The Sorcerer's Bride 71 What Is Going On?

Hazel was bewildered. There was no sign of Fayre or Zylvia anywhere. Neither one was sowing. She tilted her head and chewed on her lip. She did not know why but she had a feeling something was wrong.

It occurred to her that there was a possibility that Zylvia was with her husband, as the two had been closeting themselves away periodically the last few days. She was not sure the reason for this, but found herself hoping it was a good sign for the queen's best friend. After all, she knew that the girl was in love with her husband.

But, even if that was the case, it seemed odd that Fayre was not around. This time of day she was almost always at work, happily preparing for the little bundle of joy she was expecting.

Adding to her anxiety was the fact that as she had been walking through the corridors she had noticed that everyone seemed in a bit of a dither. She wondered if she should have asked. Maybe then she would not be so unsure of what was going on."

"I think we missed something...." Hazel looked up at her knight, tilting her head to look at his sullen face. At least he had been showing more emotions though, even if after he had caved and started stripping off his mask he was incredibly grumpy. It actually reminded her of a cat, who was upset with their owners but would not do anything about it. Cute! She found herself wanting to laugh at his antics.

"Apparently," Asrar was not really looking at her as he said this. She shook her head a little at him. At least she could see some signs of improvement. She was realizing that she could not be impatient with the man she loved, it would take him a long time to get to the placed she wanted him.

"What do you think is going on?" She wondered if he might have any insights. Asrar was one of the smartest people she knew.

She saw his mouth twitch and noticed a bit of a glimmer of mirth in his eyes as if he was about to tease her, "Well, from what I didst hear the servants saying as we were coming hither....Queen Fayre wast attacked earlier..." Seeing the worried look on her face he hurriedly continued, "But they hast already taken care of her and she wilt be alright."

"And you waited so long to tell me, why?"

He seemed to be trying to keep from laughing as he pressed his lips together. His eyes looked surprisingly bright right now. After a few minutes he did answer her though, "Well, my princess, thou were in such a hurry to get here that I did not wish to disturb thee."

On one hand Hazel felt rather annoyed with him. On the other though she was pleased that he was acting a little mischievous. It had been a long time since he had been openly like this, and she was happy because it was a sign of him loosening up.

She sighed, and shook her head, "Anything else you overheard? Or are you going o wait for the most opportune time again?"

He seemed to think for a minute, "Nothing important dost come to mind, princess. Unless you are interested in who hast what duties....or who the different maids art admiring at the moment?"

She stared at his straight face, "Just how sharp are your ears?"

He seemed a little taken aback by the question, "I think... they art on the higher end of what is normally possible for a human.... Nothing abnormal, at least I think?"

She found herself laughing at him, he really seemed clueless as to whether it was abnormal or not. "Well, As, what all can you hear in a crowded room?"

"Noise." He paused and said with a sigh, "Though if I try I canst sort out just about what anyone is saying in it..." He paused noticing the look on her face, "Is that not normal?"

She smiled at him, shaking her head, "Not that you can hear them so much as that you can manage to make unravel what everyone is saying. I find it hard just to unravel the people closest to me..."

"....That is not so much my ears though, my princess....My brain is a bit different, I art fully aware of that."

She nodded deciding to drop it, he was still a bit uncomfortable talking about his oddities. That he was openng up to her, even slowly was cause for great joy for her. She knew though that pus.h.i.+ng him too much too fast was liable to end up with him clamming up again. Something she would do anything to prevent.