The Boondocks~Medieval Times

12) Mangos Are Harder Then They Look

~•~

"I said I do not need your help."

"Hey, I was given orders to go with you. Your Kingdom is not the only one with a lost princess," Cairo spits at Hiro. Hiro glares at him and Cairo adds, "Would you rather I come? Or the whole army?"

Hiro rolls his eyes and gently tugs the reins attached to his white horse, making the horse trot faster. Cairo catches up on his chestnut horse. The two ride in dead silence, only hearing the birds an animals around them along with the sound of the wilderness. The sunrise was beautiful, Hiro always watched it, sometimes with the princess, but he couldn't enjoy it, not now.

He was going to find Ming and do whatever it took. Even with Cairo as a lackey by his side. He didn't like him. There was something...sinister about him.

"Why are you so insistent on finding Princess Jazmine if your father could send a whole army to do it?" Hiro asks. He didn't want to speak to him, but the silence was too uncomfortable.

"Jazmine..." Cairo sighs dreamily. "Is my bride to be."

Hiro blinks, almost stopping his horse in shock. "What? You are the one to wed with her?" Cairo nods confidently, proud that he was the one chosen by the king to marry his little girl. Hiro says, "You are fifteen."

"Yes, I am aware. This is just an arrangement."

"An arranged marriage? I see. Let me ask, does she love you?"

"Why of course she does. We were raised together, she had trusted me since birth."

"Cairo, they're different types of love. Have you considered that, I do not know, that she might not love you? Not like that anyway."

"What are you implying here?"

Hiro shakes his head and looks forward. "Nevermind."

The two continue to walk in silence until the trees become sparser. Hiro squints and sees a bridge ahead, old and the complete opposite of durable. Cairo swallows. "I am not crossing that."

"Oh yes you are." Hiro climbs off his horse. He ties his horse's reins around one of the trees to keep it from wandering away. He pats the sword in his holster in confirmation and then walks to the bridge. He looks back expectantly at Cairo who still sits on his horse. "Coming oh brave and noble knight?" He asks, sarcasm dripping in his tone.

Cairo glares at him and climbs off his horse.

~•~

"What is that fruit?"

"Which?"

"That one. Over there." Jazmine points her slender finger at one of the only fruits in a tree above them, roundish and a colourful red and yellow, mixed with green. "My eyes fail to see it from here."

Caesar answers. "It is a mango, Jazmine. You have not tried one?"

"No, I have. Of course I have. It is just..." Jazmine looks up and stares at the scrumptious looking fruit. "Last I ate one, I was only five or less. We have many fruits in the castle, but these are rare in Crestwood."

Huey hesitates. "Do you want one?"

Jazmine smiles. "I would, but...it is too high."

Riley snorts. "Not for a Dark Shadow." He rushes to the tree and wraps his arms around it as well as his legs, shuffling up bit by bit. Huey watches him as he makes very little progress and says, "By the time you reach the top of that tree, it will be sundown...you imbecile."

Riley ignores his brother's negativity and continues. Huey just crosses his arms and waits for him to give up while Jazmine and Caesar watch with a small frown. Ming and Cynthia get bored of exploring and watch soon afterwards as Riley struggles.

"Woo," Riley breathes out. "This is harder than I thought." He shuffles again.

Huey sighs in exasperation before pulling out one of his swords. He throws it to the tree and it sticks deep into the bark. Then he backs a bit and sprints before jumping onto the blade. It bends under his sudden weight and springs up, tossing him in the process. Everyone gasps as Huey grabs a branch with one hand to stop from falling. He swings back and forth before kicking the fruit off its twig. At the same time, Riley slips off his spot back to the ground, landing on his bottom. The fruit bounces off his head and into Caesar's hands. "OW!"

Huey let's go of the branch and rolls on the grass before landing on his feet. Riley glares hard at him before standing up and rubbing his back. Jazmine's jaw is down. "Huey, that was amazing! Ho--"

"Its strange what you can teach yourself." Caesar throws the mango into Huey's hand. He gives it to Jazmine. "Thank you, Huey," she says, "You did not have to go through that trouble though."

"It was nothing."

Jazmine smiles and Huey smirks back slowly. The others notice the tension between them and Caesar wriggles his eyebrows. He gestures the others to continue on the path and leave the two alone, which they do after a while.

Cynthia notices Riley rub his head where the mango bounced, muttering curses under his breath. "Are you alright?" she asks.

"Do I look alright to you?"

Cynthia crosses her arms. "I was only asking."

Riley presses his lips together and sighs. "Its aching."

"Well...I know a healing method that helps with bumps and bruises," she says. Riley frowns at this and she rolls her eyes. "Take it or leave it. I know a thing or two."

"Hm. If you insist..."

"Good, but we need water."

"I think I saw a stream this way..." Riley walks another direction and Cynthia follows.

Caesar grins. "My my my, look at this. We are all alone."

Ming rolls her eyes.

Caesar sighs dramatically. "Oh what shall we do..." He slips his arm over Ming's shoulders. She cocks an eyebrow. "You are bold."

"I know, you told me that already," he winks. "Now--"

"--Now we wait for the others." Ming picks his arm with her hand and places it back on his side. "Do not get touchy now."

Caesar smirks and crosses his arms.

~•~

"Just keep still." Cynthia's hands hover above the quick flowing water. She takes a deep breath and Riley watches as the water begins flowing towards her hands. He shivers. She said that she couldn't control her powers, what if something goes wrong? She brings her face up to his bruise. Riley feels the cooling water and sighs in relaxation.

She pulls away and Riley notices the water that was floating in her hands is gone. He feels for the bump on his head, but there's nothing, even the pain is gone. "Thank you," Riley says, still rubbing his head. "I was not aware that a minor wizard could practise such healing techniques."

Cynthia chuckles. "I am no minor wizard, I am a Pearson. Don't forget that. Come, let us return to the others."

"Alright then..." As the two walk, Riley looks up at the sky and notices its nearly sunset. "We must find a place to rest soon," he tells Cynthia. She nods in agreement.

~•~

Short chapter, I know. :-( I'll make it up to you in the next one, I just felt I needed to update bad.