Draneth looked up at the beautiful woman standing over him.
"What do you want?" the woman asked coldly.
"I came to see Khirah." Draneth murmured. "She knows me." Zellas snorted.
"Yeah right" the Beastmaster mutered.
"Aunt Zellas!" Khirah's voice echoed thorugh the gardens.
"I am over here Khirah!" Zella murmured as she continued to stare at Draneth.. Khirah walked down the path, she was still wearing her wedding dress, and it billowed around her ancles.
"Aunt Zellas what's going on?" Khirah asked confused as she stared down at Draneth. Suddenly her eyes recongnized him
"Draneth-san?" Khirah asked. "Is that really you?" Draneth smiled and stood up, ignoring Zellas. Draneth hugged Khirah fiercly and swung her around in a circle. Khirah shrieked with laughter and hugged Draneth back.
"What's going on here?" Zel asked as his eye narrowed at the sight of his new wife hugging a complete stranger.
"Zel!" Khirah laughed and she ran over to her husband.
"Ths is Draneth, he was my father's best friend." Khirah explained when she saw Zel's face. Draneth hold out his hand andZel shook it.
"You're a Mazuko as well?" Zel murmured and Draneth nodded his head.
"Sure, he was like not only my father's friend,he was also my grandmother's servant. But she died a long time ago. I never got to meet her." Khirah smiled at Draneth and looked over at her great-aunt. "Aunt Zellas, why were you holding Draneth at spear-point?" Zellas frowned.
"I found him sneaking around the garden."
"That's not true! I just got here!"
"Draneth why did you just come to the reception?" Khirah asked confused.
"I didn't want to be seen. I am supposed to be a invisable observer." Draneth stated bluntly, and Zellas watched him even closer.
"So you admit to being a spy?" she asked.
"No I admit to watching out for Khirah as I did for her father." Draneth ground out. The woman was not helping much. "I just hope Iwon't fail this time." Draneth added silently.
"Well lets hope you do a better job of protecting her then you did her father." Zellas said sarchasitcally. Draneth flinched, how had shen know that barg would dig in so deeply.
"Aunt Zellas!" Khirah cried. "Don't say that!' Khirah had seen Draneth flinch, and saw the hurt look in Draneth's gray eyes a moment before he convered it up. "It's not Draneth's fault that my parents died. He was called away that day by his master."
"No Khirah I don't need you to defend me." Draneth murmured as he looke dat Zelas frotily. "And where were you whule your niece was being murdered?" Zell'as eyes widened in shock. How dare this Mazuko sat such things to me. Zellas raised her spear, ready to kill the little whelp when Draneth grabed her wrist in a brusing grip. "I am only caught unawares once my lady." Dranerth said pleasently. "And I doubt you will beat me again."
"Enough!" Khirah cried angered. "I will not let the two of you argue! Both of you act like your age!" Zellas and Draneth looked over at Khirah, and got ineasy. She looked really pissed.
"The past is the past, and I will not let the two of you point fingers at each other. And I don't want to relive it over and over again.!" Khirah snarled, and he clenched her eyes shut. "They are dead, and that's the end of it, so we should all get on with our lives." Zel laid a hand on her shoulder, and Khirah leaned against him.
"You are both important to me, so please don't fight." Khirah murmured.
"I'm sorry Khirah." Draneth whispered. "I had no right to do that toyou." Excuse me, I have pressing business." Draneth turned and phazed out. Khirah turned and smiled at her aunt.
"Come on we still have a party to go to." she said with some cheer, and held out her hand. Zellas grabbed it and the three walked back to the castle.
The next few months were busy ones for the Khirah and Zel. They had decided to continue traveling with Lina and the others. Khirah found adventuring much to her liking. However, the King of Seyruune fell ill and prince Phil had to take over ruling the country. So Amelia had to leave to stay with her family. So on the day that she left, Khirah pulled Amelia aside and gave her something.
"Here, I want you to have this." Amelia looked down at the small locket.
"What is it?" Amelia aske docnfused.
"Open it." Khirah grinned. Amelia opened it, and inside was a small picture of everyone. Amelai could barely make out the details. "Say 'friends" Amelia." Amelai did and the picture sudenly got big, and before her was a fairly large picture of everyone. "Its kind of like a bag of holding. What you do is you cast a spell, and is shrinks it. Then you place it inside the locket." Khirah held out a small piece of paper. "Here is the spell. Now you will always have something to remember of by." Amelai looked down at the picture of them all. "
Did you... paint this?" Khirah nodded. "You're very good."
"Thank you. I'll tell you what it took a while. That's what I have been doing that last few months. I swore Zel and the others to secracy. I wanted it to be a surprise. I also have a picture of everyone if you want to scry for us." Amelia's blue eyes filled with tears and she hudded Khirah.
"Thank you." she whispered. Khriah hugegd the younger girl back.
"What are friends for. There's a picture of Brannon I there, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a mental visit form you. He's kind of grounded for a few years for disobeying orders." Khirah shook her head. "He's lucky that's all that happened. I think he gets off in five years. But hey! To a Mazuko, that's like a week. so." Khirah smiled as she htought of her best friend. "Well yuo have to get going see you Amleia. And may the Gods go with you." Amelai nodded, and she and Khirha walked back to the camp.
"Bye everyone. I'll miss you all. Please come and visit sometime. You are always welcome in Seyruune." Amelai hugged everyone goodbye one last time, even Xellos. That earned him a odd look from Lina.
"What I'm not allowed to hug someone goodbye?" he asked innocently. Lina rolled her ruby eyes, although deep down, she was somewhat jealous of the young princess. Why doesn't he hug me? a small voice inside he rmind cried. Amelia waved once and mounted the horse, and she and the messenger rode off, back to Seyruune. And back into chains.