Chapter 13

A cloud of smoke and boisterous conversation hit Aurelia's ears the moment she entered the Seaside tavern aptly named, the Cracked Oyster. Men with pipes smoked by the fire and swapped tall tales, while the younger and more virile arm-wrestled on patchwork tables. Unlike the local populace, the sailors didn't bat an eyelash at Zinjo or Aurelia.

"Stay close," Zinjo said quietly.

One last look around the leathery faces and missing teeth made Aurelia nervous enough to cling to Zinjo's arm. "I didn't plan on leaving your side," She lifted a drink to her nose, it smells like sour lemons and whiskey, "Eww what is that?"

"The sailors called it Grog," Zinjo covered his nose, "I don't care for it myself. It befuddles the mind in large quantities, and I can't smell anything else but the accursed drink." Two men sized him up from across the room. "Let's try and finish this quickly, I don't foresee this turning out well if we linger for too long."

Aurelia pointed to the bar where a young wench washed the bar down with a rag, her attributes threatened to pop out of her low-cut top. She pulled Zinjo by the hand to the bar. The serving wench completely ignored her and twirled a lock of her hair around a finger, "Well aren't you the healthy one. What can I do for you? Are you here alone?"

"You saw me walk up to the bar with him," Aurelia fumed. Her anger became a demon eager for the wenches' blood. "Best to keep your wrinkled mitts to yourself."Aurelia couldn't quite explain the outburst.

Zinjo smiled down at her, "Spoken like a true lioness. Perhaps we could exchange gold for information..."

"Zinjo it is customary to ask the questions first, then offer the gold." Aurelia scolded.

"I am new to this, dark princess. Money has no value in my society."

The serving wench caressed her clavicle, leaned forward, and gave Zinjo a good look at her wares, "Listen I'll tell you everything you want to know for one kiss, on the lips. Maybe you'll forget the gothic doll next to you."

A snarl curled Zinjo's lips, his hand gripped the edge of the wooden bar so tight the wood snapped and cracked under the pressure, "You will show the future queen respect. She has earned it." while his voice conveyed no threat, his posture did.

Aurelia put her hand on Zinjo's chest and gently pushed him to the side, "You'll forgive my fiance for his rude behavior. He gets a little spirited where I am concerned," she drew the leather coin purse from a hidden pocket, "Now I am going to lay coins on the table. You tell me when to stop, and then you'll answer my questions."

The serving wench's eyes opened wide, and she nodded, "Sounds fair," coins clinked against the grey wooden bar. When the number of coins reached ten, "Stop."

The soft hands of Zinjo encircled Aurelia behind, "Have you heard of anyone traveling to a place called Kianzangi?"

"What?" The serving wench asked.

"Her heart is steady, she doesn't know," Zinjo's ear flicked in the direction of the wench.

The observation caused the wench to back up against the wall behind the bar, "How does he know that?"

"I am a werelion," Zinjo said with a proud cadence.

Aurelia found satisfaction in the wench's fear. Her black lace gloves pulled a rickety wooden stool, she straightened her dress under her and spoke in a conversational tone. "Has anyone smuggled a large group of exotic people with them recently?"

The wench nodded and pulled her shirt up and whispered, "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from the foreigners. They came in with Sly Braxton, a second-string smuggler. He and I...well it's over now and doesn't matter."

"Did the men have large markings on their arms?" Zinjos voice played across the ears like silk. Aurelia made a mental note to have him talk like that when they were alone.

"Yes they did, and they were unfriendly. They bought Braxton a couple of drinks and left. It's hard to say where they went. They laughed, and it chilled me to the bone. It was almost like a call."

"If you had to guess, where do you think they went?" Aurelia drank in every last drop of the adventure. She wanted more, her thirst for it unquenchable.

"Lots of buzz coming from Brismond, I heard they were having trouble of some kind. I wonder if that's where those foreigners ended up." The wench saw three men sit down, "That's all I know. If you'll excuse me, I have customers to serve."

The serving wench gave Zinjo a wistful glance and went about her work. Zinjo turned to Aurelia, "Should we go to this Brismond to investigate. It would be unseemly to leave the hunt unfinished."

"I agree. It's about a two days ride from here. I can restore diplomatic relations while we are there. Do you think the hyenas are hiding out there?"

"No. The hyenas are respectable hunters, they would seek permission to stay. They can be sticklers for laws. Either way some good will come out of the journey, my dark princess."

"Why do you call me that?"

"You dress in black, Does it offend you?"

"Do you call me dark princess out of affection?"

"Yes." Zinjo pulled her close, Aurelia squealed with excitement, "My heart hurts with yours, dark princess, now and forever," He pressed his lips to her.

Aurelia's senses are overloaded. Something about this kiss was different, her entire body trembled, the knobby knees buckled at his gentle touch. Other parts of her ached to be closer to him. She gripped his face to prolong the sweet sensation.

"My heart hurts with yours now and forever," she said.

"We should prepare for our journey..." he trailed off lost in thought, "Perhaps we should track down Mashek? He may know more about what's happening in Brismond."

"We'll look for him on the way home. I know it's weird, but I am enjoying this."

"As am I. You have grown much in such a short space of time, I am proud of you."

It's all she ever wanted to hear from her mother growing up. Beautiful, enchanting, and graceful, were all words her mother used to describe Aurelia. The phrase, "I am proud of you," rarely touched her ears growing up. To hear it from the lips of Zinjo, only cemented how she felt in her heart.

"You flatter me, shall we go.