Chapter 25

I shut my mouth and opened my mind.

I took a deep breath. A very deep breath.

"Well," snapped Rose hopping to Minerva's horse. "What are we waiting for? Let's go get her."

Sighing I picked Rose up and, ignoring her squawk and protesting, I said simply, "We aren't going, silly."

"SILLY!" shrieked Rose. I thought she might burst with anger. She suddenly demanded quietly, "Why aren't we going?"

Girls. They are so fickle. First they are yelling in your face then they're as calm as kittens, sometimes in the same sentence.

"I have a feeling Minerva doesn't want to be found," I said. "She ditched me, and ran away from Conrad. I don't want to force her stay with me."

Truth was I was dreadfully tempted to go after her, but I didn't. I couldn't. I knew it wasn't right. I had no power over her, even if I was the Crown Prince of Adelfos.

"Please," said Hazel, quietly, sensing my despair, "Come eat. If you tell us your story, we might be able to help you."

I nodded numbly and sat down at the table.

Eating was a blur. I forgot whether the food was juicy chicken or sawdust. I talked breifly to Conrad, and didn't even notice the constant chatter of the three Kalos. Hazel, strangely enough sat at the end of the table watching everything with a keen eye. She reminded me of Minerva as Perceval. I began to have headache with that thought.

I had to stop thinking about the girl.

About all girls.

They were only trouble. Believe me. I know.

What would I do now that I didn't have Minerva to take home? I couldn't go home yet. There was no talk of Ana getting married to anyone else. I would also have to answer the question of why I had been gone. My original plan came to mind as well. Gaul was still ahead of me, free and open to my wanderings. But what would I do there? I suppose the same thing I did in Adelfos, wander around and get into trouble with Conrad, and now with Rose.

It was actually rather fun.

Hazel suddenly made the prospect even more enticing.

"Conrad told me you were headed to Gaul," she said quietly interrupting my thoughts.

"Yeah," I said perking up. I told you I don't stay glum forever. "We are."

"My family lives in Gaul. I would like to send them a message through you, if you don't mind."

A mission! Perfect!

"Sure. We'd be happy to do it."

Hazel seemed confused even a little insulted at my sudden happy humor.

How puzzling. But then again, all girls are puzzling, remember that.

She nodded absently and said, "If you need anything, you'll have it."

"Just like that, eh?" I said in surprise. "I ask I'll get. Wish it were always like that."

"Only with, us, Jesse," smiled Violet. "We can grant any wish you want."

"Liar," huffed Penny.

"I already have the perfect gift, for our dear knight," smiled Elise.

I looked up to see what she meant, but I didn't see her. I immediately guessed what it was just as I felt something as light as a feather flutter over me. I could see right through the cloak into her smiling face, but I couldn't see myself. What a perfect gift. A cloak of invisibility.

"Do you like it?" asked Elise when I had pulled it off of me to examine the shiny cloth more closely. It shimmered with a thousand colors and was silky, light, and very cool.

"Yes," I said, smiling brightly for the first time that day. "I actually do like it."

Elise sat down next to me with a soft sigh. Rose was glaring furiously at her; so was Violet and Penny.

Conrad was laughing.

Wonder why.

"I have a gift, too," said Penny. She waved the air with her hand and brought out a vial from thin air. Magic. I only know realized that the Four Kalos could be enchantresses, witches, anything of the sort. It seemed strange that girls, hardly in their teens could do such stuff.

She gave me the vial with a mischievious grin. "This is a potion."

"A sleeping potion?" I asked.

The grin grew wider. "How did you guess? Oh, you are sooo smart. You could be a wizard."

I shrugged, confused. "I just, guessed."

"Puleeese," snorted Rose, her eyes shooting dagger blades. "There are only two things it could have been: a love potion or sleeping potion. You exaggerate, wench."

Before the hurt Penny could reply, Violet stepped in. Not wanting to be out done by her companions she too declared she had a gift for me.

It was a small leather purse, it was full.

Money was her great gift?

She immediately read my thoughts and smiled lazily. "It is magical money, Jesse. The purse never empties. No matter what there will always be fifty gold coins in there."

I thanked her, Elise, and Penny, rather awkwardly. Conrad was still chuckling and Rose was not happy, with any of us.

"Aren't you going to give Sir Jesse a gift?" Violet challenged Hazel. "He certainly deserves it."

"Oh, Hazel gave me the best gift of all," I said lightly. "A mission. That way I can use all my gifts."

Hazel gave Violet and I a hard sardonic smirk and rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes the perfect gift for a knight, a mission. You are very welcome."

I think the other three Kalos started pouting. I think.

"Enough of this," grumped Rose. "If you are so happy with a mission, let's do it. Let's go to Gaul and be done with it. Just HURRY UP!"

Again Stanley considered leaving the two crazy love birds by themselves and head off to find his beloved Robina. Something happened before he could carry this out. The incident made him stay. He had to stay. He might've been a dog to Robina and Ana, but he was a very kind hearted dog. He couldn't let anyone suffer in the presence of Eric and Ana long without some relief.

They were nearing the end of the forest, Stanley knew, when they found her. They had camped immediately, even though it was late morning. Eric had taken Ana off into the forest to explain some things to her and had ordered Stanley to make sure the girl didn't escape.

Not like she could, thought Stanley bitterly. When they had found her she could hardly stand up with buckling. Eric had her hands and feet tied and she was even gagged. Stanley couldn't stand that cruelty.

He went to her, cautiously. She appeared to be sleeping but when he was crouched five feet from her, her eyes flickered open. She stared at him, fear and curiosity glinting in her dark blue eyes.

Sighing wearily, and cursing his soft heart he leaned over and untied the gag.

She spit, delicately then murmured, "Thank-you, Stanley."

He thinned his eyes. "How do you know my name? Who are you?"

"Minerva," she said simply.

"Why has Eric chosen you for his cruelty?"

"Because I let him," she whispered. Pain flickered in her eyes and Stanley knew she didn't want to speak of it. "I use to be his tool. Apparently he still thinks so."

He considered letting her go, freeing her and helping her to safety. That would have gotten Eric mad, and Stanley wanted nothing more than to give the monster heart ache. He studied her face, trying to figure out what kind of person she was. It was a pretty strong face with eyes full of innocence and pain. She could hardly be called a woman, and seemed more like a child with the hard experiences of an adult. Poor girl.

She suddenly smiled and said softly, "You have always reminded me of my uncle, Stanley."

Stanley stiffened and turned away. He could not be reminded of being once part of a family. He would not help her escape, it was not in his nature.

"Who are you?" he asked. How did she know him? He had never seen her before in his life. Had he?

"Get away from her."

Stanley stood quickly just as Eric and Ana came into the clearing. Ana looked confused, determined, and angry at the same time. Eric went to Minerva, sending Stanley a vicious and warning glare. Stanley slipped into his stupid face and shuffled away, wishing he had let the girl go, just to spite the hated Eric.

Minerva didn't react as Eric freed her feet and hands. She didn't even look at him, considering the fact that she literally couldn't stand the sight of him. When he ordered her to stand, she hesitated then groped at the tree beside her. She fell back, panting.

"I can't."

"Nonsense, do it. There is nothing wrong with you. You are strong, Minerva. I've seen you. You are as strong as a pretty french horse. Now get up!"

Instead she gave a weak laugh. "What flattery, Eric. If I didn't know any better I would say you were still trying to court me." She glanced briefly at Ana and was satisfied to see her grow red with jealousy.

Eric grabbed her arm and yanked her up, causing her to yelp with pain.

"You aren't weak, Minerva," he said. "I refuse to believe it and I demand that you do the same."

She laughed again while her knees faltered. "I'm sorry I'm weak, but the only way I'm going to get stronger is if Lance returns my love...so ha."

"That won't happen anytime soon," said Ana. "The Prince of Adelfos is a picky boy. If he's rejected me, I can see why he's shunned you and wouldn't let you travel with him."

"Don't worry about me, your highness Ana," she said softly. "You should worry about yourself, considering the fact you have chosen Eric to be your companion. A very bad choice. I know, I did the..."

"Be quiet," snapped Eric, slapping her lightly. She whimpered and Eric dropped her to the ground. "Stop acting like such a weakling. You've never whimpered, never faltered, shape up. I need you to do something for me, so you better be ready for walking, by tonight. Do you understand?"

Minerva made no reply. She had already fainted.