Koriand'R
Chapter 4
Things were going as planned and that's what upset Richard. How could he do this, participate in invading these people's land? He needed to stop this, but how?
"God it's hot." Garfield complained, wiping some sweat off his brow.
"It's a warm climate here." Victor informed him.
Garfield sighed and glanced over at Richard, who looked troubled.
"What's wrong with Grayson?" Garfield asked, "He seems distant, more than usual."
"I don't know, man." Victor answered.
"He's just upset he didn't get to fight off any savages." Someone added with a smirk.
"Attention men," Slade addressed his crew, "We are running behind schedule, we need to kick it up a notch!" He instructed sternly.
"Yes sir." The men answered exhaustedly.
"Excellent. Now where's Grayson?" There captain asked. The men looked around just to see he was gone. "Grayson?!" Slade hollered. "Dammit, where does he wonder off to?" He said angrily turning to Victor and Garfield, "You two, go find him!" He ordered. "And if you come across any savages…" He handed them a pair of artillery, "Shoot on sight." He then turned to Garfield, "This will be good practice for you, Logan." He smirked.
Koriand'R poked at her food at the dinner table. "Does something trouble you Koriand'R?" Her mother asked.
"I'm fine mother."
"You're not eating." Her mother observed.
"I'm just not that hungry. Can I be excused?" She asked.
This got the King's attention. "Don't wander off Koriand'R." He warned.
"Yes father." She said with a distant sigh.
"I mean it daughter; Komand'R told me you have been scouting." Koriand'R glared at her sister who smirked in return. "These white men are dangerous and I forbid you from going near them." He said sternly.
"Yes father." She said with a sigh before leaving the room.
The King knew his daughter was a wildflower and feared she might defy him. "See that Kokam'R checks in on her." He whispered to a guard.
"Yes sir."
Koriand'R leaned on the railing of her balcony and sighed. She wished to fly away; she wished to run free, she wished to see Richard again. She heard a knock on her door and opened it surprised to see her younger brother. "Ryand'R, what are you doing here?"
"Koriand'R I'm worried about you, you have been acting strange." He spoke his concern, entering her room.
"I'm fine, Ryand'R." She told him.
"Well I… I… I-" He stammered, staring with wide eyes at her balcony as a white man climbed it. Koriand'R turned around shocked to see Richard. "Oh X'Hal a white man, I gotta get a gua-" Koriand'R quickly covered his mouth with her hand.
"What are you doing here?" She whispered and Ryand'R's eyes widened even more.
"I needed to see you." Richard tried to explain as a knock came from the door.
"Koriand'R, Koriand'R." Kokam'R spoke through the door.
Koriand'R looked at her brother, "Please don't say anything." She pleaded and let go of his shocked mouth. She walked over to Richard and grabbed his hand, "Come with me." She said pulling him out her balcony and before he knew it she had grabbed both of his hands and took off in flight.
Ryand'R tried to blink away his astonished face as he opened the door and met Kokam'R's concerned expression. "Ryand'R where is Koriand'R?"
"Um… she's not here, I'm not sure where she is." Ryand'R answered oddly.
Kokam'R sighed, "She can't keep wondering off, it's dangerous. Please tell her that." He said before leaving.
Koriand'R gently set Richard down in a special discreet place. Richard caught himself and smiled looking around at the scenery. And Koriand'R couldn't help but beam at his reaction. "This place is incredible." He said looking around before faltering. "And to think we are just gonna dig it up." He finished with a sunken sigh.
She frowned, "You still plan on doing that?"
He looked at her, "I don't want to, but the others they… I, I don't know how to stop them." He met her sunken expression and lifted up her chin to face him, "I'm sorry." Their foreheads touched and they held hands before a flash of light appeared in the distance. Richard jumped, "What was that?!"
"What?" Koriand'R asked unfazed.
"I… I thought I saw a person." He blinked.
She smiled, "Maybe you did." He looked at her confused as she continued to smile, "Look again." She encouraged.
He gave her a perplexed look before looking off where he thought he saw the figure. The wind blew with a sparkle in the air as the light returned along with the figure of a woman. "Whoa." Richard blinked.
"Hello Richard Grayson." The glow spoke.
"Koriand'R that spirit is talking to me."
She smiled and leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Maybe you should talk back."
"H-Hello." He waved sheepishly.
X'Hal's figure became clearer as she glided up to him with tranquil steps, and put a hand on his temple before smiling. "He has a good soul and a faithful heart, and he's handsome too."
Koriand'R giggled as Richard blushed, "Um thanks madam, mam."
"Please call me X'Hal."
"X'Hal?"
Koriand'R rested her head on his shoulder, "X'Hal is the Tamarain god."
"Interesting." Richard said, still a little mystified.
"Grayson!" They suddenly heard off in the distance and Richard immediately put a protective arm around Koriand'R. "Grayson!" They hollered again.
"Don't panic." X'Hal calmed them, "I'll take care of them."
"God this place is spooky." Garfield said looking around.
"Don't be such a scaredy-cat, Gar." Victor teased.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just find Richard and get back to camp." He huffed, "Where do you think he is anyway?"
"Well he has to be som- wow did you see that?" Victor stopped.
"What is it a savage?" Garfield asked in a panic grabbing his gun as if he knew how to use it.
"No, a light?" Victor said watching the odd glowing entity.
"A what?"
"It was a person, I think?" He saw it again, "It's a woman."
"Vic, are you okay? You sound drunk." Garfield asked in concern. "Maybe you've had too much meat, I told you, you should convert to vegetarianism."
"It's like a ghostly god." Victor mumbled.
"Oh my god I see it too." Garfield pointed.
They stared shocked as the figure neared, slowly humming a tune. They stood still almost scared as she glided closer before standing inches away from their expressions. They gulped and she smiled before whispering, "run."
And in a panic they did so. "What about Richard?!" Garfield asked.
"Grayson's a grown man; he can take care of himself!" Victor answered.
Richard and Koriand'R walked out from the hidden terrain. "Nice work." Richard smirked.
"Don't underestimate my power of persuasion." The goddess said with a slight curve in her smile.
Richard faltered. "I, I should go before they send more looking for me."
"When will I see you again?" Koriand'R asked facing him.
"Tomorrow, right here." He said softly cupping her face in his hand before leaning in and kissing her softly. He didn't want to break the kiss but he knew he had to, "I'm sorry, but I have to go." He said resting his head on hers.
"I know." She said as he slowly walked away disappearing into the forest.
Koriand'R sighed. "What am I doing, I shouldn't see him again." She said realization overcoming her.
"Why not?" X'Hal asked.
"He's' trouble. And I'm already disobeying my father."
"He's not as troublesome as you think, child."
"But were from two different worlds."
"Don't let that stop you from seeing him."
Koriand'R looked at the goddess, "but X'Hal, I fear that I might be falling for him."
…