Heart desired

//Chapter 62//

We reached for the place Bran saw Relach after the sun rise.

Originally, we thought we could just go there and ask someone else for details. As we got there, we realised that itbwas a totally deserted place.

It had been in between Sermeth and Leven. If someone wants to go to Leven from Sermeth, theu would have passed this area without question.

This confirmed one thing. Relach had departed for Leven.

"You can go now, if you want." Resh said to Bran. "Your duty is now over."

"No. no." He hastily said, "My duty is not over. I am staying. If something happened, I will protect you two."

More like we would have to protect him. I thought to myself.

Resh nodded. "Let's go back. There was a village we just passed. If we asked, we could know some details."

"I was just about to suggest that." I said. Let's get going."

We walked the distance. Bran decided to wait for us and waited in the carriage, protecting it. I turned to Resh as we walked. "He really admires you, you know."

Resh examined his nails with a faint smile. "Mmm."

I stared at him, shocked. And here I thought he liked Glaze. "Do you have a crush on him, huh?" I asked without beating around the bush.

He patted my head. "There are things you don't understand."

I stared at him in disbelief. Did he just say I don't understand? About what? "What about Glaze, then?" I asked. "I saw the way you made puppy eyes at her."

He examined his nails again. Now that was starting to piss me off. What was so great about those nails? There was no need to look at them that much.

"She is another story." Resh said. "She is water. She is completely different from me and it kind of draws me in."

I shook my head. "So, who's heart are you planning to break?"

He flicked me on the head. "Focus on Savin. I haven't got together with anyone to break any heart like you. When the time comes, I will make the right choice."

"Which will be to die alone." I said, stomping on his foot. "That flick hurt." I said when he glared at me. "You deserve a painful foot."

"Yeah I do." He said, rolling his eyes. We bickered all the way to the village. I was glad we walked fast because I was running out of insults for him.

There was a woman in the first house, sweeping the yard. This calmness was complet opposite from what had happened in Leven and Yorosso. I found out that I had a hard time adjusting to this.

As soon as the woman saw us, her eyes widened. I waited for the contempt and hatred to form, but there was not any. Now I had felt even more suspicious about this place.

Then I saw it. There was a silver band around her wrist and in it, there was an insfi stone. It was small just like how we gave to the other civilians. Whicheant Relach had fullfilled his duty to this point.

"Your Highnesses!" The woman came and bowed to us. The pink brooch on her shoulder indicated that she was a dancer or a musician. Judging from her voice and figure, I guessed it was both.

She had a unique youthful grace as she walked towards us. She was walking with poise in every movement. Her long, flowing hair framed a delicate face, where bright eyes shimmered with quiet confidence. When she spoke, her voice was pure and melodic, carrying the warmth of a song. I wanted to see her perform. If simply walking was this elegant, I could not imagine what a dance would look like.

I nodded at her. "Can I know your name?"

"It's Odyne, your highness." She said. That voice was so elegant and beautiful, I could listen to it for hours. "Would you like to come in?"

"No." Resh said with his usual cold voice he used when he was with others. "Who gave you that stone?" He pointed to the insfi stone in his hand.

"This?" She asked, looking a little anxious. "It was Relach. He carried a big sack filled with these. He said these were from Your Highnesses and they could stop Elves from invading our heads." She looked at us. "Is it not true? Is there something wrong?"

"No, everything he said is true." I said. "But yes, there is something wrong. He was supposed to give those stones to people in Leven, but he mysteriously disappeared."

"He didn't went to Leven." She said. "I saw him talk with someone else he met a little ahead from here. Then they went on the other direction, towards Plycin."

"Plycin?" Resh repeated. "Why would-" he stopped himself. "Thank you for your information. Would you like a gold coin?"

I chocked on laughter. Resh glared at me. I raised my hands apologetically. Seriously though, who asks questions like that? Would you like a gold coin?

As I struggled to keep my face straight, the dancer replied. "If it's not any trouble, I would like it very much, Your Highness."

Oh. Oh! If only Cara was here. I could have laughed with her till our stomachs hurt.

After Resh gave her a gold coin, we went back to our carriage where Bran was waiting for us. "What happened?" He asked as soon as we got closer to him.

I deliberately didn't answer. Resh looked at me and scowled before turning to him with an indifferent face. "Apparently, he had gone to Plycin for some reason, avoiding Leven."

"That idiot." Bran blamed him. "I bet he had no idea how many died because of his arragont actions. A mission is a mission. Whay the hell is he doing, going everywhere he wants?"

"I don't think that's it." I said. That girl said there was someone else there too. I think he was lured in to some trap. He might be in danger."

Bran's face changed. "I did not think of that!" He said. "What should we do now? What if he is murdered? What if tje stones are gone? What if-"

"Enough chit chat." Resh said coldly. "Let's get going. Everybody knows Relach, so it will be easy to find where he went. We will ask everybody we can. I'm sure we can find him."

Bran looked at him with eyes full of admiration. I wanted to tell him thaty brother was a pervert, but I didn't. I was not going to meddle in anyone's love life, even though I liked to hear gossip.

We set off again, this time to Plycin. I could feel my heart beating a little faster as I thought about that place. After all, Savin was supposed to be there as well.

I could not wait to see him.