Chapter 9

Chapter 9

 

Central City…

 

Cameron yawned in the predawn light. Today was the last leg of their journey to Central City, both of them were saddle sore. Cam turned in his saddle when he heard a soft curse behind him. Kailah was fighting with the straps to her bag, becoming more irritated the longer she struggled.

Stifling a yawn, Cameron dismounted and went to help her. As he approached he could tell she was close to blowing a fuse. Her body temperature had risen slightly causing the horse to shy from her.

“Let me.” Cam offered as he gently took the straps from her, “You haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since we left Kalm.”

“You either.” Kailah retorted as she watched Cam fumble with the straps, “I’ll be so glad when this is over.”

Cameron just nodded and yawned, she was right about the lack of sleep for the both of them. There was nothing like sleeping in your own bed, not to say the places they had stayed were horrible, especially after that first night.

The strap finally secure the two of them mounted and started down the main road toward Central City. Even at the early hour people were stirring in the streets, merchants setting up stalls, travelers arriving or departing. Cameron steered his steed around a merchant loaded down with fruits.

They reached the edge of the village just as the first rays of the sun were cutting into the sky. Roosters could be heard crowing all around them from the outlying farms. A few cows mooed in response as the herdsmen drove them to pasture.

Cam left Kailah to her own thoughts, not daring conversation till he knew she was more awake and less likely to fry him. He had had to suffer her company without the assistance of coffee the past four days. The further the two of them traveled from the village the number of people dwindled. Just as the sun completely rose over the horizon they were about five miles from the village, alone on the road.

“You had said,” Kailah broke the silence, “you and Shalia traveled a lot?”

Cam nodded, “Yeah.”

 “What was she like?” Kailah asked softly, almost cautiously.

When Cam didn’t answer Kailah started to regret her question thinking she had treaded onto a touchy topic. Stealing a glance at his profile, his jaw was clenched slightly his gaze focused forward but distant.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” Kailah spoke hesitantly, “If it still hurts we don’t have to talk about it.”

Cam laughed, “No, it’s alright.”

The hoof beats of the horses filled the silence while Kailah waited for him to continue. Birds were starting to awaken and join together in a chorus. Cam took a deep breath, puffing up his cheeks.

“For starters,” Cam began, “she was about the complete opposite of you.”

Kailah blinked taken aback, “What do you mean?”

“Well, she wouldn’t have apologized like you did just now. She was kind of an airhead and didn’t pick up on the atmosphere of a conversation at all.” Cam’s voice softened at the memories.

Kailah nudged her horse over closer to Cameron as they passed by a small group of travelers on foot, “How close were you two?”

“As close as any Pair, she was like a kid sister to me. I had the hardest time keeping her out of trouble too.” Cam laughed remembering some of the things Shalia had gotten into, “She had a knack for it.”

Kailah smiled, “Were you a bossy ‘big brother’?”

Cam chuckled, “Only when I had to be. I guess I was kind of too strict at times. I spoiled her though, especially when she’d look at me with those big green eyes.”

Kailah grinned, “Really?”

Nodding Cameron continued, “Yeah, she was very much like a little kid, ninety-miles an hour at the mouth, talked constantly. She never really stuck with anything,” Cam laughed, “I remember one time she got this crazy interest in pottery and decided she wanted to be a potter. She forced me to take lessons with her and after about a week she lost interest and quit.”

“I see, so when you say you spoiled her, you meant going along with all her whims.” Kailah smirked at him with narrowed eyes.

Cam’s horse snorted, “Hey, I don’t need remarks from the peanut gallery.”

Kailah giggled as Cam grinned in embarrassment, “Yeah, I couldn’t help it. She’d ask me in this pitiful voice, call me Cammy, and stare at me with big puppy dog eyes.”

“Cammy?” Kailah raised her eyebrows a grin spreading across her face.

Cam pointed an authoritative finger at her, “Don’t even think about it.”

“Mmmhmm.” Kailah hummed smirking, “Whatever you say, Cammy.”

Glaring sideways at her Cameron shook his head, “I should have never told you.”

Kailah grinned in response chuckling softly. Cameron sighed as they both lapsed into silence. The sun had slowly crept further from the edge of the horizon and was lazily making its way higher into the sky. The further south they had traveled brought with it a change in temperature, even though it was still early Cameron found himself starting to sweat in the heat.

As the sun slowly approached noon Cameron could tell they were starting to near Central City. The road slowly became more populated the closer to the city the two of them got. The two of them steered their horses around a small group of Werst elves, merchants by the look of them. Green almond shaped eyes followed their progress. Cameron nodded in greeting returned with watchful stares.

After they had passed them Cameron puffed up his cheeks and slowly let out his breath. Kailah shook her head slightly but made no comment. The pale skinned Werst elves made their grey skinned cousins in the Gailic Mountains seem friendly. Tension between the forest dwelling elves and the farming humans had risen over the years recently. Cameron could understand the elves not wanting to give up any more of their forest to farm land than they already had.

The farmlands slowly gave way to houses and streets. The two of them crested a hill, Kailah whistled appreciatively. Central City lay out before them in the distance. The Compound gleamed like a jewel resting in velvet, the surrounding buildings stalwart sentries.

Cameron sighed, surveying the distant streets. Like any city, Central had its own share of crime, but unlike other cities Xerkieda ruled this one. Feeling eyes on his shoulders, Cam glanced to see a beggar leaning against a sign post.

“Well,” Cam shifted in his saddle, “let’s go see what Xerkieda wants.”

Kicking his horse forward he glanced back to find the beggar had vanished. Turning his gaze forward again Cameron figured news of their arrival was well on its way to Xerkieda’s pointy ears.

 

“Ah Ganvez,” Xerkieda smirked at him over the rim of her half-moon glasses, “took you long enough to get here.”

Cameron narrowed his eyes, “We got here as fast as possible, Councilwoman.”

“If you say so.” Xerkieda replied flippantly turning her attention to Kailah, “Kailah dear, how are you?”

“I’m well.” Kailah replied curtly.

Xerkieda smirked taking off her glasses as she leaned back in her high backed chair tapping her fingers on her desk. Cameron felt about as comfortable as a mouse at a cat’s dining table. Xerkieda’s dark green eyes flashed, taking note of everything.

She smiled sweetly at Kailah, “That’s truly a pleasure to hear.”

“Why are we here, Councilwoman?” Kailah cut off further niceties, “Why did you specifically request us?”

Sighing, Xerkieda stood gracefully from her chair, “I have a rather delicate matter that needs the expertise of you and your Sword.”

She spat the word Sword like a curse. Kailah and Cameron watched her progress from behind the desk to the floor to ceiling window. Xerkieda folded her arms across her chest as she surveyed her city outside the window.

“What exactly is it that we are supposedly experts at?” Cameron asked narrowing his eyes, “It must be serious if you require a Pair outside of your district.”

“Ah, the Sword can think.” Xerkieda sneered, “The expertise you have has to do with Chaos Zones.”

Cameron stiffened, “What?”

“Chaos Zones?” Kailah asked confused, “The Emperor banned all expeditions into them two years ago.”

“Oh, I’m fully aware of this.” Xerkieda replied softly, “Hence the secrecy of the contract details.”

Sitting back down into her chair, Xerkieda steeple her fingers as she narrowed her eyes, “Even so, this isn’t an expedition, per say.”

“Oh really?” Cameron scoffed, “So you’re not technically breaking the law?”

“No, I’m not.” Xerkieda replied smoothly, “What I’m doing is sending a Pair to investigate a rumor.”

“And this rumor just happens to take us into a Chaos Zone.” Cameron shook his head in disgust, “Why would we ever agree to help you skirt the law?”

Xerkieda’s smile caught him off guard, “Because of an old wound you carry, one that you’ve been chasing the salve for years for.”

Kailah narrowed her eyes, “What are you talking about?”

Xerkieda locked gazes with Cameron as she smirked, “Did he tell you his greatest sin, Kailah dear?”

Cameron’s breathing quickened slightly as Xerkieda continued, “Your Sword, allowed his previous Caster to die and didn’t have the decency to die with her.”

“Stop.” Cameron whispered.

Ignoring him Xerkieda continued, “Not only that but this man weasels his way into any mission having to do with hunting Chaos, hunting the Pair that murdered his Caster. So reckless was he on the missions, he was the sole cause of over forty deaths.”

Cameron shook his head slowly, “No, it wasn’t my fault.”

“Not satisfied with the death of his comrades he moves on to innocents,” Xerkieda sneered, “dragging the war to places it had no business being. Destroying whole villages, endangering women, children, elderly.”

“No.” Cameron gasped, “It was an accident.”

Xerkieda slowly stood, leaning forward onto the desk, “And then he decides to join with a council candidate, taking her away from her potential-“

“SHUT IT!”

The tower of the Compound shook as the tremor spread out through the city. Kailah glared at the stunned Xerkieda who had fallen back into her chair.

“Shut. Your. Mouth.” Kailah iterated each word with deadly menace dripping from her voice, “I do not believe a word of your bull crap. As far as I know, Cameron is the best Sword any Caster could hope to get. If you say one more word against my Sword, Central’s going to need a new Councilmember.”

Kailah turned to the door and started walking away. Cameron followed after his Caster in stunned silence. Xerkieda watched them walk away trying to regain her composure.

“Wait,” Xerkieda stood up, “the contract-“

“Shove it where the sun don’t shine.” Kailah spat without turning around.

Cameron glanced back just long enough to see Xerkieda gaping like a carp in fury. He shut the door behind them just as the cursing and screaming began.

 

“I can’t believe I did that.” Kailah stared in horror at the drink in her hands, “We’re so dead.”

Cameron chuckled, “It was worth it though.”

Kailah looked up at him in shock, “Are you out of your mind? I threatened a member of the Council! We’ll be lucky if we get life imprisonment.”

“Calm down Kai.” Cameron patted her hand soothingly, “Xerkieda’s not going to do anything outright. She’d have to answer for setting a contract into a Chaos Zone.”

Taking a swig from her cup Kailah mulled this over, “I guess you’re right.”

“Besides,” Cameron smirked, “I doubt she’d admit to being told to ‘shove a contract where the sun don’t shine.’”

Kailah snorted, “Her face was priceless.”

Cameron nodded, “As I said, totally worth it.”

Crickets chirped in the bushes beside their table. The patrons of the bar talked and conversed merrily, some locals others not. Cameron watched them as he slowly drank his ale, his head starting to get a slight buzz.

“Are we going to head back tomorrow?” Kailah asked, slurring slightly.

Cameron nodded numbly, “Yeah.”

Kailah’s forehead hit the table with a thunk a second later snores were heard. Cameron raised an eyebrow at his drink blinking blearily.

“Ah man.”

 

A knock sounded on the door startling the Soul Seeker. Quickly snatching up her blindfold she hurriedly tied it over her eyes.

“Lady.” A man’s deep voice sounded on the other side of the door, “It’s almost time.”

The door swung open, the man on the other side dropped to one knee at the sight of the Seeker. Her wings flexed relaxing the ruffled feathers as she swept past the man. Without order the man stood and followed behind the Seeker by two paces.

“Are the troops ready?” The Seeker asked over her shoulder.

The man nodded, “Yes, Seeker.”

Flipping her hair over her shoulder she smirked, “Then join your command, Shekrim.”

“Ma’am.” The man nodded, donned his helmet and turned on his heel.

Smiling to herself the Seeker stepped through double doors onto a balcony. In the courtyard below and the valley beyond, Beasts unnumbered looked up as one to their master.

The Seeker rested her hands on the rail, “Let’s go to war.”

Reviews

[Wolven]

I couldn't help but notice a little inconsistency in there, cuz you wrote: 'True to fourteen year old girl stubbornness she passed out all the plates to everybody else but Don.' when its clear Viska is supposed to be fifteen.
That aside. I really enjoy this chapter. Its a nice, heartwarming kind of one that is very laid back. As usual, I share Cameron's hatred of Cats. pehaps it surpasses the mark for me, but i completely understand his perspective.
I do however feel it is somewhat lacking with regards to the overall plot of the story. It feels like there should be a sense of 'forbodingness' by the end of the chapter. But thats just my personal opinion. great stuff Dreamer!

[Dreamer]

as to the age, it was originally 14 but i changed my mind and i missed that sentence, yes she is 15 going on 16.
and this chapter was a "fun" chapter it wasn't suppose to further the story plot except in showing how comfortable Cam and Kai had gotten with each other.
as always thanks a bunch for the review!! I'll try to have more chapters up soon :D

[Gosia]

About the first part of the chapter, hasn't Kailah ask Cam about him traveling with Shalia in chapter 8?

Yes, that's it. Finally there's some action in your story, the council appears from time to time and the war has been declared. Your writing style is the same, meaning excellent; the interactions between Cam and Kailah are entertaining as ever, ut now the story is much more dynamic.

You've got pat on the shoulder from me, Dreamer.

[Gosia]

The beginning was hilarious and the whole scene with the cat was simply adorable.