The Chronicles of Guertanna: The Sword of Light and Shadow

Chapter XX

A wave of applause and cheering welcomed the two carriers getting out of the portal. Both of them walked through the crowd of Gulders and servants who watched the fight. At the end they could see the satisfactory face of the little empress and next to her Alice with a warm smile as they both clapped as well. They congratulated them both between hugs and cheers and excitement, Kenor and Rinna barely noticed that it was dark already. Time inside the portals was unpredictable, you can stay inside ten minutes but in real life you could spend hours inside. This made their returning a little disturbing, and making both of them tired.

Finally with the third Dandelion in hand, Rinna and Kenor followed the other Gulders and the Empress to the Dinner Room. Rinna didn't feel hunger until then. Everyone gathered together in the room, no more formal presences, they opened a bottle of wine and started serving in everyone's cups, not bothering if it fell to the floor or the beautiful white table cloth. Rinna let the laughs and smiles embraced in her surroundings, she let herself smile and be proud that they finally overcame another challenge. Even the Empress left out her formality, taking off her shoes and undoing her hair.

The Gulders finished handing the cups of wine and one of the man's that Rinna couldn't recognize it raise his glass. "Cheers!" He said, everyone raised their cup and repeated "Cheers!"

They all drank their cups and ended congratulating the carriers, but in the end everyone started disappearing. Rinna and Kenor returned to their rooms so they could get some warm bath, after all the sand storm and fire their faces were dirty and some injuries in both their knees and elbows. Nothing severe, but the fact that it was tiring left them no more excitement to celebrate.

Rinna returned to the bath, even if she had it that same morning, it felt good to be there again. She slipped her feet in the tub, letting her whole body relax until it was warm under the water. She sighed, enjoying every bit of her bath. After half an hour or so, Rinna decided to get out, taking a towel from the nearest rack and making her way to the sink. She folded her towel around her body and faced herself on the mirror. She watched how the black and gray spots disappeared from her face, and there was one bruise in her forehead. The scratches were still in sight on her neck and arms, but there was nothing so big to deal with.

She put on her nightgown and lay on her bed, trying to find sleep. After ten minutes of completely failure to sleep, she stoop up, put on some soundless shoes and stepped out of the door. In her way, she saw how the candles looked bright in the darkness of the Palace. She walked slowly, taking a brief glance around every time she walked to somewhere different. She turned to the open hallway she was the first day she stayed in the Palace.

Kenor was there too, and for some reason, her heart skipped a beat.

He was resting his arms crossed on the bar, looking down at the garden. Rinna stared at him, approaching slowly and standing next to him. It was like he didn't notice her presence. She moved her eyes down to the garden too, "Can't sleep, huh?" She said, resting her arms on the bar like him.

He shook his head, "Not after so much happening," He said and looked up to the starry night. "It's funny, but it's too hot now to sleep."

She chuckled, and then sighed, "You did really good," She said, feeling the sweat of her hands. Why was she so nervous?

"You did good too..." He answered. "But don't ever stay in shock like that," He said. For one moment she thought he was serious and mad at her, but when she looked to him, she found him staring at her. His eyes glazing in the moonlight, drawing what could almost be a brief smile. He was joking, "you look like an idiot." He looked away.

She smiled, "Well, you were paralyzed too."

"Never that the creature we were affronting was that big...and a snake." He added up the last thing hesitating.