Inheritance

Chapter 17: Another Prisoner

Pollyanna, Eory, and Kori made camp that night in the forest among the pine trees off the side of the road. Pollyanna retreated into her thoughts while she sharpened her blade on a whetting stone. She was severely disappointed in her charge. He was a mewling coward and a blight upon his family's magnificent dynasty. The idea of having to protect such a weakling was so unappealing to her that she was tempted to disobey an order and let herself die.

Alas, I am not a quitter. I owe it to you, too, Fjorn, to protect him. He still has your blood, after all. I just have to awaken the magic inside him somehow. That will make him a respectable threat as you were.

Pollyanna looked over at Eory who was shivering next to Kori on the other side of the fire and holding his silly, bug-eyed dog in his lap.He was leaning his head on the tiny waif's shoulder with his teeth chattering as his mother-figure held him close and told him a story. "Shall I tell you the story of how I gained my powers?"

Eory was unsure. He wanted to hear about, Pollyanna but she was sitting right there. It would be strange to ask Kori for a story about her. Eory nodded. "Please tell me."

Kori took a moment to think about how she wanted to tell the story, and then she began without hesitation.

"Like all waifs, I was sent on a journey to a holy mountain just north of Trella—the land of the waifs—at the age of twelve. If waifs have the gift of magic, it will be awakened somewhere on that mountain through a spiritual vision. Mine was spectacular. I found a butterfly flying around on that barren and craggy mountain after starving for three days. It was turquoise and sparkling and I chased it until I caught it and it brought me into the Dream World. I saw... I saw my secret desires, and those desires triggered the magic in my soul." Kori said sleepily.

Eory had never heard this story before; Kori had never told him one about herself. He decided he liked it very much, but she probably only told her one about herself because she didn't want him thinking well of Pollyanna anymore.

He didn't want to, but he had to admit that this Pollyanna was quite different from the Pollyanna who Kori had told him stories about.

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Pollyanna kept watch while Eory and Kori both slept. While she did, she wondered why Eory didn't just send her away. He knew that he could, and yet he didn't. He seemed fearful of her and yet... The way he looked at her made her stomach churn.

Eory's eyes fluttered open in the middle of the night and he sat up. He was still shuddering in the freezing air with his teeth chattering. "Y-you should get some sleep... Aren't you tired?"

Pollyanna looked up at the sky. "A sword has no reason to sleep."

After a moment, she said, "why haven't you sent me away? You know I have to obey your orders or else I will die—so why don't you give me the order to leave you alone forever?"

Eory knew the reason. He was hopelessly in love with her. He wanted her nearby—even if she was just going to intimidate him and Kori. He couldn't tell the woman sat in front of him apart from the legendary woman who Kori had told him stories about and who he had given his heart to.

He knew, deep down, she only had his best interests at heart and cared for him deeply the way she did his family.

Eory couldn't tell her that, though. He wanted her love but didn't know how to get it. He wasn't even sure he deserved it because—

I'm no good..

"I want you around in case I need you." Eory lied. "People probably don't like me very much." Eory said as he hugged his stomach for warmth.

Pollyanna sighed and took pity on him. "Come here."

Eory shook with fear. He knew that if she tried to kill him, that it would result in her own death, but that didn't stop him from being terrified of her.

She wouldn't hurt me, right?

Nevertheless, he couldn't pass at the chance of sitting near to the woman of his dreams. He stood up shakily and sat next to Pollyanna.

She draped her cloak over his shoulders and he smiled at her silently.

Pollyanna couldn't help it; a smile dawned on her own face.

Pathetic. Why don't you just order her to kiss you? You don't need to earn her love. The woman's disgusted voice resounded in his head.