The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Seven (Revised)

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

"For the third time, Cepheus, no," I said as I gave Cepheus my most exasperated look. I was already irritated without him pestering me. "I am not jealous. Why should I be?"

I'm not jealous. Irked, maybe. Those two have been talking for more than an hour, and she clung to him like a leech. I was tempted to wrench her arm off.

"You should have seen your face back there," Cepheus said with a laugh. "You looked like you were going to breathe fire, and I could swear I saw smoke coming from your ears."

"Very funny."

Cepheus inched closer to me. "Come on. I won't tell him. Just admit it," he whispered.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said and marched off. He stopped me and stared at me, as if trying to read my thoughts. I glared at him, and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine. Whatever you say, Your Highness."

"I told you to call me Annaliese," I reminded him.

"Annaliese," he repeated. I rolled my eyes and stared ahead, and finally those two noticed what was going on and stopped. They were watching us, but that girl still stuck to Cyrus, who shifted his gaze. It seemed that he was uncomfortable as his usual resigned expression changed to embarrassment and then to obliviousness.

Whatever. If he was uncomfortable, then why didn't he tell her in the first place? When she ran into his arms, he didn't move. What irritated me is that Cyrus let her. He let her do that. Where was the ever intimidating general who snubbed ladies in Seriah? Well, Cepheus told me that Cyrus was popular with the girls in Seriah. Like I care. But, yeah, he's right there, jelly in the hands of a lady in the middle of the forest.

Celia had introduced herself to us after Cepheus made it clear that we were watching them. If he hadn't, I might have sent her scurrying after that boar.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the woods then, Celia?" Cepheus had asked.

"I live alone in the nearby stockade at the edge of the clearing over there," she pointed somewhere in the trees. "My companions will not be back for a long time. I was gathering herbs for medicine when that boar attacked me."

Really? The boar's eyes were quite reproachful, and they don't maul you unless you provoke them, I muttered to myself but thought better of saying it aloud.

"I am so grateful that my dear Cyrus saved me," she had said dreamily.

I huffed and rolled my eyes at that. Her dear Cyrus? Oh, was he hers now? I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut so I glanced at Cepheus instead, who was trying hard not to laugh.

She volunteered to be our guide on our journey when we told her where we were going. "Eleos had changed drastically since King Cleon died," she said sadly.

I was tempted to ask who he was, but I didn't want to look dumb, not in front of her. She suggested to first follow the river until we reach the town of Ranah, which was northeast of Sapiro. Cepheus had agreed immediately, saying that he hasn't thought of that route, and Cyrus just nodded.

Cyrus was looking blankly at us, and as we approached them, Celia held on tighter to him.

I felt my face flush. Without thinking, I also held on to Cepheus's arm. He slightly flinched, but he chuckled softly.

"You are jealous, Annaliese."

"Shut up," I hissed.

Cyrus's eyes flickered, and his expression went back to normal. He glared at Celia and she released him. He looked around. "We're too slow at this rate," he muttered and whistled. "We'll rest here. They'll be here shortly."