Chapter 8 – The Estharian Mission Part 2 – Undercover
Nauseam stares me in the face as I try to stomach yet another bow to the Statue of the Great Friggin' Mother. Excuse my language, but you gotta understand the situation here. The sickeningly sweet-smelling incense tickles my nostril, causing yet another discomfort. I've always hated jasmine with a fervour. I want to sneeze somethin' bad. And get out of this ridiculous place, pronto. But duty calls, and a SeeD has gotta stand by his job for as long as he is holding that position of prestige. We vowed to that in an oath when we became one.
What about the other two? Women ain't supposed to mix with men, so Quisty is in the other side of the hall from us. I take a sideway glance at Seifer, who's my right neighbour. He has a crazed look on his face too. Anyone with a sound mind can't stand this nonsense. What nonsense? In the day, the herd goes to protest outside the President's place until late evening, then proceeds to pray and bow in front of the statue from dusk to early morning (approximately three in the morning… major weird!) Meals consisted of wheat grass juice; beetroot soup and alfalfa sprout salad. Yuck. I need my hotdogs. I need my sleep. I need exercise. I need my hotdogs… damn there goes the vicious cycle again. Note to self: remember to pulverise whichever idiot's behind this with all my finishing blows!
Then I'm reminded that I was supposed to be a devout follower, and dilated my pupils again. If I come out of this alive, which is a big if, I'm gonna hafta wear nerdy glasses, I swear to Hyne! Maybe I should consult Quisty. She has great taste in those.
Seifer'll probably laff at me and add "Nerdy Chicken-wuss" or "Four-eyed Chicken-wuss" to his list of insults.
Oops… better dilate 'em eyes again.
* * * * * * * *
Nightfall, and all seemed silent. I knew by instinct that the other two would probably be outside too, looking for a chance to exchange pointers. I could practically read it from their desperate expressions when I had briefly seen them in the day.
Right on target… I see the two of them huddled together at the fountain, exchanging tender glances and holding onto each other while Seifer appeared to wipe something off her face.
I really hate myself for breakin' into their cosy little world, but excess time was not a luxury we could afford.
I kicked a stone deliberately so that I could sort of "announce" my arrival. True enough, the two broke away as soon as it rolled up to them.
"Ahem… so… what have you guys found out after more than a week of meaningless praying and bowing, not to mention protestations at the Prez's place?" I went straight to the heart of the matter.
"Not much… it was hard enough just to endure all that. Whoever the hell it was, had better come out soon. Or I'll personally thrash that stupid statue!"
"Shh!! Someone might hear us!" Quisty quickly covered Seifer's mouth with her slim hand.
"From what I gather, the "Great Mother" will appear every full moon… which is about two days from now. I almost whooped with joy when I heard that. My acting skills are incredible, if I may say so myself!" I patted my chest with pride.
"Chicken-wuss, you're too optimistic for your own good. Or should I say, simple-minded? The appearance of that lousy 'Great Mother' does not guarantee that we can escape from this dung hole! For all you know, it might spell an even longer period here for us! If she's as suspicious as she appears to be… there's a lot of snooping around to do!" Seifer's voice started to rise again, but was stopped in time by another of Quisty's glares.
"Holy-Mother-of-Hyne! You can't be serious!" I so wanted to jump up and run all the way out of this place. Maybe I should have listened to her.
Both of them looked at me so gravely that someone else would have mistaken them to be in mourning.
Damn. I punched my fist on the ground, only to be rewarded with a bleeding knuckle for my efforts.
"Look, there's no point in mulling over this. Let's settle on it now. We shall meet here on the very night of the Great Mother's appearances, and discuss our next step. That should be sufficient for now, at least." Quisty finally spoke, after having been a viewer of our exchanges all this while. She was always the most levelheaded among us. You could count on Quisty especially in dire times.
"Right… we had better go back to our places before anyone finds us missing." Came Seifer's reply.
I nodded absently, touching the sapphire that was now hanging by a leather string around my neck.
"Say~~~ Chicken-wuss! What's that you're wearing? You must really love this Estharian get-up, don't you? To actually accessorise the outfit?" Seifer smirked at me.
I shot him a warning glance. I can take a joke about myself, but I'm dreadfully serious about this.
Well, he took the hint, I guess. For immediately, he shut his mouth with an uneasy expression… like that of a kid caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Plus I could see Quisty's fingers pinching his arm… hahaha.
As we made our way towards the sleeping quarters, me still fingering my sapphire, for a tiny second… a warmth seemed to touch the skin in contact with it. I quickly stared at it in surprise, but it was way too dark to detect any changes.
Puzzling, for this had never happened before.
But me being Zell Dintch, what else could happen to take me by surprise again? I've seen it all.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Zell… you do not heed my words of caution.
Not that it matters… I've sworn to protect you ever since that time, so many autumns ago.
Even though I desperately wanted to rest, to banish all my cares and stay asleep in oblivion, but alas, I know I cannot do it.
Not when it's you at stake.
How can I let go of you so easily? It is a question my heart screams out when I try to avoid the issue.
I've decided to face it head-on.
If only I can find a way to get out.