Blade's Fall Chapter eight

The next morning Maude was setting out breakfast on a small tea towel on Elatha’s lap. She was hunched over arranging bread, jam, butter and freshly scrambled eggs within easy reach when she suddenly stood up straight and smiled then hurriedly finished laying out the food.

“Maude, your boyfriend’s here.” Loflan called out.

“Oh hush up you naughty thing.” Maude called back.

“What does he mean?’ Elatha asked, curious. “Who is here?”

“He means Brute is back and he knows very well that I already know it too. He just likes pushing my buttons. Brute is my ass.”

“Your what?” Elatha asked shocked.

Maude laughed. “That’s what we call donkeys. No need to be so scandalized. Though Loflan does like to have a bit of fun with the word, I use it for it’s intended purpose.”

“May I ask a personal question?” Elatha asked.
“Why sure.”

“What is Loflan to you?”

Maude smiled. “He is my apprentice just like you were your Aunt and Uncle’s apprentice back home. The only difference is I teach him magic skills”

“Did you raise him?”

“No child. Loflan and I met when he was a strapping lad of seventeen.”

“Does his family live nearby?”

“No. Now you are asking me personal questions about somebody else. If you want to know more about him you need to ask him yourself.”

“Do you live nearby?”

“No, about an eight day journey away.”

Elatha was silent for a moment. “Do you have any children?”

She shook her head. “Was married many times but the Lord didn’t bless me with little ones. He did bless me with Loflan and that has been nearly the same thing. Now eat your breakfast I bet your eggs are stone cold.”

Maude smiled at her and swept out of the room. A minute later she heard the outside door open and close and Loflan chuckle.



Elatha wished so much that she would stop hurting. Her whole body ached, her face throbbed and her ankles felt like someone was constantly pushing white hot needles into them. Every time she dwelled on the pain she tried to remember that if Loflan hadn’t found her she wouldn’t be feeling any pain at all, she would be dead. They did not tell her but she knew they helped her heal with their magic and she would be in a lot more pain if they hadn’t. Her vocal cords were almost completely healed she only had a very sore throat and a slight rasp when she spoke. She knew she screamed and sobbed so much and for so long her throat was almost destroyed. At first it had hurt to drink or even breath. Her bruises were rapidly healing and her nails where she had ripped them off scratching at the dirt, wagon and anything else she could reach were growing back rapidly. It seemed like all of her surface wounds were healing more than twice as fast but her rib and ankles were not. Only the pain of these injuries were lessoned.

At least she would be crippled all through the winter and not the summer months. How miserable it would be to hear birds chirping and see the sun shinning merrily through the window. She had no idea what to expect from a Sorsenian winter though she heard Loflan and Maude talk frequently about getting this or that done before the snows came.

South Escapia had generally mild weather. Her home had a little snow in winter but the southern lands saw none at all. She knew North Escapia was a cold place, full of ice and fridged temperatures. Or at least she though she knew. She didn’t know what she knew for sure anymore.

Later that evening Maude brought into her room a work basket and sat it on her bed.

“Oh thank you Maude.” Elatha exclaimed examining the tread. “I am getting desperate for something to do.”

“I thought you might be. I also had Brute bring you some novels if you like to read.”

“I do love to read only I rarely read novels. I prefer non fiction but am grateful for whatever I can get.”

This surprised Maude considering her age most young ladies loved novels. “Well I will bring them in to you. I will also bring you some books of Loflan’s since you like the factual stuff. He has lots of those though I am not sure how you will like the subject matter.”

Elatha gave her a quizzical look.

“Well my dear you are in a house owned by a user so naturally he has lots of books on the subject.”

Elatha looked out of the window. “I must admit I was terrified when I found out where I was, almost as terrified as being with those men. I was terrified you would kill me once you found out where I came from. I thought I had survived only to be killed cruelly by the hands of users. Now that I know you a little better I feel terribly fascinated with magic and Sorsenia and even North Escapia. Everything I grew up believing is crumbling before my eyes and now I have so many questions.”

“I think Loflan’s library will satisfy some of your questions. There is a lot of ground to cover. Do you have some burning you up right now you would like to know before I go start supper?”

“Oh yes.” Elatha said excitedly. She sat up in bed and began to rewind a loosened ball of thread. “There are two questions I most want to know right now.”

“And they are?”

“What is magic and is one born with it or is it learned?”

“I will answer the second question first. Magic is not learned. When a child comes of age, that is roughly seventeen in Sorsenia and sixteen in the Northlands, he or she makes the trek to one of the Calling sites that are scattered across the land. The person then stands within the Calling and if it is inside them their ability to use magic is revealed. Unlike what your historians would like you to believe not every person is a user. In fact we are pretty uncommon. I would say a third of the population are magic users. Once you know you have the ability then you can learn what to do with it.

Now to answer your first question in the ultra condensed version. Magic is everywhere. It is in the air and it is in the earth. We are not born with magic but we are born with the ability to channel it, to mold it and bend it to do our will.”


“What about South Escapians?” Elatha asked. “Are they too born with this ability but never even know it?”

“Oh yes. I would say about a third of you have the gift and never know it. I have heard of a few who have come across and went to a Calling and became users but I have also heard of some who discovered they were not. I personally have never been acquainted with a South Escapian to my knowledge. I am now of course.” She said and smiled at Elatha.

“I would like to read these books Loflan has if he doesn’t mind.”

“He won’t mind and you can read them even if he does. He is as crotchety as an old crone sometimes. More so even because I am an old crone and I am not as crotchety as he.”

“I can hear you.” Loflan called from the kitchen.

“Oops.” Maude whispered to Elatha and winked.

Blades's Fall Chapter Seven

There were a few minutes of silence following the conclusion of Elatha’s tale. Loflan pulled his stool out of the shadows so Elatha could see him as he asked.

“Can I ask you why the sickness you mentioned was called the ‘blackness’?”

Elatha did not look at his face or answer him. She was staring transfixed at his feet.

Loflan looked down. “Is there something wrong?”

Elatha shook herself. “Oh no, only I do not recall ever seeing a man’s bare feet before. A boy’s, yes but not a grown man’s.”

Maude laughed. “Well you had better get used to them. Loflan here rarely wears foot coverings.”

“Really? How strange.” She said, still not looking at him. My father always had his stockings on. Is leaving the feet bare a common practice in Sorsenia?”

“Oh no. Loflan is one of a kind in that and many other respects besides.”

Loflan cleared his throat.

“The blackness.” said Elatha getting back to the topic. “It was called that because of black color it’s victim’s fingertips, toes and lips turned when they became infected. At first it would only be a hint, a shadow on their skin. As the sickness wore on it got darker and darker until it turned black. Then they would die.”

Loflan stood up, his hand unconsciously shifting to rest on banisher.

“Maude.” he said in a controlled whisper.

Maude looked unmoved. “Sit down boy. There is nothing we can do at the moment. It is not the right time.”

“I can not just sit here. I must go now before they are called!”

Maude stood. “Clam down my boy. Even the mighty banisher can not fight that alone. We must wait and get better prepared. The snows will come any day now making our entrance and exit to the capital difficult if not impossible. Nothing has been done as yet so we must assume it is building it’s dominion still. These things take time.”

“What is wrong?” Elatha asked with interest.

“It is a bit of an explanation and some parts I do not believe you are ready for the hearing of.” Maude explained. “I want to first say that I regret to inform you Queen Sinnea has passed on. She likely died the night before she reemerged from her chambers after King Lyam’s death.”

“But how can this be? I saw her with my own eyes not one month ago!” Elatha exclaimed.

“You saw her body. Unfortunately she was not in it.”

Elatha was stunned into silence. She stared at Maude half in awe and half disbelieving.

“I realize this is all difficult for a South Escapian to comprehend but I am going to have to ask you to trust us and to open your mind to the rest of what I am going to tell you. What the Queen is now is what we call ‘demon ridden‘. Demons are evil beings who pray upon wickedness, sorrow, fear, vanity and pride. They come to a person when they are emotionally at the brink of death or willing to do most anything for the acquiring of something, as in wealth, power, beauty. You get the picture.”

“Like promising to bring back a beloved spouse from the dead.” Loflan interjected.

“ Indeed. The demon promises that person they will give them what they desire but it is a lie. Once the burning ritual is complete the soul of the person is released and the demon takes over.”

Elatha looked terrified. “So magic users are evil.” She muttered.

Maude smiled at her patiently but before she could speak Loflan cut in.

“Demons are not now and have never been human. Nor were they created by magic. They were created by God but they shunned him. Before the Great Division they tempted man in more subtle ways.”

Elatha laughed. “So you tell me users are mostly good and fairy tale fallen angels are real? This is more than even a low born South Escapian can believe.”

Both Maude and Loflan looked at her patiently. “We are not trying to convince you to believe anything we say but by our actions we will show you their truth.”

Elatha looked as sheepish as she could manage under her bruises. “That sounds fair enough. I am sorry to be so ungrateful of your kindness.”

“And disrespectful to our beliefs.” Maude chimed in.

“You have to understand I grew up being taught any person north of our borders were evil, dirty, misshapen half animals.” She couldn’t help but look at Loflan here and decide his frame was most certainly not misshapen and nor was he dirty. He caught her glance and she did not detect any evil in his eyes but there was a decidedly half animal intensity to them. She blushed though thankfully her bruises hid it and looked back to Maude. “I was also taught there was no God or Gods. That magic and religion were the cause of the Great Division in the first place. I can see for myself most of what I have been taught may not be true. I am willing to learn more of Sorsenia since it is to be my home for some time.”

“For some time? Do you mean you plan to go back to South Escapia?” Maude asked.

“Yes of course. I am going to reclaim what was mine.”

Maude smiled and looked at Loflan. “Well deary we will just have to toughen you up a bit first, won’t we my boy?”

Loflan said nothing for a long moment. Elatha didn’t dare look at him. “She should be given the opportunity to reclaim her life once the demon is banished.” He finally said.

“How do you kill a…….demon ridden person?”

“You don’t. Killing a demon is beyond our abilities and only the Banisher can kill the host body so that the demon will be released and the soul of the body can rest.” Maude answered.

“So Sinnea’s soul is not at rest?”

“No. It is in a kind of limbo. Once her body dies, her soul will be released.”
“How long can her body live with the demon inside it?”

“Indefinitely if the Banisher does not come to destroy it.”

“How do we contact someone who has the power to release her?”

“As it happens our dear Loflan here is the Banisher.”

Elatha looked at him. “Oh. How many of them are there?”

“How many what? Demons or Banishers?”

“Both.”

“Many and only one. You got pretty lucky to be rescued by the only person on earth who can free your queen from her demon and restore you to your prince. It’s almost like there are other forces at work here doesn’t it?” Maude smiled mischievously. Elatha couldn’t help but smile back and shrug.

“What is a banisher?”

“The Banisher.” Maude corrected. “That is another long story. I think we have enough to ponder on for one night. We will resume tomorrow night.”

Elatha nodded, Loflan rose, nodded at each lady in turn and swept from the room.

“He is going to be a right bear until he calms down some. Patience is not one of his many virtues.” Maude said shaking her head.”

Blade's Fall Chapter Six

“I don’t understand.”

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

“Why did they come back?”

“Who?”

“Our three 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.

“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 acting on orders from the Queen herself?” 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 talks 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…… I like her.” Maude confessed as she poured tea into three earthenware cups. “She does not give way to grief or complain. Well she only complains when I fuss over her. She does not say much though I know that by now she can. I am ready to know the truth.”

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

Maude gave him a look. “You are coming too. It’s high time she got used to you.”

“Are you sure?”

Maude didn’t reply. She took the tray of tea into the bedroom.

Elatha was sitting up in the bed looking blankly out the window. She turned at their approach. Loflan saw the swelling had gone down considerably but her face was still a mass of bruises in varing shades of black, purple and yellow tinged with green. Her russet colored eyes locked on his and though her body did not move he saw the urge to recoil in her gaze. He did not stop but continued on to a stool in the shadows. Maude sat the tray down on the side table and served the tea.

“I thought it was high time we heard your side of the story, my dear. Are you feeling up to it?” Maude asked.

“My side of the story?” Elatha asked.

“Aye. Loflan here has had it from our three merry men that you have stolen important information from the South Escapian Queen.”

Elatha’s eyes went wide.

“Oh yes and they say they have been tracking you down to punish you for your crimes. The problem with their story is that you were found carrying no items that would lend credit to their claims. Could perhaps this information be in your head?”

Elatha stared at Maude stunned for a moment before answering her charges. “I have no information. I was kidnapped by those men and…..” she trailed off. “….left to die.”

“But why? Why would three of the Queen’s personal guards take the trouble of dropping you a four day’s journey from the capital in Sorsenia? Why would the Queen want no one to know of your fate?”

Elatha looked away. “Her son and I…..” she answered quietly.

“Ah I see. So you did make off with something. The heart of the Prince. Yes, yes that would do it nicely.”

“I do not understand it. If I had not been there when she told the men to take me I would not have believed she would do this to me! She used to be so kind and so loving.”

“And now?” Maude proded.

“Now she is crewl and a tyrant to her people. Since the King died almost two years ago Palasia is a different place all together.”

Maude and Loflan exchanged a curious a look.

“I believe this is the perfect time for you to tell us more about yourself. Do not fear that we disbelieve you because we do not. And take your time dear, we have no other place to be.”

Elatha sat up a little straighter and ran her fingers through ther hair in a nervous way. When her fingers only ran through an inch of hair and no more. Elatha’s face changed into a pained expression. Her russet eyes began to water and Loflan thought for a moment she might cry. Instead she gathered herself together and began to speak.
****

“My father was the royal physician. The royal physician in South Escapia is treated with a certain amount of trust and respect though our station in society is only slightly above that of the commoners. My Mother fancied herself much higher than that and so our house, furnishings and lifestyle reflected this. From a young age I was put to work as an apprentice chandler in my Aunt and Uncle’s shop so that I might earn a little money for the upkeep of our façade.
One of the many perks of being the royal physician was that we were invited to many balls, teas and other outings. It was always good to have the physician in attendance in case of accidents. The teas and garden parties were the only events my mother could bring me to until I came of age. She did not start bringing me until she was sure I would be deemed 'pretty'.
My father did not join us at these parties as they were for the ladies only and my mother was invited as a courtesy. I never understood the enchantment my mother felt in going to these parties. We were treated civilly but not kindly. The majority of the ladies pretended we were not there. The Queen was the only lady in attendance that was truly kind. She always listened to what my Mother had to say, silly or not, and seemed genuinely interested in our health and happiness.

When we returned home after these visits my mother was always inundated with letters and calls. All the neighborhood ladies would come for fresh gossip. They would talk endlessly of what so and so wore and who was betroved to who.

I had always heard growing up that there was a Prince. Only going to ladies’ parties I never saw him. He was not allowed to go into town often and I never happened to be there the same time as he. Not that I cared. I had too much work to do to be curious. So my first view of him was at my first ball at age seventeen. My mother dressed me in the finest dress we could possibly afford and spent a deal of time on my hair and face powdering. She was so proud of my coming out she never noticed that the women only glanced at me with scorn and the men only with interest long enough to discern my connections, or lack of them. I was asked to dance several times. A man of any station my ask a lady of any station to dance. To court her is another matter.
As I have said before I got little enjoyment from high society so I escaped into the garden at the first opportunity. I walked the hedges and flowering plants by the lantern light when a flicker of metal caught my eye behind a large hedge. I peered behind it and saw a long bench under a tall black alder. I snuck behind the hedge and sat down. I had only been there sitting a few minutes when I heard a rustling. I sat up straighter and peered into the darkness. A shape swiftly slipped onto the bench beside me from behind the tree. The figure started upon noticing me and exclaimed.

“Who are you that have found my hiding place?” a young male voice asked me out of the darkness.

“I am Elatha Spark, sir.”

“The good doctor’s daughter I believe?”

“Yes, sir.”

“No need to call me sir.” He said waving a hand for emphasis. I could not see his face, only his shape in the darkness. “So are you hiding too?”

I smiled. “In a sense.”

“Might I ask who from?”

“My Mother.”

“And so we already have two things in common!” The boy exclaimed. “I too am hiding from my Mother! To hide from your mother at such an event as this could mean only one thing. She is trying to marry you off to someone?”

“Anyone.” I replied with a slight groan in my voice.

“This is amazing! Here I thought this ball was the dullest one yet. But now I have stumbled onto a kindred spirit.”

I laughed a little at this. “If this is not your first ball then you must be older than I. This is my first.”

“Indeed though not by much. I am eighteen next Saturday.”

Something about that statement triggered something in my head but I couldn’t grasp what it might be.

The boy and I talked for as long as we possibly could before we knew we had to rejoin the party or be missed. We talked books mostly. Of dragons and castles and damsels in distress. He told me it was his life’s dream to rescue a fair maiden from a tower. He made me laugh and the more I laughed the more silly he became in an attept to make me laugh again.

“We must leave at separate times my lady.” He told me. “You shall go first. My Mother is used to me disappearing. I will emerge in five minutes more.”

I agreed and stood to go.

“Are you to go with your family to the Rambling's picnic this Saturday?” He asked.

“Yes I believe so. It is in honor of Prince Haylan’s birthday……” I said trailing off.

“Then I will see you there.”

I left holding my breath as I went. Surely it was a coincidence their birthdays were the same? His name! I had never even asked his name.

I found my mother instantly and went to stand behind her. She was smiling and talking with a few other ladies. She smiled up at me but made no mention of my hour long disappearance.

My mind was racing, trying to convince myself I had not just sat on a secluded bench under and alder tree, at night with the Prince of Escapia when my eyes turned of their own accord to the archway leading in from the garden. There a boy stood. He was dressed in fine Palaisian blue, tailor cut to fit him perfectly. His blonde hair was long and tied in the back with a blue silk ribbon. His dark blue eyes were looking directly into mine. He smiled, turned and walked up to sit in a blue velvet chair on the Queen’s right. She leaned down and kissed his cheek lovingly.

From that night on I looked forward to events at the castle a deal more than I had before. We met in our spot behind the hedge at every evening ball. On day time excursions he always treated me the same as the high born girls of our age that accompanied us. To say they hated me for it would be an understatement. When we were not dreaming of adventures he would sometimes ask me to dance. While the men took no notice, the ladies turned up their noses at us. I, having grown up with it didn’t much care but it gnawed on Haylan. He ranted and raved about it sometimes and I would laugh and tell him it didn’t matter. He swore when he was King he would do away with the social system and make all his people equal.

After two years of meetings in secret and his increasing attentions to me the Queen started to catch on. We were afraid she would be furious and separate us. Instead she seemed to treat me with even more kindness than before.


Everything seemed to be going wonderfully. For the first time in my short life I was happy. And then the blackness came.

The night before it struck was a ball. Haylan and I danced and laughed quite openly. The King and Queen looked on at us fondly and my mother and father were in raptures with the hope that they might have the Prince of Escapia as a Son in Law.

Underneath the black alder Haylan talked passionately of what he planned to do once he was King.

"My first act of rebelling against the social system will be to marry a girl of common birth.” He told me.

“Indeed!” I exclaimed. “And do you have a common lady in mind or will any old handmaiden do?” I asked jokingly though my heart thudded in my chest.

He mimicked thinking very hard before he answered. “I believe a Doctor’s daughter would be just the thing.” He said sitting closer to me and taking my hands in his. “But wait. You are the daughter of a doctor, are you not?”

I nodded slowly. My heart’s beating was deafening. His blue eyes seemed to burn into mine as he asked. “What do you think? Would you turn away from everyone’s perception of being a common girl and consent to become my uncommon wife?” He did not wait for my answer before he dropped to his knee in the dirt before me and gave me reason after reason why I should say yes. That he would provide for me and do anything for me. He needed have troubled himself because my answer was yes.

Later that night I left the ball with such a light heart and aura of happiness that it was a wonder I didn’t float home. That was all to change a few hours later when a rider rode up to our house and knocked furiously on our door. The King was violently ill and father must go to him at once. The rider only allowed my father to grab some impliments of his trade and jars of medicines before whisking him away in his nightdress and stockings.

Mother and I were so worried we stayed up all the night awaiting his return. It was well past daybreak when he returned home with the news that the King had perished of this new and strange illness. Father could not stay and rest as others in the castle were sick and dying of this 'blackness' as it would later be called. The next few weeks were a blurr of sickness and death in the castle and all throughout Palasia. Once the King was buried the Queen locked herself in her rooms and would let no one in, not even Haylan.

My mother was the first to die of the blackness. My father stopped making visits once she died. He sent me to my Aunts and Uncles and within a week of my move my father succumbed to the blackness as well.

The blackness stopped as suddenly as it had begun. After two months one third of Palasia’s population were dead. The Queen reemerged and was forever changed. Her face was now hard and her once sweet voice was now harsh. The first thing she did was stop all parties and balls. The second thing she did was send her son to Langley. Almost as far away from Palasia as she could and still be in South Escapia. Langley, a region of Bransford was at that time at war with the region of Broadmore. For the next two years Haylan was trained in Langley and sent to fight a war he knew nothing about. Word of him still came to Palasia and we learned he became a decorated and ruthless Captain that insisted to rise the ranks with his skill and not his title. I was very proud of him but also very scared. I could not reason how crewl the Queen had become towards her son and her people that she had once loved so dearly.

She left me completely alone to work in the chandler’s shop with my Aunt and Uncle until Haylan came back from war. He sent a note the evening of his arrival asking me to meet him at our usual place the late next evening.

When I arrived he grabbed me and held me for a very long time breathing deeply.

“I haven’t much time. The guards will notice I am gone soon so I must be quicker than I want to be. I believe my Mother sent me away with the hope I would die in the war.”

I gasped but he went on. “She is so unlike herself, Elatha. All she cares for now is money and power. She is working to implement a new tax on all of South Escapia that would have them give a large portion of what they make or have to her. No one is to own their own land unless they pay the high tax she puts upon it. Those that can not afford the new tax will be placed in ‘colonies’ where they labor until their debt is paid. I try to talk to her but she has no time for me but a short word here or there. I must do what I can here to delay this tax and the formation of these colonies.”

He looked at me pleadingly now. “I fought hard to come home. To find out why my mother sent me away when I needed her the most and to marry the woman I love. It seems as though I will not know either. My mother told me today that she had betroved me to a woman, seven years my senior and very weathy in the Ukiane province. I told her I would not marry her and that I was already betroved to you. She yelled at me Elatha. She threw things at me and told me I would marry that person and that I should never see you again or face dire consequences.”

I was in shock. It was so much to process. To know the Queen for so long as a kind and loving motherly lady and to hear of her now was too much for my brain to process.

“I fear this must be our last meeting for sometime, maybe forever. I will not marry that person no matter what my mother may threaten me with. You, you must try to forget me. Marry someone else and live a good life.”

“I could never!” I protested.

We embraced then and with one last earnest look, he was gone.

The next morning I was escorted by three men to the castle to have an audience with the Queen. I am not sure if she had somehow discovered our meeting or if she had planned this beforehand. She met me in a small room just inside the castle. She looked so different. All of her soft lines now seemed hard. Her white hair was worn like a maine, wild around her face and faceted with glittering diamonds. Her gown was inexpressibly fine with blue saffaires woven into intricate designs on dark blue silk. Her fingers were studded with rings where before she had had only two. Her hard expression did not change as I entered the room and curtsied.

She looked me up and down and addressed the three men who had led me there.

“Take her a full journey north and make sure she is found and disposed of in the usual way.” She looked at me then and smiled a small, terrifying smile. “My son fancies he is in love with you though I do not see his inducement. But never fear. I will teach him what happens when he defies me. I will teach them all.” She jerked her head and one of the men put a cloth over my mouth. I did not even get the chance to struggle before darkness claimed me.

When I awoke I was in the back of a cart being pulled by horses. My body told me I had already been violated while I lay unconscious and I am thankful for that. As you can see they took turns beating me and devising new ways to shame me. I screamed until nothing more would come from my throat but no one came. I have no idea how no one heard me but no one did. There were several times I thought I were dying and was disappointed when I next awoke. I remember nothing of being found. I only remember waking up here in this bed.

I have not said it before but I do thank you for saving me. Saving me from those men. Saving me from death."


****

Quake Chapter Eight

When we returned to the familial homestead, Mom had spread the table with coffee, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and board games. Of course Simon couldn’t play but he had a good time laughing at our poker faces. He did compliment me on mine but then again I was trained and tended to wear my poker face more often than not.

“Mom,” Dirk said when they had left for the hotel. “Would you like to know who Simon and Robin really are?”

My Mother went ridged. “What do you mean son?”

“The deli has only been a cover to keep an eye on us. They really belong to a secret military operation called the Special Intelligence Division. Shia accidentally discovered who they really were.”

Mother sighed and looked into her son’s eyes. “How much do you know?”

“We met with Uncle Strep today. He told us a bit about Dad.”

She nodded. “I have signed the official secrecy act. I can not tell you as much as you would like to know but I can tell you all about your father now that doesn’t involve SID. I am sure you both mean to join them?”

“Yes.” Dirk said immediately.

“I’m not sure.” I told her.

“Well let me tell you both this. Before you go jumping into anything remember your father. SID is not all fun and games. Your life and those of your future families may be at risk.”

We nodded.

After a moment Mom smiled at us. “I had hoped you would never find out. I thought I would be angry or sad if you did but now that it has happened…..I don’t feel either of those things.” She said as she sat down on the couch.

Dirk sat next to her and asked. “How do you feel about it? I don’t want to join if you are totally against it.”

“I’m not sure. I think I feel somewhat relieved. Now we can talk about things we never have before and I feel like a barrier has been removed from between us now that I do not have to keep so many secrets. ”

I sat on her other side. “So tell us then. About Dad.”


****

It was daylight before we went to sleep and Dirk was already gone when I got up. I dressed quickly and went downstairs. Mom was still home and she sat with a to go cup of coffee next to her at the kitchen table. She held it out to me.

“Do you think Dad would be disappointed with us?” I asked her.

“Yes. I think he would understand though. He has kept you safe for this long. Now it is time to make your own decisions about your future.”
****

It was fifteen minutes after ten when I pulled mom’s car into the hotel’s parking lot. I hesitated only a moment before I walked into the conference room. I had expected to see Robin, Simon, James, Strep and Dirk but there were also three other men there I didn’t recognize and Robin was absent. When I walked in Strep looked up at me not at all surprised to see me. Simon flashed a huge grin on me like he was surprised to see me. Dirk jumped up out of his seat and hugged me. It took me a second to register that a stereo was playing in the corner of the room. Classical music was playing on a very low setting. It made the atmosphere calm and soothing.

“So what did I miss?” I asked sitting down.

Robin walked in at that moment and smiled at me delightedly.

“Robin it looks like you will have to add one more to the lunch list.” Strep informed her.

“Ok. Be right back.” She said brightly and bounded out of the room.

“To answer your question Shia we haven’t gotten much past introductions which we will make again. You already know Simon, James and Robin. This is Milo Hall,” He said gesturing to an elderly black man with a thin frame and kind face. “This is Brian Stewart who is assigned to Maebell protection,” here he gestured to a man who seemed the same age as me or maybe a little younger. “and lastly this is Dale Stewart who is the head of our recruiting department.” The two Stewarts, both red headed with blocky features were definitely related. Either Father and son or Uncle and nephew, I guessed.

I told them all it was nice to meet them though I wondered at Strep’s omission of what Milo’s role in this meeting was.

The meeting lasted about an hour with more Q&A over lunch. I paid close attention to everything that was said but couldn’t help but watch Milo out of the corner of my eye. He had a legal pad in front of him that he wrote in every so often during our discussion.

After lunch was eaten and the table cleared Stewart senior passed Dirk and I huge pamphlets to look through and sign. Dirk tackled them immediately but I hesitated.

“Could I take a walk?”

Strep nodded.

I left the hotel and walked aimlessly around the grounds. I did not want to take this decision lightly. Not that I thought Dirk was, I just take longer to stew than he does.

“Shia.” An unfamiliar voice called to me from behind. I turned to see Milo walking slowly towards me. “Can I help you in any way?”

I shrugged. “You couldn’t hurt me.”

Milo was stick thin and walked just a little hunched. I startled him a little by looping my arm through his and walking with him.

“Phishaw. Your in the south now. This is standard practice here.”

“I’m from upstate New York so forgive me if I am unused to this kind of treatment. Where I come from if a stranger touches you it is never for a friendly reason.”

I smiled at him. “I have to say I am very glad I am from the south.”

He smiled back at me. “Now for the important matters. What is causing you this distress I feel? I don’t think it is at the prospect of joining SID. I feel fairly confident your mind is already made up in that department.”

I looked at him quizzically. “So is that what you do? You feel my emotions?”

“Well that could be a figure of speech but since it comes from a member of SID I could see why you would be suspicious. And you are correct. I can feel what you feel as you feel it and can associate it with what is going on around you.”

“So you have been writing down our emotions through the whole meeting?”

He nodded.

“Why not have Simon write down what our emotions are and what we are thinking?”

“Simon can not feel your emotions and there are ways to combat his gift. There is no way to hide your feelings on the inside. Even someone that can mask their mind, body language and facial expressions” he looked at me slyly. “can not lie to me.”

“Well that sure is disturbing.”

“And useful.”

“Are there many like you?”

“None exactly like me. There are some with the gift to feel one or two emotions. And you are avoiding the topic. I have answered your questions now answer mine. What makes you reluctant to join?”

“I am not really sure myself Milo. You have to think I have only just learned of this and about my father. It is a lot to process and I am sure you can tell, a lot of emotional turmoil as well. I am sure I won’t regret joining but I guess I am afraid I won’t do well.” I hesitated. “I have never been good at anything.” I confessed.

He squeezed my arm. “Trust me, you will find what you are good at. SID has a way of training the untrainable and polishing rough stones to glitter like jewels. Take Simon. He was a hard case but we never gave up on him and now he is one of the best men in the division.”

My eyebrows rose. “Hum.” I mused trying to picture Simon younger and wild. I could picture it pretty easily. I am sure the young girls didn’t stand a chance around him.

Milo looked at me. “What are you thinking Simon was like when he was younger?”

“How do you know I am thinking about that?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “I know how you feel when Simon is mentioned or near so since we are speaking of his troubled past I deduce you are imagining him in all the wrong ways.”

I stifled a blush before it could go much farther than my neck. Though I am not sure why I bothered. Must be a reflex.

“I assure you that was never the case. It was his abilities that were hard to control. I know it is hard to believe but Simon has never been one for chased women and getting rowdy. Oh sure plenty have sought him but imagine if you could hear your prospective date’s every thought. Not just about you but about other people. It has helped him weed out many a fake flower.”

I said nothing. I felt foolish. I could see where what Milo said made sense but it was still hard to believe. Simon was a man after all.

“Robin too had her difficulties. We thought she would never get past stage one with her wind working. Even now her strongest talent is not her wind working ability. She is super fast and very smart.”

“You are probably right but I feel like I am going into a dark tunnel without knowing what is on the other side.”

“Well Shia, that’s half the fun of it.” He smiled at me and I chuckled at him.

Our meanderings had led us back to the double glass doors of the hotel. My heart gave a jerk when I looked through them and saw Simon in the foyer, arms crossed looking out at me. I also cursed that Milo had felt my heart flip flop as well. “I know how you feel when Simon is mentioned or near.” he had said. Ugh. I did know one thing that would be on the other side of the tunnel. No privacy for my mind or my emotions. I wondered if there was someone who could look through walls too. Wouldn’t that be just great.

Milo unlocked his arm from mine and opened the door for me. I didn’t look at Simon as I passed him and went into the conference room but I felt his eyes on my back. I sat at the table where my stack still sat undisturbed and picked up the pen.

“Alright.” I said. “Let’s do this.”