Samant 4

"Why?" Yazoo and I asked at the same time.
"It was my mother’s…she was wearing it when he killed her." Eternal said pausing a moment. "But I don't know why that would stop him."
"Where’d she get it from?" I asked.
"I believe it was from father…but I’m not sure. Though if father gave it to her, how did he get it…"
"Maybe there is more to the amulet then you think." Yazoo chimed in.
"I wonder if Rahmu would know…I will go ask him. I shall return in a few days." Eternal said touching my cheek with his hand. "I won’t be long, I promise."
"Please hurry back. I only hope Kain doesn’t return." I said.
And with that Eternal started on his journey to go see Rahmu. He headed towards the east towards the mountains.
"Where is everybody?" Kiya said from the hall.
"How are you feeling?" I asked her.
"I’ve been better, that’s for sure."
"Do you know where the others are?" Yazoo asked her.
"I know they chased that guy, or the guy chased them…I’m not sure where they are."
"I’m gonna transport us to them…" I said as I but Yazoo on my shoulder. "Hold on."
I got Kiya to hold on to my cloak, it’s easier if we’re connected. I transported us to where Alric, Jon, Gandof, and Hiei were. They were in some kind of box. It had a latch on it that held it close. There only appeared to be two small, narrow windows to let air in. There was no way for them to reach the latch, because their arms wouldn’t be long enough to reach through the windows and around to the front to unhook the latch.
"You guys ok?" I said as I went over and unhooked the latch. They came tumbling out of the box.
"I’m fine…"Alric said gasping for breath. "There may have been two windows, but it was still stuffy."
"I agree with him." Hiei said panting.
Gandof just nodded his head, only on account of he couldn’t talk because he couldn’t breathe. Jon just sat gasping for breath well looking at me.
"Did you think I wouldn’t come and save you guys?" I asked Jon.
"Well…" Jon said lowering his head.
"I may not be engaged to you and we may not be going together, but you are still a friend…and even though you are who you are and you did what you did, that’s no reason for you to have to suffer in a box." I said. "Besides, I came to help the others not you…I was willing to look for you after we found the others."
"You aren’t still mad that I hit you?" he asked.
"No I think I’m over that…" I said sarcastically.
"Sam I said I was sorry for hitting you."
"I know you did. But if you did it once you’ll do it again. I wouldn’t have minded so much if we were engaged or even married. But just the fact that I hadn’t given you an answer yet and you get all upset for me taking Eternal there."
"Speaking of which where is he?"
"He had to go somewhere."
Alric, Hiei, and Gandof were about ready to kill Jon for being so conceited. Yazoo jumped in though.
"Now listen Jon let’s drop all of this, she saved you and she didn’t have to save you she was willing to look for you. So shut up."
"Why I oughta…." Jon stepped toward Yazoo. Yazoo quickly jumped back on my shoulder. I mumbled some words and Jon was frozen where he was.
"Now you know better then that." I said.
"Sam was that necessary?" Kiya asked.
"No but it feels good."
"Thanks you for saving us and our conceited companion." Alric said glaring at Jon.
"You’re welcome." Yazoo said.
"Who did this to you guys anyway?" Kiya asked.
"Some tall man that had grayish white hair and he was wearing some kind of armor. He had three scars over one eye." Gandof said.
"It’s Kain alright." I said.
"You mean that guy Eternal’s looking for?" Hiei said.
"Yep that’s him."
"How do you know?" Alric asked.
"I met him when I was taking that walk to think."
"Ah…do you think you could unfreeze Jon?" Gandof asked.
"I suppose." I said and made a fire appear around Jon.
"SAM! That’s not what I meant by unfreezing him." Gandof said and made the fire disappear and the ice melt by itself.
"You aren’t any fun."
"Sorry but he is a wizard and we may need his help."
"You have a point."
"Thanks Gandof." Jon said when he was unfrozen…he just glared at me. I smiled.
"Ok, did Eternal say when he’d be back Sam?" Alric asked.
"He said he’d be back in a few days. He was going to ask Rahmu a question about the amulet he was wearing." I said.
"Why? It didn’t look very important." Jon voiced.
"You may not think so Jon, but it saved his life. It stopped Kain from killing him." Yazoo said. "His mom gave it to him."
"Why don’t we go back to the house." I suggested.
"I’m up for the pasture." Jon said.
"The pasture sounds good." I said. I transported Kiya, Yazoo, Alric, Hiei, Gandof and myself to the pasture. I let Jon take himself.
"Sam don’t you think you’re being a little to hard on Jon?" Kiya asked.
I looked at Kiya. I turned and walked to a tree and sat down under it. Yazoo hopped from my shoulder to my lap. I started to pet him. I watched as Jon and Gandof had little spell fights. They could be so childish at times. Alric and Hiei were talking about the battles they had fought. Kiya stood by herself. She didn’t want to join in the spell fights and she couldn’t join in on the conversation about battles. So she just stood there and quickly healed Alric and Hiei to make them feel better after being trapped in the box. Then she came over to the tree and sat in front of me.
"Listen Sam, I know you don’t like taking my advice, because it’s never very good. But Jon said he was sorry. You can’t keep a grudge."
"Kiya you don’t understand." I said, a tear forming.
"Then make me understand." She said.
"I don’t know how to make you understand." I said as I buried my face in Yazoo’s fur.
"Hey what’s wrong?" I heard someone say. It sounded like Eternal’s voice but I knew it couldn’t be because it hadn’t even been a day.
"Nothing is wrong." Jon said. I could sense an angry tone in his voice. I raised my head and looked. It was Eternal.
"Eternal! You’re back early."
"I know." He said coming over to me. "I talked to Rahmu."
"And?" I asked as he kneeled down next to me. He brushed my bangs off my forehead.
"He said that Kain was in love with my mother. Father gave her the amulet, but it was Kain that gave the amulet to father."
"Why did Kain give him the amulet?"
"I don’t know. Rahmu wouldn’t tell me. He said I had to wait to hear that part."
"But Kain was in love with your mother? That’s hard to believe."
"I know." He said. He noticed there were still a few tears in my eyes and he wiped them away.
"You mean to tell me that, Kain was in love with your mother. The amulet belonged to her and that’s why he didn’t’ kill you?" Yazoo asked.
"Yep, that appears to be the case."
"I wish you didn’t have the amulet on." Jon said. "Then maybe I’d have a chance to get Sam back."
Eternal got up and went over to Jon. He stared at him. "You lost your chance with Sam when you hit her."
"You wanna fight me?" Jon said coaxing Eternal.
"I would, but you aren’t worth it." Jon stepped closer to Eternal and took a swing at him. Eternal ducked.
"Jon! Would you stop it!" I yelled. Everyone looked at me. "Jon you get too jealous. I’m not yours, I might have been your girlfriend but I was never your possession!" I closed my eyes and buried my head back in Yazoo’s fur.
"I think we should leave Sam alone for a while." Gandof said. "I don’t think she’s over the shock of all the news she’s gotten in the past few days."
"I think you’re right Gandof." Kiya said. I glanced up and noticed they had all left except Eternal and Jon.
"Sam…" Jon started.
"Just leave." I said and put my ear against Yazoo and listened to him breath. I heard Jon get up and leave. Eternal got off his knee and sat down so he was facing me.
"Sam, do you want to talk?" He asked.
"Why? Why now in my life does everything have to go berserk? I thought Jon was the right guy for me. I guess I shouldn’t have thought. He never did give me much I was always giving him things…I guess I could call it a give and take relation."
"No one ever knows why certain things happen in their life. They just do. We all have a guide. Rahmu’s my guide I guess. They watch out for us."
"Then I think my guide is sleeping on the job. There are so many things that have happened. Like finding out that Zyzzyva is my brother, that I was really born evil, the mighty one wanting me to become evil and marry Timothy is great great grandson. Or Kiya and Alric breaking off the wedding, Jon hitting me, you coming into my life, all this stuff with Kain…"
Eternal took of the amulet and put it around my neck.
"No I couldn’t take it…" I said reaching up to take it off. Eternal took my hands.
"I want you to have it. It stopped Kain from hurting me. I don’t want him hurting you. Maybe for now until your guide wakes up, my mother could watch over you."
"Thank you Eternal." I said. I leaned up and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Your welcome. I know she’ll watch out for you."
I looked at the amulet. It was a bluish-green. It was round and smooth. Though there was one niche in it and that was on the one side, but you wouldn’t notice it unless you looked at it real close.
"Hopefully Kain won’t show up anymore. I don’t want to see him either." I said as I let go of the amulet.
"Come on let’s go get something to eat. All of today has made me famished." Eternal said standing up and then helping me up. "Know any good places?"
"As a matter of fact I do." I said heading towards Tronicia. Eternal jogged to catch up.
"So what place do you have in mind?" He asked.
"Why only the best for you." I said and laughed.
He took my hand as we finished walking to Tronicia. When we got there, we entered from the south. Our city is small compared to Shalecliff. We have only one blacksmith, one tavern (thank goodness it’s a small one), the castle, a few places to buy clothes, food, and other things. We also have a few buildings for developing your magic, healing and fighting skills. We have also two locations that religious serves are held. Oh and how could I forget, a fine eating establishment, that isn’t part of the tavern. The rest are pretty much homes. When you first walk in from the south, you can see the castle. The castle is to the north of the town square. It is surround by homes of the knights and their families. Also in the vicinity of the castle, just a little past the knight’s dwellings are the homes of the royal wizards. One of those wizards is Awesome, he’s about to become a father. After the wizards quarters is a little river, not a moat, a river. I’m not sure of the name. I was never told. I have to look into that. Then after the little river, is some of the civilian households, among those are Kiya’s, Gandof’s parents, Alric’s brother, and Gandof’s soon to be home (yes he’s finally moving out of my house). The Town Square has all of the shops around it. Then past the Town Square are more civilian households. Then you get to the South Gate and the outskirts of Tronicia. My house is on the outskirts, well Jon’s and mine but I’m kicking him out.
"Now where is this place that is the best?" Eternal said.
"It’s on the north side of the Town Square," I said. "It’s Gandof’s parent’s café."
"Home cooking…should be good. I haven’t had one of them in…umm…I don’t know how long."
"It’s where those that don’t get drunk hang out." I said with a little laugh.
When we reached the café, Eternal opened the door for me. I went inside. There were about ten tables. The tables either had two, three, or four chairs around them. It was a cozy atmosphere. Gandof’s parents had made it look like the inside of a wizard’s hat…well Gandof’s to be exact. So they had shelves that had different potions, herbs, and anything else we’d use. We went to table near the rear window and sat down.
"It’s cozy here." Eternal said.
Gandof’s mom came over. She was short, almost five feet. She had long brown hair that she kept in a braided bun on her head. Her eyes were a different shade of brown, one not seen a lot for eyes.
"Well Samant, I have not seen you in a while."
"I’m sorry to stay away so long, Sarah. But things have been hectic."
"That is quite alright. Gandof said things were a little rough for you. He didn’t say why," she said then as if noticing Eternal for the first time. "Oh I am sorry. I didn’t see you there sir. I am Sarah, owner of this café, along with my husband Omar."
"Pleasure to meet you Sarah. I’m Eternal."
"The pleasure is mine. Now what will you have?"
"I think I’ll have my usual, Sarah."
"Alright, one bowl of beef stew. Eternal?"
"Everything looks so good…I think I’ll have the beef stew also."
"Alright two stews coming up."
Sarah walked away and headed towards the kitchen. In a couple of minutes she came back with two steaming bowls of beef stew.
"That was fast. Thank you." Eternal said.
"Fastness is how we keep you coming back." Sarah said.
"That’s a fact. I’ve been here quite a lot since I met Gandof. And I don’t regret it." I chimed in.
"And we aren’t sorry that you keep coming back either." Sarah said as she put her hand on my shoulder and went back to the kitchen.
"Sarah seems nice. Is Gandof’s father also as nice?"
"He has been the times I’ve seen him. He’s usually the one cooking. Which is a little unusual."
"Not completely. I cooked for myself when I was looking for Kain. Well, more like hunted. But I had to cook it somehow."
"True. But here in town it’s rare to here of a man cooking."
We started to eat the stew. I could tell Eternal wasn’t use to a home cooked meal because he had his done in a minute. He just sat and watched me eat mine.
"Was it good?" I asked.
"Yep…but the company is better."
I could tell I was blushing at that comment because he chuckled a little. I lowered my head and continued eating my stew. It was good, but I agreed with Eternal that the company was better. I wasn’t going to tell him that. I finished my stew and Sarah was came over and took the bowls.
"Anything else?" She asked.
"I’ll have a slice of apple pie." I told her.
"I’ll have two slices if pie." Eternal said.
"Alright, I’ll be right back." She turned and went to the kitchen and put the bowls in a tub of soapy water. She came back with the apple pie.
"Here you are." She placed the plate that had two slices in front of Eternal and the plate that had one in front of me.
Eternal took a sample of the pie. He’s eyes widen and he finished the pie in less then five minutes.
"That’s some good pie Sarah."
"Thank you. It’s a family recipe. Gandof found it." She said and she left to go take care of other customers. I finished my slice and got up.
"Where you going?"
"I’m going to pay the tab." I said.
"Now wait…Let me." Eternal said getting up also.
"Eternal, it’s ok. I have credit here." I went over to the counter. Omar came out of the kitchen. Omar was tall almost six feet. He had short gray hair and a mustache of the same color. He was muscular and often seen wearing an apron. When he wasn’t wearing in the café working, he would wear a pair of breeches and a cotton shirt.
"Well now, if it isn’t Samant."
"Hello sir." I said as I handed him some coins. "The meal was very good, like usual."
"Always glad to hear it from you Sam. Now you have a nice day." He said as he went back to the kitchen.
"I take it that was Gandof’s father."
"Yes." I took Eternal’s hand and headed towards the door.
"Excuse me." A gentleman said. He looked to be in his twenties. He had shoulder length blonde hair. His eyes were dark but had no real color. He stood up when we approached him, he stood about six feet. He was wearing a black coat. I could see a priest’s uniform under the coat.
"Yes?" Eternal said.
"I’m new and I’m looking for a place to stay. Could you tell me where the nearest inn is."
"Sure," I replied. "Go out the door to the left and then when you get to the tavern turn right so that you go around the tavern. There’s an inn on the other side."
"Thank you, ma’am."
"Call me Sam. And it’s always nice to see new faces."
"Well thank you Sam. I’m Priest Orion."
"I’m Eternal." Eternal snuck in.
Orion nodded at Eternal and went and paid his bill and came back.
"Thank you for helping a stranger out." He said and walked out the door.
"Shall we?" Eternal said talking my hand.
"Ok…now where would you like to go?"
"Well I also need a place to stay. I think I’ll go check out that inn you suggest for Priest Orion."
"Eternal, I won’t allow you to stay at the inn. Yes it’s the best one, but isn’t the greatest. You can stay with me. I have a couple of extra rooms, now that Gandof and Jon are getting their own places."
"If you insist."
"I do. So where do you want to go?"
"Well…any good places to visit?"
"In town…not really. Though I’ll take you too the lake. I think you’ll like the view."
"Alright…lead the way."

We left the café and continued heading North. We went past the castle. We entered a small forest of trees. Most of the trees were quite old. They had been there as long could be remembered. They surrounded the whole path all the way to the lake. When we got out of the forest, we were on the shore of the lake. The lake was oblong with crystal clear water. There were trees all around the lake with a few houses scattered here and there.
"It’s beautiful." Eternal said.
"Yes it is. This is where I like to come and think. I think it’s more beautiful the what was mine and Jon’s spot."
"Any place where you are is beautiful." Eternal said turning so he was facing me. I lowered my head so he wouldn’t see me blush. He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head. He put his lips against mine and gently kissed me.
"You had to realize that when I said I loved you I meant it. Since I’ve started my journey looking for Kain, everyone was more then willing to tell me where to find me because he killed my parents but that was the only reason. You, you’re different. You helped because you saw me as someone who needed care."
"I only do what I think is right. I saw you and noticed that you need to relax and have some fun…I think I got you to do that."
"But I suppose you never thought I’d end up falling in love with you."
"Or that I would give that love back," I turned and looked at the lake. "I remember coming here for a trip with school. We were tempting to do spells that involved water. I felt so bad when the teacher made the water disappear and left all the fish in there. He just kept talking about the importance of water leaving them to die…"
"What happened?"
"I couldn’t stand it anymore and made the water reappear…which he was amazed I did. Because supposedly someone of my level at the time wasn’t able to do that."
"I knew you were different."
"Yeah abut after I did that, I was transferred to a different school…and that’s where I started meeting, Jon and the others."
"I see. And where did you met Yazoo?"
"Ah yes, Yazoo. He is an interesting cat," I said as I sat down on the shore. "I don’t know Yazoo’s whole story, but…he found his way into my garden. Trying to pounce on a butterfly."
"He is an interesting cat," Eternal said as he sat behind me and started to rub my shoulders. "You deserve a shoulder rub, you’ve been through a lot since you met me. And I am sorry for that."
"Don’t be. I’m glad I met you."
We sat in silence, watching the lake. Every now and then a fish would hop out of the water trying to catch a fly. We sat that way till after the sun went down. Then the crickets and fireflies came out.
"It’s even beautiful at night." Eternal said.
"Do you think you’ll stay a while or continue your search for Kain?"
"Well…I have a good reason to stay, yet…I have to find Kain. He hurt you and I can’t let him get away with that."
"I’m fine. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." I told him as I tilled my head back.
"Do you think we should be getting back?"
"Yes we should…I don’t know who’s out after dark…and I don’t think I want to find out either."
We got up and went to the town. The lamps were lit already and the normal crowd was heading towards the tavern. We kept walking through the Town Square when a townsman came up to us.
"How much for the woman?" He asked Eternal.
"She isn’t for sale sir." He replied.
"Of course she is. Any women out at this time are for sale…ain’t they?"
"I most certainly am not for sale." I told the man.
"Shut up wench," the man said. "Now how much?"
Eternal clenched his fists. He hit the townsman in the stomach. Then he yanked him off his feet and threw him in a water trough. My eyes widen.
"I said, she’s not for sale." He took my hand and we went to my house.
"You know you could have just walked away?"
"I could have…but what fun is that?"
"You could have gotten hurt."
"Not from a smelly drunk like that guy. He wouldn’t be able to hit a me without falling down first."
I walked into the house and lit a candle.
"I’ll show you to the room you can use," I said. I took him down the hall past my room and Gandof’s room. "You can have this room. It’s one of the better ones. Just watch out for Yazoo…he likes to come into this one and sleep. But maybe with you he won’t."
"I’ll watch for him. You better go to sleep. You look tired." He said and he gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Good night." I said and headed towards my room. I turned around before I went in.
"Night." He went into his room.
I went into my room and closed the door. I took off my dress revealing my slip. I went to the closet and took out a nightdress. I slipped it over my head and crawled into bed. When I awoke the next morning I saw Eternal sitting in the chair next to the foot of the bed.
"How long have you been here watching me sleep?" I asked.
"Oh, most of the night I think." He said stretching and yawning at the same time.
"Well," I said yawning. "I think I’m ready for breakfast. Care to join me?" I made a couple of tray of food appear.
"Breakfast sounds good." He said as he got up from the chair and got the tray.
"Here you can sit on the bed." I said moving over making room for him. He sat down and we started eating.
"So what are you doing today?"
"I don’t know. I was thinking of working in the garden."
"I was thinking of going into town and checking things out. Seeing as I might decide to stay."
"Alright. Should I expect you for supper then?"
"Sure, I can get lunch in town. I’ll eat at the café."
"Or I could meet you there too."
"Hey that sounds good. I’ll see you around noon then for lunch." He said as he finished his breakfast. He kissed my forehead and left.
I wasn’t sure what to do so I grabbed my cloak and walked to the lake. I decided it was just as beautiful in the daylight as it was at night.
"I didn’t know you still came here Sam." I heard someone say.
I turned around and smiled. "Hi Alric. I still come here. It’s so peaceful. It’s a place to think and remember the times we had together. I mean this is where all of us came for break the one year in school. Now that was fun."
"It sure was. Sam do you think it’s odd how we thought we’d always be a happy group...how Kiya and I and you and Jon breaking up would ever happen…"
I went over to Alric and put my hand on his shoulder.
"No one every said there’d always be happy endings. What happened between Jon and me was bond to happen. He was just a little too jealous. Granted I think Eternal’s that way too. But for some reason I don’t mind it as much."
"I just realized that Kiya wasn’t the girl for me. There had to be someone better. And I found her."
"Come on Alric lets go into town and get a bite to eat and talk about it."
"Oh! Food! Now you’re talking my language."
As we walked to the Town Square I got to think some more. Alric said he had found someone else…just who was this someone else. I’d have to ask him, if he’d be willing to tell me. When we reached the Town Square, we just stopped and looked for a while.
"Where you’d you like to eat?" I asked.
"Umm…I don’t know. You feel like anything?"
"I won’t be eating much Eternal’s meeting me for lunch."
"Oh! You two are getting close aren’t you?"
"Yes I guess you could say that…He’s just different. How about the inn for something or the tavern?"
"Samant! I’m shocked I didn’t think you ever went in those places."
"My first job was at the inn working at and helping at the tavern. I was a waitress…not something I’m proud of. But I was able to build my house after awhile."
"I didn’t think they let woman build houses..."
"They don’t that’s why Jon and Gandof were living with me. Now that they’re leaving I’ll see what happens."
We walked to the inn. When we went inside I spotted Priest Orion.
"Alric come I’d like you to meet someone." I said as I walked over to Priest Orion. "Excuse me."