Alissa and Tiara talked with Aenea most of the night about where they should head to. Alissa suggested that they head to the town of Xiatriz.

“Why Xiatriz?” asked Aenea.

“It’s a nice town. I have friends there that would let us stay with them too.”

“Are you sure it’ll be safe for use to journey there without getting attacked again?” asked Tiara.

“And the only way to get there is through the forest though. It’s not safe there. Too many wild animals and other things. Wood elves too. I’ve heard that they aren’t very friendly. It’s going to be dangerous getting there,” added Aenea.

“We’ll be fine. I’ve gone through those woods many times without getting hurt or into battle. Plus I know how to use it to my advantage. Dorchav knows it too. He wouldn’t come after me there. Not without something to hold against me.”

“Okay then!” said Aenea. “Xiatriz it is! Let’s start early tomorrow morning.”

* * * * * * * * * *

The next morning they started heading to Xiatriz. Just as they were heading out of town, they saw the forest that they had to pass through. Tiara transformed into her cat form for easier travel and scouting.

“I’ll check up ahead,” said Tiara.

“Be careful,” said Alissa. “Run back quickly if there’s any trouble ahead.”

Tiara nodded then ran up ahead. Auri followed her.

A few moments later, Aenea and Alissa both heard someone yelling for help. Then they saw a mouse running towards them being chased by two cats. “HEEEEEELP!!” screamed the mouse. “ALISSA, HELP!!!!!”

“Ha.....Hanpan??” said Alissa.

“HELP ME, HELP ME, HELP ME!!!!!!” yelled the mouse as he continued running. He ran and climbed up a tree as fast as he could. “Hanpan!! Get down from there quickly!!!” yelled Alissa.

The mouse tried to catch his breath. “Huh? Why? I’m safe up here.”

“You IDIOT!!! Don’t you know anything?!” screamed Alissa.

The mouse gave her a confused look. “What?”

“Cats can climb!!” And sure enough, both Tiara and Auri were climbing up to where the mouse was.

“AHHHH!!!!!!!” screamed the mouse. “DON’T LET THEM GET ME!!!!”

“Get down from there quickly!!!”

The mouse looked around for some options. Both cats managed to trap him on the branch it was on getting closer and closer to where he was. Seeing no other options, the mouse jumped off the branch. Alissa managed to catch him just before he hit the ground. Both cats jumped right after it. The mouse jumped out of Alissa’s hands and started running again, both cats chasing after him.

“Tiara!! Auri!!! Please stop this!!!” cried Alissa. “Hanpan!!! Transform!! Quickly!!!”

“I’LL TRY!! BUT I DON’T THINK IT’LL WORK!!! NOT WHILE I’M RUNNING!!!!” shouted the mouse as he ran.

“I don’t care if it’ll work or not. Just do it!”

“Okay!” the mouse ran up another tree to buy himself some time. He took a few breaths then closed his eyes. A dark mist surrounded him. When it cleared, a young man with short silver hair sat in the mouse’s place. He jumped down from the tree and grabbed both cats that were climbing up. “I believe these belong to you,” he said.

Aenea took Auri. “This one’s mine. Thank you,” she said with a smirk.

“And the other one?” said the young man.

“Is a friend. Put her down please,” said Alissa. And he did so.

Tiara transformed back to her human form. “Alissa, is this a friend of yours?” she asked.

“Yes Tiara. Allow me to introduce you. This is my best friend Hans Pandsire.” She looked to her friend. “Hans, these are my friends and traveling companions Tiara de’Tokiet and Aenea.”

“A pleasure to meet you ladies.” Hans bowed to both of them as they curtsied.

“Alissa, weren’t you just calling him Hanpan a while ago?” asked Aenea.

“Yes. That’s his nickname when he’s in mouse form,” replied Alissa.

“You’re a form-changer?” Tiara asked Hans.

“Yes, I am. As I assume you are.”

Tiara nodded. “I have a few forms.”

“As do I,” said Hans. “I prefer mouse form. Easier to travel through places and to hide.” He looked toward Alissa. “It’s also how I met Alissa here.” He smiled.

Alissa smirked. “I wouldn’t call trying to catch you as a pet a good memory. You were an annoyance to begin with and I got in a lot of trouble trying to catch you. I should have just turned you in to the innkeeper there. He would have enjoyed testing out the many ways to torture a pest.”

“You mean like you like to do?” replied Hans.

“No. I take a bit more pleasure in it. I’m sure he would have liked it though.”

“Umm..... what other forms do you have, m’lord?” asked Tiara, trying to change the subject.

“Forms?” said Hans. He thought for a second. “A blue and light gray dragon and a grayish and white mouse, as you all saw. Those are the only two other than human form that I know of and can change into voluntarily.”

“Voluntarily?” said both Aenea and Tiara at the same time.

“Umm.... well..... yeah. On occasion, I’ll transform into something when I don’t want to.” He turned toward Alissa. “How many times has that happened now?”

“Umm..... A few times I think. There was that one time you turned into a squirrel at dinner. And that other time you turned into a lizard.” She stood and thought for a second. “Oh! And the famous fish incident when-”

“That’s enough, thanks,” Hans cut her off, blushing slightly at the thought of that event. “By the way Alissa, where were you three heading to?”

“We were going to Xiatriz,” she replied.

“Xiatriz? Uh..... I don’t think that you should be going there.”

“Why not?” asked Tiara.

“Terrible town! It’s dusty, cold, and the people aren’t too nice. No, we should head for Ansai. That’s a nice town.”

“We? Since when did you join?” Alissa raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not safe for a girl to be traveling by herself. You might need someone to protect you.”

“When did I start being counted as a girl? I believe the last time we talked, I said you should be nice to a girl. And you said that anyone that could wield a weapon was no girl.”

“Did I say that?” said Hans with a nervous laugh.

“Yes, along with ‘why would you need protection? You know how to handle a sword. You can protect yourself.’” She took out her dagger. “I’ll also believe I was one of the best fighters in the class, was I not?”

“You were. I’m sure you’re out of practice now though. Also with the sword. I managed to fit some practice in since I last saw Dorchav.”

“Dorchav?”

“Yes. He found me.”

“Where?”

“Back in Seiane, where we were leaving from.”

“Then this won’t be a suprise to you. Celestra was in Xiatriz. That’s where I just was, and why I was telling you not to go there.”

“Who is Celestra?” asked Tiara.

“You know what an arch rival is?” said Alissa.

“Yes,” Tiara replied.

“She’s mine. And like Dorchav, she’s trying to kill me. Though those two would never team up to do so. They both want the glory of being the one that killed me.”

“How awful!” said Aenea. “Why would they both want to kill you? Where’s the glory in that?”

Alissa looked at Aenea, then at Hans. He shook his head and looked back at Aenea. “It’s not something we should discuss right now. When the time is right, I’ll tell you what is happening.”

There was a moment of silence, then Hans decided to change the subject. “So, should we start heading toward Ansai?”

“No,” said Alissa. “We continue toward Xiatriz.”

“But Celestra-”

“Celestra doesn’t know that I’m headed there. Even if she does, I’m not running. That’ll just tell her that I’m scared. Not something I want to do. It will increase her self image and she’ll be even more conceded and self absorbed than she already is.”

“What about her guards? They’re pretty tough.”

“I know. I’ve fought them before.”

“And her guardian?”

“Guardian?” Alissa looked at Hans with slight confusion.

“You didn’t hear? Her father ordered his best fighter to become her personal guard. He’s strong too. I’ve heard no one has ever beaten him in battle before.”

“Excuse me,” said Tiara, “Why would some one hire a guardian for her? Is she an heiress? A highborn? A rich man’s daughter?”

Alissa and Hans looked at each other. “You want to tell her? Or should I?” said Alissa.

“I’ll tell. I know how much you hate her,” said Hans. He turned toward Tiara. “Celestra is a princess. Her father is the King of Fiestyr.

“She's a princess?” asked Aenea.

“Yes,” replied Alissa. Then she snickered. "It's kinda sad really. She's the only one that hates me. Her father and brother both like me and think me more of a daughter and sister than they do of her.

“Anyway, we should get going. If we walk slow enough, maybe we’ll miss them,” said Alissa. “Who’s her guardian anyway?”

“His name is Kale. That’s about all I’ve heard of him other than he’s the best sword handler known to man,” said Hans.

“What does he look like? Do you know?” said Alissa.

“Umm...... he has short silvery pale blue hair, blue eyes, about five eleven, lightly tanned skin, and well built. All the girls were drooling over him back there. So I think they find him attractive.”

“Really.........” Alissa said looking a bit worried. “He might be trouble. If he’s anything like you’ve heard, then we better keep our distance from him.”

“We’re heading to Xiatriz for sure then?” said Aenea.

“Yes. Let’s get going.” The four of them continued on their way to Xiatriz.





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