Dark Queen

xxiii.

"Last I checked, explosives went boom, and cheese just sat on your tongue," said Jurauk, snapping the reins. "Actually, I don't think sugar cheese is an actual thing."

     Zora gave him a small smile as she slid her aching feet out the pair of boots she'd stolen from Lorez. "I suppose the one good thing that came out of being a girl was the King's ignorance. I always snuck under the table whenever they held war counsels, and they continuously talked about 'sugar cheese'. Finally worked up the nerve to ask Pyter, and he explained what it was."

Jurauk frowned, gently guiding the horses down the dirt road. "Pyter? Was he like every other male in your country?"

Zora vigorously shook her head, dark tresses bouncing. "No! He's my other brother. If anything, he's the kindest guy I know and has the best manners too. Compared to you, you're a dead fly."

"Your compliment flatters me."

"It wasn't meant to be." Zora leaned back on the bench. Her hand drifted over the tarp. "I feel back for those fellows we left behind. You're sure your people don't travel this far, right?"

"The Nefari are a lazy and dwindling race. We usually go for smaller villages or kingdoms that are closely and not as guarded as Etharia."

His stomach rumbled. Zora inched away. "Don't you dare," she warned.

"I know, I know. Hands off this human." Jurauk gave her a playful smirk.

Zora turned her attention to the road. "There!" she exclaimed, pointing. "I see lights! The first village."

Indeed, as they rumbled closer, they could see red lanterns strung across trees and rooftops. A crowd of people walked through the streets, bustling with energy, noise, and joy. The lanterns gave everything a soft, rubicund hue. Children giggled as they darted in and out of the crowd, shouting nonsense babbles.

Everyone wore threadbare clothes, but this did not seem to deter anyone from celebrating. They were laughing, drinking, and eating to their hearts' content. This felt like a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Jurauk paused the wagon, gazing at the sight. It was so unlike the typical Nefari celebrations that were filled with cool, calculating nobles, and wine too fine for the average person. He glanced over at Zora, and his heart stumbled. Her green eye was huge, swallowing up the festivities with the eagerness of a child. Her face had an awestruck expression. Surely it was the lights that enticed her.

Upon closer observance, he saw tears pooling in her eye. "Oi, what happened?" Instinctively, his claws slid out, ready to slice away at the unseen enemy.

Zora, equally stunned, rubbed away at her cheek. "It's nothing."

"Obviously it's something, woman." The second the word left his mouth, he realized the source of her tears. There were mostly men in the streets. Many were stumbling around drunkenly, waving around empty flasks of liquor. Although the children were playing, they had jagged, wary looks to their young gazes.