"Are all your families like that?' asked Talor, not sure what happened in the last few moments.
"I like him,' said Adani to Ren's disgust.
"He seems to like Myra,' Ren told her, smiling sheepishly when she scowled at him.
"I like him too,' said Gnar.
"Everybody likes him until you want to kill him,'' said Arakim darkly. "It seems that these monsters are already here.'' Changing the topic.
"Since you will be discussing strategies and breaching defences,'' interrupted Gnar, 'I'm going over there.'' And left to join Ashago and Myra.
"Us too,' Ren said sheepishly, dragging a willing and giggling Adani behind him.
"You may join them too, Princess.'' Mena told the silent girl, looking at the other young people wistfully.
"Many thanks,'' she said, smiling and curtsied, before rushing off too.
"Do you think you can get her to stop with all the curtsying?'' asked Mena, impatiently.
"Probably not,'' laughed Arakim dryly, 'but will try.'
"I like it,'' said Djou and scowled when the others snorted at him.
"You like the curtsier, not the curtsy, cub.'' teased Talor. And they all laughed.
"Whatever.'' muttered Djou. And left to join the others when Arakim urged him to go when he kept glancing at Hauwani but warned him to be very careful with the princess or answer to him. Not wishing to tangle with the unpredictable wizard, Djou went with no arguments.
"And we thought that Djou was bad. Now, can we talk about what we're going to do?' drawled Edum, drawing their attentions.
"Yes,' answered Arakim, 'I _______''
"Leave me alone, smugface,'' screamed Myra, interrupting him. And they all turned to watch Myra striding away with Ashago following closely behind her. The rest laughing like loons while enjoying the drama.
"Come on,'' Ashago implored. "It was a reasonable question to ask. Just tell me when your hair saw a brush last and I will leave you alone.'' He asked bringing a gasp and a laugh to the group watching.
"I said. Leave. Me. Alone.'' Snarled Myra at him and roared furiously for several seconds in his face, blowing his blonde hair back and startling the soldiers into drawing their weapons, ready to protect their prince who instead of running for his life, stood and gaped at the fierce looking woman in front of him.
"Wow,' he murmured, smiling at her surprised expression at his lack of fear, 'that sounded almost real. Any of your ancestors an animal?' asked Ashago, cocking his head to one side. "Preferably a cat, the big forest cats.''
"What?'' he asked, perplexed at the shock on her face. "Can you purr too? But it's alright if you can't and was just sick...... you're beautiful enough to get a man to love you.' And added when Myra snorted, 'or a woman?'' Ashago impishly asked. "We love Arakim, you know.''
"You are mad,'' said a confused Myra, shaking her head at him. And looking around to see everyone laughing and watching them.
"I am?'' he asked, feigning surprise, 'I am not the one leaping seven feet in the air or roaring like a big cat.'' Shaking his head. "Just tell me how you made that jump and I will let you be.''
Cousin? What do I do? Myra asked, exasperated and at her wits end. He's never letting it go. Do I shift and eat him?
Nay, answered Mena, laughing. Arakim likes him and will not be happy. I will talk to him.
YOU ARE READING
Arakim's Legacy(#Wattys2015)
AdventurePrince Arakim fled his kingdom to a magical forest with barely his life when a zealous magical order came to subjugate his people to their rule. There he met a race of people that were thought to be myths but seemed real enough to him and with their...
