Chapter Six

We entered Skingrad by the West Gate and passed under a stone bridge. We turned left and went under an archway with guards posted at either side. As we kept riding through the city, we began to pass elegant rock homes and businesses. The road had a slight turn to it and to my left I could see a large statue of a man holding a bird on a horse. Danders told me that it was a statue of Rislav Larich, the former King of Skingrad. After the statue, Danders stops at the second house on the left. It has large double doors with a balcony above them. He unhitched Kaie from the cart and walked her down a small side alley and through a small wooden gate, leaving her to roam around in the gated backyard.

Before assisting me out of the cart, he requested that I store all my weapons in the covered back. I did as he asked and allowed him to lift me from my seat. After my feet were on solid ground, I straightened out the shirt and pants and took the arm he offered me.

As we walked towards the building, I stared up at the distant top of it. It must be two, maybe even three stories tall. I snapped my eyes back down to a level gaze when I heard Danders knock on the door.

An old lady with white hair and a shorter stature than mine answered the door. Her face instantly glowed as she laid her crystal blue eyes upon Danders. "Come in! Come in! We can't very well drink tea out in the street with the guards, now can we?" Her smile engulfed Danders and myself as she grabbed Danders's free hand and tugged him inside, leaving me to follow.

Danders's boyish laugh filled the large entry way we stepped in to. Left of the entry way, I can see into a drawing room with a large stone hearth with a roaring fire place. To the right is a dining room with shelves and cabinets of food. Directly in front of us is a staircase with brightly colored tapestries and paintings adorning the walls. As I followed the site of the stairs up with my eyes, I noticed crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and some balconies that over looked from the second floor. I have never set foot in a home so grand. I thought about Danders's comments about the rich ladies of Skingrad and the obvious contempt he had for them. Is it possible he was raised in the same society as the women he had insulted?

Interrupting my thoughts, Danders grabs my hand and leads me into the drawing room to our left. He perches me on the chair next to the one he chooses for himself. I watch his face as he gazes in admiration at the old woman retrieving a shouting kettle off the fire.

"Grandma, I'd like ya to meet my good friend, Miss Emerald Floramer." He said in a strong voice, gesturing a hand in my direction. "Miss Emerald," he began, still using my full name, "this is my beautiful grandmother Lady Alyssa Greensley."

"Oh, hush boy! I no more deserve the title Lady than you deserve the title Prince." She laughed in a way that reminded me of Danders and then turned her gaze on me. "I am very pleased to meet you, Emerald. I must say you are very gorgeous. Are you from the city?"

I could feel the heat in my face and I knew my cheeks were turning red, "No, ma'am. I am actually from Gweden Village, close to Anvil." I smiled but her face became ashy white.

"Close to Anvil, you say? When was the last time you were home, my dear girl?" Her voice was lowered to such a decibel that it made my gut ache.

"No more than two days ago, ma'am. I was required to leave in sort of a rush." I was unable to look her in the eyes. I knew what she was going to say. I was afraid to hear the words to come to life.

I glance over at Danders, but his face is solemn as he stares into the fire. The pain he felt for me could be read on his face.

"You were there when it happened." It was a simple statement, not a question.

"Yes, ma'am. It happened suddenly and all I could do was run," I confessed as memories of Raphelm's bravery flashed in my mind.

"Sometimes that is what you must do." She said simply.

Before I had a chance to reply, Alyssa stood and poured our tea into little cups that were sitting on the hearth. She handed them to us and with a solemn smile she asked, "So, Danders, to what do I owe this surprise visit? And with such a lovely girl? I know it is not an announcement of any kind, for if it were I know you would already be shouting it from the rooftops!" She laughed, winking at me. I felt my face go hot again and I glance over at the handsome man next to me. I, too, was curious for why we were here. I felt his answer in the cart was only to pacify me until our arrival. We were here for more than just answers to questions.

Danders's elbows were on his knees and he was hunched over so that his chin was resting on his fists. His shoulders were slumped and he looked defeated. When he realized Alyssa was speaking to him, He automatically sat up straight and took a deep breath. He looked over at me and gave me a soft, gentle smile and told his grandmother, "Emerald plans on going on a quest. She hasn't told me as much, but I know how these sorts of things happen. Just as I know that it will be dangerous. I'm here to request that you assist her to insure her safety. I don't care what lengths we gotta go to, as long as I know she'll be returning."

"Are you not planning on accompanying her on this quest?" Alyssa asks simply.

"Only if she requests it, though I think this may be something she will want to do alone." Danders's gaze lingers on me. I try to set my face to appear as emotionless as possible, but I knew the hurt showed through just as obviously as it showed on his face. He realized that it was very unlikely that I would allow him to travel with me.

Alyssa opened her mouth to respond, when suddenly a huge thunderclap sounded from outside. Within a second, the sound of pouring rain echoed throughout the huge house. The momentary distraction allowed a change in the conversation.

"Are you skilled with any weapons, my girl?" Alyssa asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I've found that I'm skilled with a bow and arrow. Also I am fast and quiet when it is necessary." I replied.

"Mhm," she practically hummed her understanding. "And magic? What do you know of magic?"

"I only know stories, grand stories about mages fighting battles. I know there are good forms of magic and bad."

"That is correct, my dear girl. Whoever told you those grand stories told you the truth. Also, dear Emerald, I must confess to you that I am one of those mages your storyteller informed you of. A good mage, of course, but a mage nonetheless." Her smile shined brightly and a spark lit in her eyes.

I tried to hide my shock, but failed miserably. My fascination was clear on my face as I declare, "That is amazing, Alyssa. I am honored that you would share that with me. However, what does that mean for me?"

"I am very glad you asked. I admit some people are better at magic than others. It is almost as if they are born blessed with it. Everyone has the potential to learn and practice magic, however minutely they choose to use it."

Danders let out a long breath and added, "There's spells and such that you can learn that can protect you or assist you or pretty much anything ya want." He reached out with his hand and grabbed mine, holding it tight, "I would really appreciate it if you would try to learn a few of 'em, just for safety sakes." He brushed his lips across the back of my hand and looked up at me with an expression of begging.

I took my hand from his and rubbed his cheek, feeling the blonde stubble that was already growing back. I gave him the most pleasing smile I could muster and said, "I will try. I am unsure of how well I will do, but for you I will try." I turn my smile to Alyssa, "I promise you, I will work hard to learn a few necessary spells. I'm a fast learner." At this response, Danders kissed my palm and wrist and thanked me for my oath to at least try.

"Very good. It is unlikely you would be able to leave tonight at any rate. It is raining very hard and the roads will be difficult to travel." After a moment of thought, she turned to Danders and suggested, "Perhaps you should ride Kaie to the stables so she can stay dry and warm? Then I can show Emerald where she will be staying tonight."

"That's probably a good idea. I'll be right back, ladies." Danders stood and walked over to Alyssa and had to kneel in front of her to kiss her on the forehead. Before he left the room, he turned to me, winked, and gave me a smile that caused my chest to constrict.

I watched him retreat through the doorway and then listened as the door opened, letting in the sound of the pouring rain, and then close behind him.

"You do realize that he is in love with you." Alyssa said simply.

I ripped my gaze from Danders's path and place it on her. "Impossible," I tried to sound convincing, "we barely know each other."

"It matters not. He will be lost when you leave. His heart will break."

"He will forget about me," I retorted with a sigh. "He will find some pretty farmer's daughter and fall in love."

"I assure you, the boy will never forget you for as long as he lives," she said as she reached over to pat my hand. Perhaps he won't forget me, but he can't be in love with me.

Alyssa took a deep breath and then smiled at me, "I have never seen a pair who are so different yet so perfectly exact."

"Pardon?"

"Physically, you and Danders are very different. Many of your personality characteristics are opposite as well. You are grounded while he cannot resist jumping for the clouds. You make a decision and stay on track while he will veer off course ten times before he arrives at any destination at all. You are very serious while I have rarely seen that boy no smiling – today being one of those rare occasions. You two balance each other out." Her smile was soft, but it appeared as if she ached for Danders and I.

"Perhaps you are correct but…" I let my sentence trail off. I had many reasons why I needed to refuse Danders, but suddenly none came to mind. All I could think of was his handsome smile and burning blue eyes.

"...but you cannot allow yourself to feel when you have to go through with such a painful and scary thing?" She offered.

"Yes, ma'am." I stared down at the floor, wishing Danders would return so we can end this conversation.

"You know of Danders career choice, correct?" She asked, as if sensing my need for the topic to change.

"You know of Danders…occupation?" I asked, confused.

She gave a soft chuckle and said, "I have known since he was born what he would come to be. Better than his father, I must say. Nicest man you could ever meet, however he worked as an assassin at night for the same organization as Danders. Now, that is a family business I would be uncomfortable with Danders going into." She looked at me with her bright eyes as if we were talking about sailing or blacksmithing or some other normal career. She continued on, "However, I have seen the horrible people that live in Skingrad and the other cities that Danders goes to find his marks. I have seen the horrible acts they commit to good people. What Danders does is allow the gods to work through him to allow for justice." She sat there for a moment and then added, "Did you know he prays to the nine before he goes to work?"

"I was unaware of that," I said, truly interested in what she was telling me.

"He sure does, my girl. Now, it is getting late," she said suddenly. "Would you like to see your room?"