The Beggar Prince by J. B. Drake

Author:J. B. Drake [Drake, J. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J.B Drake
Published: 2018-06-29T07:00:00+00:00

Flight of Despair

Glowering furiously at the battle-mage rifling through her bag, Maline stood silent as the cold air sent a shiver down her spine.

“We will be done soon,” the ranger beside her whispered, the fairy on his shoulder staring at Maline as his wings fluttered lazily behind him. But Maline refused to reply.

“We do not enjoy this any more than you do,” he continued, “but we have a duty to perform.”

As Maline turned to glare at him, the weak light caught the unsightly bruise on her right cheek.

“Duty?” she hissed. “Your friend kicked me in the face!”

Guiltily, the ranger looked at their commander, who stared brooding, his hands on the hilts of the blades on either side of him.

“There's nothing here,” the battle-mage said at last. Maline stared at the commander, a smug smile upon her lips, but the commander met her mocking smile with a cold stare before turning his gaze to his mage companion.

“Are you sure?”

“Everything here is worthless garbage,” the battle-mage replied with biting bluntness. “Nothing here belongs to our quarry.”

Maline turned a darkened gaze upon him, but bit back her words.

“You done, then?” she asked instead. The commander sneered at her for a spell before turning his gaze to the others.

“Come, we must meet up with the others, perhaps they've had better luck.”

Angry still, Maline watched the mage and the commander depart, but as the ranger turned to leave, he pressed something soft and damp into her hand before he too departed. None met her gaze as they left, an act that merely served to stoke her rage. Gritting her teeth, she at last stared down at that which lay in her hand. It was damp, soft and green. Moss. Healing moss perhaps? As she stared at it, the bruise on her face began to throb most painfully. Staring at it for a moment longer, she pressed it against her cheek, and almost at once, a smile broke across her lips as a grateful sigh escaped from them.

“Thank you, ranger,” she whispered as she knelt and went about placing her meagre belongings back in her bag with her free hand before preparing for bed.

“Hello, Maline.”

With a startled cry, the terrified elf sprang to her feet, darting back into the wall behind her. But as she did so, she let go of the healing moss, and could only watch as it fell into a heap.

“Sorry, sorry!” Marshalla exclaimed as she swam into view before Maline, bending down to pick up the fallen moss. “Didn't mean to scare you.”

“Don't do that!” Maline exclaimed as she grabbed the moss from Marshalla's outstretched hand.

“Sorry,” Marshalla repeated, grimacing as Tip and Davian swam into view near her. As Maline's gaze fell on the others, Marshalla placed what's left of her friend's strewn belongings into Maline's bag, and as Maline finally touched the moss to her bruise, Marshalla rose, handing her the bag.

“Thank you,” Maline said. Marshalla smiled in response.

“Sorry about what they did to you,” Tip mumbled.

Maline frowned. “You saw?”

Davian nodded. “Just turned into the alleyway when the commander kicked you in the face.

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