Thank you guys for all your reviews ;) I love hearing from you. Sorry for the late update, my internet went down and just now get fixed. Enjoy
(At the Palace)
"I hate you." Pitch glowered at Patrick as the spirit walked into the room
"Aww come on Pitch…you were in a lot of pain." The spirit spoke quietly as he sat in the chair next to the bedside, "Were your dreams…"
"Nightmarish. Why do you think I wanted to stay awake." The spirit's voice held a snarl, "I tend to remember more painful things when I am physically hurting.
Patrick cringed at the tone of his friend's voice, "I'm sorry…I didn't know."
Pitch sighed, "Not your fault," golden eyes glanced out the window at the afternoon sun, "Damn, did I sleep the whole night?"
"And most of the morning." The man chuckled at Pitch's expression, "I ordered the kitchen to bring something for you."
"I don't want to be a bother Patrick." Pitch startled when the spirit placed a hand on his shoulder
Patrick smiled at him, "It no trouble Pitch, you are a guest here. Besides, you need to regain your energy to help that wound heal." A smirk came to his face, "You have to be at the top of your game for our next adventure."
Pitch moaned, sinking into the bed "I should have never bet you." he raised an eyebrow when Patrick got to his feet and walked over to the cabinet, "What are you doing?"
"That bandage needs changing,"
Golden eyes glanced down at the crimson stained bandage, he shuddered slightly "Must you?"
"Sorry Pitch but Iris would have my head if I didn't follow her instructions." The spirit spoke as he turned and walked back over to the bed
Pitch clenched his teeth as Patrick began removing the old bandage. He winced as the gauze pulled on dried blood aggravating the bruised skin.
"Sorry," Patrick glanced at his friend, he quickly placed the old bandage into the trash. Mismatched eyes scanned the healing wound, he frowned at the enflamed lines that now threaded across the spirit's chest "Well I have good news and bad news."
"What's the bad news?" Pitch held his breath, the thought of having to endure anything else causing his heart to begin to race
"Well it seems that you're allergic to the stitches Iris used." Patrick sighed, "Which means that they need to be changed."
"And what's the good news?" the spirit shuddered at the thought of having to have the wound re-stitched.
"Good news is that I won't be the one to do it." The spirit smile and opened his palm, a small rainbow swirled around in his hand.
"That is good news," Pitch's tone was sarcastic as he watched Patrick whisper to the iridescent light.
Patrick carefully replaced a new bandage over the wound, "I'm not going to tape it down as tight since Iris will be here soon."
Pitch startled when the door opened, he watched the golden sentinel warily as the guard walked in with a tray.
"Don't worry Pitch, they all have been informed that you're welcome here." Patrick motioned for the sentinel to hand him the tray, "Thanks, make sure to let me know when Iris arrives."
"Of course." The sentinel droned in a low monotone voice
"Not much personality huh?" Pitch commented as the guard left the room
Patrick chuckled as he set the tray onto the bed, "No, and I have told Iris they need one. They are too droll." The spirit removed the silver dome off the plate, "Here I thought that perhaps you should try a bit more solid food than soup."
"Seriously? You have enough here to feed an army." Pitch spoke as he tentively used the fork to move the large helping of mash potatoes around the silver plate
"Nonsense Pitch," Patrick grinned as he took a seat, "Now how about I regal you with one of my adventures till Iris gets here."
"Oh I can't wait." Pitch faked excitement
Patrick grinned, missing the sarcastic tone in the spirit's voice "Great, because I have an awesome one."
Pitch sighed as Patrick began his tale, he doubted anything could dampen his friend's spirit
"A few months after Iris first made me a spirit I was asked to find a treasure off the coast of the Vanuatu Islands…."
Pitch found himself intrigued as the man began to spin a story of danger, betrayal, and disaster. He ate slowly, soaking in every detail of Patrick's words, his tendency to observe and record everything taking over.
"…I could tell that there was something in the water." the Leprechaun grinned when he caught the expression of interest in Pitch's face, "Know what it was?"
"The suspense is killing me."
Patrick grinned, not fooled by the man's attempt to sound indifferent, "It was an Ababia!" he frowned when his revelation produced only a look of confusion from his audience, "Please tell me you know what an Ababia is…"
Pitch shook his head, "Can't say that I do."
"They are twenty foot long eels that tend to be 'very' territorial." Patrick spoke as he waved his arms in demonstration of the creature's size, "And no amount of talking will convince them to leave you alone."
Pitch smirked, "Imagine that, Patrick the man with a silver tongue unable to talk his way out of trouble."
Patrick grinned, "Hey when you stare down an eel the size of several full grown red woods, let me know what conversation you strike up with it. Now do you want to hear the rest of the story or not?"
Pitch was tempted to tell him no, but in reality he was enjoying listening to another person without having to worry about pain following. "Sure."
"Ok where was I…" Patrick grinned and continued his story.
(With Iris)
"We need the trees to feed our children's fire! And you are trying to tell me that I can't use the forest!"
The other spirits sitting at the table jumped slightly as the enraged man slammed his hand onto the table. A large nature spirit growled, his brown eyes glaring at the fire spirit "You cannot have the forest Nuri. Those trees are my people's home!"
Iris sighed, as the room erupted into a flurry of shouts as the nature and fire spirits began to argue. After a few minutes she had had enough, "Silence!"
The room went silent at the woman's voice
"Please can we discuss this like civilized spirits?" Iris spoke gently, waving her hand to the ones on their feet, "Nuri, Aghor take your seats and let us discuss the matter." She smiled as the two men complied, "Now Nuri, explain what the issue is."
"Well Lady Iris, Aghor here," coal colored eyes glared at the larger spirit sitting across from him, "has taken the Forest of Dela and claims that it is his and that no one else may use it." A small plume of smoke drifted from the man's mouth, "Lady Iris my people have lived in the valley below the forest for centuries! And then one day these dirt spirits show up screaming about how the forest was theirs," Nuri waved his hand at the nature spirits, "They have no right to claim it!"
"We should just burn the forest and be done with this." A younger male spirit snarled, fire flickered in his palm. He went silent when blazing emerald eyes turned on him, the spirit glanced down to avoid Iris's gaze, "Just saying…"
Iris smiled, though inside she wanted to throttle the young spirit "My dear Shun, that is exactly the kind of thing we are trying to avoid here. What good is it to destroy the forest that you both need simply because your people are 'both' to stubborn to come to a compromise."
"I am sorry Lady Iris," Shun seemed to sink into the chair, "My temper sometimes takes over my tongue."
"That is why I am here, to make sure such things do not cloud judgments." Iris nodded, then turned her gaze to Aghor, "Now, tell me your side of this child of Adana."
The nature spirit nodded, "Lady Iris, my people were burned from our former home by humans. We moved to that forest because it is the only place for miles that is shielded," he glared at Nuri, "The fire people do not need it like we do, they do nothing but destroy it."
Nuri slammed both hand on the table, "We do not! We use the forest simply for our homes and energy for our flames!"
"We will never allow you cut any more trees!" Aghor snarled
The rest of the spirit's jumped to their feet as the tension in the room rose
"And if we have to destroy you then…" the nature spirit's hand went to the large cutlass at his hip
"Enough!" golden wings fanned out as Iris's anger got the better of her, "I will not allow needless blood shed! Now sit down!"
All the spirit's immediately sat down, each shuddering at Iris's uncharacteristic anger.
"I really must keep my temper in check…" Iris sighed collecting herself, "Now, I have heard both sides and I believe that I have a solution. My husband is very apt at finding things, I will ask him to find a hidden forest so that your people will be safe from human advancement Aghor. Now it will take a bit, we are currently taking care of friend who has been injured. So in the meantime Nuri you and your people will allow them to stay in your village," Iris held up her hand, "And in return Patrick will find a fuel source for your children's fire other than the forests trees."
Nuri's eyes widened, "You husband can find such a thing?"
Iris chuckled, "It is a good thing he is not here, for you insult him deeply." She smiled, "I will send him within the week." She smiled as the spirits bowed and left the room. As soon as they left she let out a sigh and sank down into her chair, a bright iridescent light caught her eye as it burst into the room.
She opened her palm allowing the tiny rainbow to spiral into it. Iris brought the swirling light to her ear, a frown formed when the rainbow delivered its message to her. Instantly she was on her feet, "I should have had the foresight to avoid this." Iris quickly enveloped herself in a bright golden light. Once it cleared she was gone.
Please review and let me know what you thought. I love hearing from you and seeing how you are liking the story. Oh my friend has drawn Iris please go to my devientart to see her. The colored version has her bio. Till Next Time.