BRING SWORDS AND FLOWERS

EPISODE 6 - CAUGHT

"I heard you defeated that Adara sidekick." said Clementine.Tyde was having tea with her in what looked like a lakeside restaurant. It was an old building with open windows and widely spaced tables.It was one of those places which were visited by young people of both nobility and common birth.

Tyde took a sip of tea and said, "My pride got the better of me.Lord Torden and his lover were watching."

"Don't tell me you got weak knees by seeing Damien Torden."Clementine chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

"Whose heart doesn't flutter at the sight of him? But if you wanted to win his heart you shouldn't show your sword skills too much. Damien Torden hates violence I heard."

"That is surprising for someone from the thunder clan," said Tyde "But don't get the wrong idea. I am not interested in him or anything." The thunder clan was indeed the most notorious ones among the nobility, the Torden family especially was known for their scandals and dirty politics. It would be better if she had nothing to with them. She already had enough on her plate with her cousin suddenly starting a fight with the Adaras.

Clementine mixed the sugar in her tea and looked at Tyde, "The Adaras would come again you know."

"I know." sighed Tyde, "But let us discuss something else right now."

Clementine knew what Tyde was talking about. She put her cup down and said, "I am serious about this relationship."

"You must be joking."said Tyde.If what Clementine said was true, she was asking for a death sentence.A romance with a commoner should ideally last for no more than two seasons. Even the playboy nobles followed this rule.

Tyde leaned on to the table and looked at Clementine. Is this what people call an infatuation? When you want something you cannot have, or you hold on to something you are not supposed to have?

"Just what is the difference between infatuation and love?" asked Tyde. No. Tyde had never pursued a love.

"I think ,love is when you cannot imagine an existence without that person."said Clementine playing with her teacup and smiling.

"So you want to die for this person?" asked Tyde . Her friend was really in love with this commoner.

"Probably." said Clementine, getting up and smoothing down her skirt.

"Do you want your lover to die for you?" asked Tyde and Clementine paused.

Helios won't stand still and watch. they had eyes everywhere. It won't be long before they strike. They were made up of strong people from each clan and no one could possibly defeat them, ever. They were the justice system of the noble realm.

**************

"Helios my ass!" laughed Ares

Tyde was out in the town square with her cousin. They had come to renew their permits for their joint business. This business was originally run by the Voda brothers, the fathers of Tyde and Ares.

"What justice did they give us?" asked Ares

"That again!"said Tyde looking around at the shops and the people.

"Do you not feel wronged even though it was your father's too?"asked Ares.

Tyde tried to talk her cousin out of it. "What is past is past. Do you even know who we are up against? The Adaras. They are the strongest among the fire clan, both in terms of money and power."

Ares did not like what she said. "We were once like that too. Who did you think did this to us? You are a coward, Tyde!" Saying this he walked a little ahead of her. He had spotted a jewelry shop. He contemplated buying something for his new lover.

Tyde was beginning to get restless. What was this feeling? She began to look around and soon found out the cause of her distress. At a distance, parked by the roadside was a black Aston Martin with the Adara family crest.

Crap! this time it was not a sidekick, thought Tyde.

Tyde followed Ares to the jewelry shop he had entered.

"Ares!" she called out.

"These are not that costly."said Ares trying to not look guilty.

"That's not it." said Tyde "I saw Aunt Regina's maid just now. She told me that your mom suddenly grew sick."

"What! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" asked Ares rushing out and running to his car.

"You go on ahead. I've got to get something." said Tyde

She watched Ares get on his car and speed away in the opposite direction. That should do it. The Aston Martin was not moving. Good. Maybe she was mistaken, maybe the Adaras were not out for them, but for some other business. She made her way quickly to the center of the square where she could merge with the crowd.

Tyde crossed the road and mixed in with the crowd of commoners and nobles, but she soon began to sense someone following her. This person was escalating their power at a pace that was unfamiliar to her. Only a very powerful person can keep it at zero and then jump to a high level at short notice. Whoever was following her was not an ordinary noble.

Tyde walked faster trying to lose him. But the next moment that person had caught her by the sleeve and she was forced to turn around.