Kiri: Well... I would've had this chapter up several days ago... but I was gonna write more, then at the last second (as in, two minutes before I uploaded this) to just leave it at a certain point and same the rest for next chapter. also, I killed Erik's personality. -hangs head in shame-

Ravan: I'm not complaining.

Kiri: because he's being nice to you. Don't get comfortable, it won't last for much longer.

Ravan: You just had to ruin it, didn't you?

Kiri: Yes. Now get back in the story.

Chapter Fifteen

…Things were looking up for a while. Erik proved himself true to his word, although I didn't completely trust him with my safety. Whenever we came upon an area where guards were on patrol, I usually hid myself behind a rubble pile or climbed up to get a birds-eye view of the battle. I couldn't help but gawk at Erik when he fought. He seemed to move so smoothly and elegantly… like some kind of deadly dance. He was so much like my father in ways, but at the same time, so completely different. Often, I wondered vaguely what his real plans were…

"Hurry up, Ravan, we're almost there!" Erik urged me.

"I'm trying!" I whined after throwing my weight up another foot or so. My guardian watched me struggle from the top of the broken wall we, or I, was scaling. He was right when he said I had no climbing skills. While he was able to run up walls and do all kinds of fancy acrobatics, I was stuck using the old fashion method of using small gaps and rigid edges. It wasn't fun.

"Remind me again why you're father didn't see it necessary to teach you how to climb properly?" he inquired sounding bored.

"I told you, I'm a female, and he never expected the time of peace to end within my lifespan," I explained. He snorted.

"If he had a son, he would've thought differently."

"Well," I grunted as I kept climbing, "he didn't have a son, he had a daughter! However, right now, I wish I HAD been a son!" I finally reached the top and tried to pull myself up, only to have my foot slip, leaving me dangling. Luckily, Erik grabbed my forearm and hauled me over the edge onto solid ground.

"It's about time." He starred at me with narrowed eyes.

"I can't help it if I'm physically inept," I offered. He only grunted and spun around to continue down the path. I leapt to catch up.

For a few minutes, we walked in silence. I eagerly took in my surroundings as we passed, but Erik remained focused on his task, whatever it may be. But I was getting a little bored of all the quiet, so I asked, "What's your favorite color?" I noticed him almost stumble, but didn't call him on it, and he looked at me awkwardly.

"My… what?"

"Your favorite color. What is it?"

"What is the point of knowing something so meaningless?"

"I'm only asking…" He rolled his eyes.

"Red."

"Red? I like blue. It's a very soothing color." He snorted.

"Just like your father…" he mumbled, thinking I hadn't heard.

"What about my father?" He looked away.

"He liked blue." I blinked, and then turned my gaze to the ground. Blue was one of the prettiest colors there was. My closet was full of that color. Blue dresses, blue skirts, blue tops, blue shoes… Something suddenly struck me.

"How do you know my father likes the color blue?" I questioned. Erik seemed reluctant to answer.

"Long story, one that I am not at all eager to tell. Especially to you."

"Good. I'm not in the mood for a long story, anyway. Do you have a short story?"

"I have a few. Most of which about my oh-so-exiting journey to 'beautiful' Babylon." I cracked a smile.

"May I hear one?" This time he did stop and stare at me. I offered a toothy smile and an innocent shrug.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in me?"

"Well, because I'd like to know a little more about the man I'm stuck traveling with, and this is the first time we've gotten five minutes into a conversation without fighting." All that, and I really did miss being told stories. I remember father used to tell me all sorts of stories when I was young. I used to love listening to him talk, and I could always tell he loved filling my head with those tales.

Erik stayed silent long enough to make me believe he wasn't going to say anything, but unexpectedly, he turned back to the path and started talking. Grinning a broad, cheerful smile, I followed him and listened. Although what he had to say was not particularly interesting, I couldn't help but feel that something between us had changed. We hadn't had an argument or a fight since the last huge brawl he'd had. It's not much, but for us, it's something. As crazy as it might be, I actually started feeling comfortable around him, but I'm not sure when…

"So what did you do then?" I questioned a little while later.

"What else? I massacred them," he replied, "not that they ever stood a chance, anyway, but they asked for it. It's just too bad I didn't kill all of them. A few managed to get away before I cold get to them."

"Maybe it's a good thing you didn't kill them. Now they know to choose their battles wisely, rather than going around, picking fights with anyone and everyone." Erik snorted.

"Is that another of your father's teachings?" he groaned.

"No, my mother's. Believe it or not, my mother also raised me. She wanted me to be a keeper of the peace, hence, another reason why I never learned how to fight, or climb or anything fancy. She wouldn't have it." I sighed, "My father offered to teach me some basics in secret once, but I refused, saying I would never be able to do such things behind mother's back. I regret it, now." Erik was quiet again, and seemed to be scanning our surroundings for something. I wasn't really paying attention. Suddenly he gripped my forearm and yanked me along behind him over to a high ledge. Before I could ask, he explained.

"It's easy. Just mind your balance." I gaped blankly. "Watch." He ran up the wall, and then back flipped off, landing smoothly on the ground near me. Then I understood what he meant.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on!" I backed up, holding my hands up, "you can't be suggesting that I—"

"Yes, I am. Not only will it make things much easier for me, but also we'll get to where we're going much faster. Now either try on your own, or I'll push you up there myself." I was very skeptical, and nervous, but what could I do? He had a point. Sighing, I gathered my wits and approached the wall. I glanced quickly at Erik for reassurance, and he briefly explained how to pull it off properly, how to keep my balance, so on. Gulping down the nervous lump in my throat, I faced the wall. Here goes nothing…

I managed to do the running part well enough, but when I leapt away, something went wrong because I didn't rotate around enough. Luckily Erik caught me before I hit the ground.

"Not quite, but close," he set me on my feet, "try again." I did, but screwed up again, then again, until finally, he decided we didn't have the time for nonsense. He ran up and climbed onto the ledge, then I ran up after him, where he helped me up and we continued our trek. But I couldn't help but wonder why he was suddenly being so… pleasant.

Back on the Island of Time, we had done nothing but fight and mock and insult one another, and it all ended in his gruesome betrayal. He had said I was the flesh and blood of his worst enemy… in other words, he'd had a nasty vendetta against my father, the King of Persia. It was possible that he still planned to hold up to that vendetta, and stay true to his words. That meant that he would be using me to get at my parents. That thought sent chills through me. 'Maybe he's changed?' said one small thought. I wouldn't be so sure of that… People do not just change their minds, especially when it comes to such issues like revenge. I sighed inaudibly. What were his motives? Only time will tell, I suppose…

Well, until then, I'll just keep playing nice.Yes, and at the first sign of danger, I'll run away as fast as I can and put as much distance between he and I that—AHHHHH!

My feet suddenly slipped out from under me and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling down a hill, until I landed flat on my belly at the bottom.

"Owie…" I moaned pathetically as I pushed myself into a sitting position. Rubbing my head, I noticed that Erik, who still stood firmly at the top, was howling in laughter, pointing down at me, holding his gut. I grimaced.

"Stop laughing, you big jerk!" I yelled angrily, but he only continued laughing at my expense. Pouting, I folded my arms and crossed my legs.

"Are you alright?" a soft female voice came from behind me. I looked up, then leaned backwards, and found myself face to face with… Mother?

Kiri: voila! Now, leave a nice reveiw and I'll get right to work!