The Protectors: Book 1 in the Protectors Saga (36 page)

“Why don’t you have a lot of contact with people?”
Avery asked. She had been curious about Draven’s statement when he
made it and thought now was as good a time as any to question
it.

Draven seemed a little thrown off guard by the
question. He looked at her, shifted again, and then looked away. He
seemed to be contemplating exactly what to say to her.

“I was raised with my mother, far away from this
place.” He told Avery, matter of factly, no inflection in his
voice, “I never had any real…experience with people.”

Avery wondered exactly where Draven’s mother raised
him that prevented him from interacting with other people.

“I mean, sure I have to talk to Ferris, the Generals
of my army, and a few others.” Draven elaborated when he saw the
shocked look on Avery’s face, “Not to mention, other kings,
diplomats, and aristocracy, but they’re usually so boring that I
just completely block them out.”

“But, you’re a king. You rule an entire kingdom.”
Avery said to him, pointing her hand towards the window and
everything outside of it, “There are literally thousands of people
who, I’m sure, would be willing to talk to you.”

Draven shook his head, completely dismissing that
notion, “I don’t interact with my subjects.”

“What?!” Avery asked, thinking that was a
preposterous thing to say, “Why not?”

Draven pushed himself off of the wall and went to
stand by his chair. Avery could see his back tense underneath his
shirt. For whatever reason, he clearly didn’t want to continue with
where this conversation was going.

“What did Gumptin tell you?” Draven crisply asked
Avery, turning around abruptly.

“N…nothing.” Avery stuttered, taken aback by Draven’s
unexpected turn of emotions.

“Nothing?” Draven looked at Avery suspiciously, “He
didn’t tell you anything about why you didn’t approve of me
before?” When Avery hesitated, Draven continued, “Your friends
aren’t here now. You can tell me the truth.”

So, that was why he asked to speak to her alone,
Avery realized. So he could interrogate her about information
Gumptin hadn’t given her. It had nothing to do with discussing his
army. It was just a waste of Avery’s time and that thought pissed
her off.

“What exactly should he have told me?” Avery asked
Draven, stepping up to him. She figured she might as well answer
his question with a question, give him a little taste of his own
medicine.

It worked, a little. Draven seemed confused for a
moment, searching for the appropriate reply.

“So, he didn’t tell you
anything
?” Draven
asked, getting his face dangerously close to Avery’s face.

Avery was going to continue with the run-around
questions, but Draven’s eyes, only inches away from her own, looked
so pleading, so questioning.

Although she didn’t completely want to, Avery
relented and answered Draven’s question, “Well, not really, he
basically told me I was a super warrior machine bitch, who didn’t
have a life and had a major stick up her ass about everyone in
general.”

Draven searched Avery’s eyes; a furrow began to form
on his brow. The slight side smile of his began to form on the left
side of his face and he stood up, taking a few steps back.

“It’s very doubtful Gumptin would have said that to
you.” Draven told Avery, covering his mouth with his hand, trying
to wipe the smile off his face.

Avery shrugged, “I read between the lines.”

Draven’s smile disappeared, and he became calmly
serious again, “You had your reasons to think what you did and act
the way you acted. You’re a Protector. You have to be a certain way
to keep yourself alive.”

“’Cause that worked out so well.” Avery told him
sarcastically.

Draven grinned, realizing what he had just said,
“Still,” he said, “you should really try to harden yourself a
bit.”

That statement was like a slap across Avery’s face.
She couldn’t believe he was actually telling her to be more like
her old self. The old self that seemed to make herself miserable
and turn away from the people she loved.

“You don’t know anything about me.” Avery told
Draven, trying to keep her anger under control, “The old me…died!
She died with nothing to show for herself, except hard work and
alienation. I am
nothing
like her. I may be soft and
trusting, and you may think of that as weakness, but I really don’t
care.” As she continued, she realized she was more venting now,
spilling her frustrations, than yelling at Draven, “I have friends,
and family, and interests that don’t include beheading things. So,
whatever you think, I’m already better off than that other girl
was.”

After a moment, Draven said to her, “I take it back.”
He made a slight little bow gesture, “Stay just the way you
are.”

Avery scoffed, thinking he was teasing her.

“No, I’m serious.” Draven said, less than a second
after Avery let out her scoff, “You know yourself, and you’re able
to connect with people. That’s a gift not too many have the luxury
of.” He looked down as he said the next part, “Although, I’m afraid
it will make things harder for you as a Protector.

That, Avery believed. Pretty shortly after she had
come to Orcatia, Avery had figured out that her way of thinking and
the way people felt a Protector should think were completely
different. She knew it would probably make things harder on her,
but she also knew that there was no way on Earth or Orcatia, that
she would ever be able to change it. In truth, she thought she
would rather die than switch over to old Avery’s way of
thinking.

“I’m sure, if you tried, you could connect with
people to.” Avery told Draven. His words had been the softest thing
he had said to her so far, and they had managed to make her feel
good about herself. Avery felt that she should try and return the
favor.

Draven let out a hard cold bark of a laugh, “Trust
me,” He told Avery, flashing her his teeth, “that’ll never happen.
I don’t do…people. I became King to keep my father’s kingdom safe
and protected. When he was alive, I let my father down in ways that
no son should ever do.” He clenched down hard on his jaw, “After
his death, I made a vow to myself, that I would protect his kingdom
and his people, to my very last breath. He loved his people, so I
take care of them for him, but I do not want anything to do with
them outside of that. It’s better for everyone involved, that
way.”

That was far more information than Avery had expected
or wanted. So much so, that she had no idea what she should say
next.

“Unlike you, Avery Kimball, I do not connect with
people.” Draven spat his sentence out, and Avery was unsure if the
cold tone in his voice was directed at her or just his feelings on
the topic in general.

Avery thought about what Draven had said for a
minute, and then said the first thing that popped into her mind,
“Well, you’re getting along just fine talking to me. I mean, sure
you’re a little aggravating, and from what I’ve seen, also a little
moody, maybe bipolar, but things could be going much worse.”

Avery’s statement appeared to startle Draven out of
his anger. He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed
it.

When he opened his mouth again, Draven told her, “I
don’t…I don’t mind talking to you.” He seemed surprised, “It’s
strange, I hadn’t really thought about it, but this is the most
I’ve talked to anyone in a very, very long time. It’s just,
you…you’re…” All of a sudden, a look something close to fear came
over his face, and Draven quickly turned his back to Avery, “You’re
leader of the Protectors.” He said in a short tone, “I have no
choice but to deal with you.” He turned back around, an arrogant
smile plastered back on his face, “Truth be told, you’re
ludicrously annoying.”

Avery smiled, it wasn’t the first time someone had
said that to her. In fact, she thought Gumptin had said something
close to that just a few days ago.

“Well, I’m sure you’re wanting to join your friends.”
Draven walked over to escort Avery towards the door.

“Hold on,” Avery said, pulling her elbow away from
him as he took it in his hand, “what about the army?”

After everything she and Draven had discussed and
said, she felt that, surely she deserved more than an, ‘I’ll think
about it’. She wanted an answer, something concrete to take back to
Gumptin. Draven, however, did not see it that way.

He gave her a quizzical look and reached for her
elbow again, “I told you,” he said, “I’ll think about it.”

Again, Avery pulled her elbow away from him, this
time taking a few steps backwards, to ensure she was out of his
reach. When he steadied his jaw and made a move towards her, Avery
gave him a pleading look, as told him, “I need more than that.”

Draven’s face softened, he stepped over to her and
once again took hold of her elbow, except this time, instead of
pulling on it, he let it rest in his hand.

“Avery,” he said, “I told you, I took an oath to
protect this kingdom, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

With her free arm, Avery reached over and grabbed a
hold of Draven’s arm, as it rested on her elbow.

“But, that’s exactly what the Protectors want, to.”
Avery said, emphatically. She didn’t understand why there was such
an issue if they were working towards a common goal.

Draven looked down at Avery’s hand on top of his hand
that was holding her elbow. He quickly let go of her and backed
away, almost pushing off of Avery as he did, sending her gently
back a step.

Draven sneered at her, “You didn’t seem to do that
great of job your first time around.”

His words stung Avery, just as he had meant them to.
He wanted her gone and out of his chamber, and Avery could feel it,
but if Draven thought he could so easily wound and dismiss her, he
had another thing coming. She wasn’t going to let him take this
conversation back to her old self and her old failures.

“You know what…” Avery snarled, striding over to
Draven, sticking her finger into his chest, “screw you!”

Genuine shock exploded on Draven’s face, “Excuse me?”
He asked, smiling slightly, which only angered Avery more.

“I said screw you!” Avery threw her hands around in
the air and paced back and forth in front of Draven, unable to stop
the tirade that followed, “I’ve just spent the last week and a half
working harder than I’ve ever had to work in my entire life! I’ve
pushed my body past its breaking point! I’ve left the only home
I’ve ever known to travel to an entirely different
planet
,
just to get yelled at by a psychotically militant gnome, fight
creatures from horror stories, and come to the realization that the
future of the planet is basically resting on my shoulders, and my
shoulders aren’t that broad! Oh, and not to forget, finding out
that I actually already died once! Which, can only be made worse,
by finding out that I was killed by the dude we’re suppose to go
fight!”

After she finished, Avery took in and let out a long
breath. It hit her how much better she felt after her little
outburst. They were things that had been coiled up inside of her
for a while, and it was inevitable she was going to explode at some
point. She just hadn’t expected to do it in front of a king. Avery
turned her head and looked at Draven. He stood with his mouth half
open, a small smile on his face.

“I’m sorry.” Avery said, quickly. She really was
sorry. Although Draven had peaked her anger, none of that was
really meant for him.

Draven cocked one dark eyebrow up, “You told me to,
‘screw you’.

Ok, maybe Avery had meant that, in the moment.

Avery winced, “Well, you pissed me off.”

“Noted.” Draven told her, and then he slowly broke
into a slow loud laughter that resonated off the chamber walls.

Avery couldn’t help but notice how different Draven
looked with a genuine smile and laugh on his face. All the
arrogance and mockery were gone. The sternness of his sharp angles
softened, making him appear more like a warm human being, than a
cold marble statue. Crinkles formed at the edges of his eyes,
making him seem even more approachable. Avery might have found his
big smile and deep laugh more endearing, if he hadn’t been laughing
at her outburst.

“I don’t know how you intimidate your enemies.”
Draven said to her, trying to calm his laughter, “You looked like a
little angry dove, chirping about.”

Avery pursed her lips, trying to let his comment
slide off of her back, “Well, I usually try to have a sword in hand
when facing my enemies, hoping they see that and not the angry
little dove charging at them.”

Draven tried to make himself look serious, which was
hard to as a tight closed lip smile perked at his lips, “I’m sure
that’s very effective.”

His smile, mixed with the image of a rabid dove
running towards a troll, with sword in wing, began to break Avery
down. Avery bit her lower lip, trying to stop the smile she felt
coming, but it was too late. In a second one of Avery’s giant
bright smiles peeled across her face and a choked back giggle
escaped her lips. In just a few minutes they had gone from yelling,
and Draven almost dragging Avery out of the room, to standing just
a couple of inches apart, smiling, Draven’s electric blue eyes
staring deeply into Avery’s emerald eyes.

The moment quickly died, when Draven’s smile abruptly
left his face and he strode past Avery towards the chamber doors.
Avery stood for a moment, staring at the place where Draven had
been standing only seconds before. Now, instead of him, she was
looking out a long window, noticing the change of color in the sky
from a bright blue to an opaque yellow and wondering why exactly
Draven seemed so reluctant to just let himself enjoy the company of
another human being.

When she turned around to look at Draven, he was
standing with the door held open, eyes pointing towards the ground.
She walked slowly towards the door, looking Draven up and down as
she came closer. She wondered if he was so difficult to deal with
on purpose, or if he had serious emotional issues. Whatever it was,
she was done trying to interact with him today. Charming one minute
and exasperating the next was becoming too much for her.