Chapter 9

Before they left the market in search of the Hyena's origin, Zinjo armed himself. The polished bone and Ivory shoulder guards highlighted the silk tan face and hair. Interlocking plates made up the chest guard and shin protectors. Zinjo turned to Aurelia who was dressed in her usual black and red silk gown, and hair in a tight elegant bun. "How do I look?" he asked while he gingerly cradled a rolled-up blanket.

Aurelia's whole body reacted to the werelion's appearance. Her hands shook with excitement, and then a thought crossed her mind: What if she removed the armor and they stayed in versus going to the market. "I am more than proud to walk beside you," She gripped his hair and pulled him down for a kiss, the image of the last one was fresh in her mind, and her loins begged her to take another. "What's in the blanket?"

Zinjo grinned and carefully unrolled the blanket, a long ironwood handle with a wavy blade at the end staring Aurelia in the face. The blade was engraved with intricate scrollwork on both sides of the blade. The pictures differed, "What is it?"

"You call it a partisan, and while I am here I shall call it that as well," He showed her the pictures, "This belonged to my father and his father before him, Each picture depicts a significant event in their lives. He pointed to a man and a woman standing together, "Here is where My grandfather got married, and here is the birth of my father. When we are married, I will have our journey carved on the blade, for our children."

Aurelia's heart melted to putty at his words, "You can see yourself having kids with me?"

"Yes, I believe you will be excellent at it."

"Will our children be like you?"

"Yes."

"Doesn't that worry you?" It worried Aurelia. She loved the people of her kingdom, but at times they were ignorant and gave into fear-mongering at the slightest bit of change.

Zinjo strapped the partisan to his back, "A little. Your people will come to accept me, not all but most. Which is why what we do now is so important, it is an opportunity to earn the trust of the people, before you ascend the throne."

Why did Zinjo care so much about her? They just met a day and a half ago. "Zinjo, why me. Why travel all this way for me? I know I've probably asked this a while ago..." She never got to finish before Zinjo pulled her tight against his body.

"Aurelia, as I said before, you were worth the journey. Like you I felt out of place and foolish among mine. I wanted to bring my people into a more modern age, and join the rest of the world."

"How did that go?"

"Not well. We have lived the same way for thousands of years and our people have flourished. We follow the season and take only what we need. The elders fear by letting your kind into our lands we fall into excess and destroy the land that nourishes us."

"I wasn't expecting your people to be biased against us, you seem so understanding."

Zinjo moved toward the door, his sleek body moved without noise, "I did at one time, but as I traveled I met like-minded people and made friends. I came to see the imperfect nature of my people and yours. No way of living is better than the other, they just have different advantages and disadvantages."

A slender arm locked with Zinjo's, "Just in case there is confusion as to why you are with me."

"The entire kingdom saw you lay claim to my heart. There is nothing to be confused about," Zinjo pulled her in and kissed her with a passion that lit her whole body on fire. "Does that clear things up?"

It was a struggle to stay upright. Her knees were so weak. Aurelia leaned against Zinjo for support and he put an arm around her, "A little, but I think I will understand more with time."

****

The outing to the market became interesting the moment they arrived. People hurriedly moved out of Zinjo's and Aurelia's way. It irritated Aurelia a little, "Look at them scared over nothing,"

"Hmmm," Zinjo sniffed the air and sighed, "I do not think we will find what we seek here. I do not smell hyena."

"How strong is your nose?"

"Depending on the strength of the smell up to two miles." He paused, "In some places, they had hidden markets with illegal goods, does Shadowfen have such a place?"

"I know a few questionable merchants on the docks...Oh, I get it, if the hyenas wanted to remain hidden they'd avoid using mainstream merchants."

"Yes, you are smarter than your mother."

On many occasions Aurelia felt six inches tall next to her mother, never had she thought herself superior to her mother in any way. "My mom is smarter than I am." she buried her face in his chest and giggled softly. "I am flattered by your belief in me."

"I do not flatter, but speak the truth." He paused and pointed to a lanky thief. The deft hands shoved fruit into several pockets before the dirty face darted down an alley. "We must stalk our prey. Hop on my back, it will be faster."

Aurelia jumped on Zinjos' back and gripped the long hair like reins, "Are you sure about this? You don't feel a little silly?"

"We are to be mated, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"I appreciate that Zinjo," They stopped in a dingy alley with broken crates and bins full of garbage, "Do you smell him?" Aurelia asked.

"Yes. Your city is an affront to my nose."

"Yeah, we aren't crazy about the smell either. She dropped to the ground and examined the area. She saw nothing. She scanned the ground, and noticed a manhole cover, "Do you think he went down there?"

The gorgeous man knelt and sniffed the manhole, "Yes," He pulled the cover free and gripped the ladder, "Are you coming?"

Aurelia peered into the dark depths below, and then to Zinjo, "Can you carry me again. I am all for being brave, but I draw the line at sewer water."

Zinjo scurried down the ladder and held out his arms, "As you wish."