The shadow stepped closer to the fire, and before it was put out, Joren could see dark hazel-shaped eyes staring back at him above a veil-covered nose and mouth. And as the arm grabbed the long, dark robe trailing behind him and swept forward, the blonde saw the symbol of an R with double lining through its middle.
"Mithros…" Joren managed to swear before he sank into the surrounding darkness himself.
-----
"Two tortallan knights, one by the name of Stone Mountain."
Midnight blue eyes slid up with interest at the name. Unlike the outfits the others had, this person wore a long piece of black silk cloth around his head to cover everything but the eyes.
"Let me see them."
-----
Joren woke up to the movement of his body, being dragged shortly across the dirty floor and then lifted over the shoulder by a tall robed man.
"Oof," Stone Mountain winced as the man's shoulder dug into his stomach and held a long gulp of breath before he could let out an agonized cry as his abdomen muscle shifted his ribs. They entered a deep tunnel, where the walls became more cramped, and then, even the tall man had to slouch in order not to scrape Joren with the ceiling. And, even so, the blonde could feel a slight prickling on his back.
"Excuse me, could you, by any chance, bend lower?"
The man didn't say anything; he didn't change his position either. Joren began to get annoyed.
"a-HEM, can you bend lower?"
The prickling still tickled his back and irritated his skin.
"WOULD YOU BEND YOUR GOD-FORSAKEN BACK AND LET MINE HAVE SOME PEACE. I HAVE SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, AS WELL, AND THE WAY I AM BEING CARRIED RIGHT NOW IS NOT VERY SPIFFY. How would YOU, like me to carry your body like this, WHEN you have broken ribs AND rub you against the ceiling while I'm at it?"
The man continued on, regardless of his yelling. Joren gave it a last try.
"If you bend lower, I'll let you rape me."
As before, the man shuffled on, still in the same style as ever. He's deaf, Joren thought miserably.
-----
Kel had arrived before Joren and was lying, still unconscious, on the stone floor. Her short toffee hair fanned around her, forming a small halo. The uniquely dressed robed man raised his hand. A servant picked up the lady knight and brought her closer.
"Place her in my lap."
And so she was placed. He fingered her hair, the thin strands parting smoothly. Like water, he thought, contemplatively and smiled. Long lashes adorned her eyelids, and a slight spray of freckles decorated her cheeks. Withdrawing a silver necklace from one of his many pockets, the man gently placed it on her. He felt something soak the leg-portion of his robe and as he lifted her lightly, the robed man found that she was still bleeding freely from the back of her head. Frowning and with another quick wave of his palm, a bowl of warm water was brought and he dabbed her wound lightly. Her eyes fluttered. And, slowly, they opened, bright hazel shining clear. The man froze. Kel instinctively wrinkled her brow and groaned.
"Where am I…"
"The Hidden Cove."
"Ugh," she tried to roll over, but he caught her before Kel could fall off and tumble down the stairs.
"Try standing."
She held on to his shoulder for support and slowly stood up, legs slightly wobbling.
"I'm fine."
Then, she slipped and fell off the stage-like platform. The man carrying Joren had opened the door to the spacious room-like cave and as he turned to close it, the blonde raised his head. And fell off the man's shoulder.
"!@#%"
Despite the pain, Joren ran forward, clutching his ribs with his left arm, and caught Kel before she could slide down any further.
"Augh…head hurts."
"It should."
She blinked, opening her closed eyes, which were squeezed tight, when she fell.
"Joren." Kel stared at him with blank eyes.
"Are you okay?" he whispered, looking up toward the surprised man who had stood up from his throne, which protruded from the cave wall.
Her eyes slid down…and a small frown appeared.
"Your ribs; you shouldn't strain them."
He set her down gently.
"Thanks for your concern."
"You're welcome," she replied, nonchalantly, as if Kel had all day to chat around. She turned around in a lazy circle, observing the room. And as Joren watched, a seemingly genuine smile appeared as she met the worried robed figure with her eyes, as if praising him. Right then, something stirred within the blonde and grew slowly, soaking in, without Joren noticing.
-----
"Come over here."
Kel pouted slightly and faked a glare.
"Why…"
"Well, that git is bound to do something."
"Don't talk about him that way!" She hit him on the shoulder; the force of the punch was obviously not done in a playful way. He winced and paused his walking. Something shifted, drawing out a gasp from inside him.
"Are you okay?" A hand touched his shoulder and he looked up, his eyes drawn to a familiar glimmer in them. Then it vanished.
"You deserved that," she snarled, and whirled around to walk with the tall robed man.
"Come here, Kel."
"Yes, Nathan."
When had they been on first name terms? Joren stared after them, bewildered. He saw Kel pause and turn about slightly.
"Come along, Joren," she said, a small wicked smile appearing on her oval face.
A/n: O_O She's become an eviLLLe-doer of Him…okay, I have just twisted my entire original plot all the way around, so…I have no idea where I'm going now! Gah…always ends like this…grr..::bonks self:: Anyway, look, I updated again! :D
And somehow…"wicked" at the end seems misspelled to me, even though my friend says it IS spelled like that…my mind's all weird right now, neh…need Tylenol…=/
Push Purple Button, oh mighty Reviewer…
::blink:: please?