters, and Eli continues to pester Li. Lots of bickering to be encountered! And bickering always means funny stuff!
Screeching her protest, the creature pulled her hands back, releasing the nearly lifeless girl in the process. Sakura, collapsing on the water-strewn beach, gasped for the air her lungs screamed for. Not waiting for an invitation, Li was the first at her side, followed simultaneously by Kero, both assuring themselves of her well-being. After several moments of coughing and panting, Sakura managed to look up and sputter, "Who?"
The single word being the same question on the protectors' minds, all three looked up at the astonishing sight. Standing in a defensive position in front of Sakura and Li was a familiar looking white beast with eyes glittering and teeth bared.
The water creature stared at the beast, eyes wide, an expression of utter confusion crossing her face. The white beast hissed viciously, intending on protecting its charges absolutely.
Angry blue eyes flicked briefly to Sakura. She watched the entire confrontation from the safety of Li's arms, color slowly returning to her cheeks. Eyes narrowing, the creature's gaze returned to the beast, still tensely protective. Then, in a stunt that astonished all three humans and two protective beasts, the water being uttered a defeated hiss before sinking into the water, bubbles fizzing from her departure.
Relaxing from its position, the white beast carefully sniffed the air before it was sure of their safety. Satisfied, it turned and slowly approached the princess, wary of the swordsman's suspicious looks.
To break the tension, Sakura offered the valiant animal a soft smile and reached out her hand. Perking, the creature leaned forward to gently lick her fingers.
Sakura's smile grew. "Thank you very much... for... for saving..." Suddenly, she felt weak, and without another word, sank back into Li's arms.
"Sakura? Sakura, are you okay?" he asked nervously.
"She's okay," Kero confirmed, examining the girl closely. "I think she's just exhausted. If anything, what she needs is to rest."
"No, Kero," Sakura moaned softly, eyes fluttering. "We... can't... waste time..."
Kero frowned. "Don't be ridiculous! You can't go anywhere in your condition! You need to rest!"
A splash behind the group alerted their attention to the forgotten fourth party.
"You're more than welcome to share my camp, if you need to."
***
The drifting aroma of cooking food aroused Sakura. Eyes flickering open, she tried to sit up, only to be pressed back down by a wave of nausea.
An unfamiliar voice chuckled. "You'd do best to lie still, Princess. You're body hasn't recovered from yesterday's shock."
Obeying the command, Sakura kept her eyes open and turned her head toward the stranger.
The newcomer was a young man who appeared to be the same age as Li. Silky, cobalt blue hair hung curled about his ears and face, and long bangs cushioned a broad forehead. A small pair of gold-rimmed glasses did not conceal the rich, dark eyes of an endless cerulean color that sparkled delightedly. A strong jaw line and warm smile suggested a friendly, intense personality. The stranger sat poking at a lively fire, his loose, dark blue drapes and traveling cloak unable to disguise the well-built form beneath.
As she studied his physique, Sakura suddenly became aware of her rude staring and looked away, cheeks rose. The young man observed the action with amusement, and his smile grew. "No need to feel uncomfortable around me, Your Highness."
Sakura's cheeks brightened. "But it was incredibly rude of me to stare like that."
"Personally, I take it as a compliment," he replied calmly. "Especially when being observed by the Princess of Falyndor."
Her face now a bright red, Sakura looked back at him. "Well, please, at the very least call me Sakura."
The stranger brightened. "Only at the price of you addressing me as Eli."
Comforted by his proposal, Sakura giggled. "Sounds like a fair price."
In sport of the joke, Eli took an informal bow. "As a trader, I pride myself in fairness and the quality of the items I sell and trade."
About to speak up, the sudden appearance of a new individual sparked her interest. The familiar white beast's head poked up from behind a rock, and chirped pleasantly at the princess.
Sakura smiled. "Hello, again."
Eli turned to the beast and grinned. "So, you've decided to return?"
With a nod, the creature suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of the young man in a swirl of light. Sakura blinked, surprised. "Is it yours?"
Eli looked up at Sakura, pausing thoughtfully before he answered. "Not really."
Sakura's head tilted. Eli smiled at the gesture, and continued to explain. "What I mean is this little fellow doesn't really belong to me, but rather I take care of him, anyway. He comes and goes as he wishes."
"I see," Sakura replied, nodding. The beast's head spun around to face her, and before she could blink, it was sitting on her lap, observing her curiously. Sakura laughed and reached out to stroke his tiny head, glancing at its unusual features. "Is it a Kreetal?" she asked.
Absorbed in the small beast, Sakura didn't notice a strange glint appear in Eli's eyes. "No, actually, although I did think the same for a while. But there isn't any variety of Kreetal that own jewels on their forehead or are without a pair of wings. I've checked."
Confused, Sakura looked up at him, frowning. "But the way he disappeared and appeared- from the rock to you, then to me. Isn't that a Kreetalian characteristic?"
"Well, that particular method of transportation is unique to the species," Eli commented thoughtfully, "but what that creature does isn't like that. Rather, he posses quite a degree of speed, enough to enable him to move faster than a human eye can comprehend."
"Oh," Sakura replied, nodding. "I suppose that makes sense. I saw the same thing when he got caught up in that fight with Zia."
"Zia is your Kreetal?" Eli asked.
Sakura nodded. "Yup, she's my best friend. speaking of which," she added, looking around. "Where is everybody?"
"Your friends? They should be here shortly."
As if on cue, the small Kero emerged from the forest carrying a sack of water, followed by the Kreetal with a similar sack. Upon seeing the revived princess, both dropped their burdens and raced to her side. Zia crawled all over the laughing girl, licking every area of her face unprotected by her shielding arms while the guardian was content to watch.
"Zia, enough!" Sakura ordered playfully. "You're tickling me!"
Finally relenting, the Kreetal allowed the princess to sit up before promptly returning to her lap, cuddling up in her arms. Sakura returned the embrace, smiling. "I'm glad to see you, too. And it looks like your wing is better," she added, noticing the absence of the Kreetal's bandages. Zia looked up at her master and nodded proudly, chirping.
"Glad to see you're feeling better, Princess," Kero said warmly.
Sakura smiled. "And I have all of you to thank for it. Including you, as well, Eli," she added, turning to the trader.
The young man returned the smile, eyes glittering. "The pleasure was mine."
Turning back to Kero, Sakura asked, "So, where are Li and Mei-"
"It was your own fault!"
"But Li!" Meilin exclaimed, bursting onto the camp. "My tongue! It's burning!"
Li appeared behind her, lifting two large sacs of fruit. "I told you those were char apples, but you wouldn't listen to me."
Meilin crossed her arms over her chest, sulking. "It's not my fault I mistook them for red gahna fruits. They look almost exactly the same!"
Li ignored her protest. "That still doesn't excuse the fact that you're incredibly-"
"Li! Meilin!" Sakura exclaimed cheerfully.
Both humans stopped, startled by the princess's greeting. A little stunned, Li involuntarily loosened his grip on the sacks, letting them slide to the ground while Meilin's scowl returned.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Li asked, walking forward.
The princess smiled. "Yep. I'm fine, thanks to you guys and Eli."
Li stopped and spun around to look at the trader. With a smile still lurking on his face, Eli held his gaze, doing nothing to ease the swordsman's suspicion about the stranger. After a moment of intense silence, Eli shrugged, grinning. "Like I said, I was more than happy to assist."
Briefly throwing the newcomer an irritated scowl, Li made his way toward Sakura and knelt beside her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Never been better!" she replied confidently.
From behind them, Meilin snorted. "Thanks to me, might I add."
Exchanging exasperated glances with the young swordsman, Sakura tried to remain cheerful and looked at the girl appraisingly. "Yes, thanks to you. And as always, you did a fabulous job!"
Meilin's scarlet orbs eyed the princess suspiciously. "Naturally. I am the best."
Li rolled his eyes. "Meilin."
Ignoring the man's groan, Meilin lifted her chin and stalked away toward the fire.
Suddenly, a loud grumbling alerted the man and woman's attention. Confused momentarily, Li eyes flicked toward Sakura's stomach, than up to meet the princess's gaze. Sakura's face turned a bright red at the sound of a second gurgle. Li smirked.
"Very impressive, Princess," he remarked.
Sakura's expression instantly turned from embarrassed to defensive. "It's not my fault! I haven't eaten since yesterday!"
A chuckle brought their attention to the trader. "Guess we'll have to do something about that, haven't we?"
***
"So, Eli..."
Sakura looked up from the flames to face the friendly young man whose attention quickly focused on her. The action did not go unnoticed by Li, however, as his eyes narrowed uncomfortably. And while Sakura took to the charming strange immediately, he could not say he shared her easily won trust.
"Yes, milady?" he replied smoothly. Li's scowl deepened.
Without speaking, Sakura's eyebrow quirked expectantly.
Acknowledging the look, Eli chuckled and bowed his head in apology. "Excuse me, Sakura," he corrected himself.
"Thank you," she replied, pleased.
"You were saying?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes. You haven't told us much about yourself. Where are you from?"
From his comfortable position on Sakura's shoulder with half of a yellow fruit in his paws, Kero's eyes darted toward Eli. Was it just his imagination, or did the man's eyes just suddenly seem- familiar? A look of almost enigmatic pleasure crossed his face that the guardian could have sworn he saw somewhere before. But almost as soon as it appeared, the expression was gone, and Kero instantly dismissed his foolish thoughts.
Though aware of the beast's momentary scrutinizing glance, Eli showed no sign of it as he spoke. "I'm not really from anywhere. I travel around too much to really call anyplace my home."
Sakura nodded. "That must be rather sad, though."
Eli smiled, shaking his head. "One would think so, but with my friend, here, accompanying me," he indicated the white beast seated beside him whose ears perked acknowledgingly, "my travels have been quite pleasant."
Sakura subconsciously ran a finger along her own Kreetal's spine who purred loudly in response. "I know what you mean," she agreed, smiling. "Zia has always been wonderful company."
Eli nodded, pleased, and leaned forward, resting his chin on his folded hands, watching the princess. "So what about you? Where are you all heading to?"
Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but Li interjected.
"We were supposed to escort the princess to a town nearby," he replied curtly. "She has business to deal with, there."
"Oh really?" Eli said, interested. He obviously chose to ignore the blatant attempt to thwart his curiosity. "Which town?"
Li's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid the name slips me, for the moments."
Eli nodded, grinning. "Well, you must be headed for the village of Nordence. There aren't any other towns around for miles."
Kero brightened, joining the conversation. "Yes, Nordence! That's the one! We were heading in that direction when we got. delayed. Isn't that right, Master Showron?" Kero added, eying the swordsman expectantly. The young man nodded, exchanging brief glances with the guardian before returning his focus to the trader.
Eli smiled understandingly and leaned back, making himself comfortable. "Yes, I thought so." Thoughtfully, he glanced at the princess, asking curiously. "Have you ever visited Nordence, Sakura?"
After receiving meaningful looks from both Li and Kero, Sakura tried to keep up with the story as best she could. "Actually, no. That's part of the reason I'm visiting, actually. On behalf of my father. He couldn't make it himself, and asked me to take his place."
"I see," Eli replied, heaving a contented sigh and looking up at the darkened, star-spattered sky. "Well, you're in for a treat. Of all my travels, I'd have to say Nordence is among the places I visit time after time. The people there are very nice, and the culture itself is exquisite."
"Really?" Sakura said softly, genuinely interested.
"Oh, yes. It's really a bustling little village with a lot of pride for themselves. And it's in their right, as well. The town has a lot to offer. It's uniqueness lies in the unusual concentration of skilled craftsmen from quite a variety of skills- from sword smithing to glass finery to jewelry making to woodworking. It's all of the finest quality, and some of the best in Falyndor."
Before Li or Kero could stop her, Sakura found herself exclaiming, "Why don't you join us, Eli? For one who knows the village and the way so well, I'm sure your help would be much appreciated."
Eli resisted the urge to smirk when he noticed both the guardian and swordsman groan in disbelief as his gaze rested upon Sakura. With a warm, charming smile, he replied sincerely, "If it's no trouble to your entourage, I'd love to accompany you."
Sakura smiled. "Oh, don't worry. It's no trouble at all. Right, guys?" Turning to glance at them for approval, she was surprised at the series of shaking heads and disapproving looks. Suddenly realizing what she just did, she offered the two a small, apologetic smile. "Oops?" she whispered.
Pretending not to notice the tension he knew he caused, Eli continued to speak. "If I am to become your escort, Lady Sakura, then I must insist on introducing you to someone upon arrival."
Forgetting her mistake, Sakura turned to look at him curiously. "Really? Who?"
Eli did not answer, but merely grinned perceptively. "Someone I think you'd like very much. A character, much like yourself, with an endearing personality and rather charming qualities."
Sakura grinned. "Well, if you think so highly of this person, undoubtedly I have to be introduced."
Eli's smile softened. "As dear a friend as I've ever known," he agreed.
Sakura noticed the tenderness that overcame the trader's expression as he spoke, but decided against remarking about it. Instead, she asked pointedly, "So, how long will it take to reach Nordence?"
Snapping out of his trance-like state, the young man replied, "With an early start tomorrow, we will be walking along its streets before sundown."
With a nod, Sakura emitted a yawn before settling herself down once again. Without need for further request, Zia promptly blinked from Sakura's lap and returned seconds later with the same sleeping mats and blankets.
Kero nodded accordingly. "The Kreetal is right. If we are to be ready to go early tomorrow, we should get some sleep while we can."
Li nodded, and silently retrieved his sleeping gear from the Kreetal. He decided to set his mat near Sakura, but in a position where he could keep an eye on the trader. Despite Sakura's natural friendliness and acceptance of the newcomer, his own instincts told him otherwise, and he continued throwing warning glances toward the young man to assure him that he held no trust with the swordsman.
Kero, too, felt rather agitated around the stranger, and for reasons not too dissimilar from Li's. The guardian could sense an underlying power within the young man, like he could with any person, but something about his presence unnerved him. And until he was sure what it was, Kero was content with being equally wary of him.
Meilin's purpose of distrusting Eli stemmed from her lack of trust for anyone she met, including the princess and her companions. And her irritation concerning the attention he showed Sakura, as well as the jealousy she felt at noticing Li's similar annoyance.
Sakura, however, showed no discord toward the trader. His calm demeanor and soothing presence reminded her of her father, and she willingly found herself driven toward accepting the man without feeling threatened. Sensing the animosity emitted from Li and Kero toward him, however, Sakura did her best to keep her friendliness to a respectable distance, if only for their sake.
With a sigh, the princess settled herself into the blanket folds, feeling a warm sense of security with Kero and Zia nestled on either side of her and Li resting close by. Encompassed by the warmth of her friends, Sakura soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Eli watched the proceeds of the odd group closely. Gazing resting from one sleeping form to another, a grin slowly grew on his face when he stopped at Li. The young man slept with a frown on his face, and his sword nearby.
Eli's eyes narrowed. "You're affections for the princess are admirable, young Showron, but you have nothing to fear from me." With a smirk, he added to himself, "I wouldn't dream of trying to tear Sakura from such a formidable opponent as you."
With a satisfied sigh, Eli sank down into his own sleeping gear. The white beast curled up in front of him, turning its head to impart a questioning glance. Eli grinned.
"No, my friend. For now, we'll see how she develops on her journey, both her skills, and her relationship with Mr. Showron," he added, a sneaky glimmer in his eyes. "Until then, we'll just see what happens when we arrive in Nordence."
***
Heykyra13: Well? Whatcha think? Eli's finally been introduced! Only a few more characters, now, until the entire cast has been complete. Will Sakura and the gang reach the sorcerer's place in time? Will he help them? What about her father and Tori? Or worse, Kain? And who is this person Eli wants Sakura to meet? To find out, tune in next time for another episode of.... okay, I'm just gonna stop there... *gasps and grabs throat* Oh No!... Too much... cheeziness!...
Next chapter: Who the heck are all these creatures that keep attacking Sakura and why in the do they keep going after her? ... well, just to let you know, you don't find out yet... *WHACK!*... I know, I know, I'm sorry... but there will be more encounters, and Eli continues to pester Li. Lots of bickering to be encountered! And bickering always means funny stuff!
