Queen Zezanna

Queen Zezanna - Chapter 29

"So," I ask Ysana, "Why would somebody make a contract like that?"

"Desperate souls are willing to make all kinds of ridiculous contracts." She sighs.

"And why would the demon agree?"

"For their amusement. They make their contracts either for that, or for revenge. This doesn't seem like a revenge contract, though."

"And now that her soul is lost... What?"

"..."

"You don't know?"

"I don't. Perhaps it is better not to know."

I nod my head.

The trip to Voghtair's port city of Kezar is pretty calm. After the events that just went on, we're all too exhausted to do anything other than sleep, really, so that's all that happens.

When we arrive a few days later, it's nearing sundown. Tzeeru heads off to do some business, and tells the rest of us that we're free to do as we please.

"I've heard that a new restaurant opened up recently." Hailie tells us. "Emma, would you like to go check it out with me while your friends go get us some rooms at the inn?"

"Oh, uhh..." Emma hesitates, biting her bit a bit while looking over at the rest of us. "Actually, is it cool if they come with us? I would feel better with my friends there."

"Sure, if that's what you want." Hailie shrugs, obviously disappointed that this won't just be a date between the two of them.

"Please." Emma whispers to me.

"We would be happy to join you." I tell them.

Ysana's magic has recovered enough that she should be able to disguise us for a few hours at least, so we can eat in peace. Sadly, we can't spend too much time in the actual town, since she is still struggling to recover her magic more.

"Tzeeru's business here is short." Hailie tells me. "I think it's just to talk to one of Glory's high ranking officers in this city. We will probably be leaving in the morning unless something goes wrong."

"Or earlier if something else goes wrong." Heroth notes.

"Yeah. Our schedule is definitely a bit flexible for this stop." Hailie nods her head.

The restaurant that Hailie takes us to is pretty small, but is super crowded when we get there. Hopefully that's a sign that the food is pretty good.

When we sit down at the table, we make sure that Emma is right next to Hailie, and Emma isn't exactly sure how to act. She stumbles over her words all night as she talks to Hailie, as well as the waitress. As the time goes on, it seems like the color on her face comes closer and closer to resembling a tomato.

"Just relax." I whisper to her, patting her on her shoulder.

Honestly, Hailie isn't doing very good at this either. She's mostly staying quiet, but when she does talk, words, letters, and phrases keep getting mixed around. At one point she almost knocks her glass of wine over on Heroth, but some quick magic on Ysana's part helps keep our friend dry.

The rest of us try to gently encourage them, bringing up some different topics that might get them interested, suggesting some drinks that might help loosen them up, and most importantly, actually being there for them so they can feel more reassured. Or maybe they just feel pressured about there being a crowd here.

As Hailie finishes laying down the money for the check, I suggest that we go check out the town. Obviously by this time of the day, most of the shops have closed, but it is a beautiful town, and we won't really get a chance to do it in the morning before we leave.

"Zezanna, I don't know if we can afford that time." Ysana says, referencing the fact that her magic is running low.

"Just an hour or two more walking around town. It will be nice to get somewhere a bit more quiet, won't it?" I tell her.

"It might help me concentrate." She mutters.

"Then will we be good for two hours?"

"Probably."

"What do you two think?" Brokk asks Emma and Hailie.

"If everyone is cool with it, sure." Emma shrugs.

"Agreed." Hailie nods her head.

"Great. How about you lead the way, Hailie? You're the only one really familiar with this city, after all." I say.

She nods her head, and we follow her away from the restaurant, towards the market district. All of the shops look like they've closed up, but the space is still beautiful, filled with amazing statues and flowers that I've never seen before.

"Two things that this nation is known for." Hailie tells us. "Their architecture, specifically their statues, and their flowers. Their love of beauty truly shows in the way they design and decorate their cities."

She takes us over to the park near the shopping district. During the day, I imagine that it's filled with young children running around gleefully. During the night, though, the moon and stars shine beautifully above the grass and trees.

Hailie sits down in the grass, and looks up at the stars. I take a seat a few feet away from her, and stare up. Compared to what we see out in the middle of the sea, these stars aren't all that amazing, but to sit down near each other, and just relax as we stare up at the stars... It's not really something we've ever done as a group. To get a day as peaceful and enjoyable as today... It feels like it's hardly possible after all I've been through so far. Still, I know that we have even more to go through before I can take back my throne.

Hailie knows a lot about the stars, so she starts pointing some constellations out to us. I know a few of these, but I've certainly never heard of some of these more outlandish ones. Is The Dwarf's Beard really a constellation? I don't even know how you could get a beard out of these scattered points in the sky.

Emma asks about the story behind one, The Gladiator, and Hailie goes off on a story that I'm hardly paying attention to, as I drift close to sleep on the grass.

When I look over, I see Emma and Hailie really close to each other, smiling and laughing as Hailie explains how a frog turned into the greatest gladiator to have ever walked these lands. I can't help but grin as the two girls scoot closer to each other so they can interlock their fingers.

Ysana tugs on my sleeve.

"We have 10 minutes max to get to the inn before I run out of energy."

I bolt up, and then turn to Emma and Hailie. I go to open my mouth, but stop short as I watch Hailie go in for a kiss. Emma seems more than happy to comply, and soon enough, I'm just sitting there awkwardly staring as my best friend makes out with her new girlfriend.

"I, uh, don't wanna interrupt the mood." I mutter quietly, "But Ysana can't keep this up for much longer. We should get back to the inn."

The two girls seem disappointed, but we all know that we can't risk being out here in our actual forms. Emma and Hailie will be sharing a room, though, so their date can continue even after we've returned to the inn.

Before walking into her room, Hailie stops Emma.

"Actually, uh, I've been thinking. Before we continue all of this, uh... We should make this official. So, uh... Emma, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

Emma is grinning from ear to ear, and nods her head eagerly, "Oh, yeah! Totally!"

We make sure to congratulate the new couple, and wish them luck before heading our rooms.