And God said, "Let this chapter be emotional." And so it was. And Jetrin was pissed. No, seriously, he's gonna be pissed.
Also, if you see things in parentheses, it's me speaking. (because I can) It only happens twice, so don't worry.
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Jetrin gazed up at the man who had just entered the room. From his vantage point on the ground, he could look straight up at the newcomers face, and see some nose hai… (You don't need to know this, do you? What, you do? I am not going to describe what Jetrin saw up the new guy's nose, so don't push it. Moving along now…)
Jetrin spoke up, "So, what can I do for you? There's not much I can offer to do, what with me being trapped in this room and all, but I can suggest that you should get a trim."
(…Oh dear God… I hate Jetrin so much right now…)
The newcomer looked confused, but decided to just go with it rather than questioning this strange comment. Clearing his throat, he began to speak.
"Ahem, Jetrin Guntis? My name is Kevan al'Derin, and I've come to speak with you on the situation you're in… and please stand up. It is quite uncomfortable to speak to a person who is laying at my feet."
Uncomfortable for him? Why not for me? After all, I just fell with my BLOODY CHAIR! And he doesn't even ask if I'm all right… at least it's not boring any more… it just hurts a little.
Lifting himself off the ground, he carefully stood, avoiding the now splintered chair as well as he could. Once standing, he brushed off all the wood chips which had stuck to him, carefully avoiding any splinters… unfortunately, he's Jetrin.
Gah! Bloody Light, this bloody splinter is driving itself into my skin! Pain is not a good feeling. Most definitely not.
Having brushed himself off fairly decently, Jetrin began picking at the splinter, which had jammed itself into his hand, trying to get it out. His guest had been standing patiently, but was now starting to fidget just a tiny bit. Semi-oblivious, Jetrin continued quietly picking at the splinter. After a few more moments, Jetrin looked up and waved Kevan towards the bed.
"If you want to sit down, go ahead," he said. "I'd offer you the chair, but I'm pretty certain you don't want to sit on it, it being broken and all…" Then he went back to picking at the splinter.
Kevan al'Derin continued to stand and watch Jetrin, ignoring the bed as a possible place to sit. Finally, a few moments later, Jetrin removed the splinter. Then, he stuck his now splinterless, yet now throbbing finger, into his mouth. Doing this, he was finally able to give his undivided attention to his guest.
Kevan al'Derin was a middle-aged man, with dark, almost graying hair. He was of an average build, with no outstanding qualities to his appearance, but something about him stirred Jetrin's memory.
Kevan al'Derin, something about him is familiar… but what?
"So… you don't want to sit?" Jetrin asked.
Kevan replied, "No, I am quite well. Actually, I came here because I wished to talk to you, and that can be done as easily standing as sitting. If you would like to sit, by all means go ahead, do not let me trouble you."
Jetrin looked at the guy again, and answered back. "Maybe I will maybe I won't… do I know you from somewhere?"
Kevan smiled a little at this comment. "We met for a short time in the town. You brought my daughter home."
Brought his daughter home… wait, Kevan al'Derin…Meria al'Derin… daughter, so this must be…
"So you're Meria's father?" Kevan nodded. Jetrin was surprised at this. He didn't expect Meria to have such a mellow parent. "Well, nice to meet you. You have a very…" active? strange? violent? "…interesting daughter."
Kevan smiled even more at this. " I'm sure you have much more… descriptive words than that which you wish to use, but are refraining from voicing them merely for politeness sake."
Bloody yes.
"She is like that due to how she had been raised."
Guess how much I care, was what Jetrin wanted to say, but he didn't want to get rid of his only non-boring thing in days. At least this would give him something to do for a short while.
"Oh? And how was she raised?"
"To speak her mind and to make her own decisions. If she desired for something or desired to do something it was her choice. The consequences that came were also dealt with by her. It has made her… willful… to say the least."
Jetrin agreed, but kept his opinions silent. That's a nice way to grow up though, Jetrin thought to himself, not like with my father. Shaking off old memories, he wondered where this one-way conversation was going.
"Over the years, she has tried many new things, given up on some, and expanded on others. My wife and I have always supported her. However, after the events of not too long ago, Meria has had her head filled with stories of heroes and adventures. She wishes to see the world. My wife and I would like to support her and let her experience it, but it is dangerous out there."
Jetrin thought he could see where this story was going, and he didn't like it. He wanted to steer this conversation elsewhere, but by now it was too late. Kevan had picked up steam and was going all the way.
"If you had not protected her, and helped her back, who knows what could have happened? If she had a companion who knows the world to keep her safe and to show her new sights, I could let her go, which I truly do desire. Unfortunately, there is no one who can help her in this town. The few travelers who journey out here are worn and usually come to settle down in a nice country area, so they rarely leave. And even if they did, how could I persuade one of them to keep my daughter safe and to show her the world? What a troubling dilemma."
Having said all this, Kevan fell silent. Jetrin began to think carefully how to get out of this puzzle.
Looks like he wants me to show his daughter the world. If that's how he feels, he can bloody well burn in the Pit of Doom. I've got enough trouble on my hands traveling alone. I don't need to baby sit someone else too. But I can't just say no. He could get offended and get everyone in the town wanting to kill me… which is not good. Anyway, how does he know he can trust me? Why me? This silence is lasting way too long; I've got to say something!
Jetrin felt he had to say something to show he sympathized with Kevan and wanted to help, without actually saying he could help, so he decided on something which he thought would be safe.
"Well, that is a difficult problem. Almost as bad as being trapped in a room for doing nothing and not being able to leave. Why, I bet solving either would require quite a bit of thinking, but I'm not that good at thinking things out or else I'd have gotten out by now. Sorry I can't help, but I have my own problems."
Kevan gave a little grin at this. "Oh, but you can Jetrin, you can."
Burn it. I've got to be careful, I'm treading on thin ice here.
Jetrin decided on an innocent approach. "Really? How?"
Kevan replied, "You could take Meria with you when you leave. This way, she can go with you on your travels."
Jetrin gave another innocent remark. "But I'm stuck in here. How can I get out?"
Kevan had an answer to this as well. "I can probably convince the Council to free you. I have quite a bit of sway."
Oh, burn it. Innocence can bloody well rot. I've got to get out of this bear trap, even if I have to gnaw my leg off.
Jetrin shot off two more questions. "How would you convince them? They think I'm a male channeler. What kind of sway have you got?"
Kevan responded easily yet again. "I know you're not a channeler. You're an Illuminator."
What! How did he…this type of back and forth question and answer feels familiar. Him countering all my questions with logical answers… forcing his choices onto me… just like…
Kind of shaken now, Jetrin spoke another question. "What makes you say I'm an Illuminator? What proof do you have?"
Kevan continued his answers relentlessly. "I'm a merchant. I've been to many a city, and I've seen and heard Illuminator fireworks. More to the point, I've smelt the unique… aroma, as it were, afterwards. It smelled the same as when you did whatever it was you did. And I know that only Illuminators have knowledge on how fireworks work."
He really can get me out, if he can convince the townsfolk that I'm not evil! But I'd be burdened with his daughter. Bloody Light forsaken Pit of Doom! If he can get me out, he can lock me in! I have to agree to his conditions, or at least find a reason I shouldn't be made to do this!
Jetrin began to grow a bit panicked by now and started grasping at straws. "But, but, even if I am an Illuminator, and I'm free, and I can go, and I take your daughter with me, I don't have the money for it! The resources! The, the, the…"
Kevan gave a harsh, animal grin, and leapt in for the kill. "I can give you twenty-five gold crowns, Andoran weight, if you agree. And, I can give you horses, food, and clothing enough for several weeks travel."
AUGH!!! There's no way out, at least not without damning myself to this bloody town! Burn this man for his slick talk and merchant ways. I'm always on the losing end of arguments, just like it always was with…
Defeated, Jetrin stumbled over to the bed and collapsed onto it. Staring at the ceiling, he spoke up.
"Fine. You win. I'll show you're daughter the world, or at least the places I'll be going."
Making his way to the door, Kevan responded to this comment. "That's all I ask for. Nothing more."
Jetrin chuckled quietly. As Kevan stepped out, Jetrin called out again.
"You know, you remind me a lot of my father."
"Oh? How so?"
"He also always found a way to make everyone do what he wanted. With well thought out arguments or with a thick piece of wood… he was always right."
A short silence greeted this statement. Then, Kevan spoke again.
"I am a merchant. I have to maneuver business associates into doing what I desire them to do, or else my business would fail. However, my cold maneuverings are only as a businessman. Outside of work, to my family especially, I am a kind hearted individual. I have never hurt those close to me or maneuvered them into my own decisions. It is their own choice. As I said, I brought up my daughter to speak her mind and to make her own decisions. I do not know your father, but his way is not my own. Do not compare me to one who must argue with force and not words."
"Words have a force of their own."
"You are correct, but my words have an easier force than a piece wood would, do they not?"
"Yes… I guess. My father could learn a lot from you, if he's still the same…" It's been three years since I've been home… maybe my father could have changed in that time…
"Thank you. Perhaps I may meet him someday and teach him."
Jetrin chuckled softly at that comment. "I doubt that. He never leaves home and he always thinks he's right. Trying to change him is like trying to cut water. If you're fast enough and you watch carefully, it looks like you're doing something, but once you leave it alone for less than a second, the water flows back as if nothing happened."
"Hmph… rest well Jetrin Guntis. I will arrange for you to leave tomorrow morning." With that, Kevan closed the door.
A locking noise was heard. Jetrin sighed. If I could leave, I could get out of this town and leave without the girl. He turned his head towards the window, and at the tree outside. I can leave, but I'd have to leave my pack behind. Turning his head to stare back at the ceiling, he closed his eyes. I can't do that… at least I get some gold crowns out of this. I wish I could have stayed bored instead. I guess I'll just sleep for now. Drifting off to sleep, Jetrin made one last comment.
"Blood and bloody ashes…"
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Scene: Over there
J: All right… What the Bloody Pit of Doom was that?!? I have a traveling companion now?
T: Well… yeah. You didn't think Meria was gone, did you?
J: Well I was kind of hoping… anyway, where's the emotion you said would be in this chapter? The pissed part was true, but not the emotion part.
T: Well there was emotion, just not the one I wanted. I actually wanted you to be all angsty about how your father was in your life, when compared with how Kevan treated you.
J: Well, that didn't work. Tell me, Kevan is now gone from the story, right?
T: *shrug* prob'ly. Why? Don't you like him?
J: In a word, no. He's irritating.
T: Some people would say that about this whole "me talking to you" section.
J: That mostly because it's a "you talking to you" section. I'm you, or at least I'm a figment of your imagination, so this whole conversation is you and yourself. In other words, you're crazy.
T: …just for pointing that out, in a later chapter you'll be hit with a huge problem.
J: Oooh… I'm frightened… NOT!
T: Just wait… as soon as I can work it in, YOU'RE SCREWED!!! *maniacal laughter*
J: Whatever. I have the last word anyway.
Reviews:
Seishi: Uhh… yeah. About the rather… extreme review… blame Jetrin. He's the one who said it! (J: Ahem. If you read the above conversation between me and TI, you can see that he is actually blaming himself; therefore, he truly is crazy. T: Ahem, Jetrin? J: Yes? T: SHUT UP!) …ignore that please and blame Jetrin.
She Who Walks the Night: Jetrin just comes out as sarcastic. Actually he's being very serious at times, as you can see from this chapter. And, as for update soon, this chapter is a whole one thousand words more than my usual updates, so Hooray!
Comment to the readers and not reviewers: You know… if you read, you can review too. Just push the little button down there. From my reviews, I can assume only like 5 or 6, maybe 7 readers are reading this… (I don't feel like checking the exact number) As long as you have comments about my writing or how the story's going, it's okay. Even if you feel like flaming, go ahead, but constructive criticism is much preferred. I enjoy the "good work" reviews, but I would like to know how to become a better writer. Point out my errors and show me how to do better. That's all I ask for. And of course, you can only do that by reviewing. At least this way I know people are reading this.
