"The Belt will lead us to the Tainter's chosen one. Why and how? Weren't they enemies?" Lief mused as they group almost skipped out of Del.
"Oh cheer up Lief! We are leaving that cramped crowded palace and we are back one the road. Just like a year ago." Jasmine sounded very cheerful and Lief was pleasantly surprised. He didn't think that the palace bothered her that much.
'Have to make a note of that when we get married…Oh crap I did not just say that!'
His eyes unwillingly flowed over Jasmine's lithe body. 'She'd be great…'
But then he was struck by a moment of total depression as he remembered the Metamorphosis. 'She'll never say yes. Not if I become a monster.' And Lief was sure it would happen. The magic he had been exposed to was too strong-
"Ahhh!" Barda yelled and held up a dirty bundle from his pack. The bundle was moving; and laughing. It sounded so like-
"Kat!" Jasmine squealed and jumped towards Barda, relieving him of the baby girl.
"Katharine?" Lief ran towards the two and they shared a group hug. Lief knew Jasmine didn't wear perfume when they travelled but she still smelled great. Barda was left out of the hug and he just started laughing.
"What Barda?" They both said at the same time, causing him to laugh harder.
"You look like a young family." He said simply. Lief and Jasmine both blushed. 'If only he knew what I'd been thinking,' Lief thought while Jasmine thought about the things they had been doing in the past. 'I wonder..." Jasmine snuck glanced at Lief. Barda was still recovering from his laughter but he still heard Lief's whispered word to Jasmine. "Later…"
Barda turned away and grinned. 'I'm travelling in the company of lovers. Lief you are never going to hear the end of this.' Barda looked over at the lovers as they separated, Jasmine still holding Katherine. 'But first I'm going to help them get together.'
No one knew it, but Barda was the matchmaker between Lief's parents…
'This could be a challenge...'