Quake Chapters 5 and 6

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I always enjoyed the drive to Salvation Baptist church. This drive was no exception even in light of all that had gone on the last few days. My world had shifted on it’s axis but this drive, with it’s scenic ocean views and sweet little multi colored beach houses with white picket fences had not changed one bit. I watched the scenery fly by via the backseat window. Mom was driving and Dirk was riding shotgun. Dirk always rode shotgun, claiming he got sick in the backseat. The baby. They were chatting happily about whether or not the Pelican’s menu needed to be updated. Mom was saying no while Dirk was saying yes. I couldn’t believe how easily Dirk could carry on as if only a little over seven hours away we were not meeting the head honcho of an unofficial government operation teeming with super humans. My mind was a swirling torrent of what nexts and what ifs.

Dirk laughed heartily, his blue eyes flashing. He just wasn’t a brooding sort of guy. I wished I could be more like him. More ‘take it as it comes’ but I just couldn’t make myself do it. I wanted to analyze it and worry about it.

After the phone call at the restaurant Dirk and I displayed our conflicting personalities perfectly. Dirk took it all in stride and talked excitedly about the prospect of the meeting. When he tired of that subject he rambled on about other more mundane things. He joked and Robin and Simon laughed. I on the other hand, brooded. I ran all sorts of possible scenarios and outcomes in my head which continued when we got home and well into the night. I was ready to get it all over with.

We pulled down a side street that went slightly uphill. The road ended into to church driveway. The brick was a light creamy color which made the building look fresh despite it‘s age. We had been going to this same church for as long as I could remember and my Mother the same before her. We walked in and were bombarded with family friends and neighbors. After several minutes of chit chat we made our way to an empty pew and waited for service to start. Soon the band began to play and we all stood up to sing. I was just digging down deep into a song when Simon sidled up next to me.

“Can you make room for two more?” He asked, looking down at me. His eyes were bright and full of mischief.

I am sure I would have spoken a reply had I any oxygen in my lungs. I stared at him in shock. Shock partly because he was there but mainly because of how he looked. He had his hair slicked back in a ponytail and he was wearing grey pants, tight black shirt and a grey jacket left open. He looked like he hadn’t shaved because he had a little stubble that was enough to drive a sane woman crazy.

I moved over without speaking because I still didn’t have air to speak with. I believe I recovered before he could read more than my shock at seeing him there. I hoped so anyway. Robin scooted in next to him wearing a yellow sun dress and white wedge sandals. She grinned at me, turned and began singing. I turned my attention back to service as well. After a minute I began to hear a low, deep voice drift down to me. It wasn’t a fantastic voice but it was mellow and soothing.

When worship began I expected to see the old pastor, Mr. Hilley to come to the pulpit. I was shocked to see his son, Rick Hilley jr. stand before us and begin to preach. Simon, no doubt sensing the distress of my mind looked quizzically down at me. I smiled at him and gave the appearance of brushing it off. I listened to Hilley jr. with rapt attention. It was a really good sermon which I am sure made his father, who I had spotted in the front row, extremely proud.

After the service we introduced Robin and Simon to our Mother as the owners of Colossians and not as the secret spies sent to watch our every move. We were told by Simon that we could inform her of what was really going on but should at least wait until after meeting their Chief of operations to make that decision.

She beamed at them and immediately asked them to brunch at the Littleton estate to which they graciously accepted. We milled about a while letting my Mom visit with her church lady friends and occasionally she cut her eyes to us a smiled a little slyly I thought.

“She is planning our weddings isn’t she?” I asked Simon.

“You should really let her pick out the dress. You will look amazing.” He replied.

“I hate you.” I told him and he laughed.

Just then I saw Rick coming towards us. Our eyes locked and he blanched a little.
“Shia.” He said smiling at me. “It is good to see you. It has been a very long time.” He looked at Simon.

“Oh this is Simon. He and Robin” I gestured towards her where she and Dirk were talking to an elderly couple “own the deli across the street from the Pelican.”

“Colossians?” He asked Simon.

“Yes.” Simon replied shortly.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Rick said holding out his hand to shake Simon’s. Simon shook it but he had the oddest expression on his face. Not having known Simon long I couldn’t pinpoint what it might mean. He looked like he wanted to groan or grimace. I couldn‘t fathom which. “I have not yet gotten around to eating there but I like the name. May I ask how you came by it?”

“My Grandfather named it for us. He said he liked the way it sounded.”

Rick nodded at Simon and turned to me. “So this was your first time sitting through one of my sermons.” He didn’t ask but I could read the question all over his face.

“Yes it was and I was a little shocked to see you up there instead of your father. Mother did not tell me he had retired.”

“It was only May when he announced his retirement. Everyone seems to be taking the transition well.” He informed me.

“I couldn’t see how they wouldn’t. It was a very powerful sermon. Every bit as poignant and full of the spirit as your father. I am not just saying that either.”

He smiled at me trying not to show how much my opinion mattered to him. I knew his expressions very well so I knew he was happy with my answer.

My Mother looked our way and noticed who I was talking to and her smiling expression was instantly tinted with sadness as it always did whenever Rick and I were in the same room together. Someone called to Rick so he made polite goodbyes and moved off into the crowd.

“Lets head to the car.” I said to Simon and he followed me out into the bright noonday sun.

“He loves you.” Simon said abruptly as we were weaving in and out of cars in the parking lot. I turned to face him.

“What?” I asked incredulously.

“That preacher. He still loves you. Do you love him?”

“What does that matter to you?” I asked irritated that he dared ask such a personal question. Why did he care?

He shrugged. “It doesn’t. I am only curious. He is a good man, he loves you and your Mother approves. Does being a preacher’s wife not appeal to you?”

I sighed. “He was my first love. Puppy love as my Mom calls it. We were young and at that time Rick didn’t know what he wanted to be. He wasn’t sure he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father. His father never pressured him. He gave him all the room to find his own calling. We spent a year and a half together in high school trying to figure out what we wanted to be when we grew up. When graduation came I had visions of Hollywood dancing in my head. At first Rick supported me and decided to go with me and enroll in college there but at the last minute he told me he felt called to the service of the Lord and planned to enroll in seminary. He was accepted into New Orleans Baptist, which is a big deal and also where his father studied. He wanted me to marry him and go with him to New Orleans. We couldn’t stay together there and not be married.”

“And let me guess. You didn’t want to get married?” He asked.

“Not at all. Nor did I want to live in New Orleans. I was convinced all I had to do was show up in L.A. to land the starring roles in five big production movies.” I sighed at myself. “I was foolish.”

“So you regret leaving him?”

“Oh no, I regret the naivety of my younger self. I really wasn’t ready for marriage and I don’t think he was either. And I admit the life of a preacher’s wife wasn’t that appealing to an eighteen year old.”

“What about now? Is it appealing now?” Simon asked, searching my face since my humming kept him mostly in the dark. “He is a good man.”

“Gheesh! Are you trying to marry me off too? Your worse than my Mother!” I admonished. “It has nothing to do with the preacher’s wife part. I would actually like to love the person I marry. I will always cherish the memory of what we had but I don’t love him.” I waved my hands in the air in exasperation. “Is there anything else you would like to know Dr. Phil?”

He laughed and shook his head. “He is seeing a nice divorced woman with two kids. He is thinking of asking her to marry him. He would drop her for you in a heartbeat but he senses how you feel and accepts it and I admire him for it. If I were in love I would never let her get away so easy.”

“Even if she didn’t love you?” I asked.

He turned slightly wild hazel eyes on me. “I would make her love me.” He said menacingly.

Yikes.

****


Mom and I started cooking brunch as soon as we walked in the door while Dirk gave Simon and Robin a tour of the house. Thirty minutes later we all rendezvoused in the sun room. Our first course was frittata and orange juice with fried potatoes and fruit. Afterwards I handed out cinnamon rolls and coffee.

“Do you want cream and sugar?” I asked Dirk.

“Does a bear poop in the woods?” He asked me.

“Everyday.” I replied setting the sugar bowl and cream in front of him.

“So Shia tells me your cousins?” Mom asked. “Is this on your Mother’s or your Father’s side?”

“Father’s.” Robin said.

“What is your last name?” She asked them.

“Tracy.” Simon replied. “Both of us. Robin has not yet married.”

“And you have?” Asked my Mother.

“Yes. I am divorced.”

Why that hit me like a hammer I don’t know but it was a lot better for me to imagine Simon just appeared out of thin air sans a past. It was bad enough for me to try not to dwell on past girlfriends but a past wife? That was hard to ignore.

“How long ago?” Mom asked him.

“Moooom! Don’t you think that is a little personal?” I asked mortified.

“It’s ok.” Simon said. “I don’t mind. We were married for one year. I will give you the super short version. She got pregnant, we got married, we lost the baby and then soon realized wanting a baby was the only thing we had in common. So we divorced. That was three years ago.”

We sat in silence for a couple beats. “Where did you two grow up? You sound mid-western.” Mom asked.

“We grew up in upstate Ohio until we were in first grade. Then our parents moved to Salt Lake City. We moved here from there about a month ago.”

“So your families must be pretty close to move together.” Dirk observed.

“Yes. They are. Simon, James and I grew up more like brothers and sister than cousins. James is Simon’s younger brother.”

Simon glanced at his watch. “Speaking of James, we need to head to the airport to meet him. He is coming in today for a short visit. Shia, Dirk would you like to come with us?”

“Sure.” Dirk said and I nodded.

Mother wouldn’t hear of us helping her clean up so within five minutes Robin and I were loaded up in the back of Simons green SUV headed towards the Pensacola airport.

“We are not really meeting your brother are we? He isn’t the CEO of SID is he?” Dirk asked.

“No he isn’t the CEO but he is our direct superior. He is the chief’s right hand man so I am assuming he will be with him. He normally always is with him.”

“You said back at Rivera’s that you call your direct superior, Noodle. Why do you call your brother noodle?” I asked.

Robin laughed and Simon smiled. “I’ll let you guess when you meet him.”

“Does he have super abilities like you and Robin?” Dirk asked.

Simon shook his head. “No, but that didn’t stop him from joining SID and rising in the ranks faster than anyone ever has to my knowledge.”

“I think he does have abilities but they are just unrecognized.” Robin said. “He has math super powers, he can figure anything out and make it work with less cost and more efficiency, he can turn two people who were about to strangle each other into best friends and in such a way they can’t remember how he did it. In my opinion Noodle’s super powers are greater than most of ours.” She grinned. “But please don’t tell him I said that. He has a terrible case of the ego already.”

“He sounds interesting.” I said.

“One of a kind.” Simon agreed.


****

James appeared out of the gate first. As Simon had said it was pretty obvious why he was called Noodle. He was very tall and thin with equally long gangly legs and arms that hung so long they flapped around like wet noodles. Whereas Simon’s hands were broad and massive with thick fingers, Noodle’s hands were broad but with thin, tapered fingers like that a pianist would envy. They did share the same hair and eye color and there was something similar about the shape of the jaw. The rest of their facial features were worlds apart. Simon had a broad nose while Noodle’s was thin and straight. Their eyes, even though the same color were of different shapes. Simon’s was an almond shape while Noodle’s were more rounded. Noodle’s mouth was wide with full lips and his teeth were straight but a bit yellowed. His overall appearance was friendly and he smiled jovially at us.

“Boy are you guys in trouble!” He exclaimed happily as he approached us. He nodded to me as he hugged his cousin and then his brother. He patted Simon on the back. “Just you wait to see who came, in person, to scold you.” He looked at us like we were giving him a Christmas present.

We all turned and watched as people streamed out of the terminal. When I saw a familiar balding head and slightly hunched gait I gasped.

“Uncle Strep?” Dirk asked unbelievingly to the man who set a brown leather briefcase on the ground next to a row of chairs we were standing next to and held out his hand for Dirk to shake. Dirk shook it. “Um, long time no see.”

I smiled weakly at him as he came to shake my hand. His grip was as firm as ever and I made sure mine matched his. He shook Simon and Robin’s hands as well. “Let’s head to the car where we can talk. I assume you have a suitable car for us?” He said to Simon.

“Indeed I do sir.” Simon solemnly replied.

Simon looked worried and a little green. Robin looked like she was a startled deer that might take off at any second. Then it hit me. Uncle Strep was the Chief commanding officer of an unofficial military division. Holy guacamole.

“I will answer any and all questions in the car.” Uncle Strep said no doubt seeing my half opened mouth.






Chapter 6

I assumed we would be getting back into the SUV and was surprised when a man appeared out of nowhere and took Strep’s luggage from him and stowed it in the trunk of a shiny black Hummer. I looked over at Dirk and his eyebrows rose so far they disappeared behind his blonde bangs. Strep and Dirk climbed in the back and gestured for me to do the same. I looked at Simon and Robin.

“We will meet you at the hotel.” Simon said, answering my mental musings.

I nodded and climbed into the third row seat next to Dirk. Strep reached under his seat and flipped a latch. He swiveled his seat to face us then flipped the latch back into place. He looked at us. He looked so much older than the last time we had seen him. Older than even almost ten years should warrant. His demeanor seemed tired and almost haggard until you looked into his eyes. They were cunning, bright and unwavering.

“I want to answer your first question before you even ask it. No I am not your Uncle.”

“Then why did you tell us you were?” Dirk asked.

“It was your Mother’s idea. She thought a strange man coming to see you once a year would be less suspicious if you thought I was related to you.”

“Why did you come then?”

“It was in your father’s will. I followed his instructions. Being a member of SID his survivors were entitled to a survivor benefit. He asked that I hand deliver it to you and see how you were getting on. I am not exactly good with children but I did the best I could.”

I thought back to him sitting awkwardly on our couch asking us how school was and what our friends names were and what we liked to do for fun. He never really seemed interested in the answer.

“I was really good friends with your father and respected him even more. You see he was the head of the organization then.”

There was a long silence while my brother and I tried to digest this information.

“So our father is dead then.” I said more as a statement than a question.

“He went missing during his last mission. Given the nature of the mission the hope of him being still alive is non existent.”

“What was his last mission?”

“That is classified.”

“Why were we never told about SID?” Dirk asked.

“That was your father again. George wanted to keep you from joining and risking your lives like he did. He hoped you both would be duds but it was evident early one that Dirk at least had an ability. Maebell wasn’t too keen on you joining either. I believe it was a joint decision.”

“So who are you really?”

“I am Robert Strepshire, Head of operations of the Special Intelligence Division. That is all you need to know at the moment.”

I sat back and looked out the window. I needed to think. (K,kkkkkkkkkkjhlkojg [my 3 year old again]) I wanted to scream. It was too much to process.
“I want to join.” Dirk said suddenly. I looked at him, surprised.

“We would love to have you.” Strepshire said. “But first I will need to make sure you know what you are getting into. If you are serious about this come by the hotel at ten tomorrow morning and I will have James debrief you. If you still choose to join you will sign the necessary paperwork and be off.”

“Be off where?” I asked.

“To Salt Lake City. That is where our base is. We eat, sleep and train there. This is not a spur of the moment decision. This is more like joining the military. Once your in you are committed for at least six years and then you are up for a renewal.”

“If I join will I have access to my father’s files?” Dirk asked.

“To most of them, yes. That is not a good reason to join Dirk. This is not the boy scouts.”

Dirk stared at him. “Yes sir.”

A short while later we arrived at the Crestwood hotel and spa. Simon and Robin were waiting for us at the entrance. We got out and Strepshire offered Dirk his hand. Dirk shook it.

“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.” He told him and Dirk nodded.

He turned to me. “I can’t help but think of you as my uncle.” I said ”You were the only family I thought I had on my Dad’s side. My only connection to him. Will you allow me to continue to call you uncle?” Something indefinable passed over his eyes. He stood staring at me not knowing what to say or to do. Then he sighed and said. “Of course you can.”

I smiled and hugged him. He was even more astonished at this and hugged me back awkwardly. He didn’t seem to be a man who was used to physical touch. It made me wonder if he was married. I looked for a ring and didn’t see one.

Without another word he turned and walked into the hotel. Simon and Robin came up to us, their faces twin masks of shock.

“What?” I asked.

“You just hugged him!” Robin exclaimed.

“Yeah, so what? What’s the big deal? I’m a southern girl. We like hugs around here. You were at church this morning. You saw.”

Robin shook her head. “Your crazy is what you are. It would be like hugging a porcupine or a wild boar.”

I laughed. “I have hugged that man many times. I thought until about an hour ago that he was my Uncle. So I think I am entitled to hug him. Anyway, it has been a rough day and I would like to get back to the house now if that is ok with you two.”

They stood gaping at us again.

“Do you want me to drive?” Dirk asked.

Blade's Fall Chapters 5 and partial 6

The thought of laying in wait for the three villains fled Loflan’s mind as he hurried to do whatever Maude instructed him. Time seemed to drag and fly by at the same time. Finally, several hours after dusk her fever broke and her breathing evened out. Loflan sighed with relief and fell into a chair by the bed. He rested his head in his hands. He hadn’t felt this tired in a long time. This mental exhaustion was worse than any physical. He would rather run a thousand miles than feel so helpless again as she thrashed and moaned. She looked so broken and bruised. Several times he just knew she was dying but somehow she had pulled through.

“Who?” A hoarse, feeble voice tried to ask.

Loflan’s head snapped up. He must have fallen asleep because his neck was stiff and the sudden jerk sent sharp pains radiating through his neck.

Maude jumped out of her chair and was next to her in a flash. He couldn’t tell if Maude had been sleeping too.

“You are safe, little one.” Maude said to her in hushed tones.

Her eyes darted frantically around the room. They found Loflan. He had just a moment to register that under her swollen and bruised eyelids, her eyes were a russet color before she made a whimpering noise and closed her eyes tight. She started to struggle with her coverings trying to move back as far from him as she could. Loflan understood and disappeared out of the room.

“Shhhh little one. He is gone now. Do not worry about him, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Maude crooned in a motherly voice.

Loflan laughed as he sat down by the fire. He took a deep breath and pulled the magic from the air. This was mundane magic so the air felt cool as it raced through his body and filled his lungs. His eyes became vacant and devoid of the brightness they usually held. Loflan pushed his vision into the small mirror set above hearth in his bedroom. The mirror, like most everything in Loflan’s house was bound to him by a little of his blood so it readily accepted the intrusion. He chose the mirror because it gave him a clear view of the bedroom and more importantly, the bed itself. Seeing through his bound objects was tricky and dangerous. He was still in his body but his vision was not so he had no idea what was going on around his body. Loflan did not like feeling vulnerable in any way so he did not use this skill often.

Loflan could see Maude sitting next to the bedside table on the right side of the bed. She was holding a cup to the woman’s lips for her to drink. Loflan gathered more magic to him and pushed most of his hearing into the candlestick on the bedside table. The sounds in the room opened up to him.

“There, there little one. You are doing fine. Drink just a bit more of this water and then you can rest some more.” Maude was whispering to her.

“Who ahre ooo?” she asked. Her voice was so hoarse it was barely audible.

“Who am I?” Maude asked.

She nodded.

“Why my name is Maude and that handsome gentleman you saw earlier is Loflan. And who might you be?”

She drank more water before she answered. “E-lay-tha.” She drew out each syllable in an effort to make them distinct.

“Elatha.” Maude said contemptually. “I have never heard it before. I like it.” She smiled sweetly. It made her wrinkles smooth out and she looked like she could really be the harmless sweet old lady she pretended to be. “Now that is enough talk for now little one. Now it is time for rest.”

Elatha nodded to her and lay back upon her pillows and closed her eyes. It was not long before her breathing became even as sleep took her. Whether she fell asleep on her own or if Maude had helped her he couldn’t tell.

Maude looked up into the mirror. “No use in wasting so much energy to watch a girl sleep.” Maude said with an upraised eyebrow.

Loflan pulled his senses back to him and smiled.


****

Elatha of the Southlands slept soundly all through the night and into the next morning. Maude knew Loflan was up and about because she felt a whisper of him inside the mirror again. He did not linger long. She sent out her own magic and found him. He was on his training platform as he liked to call it. There was a trail that went a good distance up Sorsen if not all the way to it’s summit. About a quarter of the way up it branched off and lead back down to a platform of rock that jutted out over the tops of an outcropping of trees. This is where Loflan went every morning to train.
Maude’s magic was of a kind that did not always need binding to work. She sent her vision out to no particular place, just the general area where Loflan was playing with his sword. He was wearing close fitting pants that flared slightly mid calf and boots. That was it. Being above him in her current viewpoint Maude saw his lean muscled shoulders and corded arms flexing as he worked on his draw. His scabbard was straped to his back and he was drawing Banisher and resheathing it in a blur of motion. He was practicing his greatest strength. The running attack. As she had guessed soon Loflan began running. The platform was more long than wide so he had ample room to run, unsheathe Banisher and preform an areial jump while slicing the unseen enemy’s head off. He turned and proceeded to twist and turn and spin all the while slicing an invisible army to ribbons. His hard muscled chest was driping with sweat when he stopped at the point in which he had started his attack. He squatted, legs apart and rocked from side to side warming up his thighs. Loflan’s ability to run fast was a new one even to Maude. She never before came across a man who run at top speed and to such great distances without tiring out. The fabric of his pants strained against his thighs as he rocked a moment more. Then he began to run. About midway across the exspanse he suddenly stopped and looked up directly at the point in which Maude was watching him.

Well done. She thought as she looked down at his handsome face. His hair was slick with sweat but he still looked radiant to her. If she had ever been able to have a son, this would have been what she would have wanted. Handsome, brave, loyal to a fault and ruthless.

She brought herself back to the bedroom not a minute before the girl’s eyes opened.


****

Elatha looked at the old woman wearily. She was whispering nonsense to her again. She wondered who this lady thought she was fooling with her smiles and nods. She wasn’t buying the act. This woman may look like a little old lady with her whispy grey hair that would not stay under her little silk cap, her lined face and slightly stooped posture but Elatha knew there was something more to her. Her eyes gave it away. They were the color of quicksilver and sometimes she swore she saw is shift and swirl like oil on the surface of water.
She tuned in to whatever it was she was saying for a minute to see if it was anything important besides her usual blathering. She knew she should be grateful to them, the old woman and the man. She was just so broken and so…..so angry. She really just wanted to be alone to cry in peace. She slept so much that when she woke she wanted to try to think and clear her head but the old woman was always there, wiping her face, making her drink some water or vile tasting potion or helping her to relieve herself which was so frustrating and degrading.
All at once Elatha noticed the room was silent. Fear and panic slammed into her chest. Was something wrong? She turned to see Maude studying her.

“I get the feeling you would rather me shut up? Yes?” Maude asked her.

Elatha smiled and it hurt. She nodded.

“Do you want me to leave?” Maude asked.

Panic rose up in her chest at the thought of being alone. She wanted to speak but it hurt too much so she shook her head.

Maude nodded at her. “I understand. I will be right here if you need me. I only want you to know you are safe and that I am here for you. I understand your not wanting to be fussed over. I wouldn’t either. I just didn’t know how you would be.” Maude smiled at her and retired to a chair in the far corner of the room.

It was the same chair the man had sat in. Maude may say he was harmless but he sure didn’t look like it to her. A handsomer man she had never seen but a man with a more menacing air about him she had never seen either. He looked as if he could charm you while he ran you through with the enormous sword attached to his belt. His eyes were like smoke and where Maudes swirled his seemed to smoulder like a fire.

She wanted to cry but her eyes were too swollen. She wanted to scream but her throat was raw from it. She wanted to run but her ankles were broken. She could not believe this nightmare was really her life and now she was certain she was in a house full of Sorsenian witches. She had never been near witches before or even knew what they looked like but she felt that they were. All of the warnings drilled into her as a child from her professors and parents came back to her. Anyone above our border is a witch. All witches are evil and not to be trusted. That is why we live here, safe and protected from their taint. It had been especially important to teach the people of Colostra because it was the royal city and so near the border. If an attack were to come it would certainly come to them.

From all the terrible stories and warnings ever told to her she never heard of a group of witches saving any one.

“They must think I am from here.” she thought. “What will they do once they find out I am a south Escapian?”

This thought troubled her many a day while nightmares of her three assailants haunted her by night.





Chapter 6

“I don’t understand it.” Maude said as she made afternoon tea.

“You don’t get what?” Loflan inquired.

“Why did they come back?”

“Who?”

“Our three Queen’s guardsman.”

It had been nearly three weeks since he had found Elatha. Loflan had been so busy preparing the house for the impending winter and to make it comfortable for two women that her captors had not been foremost in his mind. Though he knew that would slowly change as time went on. His vow would soon start to haunt him and get worse until Banisher sliced them in two.

“I believe they were to travel farther into Sorsenia but decided to only go four days for whatever reason. They left her body on the side of the road where she would be found. I believe they knew the usual practice of us Sorsenians and so knew we would burn her body when she was found. They waited in town for news of her demise. When they got it, they left.”

“So you believe they were really acting on orders.” Maude said.

Loflan nodded. “Yes. They wouldn’t care where they dropped her otherwise. They would have just had their way with her and dropped her on the other side of the border.”

“Elatha’s vocal cords are healing well. She talkes quite plainly now. I do not ask her about her past and she doesn’t offer me any information willingly. I believe I am ready to hear her side of the story. I want to know if she really is a theif though I would bet my life she is not."

There was a silence between them as Maude took the kettle off the stove.

"I like her.” Maude confessed as she poured the tea into three earthenware cups. “She does not give way to grief nor have I heard her complain. Well she only complains when I fuss over her. I think she is either strong willed or a simpleton. She does not say much though I know that by now she can. Tonight after supper I plan to engage her in more serious conversation.”

“I will be sure to listen in.” Loflan said and winked.

“You do that.”


****