Unlikely friends

Sarcos led Sunshine with Sienna holding on to her back tightly. Sienna breathe deeply and looked at the blue sky with very few clouds. The air smelled of summer and blooming flowers. Sunshine movement made somehow Sienna felt more relaxed. She felt happy. Sienna saw that the gardens are enormous. They finally stopped in the white decorated gazebo next to the wall. "Come, Sienna, you can see Sand City from here."Sarcos put her down from the Sunshine. Sienna looked at the Sand City and it was so enormous she could not see the end. There were houses, wide streets and huge gardens, even a few lakes and river, which was coming from the ground, and went back underground at the end of the city."This is amazing," Sienna whispered. "It is your city now as well," Sarcos smiled and held her waist tight. Sienna felt the breeze in her hair. This moment was just so magical. Sienna spotted a big market down there. "Can we go have a look at the market as well?"She asked.

"Tomorrow I will take you out. I will have you with me for three days now, so just two days left. I want to keep you close at least for today when you are still tired," he smiled. He placed her on the pillows in the gazebo and fed her some more fruits, "Rest now, "he said and put his hand on her eyes holding her in his embrace. Sienna wiggled, moving his hand down and holding it tight."But I'm not sleepy, can we play a game? "She asked.

"What would you like? " Sarcos asked gently.

"Do you have chess?"Sarcos nodded. He opened the low side table and there were games and books and everything looked so interesting.

"You are too ready for me. How is it so? "Sienna stared at him.

"I was getting ready when my spies saw you in the Oasis, when that eagle took you from Sharchan. "He smiled. Sienna looked at him in surprise."You wanted me that much?"Sarcos nodded. I was just curious at first, but when I first saw you in my throne room, my heart moved," he said."I knew I have to have you."

" I know," said Sienna, "I liked you at the first sight too. You are so clever and handsome," she ran her finger on the bridge of his nose.

The huge brown tiger was hunting in the Oasis. He spotted the Ape Prince picking up the dates from the palm and his eyes gleamed wickedly. The tiger roared and charged at Ramse. Ramse turned with a surprised look at the tiger, but before he could dodge to avoid the attack, the tiger changed into a burly warrior. He held Ramse under his neck in an instant."You are dead now!" he laughed viciously. Ramse nodded and smiled. "Lord Ziran, what are you doing here? You are too far from Northern Tiger City, no?"

Ziran let go of his neck and sighed."I'm going back to Crystal City. I'm its Lord Protector as well. I want to check up on the queen. I'm her bodyguard, but that stupid snake sent me away for a week. I had a sense something happened to her. What about you? You are far from your land."

Ramse looked at Ziran with a curious gaze."Do you love the queen Sienna as well?"

"I told you I'm her bodyguard," Ziran said sternly, he would not pour his heart to him and look pathetic. He was a brute and kind to Sienna only...

"Well, queen Sienna was taken by the Scorpion king, I saw her before yesterday," said Ramse.

Ziran's face got pale. Ramse looked at him and smiled. He knew he loved her. The rumours were true. Brutal Lord Ziran fell for the queen he can't have yet...

"Is she ok?"Ziran asked hurriedly.

"I wanted to save her, but she doesn't trust me," said Ramse." I think she will accept Sarcos. She had no other choice. He is too strong."

Ziran's eyes lit like fire."Damn it! He will get her as well! Bloody scorpion! "He looked at Ramse with an angry smirk."I think I have the way how to kill the Scorpion King."Ziran's lips curled up.

"He should be going hunting tonight. "Ramse said, knowing Sarcos's habits.

"I will serve him ambush he will never forget."Ziran smiled wickedly.

Ramse looked at him with curiosity. Maybe he can team up with Ziran to get Sienna out of there. He would be content to share her with him as Ziran is strong and the queen does like him. Maybe he can persuade her to accept him too.

"Try to get the queen out and bring her here," Ziran said to Ramse. Ramse nodded. "Of course, I will. But I'm not sure she would come with me."Ramse cringed his face.

"Give her this," said Ziran and gave him his heavily decorated dagger. Sienna always liked it, so he was sure she would remember it."Don't betray me Ramse or I kill you."

Ramse nodded."No worries I will never hurt the queen."Ramse smiled." I like her too."

Ziran looked at him suspiciously."How it is so?"

"I was the one who found her first." said Ramse."But I messed it up somehow."

Ziran looked at him impatiently. "Whatever! Let's move, I need to run now if I'm to make this work tonight. "Ziran grinned wickedly and changed into a tiger. He ran through the desert like a mad man. He will show Sarcos to mess with his beloved.

Ramse stretched his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. He will have work tonight. He looked at the decorated dagger Ziran left him. "Another love bound fool."He smiled.

Sienna spent all day with Sarcos lounging around. They played chess, kissed and relaxed under the white gazebo. He read her poetry in his deep manly voice and she did not even notice when she fell asleep. Sarcos looked at her peacefully sleeping face and golden hair spread on the silky cushions. This was the most resting day in his life. It made him feel calm. He lifted her gently into his arms and walked through the garden back to her room. Sunshine lifted her head from the food bucket and followed behind him like a dog. When they came to the wooden door, Sarcos turned to Sunshine and nudged her neck with his head. Sunshine nodded her head with satisfaction."Stay here Sunshine, wait for me. I'm going to put my queen in the bed."He lifted sleeping Sienna a bit more up and pecked Sunshine on her silky forehead. Then he entered the door and carry Sienna through the corridors back to her turquoise decorated room. He placed her on the bed and covered her up with the blankets. He stared at her a little just feeling happy. Then he kissed her lips lightly and went out of the room, placing two guards at the door." Protect my queen with your life," he said to them."If she would ask, tell her I went hunting."The guards nodded. Then Sarcos gathered his warriors and went out of the city to hunt.

Sienna woke up in the middle of the night. Her body was burning hot. She felt someone's presence and felt weird. She opened her eyes and saw Ramse sitting next to her on the bed. The soft light of the fire was illuminating the room and his blond hair got a red tint on them from it. His handsome face looked even crueller than normal in the contrast of light and dark shadows. She just stared at him confused. His deep grey eyes gleamed at her closely and a wicked smile played on his lips."Ahm, you finally up, my gaze had to wake you."Sienna still could not move she felt her body stiff. Ramse pressed gently both of his hands on her shoulders. She just looked at him staring. He furrowed his brows." Why don't you fight or scream?"

"I can't move," Sienna said hardly through her teeth. Her lips were almost numb and purple. Ramse looked at her." You should be ok by now if you got your mark before yesterday. I came to pick you up and you are half dead. What is going on?" he said and looked at her concerned. Then something came to his mind."Let me check the mark!"Sienna did nothing because she just couldn't. Ramse turned her on her belly. He ripped the fabric on her back and looked at the scorpion mark. The golden scorpion turned black. "Something is really wrong with Sarcos." said Ramse. It looked like Lord Ziran had a way how to kill the king, but they did not though it will endanger Sienna." The scorpion mark is poisoning you because the three days did not pass yet." Ramse stayed pale at his realization." I need to find him. Don't think just bad about me." he said to Sienna and went out."At least he should turn me back on my back."Sienna thought and closed her eyes.