Words Mean Everything

"Darling you are glowing," I remarked as I observed Shayla walk out of the house. She was wearing a navy blue dress, the collar was tall and buttons fitted down the front. Her hair was pulled up with a single red rose tucked in.

"You looked like you just won an election," she commented.

"Close, I was elected to speak as one of the representatives for the new Zaibach government," I announced.

"Congratulations Keith! How many of them are there?" She gave me a brief hug and stepped back to admire her garden.

"Two generals and two sorcerers who all use to work for Dornkirk. Actually I was wondering if you could be there and maybe give me some support."

She turned around and eyed me suspiciously.

"How so?"

"I was wondering if you could call a dragon for me," I said awkwardly.

Shayla crossed her arms across her chest.

"Really how would I do that?"

"Please Shayla, you can use your abilities to get a dragon here," I pleaded.

"I can't just do what I want whenever I want Keith," she exclaimed throwing up her hands.

"I know but this will be the only way that I have the upper hand over the others. The people are still fooled by the sorcerers and the ways of Dornkirk."

I watched her pace back and forth, biting down on her lower lip.

"Something else is bothering you, what is it Shayla?"

"It's Folken," she replied.

I understood immediately. "You are afraid somebody will recognize him."

She glanced back at the house. "We have never talked about it,"

"Then there's nothing to worry about, just tell him that you have to pick up some supplies," I consoled.

"Alright I'll see you tonight,"

"See you tonight," I waved good-bye and turned heading back to the city.

I stared out the window utterly confused. Just this morning, Shayla said that Keith was coming when he wasn't even in distance from where she was standing. After he left something about her changed, I couldn't quite place my finger on it. She finally came in with her hands full of herb leaves.

"What was Keith doing here?" I asked containing my curiosity.

She looked directly at me and smiled. "Oh nothing much, he came just to tell me that he has been elected as part of the new government for Zaibach,"

She laid down the leaves on the table and went inside her bedroom bringing back a long flat wooden box.

"He always seems like the in charge person," I noted.

"Yes, ever since I have known him he was always bantering about politics and now he finally gets the chance!" She replied sitting down and beginning to organize the herbs.

I couldn't help but feel envious of Keith. I watched her intently. Her fingers were busy with the leaves and the wooden box, which she opened.

"Would you like to help me?"

Her voice interrupted my thoughts and I reverted my eyes to her green orbs.

"What exactly are you doing?" I inquired.

All afternoon I helped Shayla sort through the herbs she collected. She told me about the properties of each and its uses.

"So what do you want for dinner?" I asked after we had finished. I noticed she stiffened at what I said.

"If you don't mind, I was hoping to cook tonight," she replied standing up.

"You sure you don't want any help?" I was a little hurt that she brushed me off so lightly.

"No, I'll be quite alright, thanks for offering," With that she swept off to the kitchen.

I sat in the same spot for quite some time nursing my pride. Normally I wouldn't be offended but I had just told her my true feelings this morning and was greeted with open arms and now she was pushing me away.

"Folken." Her voice startled me causing me to jerk up. She was leaning over the wall a dark cloak over her dress.

"Are you going somewhere?" I began to feel suspicious.

"Just to the city to get some supplies, I won't be long," she answered.

Suddenly everything seemed clear. "Or maybe to see Keith," I added bitterly following her into the kitchen. Her back was turned and I tried looking for some sort of sign but she showed none.

"Keith is giving a speech tonight and he wants my help, I didn't think it was a big deal," she shrugged.

"Then why did you lie to me?" I demanded striding in front of her.

"If you were to go into the city, someone might recognize you and I don't want you to get into trouble," she said with concern etched across her face.

"I understand, you are afraid that when they see me with this arm, they will be scared. You are just like the rest of them Shayla!" I was raging with anger and I spun around and slammed my hand on the wall. My breath was heavy but I didn't notice her come up from behind. Her touch was firm but gentle.

"Yes I am afraid but not for the same reasons. If someone notices your arms, word could get around and you could be in danger. I don't want that. I have to go in order to ensure Keith can maintain his authority over the sorcerers and generals, can you understand that?"

Her question drew me in and I faced her. I stood still as she took my metal arm into her hands.

"I honestly don't care what others think of you," she said fiercely.

"Perhaps this is not the best place for me to be after all." The abrupt words seem to come carelessly out of my mouth. I regretted the instant I said those words. She looked crestfallen dropping my hand.

"Can we talk about this tomorrow, I don't want to disappoint Keith," she said in a somewhat composed voice.

I nodded not knowing what else to do or say. She turned around placing her hood over her head and left. I was left in darkness again.

"Excuse me," I said politely as I wormed my way through the throng of people. Keith was about to talk next and I wanted to get as a close as possible. I cursed myself as a sorcerer was talking. I should have just left and dealt with Folken later. Grandma Rose told me that not to let love slip through my fingers but how would our love survive with secrets especially mine? Perhaps I should tell Folken the truth, will it makes things right? I scanned my eyes over the crowd. Most of the people seemed convinced with the garbage the sorcerer was talking about. Dornkirk was like a god to them, descending from the heavens and building them an empire of technology. In return, he crowned himself emperor of Zaibach. I asked Grandma why she didn't speak out her voice and she told me it was not her place to change what was going on. I can't help but feel compelled to stop the era of Dornkirk and provide a better place for the people. I reached for my pendant seeing the sorcerer beginning to finish his speech. I closed my eyes and began to picture a dragon.

Come… come to city.

Now it was Keith's turn to speak. He and I locked eyes. I nodded slightly indicating the task had been done. He appeared somewhat relieved. He began talking in a calm and collected manner. Just as he began to raise his voice, I began to hear pounding. Some heard and turned to look around for the noise. The noise grew louder and more persistent the crowd was growing restless. Instead of continuing his speech, Keith stopped and waited like the others. Finally it came from behind making the ground shake. A few citizens fled form the fear of being near a dragon. Its greenish skin glistened in the moonlight, its lavender eyes wondered around curiously among the crowd. Then the dragon laid eyes on me. I was standing a little far off to the right and I simply looked right into its eyes.

You have summoned me.

That statement surprised me but I didn't seem shocked by it. Something was missing but the reason why I was here allowed me to gather my thoughts.

This man standing before you will be the one to protect your kind. Salute him.

The dragon bellowed out loud. There was silence and then Keith seemed to take the cue and replied, "Thank you for coming."

The dragon gave one last look at the crowd and turned its back. As soon as the dragon left Keith resumed his speech. The people seemed to be awed at him. My work here was done. I turned to leave but suddenly felt faint. I pushed my way through the crowd and stumbled into an alleyway.

My knees gave in and I sank onto the ground. Before I knew what had happened my stomach let go of all the food I had consumed and I threw up.

"Shayla?"

I lifted my head and saw a man around the same age as Keith standing in front of me.

"Leo?" I questioned vaguely remembering being introduced to him. Leo was a lieutenant promoted by General Adelfas.

"Are you alright?" he asked bending down.

I laid my head back feeling the cool brick touch my forehead.

"I'm fine, I just felt a little faint."

"Well, just to be sure, I am taking you to the infirmary, come on," He helped me stand up supporting me by the arm.

We arrived to a large room filled with mats and lit torches. There were less patients lying on floor then the last time I came here.

"Flora, will you come and look at this lady," Leo called out to a woman standing on the other side of the room. I watched as this woman approached me. Her hair was a dark brown and her eyes were hazel.

"Good evening Lieutenant, how can I assist you," she smiled revealing a set of dimples. I was floored by the remarkable presence her smile had on me.

"Flora this is Shayla a friend of Keith. She isn't feeling well, do you think she could stay here while I look for Keith," Leo introduced.

"Of course any friend of Keith is welcomed here," she said smiling again. I couldn't help but smile back. Seeing that we were acquainted, Leo left to find Keith.

"Come, lie down," she urged leading me to a mat far away from the other patients.

"Thank you. I just felt a little faint back there," I dismissed.

"It was probably just the heat along with all those people crowded together. How about some tea?" she asked.

"That would good." I watched her walk to where she kept all her supplies and pour hot water into a mug and sprinkling some kind of herb.

"So you are in charge of the infirmary now?" I asked accepting the mug and took a small sip.

"Yes, I have heard some things about you from Keith," she replied.

I raised my eyebrow. "Really, just how acquainted are you with Keith?"

Before my question was answered, Keith came in with Leo at his side.

"Well look what we have here," Keith remarked.

"Hello Keith, nice of you to finally show up," Flora replied dryly. I looked at her surprised. I had not expected her to act that way.

"All right enough both of you," I ordered sensing Keith coming back with a slick reply. I turned my attention over to Leo. Clearly he knew what was going on between those two.

"Thank you Leo for helping me and I am sure you are busy with other things…"

"If you are sure you don't need me anymore, I mean Keith isn't exactly the best person to rely on and leaving him here with two beautiful ladies…"

"Hey!" Keith protested. Leo simply chuckled and left.

"Are you sure you alright?" Keith's voice softened a bit and I knew he was sincere.

"Yes. It's getting late Keith I should get back," I emphasized beginning to rise on my feet.

"I don't think it's a good idea," he stubbornly pushed me back down. I glared at him. What was he talking? I walked alone in the dark plenty of times before.

"Keith's right Miss Shayla. You should stay here tonight. My quarters are big enough for the two of us to sleep in. All we need is an extra mattress," Flora suggested.

"What do you know she actually agrees with me," I heard Keith mumble.

"What's that Keith?" Flora asked slyly.

"Nothing, I'll go and see if I can find some blankets." Keith excused himself and walked off.

"I suppose it is always like this between you two?" I concluded.

Flora flushed slightly as she led me to her rooms. "You know what Keith is like, always flirting and joking around."

"Yes, but it seems Keith is taking a great interest with flirting and joking with you," I pointed out.

"Well that's good I think," she answered back opening the door to her room. It was about the same size as my room at the cottage. A bed with iron posts sat to the right with a small desk and dresser opposite. I noticed the room was very tidy and clean and there was not much of a view besides a small window across from the bed.

"Thanks for letting me sleep here," I thanked. I suddenly felt the urge to sleep. My eyelids seemed heavy and my movements were stiff.

"Come, you can sleep here tonight." Flora led me to her bed and pulled the covers over me. I started to protest but exhaustion had won over me.

I entered Flora's room to find Shayla fast asleep on her bed. Flora's back was turned to me so it gave me an opportunity to study her. She was as tall as Shayla but her dark hair was longer rippling down to her waist. She would pull her hair back into a bun when she was tending to her patients but that allowed me to see her hazel eyes.

"Took you long enough, quit stalling and set the mattress down here," Flora's chirped voice brought me back. She was giving me one of her stern glares.

"How did you get Shayla to sleep so fast?" I inquired after I had set up everything.

"Oh, I just gave her a tonic, nothing special," she shrugged off. "Why was there something important you wanted to ask her?"

"Why, Flora love I do believe you sounded jealous there?" I teased enjoying the look on her face before she whacked me across the arm. "Alright, I just wanted to know what Shayla thought of my speech," I fabricated. That wasn't the real reason of course.

"Well, you can ask her first thing tomorrow morning, now some people have to sleep," Flora's voice indicated that I should take my leave.

"Keith?"

"Yes?"

"Close the door behind you."

"Of course."

"And Keith?"

"Yes?"

"Good night,"

I woke up to the smell of mint. I immediately thought of Folken but when I opened my eyes all I saw was a grey ceiling. I swung my legs around and glanced around. The door opened quietly and Flora unaware that I was awake walked in.

"What did you put in my tea that made me sleep so soundly?" I asked.

She jerked in surprise. "Miss Shayla you're awake. I put hops seeds in your tea, they really help to put someone to sleep."

I nodded in understanding. Flora was healer like me and we used herbs for different purposes.

"Just call me Shayla. I usually use chamomile when I can't sleep," I said.

"Yes, that works as well but hops seeds are much stronger," Flora replied.

"Well finally," Keith's voice came through the room as he stuck his head in.

"I'll leave you to talk," Flora gave one last look at Keith and left.

"Feeling better?" he asked sitting down beside me.

"Much better, how did I do?" I commented.

"Thanks to you, it looks like the people seem to trust me more, I really don't understand how the dragons fit into the whole equation, but that's not why I'm here, what happened after the dragon came?"

"I began to feel sick so I left and then Leo found me throwing up,"

"How could that have happened?"

"There is only one reason that I could come up with and that's she's pregnant," I stated.

"So you called a female dragon that happens to be pregnant. Why didn't another dragon come?"

"I don't know but something doesn't make sense." I stood up and looked out the window. The sun had just risen and streaks of orange and red illuminated the sky.

"What?" he asked coming to my side.

"I can't seem to remember what happened the time between the dragon and Grandma Rose finding me."

"Well, you were out in the cold, so maybe that affected your condition," He squeezed my shoulder.

"Maybe, I really should get back," I emphasized.

"Alright, come on I'll take you back."

It took longer than expected for me to actually depart. Flora insisted on making sure I had a full stomach and she gave me some hops seeds. I thanked her and left with Keith. He escorted me to the edge of the emerging forest.

"You take care of yourself Shayla," he said.

"I'll be okay but I don't know about Folken. He was pretty upset about this whole thing, he's thinking of leaving,"

"Don't worry about it; you just have to explain to him the complications,"

"Yes, goodbye Keith," I said rather tiredly.

Hops is a healing herb that calms the digestive system allowing the person to relax.