Kie's Hut.

"Shamaica?"

Kie queried, staring blankly at the dragon-woman who had just transformed before him. It hadn't been more than few minutes since they arrived at his mother's hut, wrapped around her handful bosom.

Shamaica was his long-time admirer in whom he took no delight. He had never taking a delight in any lady in all his life.

Charlene Shamaica (Kie's stalker) was a blond. 5"5, thick and curvy, oblong face, silver eyes, button nose, and soft medium lips. She loved Kie so genuinely and would do anything to make him hers, even being a terror to several other ladies who would not take love as war. No matter how many times she was rejected by him, she kept giving it her best. Everyone who claimed to love Kie was her worst enemy, a nightmare to her. And she wouldn't back down unless she goes down.

She used to be very ugly and without focus, a seamstress kicked about like some balls by almost every one who hired her. But one summer, she disappeared for few weeks. But on her return, she was already a strikingly beautiful one. The most beautiful of the ladies who lived in her time. Twas said that she gave a huge price to a goddess who transformed her and gave her several taboos which were summarized into, "You shall be a central of attention, but shall not be regarded as a human."

And even at that, Kie would not accept her feelings. He had said that he didn't want her. But not to be mistaken for him not finding her attractive. And they had gone their separate ways ever since then. Since five years ago. But now, circumstance brought them together again.

"That isn't your own way of saying 'thank you for saving my life', is it?"

He looked down at her. She was cladded in a fine blue gown with gold embroidery,

"You stole that didn't you?"

He strayed off the discourse.

"I could turn you to a wooden stool if you don't find manners."

She threatened. He scoffed.

"And how would that seem? You rescued me from the blow of Wealene's sword to turn me into a stool. How epic."

She sneered, the beautiful curves of her face carved out elegantly

"I should had left you to die!!"

She walked away from him. He called at her,

"Some ladies met with a sorcerer who gave them a potion which will keep them from ageing. I bet that sounds familiar to you."

She halted. Her head turned to him, but her body retained the present position. Then the body turned too as she walked towards him,

"Some fool was asked out by a powerful princess but he would throw it away because he hates her father."

She pushed her shoulders up in scorn,

"An argument well supported by the acclamation of his dead uncle."

He argued,

"I haven't refused her yet. But I will. And that's not because I hate her father... for I will still get my revenge on him. I will never accept a lady I do not love in the name of power and wealth. Something you can never understand."

Her countenance tuned and her eyes turned red in rage. A ball of fire grew out of her right hand. She stared at it for a while till her gaze softened and the fire waned out.

She looked up at him,

"Everything I've done because of you, I regret until this day. But I know too well, and feel it everytime I hear your name, that sooner or later, I'll have my scores on you."

She turned away from him and began to walk away. He made an attempt to call her back but he didn't push.

But then she stopped again, staring at the path which led to the city from there.

"What do you see?"

He called, walking to catch up with her. But as soon as he got to her, he caught the sight too. A lady running as though she was being chased by a wild animal. Running in their direction.

"Everyone familiar with you gets into trouble."

Shamaica scorned as the lady got to them, panting heavily.

"They are coming. Run, run, Kie, Run!"

The lady kept saying, repeating the 'run' as though twas some dark tune.

"Who are those coming? Where's my mother. What have they done with her?"

Kie picked the lady up in both hands. Shamaica hit him away, glaring,

"You handle a lady with care."

She bit. Kie looked too quickly away to the lady,

"Tell me, Iseult. Where's my mother?"

"She safe. Just run. It's her words I bring. She said she'd rather die than see you dead."

Then they heard the clopping of hurrying hoofs towards the hut. The three looked, and charging at them were several guards of the king riding towards them. Led by Jaith.

Kie stepped forward,

"I'll speak with them. I'm acquainted with their leader."

But Shamaica hurried to him and thrusted her left arm out past his body. She caught an arrow which had been aimed at him, by Jaith.

"Indeed you know him. You won't die under my watch."

She ran her right arm around his stomach and zoomed through the air towards the forest. He had less time to act.

Iseult being the only one left sort a way out for herself, knowing fully well that the hut was no sane option.

The guards arrived at the hut.

"Search the hut! Bring them out alive."

Jaith barked an order. The men hurried into the hut and were gone for few minutes, knocking off every valuable things and turning the inside upside down.

"Not of worth here. And they are gone."

The second in command addressed, walking out of the hut. Jaith looked away for a while then back at the fellow,

"Set it on fire. If he doesn't have a place to get back to, he would be forced to being a wanderer and eventually he'd be caught."

The hut was set on fire.

Kie, in hide saw what was going on and with burning rage stood up, and yelled,

"I'll have your guts. You fucking ingrate."

His vociferation precise, aimed at Jaith. Shamaica pulled him down, but twas too late, they'd been seen.

"Now you know how it feels being ingrate."

He rolled his eyes at her as Jaith and his men began to hurry towards the bridge which led into the forest.

But Shamaica put up both her arms, stretched towards the bridge and out of her fingers coursed balls of flame which wrecked the wooden bridge and denied the horsemen passage.

"Come with me. Before they find a way around it, we'll be long gone."

And for the first time, he followed her without a question.