"Logan, can I ask you a question?" asked Marica, tentatively.
The aging tavern master and innkeeper looked up from behind the bar, where he was going over the inventory logs and preparing an order for goods to have the Wanderer merchant Rekareka and her son Tuhululu fill. With the number of Starbearers inhabiting the castle continuing to grow, Logan found himself needing to place orders more frequently to keep the place stocked up with food and drink.
"Sure, lass, what can I do for you?"
Marica glanced around a bit nervously before continuing, double checking that no one else was around within earshot. "Ummm… has Erin mentioned anything about Fret? They seem to be spending an awful lot of time together lately, and whenever I've interrupted them they both act funny, like they're guilty of something."
"Hmmm…" replied Logan. "Have you tried asking either of them about it?" Truthfully he already knew what was going on, as did a handful of other people. But it was for the best to pretend like he didn't know anything.
"Yeah, of course I've asked." Marica sighed. "But it's like they're hiding something. They just say nothing's up and try to change the subject." She thought back to a few days earlier when she had gotten back from Atrie's world. She was so excited to hear from Moana that Fret was back, and that he was in the tavern. However, when she entered the tavern she was stunned to see Erin in Fret's arms, kissing him on the cheek and smiling giddily. While they both acted happy to see her, she didn't fail to notice that they quickly directed the conversation away from whatever was going on when she came in.
"Sorry, lass, you know kids don't tell their parents anything these days," lied Logan. "As far as I know her and Jale are still an item. I still see them together often enough."
Marica thanked Logan and walked off, thinking. She had talked to Jale already, though she didn't get a straight answer from him either other than Jale saying he was still seeing Erin and didn't know what Erin and Fret might be up to. She'd even asked Liu, who accused her of being paranoid. She was very frustrated, and was getting close to having a serious heart to heart with Fret about their relationship and how he was making her feel.
"So why exactly did you need me to help you with this, dad?" asked a rather exasperated Marica. She had been eating lunch with Fret when Elder Rajim came up and asked if she'd help him after lunch. She was already in a bad mood because Fret was being so disconcertingly quiet, and she didn't really want to go do anything with her dad. But she didn't have a good excuse not to, so she agreed. Now she and Elder Rajim were strolling around the castle grounds.
"Now, now, Marica, have some patience," chided Elder Rajim. "It will not take that long to make the rounds and ensure that our exterior defense posts are in good shape. We don't want to be in a situation again where the Order is able to launch a surprise attack on the castle."
"I understand that," said Marica, sighing. "It's just not much of a two person job."
Elder Rajim stopped walking and turned towards his daughter, frowning. "Is it too much to ask for you to spend some time with your father once in awhile? Since all this business started I feel like I barely see you anymore."
"I-I'm sorry, dad," replied Marica, looking down at the ground shamefully.
"Anyway," continued Rajim, "I can tell you're in a bad mood. What's got you like this?"
Marica bit her bottom lip as she tugged at a bang of hair, thinking about how much she wanted to tell her dad. Sighing, she replied, "Sorry, it's just that I'm irritated with Fret. He's been acting all weird lately and I can't figure out why."
"Ahhh, yes… young love…" said Rajim, chuckling. "Your mother used to get so mad at me at times, too." He became silent as he thought back to the time when his wife was alive.
"You miss her, don't you?" Marica asked quietly. As her dad simply nodded solemnly, she said sadly, "I wish she hadn't died before I was old enough to know her. I can't remember anything about her."
"She loved you and Sisuca very much, and even loved Fret as a son. She was a remarkable woman, taken before her time."
Marica hugged her dad. "I'm sorry, dad. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own world that I forget how much you've suffered with mom gone."
Elder Rajim smiled. "Oh, don't mind me, dear. Besides, you've grown into a beautiful young woman who has her own life to live. Even if it's hard as a parent to let go, I know you'll be fine." The two resumed their walk as they talked.
Marica looked at her dad quizzically. "Let go? Is something going to happen to you? Is there something going on that you aren't telling me?"
Elder Rajim coughed nervously. "N-no, not at all, dear. I was perhaps getting a little sentimental, thinking about your mother and how much you children have grown." Changing the direction of the conversation, he said, "So Fret has you in this bad mood, eh? You know, even though Sisuca had been talking about you two eventually getting married for years now, it still came as a surprise when I found out you two were… uhhh… romantically involved. It's been hard getting used to not thinking of you two as brother and sister," he admitted.
"To tell you the truth, dad, I was probably just as surprised as you. I mean, I never really thought of him as being my brother, more like just a friend that lived with us almost my whole life. I'm not sure I could tell you when I started seeing him differently than that, or when it happened for him either." She looked at her dad again. "Dad," she asked worriedly, "do you disapprove of it?"
"Does he make you happy, Marica?"
"No fair, I asked you a question first!" replied Marica, smirking.
Chuckling, Rajim twisted the end of his mustache as he contemplated his answer. "The answer to my question is what drives my answer," he explained. "If he makes you happy and you want to be with him, then I approve. He's still a bit rough around the edges. But he has also matured quite a lot in the last year and is turning into a fine young man, I have to say. Certainly better than I hoped for at times when you children were younger and getting into trouble all the time."
Marica giggled. "I think I got into more trouble trying to keep him out of trouble!"
Rajim shook his head. "I still remember when you were about 9, old man Yadima coming into town screaming about the Trio of Terror after he caught you, Fret, and Jale dressing up a scarecrow in his field in one of Sisuca's dresses."
Laughing, Marica replied, "That's what I mean! It was Fret's idea that the scarecrow would be more effective in keeping away the birds if it looked like Sisuca! And Jale was the one that stole her dress! I went along to make sure they didn't do anything even crazier."
"You were plenty mischievous yourself, dear," grinned Rajim. "I doubt it was all the boys' fault."
"I guess we were a handful growing up," admitted Marica. "For you and Sisuca both," she added.
Smiling, he said, "I can't complain about the way you children turned out though, looking at you all now. So even though I'll always see both you and Fret as my children, I understand that you're not truly brother and sister and I'm happy for you both if being together brings you happiness."
"Thanks, dad," replied Marica. Sighing, she continued, "I just wonder if it's going to last. I mean, I love him, but the way he's been acting lately makes me wonder if he hasn't become more interested in someone else."
"Well, dear," said Rajim, carefully considering his next words, "the foundation of any good relationship is trust. If you don't trust that what he tells you is the truth, then you have to ask yourself why that is. What I mean to say is, does he give you reason to doubt his honesty?"
Marica considered the question. "I-I guess not. Other than you he's the most honest person I've ever known, honest to a fault even since he doesn't know how to keep his big mouth shut at times."
Rajim nodded. "It sounds like you should give him the benefit of the doubt until he shows otherwise then."
Elder Rajim and Marica continued to make their way around the castle grounds and talk as they checked out the exterior defenses and made notes on where improvements were needed. A few hours had passed by the time they finished and came back up the path to the north entrance. Rajim nodded at Rekareka and Tuhululu standing outside the doors as they passed through and entered the castle. Parting ways with her dad after an enjoyable afternoon hanging out with him, Marica was smiling again and feeling better as she strolled into the dining hall and then into the tavern on her way back to the lift upstairs. She was only about halfway through the tavern, however, when she was flagged down from behind by Tuhululu.
"M-my l-lady," the young Wanderer boy stuttered, slightly out of breath. "I-I h-have a note to g-give to you."
Marica looked at him questioningly, but took the note from him. She noticed that it was sealed, which struck her as odd. "Uhhh… okay, thanks," she said politely as she took the note and began to walk off.
"M-my lady?" asked Tuhululu.
"Yes?"
"Th-the person who asked me to deliver it said to tell you not to delay in opening it. I gather it is important."
"Who gave it to you?" asked Marica.
"I… I am sorry, I am not at liberty to say."
Marica looked at him inquisitively, her curiosity piqued. "Well, okay then. I'll read it on my way upstairs," she replied as she turned and walked away.
As she entered the lift, she continued to stare at the sealed note in her hand, puzzled as to who it was from or what it was about. Leaning back against the wall as the lift began its achingly slow ascent, she broke the seal and read the contents:
Marica – Follow these instructions completely and without delay, and the answers you seek shall be found. Turn over the chair you sat in at lunch today.
"What the heck is this about?" thought Marica to herself. "Answers to what questions?" she asked out loud to herself, since no one else was in the lift with her. She wasn't in the mood to play games, but she was intrigued enough to do what the note told her. She punched the 1st floor button on the lift and waited for it to finish climbing to the 4th floor so it could reverse course.
Walking back into the tavern, she groaned to herself. Sitting at the table she had eaten lunch at were Gorno, Gadburg, and Balsam, enjoying their late afternoon tea. Creepy old Balsam was sitting in the chair she needed to flip over to see what was under it. Putting on a smile she walked over to the group.
"Well, what have we here?" asked Gadburg, smiling as she approached. "Come to join the geezers for a spot of tea?"
"Actually, I have kind of a strange request," replied Marica, pulling on a braid of hair. "See, I got this weird note that says I need to look under the chair I sat in for lunch today. And well, that's this one," she said, pointing to Balsam's seat.
"What about the chair?" questioned Balsam, who hadn't been paying attention.
"She said you need to get off your duff so she can look at it!" shouted Gorno in his typically booming voice, causing Gadburg to guffaw and Marica to blush in embarrassment.
"Wh-what? Well I never!" exclaimed Balsam. "Kids nowadays, no respect for their elders, I swear…"
"Settle down, Balsam," chuckled Gadburg, "that's not what the girl said, and she certainly didn't mean she needed to look at your wrinkly old butt. She just needs you to get up for a moment so she can look at the bottom of the chair."
"The bottom of the chair? Is something wrong with the chair?" asked Balsam, still not moving.
Standing up, Gorno shouted, "Here, I'll help!" The older Auster artisan bent over and lifted the chair, with Balsam still sitting in it, up over his head so she could see the underside. "Huh! Looks like some kind of paper stuck to the bottom!" he declared as Balsam screamed to be put down and Gadburg roared with laughter. Marica jumped up and snagged the note, saying thanks and quickly making her exit as Gorno set Balsam's chair back down and Balsam continued scolding Gorno.
Ducking back into the main entrance hall, she broke the seal and opened the note.
Since you're probably standing near Moana anyway, go ahead and ask her for your next instructions. Do NOT ask her for any extra information!
"Moana?" she asked, looking up at the woman standing a few meters away. "I guess you're supposed to have something for me?"
Moana smiled. "Sure do, dear." She produced another sealed note from inside her vest and handed it to Marica.
Taking the note from Moana, Marica thought briefly about what the last note said before deciding to ask anyway. "Ummm…. Moana? What are these notes about?"
Moana wagged a finger at the younger girl as she grinned. "Nope, I was told that you're not allowed to ask questions."
Frowning, Marica asked "Can you at least tell me who gave you this note to give to me?"
Moana cackled gleefully. "I may be a gossip, my dear, but I'm sworn to secrecy on this one. Truth be told, I really don't know anything about it anyway. I was only told to give you the note when you asked for it, and that you weren't supposed to ask any questions."
Marica nodded, sighing as she broke the seal on the new note.
See, I told you not to bother asking Moana for more info! For failing to follow directions, go help Zenoa clean the Tablet of Promise. After you're done she will give you the next note.
Marica groaned. "Now this is just not fair!" she whined, stalking off towards the basement. It didn't dawn on her until she was halfway done polishing the Tablet of Promise under the ebony witch's watchful eye that it didn't matter whether or not she asked Moana anything, the person who wrote the note assumed she had broken the rules. That just made her more irritated. She finally finished the job of polishing the huge tablet, which took a good hour and a half to get to Zenoa's satisfaction. All she got out of it was a sarcastic comment about it taking her long enough, and to next time send Sisuca instead since she did a better job. Marica got away from the witch as soon as she could after getting the note from her. She opened the note as soon as she stepped out of the basement.
Go take a shower and get cleaned up, then go see Rekareka as soon as you're done. (No Stinky, the shower part is NOT optional)
Marica fumed. At the beginning she had no idea what the notes were about, but at this point she was fairly sure she knew who was behind them. And she wasn't enjoying his little game. As she went back towards the main entrance she debated with herself on just going straight to Rekareka anyway, or following the directions. By the time she got to the lift she decided that she did actually stink of metal polish, and her skin was coated with a sheen of perspiration. She had also spent a couple of hours out in the sun with her dad earlier and gotten a bit sweaty then. So even though it pissed her off to follow the directions, she went back upstairs and got a change of clothes from the room and went to shower. She wasn't at all surprised that Fret was nowhere to be found.
It was early evening by the time Marica showered, changed, and made it downstairs to where Rekareka and Tuhululu's shop was outside the north entrance. Marica sighed as she looked up at the sun sinking on the horizon. "What a waste of a day, all I've done is run around doing busy work!" she thought. Putting on a big fake smile, with mock sweetness she approached Rekareka and exclaimed, "Let me guess! You have another fetch quest for me!"
The portly woman peered at the younger girl over the top of her glasses. "A quest? That would be Moana's territory, not mine."
"Mom," said Tuhululu tentatively, "I-I think she means the note you're supposed to give her."
Marica rolled her eyes. She didn't get Tuhululu at all, the kid was seemingly afraid of his own shadow and everything about him lacked confidence. Fret had sent him on a couple of different "confidence building" quests at the behest of Rekareka and they'd been abject failures. Marica had initially felt kind of bad for the kid, but now she found his whimpering attitude annoying. Especially since it wasn't like he had anyone making him be like that, even his own mother was doing everything she could to try to get him to grow up and become a man. In one of her "feeling evil" moments Marica had suggested that they take Tuhululu with them on a mission and see if he could make it through even the first battle without crapping his pants. Fret's response had been typically practical, saying he wasn't going to risk her life or anyone else's insisting on helping someone who obviously didn't want to be helped. Marica remembered how that conversation ended, with Fret grimacing in frustration when she suggested it was too bad that a Star of Destiny was wasted on Tuhululu instead of someone more deserving like Dirk.
"A note?" asked Rekareka absentmindedly. "Oh, yes! I have a package with a note that I'm supposed to give to you. Wait here, please." Rekareka went inside the storage shed they kept their goods in and came back with a white box approximately 18 inches across and wide, and 9 inches tall. On top of the box was a familiar looking sealed note. Marica grinned when she realized she was looking at the note with a sense of anticipation. Walking away from the merchants after accepting the package, she tucked the box under her arm as she worked the note open with her free hand and read the contents.
I went too far last time, didn't I? I'll make it up to you, I promise. Deliver this package to Sisuca, do NOT open it. Patience will soon be rewarded.
Marica shook her head as she chuckled. "Whatever he's got planned had better be good to make up for all the running around he's made me do."
"Oooh, you're here!" exclaimed Sisuca as she saw her little sister coming up the stairs to the 2nd floor residential area. Come with me to my room!"
After entering Sisuca's room, the older girl was practically bouncing off the walls in exuberance. "Let's start with your hair!" she squealed gleefully.
"Huh? What are you talking about? What's wrong with my hair?" asked Marica, puzzled about what she was doing here.
"Silly, it's my job to get you ready!"
"Ready? Ready for what?"
"Oh, just sit down already!" scolded Sisuca. "Don't make mommy have to punish you!"
Shuddering at her sister referring to herself yet again as 'mommy', Marica sighed and sat down in chair by the dresser, figuring the path of least resistance was just to give in and get it over with.
An hour later, Sisuca had finished with Marica's hair and makeup. "See! You look sooo pretty!" beamed Sisuca.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she had to agree that Sisuca had done a wonderful job, even if she loathed admitting it. Marica then frowned, noticing the stark contrast between her elegantly done up hair and the drab clothes she was wearing. Before she could say anything, however, Sisuca was already on top of it.
"Now, let's get you out of those clothes and into something more appropriate for the occasion!"
"What occasion are we talking about exactly?" asked Marica sarcastically.
Sisuca continued as if she didn't even hear the question.
"Hurry up now, strip down while I get your dress ready."
"Wh-what? I can dress myself you know! I don't need you to dress me."
"Right now all you need to do is undress yourself, don't make mommy ask again," warned Sisuca.
Sighing, Marica started undressing while she heard her sister rustling around in the box Marica had delivered to her from Rekareka. "What's in the box anyway?" she asked, turning around to see while she worked on getting her clothes off.
"Nuh uh, close your eyes! And no peaking!" said Sisuca sharply. Marica complied, then allowed herself to be bent and twisted and tugged on while Sisuca dressed her and made alterations. After about 30 minutes that seemed like at least three times as long, Sisuca excitedly told Marica she could open her eyes.
Marica opened her eyes and smirked at Sisuca, as if to sarcastically say "Done, already?" However, as soon as her eyes caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror her jaw dropped open and she was stunned at her appearance. She was wearing a very expensive looking red party dress that was form fitting and accentuated her features. The low cut top exposed the flawless alabaster skin that provided a perfect backdrop to the necklace she'd barely taken off since the night Fret gave it to her. Sisuca handed her a pair of matching shoes, smiling at her with pride in how glamorous she'd made her sister look. She was so happy for her 'babies'.
"W-wow, Sisuca," the younger sister finally said. "What am I getting into?" "This dress is so beautiful. B-but… what is this all for?"
Sisuca giggled giddily. "I nearly forgot! I am supposed to give you this note and send you on your way!"
Marica stared at the note that Sisuca had gotten from her desk drawer and was holding in her outstretched hand. Suddenly she felt somewhat nervous, but didn't know why. She took the note from Sisuca and thanked her, exiting the room before breaking the seal and reading it.
I can only imagine how stunning you look right now, the anticipation is killing me. You're going to walk through the dining hall and tavern, and everyone will probably stare as you go by. But I want you to think about what it is they're seeing – the most beautiful, amazing girl in all the land – the same thing I see every day I'm with you. Come up to the roof to find me waiting.
Marica gulped, her eyes threatening to moisten at the sentiment in the note. Quickly dabbing at them before any tears could cause her makeup to run, she folded the note and took a deep breath before starting down the stairs to parade herself through the very full tavern on her way upstairs to the roof.