The Kidnapped Queen (2)

Lyn was unsure of how to answer Rhys question, so she remained silent despite the conflicting feelings in her heart. In all honesty, she never thought about it before. With all that was happening back then, her heart had no room for another person. But Lyn recalled being touched by his kindness towards her. Contrary to Rhys harassing her half the time, well all the time. He protected her whenever something terrible happened. Even if Kazuya didn't tell him to, he protected her.

At the start, Lyn assumed it was because she was necessary to the Sound Kingdom. But after she asked around. Lyn found out that she was the only person Rhys treated in that manner.

"Beth used to tell me, that you discard women like toys. Why was that?"

Rhys paused, "She said that huh?"

Lyn nodded.

"That's true; I treated most women - no all of them."

"Not me," Lyn pointed out.

The man's lips curved to a smile, "Well, I played around with the idea in my head a lot. I wondered what it would feel like to have you completely submit to me. But as innocent as you were, I knew I'd never be able to trick you into anything," he trailed off, when he saw her glare, "Relax, in the end, my actions towards you were completely harmless."

Harmless? He called all that harmless? Lyn shook her head; there is no use in thinking about these things. More importantly the pain in her head. For the last few minutes, Rhys words seemed to echo in her ears.

"Seems like this should do," Rhys suddenly said.

He walked back over and Lyn vaguely made out the small jar he carried around. Unlike earlier it was nor empty. During their conversation he seemed to be fiddling around with something, "Can I touch you for a second?"

Lyn weakly nodded.

Rhys brushed his fingers across her face and moved her bangs away. The frown on face deepened by the minute, "This isn't a normal head wound, how did they knock you out?" he wondered out loud.

Lyn wanted to answer, but she vaguely recalled it.

After he applied the ointment, Lyn felt a bit better, but the pain remained.

"Can you use your magic?"

"I shouldn't; I feel like they are watching us," Lyn muttered. Isn't it strange that none of the guards have come by - no strange that there are no guards at all outside? And why put Rhys in the same cell as her? It felt bizarre. Lyn didn't want to let her guard down.

Though Lyn used her healing abilities often in the past, even now seldom few people other than those who belonged to her close circle knew about it. While members of the elite do have some form of recovery magic, the one she had was very different. If people found out about this magic, it would become troublesome. Lyn always thought her healing abilities were the same as everybody else's. She didn't think it was different.

Rhys nodded, and her thoughts broke off when he started to massage her arms, it felt comfortable.

"I can't break the chains of because then they'll come down here."

Lyn nodded; they are probably waiting for her to make a move.

"I must admit though; this is a well thought out plan - as stupid as kidnapping the Queen in their own Kingdom in broad daylight seems," Rhys nodded to himself, "Your shoulders seem stiff."

Lyn sighed, "Well I am the Queen. Desk work is unavoidable. Wait," Lyn felt a bit embarrassed when Rhys proceeded to massage her shoulders, "You don't have to do that."

"All you seem to do is complain, woman," Rhys muttered. But he stops.

Silence fell on them, and Lyn looked at him awkwardly. Situations with the two of them always end up in silence, eventually. See? It's always like this around them. They have nothing in common at all. When she hears a clattering sound, Lyn noticed that Rhys pulled out a familiar brush out of his sleeves. Where has she seen that before?

"Now then this is a good opportunity," Rhys made his way over and then tugged on her clothing.

She sent him a harsh glare, "Are you crazy?" In this situation, what on earth is this man thinking?

Her face color drains, this was his nature. Though Rhus is a kind person and all that, he's still a guy after all and the fact that his best friend is that nan already spells out what kind of guy he is.

Rhys closed his eyes, "Don't move" As he reached over and drew some words in the center of her chest.

A strange glow surrounds them causing her eyes to widen. The tight and suffocating feeling she felt in her chest had vanished. Her whole body felt light. Rhys fixed up the top half of her clothing and did the same thing on her forehead.

The tiredness and pain she felt the weakness is gone. Is it because of these words? Rhys lifted her chin to meet his gaze, "Humph, this seems to still work on you."

"Thank you," Lyn thanked him.

Rhys nodded, "Since we're stuck here, I don't need to tell you the general instructions. You should close your eyes and rest soon though. It will help speed up the process."

Lyn stared at him stunned silence for a few seconds. He must have done this before. Judging from his words. But wouldn't she have recalled something like that? How come she didn't remember? That's strange. Actually, for a long time, Lyn noticed that when it came to Rhys, she doesn't remember too much. At first, she thought it was due to the passing of time. But memory has never been an issue for her.

"I still find this amazing," Lyn said, she tried to play along and pretended she knew what he was talking about.

Rhys suspected nothing, "Well it is my job," he took out his pipe and brought it to his lips, "You know about my reputation and abilities correct?"

Lyn nodded.

"You see, I work mainly in the underground. Though I do know the normal medical stuff, people don't know me for that. Despite the advancement in magic, things like curses aren't unusual. But it depends on the person whether it's a curse or not. People believe what they hear - that's how life has always been. Even without evidence, if they hear something about another person, then they'll believe it whether you're cursed by a witch or a frightening man by myself. It's all in the person's head, even if I don't case a curse as long as they believe I have then they'll fall ill."

Even though what Rhys said just now was complicated, she somehow got it. At least she thought so.

"It's easy for me, even if I do nothing. People will blame me and yet at the same time they'll call me for help. Because only the caster can do anything about the spell/curse in the end."

Her sweatdropped, "So, you trick them?" As the Queen of this Kingdom, she doesn't allow such business. If her ambassador really has been ripping people of she ought to do something about it.

Rhys chuckled, he must have understood what she was thinking.

"Relax, it isn't wholly bribery. There are those sick and twisted people out there who tell me to cast terrible curses on others.

Lyn could only stare at him. She was wrong; she thought he had changed a lot. But that's not it at all; there are some traits that remain the same even now.

"Get some sleep, Lyn."

"But," Lyn didn't want to close her eyes. She's in enemy territory right now. It's too risky.

"Your mindset is correct, but right now I'm with you."

"..."

He always rendered her speechless whenever he used his powers randomly and intruded in her thoughts. But then again, he doesn't use it all the time. As unreasonable as this guy is, it's not like she disliked him. But did she ever like him? That's a question that will remain unanswered. Lyn felt the tiredness wash over her body, and she closed her eyes.

It's difficult sleeping when the ground is so cold, and her hands are chained. But it's similar to back then. Back when she lived a life of isolation. A cold ground - restrictions placed on her magic at night, like invisible shackles.