Chapter Six
The summer faded into fall. Vorx was on his way to meet Shiu when he noticed a familiar figure crossing the courtyard, heading for Monastery Overlook. He called out a greeting, but it went unacknowledged. Knowing that she should be in class at this moment, curiosity lead him to follow. Pausing at the exit to the gateway, Vorx watched as Shiama sat down in a secluded spot, and pulled out a letter from her pocket.
Moments passed and her hands dropped to rest on her lap, gazing into the distance, she then appeared to read the letter again before her chin dropped to rest on her chest, she stood up and the letter dropped to the ground. Her hands covered her face, and he could tell she was crying.
Wanting to go over, but feeling like he was spying on her, he hid from view when she turned towards him and the gate, and saw her tear stained face as she passed. Startled by the cry of a sea bird he turned round, then his eyes caught sight of the letter on the grass.
He couldn't just leave it there for anyone to find so he walked over and reached down. As he caught the edge the breeze opened it revealing writing in Arcadias' bold hand, without realising before it was too late he was reading it's contents... it was news of his new position, and of eager chat of travel to distant places.
Vorx frowned, what made Shiama cry? It seemed a cheerful letter, then he heard the monastery bell and realised Shiu was still waiting. "Boy, is she gonna be mad at me" he muttered, and tucked the letter into his pocket as he ran.
Shiu's anger soon changed as Vorx explained what had delayed him. Then he confessed to reading the letter and held it out to her. "Why did she cry? Arcadia sounds so happy."
Shiu read the letter and gave a wry smile, she knew knew that the relationship between her friend and Arcadia was close, the news of his travel plans taking him away would upset her at this point as she was so low.
"Shiu?" Vorx looked puzzled.
"I need to send Arcadia a letter." She informed him.
The staff at the monastery had also noticed Shiamas' withdrawn behaviour, and had notified her father. As it was nearing the end of year session, it was decided that she return home to Kainging Centre, to be with family. A couple of weeks later she was on one of her fathers ships heading home.
-oOo-
Shiama had kept herself busy, trying to push the unpleasant memories from her mind. When not reviewing her lesson notes, she was running errands for her father and his merchant business. It was such an occasion while she was rushing to storage to collect something for her father, amongst the throng of busy people a solitary ranger standing to one side caught her attention, maybe it was because they were more comfortable out in the open, and rarely seen in the city.
He watched as she completed the transaction, something drew her to speak. "Good afternoon sir."
The stranger acknowledged her presence with a graceful nod and said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Silence rested between them.. Shiama broke the stillness. " Do you require assistance? I can recommend somewhere."
She saw the sides of his eyes crinkle as he smiled, and wished she could see it. "That would be nice." He said simply.
Slightly flustered at her own forwardness she continued. "There is a tavern near the docks used by travellers, and it serves a good ale.." She waited for his reply. "I can take you there." She added.
He nodded. "Please if you would."
Shiama watched his face with a sidewards glance as they walked. He seemed to speak but no words came out of his mouth, all she could see was his eyes above his mask their progress paused when he saw the question in her eyes. "Do you always wear that mask?"
Holding her gaze he replied. "Yes always."
Mentally kicking herself for asking such a stupid question she turned and started to walk, but he didn't follow straight away, instead was looking the other way. Some instinct must have told him that she was no longer near and he looked around. To hide her embarrassment she commented . "It's an interesting city."
"Yes it is." He replied, his gaze scanning the area, as he started to follow.
Before long they reached the tavern. A smart green painted building near the skills trainer. "I trust you will be comfortable here .. Farewell."
With a bow he gestured his thanks and Shiama turned to leave.
"Till we meet again, may the power of the Phoenix, guide and watch over you."
Startled Shiama swivelled to face him.
Stepping forward he took her hand. "Is something wrong?" He asks inquiringly.
"It's nothing." She replied pulling away her hand as she thought about her mothers' brooch. Her eyes lost focus for a moment, then reality snapped back. "Thankyou for your concern."
The stranger bowed, and walked inside leaving Shiama stunned and but a little curious as she returned home.
Inside the ranger was lost in thought, approaching the owner he arranged a room and checked himself in. Deep in thought he climbed the stairs to his room, why was there something familiar about that young woman with the aura of flame?
-oOo-
It was a grey day and the rain fell on the streets of the city, Shiama looked out through the misty rain and felt its gloom.
Robert Kestrel spied his daughter sat in the window and sighed. He noted the slight improvement in her moods, but knew the harsh event that had crushed her youth, still shadowed her mind. "Shiama? I have an idea, why don't we sort out the attic room. I have been meaning to do it for ages, but never got round to it." He grinned. "Sort of a treasure hunt eh?... what do you say?" His face lit with a childish grin,
Shiama hesitated and shrugged. "Well she thought, better than watching the rain." She rose from her seat and couldn't help but smile at the twinkle in her fathers' eyes. "Treasure you say..." She giggled a little.
-oOo-
The dust in the room lay thick and grey, it was a good job they had both changed into old clothes, with a cloth tied round their faces to protect from the floating dust. Sorting a box of old toys put a smile on Shiamas' face and her father watched her body relax as she remembered good times from her childhood. He knew the room held mostly childhood bits and pieces that he had been reluctant to part with after the death of his wife as many of them she had chosen for their only child.
An hour passed and they had thinned the contents, putting aside items to keep, from others to pass to others, and a third pile for broken things to be discarded.
A gentle knock at the door caused the pair to turn as the housekeeper peered around the door. "I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but there is a gentleman to see you.. he says it is important." Giving his daughter a wry smile he stood up. "I'm sorry my dear, but I have been waiting for this caller, do you mind continuing? I will be as quick as I can."
"Don't worry father, I'll be fine, you go ahead." She watched as he disappeared through the door, and then turned back to the pile she had been looking through, containing childhood reading books from which she had been taught to read. Shiama smiled sadly as she brought to mind the distant, faint memory of her mother's voice reading to her. Looking about her she placed the books in the 'to keep' pile. Then her eyes rested on a trunk to one side. Well, might as well sort in there next, She thought as she unclasped the stiff catch and lifted the lid...
Inside, carefully wrapped she found things belonging to her mother. Eyes round with surprise and filled with tears she uncovered items one by one...
She had found buried treasure after all, her face lit with a small smile. Simple day-to-day items, with tentative fingers she reached inside and removed items with great care. Hairbrush and comb, small ornate mirror with a stand, a shawl that unfortunately was beyond use, but to her delight a length of gossamer thin, pink tinted material survived, and a pair of long pink gloves. Touching each item she felt even closer to her mother, and a warmth filled her heart. Spying a pile of books in one corner with great interest, she found it contained business ledgers written in her mothers handwriting, and tucked in amongst them a small brown book. Opening the cover Shiama found the words 'Journal of Sumura Lansan.' her mothers maiden name. Returning the ledgers and the other items neatly into the trunk, she grasped the small book to her chest and settled down to read.
The first entries were filled with the dreams of a young girl, of her life and family. Shiama was lost in another time and place as she read the first pages of neat words. The vision of her mothers life unfolded in her mind and a sense of calm settled around her. Like herself Sumura was an elementalist, travelling around Ascalon.
-oOo-
Meanwhile... A young man stood in the enclosed area within the Monastery Outlook, his pacing showing the restlessness of his mood, clasped hands with the thumbs of both hands pressed to his lips in thought.
Minutes passed, Arcadia hoped he hadn't missed him, he used to be here at this time, and he needed the wisdom that his friend once provided before on many occasions. The birds were quiet today and there was a chill in the air, autumn was at an end and winter around the corner.
The letter he had received disturbed him, he had known Shiama had been shaken by her experience, but not this deep, and now unable to think clearly as to what to do, he turned for help. He knew Shiama needed support to get her through this but her attachment to him was clearly not helping.
A sound reached his ears and brought him out of his thoughts. He turned. "Ryuu." The familiar figure came into view. "My friend, I am pleased to see you after all this time."
The ritualists face lit up, as a fleeting smile crossed his face at the sound of Arcadias' voice, but then it took on a more serious tone as he heard the negativity there. "Something is wrong Arcadia, I can tell."
"I never could hide anything from you, even as a boy, and yes, you are right something is troubling me. Lets sit somewhere, this may take a while."
The two men walked across to a sheltered area and sat down.
"Ryuu, you have always helped me with advice and training at my time within the monastery, but even now my time here has ended, I find myself turning to you again." The ritualist nodded.
"I know the masters here respect you, and I have always found you fair in your treatment to everyone. My friend I have something I hope you can help me with."
Drawing up his knees and resting on them, Arcadia started to relate of how he had met Shiama, and how they had become close friends over the years.
"The trouble is now she has become so attached I'm afraid that she will focus on nothing else, so be unable to break free of the depressive state she is in at the moment."
Ryuu nodded. "She is your friend Arcadia but she needs to find her own way, you are right not to interfere. Yes, being supportive is good, but you can't walk the path for her." Both men stood up and Ryuu put a reassuring hand on Arcadias' shoulder. "Don't worry Arcadia, I will watch out for her and do what I can."
-oOo-
Back in the attic, Robert found his daughter in a pool of afternoon sunlight, sat on a tattered cushion with her legs curled to one side reading, a vision of calm with a small smile on her face. "Shiama."
A warm familiar voice in the back of her mind, nudged her out of the vision created by the journals' pages and she looked up.
"I see you found your mothers' journal." He walked over and perched on the edge of a nearby wooden crate."
"Mothers' early life was so carefree, I can picture it, her words take me there so clearly." Shiama watched her fathers bitter-sweet smile and then the faraway look in his eyes.
"I remember the day I first saw her on a return trip from Fort Ranik, she was on her way there. Our paths crossed near an elegantly ornate arched bridge by a lake, she was reaching to pick a flower when a skale attacked her. Poor creature didn't stand a chance, she cast and it went up in flame."
Chuckling as he looked at Shiama. "She spied me watching her, acknowledged my presence then continued to pick her flower... Yes my dear it was the one carved into the lid of her box. I think from that moment my heart belonged to her, but she wasn't ready." He sighed. "I spent the next few months travelling that stretch of road in the hope of meeting her, I wonder if she realised why I suddenly appeared practically every trip she made, a few words of greeting at first, each time the conversation got longer. Finally she agreed to meet me in Ashford Abbey near her village." Voice cracking with emotion he stopped, his eyes cast their gaze to the floor, he had never been able to share his feelings after Sumura died.
Closing the diary, Shiama realised his words had expressed how much he still loved her mother even now. She rose and gave her father a hug.
The hug from his daughter cleared his mind, he smiled as he saw his wife mirrored in his daughters' eyes. She had grown so fast and like her mother, an elementalist.
Seeing the look on her fathers' face Shiama gave an enquiring glance.
"You have your mothers eyes, I never realised until now. I guess I've kept the past locked too long. It's time for life to go on my dear, and I think a trip to see your uncle and aunt would be a good start. I have just received word that they are in Tanglewood."
-oOo-
Later as she lay under the covers of her bed, Shiama reviewed events of the past few days, the strange but somehow reassuring ranger, discovery of her mothers things and her fathers' memories, plus preparation tomorrow for their trip to see an uncle and aunt who she had never met. She felt happier than she had in a long time.