Searching for Answers

Foreward

I grasped her hand tightly, afraid to let go in case of losing her in the crowds once again, I sighed a little at her obvious excitement "You asked for something normal people attend, and I delivered on that. Now, will you stop begging to go on dates?" She squealed in response and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck in excitement, I hugged back, pulling my love close, my arms resting on her waist, eyes boring into hers. There must have been a flicker of concern from me as her eyes narrowed in worry "Please be careful and stay close, Aria. A lot of commoners attend these"
          She scoffed and rolled her eyes; her trademark Vabella move "Lord Lockheart, this is a circus. It's a place of fun, now brighten up and relax, enjoy" she gave me a toothy grin before heading towards the tents.

I glanced around, an uncomfortable feeling washed over me, as if we were being watched. I'd heard many stories about the circus and the kinds of 'creatures' that dwelled here. My eyes shifted back to the right, double backing on where I had just looked. Something had moved, shifted in the darkness between two cages. I took a step towards the cages, my hand gripping the handle to my rapier, ready to strike down anything that may be out of the ordinary.

"Corrin, are you coming?"

I averted my gaze to the blond beauty a few feet ahead of me, this amazing half-elf bard that meant everything to me, she was the only reason I was attending such a disgusting tradition for the common townsfolk. Quickly, I checked back to where I thought I had seen the movement. All was still. 

I watched her dart around like a small child, wanting to take in everything all at once, all the time my eyes never left her. "Look, Corrin!" She beamed, holding up a plush elephant for me to see "He is super cute right" I smiled at her and nodded in agreement, checking the price of the plush. Three gold. Daylight robbery. Yet she looked so content and happy just holding it. I slipped the three gold to the vendor who thanked me quickly and moved onto his next customer, yet something still didn't feel quite right. I glanced around quickly, the feeling of being watched was much more intense now; as if they were ready to make their move.

I looked back to the stall, yet something was missing "Aria?" I quickly spun on the spot, panic settling in as my gut feeling screamed at me. I ran through the crowds of different races, dreading the worse as I yelled her name. "Idiot," I whispered, not knowing if I meant myself of her.
          A sudden voice snapped me back to reality "Are you okay, sir?" A dark-haired paladin stood before me, her human face was a strange thing to see for a noble who spent most of his days around elves and half-elves.

"I've lost her, I've lost Aria" I panted

"Can you describe her for me? Maybe I have seen her, Sir"

I looked up, realising I recognised her voice "Cora?" She locked eyes with me, a look of delight spread across her face
          "Corrin Lockheart, what a pleasure my young Lord, wait, what is a member of the Lockheart family doing at an event like this?" She crossed her arms and scowled "You know you are going to be first on the hit list for any criminal here"

I nodded "I brought Aria, our young Bard"

"Why would you-" she hesitated, looking at my panicked face "Oh" a grin flashed across her features "You always did enjoy breaking the rules, Corrin. Walk and talk with me, let's see if we can find your bard" I described my young lover, the way her hair fell so perfectly, her emerald eyes that sucked me in, the shorts and pretty top you had chosen to wear that morning, hoping to fit in with the commoners like she used too with her parents "I'm guessing your mother does not know about you and Aria?"

I shook my head, the disgrace from my Mother was not worth the risk at this point in our relationship "So Miss Demay, what are you doing here? I thought you were working in the palace far East"

Cora chuckled "Actually, I fell in love"

"You?"

"Thanks, Corrin" she laughed "His name is Darrion, he is a human ranger, we met at the church" We both stopped suddenly  "Wait, is that your bard?" She ducked her head to try and get a better view of the blond mess on the floor by the lion's cage.

My legs reacted before my brain could catch up "Aria!" She looked up with her tear struck face, full of relief to see me "What happened? I told you to stay close, these places are dangerous!" There was a thick tone of concern and upset in my voice that I couldn't disguise, even though I knew it would not help in this situation.   
          "I'm sorry" she sobbed "I went to find ice cream and I thought you were behind me when I looked around you had gone and people were crashing into me" she held up her right hand "Someone took it, Corrin" the tears started again as I pulled her close.

The paladin broke the sudden silence "Can you tell me what happened, Aria?"

Aria explained how someone crashed into her and she felt the ring start to slide off her finger so she instinctively slashed with her dagger, whoever took the ring was now also injured but had managed to get a swipe on my porcelain doll at the same time. I wiped away her tears and checked on the wound, the slash in her arm was deep and sore.

"Corrin" Coras voice was stern, "I think that is infected with poison, it is an ongoing problem we are having during these types of thefts. You need to get her seen as soon as possible or the heavens know what will happen"

"No. We need to find him, I'm fine" she stumbled to her feet "I'm okay, I just want to know why"

"They're thieves, Aria, they don't need a reason" I looked around, searching for any clues, my eyes diverted to the spots of blood trailing around the lion enclosure "You know what, Vabella, sometimes your impulsive behaviour is a good thing" I lifted her onto my back and piggybacked her around the circus. Cora found a couple of knights who started following leads and chatting to the owners of the circus for more details, the more the merrier, or in my head, the more, the safer for my Princess.

Cora stopped by a small one-man tent and placed a finger to her lips, we could hear rummaging and the blood spots finished just outside the strange home. She slipped her long sword through the zipper door, her shield at the ready. I felt Aria fall heavy on my back and my concern towards her condition increased rapidly. The paladin charged into the tent and pulled out a strange-looking creature, it looked part gnome, part human, as if in the middle of some kind of changing process. She sniggered as the creature struggled against her, brandishing its dagger at her, desperately trying to deliver the same fate as they did to my angel. Aria's emerald ring glistened in between his teeth as Cora reached in and revealed it "Is this what you are missing, Lord Lockheart?" I nodded and glared at the creature as it started pathetically pleading for it's life. "I am not going to kill you, but if you do not give me the antidote to that poison I will have you locked up"

"No" I growled "As a member of the Lockheart family I want him locked up and tried for attempted murder on a noble servant"

"Corrin..."

"No, Cora. That's what I want"

Cora puffed up her cheeks and exhaled "As you wish, my Young Lord" she placed the creature in an arm lock and aggressively dragged him away from the tent "As a member of the Holy Paladin knights, you are under arrest and will be locked up until your trial, would you like to call it treason, my Lord?"

I paused, my head clear and my brow furrowed "Yes."