Castlewarming Chapters 591-600
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 591
by Arkie
Arkie jerked awake, spitting out the freezing water from her mouth and
shivering from the soaked shirt she was now wearing.
"Welcome back," Hercules mumbled as 'shana tossed him a blanket to cover
the shaking woman.
"I just had the weirdest dream," Arkie sputtered as she hugged the warm
blanket around her and wiped away the water rivulets running down from her
wet hair. "Did I fall in the water?"
"No, it fell on you," Hercules chuckled. "You fainted."
"Again?" Arkie moaned, but stopped short as she suddenly remembered what
Hercules had told her. "Nooooooo, I remember now."
'shana frowned at the terrified look on her friend's face. "Did he hurt
you?"
"Yes!" Arkie snapped in irritation.
'shana straightened and narrowed angry eyes on the son of Zeus. She didn't
care if he was a half-god, he wouldn't hurt Arkie any more.
"Shoshana, listen to me," Hercules tried to reason to the obviously angry
woman. "I haven't hurt her in the way you think I've hurt her..."
'shana stepped between Arkie and Hercules to shield her friend. "You won't
hurt her again, I promise you that!"
"Wait, 'shana," Arkie interrupted, having finally realized 'shana had taken
her remark at face value. "It's not like that."
"Then what's it like? You don't have to be afraid, I won't let him..."
'shana assured her.
"Actually, 'shana, I haven't got a clue as to what it is like, but please,
sit down and listen. Maybe you can help me figure it out," Arkie grumbled.
'shana glared back at Hercules for a moment, then expelled an irritated
breath. "Fine. Move over," she ordered the half-god.
Hercules began to protest, then shrugged his shoulders and scooted sideways
to allow the fiercely protective 'shana to sit between he and Arkie.
"Nothing like togetherness," Hercules mumbled. Again he was treated to
another of 'shana's cold looks of aggravation.
"Arkie, Zeus is your father and to be perfectly honest, I have no clue who
your mother was. But after father saw what Hera was doing to me and the
depth of her hatred, he took away your half-goddess powers and turned you
into a mortal."
"Excuse me for a moment," Arkie gasped as she rose and trotted down to the
bank of the stream, knelt, doused her face with cold water, then quickly
walked back and sat down. "Okay, go on."
"My mother, Alcmene, told me about you when I was 15. Zeus had asked her
advice on what to do with another half-mortal, half-god child. She
suggested the only sure way to protect you was to take away your powers in
order to avoid attracting Hera's attention. By this time, Mother had seen
several attempts by Hera to have me killed and she just couldn't stand
watching another innocent child go through the torment Hera would hand out.
It was too late to use the strategy on me, but you hadn't been discovered
by Hera so Zeus presented you to your foster parents the day you were
born."
'shana was wide-eyed at the tale unfolding and turned to check on the
condition of the equally shocked Arkie. "You handling this so far?"
All Arkie could manage was a slight nod.
"Anyway, you were raised on a farm and lived a normal, mortal existence
without interference by the gods. Then came the day you were to marry. Zeus
blew it and showed up for the wedding, playing the proud papa part and Hera
started getting suspicious. To protect you, Zeus sent you into the future
and Hera had no clue where he'd sent you. I guess you pretty much know what
happened once you got there."
"But why don't I remember any of this?" Arkie asked in confusion.
"He had Hades wipe out your New Greeceland memories and implanted new ones
for your life there," Hercules replied softly. He knew this must be the
toughest thing she'd ever heard.
"So I took on somebody else's life?" Arkie croaked.
"Yeah."
"So, if I took on the real Arkie's life and I'm really Arkia, then who in
the heck is the Arkia in New Greeceland?"
'shana shook her head having figured it out. "Arkia here is the future
Arkie, right? With replaced memories and all."
"Yep," Hercules replied.
"So her kids are really my kids? No, wait...my kids are really her kids?"
Arkie muttered.
"Again, you got it," Hercules sighed.
'shana narrowed her eyes, but this time in concentration. "So Arkie could
stay here and get her old memories back and Arkia could go back to the
future and get her future memories back."
"Basically, except of course, Arkie will now be Arkia and..." Hercules
tried to explain.
"Whoa! Just a second. I am gonna be Arkie no matter what century I end up
in," Arkie proclaimed stubbornly. "And I'm not about to marry some dude I
don't even know!"
"Okay, fine. Calm down. That's hardly the biggest problem you've got right
now," Hercules protested. "The big problem is...do you want to stay here or
go back to the future?"
"Yep, that's the real problem," Arkie sighed. "I don't know what I want. I
mean, I've been raising two boys and how could I just leave them behind?
Plus I do have a husband and he might just miss me."
'shana smiled sympathetically at the future woman. She was starting to
follow Hercules' explanation, but she knew for sure, Arkie was too confused
by this news to be thinking in the right frame of reference. "Arkie, they
aren't really your kids, or husband, they're hers."
Arkie gulped and tears clouded her blue eyes. 'shana was right. Arkia had
been the one really
robbed.
"Okay. I'm back to the past for good. But I want three things," Arkie
insisted as she sniffed back tears. "First, I don't want any powers,
period! Second, I want Arkia to have her lost memories replaced and those
I've had with those boys added so the kids have no clue as to what has been
done to them. Third...I don't want my memory messed with. I'll start with
today."
"But, Arkie," 'shana cautioned, "you'll only have terrible feelings of hurt
and guilt if you don't allow the memories of the boys to be erased."
"No!" Arkie protested vehemently. "I don't want to ever lose those
memories."
"I agree," Hercules added in support of Arkie's third condition. "Leave the
memories of the boys." It was a decision he'd had to make one time when
Hades had offered to erase the memories of his wife and three children from
his mind. It was a decision he had never regretted.
"So when does it happen?" Arkie asked nervously.
"One more thing, there's this half-sibling thing with us," Hercules warned.
"Do you want it or not?"
"Do you?" Arkie asked.
"Yeah, I do, but it really is too dangerous for you. You would be much
safer to lose that part of your memory that has to do with me."
"Nah, I've invested too much time watching your television show to lose
that," Arkie giggled. "But I will agree to this. Let's lose the sibling
connection, not because I am afraid for myself, but because I'm afraid for
you. If Hera knew, she'd use me against you and then you'd go on this guilt
thing and after what you went through when Iolaus died, you know all those
trips to other countries, fighting other gods, zapping Dahok..." Arkie
rattled on.
"Wait a minute!" 'shana shouted. "What do you mean Iolaus died? I just saw
him, and you know darn well there aren't any other gods, and who in the
heck is this Dahok guy?"
Hercules rolled his eyes in disgust as Arkie winced from her run-off at the
mouth.
"Oh, I must have just had a nightmare about it or something," Arkie
hurriedly tried to explain in an effort to deter the now upset 'shana.
"Yeah, that's it, a nightmare. I mean who would be dumb enough to kill off
Iolaus, yesiree Bob."
"Did somebody call my name?" Rob asked as he trudged over to the log and
sat down beside Hercules.
Arkie leaned forward and looked past 'shana at Hercules. "Okay, so there is
somebody dumb enough."
As the group around Lyrical kept talking, Aphrodite moved closer to
RainCloud.
"I want you to hold on to this." She said in hushed tones. " Just in case
that antidote doesn't work after all."
RainCloud stared intently at the small bottle in her hand. The rich amber
colored liquid almost glowed.
"Is this what I think it is?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes" said Aphrodite, " So it's extremely important that no one gets their
hands on it."
"Don't worry," declared the healer, " I won't let it out of my sight."
RainCloud slipped the bottle into a hidden pouch on her skirt, making sure
it was as safe as the other bottle she had secretly placed in it earlier.
Aphrodite smiled and went back to join the discussion.
"I know from what 'Dite told us, that Wikewike will want to help." Said
Hercules, "And I wouldn't doubt that Calee, Stripe and Calico won't be far
behind.
"They are all fine warriors," Ares said proudly, "I know that Kendaa and
Xena will want in on the mission."
"Let me know what I can do before Lyrical and I leave." Said Hercules.
Ares raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Not going on a mission to track down the person responsible for your, fair
maiden's almost demise?" he asked sarcastically.
"I believe my ,fair maiden, as you put it, has been through enough and I
intend to take her away for some well deserved peace and quiet." Answered
Hercules, "I can't fight every battle, and although I hate to admit this,
Ares, you are the one who should lead this mission. No one, aside from
Xena, knows Callisto better."
Hercules stood and gently laid Lyrical back on the cot. As he bent to kiss
her lightly on the forehead, she started to move and stretch her tired
stiff body. Lazily , she opened her eyes, and smiled when she met his.
"Welcome back." Said Hercules as he gently kissed her lips. "I missed you."
"What happened to me? Lyrical asked. "The last thing I remember is you
putting me down on the cot and Alex telling me to take a short nap."
Something tells me, it wasn't such a short nap."
"I'll fill her in Bro." Laughed Aphrodite, "You go and finish up whatever,
so you can both leave"
Hercules kissed Lyrical once more, reluctant to leave her again.
"Move it Bro." Said Aphrodite as she hurried him out of the lean-to. "The
sooner you split, the faster you get back."
Hercules left and Aphrodite went back inside. After filling in the details
for Lyrical on what took place, Aphrodite smiled and gave her a quick hug
with a promise to return soon. Then she vanished in a swirl of rose petals.
RainCloud came over and checked out her patient then went back to the small
table. Just as Lyrical has settled down on the cot once more in walked
Wikewike.
As ~Wike entered the tent where Lyri was recovering from the poison, she
thought about how strangely Xena was acting. It wasn't like her to be so
flighty.
"Very Strange", she mumbled to herself.
"What's strange?" Lyri asked from her cot. She was starting to look better
and the color had returned to her checks. It looked like she was going to
make it. Thanks to RainCloud. And to ‘Dite, as much as ~Wike hated to have
to admit to owing one to a god, she realized that she did owe to ‘Dite for
saving her friend. But it still went against the grain....
"Huh? Oh, nothing. I hope." ~Wike said with a sigh. " Just, I dunno, Xena
is acting weird." she finished, using some slang she'd picked up from
Arkie. "She seems awfully flighty. She came looking for me saying she
wanted to talk to me and then as we were walking back to camp, she said she
couldn't remember what it was she wanted to talk to me about. That just
doesn't seem like her." ~Wike told Lyri with a shake of her head.
"Well, she's probably just overtired like the rest of us" RainCloud said
with little sympathy.
Her hatred of the Warrior Princess was almost tangible. RC was still in the
tent fretting over her newest patient and looked as if she could use some
much needed sleep also.
~Wike laid her bow and quiver next to Lyri's cot and went to help her. "RC,
why don't you go make use of that creek and have a swim and relax. And try
and get some sleep? I'll stay with Lyri."
"I don't need a babysitter!" Lyri said indignantly. She was good and tried
of everyone thinking she was some kind of child that couldn't take care of
herself. It was time to get up and get on with things. Besides, she was
tried of looking at the walls of this lean to.
She could tell she'd just shocked her sisters with that little outburst.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell. I'm just tried of being inside. I need to
get out of here. And I don't need a babysitter ya' know." Lyri said with
just a hint of a whine in her voice.
"Yes, well, that's all good and well, but you are NOT getting up out of
that cot until I say you can. I'm the healer in this tribe and I say you
stay put!" Yes, RC thought, I do need some rest. She looked at ~Wike and
knew she could trust her not to let Lyri talk her way out of the lean to.
"You'll let me know if anything happens? Good. I'm going to take you up on
your offer."
"You," RC said pointing at Lyri, "Stay put or else." She didn't even stay
to see the reaction that statement got, she had to get away from here and
think. It was time to deal with it.
Xena. Just the name made her so filled with hate she hardly recognized
herself.
Lyri was still trying to come up with a response to RC's order as ~Wike
turned to face her friend.
"She just needs some rest. Don't take it personally. Besides, it's time she
dealt with the real problem that is plaguing her." ~Wike said as she went
to pour them both a glass of water from the jug that RC had left on the
table. Handing Lyri a glass she answered the unspoken question in her eyes.
"Xena. She's outside the tent there and I'm hoping that if she sees how bad
she looks, she'll let the healer take over and take a look at her. She
looks pretty bad."
"Oh. ~Wike, I hope you know what you're doing. This could get ugly." Lyri
said with no small amount of concern. And fear.
~Wike just shrugged her shoulders. "It's time she let it go. She's not the
kind of person who can carry the weight of hatred for very long without it
eating at her soul."
Lyri just looked at her new sister. Her heart in her eyes. "And what about
you ~Wike? Are you that kind of person? Has your hatred eaten away your
soul too?"
Iolaus squinted in the bright, late afternoon sun. His endless, helpless
vigil was his own waking nightmare, but leaving Aquillea's side was harder
still for the Greek hero. He'd only done it once since his arrival at base
camp, once since facing the result of allowing his love to rush headlong
into danger without him. If he had been witness to Maddie's 'talk', he
might have started to wonder if guilt could be contagious.
He hadn't wanted to go, not even for a brief stretch of the legs, but his
friends were worried. Even now, Autolycus was shadowing him like a nervous
royal nanny. But more than his friends' concern, Iolaus had sensed a need
in Maddie to spend some time alone with Quilla. He knew how much the
Amazons had come to mean to his beloved, and so he reluctantly took his
leave.
Off in the distance, Iolaus thought he caught a glimpse of horses. He felt
more lost outside of the lean-to than he had felt within, and he was
certain of nothing except that he didn't want to talk to anyone just now.
Autolycus stepped up along side of his friend and nodded toward the middle
of the camp. "I think they've got a fresh barrel of water, centrally
located for our convenience," he grinned. The Golden Hunter took off as if
he were dying of thirst leaving his lanky friend struggling to keep up.
When the pair reached the barrel, Iolaus grabbed the dipper and took barely
a sip before handing it over to Autolycus. Then, he splashed a little of
the icy water on his face while his companion emptied the dipper and took a
seat on the large log designed to serve as a bench. The King of Thieves
cocked a dark eyebrow as he watched his friend hop up on a stepping stone
so that he could dunk his entire head into the stingingly, frigid water.
With a shiver and a sigh, Iolaus shook out his golden locks then, still
dripping wet, he took a seat on the log himself. He remained there for
almost an entire ten count before he was back on his feet and pacing.
Autolycus shook his head and folded his arms, admonishing, "Frankly. . .
when Maddie suggested 'freshening up'. . . I don't think this is what she
had in mind. . . Just sayin'."
"Well don't. . . all right?" Iolaus snapped as he drew to a halt, but Auto
could hear something like pleading seeping in around the edges of his
words. "Do me a favor will ya? Just don't. . . say. . . anything."
The heartsick hero leaned back against the barrel and ran a slightly
trembling hand across his brow and through his matted hair. "I'mmm. . .
sorry Autolycus," he continued as he craned his neck to stare up at the sky
for a moment. "I know you're only trying to help. It's just that. . .
words. . . words can't change what's happening here."
Autolycus crossed over to his friend and placed a comforting hand on the
smaller man's shoulder. "I can't lose her," Iolaus fairly whispered while
staring at the ground with unseeing eyes. "I can't."
"Look, Iolaus. . . ," the King of Thieves offered reassuringly, "even the
God of Death himself wants Quills to live. . . I mean,. . . *common*, ya
gotta love those odds."
After Maddie had finished speaking, she searched silently, almost
desperately, for another sign that she had reached her languishing sister.
The shadows outside the lean-to continued lengthening and the chill of the
winter air grew in accordance. Aquillea lay quiet and still for a few
moments then appeared to mutter something. The Celtic Amazon winced as if
in physical pain then, still clutching a frail hand in her own strong one,
Maddie raised them to give her forehead a place to rest. Her eyes closed,
she didn't see Shait advance with the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.
The Egyptian deity stepped forward, placing a hand atop Aquillea's head and
her smile became more obvious. "She is a stubborn one, our sister. The
burden she has carried. . . alone. . . has been a heavy one." Shait said as
she gave Maddie's shoulder a squeeze. "But you did it, my dear. You broke
through. . . She heard you."
"No. . .She didn't," Maddie shook her head miserably as she turned to her
mysterious sister, a tear etching its way down her cheek. "I thought. . .
I. . . I hoped she. . . " With a ragged breath, Maddie turned to gaze once
again upon the friend who was slipping away. "She's still dreaming Shait.
Didn't you hear what she said? She said, 'Mama.'. . . No, she didn't hear
me. . . Not me."
"Yes. . . she is still dreaming. But Morpheus is losing his power over
her, the power of Aquillea's guilt. . ." While speaking, Shait had knelt
down on one knee to look Maddie directly in the eyes. "Yes. . . ," she
continued, "she hears her mother. It's her mother, more than anyone else,
that she needs to hear right now. . . So, Quilla's mother speaks. . . but
her voice. . . it's yours."
A new found hope lit Maddie's face. There was an inexplicable 'something'
about Shait that engendered confidence in everything the mysterious Amazon
said. "Then she's. . . she's really going to. . . ," Maddie began, but her
suddenly distracted sister-friend was already rising to her feet. The
goddess stared at the back of the shelter anticipating the arrival of some
as yet unseen visitors. Her smile faded ever so slightly, only because a
sense of urgency came over her.
Turning to Alec, Shait directed, "Get Iolaus back in here. . . now."
The healer glared back at the woman with eyes set in stone. "Look, I've
already told you people I can't just whip up some concoction to put him
into a deep, dreamlike state. I can't and I won't. It's too. . . "
An impatient Shait interrupted, "Did I ask you to? No. . . But he does
need to go after her. . ."
"But I don't. . . "
"And it's basically now. . . or never. . . Now go!"
Not knowing how far Iolaus and Autolycus might have gone, Bei followed the
healer outside to help him look for the men. As she exited the shelter, the
Dispatcher prayed to whatever god might listen that she hadn't found her
best childhood friend only to lose her again, forever.
As Iolaus stood shoulder to shoulder with Autolycus, leaning against the
water barrel in silence, his mind drifted to an earlier time. Absently, the
not-so-golden hunter reached for his amulet, all that he had left of his
precious Ania. When he had lost his wife and their son all those years ago,
Hercules, Deineira, Quilla and Alcmene had all been there to support him
through that darkly, wretched time. He had often wondered if he would have
survived that devastating loss without any one of them.
But Deineira and Alcmene were gone now too, and Quilla . . .
The disturbing train of thought was gratefully broken by the sound of
distant shouting. "I found it!" yelled the smallish figure running and
waving one arm overhead. It was Phaeleon. The lad had been to base camp
earlier that day, the only other time the Greek hero had broken his vigil.
That was when the healer had shooed people outside so that he might more
thoroughly examine his injured patient and bind her fractured ribs.
Phaeleon and his brothers were being looked after by the elderly yet
energetic parents of one of the city council members. Sensing imminent
victory, the Councilman had sent the adolescent to check on the status of
the Amazon base camp. The fellow was eager to begin preparations for
triumphant celebration, but only if the honored warriors were in the mood
for such festivities.
Lisa, had been filling Phaeleon in on what she knew of the situation when
the haggard looking group exited the lean-to. At first, the preoccupied
friends failed to notice the young people, but Iolaus did a double take
when he finally caught sight of the boy. Soon, the two were locked in
private conversation, the Golden Hunter drawing in the dirt while Phaeleon
nodded. Autolycus was certain he saw a few dinars change hands, not the
sort of observation that would escape the King of Thieves.
Now the boy was back, eagerly brandishing a small object that flashed in
the sun as he sprinted to. . . "Iolaus!"
Phaeleon was still almost shouting in his excitement as he approached with
what Autolycus could now see was a piece of jewelry of some kind. . . a
bracelet. "I got it! Got it right here. . . I found it, Iolaus! . . . Just
like you said!"
The Golden Hunter took the object in his hand and stared at it mutely. It
wasn't the reaction that Phaeleon had expected. "It. . . i. . . it is the
right one, isn't it?" the boy stammered. "i. . .it has to be. The merchant
remembered her. He even gave me the money back when I explained the
situation. . . 'The least I can do for one of our courageous Amazons,' he
said."
Recognizing the bracelet as Aquillea's, the King of Thieves answered for
his friend, "Ya done good kid. Ya done real good." The youngster held out
his hand to return the coins, an act which at last broke Iolaus out of his
transfixed stare. He looked at the now troubled Phaeleon and offered up a
smile to the lad, a smile that grew and spread until the hunter beamed
golden once more.
Wrapping his hand around Phaeleon's, Iolaus cupped the boy's fingers back
around the coins. "Keep it. . . Consider it payment for a job well done."
The Golden Hunter then turned to his friend with the hopeful gleam restored
to his eyes. "So. . . do you think we're 'fresh' enough?"
"Certainly not!" Autolycus replied in mock seriousness. He raised his hand
as if in testimony, continuing, "You're looking at a changed man, my
friend. These days, I only get fresh with Maddie."
Unexpectedly, it was the King of Thieves who suddenly took on a distant,
melancholy aspect as he turned westward to face the slowly setting sun.
The once almost crowded lean-to took on an eerie feel with Maddie, Shait
and their failing sister-friend as its only occupants. The Celtic Amazon
rose a little unsteadily to her feet, her emotions having seen more ups and
downs than a water bucket during a house fire. Agitated concern had tensed
every muscle. "Why do we need Iolaus? You said she was breaking free of
that son of a . . ."
"Morpheus is losing his power to use Aquillea's guilt as a weapon against
her. But he is a god. He has other powers at his disposal if he's. . .
unwilling. . . to let her go."
Maddie was startled by a voice behind her. "My son still holds her spirit
in the place of dreams." Three figures had appeared at the back of the
lean-to, Thanatos stood between a pair of newcomers. The Amazons noticed
that none of them smiled, but then none of them were actually frowning
either. The one who spoke resembled a younger God of Death, although
lighter in clothing, and complexion, and normally a touch more whimsical in
nature. The sad regret that currently colored Hypnos' voice belied his less
serious character.
"I doubt that he'll make it easy for her to find her way back," the God of
Sleep continued then shook his head with a sigh. "He may even try to stop
her. . . or worse. He's become very unpredictable these days."
The third presumed god, a youngish male with a thoughtfully, intelligent
aspect offered his insight as well. "This type of dreamscape saps the life
force of the dreamer. Even if Aquillea were to awaken, that would not, by
itself, restore what has been lost. . . And her physical injur. . . "
"No one asked your opinion," Maddie interrupted, her Celtic temper was
starting to get the better of her. Bad news was not what she wanted to hear
right now and she resented the negativity of this god who threw her
sister-friend's name around as if he knew her. "Just who are you anyway?"
"Asclepius!" Alec gasped from the entrance of the lean-to.
Iolaus shouldered past the amazed healer to address the God of Death with
obvious gratitude. "You really did it. . . You convinced the Fates to let
her live."
Thanatos held up a hand bringing the Golden Hunter to an uneasy halt. "More
accurately, the Fates have decided not to take her life," he corrected
solemnly.
"The difference being. . . ?" challenged Autolycus.
"The Sisters have agreed that Aquillea is a worthy mortal who has suffered
greatly. They have decided that the choice between life. . . and Elysium. .
. should be hers."
Iolaus seemed to weigh these words far too seriously for his friend's
liking. "Aw, come on. . . Iolaus. . . You can't really believe she'd choose
death?" Autolycus protested, then turned to Thanatos sheepishly adding, "No
offense."
"I don't think it's as simple as that," the pensive hero replied, then
locked eyes on the God of Healing. "She'll die if you don't help her. . .
Won't she?"
Asclepius nodded saying, "And I can't help her if she won't let me."
"Well, let's cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we?" Shait
interjected. "First. . . we have to get her back. But the closer she comes
to reuniting spirit and body, the more of an obstacle her physical weakness
becomes."
"I take it that's where I come in," Iolaus surmised.
"And I can help with this. My sons received their power over mortal dreams
from me," Hypnos announced. "I can send you into a dream. . . and safely
too. . . so that you can bring the Amazon back."
Thanatos shook his head adding, "But you must understand. . . that does not
mean you'll be safe there. Morpheus may fight you. And if either of you die
in the dreamscape, I won't be able to collect your souls and guide you to
the underworld. You will be lost to Oblivion."
"Good," Iolaus forced a smile, "I work best under pressure."
Hypnos' smile mimicked the blonde hero's as he stepped forward. "Then I
suggest you get comfortable."
The Golden Hunter peered over his shoulder at the god as he walked toward
the cot where his dear heart lay.
Dresdin stared at greenie from his corner of the tent, his strange eyes
glowing translucent green. He sat cross legged on a cushion, yet,
amazingly, he hovered slightly above it, not quite touching the surface of
the soft, blue satin.
Greenie took a deep breath. Perhaps, if she could get this mystic man on
her side, she could find a way to escape Rasheen. The two of them were
alone for the moment as Rasheen had left to attend to some important
matters. But how could she break the barrier of silence between them? It
was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Clearing her throat, she tentatively tried a question. "So, you are a
wizard? I've never met one of your kind before. I'm curious. Are you born
with your powers or do they have to be learned?"
For a moment she thought he wasn't going to answer. He continued to look at
her, then spoke in a deeply musical voice. "I was taught from an early age
all the powers of the mystics. My teacher was a wise and powerful man."
Great! That was one step in the right direction, she thought as she slowly
smiled at the wizard. "These powers can be mastered by anyone. Is that what
you're saying?"
Dresdin almost smiled at her words. "No, inquisitive one, the powers of the
mystics can only be taught to ones who are special. The disciples are
chosen at a very young age. It takes years to become a powerful wizard."
"Oh, then that means I wouldn't be able to learn some of your magic,"
Greenie said with a slight pout. She sighed as she looked down at her
ankles which were still tightly bound by thick ropes. "I was so hoping I
could figure out a magical way to unbind my feet for the night so I could
get some much needed rest. I do believe my toes have gone completely numb."
He looked at her once again with his strangely colored eyes. After a
moments hesitation, he slowly waved his hand. The tight knots in the ropes
began to unravel themselves as if an unseen hand moved silently through the
night air. In moments the ropes fell away, releasing her from their
unwanted burden. She massaged her numb feet and toes, bringing the
circulation back with an aching sting. Gratefully, she smiled at Dresdin.
"Thank you, dear wizard. I won't forget your kindness."
Slowly, he nodded his head and then turned away. Greenie let out a soft,
frustrated sigh. This man, this wizard, would not be so easily swayed. Even
so, she was determined to discover the reason this powerful man had decided
to follow and do the bidding of such a wicked man as Rasheen. Even wizards
had a personal life, didn't they? And if Dresdin did, she was sure Rasheen
had found a way to use it to his advantage. Rasheen was very good at
manipulation, a master in his own right.
Greenie looked over at Dresdin, whose averted face was in profile against
the soft glow of the candlelight. Ever so slowly, a single tear rolled down
his weathered cheek. Greenie stifled her cry of surprise and turned away,
not wanting to invade his private thoughts. Why did everything have to be
so complicated? It seemed the Gods were working against them all,
maneuvering them around like tiny pawns in a game of their choosing. Well,
she for one, wasn't going to stand for it any longer! It was time to make
her own destiny. And tonight would be the beginning. The beginning or the
end of it. Only she and the Fates knew the answer to that question.
