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The Stone of Truth - Part 8

Laetia almost ran to keep up with her companion. He stopped from time to time to check trees, to smell leaves and to mutter to himself.

"The trail is fresh! They must be close."

Laetia decided that agreeing with him was the best thing to do. Maybe he could really take her to Zargoth.

"Tell me, dear girl, how is Queen Cor?"

"The Lady is fine, sir."

"Fine? Come on. You don't expect me to believe that."

"And why not, sir?"

"She is alone and expecting."

"She is not alone, sir. She has the Lord by her side."

"Some company he must be for her, that Hialdan."

Laetia didn't know what to reply. It would have been a lie to say her Lord treated the Lady like her rank deserved. Unrespectful as he was, Laser Scorpian knew the gist of things. Still, she felt she had to defend her Lord somehow.

"The Lord Hialdan is a very occupied man."

"Occupied how?"

The dungeon flashed before her eyes. The dead, decomposed hand.

"And why do you keep rubbing your hand like that? Does it hurt?"

Laetia hid her right hand. Laser Scorpian was busy with some broken branches. She hoped he hadn't observed it.

"You don't have to hide it! Let me see."

Laetia extended her hand meekly.

"It appears perfectly safe. And such a delicate hand it is, too."

"Oh, sir." She giggled and tried to take her hand back. He resisted.

"The hand of a nice working girl. Maybe a bit worn by all that washing up. I think I saw you wash up earlier at the fountain, didn't I?"

"Oh, no.. I wasn't there."

She realised her slip and fell into a scared silence.

"Oh? You didn't do your daily chores?" He appeared mortified.

Laetia pulled her hand away and hid it in the folds of her dress.

"What kind of servant girl are you? Doesn't Hialdan punish you for this?"

"No, my Lord himself.."

"I see! So what has this delicate, now hidden again, hand, been through?" He winked.

Laetia blushed. "It's not what you think.."

"And what exactly do I think? Do I think what you think I think?"

"I.. I.. My Lord.."

"Yes?" Laser Scorpian was studying a fallen leaf, soiled with dirt.

"He.. had something for me to do."

"Oh.. something."

"Not that!"

"Oh.. something else."

The candle.

The dungeon.

"The dea.."

He put a finger on her lips.

"Shush," he whispered. "They are near."

He walked around a bush in silence, then cursed loudly.

"Sir!"

"Those darned scoundrels. To dare mess with Laser Scorpian!"

Laetia walked next to him and saw the trail had led them back to Zargoth's hut.

continue to part 9 >>

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