Page 29 of Cursed By Gold

Darius laughs delightedly. His gaze is kind and open. "You are truly unique. May I sit with you?"

I laugh. "You've known me all of two seconds and already I'm so special? I think not. We can sit though. I have nowhere else to be. Tell me about yourself since you already seem to know so much about me."

He sits across from me, a smirk on his face. "I see what you did there. Very nice deflection. About me? I've traveled far and wide, from the icy tundra of Nordfjor to the deserts of Aswad."

"What was Nordfjor like?" I ask, curious to learn more.

He grins. "Beautiful and deadly. The landscape seems crafted by giants, with mountains towering over vast glacial valleys."

"It sounds breathtaking."

"It was. But the cold could kill a man in minutes if he wasn't careful. It has it’s beauty though. I'll never forget staring up at the God's Lights dancing across the sky, every color imaginable."

I sigh wistfully. "I've never seen the Lights. Were they as spectacular as the stories say?"

"More so!" Darius exclaims. "Pinks and greens and blues swirling together in waves of light, shifting before your very eyes."

"Incredible." I pause. "You mentioned deserts as well?"

Darius' face lights up. "The deserts of Aswad! Sand as far as the eye could see, spreading out beneath a sea of stars. I spentnights camping beneath the dunes, listening to the wind create its own songs as it blew through the canyons."

"It sounds beautiful in its own raw way"

"It is. And the cities! Markets filled with spices from every corner of the world. Women in veils of gold thread, men debating philosophy over tiny cups of strong black coffee."

I chuckle. "You paint a vivid picture."

Darius smiles warmly. "Traveling opens your eyes to the rich variety of human experience. No matter where we're from, we all seek love, comfort, and meaning."

"Wise words." I hesitate before speaking again. "You must have many interesting stories to tell."

Darius nods. "More than I could ever share in a single night! But I'd be happy to tell you more if you're willing to listen."

"I am," I say gently. "I have a feeling sleep will evade me tonight anyways."

He laughs, delight dancing in his eyes. "In that case, my friend, prepare yourself. For I have stories enough to last through the night... and the dawn to come afterwards."

With a smile, I settle in to listen as Darius begins to speak once more, painting pictures with his words of places I have never seen and may never visit—but which now, thanks to him, I can imagine vividly in my mind's eye. His gift of storytelling breathes life and hope into this dark tournament, reminding me of the infinite variety and beauty that exists beyond these castle walls.

As we talk, I realize something—sitting here with Darius, I feel acceptance and kindness. Something I rarely feel from another person. There’s always an agenda. A spark of hope that there are still good people in the world, even in places like this forms.

Darius listens attentively as I speak, his easy smile and warm gaze putting me at ease. But he presses me to share more about myself.

"What of your past? Your family?" he asks gently.

I pause, unsure of how much to reveal. "There's not much to tell," I say evasively. "I grew up on a country estate."

Darius seems unconvinced. "Come now, there must be more interesting tales. Your childhood, your dreams."

I struggle to come up with plausible stories that hide my true past.

"I learned to treat wounds and mix remedies from an old friend," I say, letting a bit of wistfulness creep into my voice. Truly it was a skill that everyone in Fairy Godmother’s guild had to learn. "As a girl, I dreamed of seeing the world."

Darius nods encouragingly. "A noble ambition. What else?"

I cast about for something more to share that avoids revealing too much.

"I spent hours working in my family's gardens," I say, a genuine smile spreading across my face as I recall pleasant memories. "The scent of the flowers and earth comfort me."

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