A White Surprise
Part 1
White. Everything's white. White snow. Its cold. I'm cold. But still its beautiful. How funny. Sitting in a cold room, shivering, yet, looking at the snow, I can' help thinking its beautiful. It really is funny…
"Rhen, wake up."
"Mmmm, 5 minutes more, Pa."
"Rhen, get up. It's Dameon."
Rhen's eyes shot open,"Huh what? Did I sleep in?" She looked outside her window."But, its still dark outside."
"Rhen, that's…."
"Wait," she got up and moved to the window. "Why's there water on the window." She wiped it and was shocked to see….What? Why's everything white? Snow? But we were in Sedona!"
"Rhen, we're still in Sedona. It's Christmas."
"Christmas?"
"Yes, that's why I came in early to wish you."
"But everything was normal just yesterday!"
"Yes, that's the specialty of Christmas in Sedona. Just before the day it gets covered in white."
"Already planning on going out you two."
Rhen and Dameon turned to see the speaker leaning on the door.
"Lars, I was getting her to come down." Dameon responsed calmly.
"Yeah sure, you do that cause everyone's waiting for someone." Lars rolled his eyes and went down.
"Rhen, why don't you come down and join us?"
"Hmm? Yeah, you go ahead."
Dameon nodded and left the room.
"Christmas, huh?" her thoughts drifted in the white city.
"You know about Christmas?" Lars raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I do. You are amusing human." Te'ijal chuckled.
"What happens in Ghed'ahre then? Red snow and Blood tree?"
"Your imagination is very amusing." The vampress laughed.
"I'm intrigued, vampress. What do you do?" Elini asked.
"Well, nothing special just hunt down some food and decorate the tree with the remainings. It looks like the dolls in yours just a bit livelier."
"…"
"Did she just say they decorate the tree with the corpses?" Lars whispered to Elini. She only shrugged.
The party were playing cards at the dining table while sharing they're experiences.
"Elini, you live in the desert which means you have a 'hot' Christmas? It must be comforting than this shivering cold."
"True, sorcerer. But I find the snow quite interesting."
"What about the tree if there is any?"
"Of course we have our tree, how idiotic. We make a special one."
"Special one?"
"A tree made of sand."
"…"
"What? It's interesting when you see it. Well, sometimes the huge amount of sand does result in a sandstorm. But then again, its interesting to see people scattering around from the top of your tower." She laughed.
"Ya're the only one who could find that amusing, crazy woman." The pirate said.
"And what about you then, darling?"
"Huh, mine's something like ya've na'er seen," John stated.
"Yeah sure," Lars rolled his eyes.
"Such days are good for the business, specially the merchant ships."
"You steal? Isn't that against the 'Christmas spirit' or something?"
"Nay! We do show mercy on this day, letting them have their dress. And then we have a blast at the sea. Ah, you na'er now the fun in the sea."
"Does that mean normally you take their clothes too?"
"Ya, everything belongs to a pirate wance he has his eyes on it."
"Hmm well, that's true,"Elini purred closing the minimal distance between them.
"Watch it, crazy woman!"
"I'm curious to know how you celebrate it, crumpet?"
"I do not owe you any explanation, demon spawn!" Galahad said in his usual attitude. "But since everyone is sharing I may as well participate."
"Seriously, cut the lecture and get started already."
"Patience, boy. It is not good for a young boy to be always on temper."
"I'm not a-"
"As I was saying, there is nothing noble than to serve my kingdom as a gallant knight."
"So, you do the same thing as you do everyday?" Elini asked
"Well, I do extra rounds of the city and ensure that every citizen is safe, that is how I spend the noble day in a noble way."
"as expected." Lars sighed.
"this drink is quite good, miss Marge." Dameon said.
"It's called eggnog. But I suppose 'The Priest' doesn't have time for such things." Lars said having his drink.
"And of course you have the right to decide about everything about everyone," Rhen said sarcastically.
"So, 'she' finally speaks to defend her knight."
"Rhen, you've been quite this evening. Is something bothering you?" Dameon asked ignoring Lars.
"Yes, Swordsinger that is true. You are not even doing your usual bickering with the sorcerer. I was missing it."
"I don't bick-"
"That's why the human's winning,: Te'ijal said cutting off Lars.
Everyone noticed then noticed that with the flow of their conversation, they gave the wrong cards.
"It seems that its just the Sorcerer and the Swordsinger then."
"That's not fair! This is my game and I'm supposed to win!"
"Calm down, pirate. Enjoy the fiddling of these two with me."
"You've been winning because the others weren't paying attention. You're never going to win against me."
"Says who, the idiotic snob."
"If you're so confident then let's make it a challenge. The loser has to do whatever the winners says till the next morning."
"Fine then."
After ten minutes…
"Told you I would win."
"But, how did this happen…"
"Huh! You should learn from the master. According to the condition you have to do whatever I say." Lars grinned.
"Whatever…what do you want me to do then?"
"Not here. Lets go outside." Saying so Lars took her out of the manson.
"The fun's over I guess. Let's do something ourselves too, John."
"As if I'd agree."