Chương 5: Chapter 4 feisty mushrooms
A small childlike green hooded creature ran through the kingdom and climbed a tree to see if it could spot Zalaria. The small creature spotted guards following them to the palace hiding in the bushes. The hooded creature made a run for the door into the palace. The sound of small footsteps stopped when the creature crashed into a servant knocking over. To keep the commotion down the creature threw a mushroom at the servant causing the servant to fall asleep. The creature tried to pull the servant to keep the body out of view. The creature sensed a presence but couldn't runaway. A guard had picked up the little creature.
"Now what do we have here?" Ronnok asked. He looked at the little creature.
The three foot creature tried to run shaking her feet in the air. She looked up at Ronnok with her childlike face similar to that of a very young child. She wore a white dress over her baggy green pants causing the skirt of her dress to flare out along with her green shoes made of leaves. Her mushroom top was on her back with a bag of smaller mushrooms inside her mushroom top hiding under her green cloak. Her messy green hair was tied into two small braids tied with two small mushrooms on each braid. Her braids hid her small pointed ears.
"you looking for queen zalaria?" he said with a look of contempt and mild amusement. He raised an eyebrow. As the little mushroom girl fidgeted in his hands he couldn't help but chuckle. She quite literally cam up to his knee in height.
"unhand me you...you whoever you are" she fidgeted more "that way i can put you to sleep and save Zalaria from you…you giant" the mushroom girl Dewdrop said with her high pitched childlike voice.
"easy little one she is safe… I'll even take you to her if you stop fussing….wait." he looked confused and concerned. "have you put my men asleep!?"
"All the ones i saw at the very least. It was easy really. If you put me down i can show you" she said cleverly hoping he would fall for her trick.
"I don't think so little one, perhaps I'll let you down when zalaria says your safe to." he smiled and enjoyed her charisma. The kid had spunk, he admired that. "I'll take you to your queen if on the way you tell me how to wake my men up….how does that sound?" he asked raising an eyebrow at her and began to walk with her, she really didn't have much choice.
" they should wake up by sundown but if it must be sooner then.." She reached into her mushroom top best she could. Dewdrop pulled out a small glass potion bottle and a few ingredients. She shoved the ingredients in the bottle closing it. She shook the bottle then held it.
"One drop of this and it should wake them. Only because you giants kept the queen safe" she said looking up at him.
"thank you little lady." he flipped her up on his shoulders. "be nice up their...you pull any of my hair I'll 'harvest' your mushroom." he teased as he walked down the hall with her.
"what's your name anyway little one?" he asked.
"Dewdrop and i happened to be one of the queen's best guards. So, giant, if you so much as try to harvest my mushroom i will have no choice but to defeat you myself" she said confidently putting her mushroom top back on her head and crossed her arms.
"ah i see…" it was a blank answer. He was more distracted trying to figure out how this little girl was one of the queen's guard.
" are we there yet? You know for a giant you sure walk slow" she looked down at him.
He looked up at her as she sat on his shoulders. "yes but let me check on them."
"Them?" she asked.
"you'll see in a second." he replied.
Ronnok knocked on the door. "my liege…"
Soryn stirred slowly hearing the knock. Zalaria was still sound asleep on his chest. They hadn't moved all night. He debated waking her with a kiss. Dewdrop leaned slowly trying to peek inside.
" Queen are you in there" Dewdrop called out prepared to protect the queen if need be. Zalaria stirred softly moving closer in Soryn's arm going back to sleep.
Soryn spoke softly. "don't wake her...what is your business? speak quickly and and softly." he looked to the door at the little head poking out.
Dewdrop could not help but fidgit around in attempts to protect her queen.
" unhand her you...you other giant" she said fidgiting nearly falling backwards off of rannok's shoulders.
"she is in no danger. she is sleeping, peacefully, probably the best sleep she has had in months maybe even years and if you wake her….i will bring the wrath of Draknis down upon you." he threatened. It didn't matter to him, all that mattered to him at the moment was the women asleep on his chest, Zalaria. Dewdrop fidgeted around dropping her mushroom top. She tried to climb down ronnok mumbling softly to herself. Dewdrop picked up her mushroom top and dusted it off.
Soryn watched her curiously and with growing impatiens. He then kissed Zalaria's head. Zalaria stirred softly as she woke up to see Soryn kissing her head. Dewdrop bit her lip softly to keep quiet as she waited.
Soryn looked down at her and kissed her softly. He then smiled."morning my dear, apparently this little one knows you…" he brushed her hair from her face and wrapped an arm around her.
"Dewdrop?!" She said looking at Dewdrop dumbfounded.
"Wait…" she looked a herself laying close to Soryn then at Dewdrop and back again at herself. A moment of silence passed and Zalaria blushing a bright pink color as she jumped up off the bed adjusting her dress.
A silent protest sounded in soryn's head. And he rolled out of his bed with muted annoyance.
"I assume you know each other then…" soryn probed. He eyed dewdrop with subtle and cold fury. He didn't quite know why he felt this way. He told himself he was being a child and looked to ronnok.
"While these two sort out whatever the hell is going on...Captain Ronnok report."
"Five men down, watch tower on the east side had a tree fall on it should be repaired by midday mi'lord" Ronnok replied standing at attention trying to ignore the two girls.
Dewdrop gave a soft glare to Soryn and made her way to Zalaria. The two whispered in their foreign language together. Dewdrop gave a soft glance at Ronnok then proceeded with her report to her queen. Zalaria gasped with moderate excitement at the good news. Then the excitement left as the two had a more serious look while they talked.
Ronnok was a soldier. He always had been, and he always would. He hated whispers. He forced his urge to tell them to communicate properly to the very base of his stomach.
"How are the men? Dead?" soryn looked at ronnok concerned.
"Four will be recovering soon with dewdrops antidote. The fifth on the other hand…" Ronnok said lowering his gaze.
"Give it to me straight ronnok." soryn said in a sturn tone.
Ronnok sighed and glanced over to dewdrop before speaking again. " the fifth was a senior officer… he fell from the tower when tree did."
Soryn looked him over and raised an eyebrow getting to the meat of it. "Ronnok...we grew up here together...we know this mountain range...there are no trees this high up."
"We believe it was dewdrop...we think that's how she got in, the wall was weak it just crashed right through…" ronnok said stoically.
Soryn ran a hand over his mouth and chin with a sigh. "Thank you, that will be all." ronnok nodded and left the three to their devices.
"i didn't mean to wreck the wall. I had to get over the wall. I heard the queen escaped mad king. The idea was to bring her home. Anyone who i encountered were just put to sleep. The fifth i did not see until i was over the wall" Dewdrop responded.
"Zalaria this will be left to you but she should still be punished, one of my men did lose his life." he moved to the dresser and but on a loose shirt then a boiled leather tunic over it. He added his pauldrons from his armor and his greaves. He then moved tossing on his warg cloak, winters cloak. He looked at the top of his dresser and put on his crown. The crown was polished silver from the very mountain they were on. Embedded in it was diamonds and sapphires. Twelve points made up the crest of the crown. The very tips were made of dragon teeth. He then turned and saw his dragon still asleep on the frame of his bed curled up with Zalaria's. In that moment a single word rang in his head.
"Tarnak come." he said and the dragon lifted its head and nodded. As soryn reached his hand out the dragon moved its way up his arm much like a ferret and curled nicely behind his head. He nodded and spun on his heels.
" Tarnak and I will be headed to the great hall for breakfast, would you care to join me and fill me in of whatever in draknis is going on?" he asked looking at zalaria and dewdrop extending a hand for Zalaria. Zalaria gave a Dewdrop a stern look and Dewdrop nodded knowing what she had to do. Zalaria smiled softly at Soryn taking his hand close by his side.
"Arteym come" she called out to her dragon. Her drew came and sat on her head as if the dragon was her crown leaving Dewdrop on her own.
When the two left Dewdrop took out a petal blade and began to cut her hair where the female mushrooms is their strongest mushroom weapons. Dewdrop was momentarily stripped of her strongest weapon with the change of her appearance to remind her not to make the same mistake.
"Thats very impressive knowing your dragons name already." he smiled softly and took her hand in his. "Most don't move that fast, hell i'm surprised i already heard it."
He looked at her as they walked, he was trying to study her features. She glanced him. Her small pointed ears twitched slight as she sensed his soft gaze on her.
"Don't stare for too long king Soryn" she giggled softly "i just said the name that came to mind and i am glad it was the right one" she said with a small smile. Arteym nuzzled Zalaria's head.
"That is the mental link being formed, dragons are highly intelligent creatures. Except they don't have vocal cords like us they still coo, grunt, and growl but can't form words, so they forge a mental link with some people usually their riders and it is how they communicate." he smiled at her not taking his eyes off hers. Zalaria moved closer by his side listening to all the information he was telling her.
" so when i heard the name in my head that was him?" she said glancing up at her dragon careful not to drop him.
"Mhm it was." he nodded and scratched Tarnak's head. "Its an incredible bond they have with their riders." he looked at her and bit his lip stifling the urge to kiss her.
"What would you like for breakfast Zalaria?" he still chewed lip and hoped she didn't notice.
She began to grin noticing a slight struggle. Zalaria leaned in close inches away from his lips.
"you" she whispered teasing him then pulled back " well i have always loved the cakes that your people make" she said with a small smirk. Zalaria could not help but bite at the king.
"Careful" he said with a dark smirk and whispered in her ear. "My love" he was proud of his move, tarnak made a grumble almost like a chuckle.
"We shall get the cakes then." he smiled then whispered again. "Your lips are sweeter…" he grinned wickedly and was thoroughly enjoying their game. Zalaria's cheeks began to turn pink softly touching her lips struggling to come up with clever words to bite back in their little game.
He moved meer inches away from her lips. "Well played my dear." he then moved from her holding her hand with a malicious smirk and the sweet taste of victory in his mouth. Zalaria bit her lip softly gazing at his smirk.
"You have this time but i can assure you that next time won't be so sweet" she said struggling to break her gaze from his malicious smirk.
"Oh really…" he pulled her tight to him and kissed her tenderly. "Its pretty sweet now."
She could not help but give him a tender sweet kiss in return.
"Yes really my k-" she cleared her throat "yes really" she said close in his grip.
He whispered in her ear. "I could be your king…" he pulled back looking at her smirking.
Zalaria blushed a sweet dark red color unable to form a response. They finally made it to his seat for breakfast. She stood next to him blushing. She didn't understand how he could manage to bring her to a point where she was unable to bite back with a clever response.
He sat there and looked up at her then motioned for her to sit, in his lap. It was all very tabu but he was a king what did he care.
"Are you sure?" She looked at him with a tender sweet gaze.
He rolled his eyes and pulled her down into his lap. "Hows that for your answer." he smiled.
"It was an answer almost worthy of a kiss" she whispered to him.
"You mean like this?" he leaned in and kissed her tenderly wrapping an arm around her.
Zalaria rested a hand on his chest as she did the first moment of kissing they had. "Just like that" she said softly.
He smiled. "Demris would you be a dear and fetch some breakfast...ooo and some cakes. Thank you." the servent nodded and left into the kitchens. She returned a few minutes later with food and sweets.
The plate was set down. He smiled at zalaria. "Dig in my dear." Zalaria smiled like a child biting into a cake.
"Mmm it is as good as i remember them to be" she said with joy.
Zalaria began to take a bit of eat of the food displayed before her with pure joy.
He watched her and smiled. "I could get used to this…" he smiled then froze fear gripping him. He said it out loud. Zalaria paused for a moment looking at him with rosey cheeks then smiled.
" if your food is this good you just might have to" she smiled warmly hoping to ease his fear.
"I'm glad, it may be harsh up here but the people are kind." he smiled at her. He ate more of the food that was brought. He then moved in and kissed her softly and held a cake up for her. Zalaria sweetly the cake he brought to her lips.
"Im grateful for their kindness towards me" she replied kindly.
Dewdrop followed some guards at a distance to the great hall. She keep what was left of her hair hidden in her mushroom top. The servants giggled at her height and looks.
"Are you lost little girl would you like some food?" A servant girl bent downward hand her some a bowl of soup.
" that is a little girl" another servant girl chimed in causing the servant girls to bicker about whether dewdrop is a girl or boy.
Dewdrop shook her head and made her way to an empty table. She managed to get her bowl of soup onto the table. She proceeded to climb the table to take a seat.
"Is she on the table?" he chuckled and gestured to dewdrop.
"Tables are much smaller back in our home town after all she is one of the tallest mushroom folk" Zalaria replied giggling softly at how cute the situation was.
"Dewdrop, come join us." he smiled and gestured for her to join them at the head table. "Ronnok bring the little lady a drink she's had a busy morning." he chuckled and kissed zalaria's cheek out of a very new habit.
"You sure sire? She's what ? 12?" ronnok said uneasy of giving the girl anything other than milk. Dewdrop climbed her way down the table thankfully managing to bring her soup with her. She was a little higher than their seats as she made her way to the head table.
"Actually im 21" Dewdrop replied look up at Ronnok holding her large bowl of soup. She proceeded the same process of climbing the table. She first sat on the seat barely peeking over it. She then stood on her seat on her toes tasting her soup.
"I was not expecting that…" he looked at zalaria. "Is it like this for all of your people?" he started to think that she was in her sixties if that was the case.
" yup, however the tree folk are twice as tall as your people, im 20. My people evolved from the fountain of youth the process on how we age is much different from the rest of the people we have met so far." Zalaria replied as dewdrop nodded. Dewdrop began to chug the drink ronnok was told to give her not knowing what she was drinking.
"Take your time now little one, that is strong enough to knock out a full grown waryn." ronnok said looking at the little girl. She then belched.
"Looks like the little lady likes it." Soryn said.
Dewdrop stood on the table with her arms on her hips looking at Ronnok with a mild drunk blush not entirely used to such strong drinks.
" this giant still doubt my strength, ooookay" she pointed at a random guard eating food " come you lets have a battle of the arms, if i win that giant has to drink a glass" she said pointing at ronnok.
"If i lose then i have to drink a glass" she said looking at ronnok.
The man chuckled and shook his head. He made his way over to her then looked at Zarlaria and soryn. "If i put her through the table will i be punished chuckle don't hold back" Zalaria said with a mild grin. Dewdrop stood on her chair with her arm ready.
"This is gonna be good…" soryn chuckled.
The guard raised his hand to the table. He grabbed her hand it fit in his palm easily.
"Lets go little one…"
They began to struggle and fight. The objective, pin the other hand on the table. Dewdrop then pinned the guard's hand nearly knocking him off his seat.
"I win" she said with a childlike smile.
"Well done." he said and left the table with what was left of his dignity.
"Alright missy it's my turn" ronnok said sitting down.
All the guards had their attention on the main table.
"Wait the last guard was weak im sure i won't let the king or the captain down " another guard said sitting in front of dewdrop nudging ronnok over. Dewdrop soon won against him causing a line of guards surrounding her to beat her in a game of the battle of the arms.
The soldiers kept getting beaten. The more she won the more she cheered and drank. Ronnok sat there patiently and watched her roar and beat the soldiers. Zalaria smiled and laughed merrily in soryn's lap. Soryn knocked his mug on the table.
"Ronnok get in on this!" he cheered in a joyous mood. Zalaria nodded in agreement with Soryn wanting to see ronnok getting in on the fun.
Dewdrop held her arm out prepared to win another battle.
"Come on ronnok think you can be me!" Dewdrop said merrily and drunk.
"Okay okay." he walked over to her and sat down arm raised and steady.
"Lets go cutie…" he smirked grasping her hand and zoning in.
"Prepare to taste defeat charming giant" dewdrop grinned.
The two both began to struggle. At some moments dewdrop nearly won and other moments ronnok nearly won both determined to win.
He struggled more, then yawned. "Come on now little lady you got anything else? He challenged her again.
Dewdrop leaned in meeting eye to eye with ronnok as they struggled to win.
"You should know i do" she grinned as she began to get close to pinning his arm. Half of the crowd cheering for ronnok and the other half for the little lady.
He leaned in locking eyes with her determined to win. "Bring it little lady." he smiled and started to force her hand back the other direction. Dewdrop struggled until she softly dropped her head on the table knocking out with her hand still in ronnok's.
He looked at her then chuckled. "Did she just pass out?" he began to laugh really hard.
"Haha i think she did." Soryn burst into a merry hearty laugh. Zalaria had fallen asleep on soryn again. And soryn looked around the room. "Have we been drinking all day?" the candles had burned low.
"By draknis we should probably go to bed huh?" he stretched carefully not wanting to wake up Zalaria.
"Aye, probably be a right good idea." ronnok looked at dewdrop.
"Ronnok take care of her please find her a feather bed." he said and picked up Zalaria.
The men cheered and made snarking remarks as Soryn stood.
"Oy the next bastard to open his mouth loses his tongue." soryn called out as he left the great hall.
Ronnok finished his drink and fixed his tunic. He then reached for dewdrop all while thinking of where to bring her. Dewdrop curled up on the table knocked out turning over accidently knocking her mushroom top at ronnok's feet. Her once long braided hair now cut in uneven layers no longer baring the beauty she once had. Her short hair revealing a scar from a *rakvack* bite on her neck. Her mushroom top empty unlike before.
Ronnok looked her over. "Poor girl." he felt the necklace he wore. It was made of rakvac fangs. "What happened to these people…" he picked her up and walked her to one of the guests rooms. It was across from his own. He laid her on the bed and tucked her in as he put her mushroom top on the bed next her.
"Sleep well little one." he smiled and went to his quarters.
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