Chapter 26

     The mountains of Litchford hills kept the small band of travelers on their toes. The endless walls of rock, and tufts of thick green moss on stones, banked by pine trees tall enough to touch the sky. Aurelia discovered how much one bite had changed her. For instance, her endurance dramatically increased. They had traveled most of the day without stopping, with the exception of food. 

   They made camp about a day's journey from the Cherish Empire.  Redford and Mshindi went off to find some supper. Zinjo looked over at Aurelia and pointed at her swords, "It is time to get familiar with your blade?" The firelight attractively illuminated his fur, Aurelia pulled the scroll from her rucksack. Zinjo shook his head, "You are not there yet,"

   Aurelia shot him a dirty look, "I'll be the judge of that," She stared at the scar where Zinjo bit her.

   "How many times must I apologize?" Zinjo put his face in his hands,  "I thought we ended this argument."

   "Would you be proud to tell your mother what you did?" Aurelia sneered as she unrolled the scroll. Zinjo wasn't wrong. The complex poses and movements were beyond her skill level. "No, you were the recipient of a second chance. I was still angry."

   Zinjo's face went wide with terror and he shook his head, "No. I would not be. She would be ashamed. Ayasu believes the bite should be given in mutual understanding."

   "Ayasu is your mother?"

   "Hmmm," Zinjo nodded. He broke off a pair of ranches and pulled the shoots and twigs off of them. "We will not start with steel, we will start with sticks."

   Aurelia drew her swords, "What's the point of having these if I'm not going to practice with them?" She demanded to know. 

    Zinjo tried to hand her a stick, and she crossed her arms and turned around, "Every warrior starts this way, dark princess. Men who rush to learn end up the victim of their weapon." He poked her in the back with the stick. "How much longer are you going to stay mad at me?"

    With a soft snarl, Aurelia twisted around and yanked a stick from Zinjo's hand, "When I feel like you've paid enough for your thoughtless actions," She pressed the attack, and swung wildly at Zinjo's head. 

   "You are a talented dark princess," the sticks clicked together, Aurelia spun backward and aimed for his side. Sharps cracks of wood on wood filled the camp. Zinjo's eyes lit up with excitement and discovery. Zinjo almost seemed lazy in his movements, like he was holding back.

   "Try harder Zinjo, I would know what I am capable of," Aurelia faked to her right, and then stabbed left. Zinjo was barely blocked and countered. First, a slight numbness and then sharp needles of pain erupted from her shoulder. She rubbed her shoulder. 

   "I can stop if you wish," Zinjo raised his stick again ready for the next assault, "I wouldn't want to make you angrier." He growled. 

  Once more Aurelia pushed her body into motion. She blocked a pair of strikes aimed at her chest, and struck Zinjo on the knee, e and staggered him. She capitalized on the advantage and swept him to the ground. "How's the view down there." She relished the small victory and waited for Zinjo to get up. "Come on, Let's go again."

  "No, that is enough for now. My heart is not in it. I worry I have lost you," His eyes were soft and kitten-like, and a look of utter misery on his face pierced the anger Aurelia felt toward him. 

   She held out her hand, "Perhaps I have taken things too far." Zinjo smiled and took her hand. They stood close together and he brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and gently touched her face. Aurelia kissed him softly and pressed her body into his and savored the tender reconciliation. "I love you Zinjo. You will make a good husband."

   His gaze still brought the heat to her small form, and his smell still excited her. She conceded how lonely the tent felt without his warmth next to her, a sensation she enjoyed immensely. "I love you as well, dark princess. I have missed you in my arms as of late. We should set a date for our wedding."

  "I like fall, lots of celebrations and festivals. We could make our marriage a part of them, make the people part of it," Aurelia blurted out in excitement. 

  "Is this how things are normally done?"

  "Not really. My mother ignores the needs and wants of the people. I'd like to be a different ruler from her. One where we operated with as much transparency as possible," She kissed him again, her knees grew weak, but Zinjo's powerful arms kept Aurelia on her feet. "Which is why this mission is so important. The people need to see their future queen working on their behalf."

  "You seek to be a queen of the people and not the land?" Zinjo asked with a smile. He hadn't let go for a second. Aurelia nodded and leaned against his shoulder. "I am pleased to hear you say that. I believe a leader should work for the benefit of their people."

    Mshindi and Redford returned with a large ram. Mshindi kept the fresh kill at the edge of the camp as he cleaned it. "I see you two have resolved your differences," Redford smiled at them, as he took a seat by the fire. "We should take time to go over the Cherish Empire." He grabbed his long stick and stoked the fire. 

  Aurelia's nose could smell the blood and guts from across the camp. She shivered against the horrid smell. Zinjo chuckled and pressed her close, "Shall we take a seat."

  The young lovers sat on a log opposite the brigand, "What can we expect? Mother never took me to the Cherish Empire."

  Redford ran his hands through his hair, "As fair warning, I am a wanted man in the Cherish empire. Luckily the people love me more than the current ruler. Our goal is to reach Venmere, I have people who are keeping tabs on things, assuming they haven't been caught we could learn a thing or two."

  "How experienced are the guards?" Zinjo asked. 

  "The guards in the palace are the best of the best. They are trained from birth to be warriors. The common city guards and officers are a bit uninspired at the moment. I believe you encountered a similar phenomenon in Brismond?" Redford asked with a raised eyebrow. "Are you ready with the meat Mshindi?"

   "Hold your horses, brigand, this takes time. You're not the only one with hunger clawing their belly," The hyena shouted from across the camp.

   "I will not refute that point, but I am the only human amid proven predators. I worry about being eaten,"       Redford complained. A playful glint appeared in his eye, and Aurelia found it difficult to keep a straight face.

   "I've never eaten a human. I suspect they have a sour taste, or at least you would from all the wine you drink," Mshindi retorted. 

   Zinjo and Aurelia burst out laughing, as did Redford. The tense air around the camp vanished and the evening passed with good humor and friendship. Each person knew the next few days were bound to challenge them. Aurelia hoped she found herself equal to them.