A Tale of Two Torrents

By Dixxy

Chapter Six: Dinner Date

(Sara)

I tried really hard to keep a straight face as "Calvin" escorted me down the hallways of Lord Termini's estate. Cye kept calling me stupid pet names and making lovey-dovey gestures. I didn't know he was such a good actor. I returned a few of them, making up some REALLY stupid pet names.

As we walked towards the dining room, I found myself enjoying the mock-romance Cye and I were putting out. Something about the way he joked brought real smiles to my face. I liked it when he leaned his head towards me so our cheeks brushed ever so lightly. It made me feel safe and happy in this strange place.

When we reached the dining room, I looked around in awe. It was a huge, cathedral like room with paintings of Flitteree and other fantasy-like Dynasty creatures on the ceiling. And it was LONG- there must've been easily room for fifty or sixty people at the table. But only a few places were set at the far end of the table on golden platters with golden flatware.

"Wow," said Cye. "This is incredible."

"Isn't it," I said numbly. The two of us walked to the end of the table and took two seats next to each other, Cye pulling my chair out for me. We sat in silence, Cye looking over the silverware with mild interest while I stared up at the ceiling painting. There really wasn't too much to do for fear of our host coming in while we were discussing something fragile.

After I constructed a pyramid from my own flatware, Lord Termini came in. I quickly took my tower apart and reset my place, glad that I was able to put my table-setting abilities from home economics to good use. I didn't COMPLETELY flunk the food portion of it, after all. Termini didn't seem to care as he took his seat without giving my creation so much as a second glance.

"Hello," said Cye politely.

Termini smiled at Cye. "Ah, I see you found your room all right," he said. He snapped his fingers and several servants ran over, bringing a gigantic roasted pig with them. I was reminded of pig roasts at home in Hawaii when I saw the apple in its mouth. "You do like ham, don't you?"

"I suppose," said Cye, eyeing the swine with interest. I took his hand and gave him a reassuring smile. Cye visibly calmed. Termini cut off one of the legs and put it onto his plate, then offered to serve us. We politely accepted, just as Sue Lee came in, the butt monster at her heels.

Termini raised an eyebrow as he watched the butt monster lay down next to Sue Lee. She giggled, reaching down to pet him. Our host shook his head in amazement. "That Gruff isn't like one I've ever seen in my lifetime. Is he tame? He tried to save the little girl from her attack today."

"We aren't sure," I said, looking down at the creature as well. I looked back up at our host. "He chased us around for a while, but he was only after food in Calvin's backpack." I narrowed my eyes. He called the butt monster a Gruff. "Is that what you call him? A Gruff?"

"Yes," said Termini.

"He's nice," said Sue Lee.

"He sure is," said Cye. He carefully began to slice the meat on his plate, seemingly somewhat. . . unsettled about eating from something whose head was still attached. Nervously, he took a piece to his mouth and started to chew. He looked up as he chewed, thinking it over. He then smiled and nodded. "Good. Very good."
"I'll send your compliments to the chef," said Termini, giving Cye a belly laugh in response. Cye sent me a triumphant grin. I kicked him under the table. Termini didn't notice. He ripped a piece of meat off the leg he had, the hoof in his hand. He chewed and swallowed. "So, have you thought about children yet?"

I was started to get really ticked off at this guy. I don't mind him thinking we're married, but babies? "What makes you think Calvin and I are in such as rush to have children?" I said. "First you think that Sue Lee is our daughter, and now this! What is it with you and babies!"

"Sar-Serena, calm down!" Cye said through his teeth.

"Oh, I thought that married couples can't wait to have children," he said.

I was about to tell him just how much of a rush I was in when Cye wisely interjected. That could have gotten UGLY. I may be vertically challenged, but I am one tough cookie (just ask Trevor, he's over six feet tall and I've been able to beat him up on plenty of occasions). "Serena and I are newly weds. We'd like to get settled in with each and spend some time as just a married couple before we start a family."

Termini gave out a belly laugh. "Ah, I see, wise young man. So, how long have you been married?"

"A few-" Cye started, but I wasn't sure he had a good time unit in mind.

"Weeks," I said. Ah yes, weeks. Definitely after the honeymoon, but not long enough into a marriage to consider children. "We've been married for three weeks and he started courting me three years ago." For show, Cye took my hand and smiled. I smiled also. Sue Lee was trying very hard to hold back a giggle. Ria would be holding back an attempt to stick her finger down her throat.

"Ah, ha," he said. "Then why have you only been married three weeks?"

"Well," I said, "in the Mortal Realm, a courtship lasts anywhere from a year to five, six, seven, eight years, sometimes even ten or more. Then your boyfriend, as we call them, asks you to marry them, usually down on one knee. The bride to be receives an engagement ring and the couple refers to each other as 'their fiancé' before they actually wed."

"Fascinating," he said.

"Speaking of realms, how did we get here, and can you help us-" Cye started.

"Now, now, now, you two just sit back, relax, and enjoy your stay. I insist. You are my guests and I love to entertain people, and I don't get to entertain very often. Why, this dining room hasn't been used in years! I haven't had any guests in a very, very long time, and I just-"

I sighed heavily. "We can stay for another day or so, but we really need to get back to-"

"Thank you!" he said.

"Why are your interrupting them?" asked Sue Lee. She thoughtfully put a square of the finely cut meat into her mouth. She chewed, swallowed, and then threw a piece down to the Gruff. The Gruff yipped, snapping at the tiny bit of food. He ate it happily, probably not used to such fine foods. "It's not polite."

Termini ignored her. The Gruff didn't seem to like that, but it didn't do anything aside from raising its lips to bear its teeth at our host. Sue Lee gave it another piece of meat and the animal ate it happily once again. "Now, Calvin, Serena, what are your interests?"

"Interests? Well, Cy- Calvin likes to cook- I'm a horrible cook myself- and I know he's a bookworm."

Termini raised an eyebrow. "A cook, eh?"

"Yes," said Cye. "Many great chefs in our world are men." We all know THAT'S true. Anubis knows that if Emeril Lagasse is on the television is Cye's. EVEN when he's grounded. No ifs, ands, or butts. The same went for Wolfgang Puck and Two Fat Ladies. You didn't even TRY to change the channel to something else. "Serena, well, she likes. . . a lot of things."

"Like?" asked Termini.

From the look on Cye's face I knew he was drawing a blank. Draw! "I like to draw!" I saved.

"Ah, an artist. What do you draw?" he asked.

"Um. . . stuff," I said. I didn't really draw anything seriously- mostly doodles in the margins of my notebooks in school (I got a detention once for doing a really "flattering" picture of a teacher when he went to see what I was doing). "Mostly stick figures doing violent things to each other. I did a somewhat amusing one involving a can of lighter fluid and this girl I know named Sheila. It ended in an explosion."

Apparently this kind of humor was beyond Termini (and from the looks of it, maybe a little beyond Cye as well, who stared at me as if I'd suddenly grown another head). He stared at me, shook his head, and decided to change the subject. "So, Is there anything the two of you like to do together?"

"Swim," I said.

Termini grinned. "Skinny dipping, I presume?"

"Ew!" said Sue Lee.

"Uh, no," said Cye, blushing. "We don't want to get caught."

Termini roared with laughter. He fell from his chair, then slapped a hand hard onto the table as he pulled himself up again. His face was red and beaming in an almost likable way. "That's rich! 'We don't want to get caught'. BRILLIANT! Cye, you are quite the character."

Cye laughed along with Termini. "Yes, I suppose it was kind of funny."

Termini turned to me. "Do you agree?"

"Well, it's TRUE," I said. "Why would I want someone looking in on something that is strictly a private and sensual affair between myself and my husband. But such matters shouldn't be discussed in mixed company." I looked to Sue Lee, who had a strange look of shock plastered across her face. The Gruff had its head on her shoulder, looking like a concerned puppy.

Cye had a look on his face that agreed (and one that was also red as a cherry). While nothing like that had ever actually happened between us, it still stirred some unsettling feelings between us. Nothing like the fight, but more of a mutual sense of embarrassment.

Termini coughed slightly and stood up, patting his stomach as he let out a mighty belch. "Wonderful meal," he said. He turned to us. "Explore the grounds if you'd wish, but I have a curfew over the castle. You will be notified roughly ten minutes before this time comes."

I nodded. "All right," I said. I pushed my plate away, pleased with the "work" I'd done with it. "Calvin and I will look around for a little while. But we must leave in a few days. There will be people worrying about us. Family, friends, the people who we hold dear."

Termini ignored me and left the room. Is he deaf or something? Yeah, I don't like it when guests leave either, but there's a difference between loneliness and keeping prisoners! Cye and I exchanged looks and stood up, beginning to follow his lead. Sue Lee and the Gruff stayed put.

Cye turned to look at them. "Sue Lee, is something wrong?"

"Something that Termini said. . . isn't. . . right. . ." she said. She shook her head. "I'm going to bed." Sue Lee yawned as if on cue, stretching her arms. The Gruff looked at Sue Lee, sniffed the air, and bounced over to me and Cye. "I guess that he wants to be with you."'

"How can you tell it's a he?" I asked.

Sue Lee shrugged, then waved cheerily. "See you tomorrow morning!"

"Okay," I said, smiling at our young friend as a servant took her to her sleeping quarters. My armor told me it was all right to trust the servant to take her someplace safe, so I didn't pursue them. Cye's armor told him the same, so we just left the dining room, the Gruff following us.