Sera was getting angry with the unwanted attention from the men around her and found herself craving John's lessons in self-defence more and more. John had received his fair share of wounds defending her 'honour' while they were together, not to mention her other friends, Toby, Seb and Doran. It was ridiculous. Serene seemed far better at dealing with such attentions. However, one good thing had happened. She'd finally stopped fantasizing about Rihan and instead replaced him with someone far more like her.
Sera blushed, he was one of her friends but was he still classed as a friend? She thought about events a few nights past and blushed more, trying to hide her own smile.
She had been walking home when she heard a splash in the river that ran through the centre of Tihak town. She looked over the bridge and saw Doran swimming in his underwear, the water making his hair look like long, dark seaweed dancing in the current. Sera couldn't tear her eyes away.
Doran had spent a lot of his life within Hiriah's walls. This meant he'd been training for many years, and it showed. She marvelled at the muscles on his arms and back, at his training scars. She shook her head and turned to leave but just a second too late.
"And where are you going?" Doran called up from the river.
She stopped walking and looked back over the bridge railings. He was treading water whilst looking at her; exposing his bare chest.
"I'm just going home."
"Wait a minute and I'll walk with you."
Sera made her way to the side of the river just as Doran was finished getting dressed, his shirt clinging to wet patches on his skin.
"Are you ok? You look flushed?" Doran asked, looking quizzically at her.
"I'm fine, of course. It's just a bit hot that's all."
She turned away, unable to keep eye contact with him. Doran laughed before walking up to her. He held his arm out to her.
"Shall we?"
Sera was just about to take Doran's arm when they heard the unmistakable sound of armour.
"And where are you taking that young beauty?"
They both turned to see Hiriah creatures striding towards them. It was a guard unit of four men. One licked his lips and pointed towards them. They were speaking in their grotesque tongue; Sera could not understand it. They slowed as they neared them and Doran began to look agitated.
"Back off old man, she's not interested in the likes of you," Doran said protectively.