Chronicles of the Guardians Series: Book 1 Out Of Reasons

Chapter 7: Connections.

His Thoughts

Exeis hit the ground once again. He wondered how many times he must be snapped down by Darken before he got any good. Groaning while trying to set his sore body up again, he rubbed his tired legs. Darken was mercilessly genius in his swordplay. No one could get any better, and he couldn't get a chance to best him ever. This all was routine to him now, however, and he simply shrugged away his distress since he knew he needed such training for good reasoning. Many times, he deserved it, for his mind shifted every so often to another passion, his dearest, sweetest Tyne.

"So Darken, might I ask something, get some advice on a tricky thought?" Exeis blurted out spontaneously.

Darken looked over with a raised brow. "Ask away. However, I think this is about Tyne judging from the look on your face, and I can not give the greatest emotive advice on affairs of love I'm afraid..."

Exeis laughed and shrugged, "I know, but I shall like advice all the same."

Darken leaned against the wall of the temple's practice room. Exeis joined him, glad for the break, then began his thoughts eagerly.

"Do you think I'm jumping too quickly to get her away and alone on an outing?" Exeis winced, tapping his fingers restlessly.

"Naturally that is usually the first thing one does when a couple is courting. Why the hesitance, I do not understand why you haven't gone about it already?" Darken contemplated.

"She doesn't trust people. I visit her enough that she is comfortable with me, but I'm afraid if I ask her, then she'll shove me away, so I can't even go back to just being by her. She'll do it out of fear."

"If it is meant to be, she won't Exeis. I think you are worried about whether it is destined to be. It's not something you get to change. A relationship is a connection between two, and no one or nothing can tear away that connection if it's really intended to be."

"I'll ease into this. Little steps toward bigger ones," Exeis squeaked.

"If that feels right to you, then by all means," Darken returned.

Exeis nodded firmly, "I feel settled to try nudging her to a simple outing."

Her Thoughts

It was a rainy day, and Exeis looked out the window from his chair. Tyne ignored it all to address her work. Though his eyes were watching drops trickle down the panes, his thoughts were solely on getting the proper angle in how to go about what he planned. It was a puzzle, really, one stratagem difficult to envision.

"Please, sweetest Tyne, take just one afternoon off with me?" Exeis gently pleaded in the most earnest tone, "It would delight me beyond measure. The absolute bliss I could not describe to you. I..."

Tyne bluntly interrupted his rant, "Out of the question. I have my work, you see."

She was impressed with his eloquence and finesse in coaxing her, however. He was far better than any of the nobles she dealt with ordinarily, the king of negotiations for sure. The only hard part was to get him to shut up, though she did have to admit his persistence this past week almost made even her agree to his request.

"I would pay you... three times the amount you make in a day. In fact, I've decided I want some 'clothes'. Take the time you would spend on this imaginary wardrobe for me and instead make it our appointment in traveling this fair city. Say that we're even looking for fabrics for it," he bargained emphatically with a finger raised to the sky.