Snippet #796816

Meanwhile at the arena Darien leaned back against the cold stone of the arena seats and stared up at the stars. He was so tired and had very little to show for it. So far no likely prospects had lived up to his standards. He laughed, remembering the old man who had shown up. The guy had to have been past seventy with scraggly hair and beard and very few teeth left. The man had barely been able to lift the large sword Darien had given him. Even a smaller sword had been difficult but Darien could tell that the man had once been capable with a sword. Perhaps in an army at one time or competed in tourneys. Another humorous applicant had been a boy barely seven. He had really wondered when that one had shown up and what the guards had been thinking letting the boy try out but he had found out later that the boy belong to one of the kitchen staff and had snuck over without permission.
He sighed again. Not all of the hopefuls had been so humorous; some he could tell by their look and attitude were obvious criminals. He certainly couldn't trust people that might just join the raiders and stab him in the back for the hope of more money than the kingdom was offering, and the money was pretty good. Queen Imani was sparing no expense to recruit and keep her kingdom safe.
He rubbed his aching arms and legs and stood, heading back up the stairs to the top. He looked back once more hoping tomorrow’s hopefuls would be better. He strode tiredly back to the castle and to his chambers but Jacky jumped out in front of him before he could reach his room.
Darien- "For heavens’ sake you nearly scared me out of my skull!" He had jumped a little. He was always surprised that she could get the jump on him he could usually sense a person coming. Sometimes he would catch her dark aura but that never clearly told him where she would pop up. She was as elusive as a nymph.
Jacky- She laughed a little, she loved being able to get the jump on him. He was usually so calm and collected and she loved riling him up. “Sorry,” she smiled.
Darien- “You and I both know that you are not sorry,” but he laughed a little.
Whenever he smiled he looked so dang sexy! She pulled her thoughts away from that dangerous train of thought and focused again on what she came to say.
Jacky – “I wondered how the interviews were going?”
Darien- “Not well and I really just want to get to bed.”
He waved her off and continued on to his room while Jacky just sighed and turned to go back to her own room.