NOBLE

Chapter 4

A sweet smell awoke Calla the next morning. It was new to her, but also intriguing. Slowly sitting up, she rubs her eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the light. Jasper was still asleep, all curled up in his blanket. Ferrin was also resting. They must have been more tired than she thought.

She looks around the room and notices Lennian. He was standing in the kitchen wearing a light, yet baggy shirt. He was barefoot, and wore a pair of leggings that seemed to match the robe he was wearing yesterday. The wizard looks up from his little stove, smiling warmly as he makes eye contact with Calla.

"You can come in here, miss. I'd like the company, too." He pulls out a chair for her, then returns to his cooking.

The queen quietly gets to her feet and walks into the kitchen. The scent she had woken up to was much stronger now. Looking over to Lennian, she noticed that he was making some sort of pastry. She sits down at the finely carved table, reluctant to have to leave his home and continue her journey through the snow.

"I thought about what you said, last night. You were very sweet for offering my company on your mission." He places the pastry on top of the stove and sits down across from her.

"I would love to have you tag along. You wouldn't be lonely anymore, either." She resists the urge to take his hand.

"I'll come with you, then. I do have one request, though."

Calla raises an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I do have permission to shut that Jasper guy up in any way possible if I need to, right?" A playful smile comes across his face.

She giggles and nods. "Of course. He's not a bad guy, though. He just..." She looks down, not knowing what to say next.

"I understand. How did you two come across each other, anyway?" He rises to check on his breakfast. Calla couldn't help but watch his movements.

"I was being attacked by a minotaur, and he showed up out of the blue and saved me. I was quite lucky to be alive." She rubs her eyes, still feeling a bit sleepy.

"I'd be careful, if I were you. I know you may trust him, but you can never know." He makes his way back over to the table, nonchalantly scooting his chair a little closer to Calla.

"Okay, but how do I know if I can trust you, then?" She blushes as he looks up at her, his two-toned eyes fixed onto hers.

"I assure you, you can trust me, miss Calla. I would never betray you." He looks back towards his stove. "I do believe breakfast is ready."

The queen smiles as he brings the pastry over on a fine plate. He sets it in front of her, their hands touching for a single second. Both of them blush, and Lennian looks away.

"Won't you be having anything, Lennian?"

"I should be fine. You go ahead and eat. I must prepare food for the others." He slowly makes his way back to his oven.

She frowns, then tears apart her pastry in half. Inside, a sweet, fruity substance begins to drip out. It smelled of apple, strawberry, and a hint of nectar. She stands up and grabs onto his arm. As Lennian looks down at her, she hands him half of the snack.

"Please, eat this. I won't take a bite of anything unless you do."

He smiles and takes it from her hand. "Thank you."

Calla doesn't break his gaze. Her cheeks become a rosy color as she leans in closer. She begins to close her eyes, but then she can hear Jasper trip over a small pot.

Lennian sighs and looks around her at Jasper, who's laying on the floor, wrapped up in his blanket.

"A little help, please." Calla walks over, helping him to his feet. He looks at the table and sees the split breakfast pastry. "Oh, nice. Can I have one?"

Ferrin trots over as well. "May I have one, too?"

Lennian nods and walks back to his stove. The queen leads the two other men into the kitchen. Jasper sits down in Lennian's chair, and Ferrin takes the other.

"So what's our plan of action today, Calla? Where do we go once we leave here?" Jasper leans back in his chair.

"We keep going straight, I guess."

"Since I'm coming along, I can help guide you. You'll know when you're on the right track when the sky begins to darken and redden." Lennian flips over Ferrin's pastry.

"Wait, you're coming with us? Who said?" He puts all four legs of his chair back down on the floor and turns to look at the cook.

"I said, Jasper." Calla shoots him a look, warning him not to test her.

He looks down, crossing his arms. "Alright. Good answer."

Lennian hands both men their breakfast, then leans up against his wooden counter. "Eat up, guys. We have a long walk ahead of us."

                                                       *****

After everyone had finished eating, and all supplies were packed up, they continued their journey. Lennian led the group through many winding trails, and away from danger. Jasper stayed towards the back with Ferrin, and Calla stayed to Lennian's right. He stops them as they come across a vantage point.

"See that, guys?" He points out to a group of enemies standing watch in the distance. "Those are the Watchmen of Lybiaan. Lord Rinion keeps them spread around at different places to ensure trespassers don't get into his kingdom."

"And that means...?" Jasper walks up to look out at the men.

"It means, Jasper, that we're on the right track. I thought that maybe, that would have been pretty obvious." Lennian takes out his staff and puts his hood up.

"What are you doing?" Calla whispers to him, but it was too late. Lennian leaps from the vantage point, sliding down the side of the mountain.

The watchmen shout as they see him and ready their bows. They shoot, but Lennian was gone. The men look around confused, and within a couple seconds, he jumps from the sky right between all 6 of them. Using his staff, he summons mighty ice beasts.

They rose from the ground, their eyes a bright yellow, and their fangs sharper than the finest sword. They appeared to be over sized wolves, but each were a very light blue, and had shards of ice protruding from their backs. They charged the watchmen, each taking a single one in their mouths. Hidden, one of Rinion's archers shoots Lennian in the shoulder, but it seemed to have no effect on the wizard. He spins around, his robes disturbing large clouds of snow. Before it settles back down to the frozen earth, he swings his arm, sending the snow up to the archer, freezing him instantly.

Lennian stands still for a moment, sensing if there is any more danger. When everything seems safe, he waves for his group to make their way down.

"That was awesome!" Ferrin shouts as he reaches the bottom and runs over to him.

"It was okay, I guess. If you were really so powerful, you wouldn't have needed the help." Jasper pats the snow off of his legs and trudges over.

"That was really amazing, Lennian." Calla comes up and hugs him, and the wizard's cheeks grow red.

Jasper crosses his arms, and Ferrin chuckles. Blushing, Calla lets go of Lennian and regains her composure. Lennian clears his throat as he puts his staff away.

"I think it's time we keep going."