The Hunt Begins
1150 Words
Through the forest, the guards trudge until they arrive down the path leading to a small village.
Leigh keeps singing the same annoying folklore song for the past hour. Each time he begins, his voice cracks, and Joffrey's ears turn crimson red. By the time they reach the village, he whips out his sword and yells at the top of lungs, "For the love of God, if you don't shut your damn trap up, I am going to hand you over to the King myself!"
Several children pop out from around the corner. They giggle and run in front of them.
Leigh jumps and squeezes his chest. "f*****g bloody hell."
Joffrey shakes his head in disgust. "What did you think it was, Leigh? My God. Who trained you, anyway?"
"You are an unhappy man, Joffrey." Leigh skips along. "Are you married?"
"Married?" Joffrey's round eyes glare at Leigh. "What does being married have to do with any of this?"
"I am wondering if you are just as miserable at home. I know if I were your wife, I would not put up with it."
For the first time in their journey together, the color in Joffrey's face washes away. "My married life is none of your concern." Joffrey's steps quickened down the path to the village, making it nearly impossible for Leigh to keep up.
"Wait. Did I say something wrong?" Leigh calls out.
"Oh, come on, Joffrey! I am sorry. It was just a joke."
"Joffrey?" he calls out several more times but the only answer he gets is a red dragon sweeping across the sky.
"They are getting closer, Joffrey. Do you see that?" Leigh points up in the sky, yet still nothing.
"Sour puss." He mumbles.
Up the hill and over the vast land, the two soldiers keep marching in silence until they came across the opening. There are white cottages with chimneys blowing smoke from the tops. Some are surrounded by picket fences while other women outside hanging laundry on clotheslines and men plowing the fields.
Joffrey stops at a crossroads, without giving Leigh a second look. "I am gathering a few things from home and resting here overnight." Jeffory snips." By morning, I will be heading north to Cambridge. I am sure we will find Esmerelda hanging out there."
"What is so special about Cambridge?" Leigh asks, looking down the hill.
"Well, the desperate men are there for one reason." A tight smirk slides across his full lips. "Plus, there is talk of another egg buried somewhere in the town."
"Is that so?" Leigh asks, realizing the obvious.
"So, Esmerelda's probably in Cambridge looking for one of the eggs."
"Very good."
"Hmm, that makes a lot of sense..." Leigh pauses and glances up with a new sense of hope. "We shouldn't wait until the morning. We should go now, Joffrey, before they steal another egg. The King will be pleased."
"No, Leigh." he turns around and faces Leigh. "We need supplies, and we need to rest. Plus, we have been traveling for too long to go any further. Besides, need a break from your singing."
"My singing is not that bad." Leigh huffs and marches in front of him.
"Ask the dead crow that back there." Joffrey points over his shoulder.
Leigh tilts his head slightly over his shoulder, attempting not to appear obvious. He peeks in the direction Joffrey in pointing. Laying on the ground is a small black crow with his feet straight up in the air.
"He was already there." Leigh hisses." If you say so, Leigh." He rolls his eyes and marches ahead of him. "Tomorrow morning. I will leave at five sharp. Meet me at the gates and make sure you bring plenty of supplies. I will not be taking care of your ass. Are we clear?"
"Abundantly," Leigh answered between his clamped teeth.
*******
"E-Esmerelda, is that better?" The massage therapist leans over the table and asks while rubbing her inner thigh.
Esmerelda wiggles her legs every so slightly and moans, "Just a bitter longer, please. I feel so tense."
"Of course, Esmerelda." his voice squeaks.
Esmerelda peeks up from the table and watches as the young blonde, tasseled hair man fumbles over the marble countertop and gathers the lavender oil. With his large hand, he squeezes an abundance into his shaking palms and slowly walks back over to the table. She lowers her head back down and spreads her legs a little wider while keeping his baby blue eyes locked on her.
"Thank you," She purrs and places her head back down inside the headrest. "Ahh, it smells divine."
"Lavender is a nice pick, Esmerelda."
The man rubs his hands together and massages her thighs. "Your hands are so warm."
"Is the temperature okay, Esmerelda?" He asks in a deeper voice, rubbing higher up the center.
"Ah, yes. It is perfect. Your hands, they are warm." She moans.
"Mmm, "I like warm things."
"Me too." The man massages faster, getting lost into the moment.
"Especially shiny warm ones," she says, but unfortunately, the man stops.
"What do you mean by that, Esmeralda?"
She moans under her breath, "Golden Eggs, of course."
"Golden eggs?" The man shoulders slump, "Oh, I see." He appears disappointed and steps away from the table.
"Is there a problem? Why did you stop massaging me? It was just starting to feel so good."
"Well, when you said warm things, I... thought you meant something else, and well, I was hoping... well, you know." he covers his mouth and coughs.
Esmerelda rolls onto her back and lays her hands behind her head."Did you think I was talking about your wanky?"
He looks confused down at his pants. "My, what?"
"Your c**k," She answers more clearly.
The man chokes on his spit." Oh, my God. No, Miss Esmeralda! I would never ... I mean! I uh... unless...."
"Unless, what?" A smirk spreads across her face. "You tell me more about the egg?"
"The egg? W-who says I know anything about the egg?" Tiny sweat beads form on the side of his temple.
"Oh, just a hunch."
"And if I were to help you, then we would..." He gulped.
"Anything you want."Esmerelda moans seductively.
He closes his eyes. "I-I am not supposed to say."
Esmerelda sighs and leaps off the table. "Well, then I guess this session is over." One by one, she slides on her black denim jeans back over her oily legs. The man opens one eye at a time, peeking as she bends over to gather her shirt off the floor.
"Wait!" He yells loud enough for several rooms to hear.
Esmerelda slowly stands up and lets him get a longer view. "Yes?"
"Look, I don't know where the eggs are, but the one that can help you, he is in the Dark Bay. Ask for Ailwin Adryth."
- Writer
