A/N: Happy New Year, guys! :)
Hope this is year holds you what you wish for! ^^
So I guess I cannot get a review... It pains me, but I won't ask for it any longer.
That being said, I invite you to read the next bit, which came out kind of big... :D
Enjoy! :)
"Nam, this is Gwen. Gwen, this is Nam, a dear friend of mine." I introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled. I noticed she liked him.
"The pleasure is all mine." He seemed to like her, too. If he were to be together with anyone, I'd like it to be Gwen. However it was all too soon. I wondered if Gwen would accept Nam's past shocking and terrifying experiences. I stopped my track of thoughts. Why was I matchmaking? He was in no conditions for that. As to try to stop my thoughts I drank my tea. It was still burning hot and caused me to gasp.
"Are you alright?" They asked at the same time.
Trying to catch my breath I mumbled an 'I'm fine'. Tears of pain fell. At least my thoughts were only concentrated on the pain.
"The tears don't tell me you're fine." Nam accused.
"The tea's burning hot." I explained.
"Silly." He patted my head, as to show how much he pitied me.
"Excuse me!" I responded. "I am not the one, who has tinted the pig's food, to make him change skin colour."
Gwen laughed. "You really did that?"
Nam was embarrassed. "I was nine years old!" Nam narrowed his eyes. "Hey, at least I didn't turn blue."
"I was hungry! And that pie smelled wonderfully." It was my turn to be embarrassed.
"Blue?" Gwen was almost crying from laughing.
"She is allergic to blueberries, but still she ate that pie. It was cooling at the window and as a thief she approached it and ate it all, not leaving one bit." Nam laughed at my embarrassment.
"Well, I am not the one, who ran from the bathing tub screaming that the demons are going to get me."
"You're playing low." Nam seemed angry, though he was very amused. I knew him very well, so I could tell. "Besides, I was ten and the kids from the neighbourhood, said that the water was made of a demonic substance."
"Still, you were naked." I laughed.
Nam blushed. Gwen was crying from laughing. She couldn't even breathe. "Stop... it..., please." She pleaded laughing. "I... cannot...breathe."
I laughed even harder. Then sighed. "Good old times."
Nam chuckled. "Truly, good times." A nostalgic smile was formed by his lips.
"I hate to end this reunion, but Desdemona; I have to speak with you." Shira entered the kitchen. How long has she been there? She turned to Nam and grabbed his hand. "Welcome, Nam. I hope you enjoy your staying here." She smiled and, after looking at me, left.
I gazed both Gwen and Nam, nodded, smiled and went after Shira. Useless to say that Dark Fur went after me. When I caught up with Shira, she said, without even turning: "Dark Fur, you can't come. Only Desdemona must hear this."
I could feel Dark Fur's resignation. My curiosity sharpened my senses; what could it be that only I could hear? Maybe it had something to do with all the 'gifted person' thing. Maybe I could clear that thing up, that I could only be with Diam. Maybe it would be explained to me all about the animals talking business. Maybe I'll be told why there is a group of young adults gathered in that house. Maybe I'll end up knowing why I was let to stay here. Maybe... I was out of ideas. That was about all I wanted to know by then.
In the meantime, Shira led me through halls and pass-through rooms, until we reached a small, but cosy and well-decorated room. It had but one sofa, a chair, one desk with a lamp and shelves filled with old books covered the walls. The floor consisted of a blood-red carpet, matching the furniture. The room was dark; however, the lamp was on. It emitted a certain mysterious aura, which only contributed to my curiosity to rise.
"Please take a seat," Shira gracefully gestured the sofa. I sat down. "You are no fool, so I guess you must have asked yourself many questions."
I nodded. "I have heard a lot about you since I'm here. Dark Fur called you the "gifted one" and that you know what's coming and for some reason we all part of that future event."
Shira smiled, I cannot say it was a happy smile, it didn't reach her eyes. "You've woken up not long ago and already know so much. That skill is useful." She bit her lip and looked up, troubled. I was about to thank her for the kind words, when she spoke again. "I'll be needing that skill. We need to know more about the rulers. If I can access their plans then maybe it can be avoided." Once again her thoughts were far away.
"What can be avoided?"
"War." She answered, still out of herself.
"War?" My voice was nothing but a whisper, filled with horror. How was it possible? Why would a war break out? I knew the answer though, the greed for power. Until Yerdoth wasn't destructed and didn't live by the new rules, the rulers would always aim for it.
"War. Your predictions were right. When you came here, you asked me, if a war was going on, remember what I answered?"
"Yes, you told me that there was no war going on and you hoped it won't be any going on in the future."
Again that empty smile. "Correct. I really hope it won't, so I have to make it true." She sighed, desolated. "They are all here for a purpose. They don't know what it is, but they know something will happen. Adrian knows we have to be prepared, that's why he trains us every day. All the others have their special skills and they pass it to the others. In your case it is a bit difficult, because the skill of uncovering secrets isn't something that can be taught. Your personality makes it easier for you. That's why you have to go to Franciesse and spy on the rulers."
I had figured it out a while ago, but the truth only hit me then. Was she entrusting me, a complete stranger, to do such a trustworthy task? I had only got there not more than a week ago and have already earned so much trust? I didn't know what to say. Not long ago, my life resumed on not pissing off Mother and still not losing myself. I sighed, better clear up some things before considering accepting the task. "Why do you trust me?"
"I saw you in my visions before you came, as I saw all the others, before they came. I know you will fight against injustice. You are just like the rest of us, fighters and defenders of the Old Rules. I am obliged to trust you and I choose to do so."
"I thank you for doing so." I really did.
"Now, about the task you have to fulfil... I don't wish you to go this instant. You still have a lot to learn about the Old Rules and you have to be fit; Adrian will help with that." She paused. "Delano will help you to infiltrate well, he used to live in Franciesse not long ago." The way she pronounced his name, so filled with passion, told me just about how much she loved him, a lot. "Of course, you must keep it secret from all of them. Only Delano and Daddy know you are about to go. Adrian has a clue, but he won't ask anything, he never needs to." She smiled, a true smile, not an empty one like the ones before. "You might be asking yourself, why we hold on to the Old Rules with such fierceness..." She paused, thinking on how to approach the topic. "If all the other states continue living by these new rules, disasters will happen. Not that they haven't yet happened. What do you know about the Cassin tribe?"
"They occupied the northern region of Seccilisia and were known for their famous festivals. It was told they lived by the moons and strongly believed on the divinity of the Mistress of the Sea. When the Lord of Seccilisia allied with the Lord of Dawnerry and tried to banish the Old Rules, they fervently resisted until their disappearance. It's said they fled to other states that weren't yet under the influence of Dawnerry, but the truth is, no one saw ever again any Cassin."
Shira nodded. "What actually happened was a mass murder. The newly nominated Lord of Seccilisia, the one who signed the treaty, and the Lord of Dawnerry were afraid of the Cassin's resistance. They could influence all the sceptic ones and form a resistance force. The Cassin were about a few thousand and good speakers, plus they were right in preserving the Old Rules. So they killed them, all of them. Thousands of deaths, many important lives were lost; all because the two Lords didn't want their power to be lost." She sighed. "It was about two hundred years ago. Other murders, other lives were taken, so that the New Rules could overcome the Old Rules. There is resistance; strongly allied to Yerdoth. They are getting restless and want their lands back. Daddy tells them to hold on, but they are mostly young and hot-blooded, they are tired of waiting." She paused. "There is something that you'll discover when you study the Old Rules that will make you understand why we fight for them." With that she ended the conversation. We stood up and shook hands. I'd help them out. Didn't yet know why, but I knew I'd help them.
