"Will she be there, Van?" Merle asked as they stood by the deck. Van didn't answer.
"Is there something wrong?" Merle looked at him worried.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" he whispered, looking at the darkened clouds
At the tavern…
The music filled the room. She stared, mesmerized by the dancing and the song. Two cat girl dancing and singing at the stage while a piano was playing on the background. This is the first time she heard that song, it's mesmerizing. It draws you in and making you fell the music. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hello." a man with brown tainted glasses said from behind. She turned and slapped his hand away.
"Whoa! No need for that, my lady." She frowned. * What does he wants? * She thought as she stared at him suspiciously.
"You're new here. Where do you come from?" He asked as he took the seat in front of her. She didn't answer and turned to her instead her attention on the stage but the two cat girls are already gone.
"It's a song about draconians. They say, they…" she turned and gave him a look.
"So you're not interested? It's a great story, my lady, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
"I don't think so." She said and was about to get up when he took her arm.
"What are you doing here, Princess Hitomi?" She stared.
"If you want your identity hidden, why don't you sit for a while, and join this old man for a drink?" He smiled. She slowly sat down.
"You're mistaking, my lord. I'm not Princess Hitomi, nor am I a Princess."
"Really now! No need to lie to me. I have seen you and I don't easily forget such a beautiful face and name." She hissed.
"What do you want?"
"Your company." He answere and turned his attention on pouring her a drink. He gave it to her. Due to her nervousness she took the drink and swallowed it all.
"Whoa! Quite the drinker!" He laughed and poured her another one.
"Why don't you enlighten me, Princess? What are you doing in a place like this?" He asked.
"Who are you?" She asked. He laughed.
"Changing topic eh? Well, the name is, Dryden. A merchant, a handsome merchant, by the way." He answered giving her a wink. She snorted at him that gained her another laughed.
"Now, why don't you answer my question, Princess?"
"Stop calling me that!" she hissed under her breath.
"I will, if you tell me what you are doing here."
"I believe it's none of your business. Now, if you're finish with your drink, I'll leave you, old man, to entertain yourself." She was about to stand up again when he placed his hand on top of hers.
"Now, now, no need to hurry. If you believe I'm letting you off the hooks that easily think again, Princess…" He said, giving emphasis on the word Princess. She sat down and stared at him.
"What is it you want?" She asked.
"An answer."
"I'm visiting a friend. Now that you have an answer why don't you let me go?" She answered and without waiting for his reply she pushed his hand away.
"I don't think so. I don't want just an answer; I want a very good answer. But you haven't given me that eh?"
"Now tell me, Princess… Who's this friend of yours? Don't tell me he or she's working on this tavern, I can assure you that none of the workers here came from your country."
"She or he's not working here and I'm here to watch the performance."
"Ahhh… so you want to watch the performance alone?"
"Is there a problem with that? I can protect myself, old man. And since the performance is finished, its better that I leave, just as you imply I shouldn't be watching it alone."
"Ah ah ah… not yet…why don't you stop trying to leave. I still want some answers." She frowned.
"Who's this friend of yours?"
"You said you wanted good answers, but you won't get one with that question of yours, so drop it."
"Ah… so it's a secret then? Well…" before he could continue his question someone caught his eyes.
"My oh my, will you look at that?" She turned, and then gasped. * Oh no! Why now? * She then turned back again, turning her attention at the stage.
"Allen Schezar, one of the finest knight of Asturia." She pulled her hood up and around her face.
"I have to go now, old man. My friend will worry." She stood up but then Allen appeared at Dryden's side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Good Evening, Dryden." He greeted. She looked up and saw that Allen wasn't alone. With him was a girl with long blond curly hair.
"Good Evening, Allen, Princess Millerna. And who do I owe this visit?" Dryden replied. Millerna laughed and took a sit beside Dryden while Allen at that moment looked at her.
"And who might this be?" He asked, smiling.
"Why, it's Princess…"
"Anne…" She continued, giving Dryden a scowl from underneath her hood.
"Princess Anne? And from what country are you from?" Allen asked, taking her hand and placing a kiss upon it. She pulled away.
"I do believe it's time for me to leave you all. I need to be on my way." She said. Dryden stood up and turned on Allen.
"I need to escort her home. I'll be back in a couple of minutes, if you're both willing to wait." Dryden then took hold of her elbow and led her out of the tavern. As the door closed behind them, Hitomi pulled her arm away.
"Princess Anne? Hmm… quite a nice name, don't you think?" She gave Dryden a smack on his arm that gained her a laughed.
"I'm only teasing! Why don't you tell me why you're hiding from Allen? And no, don't even think of evading my question or else I'll walk back in there and tell him there's a nice Princess Hitomi waiting outside." She felt like stomping her feet on the ground. * This isn't happening!* She glared at him.
"Fine! But you will promise that you won't tell anyone!"
"I promise, Princess Anne." She snorted and as they walked towards the inn she told him about Van and her upcoming marriage.
"Ahh…so that's the reason. You're lucky the captain of that ship is kind or else you might find your self in a not so pleasant situation." He said as they stopped in front of the inn.
"Now that you know my life story, will you leave me alone?" She said sarcastically. Dryden laughed.
"How could I leave a lady in distress?"
"I'm not distress! Will you just leave me alone?" she burst out in frustration.
"No need to get angry. Your secrets are safe with me and I'll gladly help you in anyway I can…" He then pulled her hand and placed a kiss on it. Before she could react he already left.
At the Inn…
"I didn't know you started courting a Princess, Dryden?" Millerna asked right after Dryden took his seat beside her with Allen on the other side of Millerna. He could sense a twinge o jealousy on her voice.
"You didn't know because I haven't started courting her…yet.." That earned him a frown from Millerna.
"So you plan on courting her? How unusual. She doesn't seem to strike me as a girl you're used to."
"You're right about that, Princess Millerna. She's quite unique!" Millerna abruptly turned her attention to Allen.
"So you have arrived, Allen. How's your own courting?" Dryden asked with a smile. Millerna gasped.
"What courting?" She demanded and stared angrily at Allen.
"Now, now… no need to get all angry, Princess. We know he's fairly in love with Princess Hitomi… Isn't that right?" Allen scowled at Dryden.
"You should learn to curb that tongue of yours, Dryden."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Princess Hitomi? You mean that manly girl! That girl who most likely wear a man's trouser than a gown! That girl!" Dryden laughed as he watched different emotions playing on Millerna's face.
"There is nothing wrong with Princess Hitomi. If you ask me I'd rather court her than other Princess who spends most of their time in front of the mirror or a dress shop. Isn't that right Allen?" Millerna blushed.
"I'm not here to talk about Hitomi. I want to ask you for some supplies for the crusade." Allen said turning away.
"I see. So you're planning on leaving Asturia soon. Well, I'll do my best to give anything you need."
"You're leaving! But you just got here!" Millerna whined.
"I have responsibilities, Princess. I need to go to Palas as soon as possible."
"When do you need the supplies? I could give it to you tomorrow morning." Dryden offered.
"Yes. That would be fine. I better go. I have some things to think about." Allen said as he stood up. The tavern door opened and Allen stared wide eye as Van came striding along towards him. He was so surprised when Van stopped in front of him and grabbed him by the collar.
"Where is she?" Van asked his voice hard and angry. Allen just stared. He slowly shook his head and tried to pull Van's hand away from him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Allen demanded still trying to pry Van's hands off his shirt.
"Let go." Allen said his voice just as hard.
"I'm going to ask you again. If I didn't like your answer, I'll put a hole in your gut. Where is she?"
"Who are you…" He stared at Van as he realized whom he was asking about. "Hitomi…" he whispered.
"Where is she?" Van asked his voice harsher.
"Damn you! How would I know! You're supposed to guard her!" Allen bursts out. He pushed Van away from him.
"What happened? You're her guard!" Van looked at him as he tried to assess if Allen really didn't know where Hitomi is. He then turned to leave but Allen stopped him by catching his arm.
"Wait! You're not leaving until you tell me what's going on!" Before Van could answer they heard a gasped from Millerna.
"Oh my God! You're Lord Van of Fanelia!" She exclaimed. Allen instantly pulled his hand away and stared at Van.
"Lord Van? You're a King?" He asked. Van just stared at him and then tried to leave again.
"Wait! Dammit! You're not leaving until you tell me how you lost Hitomi! And you're going to explain what a king is doing pretending to be a guard!" Allen demanded. Van turned and then step closed to Allen.
"Listen very carefully, Sir Allen Schezar… you stay away from Hitomi. You stay ten yards away from her an inch closer and you'll see and feel how draconians kill dragons…from head to tail." They were speechless as Van strode towards the door. Dryden recovered first.
"What's your relation with Princess Hitomi, Lord Van, that is, if you don't mind this old man asking." Van turned and looked straight to Allen.
"She's mine, and that is all you need to know."