Wyn presented Joanos with his bow and placed it on his archer"s table before stepping back. Positioning himself in line with Kaze and Saavi who were remaining at Mika"s back.Notching their arrows and raising their bows, Joanos and Mika released their arrows at the same time. One struck the seven-point area while the other struck the five-point area.
"Hmm, that"s my win...What should I ask for my first question? Oh, I know, why do you dislike Miss Lixiss?"
Mika threw out the question in an off-handed random way that it caught Joanos by surprise. He didn"t expect to Miss Mikaela to ask something about Lixiss.
When did he give away his feelings towards Lixiss? Joanos thought.
"What does Miss Mikaela mean?"
Shaking her head and waving her finger from side to side. Mika looked at Joanos" confused face.
"You"re breaking the rules to the game. I won, that means you answer not ask... So, once again why do you dislike Miss Lixiss?"
Scanning the archery field, the majority of the people have gone back to rest as the tables and wood for the bonfires have already been set up.
"No one around. It"s just us five. Please answer, young master Joanos."
Sighing at his own foolishness for falling into such a simple trap Joanos answered Mika"s question truthfully.
"Would anyone like the person who helped kill their entire clan."
Picking up his second arrow Joanos shot for the second round.
Mika was a little frazzled by his answer and the instant start of the second round that she didn"t prep properly, and her arrow hit the two-point area while his" hit the seven.
"My turn... How did you know I didn"t like Lixiss?"
"Your eyes at Lord Tasar"s welcoming dinner gave you away. You were not surprised by her actions, and you instigated it...using me."
Prepared this time, Mika notched her third arrow and they both shot at the same time. One hit the nine while the other struck eight.
"What is your purpose in using me?"
"Huh...I would have thought you would ask a follow up to your first question..."
Laughing at himself for being completely seen through by Mika. Giving up all pretenses he put up, Joanos looked Mika directly in the eye.
"Will you help me? In turn, I"ll help you with any favor you might have."
Mika stared into Joanos" eyes, she could see a resolve there to whatever plan he had.
"If I don"t agree, will you continue to involve me in this plan of yours anyway?"
Thinking for a second before nodding his head "yea", Joanos knew he would not be able to give up his plans. Not now that he has waited for so long.
Blowing out a breath in frustration, Mika really just wanted to solve her own problems while she was here, not someone else"s.
"fine, I"ll hear you out before I make my decision." Signaling Kaze and Saavi to put away her bow and carry her case Mika walked away.
Pa.s.sing his bow to Wyn, Joanos followed on her heels towards her residence.
"Young miss, don"t get involved with young master Joanos. You are supposed to be here for treatment...Why don"t we just tell Lord Tasar about this? Let him handle the situation the way he sees fit." Saavi didn"t want anything to come in-between her young miss" treatments and cure.
"I will if it comes to that." Taking a peek backward, Mika saw Joanos and his steward following at a gradual pace at the rear.
"Saavi, rush head and set up the house for guests."
"En."
Behind Mika, Joanos was debating in his mind if the risk he was taking was correct.
For years he felt he couldn"t depend on anyone, not his steward, not even Lord Tasar with his revenge. Now he was going to share everything to this twelve years old girl.
"Young master, are you sure it is correct to involve miss Mikaela in your plans..."
Looking at Joanos" face, Wyn remembers when Lord Tasar first gave him to young master Joanos. He knew Joanos has demons, no one who could watch their whole clan be killed and stay sane.
However, he didn"t want young master Joanos to be consumed by his darkness and hurt others around him.
"Wyn, everyone here thinks I am a survivor, but I"m just a living corpse that Lord Tasar has bought back. There hasn"t been a time when I have felt alive, and now I have the chance to get revenge on those who made me this way. If I don"t take it, I will have to keep living like this."
Hearing the pain and suffering in Joanos" voice, Wyn said no more as they continued to walk towards Mika"s house.
Coming upon the house, Joanos took a deep breath and followed Mika inside.