I walk outside to find Gabriel waiting for me with a grin on his face. "What?" I ask. "Nothing, nothing." He says. Then he turns around and heads back the way I think we came, but I couldn't be sure because I hadn't really been paying attention earlier. He leads me down a series of corridors before I ask where we are going. "Oh, I am taking you to get something to eat and then I'll show you to your rooms", he replies. Finding this news acceptable, as I am absolutely starving, I continue to wander after him, letting my mind drift to a problem that had been bothering me.
When I read the books by Tamora Pierce, there was never any mention of a boy named Gabriel of Namroncove. I think hard, and even though I haven't read the books for years, I cannot remember even a person described as to looking like him.
"Gabriel, who else are you training as a page with?" I ask. "Well, there's Nealan of Queenscove, Merric of Hollyrose, Seaver of Tasride, Esmond of Nicoline, Keladry of Mindelan and there's Owen of Jesslaw but he's a year younger than the rest of us." He says, counting of their names on his fingers.
"Ummm, Gabriel, can I ask you something?" Gabriel stops and turns to face me.
"What is it you want to know?" He asks, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.
"Well,ummmm, are you from ummm around here?" I ask him, hoping he doesn't take it the wrong way.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"Well it's just I…did the king and queen tell you what I am?" I ask him, abruptly changing the subject.
"You mean did they tell me why I had to get you from your world?"
"Yes, do you know what I am here for?"
"Yes, I know that a prophet said you were needed here."
" Well, what would you say if I told you in my world there are a series of books, each describing certain events that were performed by people from your world?"
"Wait you mean, there are books in your world with us in them?" Gabriel asks spreading his arms out wide to signify the people in Tortall.
" Well certain people are in them, but that's the thing you were never mentioned, not once and there are 22 books! And I can't think of a reason that you're not in them if everyone else is."
"Well…..actually I never knew my real parents" Gabriel tells me looking away from me before continuing. "The Baron and Baroness told me that a farmer on their lands found me in a field one morning and brought me to them. They couldn't find my mother so they raised me as their own." Gabriel said slowly, as if he didn't want me to know, like it was a weakness.
"Is it possible that you aren't from this world?" I ask him. "Maybe you were brought through a portal like I was."
"No, no I don't think so….no." Gabriel says determinedly, as if trying to convince himself.
"You're sure I'm not in any of those books?" He asks me, obviously hoping I had made a mistake.
"I am sure you are not in any of them." Gabriel contemplates this for a while before shrugging his shoulders and smiling. "Well I'm starving, how about you?" he asks me but I can see in his eyes that he was still troubled, still confused by this news I had broken to him.
I follow Gabriel as he continues walking again, thinking back to the talk I had had with the monarchs. The whole time it seemed like they were keeping something back, a part of the story was missing. Was Gabriel a part of the prophecy? And if he was why didn't he know and why did they not tell me? Something was wrong here, and they didn't want me to find out. Maybe I wouldn't stop this thing? Or maybe I would but maybe it would kill me aswell maybe King Jonathon was so sure to assure me I was going home because he knew I would never see the place again. Or maybe, I sigh, you're getting yourself worked up over nothing like usual. "You're such a drama queen," I say to myself under my breath, smiling. I mean of course I'm going to see home again!
Okies, well I couldn't let her get it straight away could I? Thanks to my reviewers, I loves you alls!
White Phoenix Erialis: I know the characters are kind of wooden right now, I tried to work more reactions and responses in this chapter, I think it's a bit better than it was. I guess Mei is taking it all pretty well but I just hate those stories where the character is all like yeah well I know all this stuff look I can kick Kels' butt even though I have never punched anyone in my life. And Oh my god you have to be lying I can't be here nah nah nah blah blah blag. Sorry I just didn't want her to be too over dramatic.
SpectralLAdy: thanks for the compliment, I haven't really described what Mei looks like though, I'm going to try and incorporate that into the next chapter.
Protectress of the Small: Hey lizzie! Thanks for reviewing twice on the same day! Please update soon I want to see what happens in jade next.
