Guardians of the Sword (on-hold)

Chapter 7: Surprise Visit

A/N: The journey continues! Ignore typos for now as always. Really don't have the time to edit at the moment. Unless the typos are really bothersome, then please say so, so I can squeeze in an editing activity in my life. Hahaha. I'm also still writing the next chapter of my other work. Don't know when I can publish that one. Hopefully by next week..? Hopefully. Hahaha. Oh well, hope you'll enjoy this one for the meantime. ^_^

Don't forget to vote and comment! *salute*

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The moon was bright and the night sky sparkled with the stars. Silence replaced the noise from the trading activities earlier that day. Lights inside the houses were snuffed out one after the other as the villagers and traders prepared for bed. After a while, darkness embraced the Village of Steeden and its people welcomed being lulled to sleep by the silence.

In the cottage at the far end of the village, Garr and Cloud were sitting by the fire, talking. Anyo was snoring on the cushioned chair near the front window, his mouth gaping open. Iris was sleeping on his chest, taking pleasure in the rise and fall of the morpher’s chest when he breathes. The women and children were fast asleep in the two small rooms upstairs.

“What did Altaecia do?” Cloud asked, laughing silently.

“She raised her hand and clouted the man. He fell hard on the floor,” Garr said, chuckling.

Cloud winced. “Clouted the man? Not just slap?”

“Clouted. He was bleeding, Cloud. It was amazing. The effect she has on men is just unbelievable. The shop owner gave us three traveling cloaks for free. The man who offended Altaecia happened to be his son.”

Cloud laughed some more. “I wish I’d seen the look on that man’s face.”

“His nose was bleeding. I think he’s going to have a swollen nose tomorrow.”

“Altaecia doesn’t hit like a woman. I’ve been punched a lot of times already. She’s strong but you can’t tell with the way she looks. Sometimes, I think she uses her appearance to deceive people in a fight.”

“I’ve seen most of those punches,” Garr said, laughing as well.

“Shut up,” Cloud said, throwing his folded blanket at Garr.

“You two make quite a scene.”

“I thought you’re going to say that we make quite a couple.” Cloud sighed and looked at Garr. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you this amused before. You’re laughing. Carefree laughing. I wish Zedina would laugh like that too. She’s so serious.”

“Zedina has her reasons for being what she is. Let her be.”

“I know but she’s a very beautiful woman. She seldom smiles. And when she does, it’s just like this,” Cloud said, lifting the corners of his lips a little. “It doesn’t even look like a smile.”

“Give her a break. She’s a spell caster. They are always serious, you know.”

“Hey, I met one spell caster from Crystalis when I was trailing outlaws. He was an amusing man, always laughing and telling witty stories.”

“You’re just making that up. Everyone knows that people from Crystalis are serious folks.”

“Fine. You got me. But I still wish I could see her laugh. I’d really like to see even just a smile. Not the kind she considers a smile.”

“What kind of smile then?”

“The kind of smile that women like Altaecia bestows on deserving men.”