Found Again

By GirlMaverick

Hiya! I'm back! I know it's been forever. I apologise, but I'll probably end up doing it again. Next chapter the real plot will be introduced. I know, I know, it took far too long to get to it, but we're almost there now. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I would respond to each individually but I'm doing this in school and if they realise I'm not doing school work I'll be in trouble. I may repost a more edited and revise version of this chapter later. This is sort of a first draft.

Chapter 6:

"Girl." Carden nudged the sleeping Andra with the toe of his boot. "Get up. I have my strength back, it's time to go."

Andra glared at him as she rose, brushing off the spot where his boot had left some dirt, and only succeeding in spreading it further. It was a pointless gesture anyways; her entire outfit was completely filthy from traveling.

"It' time to go." Carden repeated, indifferent to her ire.

"Carden, can't you just once act like a civilized person? Kicking someone is not an acceptable way to wake them up!"

Carden shrugged. "I don't really care. Besides, I didn't kick you. I barely touched you."

"So I was exaggerating a little." Andra muttered. "You still could have been a lot nicer about it."

"Oh I'm sorry princess." Carden drawled sarcastically. "I knew you were delicate, but I guess I just didn't realize how delicate."

Andra unconsciously pulled herself up a little straighter. He had aimed at her pride, and hit his target. "I wasn't saying it hurt. I was just saying-"

"Good." Carden interrupted, "Then shut up."

"Carden of Cicani Glade?" A woman's voice suddenly emanated from the dense brush off the right.

Both Andra and Carden started and spun round, caught by surprise. Carden, recovering first, tensed up aggressively, and once again Andra felt that strange chill.

"Who are you?" Carden's voice was plainly hostile.

The woman spared a fleeting glance at Andra; them ignored her presence entirely, focusing on Carden. She tugged on a string around her neck and pulled a teardrop shaped medallion out of her shirt. It seemed to be engraved, and she briefly showed the engraving to Carden, but put it away before Andra could get a good look at it.

Carden's posture altered immediately. The tension stayed, but the aggressiveness was entirely gone. "I am Carden."

The woman nodded, she clearly knew this already, and was merely following formalities. "The Emperor summons every able-bodied demon over the age of 150 to the Fall Gathering Place. You are to proceed there immediately."

Carden looked alarmed. "Why? What's going on?"

The woman cast Carden a haughty expression. "You will discover that when you arrive. Let it suffice to say it is a matter of utmost urgency." With that, the woman turned and disappeared among the trees. Carden appeared to watch her progress for a while, though Andra saw nothing, then sighed and allowed his muscles to relax. He gazed off into the distance, deep in thought, and said nothing.

Andra spoke softly, reluctant to disturb him. "Who was that?"

Carden spoke slowly and without looking at her, his mind clearly elsewhere.. "A messenger from the Emperor."

Andra waited for him to elaborate. When it became clear he had no intention to do so, she inquired further. "Why was she here?"

This time Carden turned. He looked irritated. "You heard everything I did."

Andra returned the look. "Yes, but seeing as I have no background in your culture I was thinking maybe you could tell me what is going on. I'll also admit to being a bit worried about the fact that she told you to head straight there. What's going to happen to me?"

Carden grinned mischievously. "Well it looks to me as if you have two choices. You can either try to make it the rest of the way on your own, unlikely, or you can come with me. We're only a few days away, even at your pace, and it will take time for everyone to gather, so I think I can afford such a small delay."

Andra blanched. "But… won't there be other demons there?"

Carden's grin widened. "Of course, but it seems to me you have no better option."

Andra nodded, reluctantly conceding the point. To take her mind off her fear, she returned to the other thing that was bugging her. "What is this assembly about anyways? You seemed awfully upset about it"

Carden's face became worried once again. "I don't know. All I know is that I can't recall ever hearing about an emperor ordering a meeting of such size ever before. I don't think the current emperor would command such a thing for anything less than an emergency. The fact that I can not fathom what that emergency might be only serves to worry me further." He fell back into himself, staring into space once more.

Andra absorbed this in silence for a moment. She didn't like seeing Carden so anxious. As much as she hated his normal cocky attitude, this emotion seemed unnatural in him. "Well, I guess we'd better get going then. The sooner we get there the sooner you can find out what it's all about, right?"

Carden snapped out of his daze. "Yes. Of course."

Relieved the uncomfortable moment was over, Andra continued in the direction they had been heading.

Carden grabbed her arm, bringing her to a halt. "Where are do you think you're going human. I thought you decided you would come with me."

Andra was confused. "I did."

Carden sneered at her. "Well you're going the wrong way. The Fall Gathering Place is that way." He pointed off to the left. "Idiot."

Andra decided to ignore that last comment. She started off in the direction indicated.

Night fell. Carden and Andra woke up and resumed their trek. Carden expected to arrive by that morning. He briefed Andra on what to expect. "I'm not sure how long we'll have to stay. It will take a few weeks to gather everyone together, and I have no idea how long the meeting will take. During that time you will do exactly as I tell you."

Andra glared at him and folded her arms over her chest. "And why, exactly, will I do that?"

"Because you want to live? Some of the demons there would like nothing better than to kill you. I thought we had already been over this." His voice contained an unmistakably sarcastic note.

Andra scowled but said nothing.

"Also," Carden's tone was slightly mocking and -Andra thought intentionally- infuriatingly haughty. "You will not contest anything I say in public or argue with me for any reason."

Andra's scowl deepened. "What am I, your slave."

Carden actually appeared to think about it for a moment. "Actually…" he said slowly. "that might be best."

"WHAT! I will be no such thing!"

Carden laughed at her outrage. "I meant it might be best if others thought you were. Then they would understand why I was keeping you alive and they would be less likely to attack you even if we got separated. That would be a grave insult. Actually, they might even help me find you."

It was easy to see that Andra was not at all pleased with this proposition. It made sense though. She tried desperately to find some flaw in his logic. "What about Jogant though? Won't he be there? Might he say something?"

Carden looked down at her. "You may be idiotic enough to just blurt whatever comes into you head, but Jogant is not. If he says anything, he'll wait until no one else is around. Besides…" Now he was definitely mocking her. "I think you would make a good little slave girl."

Andra knew he was baiting her, but couldn't help but rise to the bait nonetheless. "You jerk!" She went to slap him but having anticipated her response, he easily caught her wrist in midmotion, grinning at her.

"So we're agreed?" he asked.

Andra growled at him.

"Good. Let's go then." He took the lead with Andra following close behind, glaring daggers at his back.

As Carden had predicted, the sun was just beginning to rise as they came upon a large clearing. Well, perhaps a clearing is not quite the right description. True, all of the underbrush and small trees had been cleared away, but the old giants still stood. The lower branches were cleared away, but only to the point where one could walk under them easily. The upper branches formed a nearly solid canopy, with only a few gaps through which one could see the growing light. There was no grass on the ground, but rather a soft carpet of fallen leaves. Here and there, small tents had been erected. Vendor sat inside the tents, calling out to advertise their wares. A few shoppers meandered among the stalls, but for the most part the clearing was empty.

Carden leaned toward her almost imperceptibly. "We must be early, we may have to wait here a few days for everyone else to arrive." He whispered. "Stay close."

"Come." He said aloud, gesturing for Andra to follow him as he proceeded into the clearing.

Andra followed obediently. She would have done so even without the command, for she could feel the stares of the other demons on her.

Carden behaved as though he did not notice the attention he and his 'slave' were getting. His posture conveyed self-confidence, and perhaps a bit of arrogance, as he strode past the stalls. Unexpectedly, one of the browsers began running towards them. The figure was too far for Andra to make out any identifying features, but something about it seemed familiar. It did not take long for her to identify the rapidly approaching figure as Jogant.

"Carden!" His voice was filled with obvious relief. "I was worried a you'd been caught."

Carden scoffed. "Truly Jogant, I thought you knew me better than that."

Andra did not bother to suppress a small, disbelieving scoff of her own.

Jogant seemed to truly notice her for the first time and his eyes widened with surprise recognition. He looked back at Carden. "Why is she here?"

Carden laughed airily. "She's my new slave." He waved his hand dismissively. "Just ignore her."

"But I thought-"

"Come on." Carden grabbed his friend by the elbow and began to drag him away. "I need you to tell me going on. Let's go someplace more private to talk."

Jogant looked confused, but obligingly followed the other's lead. Andra followed a few steps behind, pretending to be submissive.

Carden only stopped when he could neither hear nor see anyone but the three of them.

Jogant turned to his friend. "There. We're all alone. Now will you explain what's going on?"

Carden rolled his eyes. "I was summoned here before I got the chance to get rid of her. Isn't that obvious?"

"Oh. I guess that makes sense. Why'd it take you so long to get here though? The girl shouldn't have slowed you down that much. After all, if you didn't have time to get rid of her than you must have received the message right after we parted company."

Carden hesitated, unable to think of a convincing reason for his lateness.

Andra leapt into the gap. "Yes Carden, tell your friend exactly what took you so long.

Carden glared at her. "All right all right. I was caught by a snare team ok?"

Jogant frowned disapprovingly, but his eyes held a mischievous spark. He opened his mouth.

"I know!" Carden cut him off before he could begin speaking. "I know you warned me and I know that I was foolish to ignore that warning. Anyhow," He brushed his hands off on his pants. "That's all in the past now right?"

Jogant was not so easily put off. "How, exactly did you escape? And if you ran into humans, why is this girl still with you?"

Carden looked to the side, not answering.

Andra happily filled the void, explaining just how it was that Carden was still alive, and why she hadn't gone with the snare team.

Jogant laughed. "Well Carden, I can see why you didn't want to talk about it. It's rather embarrassing to be saved by a human."

Carden scowled at him. "Say that any louder and you'll be the one who needs saving." He looked around nervously, though there was no one close enough to overhear.

Jogant just laughed, and slung his arm around Carden's shoulders. "C'mon. Let's get you something to eat. You must be dying for some real food." He threw his other arm across Andra's shoulders. "And something for the little hero too."

Carden growled and shrugged off Jogant's arm.

"Touchy." Jogant teased.

Carden just rolled his eyes and pushed Jogant's other arm off Andra. "She's supposed to be a slave remember?"

Jogant just shrugged. "Either way, let's get something to eat. I'm starving." SO saying, he headed off jauntily to the nearest stand selling food.

"Idiot." Carden muttered, but he looked amused.