Grimacing sounds were heard from Zander's men at the sparring grounds, they have all gotten a beaten from their lord.
"What do you propose we do to them" Zander asked Ian who collected his sword from him.
"A pardon, would be good" Ian answered.
"What do you have to say for yourselves?" Zander asked his men.
"We will never request for you to spar with us again, My lord" one said
"I know you won't" Zander said, with the beaten that they have gotten today - the great impaler was certain that they wouldn't ask for that favor again.
"You were too fast, my lord" one added.
"And also considering the weight of your sword, my lord" another added.
Zander nodded, "Ah, I see. Now for your punishment" he said and his men grumbled even louder. Zander smiled at the show that they were putting on. Sometimes his warriors tend to act childish when they are not on the battlefield.
But from a little distance, stood a goddess with platinum blonde hair, there was this ravishing smile on her face - the kind you have when you have sincerely missed someone.
"Fine. I'll pardon you all. You have all gotten enough beating for a day" Zander said.
"Thank you, My lord" they all said in unison.
"As you were" the great impaler informed and then they all started to leave, bowing one after the other before their lord. After his men has all departed, Zander heard a familiar voice call out to him, he turned and immediately his face beamed with a smile.
"Morgana!" he said as the healing goddess started to cover the distance between them.
They shared a brief hug. "Look at you," Zander said, "you have grown -" he paused thoughtfully before he added, "taller"
Morgana smiled, "I'll take that as a compliment" It was a sarcastic compliment, since the two of them were practically age mates. Zander was a score and six and so was his physician.
"It's weird, but I actually missed you" Morgana said with a smile.
Zander smiled, "Now you are just being sarcastic" he told her. "How was your journey?" he asked.
"It was...adventurous. Ramsgate was full of surprises" Morgana informed.
"I don't doubt that"
"Am sorry I tarried too long, my sojurn at Ramsgate became a search for more medicinal knowledge" she said, her face aglow with mirth.
"Well I hope you can put that knowledge at work, because I have a few bloody wounds" Zander informed.
Morgana gasped, her duty as the fourth prince's physician has always been endearing to her. It was not just because she habours some unexplainable feelings for the great impaler, nay, he was her friend and she deeply cares for him, in a way that she could not explain.
"Zander, you must come so that I may attend to you at once" Morgana said with a worried tone.
"Morgana, it's fine -"
"Nay, it isn't. I know that me wayfaring was a bad idea" Morgana said.
"It wasn't a bad idea. And I don't want you worry too much, before dusk breaks I will be at the physicians court, and then you can attend to my wounds" Zander informed.
"Before dusk breaks, Zander?" Morgana said with both hands on her hips.
"What?" the great impaler asked innocently. He knew that his physician was also curious, and sometimes she often reprimands him. Their friendship was not one that was built on subjection - to the extend that she addresses him with his name.
"It's not healthy to keep an injury untreated. And not to think about the pain" she said.
Zander exhaled, "It does hurt, excruciatingly" he informed. "Rest, first. Then you can treat"
After a brief ponder, Morgana agreed. "Fine, but don't be late" she warned, pointing up a tiny stick at him.
"Are you threatening me with a stick?" Zander asked, grinning, as he stepped closer.
Morgana felt her heart skip a few beats, Zander smelled wonderful. And it was so hard to look away from his dashing face. Morgana breathed in slowly. "Maybe" she answered, barely in a whisper. She knew that her face was flushed already - oh that wouldn't do, she thought.
She shifted away from him, "Don't be late" she said lastly before she walked off with a fast pace.
"Why is she always running off like that?" Ian asked staring after her.
"I have no idea" Zander replied.
*********************
"What is wrong with me?" Morgana asked herself in a whisper as she walked into the physicians court, and without delay she went into her work place. She closed the door behind her and placed her hands on her cheek - she was blushing so hard, it's embarrassing.
"I have to stop, stop." she said "Control yourself Morgana, control your emotions" she cautioned herself.
"Are you speaking to yourself" the sudden voice startled her. She turned and frowned at the god in front of her.
"Great Rao, you startled me. Could you stop doing that" Morgana said.
Carlisle the mindler god, shrugged. "Old habits, don't die easily"
Morgana sighed and moved to her work table. "I told you to disguise yourself" Morgana said as she washed her hands in a bowl.
"But I'm in here, no one would see me" Carlisle spoke.
"You can't be too sure" she told him, before she went to the door and locked it.
Morgana tossed herself on her soft quilt. She was really tried - her journey back to Axis Mundi was not an easy one.
"So tell me," Carlisle said as he pulled a chair closer and sat on it. "What made you talk to yourself like that"
Morgana looked at him, "Aren't you a mindler? Just read it off my mind" she said nonchalantly.
"Oh well, I did ask" Then suddenly the god's eyes glowed. "Ah, I sense a deep attraction" he said before looking at her. "But who is it that you are attracted to?" he asked.
Morgana rose up a little. "Carlisle, stop. I don't want to be read again" she said.
Carlisle stood on his feet, "Too late," he informed. Then suddenly he gasped. "The great impaler" he whispered and looked at her.
"You are in love with the great impaler?" he asked with a loud voice. Only for Morgana to rushed him, dragging them both to the ground. She covered his mouth with her hands.
"Shut up, if anyone hears you, I'll kill you myself" she threatened.
Carlisle nodded, and slowly she removed her hands.
"Yes, ma'am" he whispered. Morgana rose from the ground.
"This is amazing. You are in love with my model" Carlisle said smiling big.
"First of all, stop saying that I'm in love with him. And second, Zander is not your model" she said.
"He is my exemplar. And I wish to be like him one day" Carlisle said as he stood.
"That wish of yours will never come to pass" Morgana told him, as she sat back down on her quilt.
"You are so mean" he grumbled.
"What did you say?" Morgana asked eyeing him closely.
"Nothing!" he lied immediately.
Morgana exhaled heavily - Carlisle was the same age as her and Zander, but most of the times he tended to act childish...well who could blame him.
"You really are a dolt. You think that you can become the great impaler in a day? It's not a day's training, Carlisle" She said
"You are wrong" he stated only for Morgana to sigh - is he really that stupid.
"I'll prove it to you, when I officially meet him" he said. "You will introduce me right? That was our plan" Carlisle asked, looking at her.
"Hmm, if you don't behave, I might just depart from that our plan"
"What? No please don't, I... I promise to behave myself" he begged.
"Alright. Start from washing all those potion bottles" Morgana informed, holding back a smile.
"Of course" he said and immediately he went over to the work table and started to do as he was asked.
Morgana watched him with a smile on her alluring face - her encounter with Carlisle -the god of Ramsgate, was not as expected but it was going to help the god out a lot - that is, if their plan actually works.