"Can we not meet your sister?" Anath-Sin asked. She was fascinated by this--the idea of one who might know the future, and spoke so of the gods. In her times she had seen some few of these--most were frauds, or madmen. "of this woman might I know--she sees me as a goddess, but I would have her know me better. She should not see me as this, and yet not know me as I am."
And to this, Methos added, "Anna has a need to knows of new things, always. She is wise...my woman. If she learns of a thing, she may show something new to yourselves. This is her way." But to himself, he wondered if this interest Anna showed in the oracle was not a cause for concern. Something told him it might be, for of late, she seemed to carry this sense of destiny--she had spoken of her own death, lately--and of this he would despair.
"You may bring her forth--no trouble we--those of our camp we trust not, we left behind us," Anna spoke--knowing neither Caspian or Silas to be ready for this. She did not like that within herself which tried to show her the tricks of the passing of time--better in her mind that she contront what was to come, even if it was to be a thing of sadness.She wanted to know what the oracle would say--but was herself only too sure.
She knew the last several years she might die--it was to be known--for she rode in a camp of violence. Lately she thought on it long. Where one time, she had mocked the gods, and named herself a goddess, she now felt the need to tread softly, and as she might respect those gods--so would she respect this sayer, if she be a true one. If the oracle were to speak of her death, better she should know, and better know how to behave.
And even with her presentiment of darkness, it was Methos she feared for. She knew the number of her years. Though to herself, they felt as nothing at times, and other times like an excess, to Methos, she realized, she must seem eternal. It was not so, but how to make him understand? But even in this, she might teach a lesson, she thought. Perhaps she might teach him what it was to die well.
Even though, in her mind, she would have *him* live forever.
"Yes," Demetrios said, "I believe it will be good that she meet with you in the flesh. For all her speech of you--I fear she has made quite a fantasy of you. Perhaps she will be less in awe, should she know you speak as a man and a woman speak--and are not gods."
Posted on Oct 26, 1999, 7:44 PM from IP address 207.172.160.5