Chapter Three

Khirah sighed as she jumped into the cold pool.
"This is heavenly." she sighed.
"Leave Zelgadis alone. He is mine." Khirah's hands immediately went to cover her exposed skin, and she blushed in shame She looked up at the young girl standing at the edge of the pool where she was bathing
. "Who are you?" Khirah asked as she stared at the young girl.
"My name is Amelia Wil Tesla Seryrunne and I don't trust you." Khirah sighed and shook her head and began to scrub her body with the bar of soap she had brought with her to the pool. "Pay attention to me!" Amelia said sharply, but Khirah continued to ignore her and Amelia conjured a small fireball in her hands. Khirah turned around and stared into Amelia's eyes coldly.
"Don't do it. You are white sorceress, this is not your way." Khirah's attention was so focused on Amelia, she forgot to cover her skin. Amelia looked at Khirah's body in curiosity. Her skin was the same light blue as her face, and skin slid fluidly over lithe muscles. Her breasts were a little on the small size but still nicely rounded. Handing from a delicate chain was a small sapphire colored round stone. On the stone were some archaic runes. Amelia concentrated on the writing, but she couldn't translate it. Khirah followed Amelia's gaze and thought that she was staring at her body, so she crossed her arms and blocked Amelia's view of the stone.
"Why Amelia I had no idea your preferences ran that way." Khirah's sardonic voice dripped sarcasm and Amelia blanched in shock.
"No I wasn't. I mean I don't find you attractive." Khirah cocked an eyebrow. "No! I mean… Argh, I'm just going to shut up now and stop putting my foot in my mouth."
"Sounds like a good idea." Khirah agreed grinning. "Relax kid, I was just joking." Khirah reached up and took her necklace off. "Here." she held it out to Amelia. The younger woman took the stone and stared at it in avid interest.
"What language is this."
"It's the ancient runes of the fairy tribe that lived in the forest by my village when I was a child. But they were destroyed in the raid like the rest of the surrounding area. So I guess I am the only one who knows how to read these runes." Khirah's smile was obviously forced and her eyes shone over bright. "And I guess when I die, their memory will be forgotten for all time, and only their anguished ghosts will remain." Khirah's mood suddenly became dark and gloomy, even more so then Zelgadis'. "Excuse me." Khirah said politely and murmured a few words and disappeared leaving Amelia alone by the pond holding he necklace.
"Wait you forgot your necklace!" Amelia shouted, but she received no answer. Amelia sat down next to the pond and lightly touched the surface with her fingertip. She's so sad. I never realized that one person could hold so much despair, it's strange, I almost pity her for what she has been through. But that's not right, she isn't to be trusted, is she? Amelia stood up and frowned in consternation. "This is so frustrating.!"
"Perhaps I can help?" Someone with a soft tenor voice asked. Amelia whirled around and cam face to face with a young man with brillent golden eyes. Amelia uttered a small shriek and started to back away, but she forgot that the pond was behind her. He young man's hand snaked out and snatched her wrist, but Amelia was already falling into the pond, and her would be rescuer followed her in a split second later. Amelia surfaced and glared at the young man sharing the pool with her. But the young man started to giggle and laugh hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Amelia demanded.
"Sorry," the young man gasped. "It's just that you look like a drowned kitten when you scowl like that!" Amelia grinned and laughed as well.
"Well you're not looking your best yourself!" Amelia pounced on the hapless young man and dunked him under the water.
"Hey!" he cried when he resurfaced.
"Serves you right scaring me like that. It's your fault I am soaking wet in the freezing pond!"
"Yeah well it's your fault I fell in, I was trying to stop you from falling in!" the young man scowled at Amelia.
"What's your name anyway?"
"Amelia Wil Tesla Seryuune. What's yours?" The young man ran a hand through his long black hair.
"My name's Brannon, and I don't have a last name. I repeat, could I help you with your problem?"
"No." Amelia said shortly.
"You'd be surprised. So what's bothering you." Brannon climbed out of the pond and held out his hand to Amelia.
"Well there's the man I know, and I like him a lot. But then this other woman shows up and he spends a lot of his time with her. And I don't trust her but I was talking to her today, and she seemed so sad, and I feel sorry for her. But she could be the enemy or a Mazokou, so I don't trust her.
"I see, it sounds like you feel threatened by the woman, and you are jealous of the fact that man you like may have feelings for her." Amelia shook her head.
"No I'm not jealous of her!" Brannon bent down so he was at her eye level and stared at her with golden eyes.
"Yes you are. I am afraid that you have been bitten by the green-eyed monster called jealousy. If you don't believe me, then spend some time with the woman, maybe you'll find that you like her." Brannon ran his hand through his hair again and the wet tendrils of hair floated down and curtained his face. "Either way, don't let your feeling's interfere with what could be a good friendship. I have to go now. Maybe I'll see you around Amelia." Brannon turned around and vanished into the forest. Amelia frowned and glared at her reflection in the pool. Was she jealous of Khirah, did she really have any right tomistrust her? Amelia sighed
. "Thanks a lot Brannon, you just made my problems even more complicated. Amelia turned and started to walk back to the camp.