Chapter 37: Chapter 36 – ‘Here’ and ‘There’

I bowed to them with folded hands and they went on their way, leaving me and Zhunil alone. Looking to her, I saw a large grin on her face. This rather quick turn of expression was unexpected, to say the least, but a welcome one. I rather have this than her anger and the removal of my shaft.

“You’re rather happy,” I said.

“Well of course!” she said. “I was right to place my trust in you that day! You know, I was conflicted when I removed the cloak to see your face. There was a part of me that held back, because I could see only innocence through your eyes. It was similar to when I first met my brothers. There wasn’t a hint of evil that I could see.”

Her brothers? This came as a surprise. I wanted to ask her about it, but I held myself. It didn’t seem appropriate.

Concerning her assessment of me, I felt she couldn’t be further from the truth. While I didn’t show it, evil thoughts would come and go from my mind. Lustful thoughts wouldn’t just vanish on their own. The road to mental purification would be a long one, but by its end, it would indeed have been worth the cost.

“Is that why you restrained your strike?” I asked.

She thought and blushed. “Yes, but not the only reason. But I won’t speak on it!”

I laughed. “Then let’s leave that. I know you’ve forgiven me by speech, but I don’t believe all your ills have been resolved. For what I did to you, in most cases, would be inexcusable. Have you truly forgiven me in your heart.”

She hesitated. Her face of joy became slightly pained. “No. It will take more time.”

That I didn’t doubt.

“But don’t take that to mean that I don’t want you around,” she said flustered, “I still wish to enjoy your company as I’m sure does everyone else.”

I nodded with a smile and let the matter rest. “Would you show me your home?”

“Yes!” she said with glee. “Come with me!”

We exited the dome and scurried across the pillared hall. She took me through a secret route that involved several stone lifts. They operated by power of air, and they glowed while activated. She held her palms out and cycled the air about her. Suddenly, they lifted with great speed. In short time, we made to the surface.

Exiting the house, I looked at the sky to see it clear and blue. Not much time had passed, if any. The children were still playing and running about, while the two guards, or boys I should say, were still unconscious.

Zhunil saw this and looked to me with a hint of anger. “Did you do this?”

I thought carefully about what I should say. “Well, they attacked me first.”

She struck my gut, and I keeled from the pain. Indeed, her anger was still there, lying in wait.

“I suggest thinking more carefully how you act,” she said blowing her knuckles, “since I also attacked first.”

That she wasn’t wrong about. I hoped I would have a little rest from her strikes, but given what could’ve happened below, well, I should thank my dues that I didn’t need to pay for anymore.

She woke the two boys, draining an excess of water from her hand. They awoke with a few splashes, and said, “What, where, happened?”

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“Rise you fools!” she said, and they stood with attention.

The two looked to me, and cried, “Hey, what’s the boy doing here? We were going to remove his shaft!”

She brimmed with anger. “His shaft belongs to me, you apes!”

“Yes, ma’am!” they squealed.

While I wished to laugh, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this. I suppose, at the time I met her, I was already claimed territory. I pushed my legs together, thinking she might grab between my thighs at any moment.

“This boy beside me, take a closer look,” she said.

They squinted their eyes through the visors of their helmets. I saw their armor shake, and immediately the two of them prostrated.

“It’s the prince, it’s the prince!” they cried. “Forgive us! Don’t execute us, please. We know your name to mean ‘death’ and all, but please, please, we beseech you for mercy! Your shaft is yours,” Zhunil glared, “or hers! Hers! We don’t want to die, prince!”

I laughed at their pitiable display. I lifted each of them and dusted their armor, which made them even more frightened and uncomfortable.

“Prince, prince,” they said, “we can handle this ourselves! Don’t concern yourself with lowly lot like us.”

“I hope you’re not including me,” she said with a glare.

“No, of course not, Zhunil, sir, ma’am, lady!”

Their confusion got the better of them. Perhaps they already saw her as a princess.

She sighed. “Do you know who knocked you out?”

They shook their heads. “We were ready to assault the prince, before everything went black.”

She pointed to me. I showed them the vortex of air I issued from my palms. Their eyes widened. They once again prostrated and clasped my feet.

“Forgive us, prince! Forgive us!” they cried.

Today would be a long day.

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