The Lost Mark

Chapter 23: Where are we?

"Who are you to say what is manly and what isn't?" I asked
"I'm the head of the guard." The bold man said
"And that makes you manly."

"More manly than him."

I snorted glaring at him. "In my opinion, he's more manly than you will ever be. He is brave enough to cry when he needs to. When was the last time you cried?"
He glared at me and I glared right back at him.

"What's going on?" A weak voice asked.

I whipped my head around. "Nee!" I cried.

Gregory held her as she tried to sit up.

"Are you okay?" I rushed over.

"I'm fine," She said then glanced at Alex and grabbed her hands. "Don't cry for me."
"You are family, so of course she will cry for you. You are here," I explained, then eyed the guard at the door. "You are his niece, why can't he cry for you?"

"I'm not going to die just yet. Gregory is going to help cure me." She looked at him. "Right?"

Gregory gazed at her with glossy eyes. "I will do all it takes."

I believed him. I sighed and turned towards the supposed head of the guard. "What do you need?"

"The lord. I am curious about how things will change for my men."

Gregory pointed at Alex. "Alex was a guard, so he is in charge of that sort of thing."

The man snorted. "That person?"

Nee saw him for the first time and glared. "You have something against my family?" she said eyes aglow.

"No, that man is not manly."

"And you are?" She sneered.

I smiled and thought that I was raising her well.

He looked at her visually shocked. "Excuse me?"

"A man who puts down others isn't manly, isn't even a man. Is nothing, but a scared little boy."

Alex stopped crying when she heard Nee's words and started to laugh. "You've been spending too much time with me. Your insults have gotten really good."

Nee smiled back at her. "Of course, I have the best teacher."

I grinned. Everyone was back to normal. I focused on Nee as my smile faded and said. "You have to be with someone at all times. We can't have you fainting with no one nearby to catch you."

She waved me off. "I will be fine."

"You've grown up," Alex said. "You're not the same cry baby you used to be."

Nee's lips trembled at her words. "Really?"

"I take back my words, you're still super emotional, but you are getting better at hiding it."

She gave her a watery smile. "Thanks."

Alex grimaced at the face Nee made then at the unwelcomed man who was looking at Nee. His eyes said something that I didn't like and Nee wasn't ready for.

"How old are you?" I asked him.

"I'm the youngest head of the guard." he brags.

"That does not answer my question."

I need to know if his eyes are too old for what they are doing.

"Alesta, mama. Calm down." Alex says recovering from her sobbing.

the guard looks at her with a raised eyebrow. Alex simply looks at him.

"I guess it's time to talk, Guard."