River Rat: Chapter four

Temptation's wings

Yuugin walked around the La Naan market. The sights and smells were exciting and different. He stopped and looked at one stall that sold magical elixirs. One that caught his eye was labeled 'true love'. He wanted to pick it up and by it but knew that wouldn't be right.

"Hello young man. You have an un requited love whom you wish to have as your own?" A creepy old shop-keeping lady came out from the shadows and looked up at Yuugin.

"Yeah but I wont break their trust like this. I've dragged them in to enough trouble as it is. Why cause more?"

"Why not? The way you describe it a 'happily ever after' maybe better suited." She reached for a small, round bottle with a light blue liquid in side.

"No. I'm not buying any thing, thank you though." Yuugin turned to walk away.

"You'll be back, young prince, trust me!" The woman called over the crowed to Yuugin. He stopped to think.

"How dose she know I'm a prince?"

"Excuse me. Have you seen the prince of Zi Alda or a black haired knight go by?" Jill asked any one who passed her in the La Naan market.

"What's the prince look like?" An old woman asked Jill.

"Umm. Well."

"Is he thin with gray blond hair tied in to a long braid?" She asked.

"Yeah! Exactly. How'd you know?"

"He stopped to look at my stall two minutes ago. Then left towards the aqueduct." Jill ran off in the direction told. "You're welcome!" The old lady screeched. "Honestly, today's youth, they should learn some blinkin' manors." She mumbled absent-mindedly to her self.

Darres was sitting with his back resting on his horse when Yuugin came back.

"Did you get food?" He asked eagerly.

"Yeah. Hold on." Yuugin said as he removed some bread and fruit from a pouch around his waist. Darres grabbed it off him and ate it ravenously. Yuugin took a bite of some apple before looking at Darres.

"We have to move out." He said, quickly grabbing their stuff and standing up the horses.

"Why? We're fine here." Darres stood up and wiped crumbs from his mouth.

"Look over there." Yuugin pointed at Jill running towards them.

"Crap. Let's go!" Darres jumped on his horse but waited for Yuugin to get on his before they rode off.

"Damn." Jill puffed. "At least they seem to be heading for Krai's post."

As the horses grew tired they slowed to a gentle walk. Yuugin and Darres looked at each other then burst out laughing.

"God that was close!" Darres laughed. Yuugin nodded in agreement.

"Have you realized just how much you've changed since we left Zi Alda?"

"It's not even been three days. I couldn't have changed that much."

"Well you have. You're happy, laughing, normal."

"Hey!" Darres shouted angrily. "Are you saying I wasn't normal before?"

"Yep."

"Oh you are gonna pay." Darres un-sheathed his sword and grabbed Yuugin's hair, pulling it so he was leaning over the gap between the horses. "Say you didn't mean it or the hair gets it!"

"Darres stop! No, really stop. Look up ahead." Yuugin pointed at a glint of fire about 200 meters in front of them.

"This is bad. It could be Lenne's men. Maybe we would have been better off going with Jill."

"You're probably right on this one Darres. If Lady Ishtar gets us, or rather you, first she can protect you against Lenne."

"I'm not giving up though! I'm going to head for the coast, with or with out you." Darres turned and galloped off on Back Breaker.

"Darres!" Yuugin called. "Maybe I should have bought one of those potions from that old woman back in La Naan. I still could if I head back now." Yuugin turned and rode back to La Naan.

Darres stopped and got off his horse. He walked over and perched over the river. The water was clear and full of tiny silver fish. He smiled and then saw his reflection. His hair was wild, his face was muddy and he had very dark bags under his eyes. He looked across the river and saw a girl. She had deep violet eyes and blonde hair. His mind attached her image to some one from his past, Selen. He stood up and stared at her. She looked up from the clothes she was washing so he could make out the exact colors and details about her face and eyes. She smiled at him and giggled. She waved for him to cross over but he didn't move. Ever giggling she put her basket of clothes on her head and waded through the river. She sat the basket down and looked up at Darres.

"What's your name?" She asked happily. Though she seemed childish she must have been at least 15. "I'll tell you mine."

"My name? My name's Darres." He said blinking a few times.

"My name's Fleur." She said sweetly. At that moment Darres felt a little something inside him tugging him away from her and back to Pheliosta.

Yuugin rode right past Jill on his way to the market. She called out then gave chase. She found him paying for a red potion at the weird old lady's stall.

"Yuugill, sir. Your mother is worried sick about you and... was that Darres you were with? Is he going to come back, her highness misses him." She looked down at the vile in Yuugin's hand. Sensing her gaze Yuugin slipped the vile in to his pouch.

"I honestly don't care if my mother is worried. I don't want to go back, not yet any ways."

"But your mum's really sick! Ishtar's doctor said she wont live long before they left for the capital. Actually Ishtar's may be (if I get a lead) coming here to see Lady Ramia and look for Darres. I guess you could help there."

"If Darres dose not wish to return you shouldn't make him!" Yuugin said firmly.

"Okay sir, but... she really is worried. Couldn't you at least say he's fine or something?"

"Look. Right now I don't even know where he is. He buggerd off a few mile out of town. I'm going to look for him now."

"I'll come with you. Krai's post is just out there, I'll pick him up then follow you."

"Darres dose not wish to be found. Leave him alone!" Yuugin slammed his foot down as he stormed to wards his horse.

"Wow." Jill thought, "Never thought he'd lose his temper."

"Why are you being so defensive of Darres any ways?" She asked aloud.

"N.Y.B." Yuugin said simply as he mounted his horse.

"What?"

"None of your business." Yuugin's horse swished its tail in Jill's face as it rode by.

To Be Continued

Yay the fourth chappie!!! My school decided to let us back on fanfic so I can get more chappies up quicker now, isn't that just gravy?!

Thanx a lot to all of you who reviewed. Sorry 'bout some out of character moments in this. The old werid lady has a suprisingly big part in the near future. Also shrek two I wanna thank ya! Puss rules! I have a poster (I really really like cats. I have a Garfield poster and a bagpuss poster as well. I also have about six cats, at one point I had twelve.)

Sneak peak and chapter five- need some sleep: Over the past few days she'd grown quiet. Her grades were even lower then usual, she was less bitchy to most people, unless she heard them talking about how careless Darres had been. Most night she sat awake wondering where the man she loved had gone. Other nights she cried her self to sleep over rumors.