Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 07: April 9, 2004
Updated: December 22, 2005
Disclaimer: Yada yada yada, you know it as well as I do.
Chapter Seven: The Commercial City
"So, Andres, where exactly are we headed?" Dalia asked as she skipped along the road next to Geru and Darrin.
"Our first stop is Lohan. It's a trade city on the edge of Southern Serdio," Andres told her, smiling. His eyes glanced at Iris curiously, who marched at the rear of the group, her face expressionless. He sighed inwardly, turning his eyes back to the road.
"So, Dalia, are you ready for your first lesson tonight?" Geru teased.
"Yup! Andres and Iris both promised to train me," the once-shy girl exclaimed. Andres smiled at her happiness.
"I think Geru could use a little training as well," came Iris' calm voice. Andres turned as he heard a scuffling noise behind him. His eyes twinkled as he took in Geru's red face and ruffled hair.
"I'm not a kid, Iris," the Wingly boy pouted.
"Oh, Geru, you'll always be a little boy to me," Iris smirked while Claire scolded them.
"Kids, enough," she said. Geru and Iris glanced at each other, briefly, before pouncing on their older foster sister.
"Don't… make me… hurt you!" Claire gasped between laughs as the three siblings scuffled. Dalia laughed merrily from the sidelines as Darrin merely rolled his eyes. Andres added his laughter as the group once again moved forward.
About a week later, the group paused before the gates of Lohan. The week had been spent traveling and training along the deep mountain pass that ran between Fletz and Serdio. Every morning before they broke camp, Andres would train Dalia in the use of pole weaponry. Every night, Iris would train Dalia in ways of fighting against other types of weaponry. Geru had benefited from some training as well, developing new attacks with his Basher.
Now, at midday, the group walked slowly into the bustle of the Commercial City, drinking in the sights and smells of the trade city. "We might as well check into the Inn first," Andres said, veering to the left of the crowds towards a wooden staircase. He lead the group into the upper reaches of the city and across many swinging platforms that criss-crossed over the bustling streets below. They finally reached the Inn, checking into two rooms. After they had stowed their things, the group split up to wander about the city.
Iris found the weapon shop with ease, browsing about the forge and admiring the weapons contained therein. She sighed wistfully, admiring the armor that covered the far wall. She ran her hand over the smooth black metal of one particular piece before sighing and leaving the shop.
Dalia had drug the two boys off towards the games, and Claire had vanished in the general direction of the Items shop. Andres had gone off to some specialty shop, to 'pick up yet another book,' as Darrin had so snidely put it. Iris walked through the streets, smiling slightly as her keen eyes noticed the pick-pockets at work. Her smile faded slightly as she noticed Andres walking towards her. He had not caught sight of her yet, and Iris started to melt into the crowd as she noticed a child brush past him. Andres looked up as Iris reached out and caught the kid deftly, pulling Andres' wallet from the child's pocket and tossing it back to him.
"Haven't I taught you anything, Your Highness?" she frowned at him, then loosed the wide-eyed kid, who quickly disappeared into the crowds.
Andres winced. "Please don't call me that," he said, brushing through the crowds to stand beside her.
"Well, its part of your name, isn't it?" Iris asked, looking up at him.
Sighing, he grabbed her wrist, lightly enough that she could pull away if she so wished. "Let's go somewhere else to talk," he muttered, leading her through the crowds towards a pub. He led her through the shadowy room to a booth at the back, ordering two light fruity drinks as he passed the bar.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you my true identity," Andres started after they had been served, "But I wanted to be treated as your equal, as your companion, and not as some type of superior."
"Must be tough, not trusting people," Iris stated calmly, sipping her drink. "I wouldn't have treated you any differently. None of us would have."
"I know that, now. But its not a common reaction that I get from people," Andres sighed.
"Well, think of it this way – people are always nice to someone who can order their execution in a heartbeat," Iris stated mildly, a smirk playing about her lips.
Andres laughed. "My family hasn't ordered an execution of any sort in over a hundred years."
"Well, that speaks very highly of them, then," she said demurely, a slight grin on her face. They continued to chat quietly as they finished their drinks, then emerged once again into the bright streets outside.
"Where to now?" Iris asked, shielding her eyes from the bright sunshine.
"Well, you'd never live it down if you tell people that you've been to Lohan and not visited the games arena," Andres stated matter-of-factly. "We wouldn't want you to be humiliated, now would we?" he asked, looping her arm through his and leading her down the busy streets.
"I imagine not," she chuckled.
The six companions regrouped at the Inn that night, weary but content. Darrin was the last to join them, his face grim.
"Andres, sir, this missive just came from your father," he said, handing the sealed document to the Prince as he lounged about the Inn's common room, talking with Geru and Dalia. Iris looked up from her conversation with Claire, watching as Andres' face changed from an expression of bemusement to concern.
"Tell the messenger we'll head out tomorrow," he told Darrin, who nodded and left. Turning to the others, he addressed them. "Apparently, there has been some trouble with a kingdom to the east of Serdio. My father wishes for me to travel to our strongholds in the Feyrbrand Forest, just north of here, to recruit troops to help fortify Seles and our Eastern lines. If you'd like to stay here…"
"Don't be dense, of course we'll go with you," Iris told him, the others nodding in agreement. "We can contact your troops, then continue eastwards to reinforce the small towns until the new recruits arrive."
Andres smiled widely. "Thank you all. Well," he said, rising from his seat, "We had better get some sleep – we'll need to set out early tomorrow morning to reach the Feyrbrand stronghold."
End Notes: Y'know, I was surprised that these two chapters gave me the most trouble – well, next to that duel in DWG. That was the worst. But usually CoD comes to me really easily… and HitSR and HLH were a breeze this time. I think I'm in a Harry Potter mode, though, so that explains HitSR… not so sure about where HLH-ease came from.