"Liam." Said Dairine. "You realize the futility of this don't you. Even if Spot and I can locate her
it won't much good. We cannot directly interfere. This is --"
"Is her Ordeal. Ya I know." replied Liam, busy pacing a hole in his floor. "But after what
happened that first time. How d'ya know He isn't waiting for her. You Know what he can do.
He's done it to all of you, he'll do it to m'li'l girl too!"
The three Advisors were silent. The Art sat on the living room table, taunting them. Without it,
Cyrene was left only with the spells she knew by heart. Liam had no doubt she knew a lot that
way, but so far from her manual, she was out of luck if she needed extra help.
**********************************************************************
Cyrene woke up the next morning, feeling more drained, more exhausted and more irritated than
when she went to sleep. She lay in her bed, not bothering to move, and thinking of nothing. A
knock and the sound of the to her bedroom opening helped her move again. Marie came in.
Proud, arrogant, disapproving Marie. She didn't even bother looking the girl in the eye.
"Are you going to continue in these...things Mademoiselle, or would prefer to change into more
appropriate clothing?" Marie's voice was acid.
"No, I'll keep what I got with me." replied the guest. She noticed the look of disgust on the older
woman's face but tried to make simple conversation. " How long have you worked for him?
"I was his nurse when he was a toddler. Raised him like my son. More than his mother ever did."
" Oh. An' he's got no one else does 'e? No brothers...sisters...parents....other people?"
"There is only me, him, and the other servants. We need no one else."
Cyrene smoothed out the skirt of her robe. This was like talking to Norman Bates' Mother. Best
to cut to the chase. "Why do you hate me?"
Marie pretended to be shocked. "I don't know what you're--"
"Dun Bull me Lady! I wanna know why you look like I'm some kinda whore. Fr'm wha' yer
boss tells me, it was yer idea ta bring me 'ere in the firs' place!!"
The older woman's expression turned stormy. "It was my idea yes. I wanted someone to help the
boy. He is the closest I have to a son. I had expected someone powerful to help. Someone older,
with more experience and wisdom. Not a baby."
Cyrene bit down hard on her tongue. There was more that she wanted to say, that under any
other circumstance she would have said. But she couldn't. Powers help her she couldn't do it. So
she forced the words out of her mouth in as calm a manner as she could.
"I am...sorry you feel that way...but I was called to help Alexandre....and that's what I'm going
to do. Whether or not you approve of me."
it won't much good. We cannot directly interfere. This is --"
"Is her Ordeal. Ya I know." replied Liam, busy pacing a hole in his floor. "But after what
happened that first time. How d'ya know He isn't waiting for her. You Know what he can do.
He's done it to all of you, he'll do it to m'li'l girl too!"
The three Advisors were silent. The Art sat on the living room table, taunting them. Without it,
Cyrene was left only with the spells she knew by heart. Liam had no doubt she knew a lot that
way, but so far from her manual, she was out of luck if she needed extra help.
**********************************************************************
Cyrene woke up the next morning, feeling more drained, more exhausted and more irritated than
when she went to sleep. She lay in her bed, not bothering to move, and thinking of nothing. A
knock and the sound of the to her bedroom opening helped her move again. Marie came in.
Proud, arrogant, disapproving Marie. She didn't even bother looking the girl in the eye.
"Are you going to continue in these...things Mademoiselle, or would prefer to change into more
appropriate clothing?" Marie's voice was acid.
"No, I'll keep what I got with me." replied the guest. She noticed the look of disgust on the older
woman's face but tried to make simple conversation. " How long have you worked for him?
"I was his nurse when he was a toddler. Raised him like my son. More than his mother ever did."
" Oh. An' he's got no one else does 'e? No brothers...sisters...parents....other people?"
"There is only me, him, and the other servants. We need no one else."
Cyrene smoothed out the skirt of her robe. This was like talking to Norman Bates' Mother. Best
to cut to the chase. "Why do you hate me?"
Marie pretended to be shocked. "I don't know what you're--"
"Dun Bull me Lady! I wanna know why you look like I'm some kinda whore. Fr'm wha' yer
boss tells me, it was yer idea ta bring me 'ere in the firs' place!!"
The older woman's expression turned stormy. "It was my idea yes. I wanted someone to help the
boy. He is the closest I have to a son. I had expected someone powerful to help. Someone older,
with more experience and wisdom. Not a baby."
Cyrene bit down hard on her tongue. There was more that she wanted to say, that under any
other circumstance she would have said. But she couldn't. Powers help her she couldn't do it. So
she forced the words out of her mouth in as calm a manner as she could.
"I am...sorry you feel that way...but I was called to help Alexandre....and that's what I'm going
to do. Whether or not you approve of me."