The guards escorted Aurelia and her companion to the audience chamber of Lord Dawkins. The chamber featured previous lords and ladies who presided over the thriving town of Pallrath. Lord Dawkins commanded respect without words. His looks may have been average, but the way his servants, and guards looked at him, one could conclude Lord Dawkins was anything but ordinary.
He scrutinized Aurelia and Zinjo as he approached the caterpillar, thick eyebrows knitted in thought, deep brown eyes affixed on his guests. He kept his hands clasped behind his back, "Please state your business, and surrender your weapons. I do not know you, and armed people make me nervous." Zinjo handed the partisan to a young guard who trembled under the gaze of the predator's yellow eyes, "This is a family heirloom, please care for it." the guard almost dropped. His knees knocked together. "I am Aurelia, heir to the throne ofLord Dawkins and Queen Charity marched ahead of a small squadron of well-armed soldiers. Their chainmail sparkled in the sun. An air of excitement followed the small band of warriors as they marched. They raised their voices in song and ancient battle hymn known only to the people of Brismond. In the rear of the two columns, a woman with black leather armor, and a savage man dressed in bone armor marched right along with them. "You have done a good thing today," Zinjo commented with pride. "It doesn't feel like it right now," Aurelia fiddled with her short swords, "I can't believe mother tanked a kingdom and ours for a night of pleasure, and we still haven't asked about the hyenae. Have you smelled any?" "Not as of yet, Hyena's will sometimes hide their scent with a stronger one. Back home, they use a special plant to do this. Given the plant's needs, I highly doubt the Hyenas can gr
The death of Horace bothered Aurelia. Horace refused to be decent when he was alive. He drove his kingdom into the ground without a thought about the people. How could his death go undetected? Why was his face blue? Her questions led her right back to her original question; Who was running the kingdom? The bloated corpse of Horace burst the moment a pair of careworn guards tried to move it. Visceral fluid jettisoned from the body at the speed of an arrow. Everyone covered their mouths and pinched their noses against the putrid ooze. Charity sped towards the door, Aurelia followed suit. she could feel the bile building up in the back of the throat, it burned upward through her body and threatened to coat anything within five feet with vomit. Out in the hall, the women gasped for air and spent the next five minutes double over. "How long do you think he's been dead?" Aur
Aurelia began the journey to Shadowfen with confidence, not only had she restored diplomatic relations with Brismond, their neighbors to the east, but she turned an enemy into a friend. Zinjo remained quiet for most of the journey. His face wrestled with the questions known only to him. By the second day, Aurelia grew tired of his silence and sat on his chest, "We are not leaving this campsite until you tell me what's bothering you." "Dark Princess, I worry about Kivuli. I am known to him and who knows what a spiteful creature such as he will do to you just to see me suffer or vice versa," He kissed her hand, "Would you object to being a lioness?" The question rocked Aurelia's inner world. A part of her screamed to do it just to be closer. Her more cynical side knew such power came at a cost. "Will it be painful?" "Most do not survive the first change. Ayasu says the body ca
The afternoon sun warmed the earth with its gentle rays and a soft breeze, made it the perfect day for walking. The savage-looking Zinjo and his wife to be Princess Aurelia entered the Dame of Flame blacksmith shop. Hammer struck steel, the smell of charcoal and smoke, gave the shop an industrious feel. Armor stands with completed suits of armor, weapons of all descriptions hung on the wall. In a glass case lay a pair of swords. Aurelia studied the flawless metal and admired the curvature of the blade. Aurelia looked over at her big companion, "Well what is the quality here like?" A nose pressed against the supple leather on the stand. Zinjo examined the seams and the kirtle. "This forger knows their craft. I'd wear this armor into battle confident of its protective capabilities." "High praise from a foreigner," A gruff female voice said from behind him. The pair turned and saw a
Brothels are an unfortunate part of the world and home to one of the oldest professions known to man. Aurelia didn't know what to expect when she opened the double wooden doors. It was only after she entered did she become privy to the secret world of the working girl. Discomfort ruled Aurelia as she gazed at the naked forms of women enticing men to part with their coins. Something about the way they moved and spoke increased the desire in their targets. She recognized some of the men from the royal guard, most of which had families. A woman wearing long flowing silk robed greeted her, "Excuse me are you looking for work?" She walked around Aurelia, "I can see the potential already, is the leather armor your gimmick?" she lifted an arm, "Decent muscle tone, and chest area. You're Young, the men are all about feeling powerful..." After her face stopped burning from terminal emba
The road to Litchford hills was equally perilous to the actual mountain range itself. Most of the road passed through narrow gorges, the perfect place for ambushes. The craggy surfaces made Zinjo nervous. His nose never left the air once as he sniffed for possible enemies. "I do not like this place, dark princess. There are too many places for people to hide, and hyenas enjoy themselves a good ambush. We are taking an enormous risk," Zinjo pushed her behind him. "I thought a group of armed men would attract more attention than a pair of travelers," remember our goal is to gather information and speak to Mshindi." Zinjo was a good man, but his determination to protect her from every little thing irritated her. Zinjo stood in front of her, "You are the future pride mother of Shadowfen, your safety has to take some priority." He growled and tried to carry her.
Everything in the wild stopped as Zinjo entered the camp filled with nervous silence. Zinjo walked until ten feet separated him from Aurelia. His stare still brought out Aurelia's girlish side, and it still made her feel like the only woman on earth. Broken trust does not mend easily. Aurelia approached Zinjo. She walked with the grace and dignity of a regal lioness, as she came within arms reach. She drew her paw back and struck Zinjo with all of her might. "If you ever do something that stupid again, you and I will have problems, understood?" She glared at him and drew herself up to her full height. Aurelia expected resentment and anger to be in the fierce yellow eyes. Instead, she found undying devotion and affection. "Perhaps I was too harsh," her voice softened against the affectionate gaze of Zinjo. "No, dark princess, you were not. I expected worse," Zinjo rose from his knees, and held out his h
Everything in the wild stopped as Zinjo entered the camp filled with nervous silence. Zinjo walked until ten feet separated him from Aurelia. His stare still brought out Aurelia's girlish side, and it still made her feel like the only woman on earth. Broken trust does not mend easily. Aurelia approached Zinjo. She walked with the grace and dignity of a regal lioness, as she came within arms reach. She drew her paw back and struck Zinjo with all of her might. "If you ever do something that stupid again, you and I will have problems, understood?" She glared at him and drew herself up to her full height. Aurelia expected resentment and anger to be in the fierce yellow eyes. Instead, she found undying devotion and affection. "Perhaps I was too harsh," her voice softened against the affectionate gaze of Zinjo. "No, dark princess, you were not. I expected worse," Zinjo rose from his knees, and held out his h