Full Belly Warm Hearts

The renewed fire crackled warmly across the encampment as the convoy settled in for the evening. Guards loosened armor, magical beasts stretched out in safe rings around the perimeter, and the scent of soup and herbs drifted into the air.

‘Time to feed my other kids.’ I mumbled to myself, still upset.

Soup was the best option to stretch limited meat. Come to think of it, I had made soup on my last night on Earth too…

I moved through the camp carrying a pot of stew and a ladle, sleeves rolled up and a bright smile on my face as I dished out meals with practiced ease.

I hope I do not look too irate. Gotta thank my medical school instructors for teaching me how to control my emotions in between interactions.

For you,’ I said, handing a bowl to a wide-eyed soldier, ‘and you too. Don’t be shy.’

‘Princess,’ the young man stammered, ears pink. ‘If you're this kind to the men, we might all just fight to be your suitors!’

That earned a round of bold, teasing cheers from the other soldiers.

‘Add me to the list!’

‘Put me just below Mede, I'll work my way up!’

‘I’ll even duel the dragon! If he's still unconscious!’

These are just like the young rowdy boys of the orphanage! How I miss them!

I laughed heartily. ‘You all need to rest, not flirt.’

But as I handed out the next bowl, a wave of silence swept through the group. Jokes died on tongues. Backs stiffened. Eyes dropped to the ground like guilty schoolboys.

‘Did I…’ I turned slightly, ‘do anything wrong?’

Then I caught sight of Riye behind me. Arms crossed. Brows raised. Very much looming. He wasn’t saying a word, but the look was loud enough. It said, “Try it. Just try it.”

My laughter returned. ‘They were just teasing, Riye.’

‘I know,’ he replied coolly. ‘That’s why they still have their tongues.’

Pan, passing by with Elliot riding piggyback, snorted into his soup.

Undeterred, I continued serving until everyone was fed, and only then did I finally sit down. The cold air bit harder once I stopped moving. I cradled my own bowl of soup, glancing around for somewhere warm to settle.

At least I saved myself a share.Celphi had survived my cooking. Hopefully the rest of them would too.

Riye was nearby, seated alone on a low log by a smaller fire, head tilted away as if pretending he hadn’t been watching me the whole time.

Haha, so this is what teachers feel when a student avoids their gaze in particular.

I walked over without much thought, then lowered myself beside him. His body radiated heat like a living furnace, maybe a bit warmer than the fading fire in front.

Nice.

‘I forgot you’re a lion. You’re very warm,’ I whispered, tugging Pan’s borrowed cloak tighter for an extra layer.

‘You forgot a lot of things,’ Riye said, tone teasing but gentle.

Right… I still have to solve all of that…

My gaze flickered downward to look for fire wood to use when I accidentally caught sight of Riye’s slightly loosened tunic. His arms and chest. Very defined. Very unfair. I blinked away. Looked at the fire. Then back. Then caught myself really looking.

‘See something you like, princess?’ Riye carefully teased.

‘Ahem.’ I turned away to fan myself.

This must be a leftover effect of Marik’s sensual fragrance thing. I couldn’t be this obviously crushing on someone. This is unlike me.

‘No,’ I lied. ‘Just wondering… Are your abs sharpened by swordsmiths?’

He leaned in just slightly, voice low. ‘Want to test?’

I swatted his arm with my spoon. ‘Shut up and let me thaw out.’

Riye chuckled, smug. ‘As you wish, Princess.’

Silence followed. Not just between us, but across the whole camp.

Weird.

‘You were exactly like that before,’ he murmured. ‘Though I didn’t have the physique.’

’So where did Raiona look?’

’My face usually.’

Let’s see then… Very handsome indeed…

‘My eyes in particular.’

I looked up to investigate. His deep golden eyes met mine and were ready to hold my gaze. Long and unbreaking.

I just wanted to…

I coughed and looked away, stopping myself before I started to lean over closer to his face. Cheeks warmed far more than the fire could account for.

I only wanted to see what Raiona saw in those eyes. But I almost saw it for myself, too. Dangerous. Better to look elsewhere.

‘Your golden eyes are one of the prettiest things I’ve seen in this world so far,’ I whispered to the ground. ‘Raiona had good taste.’

From somewhere across the field, a guard whispered, ‘They’re flirting. It’s happening.’

Another gasped, ‘Is her memory back?’

For once, Riye let it pass. His only response was to shift closer, draping a warm fabric across my back. I leaned against him, letting myself enjoy the simple closeness. The guards’ snickers faded as Riye’s warmth eased me toward sleep.

*****

The peaceful crackle of the campfire was suddenly interrupted by a powerful gust of wind sweeping through the trees. Sparks danced upward into the night sky as a majestic creature swooped overhead, wings outstretched wide, elegant, shimmering with pale blue, dark green and purple feathers.

If everyone is relaxed then it shouldn’t be an enemy right?

The creature circled twice then dove. The firelight caught its form mid descent, feathers shedding into glittering motes of magic as it shifted midair, landing gracefully on the earth in human form.

Woah. Am I dreaming?

Tall. Impossibly graceful. Purple hair flowed past his shoulders, faintly glowing under the moonlight. His long cloak rippled behind him like fog. His face was sharp but beautiful. Eyes like sapphire, maybe almost as beautiful as Celphi’s. Almost. Features sculpted with the kind of precision that probably inspired sculpture makers back on earth. I blinked furiously. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

‘Oh,’ I whispered, staring openly. ‘That’s…You’re beauti…’

‘SQUAWK!!!’

Mede exploded into the scene. Before I could protest, Pan scooped me up like a sack of grain, turning me away from the stranger in one smooth motion.

‘Hey! Why would you do…’

Where the heck are these guys coming from?

‘Let’s not do that,’ he said cheerfully.

‘I wasn’t doing anything!’

‘Exactly,’ Pan said. ‘Let’s keep it that way.’

‘Ridiculous! Let me see the beautiful man!’

I fought to peek over Pan’s shoulder. Riye stepped forward, placing his broad frame between me and the newcomer. He didn’t say a word, but the cracking of his knuckles said plenty.

The guards, watching all of this unfold like the best drama of the year, lost it.

‘Oh no, Mede’s spiraling!’

‘Riye’s in full blockade mode!’

‘Pan had to manually flip the princess over!’

Elliot cackled, somewhere behind the parked carriages, ‘I told you the princess is dangerous. One look and everyone’s territorial!’

What in the world…

Mede squawked again, triumphant as he trotted and flopped back down close to me, like a very grumpy guard chicken.

‘Did you hide away only to come back to attack this poor man?’ I said as I picked up an upset Bird Mede.

Ooff he’s actually steaming like a roasted chicken! Haha, so cute.

I hugged the warm Mede bird and tried to look through Riye’s side on what’s happening.

The newcomer raised a hand, unfazed. ‘Apologies. I come with a message from the High Arcane Wing. I did not mean to interrupt your… bonding.’

He smiled politely, but there was a sense of defiance there. Then his gaze flicked past Riye to me. He winked. I smirked despite myself. Riye nearly snarled.

Oohh he is exquisite! I can compare this man’s beauty to Celphi! Same type of feminine gentle face, but having a manly body. Only this man is clearly all decked up with all kinds of shiny things. Celphi would rather keep those at home.

Pan cleared his throat, tone still cheery. ‘And now you’re definitely interrupting.’

The gorgeous stranger handed over a sealed scroll with a bow.

Pan unrolled it casually, eyes scanning. ‘Oh, it’s from the King and Queen,’ he said, brow lifting. ‘They’re asking for an update on the princess. Progress. Status. Health. Location.’

Silence fell. Every guard turned toward Riye like wolves catching the scent of guilt.

One gasped dramatically. ‘Wait. You were supposed to send an update. Yesterday.’

Another clutched his chest. ‘Grave offense. Forgetting the King and Queen? Treason. Treason via romance!’

Riye stiffened, jaw tight. ‘I was handling other matters…’ His gaze flicked to me.

Can’t save you, Captain. I’m the princess in this situation.

‘Oh,’ Elliot chimed in sweetly. ‘Flirting doesn’t count as national defense.’

‘I wasn’t flirting,’ Riye muttered.

‘You weren’t?!’ I said innocently, playing along. ‘Oh. That’s…never mind, then.’

I then walked off for the dramatics. The guards howled. One fell over laughing. Mede wriggled on my arms. From a safe distance, I looked back to check the damage I’ve done. Riye looked like he was weighing his chances of surviving if he set the entire camp on fire.

Meanwhile, the handsome newcomer tilted his head, still standing with perfectly upright poise. I was able to take in all of his magnificence without a boulder size Riye blocking my view. He batted his eyelashes at me, enjoying the fact that I was admiring his looks.

Mmm… Better to keep distance.

I asked Pan quietly, ‘What type of creature is he, anyway?’

Pan, without missing a beat, replied, ‘Oh. Just a peacock.’ Saying it loudly enough for everyone to hear, without raising his voice.

The man audibly gasped. With a deeply offended, scandalized inhale of such elegance, ‘I beg your pardon,’ he said stiffly.

‘Beg harder,’ someone muttered.

Pan grinned, still looking unbothered. ‘I mean, a beautiful peacock. Longest tail feathers I’ve ever seen.’

‘Dazzling,’ Elliot added with a clap.

The envoy’s dignity cracked, but he pressed on. ‘I’ll return to the High Wing with your message. When should the next update be expected?’

Pan handed the scroll to Elliot, then turned back toward Riye. ‘So, Captain. When were you planning on replying?’

Riye stared into the deep night skies, accepting his fate. I tried to smother my laughter behind my hand, but failed completely.

He’s actually really fun to tease! I can see the charm now!

The peacock man had barely lifted his shimmering wings when Riye finally cleared his throat.

‘We’ll arrive by tomorrow,’ he said, loud enough for the bird to hear mid transformation. ‘If not by morning, then before lunch.’

The majestic peacock flared its tail once in disdain before vanishing into the sky, leaving stardust shimmer in his wake.

Someone muttered, ‘Show-off.’

Another sighed dreamily, ‘I wanna be that petty and pretty when I grow up.’

‘He’ll show up first thing in the morning,’ a guard said. ‘Just to make a point.’

Pan clapped once. ‘Alright, ladies and gentlemen of the realm! Mockery hour is over.’

Elliot raised his hand. ‘But it was just getting good.’

Riye ignored them all. He turned to me, jaw still locked, voice curt. ‘You should rest.’

Is he going to murder them all after I leave?

I nodded and followed him, hugging bird Mede closely.

I better watch from the safety of the carriage.

Riye escorted me to the medical carriage and helped me climb aboard. Just before leaving, a guard called out, ‘Captain, want us to draft your apology to the King and Queen?’

Another added, ‘Include a note on how the princess distracted you! Very convincing!’

Mede squawked judgmentally.

Riye stopped mid-step, looked heavenward like a man begging for patience, then walked on with the slow, deliberate tread of one deeply bullied, still clinging to dignity.

No scary roaring this time please.

Pan, barely containing laughter, muttered, ‘Oh, you all better sleep with one eye open tonight.’