“Yes, but mental discourse can not really be measured by audible standards,” he returned. She pouted at him. “Regardless, do you think they shun you for your appearance,” he changed the topic. She grumbled again, but it was a likely scenario. She shared her golden skin and almond eyes with her sister, and most of their nymph community. But the starkly white hair that fell in curling sheets to her knees was unique to her, and her mother`s people. Though in her childhood she had worn it knotted and twisted as her father`s people did, she had long since given up on the style in disgust. He hair was coarse and thick, and was far too rebellious to hold the intricate shapes that her father`s people bore. Even when she gained a contractor and new magic had run through her veins, her hair had acquired some pale violet sections, where the other dryads and nyads gained green or blue power streaks through their thinner brown locks. She also could not simply veil her hair, as her eyes themselves revealed her as a stranger, a strong brown shade that was so different from the blue and green eyes that had surrounded her all of her life.
“I don`t think it`s the hair,” she whispered back. “I think it`s just a reminder to everyone how different, how wrong I am.” She twined her shaking hands through those hairs, locking her body against the tremors that threatened to shake her apart. “My mother`s people break things. They burn trees, they pollute waters. They kill animals, and feast on the remains. I`m simply a reminder of everything evil in this world,” she whispered in despair.
“I doubt that the daemons all think of themselves as the evil creatures as those silly creatures paint them. Anyways, at least you don`t have the horns or the fire,” he joked, trying to cheer her up. “Besides, your sister understands you, so unlike many people of the world you are not fully alone,” he added bracingly.
“She doesn’t,” the girl responded dejectedly. “She`s strong. When people push her, she pushes back- harder. And all I can do is hide behind her,” she sighed. “If it hadn`t been for me, she would never have had to work with either prince, would never have even seen them. It is a painful thing to feel like the tool of ruin for the only person who cares about you.”
Dürin couldn’t reject that. “Well, think of it this way,” he said. “Now that you have run away, your sister will no longer be threatened with your well being to work for either prince. Your escape will probably free her too.”
The black fire was fading as Jackie shook out her sleeves. “Using an actual portal, or my Ruby- my car you know- would be a million times smoother,” she complained. “Cooler, too, for that matter.” She was smoothing her shirt, but the collar kept flipping up. “This took a whole minute and wrinkled my shirt!” she complained.
“I hope you recover,” Aeron returned dryly. “As for now, though, I believe your main goal was to recover your currently missing sister, a person whose condition, whereabouts, and availability of food are completely unknown,” he prompted, “And you are worrying about wrinkly shirts,” he ended disapprovingly. She gulped, caught anew by the severity of the situation. Then she eyed him closely, examining him for some sinister plot or ulterior motive.
“I believe Richard has oh so kindly,” he sneered, “arranged for supplies and an alternative search party for the quest to retrieve your dearest ‘Cilly’,” he continued.
“No one,” she cut in coldly, “Can call her that but me,” she growled, teeth bared.
He chuckled. “Careful,” he cautioned. “Your mother`s unfortunate daemon heritage is starting to show through you right now. Wouldn`t want to make it so clear I was a halfie if I were you, myself, considering all your dear sister has already gone through because she has the appearance of the wrong set of genes” he said.
She stared at him, a flicker of her own flames running through her eyes. “That is confidentially information reserved for my father`s knowledge,” she yelled, “Not some bastard like you!”
“Touché,” he smiled. “I am the son of one of the king`s concubines, not his married wife. However, I am the eldest, born before he even married the queen. And I am half royal, whereas you are half of your race`s greatest enemy,” he continued. “For that matter, I suppose that half of you is one of my allies, as all the daemons are,” he added thoughtfully. “I suppose my superiority also lies in the half of me that is oldest, and the half that comes from the obviously superior clan of dragons, my little brother,” he projected his voice to reach the man partially hidden behind some small slipper chairs.
“Ah, so I`ve been seen,” Richard said, walking out into the open. “I thought I heard your dulcet tones. Glad to see that my dear brother holds no grudges against me nor my clan,” he drawled, “or even my superior knowledge of just about everything you would know if you had any skills in your studies,” he added contemptuously.
“Nice to see you`ve branched out some,” Aeron returned. “This is the first time you`ve shown your true obnoxious self in front of others.” Richard looked around the room, clearly taken aback when he noticed Jackie quietly standing only a few feet away.
“I`ll leave you to the effects of your well timed words while I take care of some business of mine,” Aeron said. And on that note, a black fire conspicuous in the lack of the usual white streaks of light came into life. It instantly consumed him and he was gone.
He materialized in his study, surrounded by stacks of books on agriculture and finances. He slammed his fist, books jumping on the table. He sighed then, sitting down on the chair. He closed his eyes lightly, only for
