Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 32: Dalliances

Kori shook her head. "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing... This elf is a headache. Maybe Laurence was right."

Terrance, who was whetting his blade, answered with a compassionate smile, "I have to say, from what you told us, I'm in agreement with you. Provoking a war with the elves would not be wise right now. The king should listen to his Redeemer; you have excellent judgement, and I have nothing but respect for what you do. You saved my brother, you know."

Kori felt badly about telling the knights that the king had thrown Francis into the dungeon and all the details surrounding the situation; Laurence had bitterly given her permission to, but she still felt badly about it.

Kori cocked her head to the side at Terrance's statement. "I saved your brother?"

The knight nodded. "My little brother, Brom. He was stealing food and ended up in jail when he was caught. If it weren't for you, he would have rotted away in the dungeon for the rest of his life. But you Redeemed him—convinced the king he was worth giving another chance—and he was set free. Brom really turned his act around. I can't thank you enough, milady."

Kori's eyes glistened.

She needed to hear that.

__

Kori awoke before most of the knights did. She barely slept at all.

There was one knight up who was watching the sun rise.

With a sigh, Kori grabbed a flask of water off her rucksack and took a deep swig.

The sun was slowly rising in the sky--gradually dispelling the black shade of night. Rain still drizzled from above and Kori took a deep breath—enjoying the fresh air in her lungs.

She put a hand on the soldier's shoulder. "I'm going to take a walk. Keep an eye on the elf."

The soldier nodded. "Are you sure you don't want protection?"

Kori nodded. "I'll be fine."

Kori fell deep into thought as she strolled through the deep green woods alone.

Alone.

That was how she felt.

She had spent most of her life tending to criminals. She made friends with some of them, but eventually, she would either have to give up on them if she came to the conclusion that they were irredeemable, or they would be set free.

Regardless, she rarely made long-time friends with them.

She only had two long-lasting, deep relationships in her life.

Eory and Laurence.

She had lost them both.

She sniffled a little and wiped her eyes—wishing she could stop crying over them.

"Gods! Poor little waif!"

Kori spun around.

The elf had followed her. She nearly screamed for the guards but he clapped a hand over her mouth. "Quiet, Redeemer. I am not a fool like you waifs and humans. I would not try to harm you with the guards so close by. I merely wish to have a talk with you."

Kori scowled, but then nodded slowly.

Francis removed his hand. "I feel sorry for you... I thought the king was just a dalliance to you, but it appears that you were truly in love with him."

"How did you sneak off unnoticed?" Kori demanded—ignoring his question.

Francis grinned. "Elves move on silent feet."

Kori crossed her arms. She supposed that elves must have talents she was unaware of.

She knew he wasn't a threat with the soldiers so close by, so she relaxed.

Instead, she was focused on his comment.

Kori looked down at her boots. "Nobody I sleep with is a dalliance..."

Francis looked a little surprised, and then he chuckled. "You must not sleep with many people, then. Truly, those who are not elf are strange."

Kori turned away--trying not to think of all the time she had wasted being faithful to a man who was not faithful to her.

"And I suppose you sleep with anything that walks on two-legs?" Kori retorted. "You said you knew the face of someone who was lovesick; I imagine you dangle plenty of women."

Francis leaned against a tree with a barely-contained-smile. "Oh, I do. And they dangle me, too. One thing you should understand, little waif, is that elves have very little attachments to those they sleep with—so, we have no reason to feel ashamed of sleeping with those we don't truly love."

Kori glowered. "I can only imagine the damage such decisions cause. I suppose I am looking at a product of them."

Francis chuckled—unoffended by her remark. "I suppose you are. Anyway, fun talking with you. I'd better get back before they notice that I'm gone."

Kori followed after him—making sure he didn't try to escape, and ready to call the knights if he tried.

The woods suddenly looked like they might be hiding hideous monsters.

It's been a long time since I've gone far from Maribel...