Episcal looked around dazedly. The Healer had left him alone. The room was
completely silent and no one was in sight. His battle gear had been taken off
and lay cleaned on a nearby chair. He numbly felt his forehead.
The mixture was gone and his head felt relieved. His cuts were bandaged and
he could hardly feel the pain. He quickly threw off the covers and dressed himself.
He took his sword out of its scabbard and admired the shine. He put it back
and opened the door ajar. The coast was clear; Asaunia was healing someone nearby
to his left and Bessinia was pushing a cart full of linen to the rooms to his
right.
Before he left, he read the tapestry beside the door frame:
“I sit in the room where I dwell
For this desire I dream so well
I kept banal life safe with me
Now I want to set it free
The demise, the tears, the fears, the falls,
I march on pungently o’er every knoll
And do I stand come victory’s call?
I prevail conquering through it all.”
Episcal wiped a tear from his eye. He had never cried before. He pulled himself
together and covered up with a blanket. He then entered the large hall and pushed
open the large doors to the outside world.
“Sir!” A tall guard burst into the Herongedy conference room. “Sir, urgent
news, Sir!”
“What is it?” Herongedy snapped.
“We found some info on the thief, Sir.” The guard held up a scroll with a picture
attached to it.
Anger_Fire perked up. “Can I see?” he asked, eager to see the one they thought
was him.
He peeked over the king’s shoulder before the guard holding him hostage could
punch him. He looked on in disgust. “Tarquinta, Master Thief – you thought I
was a girl!”
Anger_Fire both laughed and pretended to gag at the king’s stupidity.
“Tarquinta, yep, that’s me! Armed and dangerous!” He practically rolled on
the floor chortling. “Jeez, I didn’t know I was that beautiful!” Anger_Fire
fluffed up imaginary locks of hair gorgeously. He finally stopped snorting and
brushing invisible tresses and wiped a tear from his eye. He was serious for
a millisecond, not visible to the human eye, but then he broke free of restriction
and guffawed further.
“I don’t understand,” the king said through gritted teeth.
“I do, ya Mynci,” Anger_Fire cried hysterically. “This whole time you accused
us the real burglar got away!”
The king cursed. He then addressed his henchman. “Take this wisenheimer to
the dungeon…” the king trailed off, looking at the picture of Tarquinta.
“Diet of bread and water should do it, huh?” The henchman evilly clutched
the small Shoyru.
Herongedy turned hastily. He had panic in his eyes. He threw down the picture.
“Bread and water? Why don’t you just destroy him now? Give him a room, on that
thought - the guest room. Feed him well, fool, or pay with your life.”
At that moment, no one could tell who was more surprised, the henchman or
Anger_Fire. Anger_Fire instantly shut up, for he’s lip had been forever quivering,
waiting until he could laugh again.
“You heard me! Now go!” Herongedy turned towards the window and shuddered
as Anger_Fire was pulled away.
Episcal had only set out a while when he halted at a familiar voice. “Well,
well. Look who it is. Back from the deep.”
He stood alone in the middle of a vast field that the Eyries had abandoned
long before. He was alert and waiting, and he prepared himself as the words
sunk in.
Episcal turned slowly and pulled out his sword. “This time, a fair battle,
Major.” He pivoted and scanned the area. He sought out the blue bit in the cluster
of leaves not high above in a tree.
“You’ve healed quite well,” he said in a mimic admiring tone. “But when I’m
through with you now, you won’t have time to heal. And, of course, no one can
really come back from the deep.”
Karyji swung down on a branch with his right paw, his crossbow ready in the
left. Episcal charged forward. Karyji shifted his weapon into his right paw
and held up the crossbow to parry the oncoming attack and for a moment, they
held still with their weapons attached. Then Episcal smoothly upturned the sword
and twirled, pulling the crossbow from the enemy.
He quickly put his sword back in its scabbard and pulled the bow back. Without
hesitating he fired.
Karyji screamed agonizingly. He clutched his fur, a patch on the arm where
the sharp bow stuck out. He slowly pulled it out and huffing heavily he stormed
at Episcal, the bow pointed outwards.
“Good-bye, comrade!” he cried. “You never could win!” He pulled his arm back
and heaved instantly at Episcal’s chest. With one yelp, he was down, his eyes
closed, body still.
The evening sky celebrated in purple, border with a peach fringe, with pink
clouds hovering above the green of the grass. Depridama sat alone by the stream,
her back to the grassy field. She inhaled heavily and heaved a great sigh.
She held in her paw the picture from the safe. She stood, tall and smiling,
her paws in those of a blue Kyrii. She let a tear fall onto the photo, and then
she held her paw above the flowing stream. She closed her eyes and prepared
to release when a paw was placed on her shoulder.
“Dama,” said a voice gently.
Depridama spun around in a flash. “Karyji, you traitor!”
“Please, Dama – ”
“Don’t you call me that! Don’t you know I’m the Senator? And don’t you know
that you don’t belong here?” Depridama was ready to slap.
“Please, let me explain – ” he pleaded.
“Quiet! Episcal will be destroyed thanks to you!” Depridama cried contemptuously.
“Look, that was between me and him!” Karyji’s eyes turned helpless. “Come
with me, Dama, we’re going far away.”
“Never!” Depridama screamed. Her claws extended and she bore her teeth. “Get
out of Kyyoro before I have you destroyed.”
“Dama…” he said softly. “You still have this picture…”
“I was just about to get rid of it, but first I’ll have to get rid of you.”
Depridama scowled.
“The King is holding a Shoyru of yours. If you please answer me one question,
you can have him back.”
Depridama thought for a minute. The queen had noted Anger_Fire’s absence and
she presumed it was he being held hostage. Anger_Fire was important to Kyyoro,
so she tossed her bangs off her forehead and smiled.
“One question,” she pursed her lips as if she was holding back that she was
happy.
Karyji grasped Depridama’s paws and got down on both knees. “Will you be my
mate?
To be continued... | 
