Chapter 10 (part 2)

Blaizen began to try to readjust himself.

'One thing's for sure; I'm gonna be sore tonight.'

He decided he would try to get his mind off of that unpleasant thought and started looking across the land. It was something worth seeing. The land looked so beautiful from afar up. It seemed like a painting to him. In that moment, his thoughts drifted back to his own home. He knew in his heart and understood it in his mind. The people he loved and the life he left behind were forever lost. There was no going back.

Though there was a great deal about that life that he had hated, the small portion of it that he had loved had made it all worth the while-, his team, those he'd done business with. It wasn't so much that he'd been in it for the money. He had built what would have been life-long friendships. He had had the respect of many people. It hadn't mattered that they were on the lowest part of the totem pole.

But most of all, he missed his brother. His heart ached most at the thought that he would never see him again, never have another conversation. His eyes began to tear. He'd been trying to avoid that thought and now he remembered why. It made him feel so very alone.

The sun was setting and the hour to end their flight was upon them. They made camp by the forest southwest of Sophiapolis. They were all a bit sore from their ride, making jokes at the way they were all walking. It wasn't long before the girls and Orckle had gone to bed, leaving only Ean and Blaizen still sitting by the fire. Blaizen had stayed relatively quiet all night.

Ean leaned forward and stirred the fire. "Something on your mind?"

Blaizen shook his head and sat there a moment longer. "Ean, you have a brother, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you have much of a relationship with him?"

Ean took in a deep breath. "Not really."

"Why not?"

"My father died when I was very young. When I was about five, my mother remarried and soon after had another son, Brundin. Really, Brundin's father was a good man, and I had nothing against him …"

"But you never saw him as your father."

"No … And then, after I turned fifteen my mother died. I packed my bags and I started traveling. By the time I was eighteen I was living on the streets of El'Laissa." He smiled as he looked over at Cecealye. "And that's when I saw the most beautiful thing in my life."

"CC … How did you all meet?"

Ean looked over at Blaizen. "That's a long story."

"I ain't in a hurry to get anywhere."

"We didn't really meet until I was nineteen, She was seventeen. And, honestly, she was also very betrothed."

"What? Don't tell me you stole another man's woman."

Ean chuckled. "Don't worry, I didn't." He paused. "The night I met her was the same night her father was killed … I was walking down an alleyway not far from the castle when I heard some yelling and a great ruckus. I ran around the corner to see this young cloaked woman facing off with five men. She wasn't doing half bad. So, being the gentleman that I am, I decided I would help her. We made quick work of the men and I turned to greet the young lady. Though she was trying to hide who she was, I instantly knew that I was facing the princess, heir to the throne. We could hear more men coming in the distance. She asked me if I would see her safely out of the city, and I did. I kept her safe until the General returned and did away with the traitors. At that point, I was commended and made the princess' protector. Wherever she went, I was to follow. That turned into a friendship, which then turned into … more than friendship."

"What happened to her fiance?"

"He died the same night her father did." A pause came over the two men.

"So … you all haven't ...?" Blaizen asked.

Ean glanced over at Blaizen. "What?"

Blaizen raised his eyebrows. "You know …"

Ean sighed. "When I said more than friendship, I didn't mean like that. So, no, I don't know her in that way."

"I was just wondering. You two seem pretty close; you never know."

"Such a thing would be detrimental. It would only hurt us."

"I don't know if I could do that. Date a woman for that many years and never cross that line," Blaizen stated.

"I didn't say it was easy. Sometimes it's really hard. Regardless, we're waiting until we can be wedded."

"What's stopping you?"

"Ben the Habel, a man on the High Consul who's best described as a thorn in my side." Ean's aggravation with the man showed.

"I have a sneaky suspicion that I wouldn't like him either."

"It'll happen all in the Nameless One's timing. We've just got to be patient."

"I admire your faith."

"Well, it's the only thing that keeps me going."

Blaizen found that he was feeling much better and that his feeling of loneliness had passed. Shortly after, they, too, turned in for the night.

The night didn't seem to last long enough for Blaizen, but then again he did stay up late. He was considerably sorer than the night before. He began rubbing his legs attempting to rub out some of the soreness.

'Why did I complain about walking? This is ten times worse. I don't know how I'm going to make it through today.'

"Sore huh?" Supreany said as she was looking over at Blaizen.

"Yeah..."

"Never ridden an animal before?"

"That would be a negative."

"Just make sure to rub and stretch those muscles as much as possible every time we break."

He planned to. They made a handful of stops to let the birds rest, and he knew he would need them all. Everyone kept reassuring him that he would eventually get used to it. He certainly hoped it would be soon.