IT'S HERE. Time for another Trentley and Jynnia story!
It's been a couple months since we left off with our two lovebirds, and, well, it wasn't so pretty last time we saw them. xD Here's the last one, if you missed it: Trouble Comes In Like A Lion
BUT we're back and you get to find out what happened! I'm not going to lie, this installment is kind of a mess and I don't even really know what I'm doing with these anymore. xD They're kind of cohesive with each other, but at the same time I'm pretty sure every one has a new continuity error.
I'm not overly concerned with it, though, because as I've said before, I'm just having fun!
If you somehow didn't know, every month The Fairy Tale Central features a new fairy tale, and a writing prompt inspired by that fairy tale goes up over on Intuitive Writing Guide. This month the fairy tale was Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou, and I'm pretty sure I say this every time but I think it's one of my new favorites! You should definitely go read it (the FTC girls have a fantastic commentary up that you need in your life), because it's GREAT. I love these brothers so much.
Anyway, here's this month's prompt:
Aaand let's get into the story! (If I'm being honest, this isn't even much a story in itself, and more of a continuation of the last story. But I think you guys will like it.) (also... my titles are getting more and more ridiculous. sorrynotsorry)
GIANTS, BROTHERS, AND WEASELS
Jynnia felt like a toothpick in the giant's hand as he dragged her down a long hallway in the giant-sized house on top of the mountain. She screamed and clawed at him, but she suspected that it felt like no more than being pecked at by a tiny canary.
"Let me go!" she demanded, fuming inside at that blasted lion. Prince. Whatever he was. More of a weasel than a lion, that was for sure. I sure hope he's happy that the giant took away his curse in exchange for me. She huffed and took out her frustration in an aggressive bite right on the giant's knuckle.
"Let me go!" she demanded, fuming inside at that blasted lion. Prince. Whatever he was. More of a weasel than a lion, that was for sure. I sure hope he's happy that the giant took away his curse in exchange for me. She huffed and took out her frustration in an aggressive bite right on the giant's knuckle.
He flinched and looked down at her, but his expression held more surprise than pain. "Relax, lady," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Then where are you taking me?" Jynnia yelled.
He did not answer, but a moment later she heard voices echoing down the hall. Curious as to whether they might hint at her fate, she strained to listen.
"Dad's sending all three of us away? Why?" It was a man's voice, smooth and rich.
"Maybe he just wants some peace and quiet." A similar voice, though a little younger-sounding.
"Hey, that camel incident was all your idea." A third voice, higher-pitched than the other two.
"Yeah, but you two helped." The young voice was undeniably pouty.
Jynnia couldn't see the owners of the three voices, but she could tell as they continued talking that they were growing nearer. Finally, the giant stopped, and now that she was not swinging in his arm, Jynnia tried to peer around his fist. He held her behind his back, and she growled in frustration.
"Princes," the giant greeted.
"Hello there!" The youngest voice, Jynnia thought. He sounded happy to see the giant, for whatever reason.
"So you've discovered that the sultan has left," the giant said. "Well, truth be told this was not just a visit between two old friends."
"That seems abundantly clear, given the fact that he has left his sons behind after said reunion." The higher voice.
"Well, your highnesses, your father left me with a task. He knows what I am capable of, and he offered me exorbitant gifts to find you each... a wife."
"What?!"
Jynnia almost smiled at the brothers' unified cry of panic.
Then as it sunk in what was happening, she began to panic.
"And do you know what? On the first day, one has practically fallen into my lap." Jynnia felt herself moving again, and the giant swept her from behind his back and placed her gently in front of him.
Her feet touched the floor, for which she had never been more grateful. She glared at the giant as she dusted herself off and straightened her dress. Then she turned around.
Standing before her were three tall, dark, and handsome gentlemen, clad in royal Middle Eastern attire and staring at her in surprise.
"Then where are you taking me?" Jynnia yelled.
He did not answer, but a moment later she heard voices echoing down the hall. Curious as to whether they might hint at her fate, she strained to listen.
"Dad's sending all three of us away? Why?" It was a man's voice, smooth and rich.
"Maybe he just wants some peace and quiet." A similar voice, though a little younger-sounding.
"Hey, that camel incident was all your idea." A third voice, higher-pitched than the other two.
"Yeah, but you two helped." The young voice was undeniably pouty.
Jynnia couldn't see the owners of the three voices, but she could tell as they continued talking that they were growing nearer. Finally, the giant stopped, and now that she was not swinging in his arm, Jynnia tried to peer around his fist. He held her behind his back, and she growled in frustration.
"Princes," the giant greeted.
"Hello there!" The youngest voice, Jynnia thought. He sounded happy to see the giant, for whatever reason.
"So you've discovered that the sultan has left," the giant said. "Well, truth be told this was not just a visit between two old friends."
"That seems abundantly clear, given the fact that he has left his sons behind after said reunion." The higher voice.
"Well, your highnesses, your father left me with a task. He knows what I am capable of, and he offered me exorbitant gifts to find you each... a wife."
"What?!"
Jynnia almost smiled at the brothers' unified cry of panic.
Then as it sunk in what was happening, she began to panic.
"And do you know what? On the first day, one has practically fallen into my lap." Jynnia felt herself moving again, and the giant swept her from behind his back and placed her gently in front of him.
Her feet touched the floor, for which she had never been more grateful. She glared at the giant as she dusted herself off and straightened her dress. Then she turned around.
Standing before her were three tall, dark, and handsome gentlemen, clad in royal Middle Eastern attire and staring at her in surprise.
* * *
The sound of the window shattering made Trentley flinch, remembering the similar sound as the vase had crashed over his head just before he blacked out.
Almost before all the glass had hit the floor, Trentley threw aside the broom and dove for the window. Climbing out, he realized it would have been smart to keep the broom long enough to knock the leftover broken glass from the windowpane, but he was already halfway out now. And there was no way he was turning back.
He hit the ground running. Where was he going? He had no idea. But he had an innocent girl and a kidnapper to find.
"Jynnia!" he yelled, though he doubted she was still within hearing range.
His feet pounded down a path through the woods, hoping and praying that this was the one that Jynnia and Herek had taken- to wherever he was taking her.
Trentley ran and ran. The sun was up now, filtering through the treetops and providing a little more light to guide him. He continued calling Jynnia's name, though he feared it did nothing but deplete his energy.
He didn't know how long he had been running when he heard whistling coming down the path ahead of him. He skidded to a stop, regretting it when he had come to a standstill and the pain caught up to his numb legs. He leaned forward on his thighs and breathed heavily for a moment, squeezing his eyes closed as he tried to catch his breath. But he didn't allow himself to stay still for long.
The whistling grew nearer, and Trentley stumbled toward it. "Hello?" he called. "Who's there?"
The whistling stopped, and suddenly footsteps began rushing away. "Oh, no, you don't," Trentley muttered through ground teeth, catching a glimpse of a familiar figure running away through the trees. Trentley took off running again, shoving the pain aside to deal with later. He took a shortcut through the brush.
When he caught up to the runaway, he grabbed his shoulders and whirled him around to face him. Sure enough, there was Prince Herek, looking very guilty and very cowardly. Trentley held him at arm's length and slammed a fist into his face.
The prince collapsed, and Trentley stood directly over him and said, "I'm going to ask you this one time. Where. Is. Jynnia?"
Herek rolled over, seeming to be weighing his options. But he tenderly touched his bruised cheek and swallowed. "The giant on the mountain," he said in a warbly voice. "He lifted the lion curse from me in exchange for her."
"What?" Trentley fell to his knees, still kneeling over Herek, and yanked him a few inches off the ground by the front of his shirt. With his other hand he held his fist up again.
"No!" Herek held his hands over his face.
"Take me to her," Trentley said. "Now."
Herek hesitated just a moment too long, and Trentley's brought his fist down. But instead of hitting him again, he grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled him up until thier faces were inches away. "She did nothing to you," Trentley growled. "She cleaned. Your. House. And this is the thanks you give her." He almost added something about a disgusting snake, but decided not to waste his words. "You will take me to this mountain now, and you won't even think of trying to run away."
"And what will you do if I don't?"
Trentley shook him. "Prince," he said mockingly. "You don't want to find out."
The sound of the window shattering made Trentley flinch, remembering the similar sound as the vase had crashed over his head just before he blacked out.
Almost before all the glass had hit the floor, Trentley threw aside the broom and dove for the window. Climbing out, he realized it would have been smart to keep the broom long enough to knock the leftover broken glass from the windowpane, but he was already halfway out now. And there was no way he was turning back.
He hit the ground running. Where was he going? He had no idea. But he had an innocent girl and a kidnapper to find.
"Jynnia!" he yelled, though he doubted she was still within hearing range.
His feet pounded down a path through the woods, hoping and praying that this was the one that Jynnia and Herek had taken- to wherever he was taking her.
Trentley ran and ran. The sun was up now, filtering through the treetops and providing a little more light to guide him. He continued calling Jynnia's name, though he feared it did nothing but deplete his energy.
He didn't know how long he had been running when he heard whistling coming down the path ahead of him. He skidded to a stop, regretting it when he had come to a standstill and the pain caught up to his numb legs. He leaned forward on his thighs and breathed heavily for a moment, squeezing his eyes closed as he tried to catch his breath. But he didn't allow himself to stay still for long.
The whistling grew nearer, and Trentley stumbled toward it. "Hello?" he called. "Who's there?"
The whistling stopped, and suddenly footsteps began rushing away. "Oh, no, you don't," Trentley muttered through ground teeth, catching a glimpse of a familiar figure running away through the trees. Trentley took off running again, shoving the pain aside to deal with later. He took a shortcut through the brush.
When he caught up to the runaway, he grabbed his shoulders and whirled him around to face him. Sure enough, there was Prince Herek, looking very guilty and very cowardly. Trentley held him at arm's length and slammed a fist into his face.
The prince collapsed, and Trentley stood directly over him and said, "I'm going to ask you this one time. Where. Is. Jynnia?"
Herek rolled over, seeming to be weighing his options. But he tenderly touched his bruised cheek and swallowed. "The giant on the mountain," he said in a warbly voice. "He lifted the lion curse from me in exchange for her."
"What?" Trentley fell to his knees, still kneeling over Herek, and yanked him a few inches off the ground by the front of his shirt. With his other hand he held his fist up again.
"No!" Herek held his hands over his face.
"Take me to her," Trentley said. "Now."
Herek hesitated just a moment too long, and Trentley's brought his fist down. But instead of hitting him again, he grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled him up until thier faces were inches away. "She did nothing to you," Trentley growled. "She cleaned. Your. House. And this is the thanks you give her." He almost added something about a disgusting snake, but decided not to waste his words. "You will take me to this mountain now, and you won't even think of trying to run away."
"And what will you do if I don't?"
Trentley shook him. "Prince," he said mockingly. "You don't want to find out."
* * *
"Are you all right?" The prince with the higher voice, who was a tad shorter than the other two but looked to be between them in age, hurried forward and placed a caring hand on Jynnia's shoulder.
"Yes, thank you," she said.
"Why were you carrying this fair lady around like a rag doll?" the tallest brother, the first voice she had heard, said incredulously.
"I was careful," the giant said. "And your father will be quite glad that I've already found one of your wives."
"Absolutely not!" Jynnia said, turning to look at the giant specifically when she said it. These three men seemed kind, and she did not want to hurt their feelings. "I'm not a prize to be won, and besides that, I'm already taken." She turned back to look at the brothers, pleading for help with her eyes.
The youngest brother gazed at her with what she feared was a bit too much fondness.
"We won't force this girl to marry any of us," the shorter one said, looking up at the giant indignantly. "Surely this isn't what you think our father's conditions were."
"Prince Ali, your father gave me one task: to find you wives. He gave me no conditions or restrictions. He also did not tell me that you were allowed to refuse."
"Our father would never stand for this," the oldest one said, nodding toward Jynnia. "He wants us to find wives that will love us, not be forced to marry us."
"Yes, well, there's a lot about your father I think you would be surprised to learn," the giant said. "And I don't believe he's giving you any choice. Now, it's up to you to decide who gets the girl."
He turned and walked away.
Jynnia looked at the brothers carefully. She didn't think she had reason to fear them, but she had been surprised before.
"Hello," the one called Ali said. Now that the giant was gone, they could formally meet. "My name is Ali. These are my brothers."
"I am Houssain," the oldest one said with a reserved smile and a nod.
"And I'm Ahmed." The youngest's eyes glittered when he spoke to her.
Jynnia smiled at them in spite of herself. "I'm Jynnia," she said, hesitating for a moment and then dropping into an awkward curtsy. Was that appropriate behavior for meeting royalty? "Would you please help me? I was taken from my boyfriend and forced to come with the giant in exchange for a curse to be lifted from some lousy prince."
Ahmed's smile faltered when she mentioned Trentley.
"Which prince?" Houssain asked, brows furrowed.
"Prince Herek," Jynnia said, getting the name off her tongue as quickly as she could.
"Oh, brother," Ahmed said, rolling his eyes.
"You know him?" Jynnia watched their faces for reactions.
"Yes, we've met him quite a few times," Ali said. "He's always getting himself in trouble. And other people, too."
"Did he tell you how he got cursed?" Ahmed said.
Jynnia shook her head.
Ahmed chuckled as if that were no surprise. "Yeah, well, let's just say that you don't want to mess around with that giant."
Jynnia smirked. "The same way you don't want to mess around with a camel?"
Ahmed paled.
"Okay, well, anyway, we've got to get you back to your boyfriend," Ali said. "But I suppose we'll have to sneak around Tellor."
"The giant?" Jynnia asked.
"Yeah, that's him. Let's get our horses and get this girl out of here," Houssain said.
Jynnia couldn't help but smile. How lucky she was to have come across such kind people!
She accompanied them to the end of the vast hallway, wondering where their horses were. It turned out that giants' rooms were the size of a small barn, and the horses were stabled behind the last door.
"The only condition is we have to take them out the back door," Ahmed said with a grin, nodding toward the door on the wall outside the room. "Tellor doesn't want little surprises being tracked down his hallway."
Jynnia laughed.
The brothers saddled up and led the horses outside. Jynnia had to wonder if they were used to saddling their own horses; clearly there were no servants here, but these were princes, after all. But they seemed to be plenty comfortable doing their own work.
Ali and Houssain mounted their horses, and they both turned to speak to Jynnia when Ahmed quickly said, "You can ride with me." He held his hand out and motioned for Jynnia to step up.
Jynnia smiled hesitantly at him, but allowed him to help her onto the horse. He swung up behind her, and they began riding around the house.
She began having second thoughts about riding with Ahmed when he seemed a little too comfortable putting his arms around her to hold the reins.
"Hallo, Tellor!" Ali called to the giant when they rounded the house, as if they had not just seen him minutes before.
The giant stood looking out over the valley with his arms crossed. Is that all he ever does? He turned and looked at them out of the corner of his eye but did not seem impressed by their presence.
"We're taking the Lady Jynnia for a ride through the forest, to get acquainted with her and decide which of us she likes the best," Ali said jovially. Jynnia almost laughed.
The giant didn't respond, and the brothers didn't seem surprised.
They rode down the mountain a ways before speaking. "Where is your boyfriend?" Houssain asked Jynnia.
"Herek locked him in his cottage," Jynnia said.
"Then guide us to the cottage."
* * *
"Yes, thank you," she said.
"Why were you carrying this fair lady around like a rag doll?" the tallest brother, the first voice she had heard, said incredulously.
"I was careful," the giant said. "And your father will be quite glad that I've already found one of your wives."
"Absolutely not!" Jynnia said, turning to look at the giant specifically when she said it. These three men seemed kind, and she did not want to hurt their feelings. "I'm not a prize to be won, and besides that, I'm already taken." She turned back to look at the brothers, pleading for help with her eyes.
The youngest brother gazed at her with what she feared was a bit too much fondness.
"We won't force this girl to marry any of us," the shorter one said, looking up at the giant indignantly. "Surely this isn't what you think our father's conditions were."
"Prince Ali, your father gave me one task: to find you wives. He gave me no conditions or restrictions. He also did not tell me that you were allowed to refuse."
"Our father would never stand for this," the oldest one said, nodding toward Jynnia. "He wants us to find wives that will love us, not be forced to marry us."
"Yes, well, there's a lot about your father I think you would be surprised to learn," the giant said. "And I don't believe he's giving you any choice. Now, it's up to you to decide who gets the girl."
He turned and walked away.
Jynnia looked at the brothers carefully. She didn't think she had reason to fear them, but she had been surprised before.
"Hello," the one called Ali said. Now that the giant was gone, they could formally meet. "My name is Ali. These are my brothers."
"I am Houssain," the oldest one said with a reserved smile and a nod.
"And I'm Ahmed." The youngest's eyes glittered when he spoke to her.
Jynnia smiled at them in spite of herself. "I'm Jynnia," she said, hesitating for a moment and then dropping into an awkward curtsy. Was that appropriate behavior for meeting royalty? "Would you please help me? I was taken from my boyfriend and forced to come with the giant in exchange for a curse to be lifted from some lousy prince."
Ahmed's smile faltered when she mentioned Trentley.
"Which prince?" Houssain asked, brows furrowed.
"Prince Herek," Jynnia said, getting the name off her tongue as quickly as she could.
"Oh, brother," Ahmed said, rolling his eyes.
"You know him?" Jynnia watched their faces for reactions.
"Yes, we've met him quite a few times," Ali said. "He's always getting himself in trouble. And other people, too."
"Did he tell you how he got cursed?" Ahmed said.
Jynnia shook her head.
Ahmed chuckled as if that were no surprise. "Yeah, well, let's just say that you don't want to mess around with that giant."
Jynnia smirked. "The same way you don't want to mess around with a camel?"
Ahmed paled.
"Okay, well, anyway, we've got to get you back to your boyfriend," Ali said. "But I suppose we'll have to sneak around Tellor."
"The giant?" Jynnia asked.
"Yeah, that's him. Let's get our horses and get this girl out of here," Houssain said.
Jynnia couldn't help but smile. How lucky she was to have come across such kind people!
She accompanied them to the end of the vast hallway, wondering where their horses were. It turned out that giants' rooms were the size of a small barn, and the horses were stabled behind the last door.
"The only condition is we have to take them out the back door," Ahmed said with a grin, nodding toward the door on the wall outside the room. "Tellor doesn't want little surprises being tracked down his hallway."
Jynnia laughed.
The brothers saddled up and led the horses outside. Jynnia had to wonder if they were used to saddling their own horses; clearly there were no servants here, but these were princes, after all. But they seemed to be plenty comfortable doing their own work.
Ali and Houssain mounted their horses, and they both turned to speak to Jynnia when Ahmed quickly said, "You can ride with me." He held his hand out and motioned for Jynnia to step up.
Jynnia smiled hesitantly at him, but allowed him to help her onto the horse. He swung up behind her, and they began riding around the house.
She began having second thoughts about riding with Ahmed when he seemed a little too comfortable putting his arms around her to hold the reins.
"Hallo, Tellor!" Ali called to the giant when they rounded the house, as if they had not just seen him minutes before.
The giant stood looking out over the valley with his arms crossed. Is that all he ever does? He turned and looked at them out of the corner of his eye but did not seem impressed by their presence.
"We're taking the Lady Jynnia for a ride through the forest, to get acquainted with her and decide which of us she likes the best," Ali said jovially. Jynnia almost laughed.
The giant didn't respond, and the brothers didn't seem surprised.
They rode down the mountain a ways before speaking. "Where is your boyfriend?" Houssain asked Jynnia.
"Herek locked him in his cottage," Jynnia said.
"Then guide us to the cottage."
* * *
Trentley made Herek walk in front of him, to lead the way and avoid any opportunities to escape. The sun was climbing high and Trentley could feel the sweat beginning to drench his forehead. "How much farther to the mountain?"
"I don't know," Herek said, his voice almost monotone. Trentley couldn't help but grin. Herek acted as if he were a horse and Trentley had beat the spirit out of him. "Maybe another hour or so."
A few minutes down the path, voices began drifting toward them. Trentley peered around Herek to see.
"Oh, no, not them," Herek muttered.
"What?" Trentley said.
"Pests," Herek sighed.
So whoever it was, they weren't pals with Herek. Therefore, they wouldn't help him escape.
"Wait, that's not a pest," Trentley said, his heart stopping as he looked more carefully through the trees. "That's Jynnia!" He left Herek and ran toward the three approaching horses.
"Trentley!" Jynnia, seated on one of the horses, threw her leg over its neck and slipped to the ground. The man riding behind her had to move his arms quickly to avoid being kicked.
Trentley and Jynnia met each other on the path in an embrace. "What happened? Did he hurt you?" Trentley whispered into her hair.
"No, he just dropped me off to a giant," Jynnia said. Her voice started out soft but rose in anger when she saw Herek behind him. "You cowardly pest!" She stormed toward him.
Trentley was left standing awkwardly in front of the three men on their horses. He was certain that the youngest-looking one was eyeing him rather angrily. "Uh... Hi," Trentley said.
"Hello," the broadest one said with a nod. "My name is Houssain, and these are my brothers, Ali and Ahmed."
"They were so kind, Trentley!" Jynnia's voice came up behind him again. Apparently Herek was forgotten. "They helped me escape from the giant that that weasel gave me up to in exchange for taking his curse away." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder but didn't look.
Trentley looked to where she was gesturing. Herek was gone.
Houssain followed his gaze and urged his horse forward into a gallop. "You're not getting away with this, Herek! Save yourself the trouble and get back here!"
This situation was almost too humorous. Trentley and Jynnia looked at each other in amusement.
"Thank you," Trentley said, turning back to Ali and Ahmed. "I'm so glad Jynnia was lucky enough to run into you."
"No need to thank us for being decent human beings," Ali said good-naturedly. "Would you believe that giant expected us to force Jynnia to marry one of us?"
"I'm glad that didn't happen, too," Trentley said with a sheepish laugh. "No offense."
"Of course." Ali winked.
Ahmed still looked rather perturbed.
Shouts of protest began to grow near, and they all turned to see Houssain returning with Herek draped over his saddle. "I got him," he said. "What should we do with him?"
"I suppose we should return him to his kingdom," Ahmed said. "But not without making an awful spectacle of how horrid he is."
"Ahmed, what did I just say about being decent human beings?" Ali scolded.
Ahmed cracked a grin. "Yeah, but this is Herek we're talking about."
Ali glared at him but had no argument.
"And where will you be off to with that jewel of yours?" Houssain asked, nodding to Jynnia's hand.
She looked down. She had almost forgotten she was holding it. "Well... We'll be looking for the next one," she said, feeling safe to reveal their mission to the princes. "There are a lot of them out there and they're making... bad things happen."
The brothers all glanced at each other. "Would you be averse to our joining you?" Ali asked. "We have an affinity for finding shiny things." He chuckled.
"Yeah, and Dad apparently doesn't expect us back for a while," Ahmed mumbled.
"And perhaps traveling in a group would be wise. It seems you run into trouble with just the two of you," Houssain added.
"You have no idea," Trentley said with a quiet laugh.
"What do you think?" Ali said.
Jynnia glanced at Ahmed. He looked hopeful, yet still sulky. Then she looked at Trentley, who shrugged agreeably. "Okay," Jynnia said. "We'd love for you to travel with us. I guess we owe it to you, anyway, for what you did for me."
Ali waved his hand dismissively.
"All right, well..." Jynnia looked at all her new companions, then at Trentley. "Where to next?"
"If you don't mind," Houssain said, nodding toward the limp prince draped over his horse. "We have this weasel to dump off before anything." He seemed amused to use Jynnia's word for Herek.
Jynnia laughed. "Of course. Let's go."
"I don't know," Herek said, his voice almost monotone. Trentley couldn't help but grin. Herek acted as if he were a horse and Trentley had beat the spirit out of him. "Maybe another hour or so."
A few minutes down the path, voices began drifting toward them. Trentley peered around Herek to see.
"Oh, no, not them," Herek muttered.
"What?" Trentley said.
"Pests," Herek sighed.
So whoever it was, they weren't pals with Herek. Therefore, they wouldn't help him escape.
"Wait, that's not a pest," Trentley said, his heart stopping as he looked more carefully through the trees. "That's Jynnia!" He left Herek and ran toward the three approaching horses.
"Trentley!" Jynnia, seated on one of the horses, threw her leg over its neck and slipped to the ground. The man riding behind her had to move his arms quickly to avoid being kicked.
Trentley and Jynnia met each other on the path in an embrace. "What happened? Did he hurt you?" Trentley whispered into her hair.
"No, he just dropped me off to a giant," Jynnia said. Her voice started out soft but rose in anger when she saw Herek behind him. "You cowardly pest!" She stormed toward him.
Trentley was left standing awkwardly in front of the three men on their horses. He was certain that the youngest-looking one was eyeing him rather angrily. "Uh... Hi," Trentley said.
"Hello," the broadest one said with a nod. "My name is Houssain, and these are my brothers, Ali and Ahmed."
"They were so kind, Trentley!" Jynnia's voice came up behind him again. Apparently Herek was forgotten. "They helped me escape from the giant that that weasel gave me up to in exchange for taking his curse away." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder but didn't look.
Trentley looked to where she was gesturing. Herek was gone.
Houssain followed his gaze and urged his horse forward into a gallop. "You're not getting away with this, Herek! Save yourself the trouble and get back here!"
This situation was almost too humorous. Trentley and Jynnia looked at each other in amusement.
"Thank you," Trentley said, turning back to Ali and Ahmed. "I'm so glad Jynnia was lucky enough to run into you."
"No need to thank us for being decent human beings," Ali said good-naturedly. "Would you believe that giant expected us to force Jynnia to marry one of us?"
"I'm glad that didn't happen, too," Trentley said with a sheepish laugh. "No offense."
"Of course." Ali winked.
Ahmed still looked rather perturbed.
Shouts of protest began to grow near, and they all turned to see Houssain returning with Herek draped over his saddle. "I got him," he said. "What should we do with him?"
"I suppose we should return him to his kingdom," Ahmed said. "But not without making an awful spectacle of how horrid he is."
"Ahmed, what did I just say about being decent human beings?" Ali scolded.
Ahmed cracked a grin. "Yeah, but this is Herek we're talking about."
Ali glared at him but had no argument.
"And where will you be off to with that jewel of yours?" Houssain asked, nodding to Jynnia's hand.
She looked down. She had almost forgotten she was holding it. "Well... We'll be looking for the next one," she said, feeling safe to reveal their mission to the princes. "There are a lot of them out there and they're making... bad things happen."
The brothers all glanced at each other. "Would you be averse to our joining you?" Ali asked. "We have an affinity for finding shiny things." He chuckled.
"Yeah, and Dad apparently doesn't expect us back for a while," Ahmed mumbled.
"And perhaps traveling in a group would be wise. It seems you run into trouble with just the two of you," Houssain added.
"You have no idea," Trentley said with a quiet laugh.
"What do you think?" Ali said.
Jynnia glanced at Ahmed. He looked hopeful, yet still sulky. Then she looked at Trentley, who shrugged agreeably. "Okay," Jynnia said. "We'd love for you to travel with us. I guess we owe it to you, anyway, for what you did for me."
Ali waved his hand dismissively.
"All right, well..." Jynnia looked at all her new companions, then at Trentley. "Where to next?"
"If you don't mind," Houssain said, nodding toward the limp prince draped over his horse. "We have this weasel to dump off before anything." He seemed amused to use Jynnia's word for Herek.
Jynnia laughed. "Of course. Let's go."
Quick apology for not getting this up last week as planned! I know it's not a big deal, but I hate not posting just because I'm a huge procrastinator. xD It's a work in progress.
Well, that wraps it up! I hope you enjoyed this somewhat all-over-the-place installment of Trentley
and Jynnia's story. At least, I felt like it was all over the place? Maybe you'll see it differently. I hope so. xD
What do you think of the three brothers? Do you think they'll be good traveling companions for Trentley and Jynnia or do you think they'll get in more even more trouble now? xD
