The Princess and the Writer

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nadira pouted. Her arms were crossed and her back turned. She raised her chin in stubbornness and refused to lend an ear to the man behind her. She kept her enjoyment of the situation within her and played the annoyed lady, knowing it would bear fruit in the end as it always did.

Teral watched Nadira pout and shook his head. He knew what she was doing. She had done it countless times before. She was enjoying herself milking the situation, trying to make him beg her to forgive him and then pamper her to no end. Nadira was like a child in many aspects. She sought attention like a bee searches for nectar and threw tantrums when things did not go her way.

It was a small wonder Teral was bored with her. In all honesty, her quest for the book had transformed her into a whining, annoying bother. Now she bossed everyone around, including him. Thus, to take a break from her, he resorted to finding rest in the company of others. At least with Nena, he did not feel so weary all the time.

He sighed and took up his role as regretful friend.

"Nadira, please, you must forgive me."

"I musn't do anything," Nadira replied. "You keep leaving me for prey, Teral. I will not forgive you."

"What if I said that you were the best person in the world?"

Nadira shook her head. "Then I would call you a liar because if you really thought that, we wouldn't be in this position in the first place."

"What if I told you then that you are the best thing in my life?" It took Teral a lot of effort to disguise the boredom in his voice.

"Maybe but not surely would I forgive you. I am not a thing."

Grateful that Nadira had turned her back to him, he rolled his eyes. He went to her.

"Nadira, what more can I say?" he asked. "You are the high to my low, the white to my black, my pride and joy."

Nadira was silent and Teral considered just whipping her around and forcing an acceptance of his apology. Luckily for him she turned herself and smiled proudly.

"All is forgiven. You know I cannot stay mad at you for long." She frowned. "Though I needed you here today. The writer managed to make it here to Redeem."

"Really?" Teral said. "I'm sorry Khin and his men didn't catch him on time."

"But Khin will catch her for sure this time, and when he does, he will kill her or else answer to me."

Teral raised his brows and looked like he had something to say but decided to keep it to himself. Nadira saw this and arched her brow in turn.

"You are surprised the writer is a woman?"

Teral shrugged. "No, it's not that. It's just...do you really want to kill her?"

"She is here to destroy me!" Nadira shrieked.

Teral shrugged again. "She won't if you capture her. She's a writer. What power will she have if we make sure she doesn't write?"

"And why would I want to capture her?"

Teral sighed inwardly. How on earth did she manage to take over Zuri with such a small brain? Oh wait, that's right, she had lots of help from him. If it were all up to her and her ridiculous plans, they would have got nowhere in their exploits. He willed himself to be patient.

"You want to capture her because once you have her you can control her. And once you control the writer, you control the story. And once you control the story-"

"I control everything!" Nadira exclaimed in glee.

Teral made a face when she glanced aside.

"Do you see it now?" he asked blandly.