Into the Light

Chapter Nine: The Painstaking Truth of the Heart

Kaden watched Larmina stare silently out the window, the landscape turning into a green hazy blur. Her hair, falling softly over her shoulders and to her waist with every bump the carriage made. Her lips pressed straight into a tight line, jaw tensed and teeth clenched. She looked calm, blank, and murderous all in one.

How can one look all three at the same time? he wondered to himself. And as Kaden watched her, he had the sudden urge to make those rosy lips smile.

"Let's play a game." He started, clasping his hands together and plastering a grin onto his face.

Larmina didn't look at him but said, "I don't play games. And in the ones I do, someone usually ends up dying."

"Oh come on. It'll be fun."

"Fun is a stupid waste of time."

Kaden ignored her and continued, "We'll call this game One Word. There is one word, or subject, and you have to say one word that describes and rhymes with the subject. Got it?" When Larmina did't say anything he began again, "Ummm, first subject is...witch. Name one word that describes and rhymes with it."

The corners of Larmina's mouth tugged up slightly and she rolled her eyes in amusement. "Okay this is too easy...bitch." She looked at his shocked face and smirked, "What did you think?"

"Glitch." And when she scrunched her face up and narrowed her eyes at him, he explained, "You know, like a glitch? Because of teleportation?"

"Witches can't teleport. They need their broomsticks."

Kaden tilted his head, "I don't remember that in the stories."

She widened her eyes in frustration, "Well I have MET one, and they are complete idiots. Who cackles while mixing a brew and why do they fly out at night? Or keep insane potion ingredients?! It's ridiculous. Yes I myself have frog tongues, but cockroach hairs? Really? They don't even have any on them!"

Kaden smiled at her sense of humor, or lack-of it, and chuckled, "Looks like someone has a grudge against witches."

Larmina shook her head and rolled her eyes, "Shut up, or I will make you." He didn't stop teasing her, so she did the one thing she could think of at that moment...she stole his tongue and set it down beside her. "You are just too stupid."

He widened his eyes and glared at her, since he was unable to speak. They didn't even get to finish their game! This was totally out of line and he just hoped to God that he would be able to keep his temper calm. For her sake...or maybe it was his?

She nodded satisfied, "Good. Now stay quiet and you may just be able to have your bloody tongue back."

He snarled and she growled back.

The thief was clearly in a bad mood, but on the inside he was impressed. She managed to maneuver the game effectively so that she wouldn't have to play, or anything with him for that matter. And since she gave him the perfect opportunity to tease her, he brought it upon himself.

****

"Tell me again, why the hell we stopped here." Larmina crossed her arms and stared back out the window, the once open green fields now a busy marketplace. They needed to keep going, she needed to complete her mission as quickly as possible.

"Because," Kaden rolled his eyes and continued; he apparently got his tongue back. "I need the proper attire to enter the castle. I can't go in looking like a bloody pirate."

She stifled a cruel laugh then pressed her lips into a thin line. "But we need to get to Finamere."

"Finamere is hours away and it's almost nightfall."