| Subj: | edit |
| Date: | 5/29/01 11:55:11 AM Central Daylight Time |
| From: | Zizikicafe |
| To: | Zizikicafe |
Alloy got up out of bed. It was time she left. She couldn't stay here. She'd been at this inn for over a week, mainly because Raddak was just nice. He wanted to spend time with her, which was ok. He wanted to talk about things like politics and what's going on in the world and other interesting things. The other men in the bar just wanted to talk about themselves or they wanted to flirt. She didn't want that.
Going over to her dresser to get her clothes so she could pack, she started worrying again. Where would she go now? Would she find some place as great as this inn, with Rad? Probably not, but she really had no choice. She had to leave. Determined, with her mind made up, she went down to breakfast to pay her bill and leave.
At the bottom of the stairs she turned toward the bartender, but was stopped by a friendly hand that gripped her arm. " You can't be leaving?" Rad asked.
" I am. I have to," she told him her heart dropping. She hated leaving him. She could tell that when they talked, no one else had talked to him like that in a while.
He smiled. He understood, " Could you have one last meal with me?"
"Sure, of course." They got settled and ordered their breakfast.
"Have you heard? The daughter of our late emperor's prized scientists is missing. Everyone's looking for her, and some people have told me they think you are her. Is that true?"
Damn, someone had found out. Did Rad know? Did he believe them? She hoped not, " No, why would I be here if I was? It seems to be that if I were her I'd go somewhere like another country or something." Maybe he could tell her a good country to go to.
She looked at him. He seemed upset. Maybe he knew that she had lied. Double damn. " True, Krystal. She probably went to Tortall."
"Tortall?! Why would she want to go there?"
" It's a great country. With amazing, just, fair rulers. I have a friend there and she loves it. It sounds wonderful. I wish I could go."
Coming from that point of view, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It might be nice to go. "Maybe it does sound nice. You know, we could go. You and me."
" You and I. And I'd like that." He smiled.
"Great, when should we leave?"
" Well we should go today. The Inland Sea is almost into hurricane season when the water is the most trecherous."
" Well then let's go."
Rad went to pack, and Alloy went to pay her and Rad's bill.
" So how far is it to the boats?" Alloy asked.
" About half a days ride. We should get some horses."
" But I don't have much money." Alloy whined.
" That can be fixed."
"How"
" Well first we steal some horses, then we sell them. When we get to Tortall we can find jobs as scribes or something since we're both educated."
It sounded like a good plan, but stealing? That could get them into trouble." I guess," she timidly agreed.
" Oh it'll work. Trust me." His eyes scanned the area, finally setting them on a pair of geldings. Alloy agreed with his choice. They weren't too shabby but they weren't stallions. He looked at her, and she nodded.
"I'll let you do everything, because I'll surely screw it up," she whispered.
With a pat on the shoulder and a shove towards the city gate, Rad went towards the horses. Alloy was too nervous to watch so she didn't.
It felt like she waited for an hour for him to come back, but really how long can it take to steal a few horses? He came back calm and cool as can be, and his horses looked like they loved him to death, like he was their father. Alloy now looked at him with a newfound admirance.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
"Y-yeah I guess so." she stammered.
" Good, come on."
They mounted up and rode towards the coast. Alloy was surprised by everything she saw. She had never been out of Carthak before, so everything was new. She'd thought that the pygmy marmoset would be one of the most exciting things to see with all of it's beautiful colors, but she was proved wrong when she say the ocean.
Her mouth dropped open. Of course she'd seen pictures of the ocean, but she'd never seen it. "Wow," she whispered.
Rad pulled aside her. "Beautiful, isn't it? My friend in Tortall also helped me to understand the ocean more. She's really an unique being."
Alloy could tell that Rad missed his friend, and that maybe he loved her. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, to cross this ocean to see Rad's friend and to spend more time on this ocean.
Half an hour later, they reached the docks. Two men were standing there. Alloy's heart froze. These were mom and dad's personal gaurds. They would recognize her.
Rad noticed Alloy's fright. "What's the matter, Krystal?" Alloy didn't answer. "Krystal?"
Oh that's right, I'm Krystal. "Um, those two men know me."
"Do you owe them something, because if so, you probably should give it to them.:
"N-no it's not that, it's just I'm not supposed to leave Carthak."Well really she was because her parents were trying to make her go to Tortall.
"That's a problem. We'll just have to sneak by. We can do that."
"O, Ok. I'll try."
"That's all I ask, now follow me," Rad urged his horse forward. Alloy followed.
When they passed the men, Alloy's heart started beating faster. She turned her head away so all they could see was her hair. They'd think she was looking at the ocean, which wasn't unusual.
"Stop," one of the men called out. He was tall and tan. His brown hair was bleached from the sun. He was called Tak. Damn, she thought, we've been caught. Tak held out a painting. "Have you seen this girl? She ran away from her home against parent's orders and we need to find her. We're her parent's gaurds." Alloy didn't need to look up to know that her face was on it.
She took a peek at Rad. He was speechless. "I-uh- haven't seen her."
Tak looked at Alloy, "What about you, have you seen her?'
"No," she replied far faster than she meant to.
Tak's friend, Qet, nudged him. "Look at the girl," he whispered to Tak. Tak looked. "Girl, look at me."
Reluctantly, Alloy raised her head.
"Alloy, nice to see you again," Qet said with a grin. He and Alloy hated each other.
"Nice to se you too," she said with the same grin.
Tak looked at Rad, "Sir you can go. We won't need you."
Rad looked upset," Me and Kr-Alloy , I suppose she's called, are friends. I'll prefer to stay with her. "
Tak looked at Qet, "I suppose it couldn't hurt. The Mr and Mrs can't really do anything to him, and Alloy really doesn't have any friends."
"Oh I guess he can come." Qet said, "Alloy and you-"
"My name's Rad," Rad interrupted.
"Ok Alloy and Rad stay on your horses, and no funny business," Qet glared at them.
They started towards Alloy's house