Noriko insists that we must return to Zena's house and properly give our regrets. She must hold my hand - literally and figuratively - because I wish to run and not face them and what happened in that house. Banadam was already out of the house, the rest saw the horrible things done.
I can see the fear and questions on their faces and it takes everything I have to not flee, nor to let anything show on my face. They don't ask. I think they don't really want to know. I quickly disappear into the room I was in to collect my things, and then, because they're talking to Noriko, I go and collect hers.
Like I let her talk to Tazasheena, I let her talk here. She's unafraid to face them, and her words (I'm leaving the bedroom doors open so I can hear them and the holes in the walls besides make it simpler) are like they were with Tazasheena. They satisfy the minds of the listeners, but don't give them the full answers that would admit what we are. She doesn't lie, but she does point to other things and possibilities, so they don't have only the one thing to claim. It's enough to keep their mouth's closed by the time I return with our bags.
Based on her words and what I wish to do to help them, now that I can't with my strength, I've decided what I'll do. I hand Noriko her and my travel bags. The bags of gold I won from Nada are in two travel bags slung over my shoulder. I open the one resting on my chest and pull out two bags of gold and hand them to Noriko. "Please divide these in half for me." She sets them on the low table in the middle of the room, kneels, and opens the first one.
I address the people in the room. "Because we're now twice fugitives, we'll only bring more trouble to your efforts than it's worth. Instead we'll try to draw them away from here, so when you leave it looks like you did only leave the city the way they were trying to make you leave, Zena. Because they'll be looking only for us, they won't go looking for you as you try to do your good works."
Trying to keep to the spirit of Noriko's wishes, I choose to face each person, rather than drop bags on the table and run, which would be cold. I pull out two more bags of gold and take them to Agol and Barago. I face them as the manor lord they chose to see me and tease me as: with kind but firm requirement regardless of what their minds and hearts hold. I hold out one bag to each of them. "Please see that Zena and Duke Jeida are protected as they take their travels."
I pull out another bag and hand it to Agol. "Give this to Duke Jeida when you get to him. And give one pile each from what Noriko is making to his sons. If each of you can take care of yourselves until you reach your goals, you'll be able to focus on them."
I turn to Banadam, "One of those piles is also for you." I point to the table. He thanks me quietly. Likely the others still haven't told him what they saw, then. He'll learn eventually.
I turn to Zena. "Thank you very much for hosting us. I'm sorry we brought trouble to your home. Please take the final half-bag of gold to see to you and your ladies. I'm sorry it isn't more, but I must save the rest to see that Noriko and I aren't discovered. Every job I take is a risk we'll be found."
"Stay safely hidden," she answers me. Because she has the hope that the future isn't set in stone, she can wish with me that somehow we can change the prophecy. "The house has only seen more of the destruction they were already throwing at me. I won't need it now, and Tazasheena wanted it for herself anyway. She can have it in the condition she likes it best." She gives a small cynical smile.
"I will hope she enjoys the breeze, then," I say back. She catches the humor and smiles.
I turn to Gaya finally. I don't want to see her face, but I still must face her properly. She's confused, worried, uncertain, but when I open my mouth, she moves to fling her arms around my neck, and tears are in her eyes. "Please take care of yourself, Izark. I will miss you both." I give her a gentle squeeze around her shoulder, as my other arm is balancing the gold from falling off my shoulder and it would be too heavy to have fall on her feet.
"I will," I promise. "You also. And please also take care of your sister and Duke Jeida. They want to do a good work and you are strong." She squeezes me tightly as she nods, and then lets me go. I pull out one bag of gold and hand it to her. "Take this, and also the wagon and its horse. You will have more need of it than we will. A single horse is sufficient for us."
"Then take my horse," she says immediately.
I shake my head. "You'll still need that one. You're adding Zena and her girls, and you need to ride to defend the wagon. If you all end up with extra horses in the end, sell them and use the gold for your works. I have enough to buy one more, then I'll need to save the rest."
The bag I've been taking gold from is very light now. When we're done with buying what we need to travel, I'll have only one travel bag of gold left. The purchase of the wagon and all the horses, plus the rent for the house and all of our purchases during Noriko's convalescence came from the other bags of gold in the first one.
Noriko rises to her feet, leaving the empty bags there so they can use them, although they'll have to find two more. I move to stand with her again. She bows. "Thank you for taking such good care of us, and particularly me while I was recovering. Please give my kind regards to Duke Jeida." I nod, also wishing for them to do that.
As we turn to go, Zena rubs the back of her head. "Ah...I'm still not really sure what I saw when you two first came to my home, but what I remember is seeing darkness at first, when Rontarna said your name, Izark, and then when he said Noriko's there was a ringing and a brilliant white light. It made me so surprised, but felt so warm that when it went away I was very sad." She looks me in the eyes soberly. "Keep Noriko by your side."
"I intend to," I answer back. "Thank you. That's more than any other seer has seen." She pinks up and looks pleased.
Noriko takes my hand and squeezes it. I glance at her and she gives me a kind smile that says to keep trying to hope. We say goodbye and leave the house, still hand in hand, Noriko again helping me to walk instead of run away.
I'm grateful that they were all willing to face me courageously and not with open fear. I hope their journey proves fruitful and good men are brought together again so they can affect good changes for this world that's falling into evil darkness.
-o-o-o-
Noriko convinced me that the city would be in such an uproar that they wouldn't even think of looking for us to be wandering in the market. She believes Tazasheena left the city she was so afraid for her life. If I had to I could have carried Noriko and run from the city by rooftop. We weren't discovered.
She does know large cities well. She was actually quite comfortable shopping along the large busy market street. I let her do the negotiating while I kept my eyes on the people in the street, keeping watch over us both, so that I could be more comfortable.
Once we had our supplies, which refilled the bag that I'd emptied, we left through the city gate that seemed least guarded - the busiest one as if the rumored monster would flee only out of the back gates. Noriko smiled and commented that it was so story-book to make that assumption so it was obviously easier to walk out the front gate.
I thought she was rather clever, though, since I would have tried to flee out the back gate if she had let me do what I wanted to do from the beginning. We'd taken long enough even the guards at the gate that did cursorily examine us didn't believe the monster was in the city any more.
The rumors in the market were still only that. Most people were simply confused, not understanding why the temple had collapsed, nor what the real cause was. Everyone who'd seen me in my fully human form was buried in the temple or missing (the city was assuming Tazasheena was also buried). The two guards who'd seen me and run had seen the monster form and blue hair, not black, so that was the description being asked for by those guards who are seeking me.
I was quite relieved they'd not seen the final two demon forms. I'm not sure the strong guards had either. I think I changed into them after I collapsed the roof over them. While that's a little concerning since part of the description is similar enough to the fully human me, perhaps it will mean that they'll only continue to think of me as a monster hidden in the form of man, rather than as the Sky Demon. None of the rumors contain that whisper yet, although men will begin eventually to assume it.
If only Tazasheena saw the Sky Demon in her scrying then we only need to fear what she can do - and I do. Greatly. She may be able to find us again now that she knows our names and essences. I can only keep us on the move and practice and hope I'm strong enough before she finds an ally wealthy enough to buy her information.
As the list of potentials is nearly endless, we may have a long time, if she's intelligent enough to get them to bicker and bid each other up. But then ...she is a seer. She only has to scry to know who's the buyer, so maybe not. Depressing. Why did it have to be a seer?
I wanted to know that the others got away safely as well, so after we purchased a horse that's sturdy enough to carry us both and all of our bags, including the gold, I took it and her for a walk around the city wall, none of us riding but the bags. This time I'll need to remember to do that every day so that Noriko's feet can toughen up. If we lose the horse again, she needs to be able to walk without me worrying. Every time we start trying, something prevents it again. Not that I mind pampering her. It's that we need to be ready for all eventualities.
I found a place near the gate I knew our companions would be leaving from that was hidden enough that we might look like two trysting lovers escaping work if we were seen while we waited to follow them, and then had fun being that. Well, sort of. I was too worried to have very much fun with it, other than deep inside since that was what I wanted us to look like. I spent the time worrying over things, like, If I had left with Noriko when I had first felt the urge to walk alone with her again, would any of this worry over Tazasheena been brought on us?
When I finally had to air that one so it would leave me alone, Noriko worked her skills and put it to rest for me. "If Tazasheena was a seer, and Lord Silent Mask wanted me, and they knew to find me way out there at the house, then wouldn't they have found us wherever we were?"
Logic may work to remove worries, but it as often leaves behind gloom as hope, I'm finding. That one left enough gloom I had to pull her closer and rest my head against hers so I could feel her soft hair on my cheek.
As the breath from my nostrils passed over her ear, it began to get hot and then I did have to smile. She'd reminded me in that moment of one of the reasons I'd been wanting us to be traveling alone again. "Thank you, Noriko, for returning my feelings," I quietly and sincerely said in her ear. The rest of her bloomed very hot rather suddenly.
She managed to say mostly calmly, "You're welcome, Izark." Then she forced the embarrassment down. "I'm sorry I couldn't return it because I was so worried. Thank you for helping me see how I can choose to love you so I can. I really do, you know." The blush returned and I could only take her in my arms and hold her close to me.
"Thank you." It barely made it out around the lump in my throat. It's more meaningful to me than she knows.
I am sincere, but it's a delight to me that I can make Noriko and the Teacher both blush. To make her squirm makes me laugh, and when she must completely give in to my wooing and only be the woman who loves to be loved then I am satisfied.
That night was another night of squirming embarrassment for her, but it was bad enough I only smiled, and then helped her set it to rest. Having proper boundaries set is important for both of us. I also don't want to tread where I shouldn't. Even if her family isn't here on this planet for me to speak to them, I still owe them respect for their love and concern for her that they surely have even still. I would want to be able to face her father and brother honorably if I were ever to meet them.
I also didn't want to destroy on the first night the gift I'd finally been given. Having her return my love with the open admission that she really does love me, too (ah, I blush myself to put it so obviously), makes me more than happy. Having her beside me willingly so that she's relaxed again is fulfilling enough. Being able to hold her hand, touch her hair, or hold her in my arms when I need to without her flinching or me being afraid is helping me relax in ways I was never able to relax before. The stones in my gut melt slowly away each day.
I've been using the time we travel together to ask the questions that built up while we were with the others. My first one is the one that was most troublesome that day. Why do I have times of weakness? And in particular, Why did it strike then?
We discussed the possibilities for likely an hour. I told her what I had thought it was. She agreed that my initial reasoning would be what she would think, too, but in the end neither one of us had a satisfactory answer, because of the "outlier", the final "data point" that was so odd, there in Selena, Guzena.
Noriko apologized, saying that at only seventeen she still had at least another five years of schooling to do, and she still might have not studied what I needed to be able to answer that question. Her best guess was that there might be another [chemical] in my body that affects it, or that it might be related to a certain mix of strong emotions. She promised to research it for me later if I wanted, and my assignment is to continue to pay attention to what happens so that I can perhaps add more clues as it may happen in the future.
It's a bit frustrating to not have a ready answer, but I can't blame Noriko. I'm lucky she's been able to answer the questions she has been able to answer, and grateful as well. If we can learn this one together, then I'm also grateful to have a research partner who has the strength of the Teacher. The Teacher was able to reason out for herself that I wasn't destined to have to become evil. That's a skill I appreciate that she has.
The other thing I've been wanting to do is learn even more about who the Awakening is. She's willing to answer many questions very openly. Her world sounds very strange and mythical, but everything has been reasoned by the minds of men and created by them. She becomes animated when she talks about how it would be so simple to teach even the small ideas to the people here and great things would come about from it. I think she will have to slow down and wait for everyone else to catch up to her.
She tells me about herself, often while blushing, sometimes with resignation when it's her weaknesses. She'll tell me about her schooling, her friends, and what she enjoyed doing on her planet. But she won't tell me about her family. When I try to ask, gently, she'll go very quiet and sad.
One day something else we were talking about made her sad enough to turn away and I asked why. She only said it had made her remember her mother. As she walked away from me to recover she began to disappear as if she was walking away from me to return to her world and family.
I immediately panicked and leaped the short distance to grab hold of her, crying out her name. She turned to me, suddenly solid again, very surprised, as if she hadn't noticed it was happening. When she asked me what it was, I only could hold her in my arms and tell her I was sorry to make her sad, and beg her not to leave me. I was frightened for several days after.
It's hard to know when something we talk about will bring up memories of home when I can't even know about the people she loves. But if she'll leave me for being so sad for them, then I won't ask. Some day perhaps she'll not be so sad for them and then I'll be able to hear her stories.
I tell her my past, however. Given how much I wish to know hers, I'm sure she feels that way about me. It's hard to talk about my past because it was so painful, but she is kind and gently holds my hand or places her hand on my knee to comfort those pains. She's here now to love me and that fills those painful places, and it wasn't all bad.
Once she knows of the most painful part, we're able to move on and I can tell the stories of when I wandered with the caravans. There are many entertaining stories of that time and she listens to them with delight on her face. I like to hear her laugh and often her wry comments echo my own sentiments from those times. I'm delighted when she learns my brand of humor. Then she laughs more frequently.
-o-o-o-
Three months after leaving our companions, we arrive in a town nestled in the bend of a river. We're in need of supplies again. Noriko wishes to have new handwork to do to keep her hands busy while we ride. I need to resupply a few herbs, foodstuffs, and stop at a blacksmith to have my sword looked at. There's only one problem. It's apparently festival time in the city and all the inns are full. We even had troubles finding a stall to rent for the horse for one night.
I'm concerned. The sense that a demon has focused its attention on us has been building inside me. It's making me nervous about being here, but for some time there haven't been any places to purchase the few things that only larger towns have. As we walk through the busy streets, Noriko's feet slow. I look at her, knowing she's used to more than this. She's looking drawn and pale.
The closest place to have her sit out of the way is on a short pillar to the side of a set of stairs that lead up to a central high platform. I put my hand to her forehead and she has a slightly elevated temperature. Because of her episode with the diseases, even that much worries me. We'll need to see it taken care of right away. Not wanting her to use more energy than she should, I tell her to wait there while I find something for her to eat. There's a fresh fruit that can help with this.
I've barely made it to where I can smell the food part of the market when Noriko is contacting me. "Izark, please come explain I'm not a show girl to an idiot."
Already nervous and concerned, I move very quickly, up to the rooftops, running and only pausing long enough to find her in the crowd. She's being dragged by the arm by a man who's striding along purposely. She's pulling back against him. A woman is on the ground just behind them and Noriko is talking to her.
I'm next to them in one leap. I pick the man up by the front of his jacket and toss him (gently) nine feet. "What are you doing!?"
Noriko explains that he just assumed she was looking for work and was taking her off to "give her a job". I know full well there are other things that go on when that's used to capture a young, defenseless woman. I scowl at him fiercely. The man stammers out an apology, getting to his feet quickly to run off.
Noriko turns to the woman on the ground, not much older than her. "Thank you. Are you okay? I'm sorry you got injured for your troubles."
The woman is holding the side of her face, where a bruise is already forming. "Please, come stay at my family's home. I'm sure you don't have anywhere else to go, what with the Flower Festival coming up. My name is Ninya and my mother is the mayor of this town. We could really use your help." I hold out my hand for hers and help her stand all through this rush of words.
"Help with what?" I ask her politely, while making sure I have Noriko close so we don't have another unexpected incident.
"For the festival, we perform a ritual that requires a man with great athletic ability. My husband broke his foot, otherwise it would be him. We need someone to replace him, and I just saw you leap to a roof and back down again...and you look almost exactly like my husband, except a little taller.
"Please come and consider it. We would be happy to pay you room and board for it, at least. It isn't difficult and it is brief." She's been pulling on us, leading us towards a building not too far from the raised pavilion, all while talking. It would be a simple answer to our needs, and I do want Noriko to rest as soon as possible. If we can get out of the press of people, that would be good.
Ninya continues with her explanation, "It's the Flower Festival, and for political reasons, we really need to have the festival go forward and be a success. My mother refuses to bribe the regional government officials. They've been sabotaging the festival, and even have a seer that claims the festival will fail because the gods are not pleased with the city.
"That will damage the industry of the city, which will make the city poorer. My mother wants to prevent that as much as possible. Flowers and perfumes are all this distant city has to offer to the rest of the world. If that is defamed, the whole city will dry up and blow away."
We're at the house and she's opening up the door for us, looking expectant. Noriko looks at me and shrugs. Noriko needs to rest and Ninya was injured because she went to the defense of Noriko, a stranger. We can probably trust her to have good intentions. "I'll listen to what it is I would need to do. Noriko needs a place to rest comfortably, but we can't stay long."
Ninya claps her hands together. "That's wonderful! Please come in. I'll introduce you to my husband and the master of ceremonies and they can tell you the details."
Her husband, Kizak, and I are similar, both of us being slim (I am taller by just a little), and having straight black hair. When I walk into the room with his wife, he's very concerned about her but she blows it off and introduces us. Once I've heard what's required, I agree to take on the job. It does require sufficient athletic skill, but I should be able to do it fine, and I'll get to wear a mask and the annual costume.
Ninya excuses herself and Noriko to take Noriko to a bedroom since I want Noriko to lie down and rest. Noriko says she'll poultice the bruising. I'm sure they'll have a girl chat, since Ninya seems that kind, but that's an acceptable exchange, as long as Noriko does rest soon. I've asked that part of the payment be room and board, and also that they protect Noriko for me, and for just enough coin to cover the purchases we came into town to make.
I'm fitted by the the master of ceremonies with the costume. They're relieved they won't have to modify it. When I notice Noriko looking at me from the bedroom, I scold her because that isn't resting. It takes energy to do that, even if we have been practicing while on the road. She sniffs at me, but does soon stop to rest properly.
Kizak was a wandering swordsman before he met Ninya, married her, and settled down. He looks at me knowingly and warns me that I, too, will one day want to settle down and act properly responsible. He sounds like an older cousin, or perhaps young uncle, giving me advice and warning but not pushing me. I suppose it's good to hear words like that, even if I already know.
They take me out to practice getting the large basket from the starting point on the other side of the river to the ending point at the platform I had Noriko rest at. It isn't difficult. Tomorrow morning they'll fill the basket with flowers. I'll slide with it down two sets of cables over the river gorge to the platform.
At the end of the cables, the basket turns and the flowers fall out of it to fall over the square. People who catch a flower will traditionally have good luck for the year, or their wish granted if they have one. The entire afternoon after that starting ceremony is spent celebrating, including dancing, entertainment, food, and games. Apparently there will be a number of games specifically created for women, since this is an industry mostly directed towards them.
At the twist of the basket, I have to let it go at the right time and land on the platform so that I don't fall off the wagon (not that I would). I'm already well past the river gorge over the land of the city, so that part doesn't cause me any concern. Only if the cables break while I'm over the gorge might there be any problems. I inspect the cables as we take the basket back over the river gorge to the starting point for another practice run, but they look in sufficient repair.
The job will be brief: two nights and then we'll be going again. I'm worried because of the sense of another demon watching us, but until it shows signs of itself I can't do anything about it. I'll just be watchful and wary and we'll see.
-o-o-o-
The crowd of people come to participate in the Flower Festival fills the square around the pavilion and beyond. All are waiting for the opening of the Flower Festival. The signal is given and I kick off, pushing the wagon-sized basket full of flowers to get it started down the cables.
I'm paying attention, listening to and tasting the wind. My eyes look back most frequently to Noriko. She was very happy to get to wear one of the traditional costumes of the women of this town. She told me this morning as she put it on that she has always loved traditional clothing of many cultures. She also greatly appreciated my costume. As she likes to tease me like I like to tease her, I was glad I had the excuse of putting on my mask to cover the flush of pleasure her words gave me.
About half-way across the river gorge I feel an odd jerk, that becomes a slow sagging. The wind brings to my ears a few small pops, and then with a snap that cable separates and flings out of the traces on that side of the basket. I fall, still holding on to the side of the basket. There's a jerk and the basket swings, losing the flowers into the gorge while I dangle from one hand. My grip is firm, so I'm not worried for my own safety. If both cables had broken I would be.
This isn't just an accident that will make people sad for this year's festival. There are a lot of politics behind it. This festival needs to succeed, and I feel that is part of the job I accepted. I call up the wind to come down the river gorge. The narrow channel will make it come more strongly.
It comes swooshing up the canyon from below me to blow the flowers up into the air. I have it dance sinuously above me to swirl the flowers over the square. The wind blows the basket up and I trade places easily so that I'll be able to properly drop off at the turn at the end...since the basket hasn't stopped moving forward just because the one cable broke.
As I drop to the floor of the pavilion, Noriko is running to greet me. Both of us are worried that what I did to help make the opening of the festival successful will bring those who are seeking us. I didn't use much of my power, but it was still enough to give off my signature to a seer, and several are likely watching this to let political enemies of the mayor know if their scheme to ruin the festival worked.
"Look! A rainbow!" The flowers have been falling all over the open square and people have been catching them, so they're looking up towards the sky.
Their cries surprise me, but I remember feeling the mist of the water of the river in the wind. "The water stirred up with my wind to save the flowers must have risen up to create the rainbow," I say to Noriko.
Noriko and I look at the beautiful rainbow as all the attendees declare this festival more than successful. I've at least done well to meet my obligation.
Noriko says to me, "Izark, it's beautiful. What a wonderfully kind gift to give this city. I hope they have success this year. Once again you have been used for good in this world. The addition of the rainbow makes it almost feel like whatever's trying to help you be a force for good is giving you a sign as well - that it exists and is still watching over us."
I take Noriko's hand in mine. She always sees things in a positive way. I'm not sure, but I'd like it to be that. "I hope so. Something's coming, something not good. I've been more anxious than normal. If this is a sign to encourage me for that time, then I'll try to remember it - that something beautiful can come out of adversity."
Noriko squeezes my hand. I'll do my best to keep her protected. I will hope whatever brought us together will help me.
