Prologue
The chamber to Diana Ruben's library presented as it always had during the post evening hours, dark and daunting. Ancient texts held aloft among bookshelves while white feathers in a count most bountiful lay below upon the ground.
She sat upon her throne clad in the deepest robes that complimented her pale face, blackened hair and elusive nature. In her most seclusive right, solitude dominated her choice of luxury however this night varied from those previous, this night she provided hospitality to a special guest.
Cast in the chair parallel resigned the burden of Holo the wise wolf who appeared high strung and tightly wound. Grasping at the fine furs ornamenting her magnificent tail laying across her petite lap of crossed legs she said after a difficult pause, " Is there more you want from me?"
Diana let glide a soft smile across her porcelain face, "My, what fascinating tales..."
Becoming all the more perturbed Holo resounded, "Will you or will you not create a new story of Yoites and ensure that fool of a companion of mine catches wind of it?"
Ignoring her inquiry the scholar diverted topics in accordance to her designs, "This man you travel with, what is he to you?"
Holo sputtered at this intrusion, "I know not what you mean!"
"But on the contrary you very much do."
Holo fell back silenced and taut as if stricken by the powers beyond the veil.
"Despite the agony this man has caused you by withholding his knowledge concerning the fate of Yoites,' continued Rubens, 'it is your plan to essentially have me fabricate a tale anew and make sure word of mouth reaches his ears. But not for your sake, but for his, true?"
The prominent cheeks of Holo flourished a slight shade of rose.
"Isn't it obvious?' remarked Diana, "It is your desire to remove the sense of shame and betrayal in his bosom and flush it out with hope so that your relationship can make amends."
Holo moved to defense, "He is about to risk financial ruin in a petty battle with another boy for my hand. How imbecilic can males be!"
"Would you choose his hand even if he lost to this boy and was left with nothing?"
Holo gasped, wrenched her thighs and trembled.
Diana had the wise wolf in check and was about to make the deciding move.
"Though I have not seen the two of you together don't think me so naive as to not know what is really at stake."
"And what is that!?" pierced the scorning words of the wise wolf.
Diana then said with all the coolness and confidence a river possess in knowing its destination "The both of you are in love with each other."
Holo pulled her face away, "Preposterous!"
Resting her temple along her petite finger, the chronicler dismissed all requests,"Well then if that is the case, I can forego all entreaties, consider our business concluded which will leave Lawrence defenseless against Amarti's stock in pyrite thus ultimately dooming him to fail. And once proven he is not the appropriate suitor, you may marry the other leaving him to peddle alone and forgotten."
Holo, vexed by the alternative her denial would lay before them both, covered her eyes and appeared miserable in the swarm of her own thoughts. In a frantic plea that though silent was amplified by the earnest of soul said, "Please, if you cannot do anything, just let me have the pyrite…Lawrence cannot succeed without it…"
"It is alright," reassured the chronicler, "Love is a strong and complicated emotion in the human world. Even the pagan gods have fallen prey to its power."
Recomposing herself, Holo demanded, "What would an alchemist know regarding love between a man and a pagan god?"
Diana fell silent, so silent that Holo felt her heart become grasped. She leaned down, gently lifted a few feathers from off the ground, observed them then looked out the window to the moon.
The gleeful sounds of the festival resonated not too afar off, like a choir of melodic malfunction capturing the essence of human mirth. It was in that moment of soberness that Holo could nearly imagine a tear forming at the corner of her eye. With a soft breeze pushing out her nose, Diana remained absolute and replied, "More than you know."