Deryk Almeeda proved to be lively company, but lively company was not what Aeturnis really sought.
She had begged with him, almost to the verge of tears, to be taken back to the scene of Mysanthropi's demise, but he had refused her. The sight, he declared, was too much for her to bear, and besides, he had dragged the bodies into the wagon and torched them. Better to be devoured by flame then to feed the scavenging scrittling hoards. To that she had to grudgingly agree. The grief was almost unbearable without having to look upon his maimed and bloody body. Yet there was still the niggling doubt, the desperate hope that somehow he had survived.
Three days had passed since the Meerkat warrior had rescued her from the bandits, three days spent recuperating her strength after the blagh gru attack, but making little progress in their travels. Her entire body throbbed, but the pain of her limbs was nothing compared with the deep, unrelenting hollowness she felt inside. Even Deryk's cheerful banter and words of encouragement were not enough to draw her out of this self-enforced funk.
"You must be wondering," he said, "why I have chosen to travel this road afoot?"
Aeturnis shrugged. The thought had barely occurred to her. It seemed she hardly thought about anything anymore, it was easier that way. Less painful. For the previous two days she had been content merely to listen to everything the Meerkat had to say, answering his questions with little more then a nod.
Deryk did not let her disinterest stop him. One hand fingered the hilt of a scimitar and he flashed her one of his charming grins. She imagined he could be quite the charmer, but right now she was not susceptible to being charmed. "Well, as you may know, I am the third son of Duke Dariel Almeeda, Keeper of Kalimere and I am on a dangerous and exciting Quest," he declared.
This caught her interest, at least a little. She frowned at him. "A quest?"
"Indeed my fair lass," he slid the scimitar into his hand and slashed it through the air in a much exaggerated manner.
A small smile flickered at the edges of the Aardwolf girl's lips. He looked very ridiculous. Then the memory of Chaz returned to her and she hugged her Memory Book close.
"'Tis a deadly and dire quest indeed," he continued, tossing his scimitar from one hand to the other in a move so casual one would doubt it as the razor edged object it was. For a moment his eyes flashed and Aeturnis felt a cold chill down her back. "And, I fancy, a false one." He cut the air ferociously with his blade, making her jump. "After our oldest brother was murdered," he growled, "my surviving brother had to get me out of the picture. I was the one that killed him," he added, the words sending a shiver through Aeturnis as he kicked a pebble off thee path, "or at least that's what he wanted them all to believe." He sighed , turning his bright eyes to the Aardwolf girl. "Can you believe that? My own brother, framing me for something he likely did. I started to ask too many questions, brought up too much proof - so he conjured up a Fool's Errand to get me out of his fur. Anyhow - enough about me, tell me a little about yourself, lass."
At this current point, Aeturnis was bursting with questions and also much alarmed. To talk so casually about Fratricide? What manner of a family did he come from? "There's not very much to tell," she replied.
Deryk hilted his scimitar in one easy movement and took her hand in his. She did not resist, although a part of her wanted to pull away. "Nonsense," he said. "We all have our tales to tell and I must confess, I am curious as to why you were in the company of those travelling entertainers. You are not one of them, no?"
She shook her head.
He grinned. "I could tell, you do not have that air of arrogance and charisma about you that is invaluable amongst performers. Do not be mistaken," he added, "I mean that not as an insult, but at a compliment. I doubt I could stand those garrulous fools. But please," and he turned taking both hands in his and his touch was warm and soft. "Please, my dear, do tell me a little about yourself. What interest lies for you in Eriwyn?"
She shrugged, wondering how much she should tell. It was not as if her adventures were particularly exciting and she could not imagine him being particularly interested in what she was up to. "My father," she replied.
"And your father sent you to Eriwyn with travelling entertainers? Novel family."
"Oh no," she said, "my father doesn't even know I'm coming. Madame Zufraia offered me a ride…" her voice faltered as she first remembered the betrayal.
Had she imagined it, or for the briefest moment there, had a feral, predatory gleam crept into Deryk's sky-blue eyes? No, he was a gentleman, a nobleman no less, and he had saved her from the bandits and shown her nothing but care and respect. "You're really the son of a Duke?" He could be lying, after all. She drew away from him, the hungry look had flickered and vanished, but she could not pretend it had never been there.
"Oh yes my dear, you do not think Commoners learn to fight as I have do you?" He paused, a wicked grin lighting his face. "I know what you are thinking lass, you're thinking 'Meerkats rule a kingdom?' and I would have to say, but of course. The Feline-kin look rather more noble and powerful, but in honesty are quite lazy chaps. It is near nigh impossible to get a days work out of them." He sighed and shook his head, "naps every three hours, indeed."
Aeturnis was curious, despite her grief. "So the mighty king of the jungle sleeps all day?"
"Mighty King of the jungle, my tail," Deryk grins toothily, "Lion-kin do not even live in the jungles, you know." He shrugged, "how are you feeling?"
The question caught her by surprise, but brought with it the answers. Her legs throbbed - her calf muscles felt as though steel poles had be shoved down them. Pain radiated across her back but nothing was as heavy as the grief that lay upon her. She shrugged. "Okay I guess. All things considered."
"How would you feel about a little company?" He looked at her quizzically.
She shrugged. "Company?"
Deryk gestured at a plume of smoke rising in the distance. "It looks like tonight we shall not be camping alone," he grinned, "it could be tinkers, or merchants or just a caravan of travellers but either way, there will likely be a few tales to hear. And maybe a few more to tell?"
"I don't tell stories," Aeturnis replied, hugging her book close.
"Of course you don't," and there was no hint of patronising in his tone, "but little lass, I do." He flourished his sword once more. "I could tell you the tale of how I fought the king of all skrittlings or won a game of dice against the prince of thieves." He winked, "how about the lost city of the Furless ones?"
"You've done all that?"
"Well, with a little embellishment, for sure. All that and more. Or, perhaps I could tell of how I rescued the fair maiden from the foul and evil bandits?"
Aeturnis blushed. "I'd rather you didn't," she whispered.
Deryk patted her on the shoulder, an over-friendly action that made her cringe. "Do not fear, fair lady, I shall tell the one about the giant, mutant alligator instead."