~No Name~ by Winter Nyala (e book reader android txt) 📕

“You must be tired after fighting my men!” He laughed heavy and hard, only a forced laugh could be as such, his companions did the same. I smiled as he continued his charade, “Go to bed. We'll see you tomorrow morning! Go! Go now, and sweet dreams girl.”

I got up and  nodded to the table of men, taking a cup of Ale and laughing, “One for the road!?” And left as I winked at Claude.

As I entered the hallway, I quickly downed the Ale, trying to flush what poison was in my body, out. When I finished, I threw the cup against the wall. It clanged against the solid stone and I smiled. I wasn't drunk, but that was the first time I had had Ale before. It was sweet and yet very bitter. It left my head a little fuzzy and my mind wide awake. Since we would be leaving here tonight, this would come in handy. Better to be awake, then curled up in the corner in pain from poison.

I didn't think the girl would of noticed the poison as she left the food by our room, yet I knew she was used. When I saw her slowly making her way to our door, I put my hand on her shoulder and eased her down to her knees as she fell.

“You did not know. Did you girl?” I asked her, trying to be calm myself. She looked to my face and tears sprung in her eyes. She shook her head and leaned hard against the wall. “You must leave this place tonight. Do it before midnight. And do it quickly.” I told her as I pulled myself away and to the door. “Don't try to see anyone before tomorrow night. It could kill you.” I added to her as I entered the room, letting the beaded curtain rattle as I did.

Celinda looked up from the last pack she was stuffing a blanket in. “Did you have a nice conversation with—Claude, was it?” she asked as she stood straight and began to walk towards me.

“You could say that.” I told her as I leaned against the wall near the door. “This is tiring.” I told her as I slowly slide down the wall.

She rushed toward me and grabbed my face. “Fraia! Stay awake!” She jerked my head to look at hers, “please.” She pleaded.

I jolted my body up, startling Celinda, and went to the packs. “Let’s start moving while everyone is still drinking their wits away.” I told her quickly.

My face got flushed and I hauled the heavier pack on my back and gave Celinda the other. She blushed at the sight of my face and secured both our packs before we left. As we exited the room, the girl was not there, but a plate of cheese next to some Ale was left near our door. I smirked and threw the plate and bottle inside the room before we left.

I led the way. Away from the Mess and toward, what I believed, a back door of this labyrinth. It was dark outside as we came to a small door, guarded by two very sleepy sentries. I whistled softly and one stood while the other slept away. As he came toward us I smiled as came out of the darkness.

“Hey handsome,” I told him as seductively as I can. “Wants some company?” I smiled and winked at him.

“Hmm,” He smiled a toothy smile and came to me, wavering with sleep.

“You look tired dear.” I told him as I pulled my sword away from my pack and hit him hard in the neck, between the shoulder and head. “Celinda.” I whispered, calling the small girl to me. “Stay close.”

She nodded as we went toward the other guard. Still sleeping. We quietly opened the door and slipped out. I left the door cracked and turned Celinda around. Taking a small wooden whistle out of one of the small pockets on her pack, I blew it. It let out a small grass-like sound that carried far off in the distance. When I heard a twig snapped out in the edge of the woods, I smiled.

“Let’s go.” I said as I started into a light jog toward the shore line, away from the cave its residence.

                                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been days since we saw Claude and his men. Two days after we saw a horde of creatures on the beach, we went east, into the forest and away from the sounds of the oceans waves. It was too dangerous to stay in open sands. The sand would limit what fighting I could do and would hinder our footsteps if we tried to get away.

Early this day I found a clearing in the woods and put Celinda and our packs near its edge. I found stones and lined an area where we would build a fire.

“It must be dug into the dirt, to help hide the flames. We can only count on the trees to hide the smoke.” I told her as I grabbed my sword and to small knives from the bottom of my pack. “Here,” I handed her a knife.

“Where were these?” She asked while she juggled the knife in her hands.

“Stolen from Claude’s men, the day we arrived.” I told her as I put the sword on my hip and the knife in my boot. “I suggest you do the same and hide it. In the case that someone else, besides me enters this camp.” I winked at her. “But I have confidence in you.”

She flushed and mumbled her thanks as I walked by and handed her a small shovel. She looked at me with a tilted head and smirked.

“Another gift from Claude?” She asked sarcastically.

I laughed and nodded. “I will go find us something to eat my dear.”

With that I left her to build the fire and went off to find a rabbit, or a quail. Something, small or big, but something for us to eat. It has been too long since we both had something descent to eat.

I came back into camp just as Celinda threw a log on the fire. The sudden burst of light lit up her features and made her face look almost angelic. The tree's shadows danced with the light from the fire and moon combined. The night was peaceful and almost quiet as I could hear the frogs finally start to simmer down.

After throwing two fat, skinned rabbits near the fires edge, I sat down near the fire and smiled at her. "You did well with the fire." She nodded in reply and I motioned for her to sit next to me. "It is cold tonight. It seems it might be colder than the last few nights."

She rose from her spot near the packs and walked around the fire to join me. "I agree." She sighed, staring at the fire.

I followed her gaze the flickering fire and took a deep breath. "But... it is peaceful."

She hesitated and then sighed. "Fraia?"

"Hmm?" I looked at her.

She turned to me, "I..." She looked away quickly.

I smiled and shifted my body closer to hers. Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I hugged her closely. I could feel her shiver in response my warm breath on her neck and I couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Celinda..." I rested my chin on the nap of her neck and squeezed her gently. "I can feel the embers of our fire... can you?”

Embarrassed she turned her head. “I--”

Chuckling I hugged her. “It's okay. I can wait for you to realize your hearts desires.” With that, I got up and readied the mats for our beds.

I would look back every few seconds to find Celinda staring at the fire. Or she would be holding one of the rabbits, trying to fix it on a sharpened stick to lean it against the licking flames to cook. I smiled at her when she looked over, making her blush and quickly go back to the rabbits.

Images: Cover picture belongs to Google.
Publication Date: 03-18-2012

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Deticated to my Best Friend. Who in this story is the one the main character Loves so dearly.