Chapter 27

     By the third day of travel, Aurelia gave up on learning the curved blades. They were of spectacular quality, but the movements were too awkward for her. She was all for learning a new skill, but Zinjo pointed out she was years away from mastering the moves in the scroll. 

  Zinjo's mood had changed now that he and Aurelia shared a tent again, and she felt happier herself with him back at her side. He'd always give her a soft kiss on the cheek to wake her, and she'd nuzzle into him in protest and grip him tight in her arms. 

  "Do we have to get up?" she kissed Zinjo and smiled at him. 

  "I'm afraid we have to, dark princess. The Cherish Empire awaits us," Zinjo pressed her against his hard sculpted body. 

   She inhaled the spicy scent and giggled, "So what are we going to do with the swords, I don't want them to go to waste," Zinjo tried to get up and Aurelia pinned him down. "Just a few more minutes she pleaded."

   A soft chuckle came from Zinjo, "Mshindi has had his eye on them since you've been practicing. The Hyenas use a similar weapon I can't remember what they call it, but he may trade for it."

  Aurelia shook her head, "If I'm going to trade them it will be for the right weapon," She giggled, "I suppose I shouldn't be too picky, a weapon is not a fashion accessory."

   "Hmmm," Zinjo scratched his chin, "Actually, I know of a few weapons that are both. We'll have a look around the Cherish Empire for one," He found his feet and helped Aurelia to hers. Aurelia noticed her balance was enhanced.

   "I keep forgetting how much I've changed," Aurelia balanced in a difficult pose and held it. 

    "Speaking of which, Dark Princess, practice-changing at least once or twice a day. Our people have found staying in one form for too long makes the shift difficult. Although some prefer to be a lion all the time, and others prefer to remain in human form," Zinjo smiled as they exited the tent together. 

   Mshindi squatted by the fire, meat on a spit, and slowly rotated the thick slab over the fire. Redford stood on the edge of the cliff. He slapped his face and paced, "Okay Redford, keep it together."

   "What's with him?" Zinjo asked as he knelt next to the fire. 

   The grin of Mshindi unsettled Aurelia, "Redford is not excited to enter the Cherish empire."

   "Being a wanted man can have that effect on people," Aurelia said sagely, "He seemed so cavalier about it the other day."

    "I think Redford knows more about the kivuli loose in his homeland than he lets on," Mshindi said as he drew a knife and cut a piece off the rotating slab. "Almost ready."

   "Perhaps we should ask him about it then?" Zinjo pulled a log close to the fire and gestured for Aurelia to take a seat.

    "Why to thank you, kind sir," She giggled and sat regally on the log, "I agree, if Redford knows something we don't I think we should get that out in the open." Aurelia strode up to Redford, "Care to tell us what has you wound up?" She cocked her head to the side and honeyed her words. 

   Redford shook his head, "No, you won't trust me,"

   "I didn't trust you from the start," Mshindi shouted without looking up from the fire, "I found you less dishonest than the others."

    "You wound me, Mshindi." Redford complained, he ran his hands nervously through the white hair, "If I tell you the truth, will you ease up on me?"

    "We'll see," Zinjo crossed his arms, "Nothing can change if you continue to keep your mouth closed." he sniffed the air, "Besides breakfast is ready."

    "You aren't going to like it," Redford plopped himself down next to Aurelia. He waited until everyone had been served before he said anything further. "It is true I come from the Cherish Empire. I did work for the crown. My greed is what got us in this mess."

    Mshindi and Zinjo exchanged incredulous glances. Aurelia watched Redford closely. His eyes dripped sorrow and his hunched position said his guilt clung to him like a wet shirt. 

   "Enough you two," Aurelia growled at the two men, "Redford is telling the truth." 

   Both Zinjo and Mshindi looked a the ground, "Forgive me, dark princess. Redford hasn't given us cause to take him seriously until now."

    "Is this the way you'll act towards the people of Shadowfen when they come with concerns that seem petty to you?" Aurelia's eyes demanded an answer, Mshindi moved away from Zinjo. "Where are you going? It's not like you're being fair to our companion."

  Mshindi moved back to his original position, "Yes, dark princess. Forgive me."

  Aurelia glowered at the two friends before she turned back to Redford, "Now please explain."

  "I was content with my lot until a man named  Randolph Dunkelheit came to me with a simple request worth a lot of gold," Redford shook his head, and grit his teeth, "He was after a valuable bottle and asked me to help him steal it since I had infiltration skills"

   "Did you say yes right away?" Aurelia asked. 

   "No, I told Dunkelheit to jump in a lake. I had respect, a good home, a beautiful wife, and a job I cared about," Redfords face filled with sorrow and grief. "I wanted for nothing, and enjoyed my life."

    Zinjo and Mshindi stopped smiling, "Why have you not told us this before?" Mshindi put a hand on Redfords shoulder, "Forgive me for my unkind words."

    "Hang onto the unkind words, you'll need them in a minute," Redford took a bite of the succulent meat in his head. "I didn't hear from Dunkelheit for a couple of weeks and assumed it was the end of the matter."

   "But it wasn't?" Zinjo moved beside Aurelia.

   "No. Randolph visited my wife, and when I came home that day, my wife didn't remember me. Our life together was erased. Randolph promised to restore her memories once I acquired the bottle."

    Aurelia held Redfords hand and gave him an encouraging look, "Go on, nobody is angry or laughing at you." 

    "Deanne would've liked you," Redford said, "Anyway, I wanted her back more than anything and all I had to do is steal a bottle. It seemed so inconsequential at the time," his feet dug deep furrows in the earth. "Once I handed the bottle to Dunkelheit, he gored my wife right in front of me. I remember the cruel laughter, and the eyes alight with glee."

   "Do you know what was in the bottle?" Mshindi writhed with uncomfortable guilt.

  "No, but Dunkelheit did," he paused to wipe a tear from his eye. No one dared laugh, "We will meet again, is all he said before he left me with my world crashing down. I left the Cherish Empire, and I started a crew to finance my expeditions home to see if I can find Randolph."

  Aurelia stood and shot an imperious look toward the men, "What are we waiting for? Lets find Randolph."