Quinda – That sucks that you got sick, I hope you get better. And a way to entice me to go to Holland would be to make apple pie, it's my favorite. Alas, the lack of money on my part means that I won't be able to get some, so I guess I'll just have to make my own.
As for the languages, that's gotta stink. We only had to take one foreign language here, so I just took French. It wasn't that hard.
Only one review? (*cries*)
Chapter Eight: The Journey and the Plans
Isis couldn't believe that she had spilled her feelings out to Grunthor like that. It made her feel stupid. She vowed then and there never to do that again. Ever.
"Something on your mind?" a quiet voice asked. Isis was jerked out of her mental barrage of insults by Achmed's voice.
"What makes you think that?" Isis asked.
"You've been deep in thought for the past two days. We have a week before we get there, and I don't think you're thinking of the arse rag."
"It's nothing," Isis said. She put up her mask again, the last thing she needed was for him to know what she felt and throw her out of his kingdom. In fact, she wasn't even sure of what she felt about him herself.
"Hm. Well, do you want first or second shift?" asked Achmed.
"I'll take first, I'm not really tired. Besides, it's your turn to make breakfast," Isis replied. Achmed nodded and turned to get into his 'bed'.
"Isis?" He called.
"Yes, Achmed?" she replied.
"If it's worth anything, I'll always be behind you," he said. Isis waited for a little while until she was positive that he was asleep.
"I don't want you behind me," she whispered as she looked out into the night. "I want you beside me."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"We have word from the spies of Roland," a guard said.
"Really?" a cold voice snapped from the darkness.
"Yes my liege. The guard has found Serena. She seems to have run to Ylorc, just as you suspected in your great wisdom," the guard replied.
"So she is there? Excellent. We will wait until after the Cymerian ball before we do anything," the voice replied. The guard bowed and went away.
"I will be attending that ball this year, I have chosen well for a body," the F'dor whispered to itself. It's host was defeated by now. The spirit was still there, but it had withdrawn so far into it's brain that it couldn't do anything except live. "She has never seen me in this body, and I will make sure that the old body is discovered prior to the ball. It will all be perfect. I will get back my trophy. I will get her back to tend them. And I'll get either the head or the services of The Brother." A cackle resonated through the halls, and into the darkness, causing the F'dor's guards to shiver with repressed fear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Sergeant-Major!" A bolg soldier ran through the halls of the Cauldron, seeking out Grunthor. "Sergeant-Major!"
"What do ye wan'?" Grunthor poked his head out of a room and stared at the bolg private harshly. Grunthor had been bored for the past week since Isis and Achmed had left to go to see Rhapsody and Ashe. He was curious though, the Bolg army didn't normally run through the halls calling for him.
"Found a body outside we did. It was charred. Felt evil."
"Where? Take me there, NOW!" The bolg ran out of the hallway, with Grunthor only a step behind. When they got to the teeth, Grunthor saw the body and closed his eyes.
"Leave me with the body," he said slowly. The contingent nodded, and went back to their patrols. Once they'd gone, Grunthor examined the body closer. It looked like the F'dor had left this host forcefully. That was, if he was right. Achmed or Isis would know for sure, so until he could reach them he called upon his earth lore. He used the rocks around it to make a coat over the body, almost like a tomb. No one would find it, the earth itself would cling to this. Face full of sweat, Grunthor turned away and went back to the Cauldron. He needed to let Achmed know about this.
*~*~*~*~*
"King Achmed and Lady Isis request entry," a valet said.
"What? King Achmed!?! What's Achmed doing here?" Ashe said.
"I told you he was coming, Sam. I need to finish nursing the baby, so you need to go and greet them. Politely." Rhapsody didn't look like she was in the mood to argue with Ashe, so judging by the snapping of the fire in the fireplace, Ashe decided not to argue.
"But of course my dear wife. Why would I do anything but?" Before Rhapsody could call his sarcasm, he turned and ducked out of the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Where is she?" asked Isis.
"She's here. She's upstairs, probably nursing her baby." Achmed replied.
"Rhapsody has a child? Why didn't you tell me?" snapped Isis.
"Because the subject never came up," replied Achmed indifferently.
"Ah, Achmed, so good to see you again," a voice called. Isis turned…and saw a dragon.
"Achmed…" Isis said in a low voice, "Why is there a DRAGON here?"
"You can tell he has dragon blood?" muttered Achmed.
"Through my Seren side. Just like I can tell that you have blood lore, Grunthor has earth lore, and Rhapsody has fire lore. This dragon also has water lore," Isis muttered back. Ashe just stared at the couple impatiently.
"It is good to see you too, Ashe. So long as, of course, you won't be harping on me for my land," Achmed finally replied.
"And you must be the Lady Isis. I am Gwidion, Lord Cymerian," he replied.
"Hello Gwidion. Or would you prefer I referred to you as Ashe?" she asked.
"You're from the Island. You owe your allegiance," Ashe replied with a snap.
"I didn't take a vow on a horn. I owe you nothing," Isis snapped back.
"My mistake. Ashe will be fine. Rhapsody's upstairs with the baby, the two of them will be down shortly. Meanwhile, Jerold, will you please show our guests to their rooms? We will have a formal dinner for you tonight, so please, feel free to dress your best. Until then." With that, Ashe turned and walked away, leaving them with the butler Jerold.
"Milord, milady, your rooms are this way," he said. Immediately their bags were picked up by servants as the two of them were led to their rooms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Again, short. But that's OK. Meanwhile, I'm going to sleep now. I know it's 4:12 PM, and I know that I have class, but I want to sleep anyway. :(