8BTFreek: Well, I'm back. Did you miss me? ducks thrown tomato I thought so. Let's read those reviews!
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Joker: Wow, that's interesting. Hmm... I like the second. Perhaps next chapter. Actually, I was somewhat disappointed that you just accepted it. How cold and heartless do you think I am? Besides, I already said it was an important plot twist...
tigerlily98: Yeah, she is. Well, at least you're satisfied. Hope you like this chapter too.
Mesoforte: I'm sorry for not reviewing chapter 7. I could swear I did... Thanks for liking the chapter.
Allexandra: Thanks for the review. Well, off to writing!
ACL: Depressing? How? Thanks for reviewing anyway.
Rallalon: Because yours was more of a "chapter yell" in my eyes, but I did see a halfhearted attempt at a "Sheba Yell" in there. If the death threat had been a little more severe, I would've counted you as four. Yeah, it was like the Kibombo, except Gobamba was sorta real... in a way... Um... There's an easy way to take care of that. Just send over someone else. That way, the OBHL can get Ollie and I get another one to deal with - so long as it isn't Adrian. It's hard for me to harm an OC I created for someone else.
END RESPONSES
8BTFreek: Well, this one's up and written in under a month!
Gannon: Told you.
8BTFreek: Shut up. Unfortunately, I won't be on very much in June - I've got a trip to Germany that's going to take the entire month. Thought you ought to know.
Eshli: Why? Why are you going to abandon us for a month?
8BTFreek: Exchange program. Sorry, readers! Sorry, people who I review stories of! Well, while I'm still here, here's chapter 10: Mother, Father! The song kick is still going strong.
Gannon: And Freek doesn't own Golden Sun or Journey.
Chapter 10: Mother, Father, or The Children's Decision
Children. In some places, they are meant to be seen, not heard. This is often the case in Felix and Hama's home, especially since the twins would be making too much noise otherwise. Yes, Wil and Josef were trouble. Fortunately, it was easy to pick them apart - unless they made a mess.
Wil was glad to go see Aunt Sheba and Uncle Ivan arrive. He'd blamed the mess he made on Josef so that he wouldn't be left behind as punishment. Fortunately, his parents had fallen for the bait. {Parents are so easy to trick,} he thought as he walked alongside them to meet his favorite almost-never-here aunt and his favorite never-here-but-still-alive uncle. That's when he'd met Aunt Feizhi. He told Josef all about her, of course - how her hair was like their mom's only worn differently, how she clung onto Uncle Ivan's arm like a person in a river clings to a branch, how she seemed to know Uncle Isaac.
Josef had simply nodded his head and asked their dad if Wil was lying. He knew Wil was a chronic liar. But Dad said yes, there was a new aunt.
On the third day of the visit, their parents had dropped them off with Missus Dora and Gramma Erica. Their husbands were there too, but Mister Kyle and Grampa Jim just sat around talking about "the good old days," whatever those were. Wil was curious, but Josef didn't really care. Of course, that might've been because Josef was too busy blasting Wil's stuff with lightning to care. Wil just fixed his things, then made vows to break Josef's stuff when he figured out how.
Josef didn't care. He'd read the adults' minds and knew all about the "good old days", and he'd read Wil's mind and knew how to protect his toys. He shrugged, then went to play with Jade, his younger cousin - {but she's only my younger cousin 'cuz Uncle Isaac and Aunt Jenna didn' get married 'til they was twenny. An' then they had to, or Jade woulda been "born outta wed lock," Mom says. It doesn' sound too good. I hope I'm not "born outta wed lock."}
On the day of the Blow-dart incident, Wil and Josef were outside, up the hill from Miss Kay's house. Mister Albert and Missus Alicia, Miss Kay's parents, had come to live there. Neither of the boys understood why the two had gone to live there, and neither cared too much, to tell the truth. Josef had shrugged it off, while Wil just asked if they were staying for a while.
A few moments later, the boys were playing outside when Sheba was shot with the blow-dart. "Did you see that, Jos? Why'd Aunt Sheba fall down? What's that red stuff on her dress? Why's Mister Piers running over to her? What's that thing Dad's got?" Josef was asking almost the exact same questions of Wil, save one.
"Wil, I think that stuff is blood." Wil jumped up and dragged Josef to his feet. He was about to go and investigate, but investigation wasn't necessary. Their father and "Mister Piers" were bringing their beloved Aunt-who's-almost-never-here to the Sanctum, which was close to their Grandparents' house. They saw their dad standing outside the sanctum. "Dad," asked Josef, "what's goin' on with Aunt Sheba?"
Their father turned to look at them and patted them both on the head. "Josef, Wilym, go back to Mom and Dad. This isn't something for kids to see. Just wait, and I'll tell you what's going on." Wil was angry. He didn't want to be brushed aside; he wanted answers. Josef turned to go back, but Wil grabbed his brother's hand and looked in the door. Inside, he saw Aunt Sheba lying on the table. He ran off then, dragging Josef behind.
"What was that about?" asked Josef the minute Wil stopped running.
"I dunno, but something's wrong with Aunt Sheba. Maybe we outta tell Miss Kay an' her friend." Before Josef could respond, Wil ran into the house. "Miss Dora! Gramma! I'm gonna be playing with Jade, 'kay?" A faint shout of "fine" echoed from the kitchen. Wil ran into his cousin's temporary bedroom and got her to follow him out. Mainly by pulling her and dragging her and telling her to come with many times. Finally, she duck-stepped out behind him. Josef was there, just about to shout at Wil, when Wil ordered Josef to help with Jade. Quickly, the three youngsters made their way to Miss Kay's house.
A small knock on the door sent Kay flying. "Who is it?" she shouted.
"It's us, Miss Kay! Me'n'Josef'n'Jade! Let us in!" She raced to the door upon hearing their voices and opened the door. "Thanks Miss Kay," muttered Wilym as he helped his younger cousin in. Josef was standing behind Jade, making sure she didn't fall. "We wanna know what's goin' on with Aunt Sheba!"
"Wilym, why did you bring Jade? Wait, don't answer. I suppose you told your father you were coming?" Wilym shook his head. "Why not? No, don't answer that, either. I'm not sure I want to know. We really should get you back to Dora and Kyle's place." Wilym shook his head again. Kay was getting frustrated. "Fine, just sit here on the couch." Wilym nodded - {finally!} - and got up on the couch. His brother also got up, still dragging Jade. Kay rolled her eyes and took Jade from her cousin's arms. "Now then, just sit there." She left, taking Kay into another room.
A few minutes passed before she re-entered the sitting room. Following close behind was Rhoen. "Kay, I don't understand."
"It's really very simple, Rhoen. I want you to watch the terrible twins until Ivan and Feizhi get back. I'm going to visit Mom and Dad and tell them what happened with these barbarians and their captive princess." Just then, the "captive princess" started to toddle away. Rhoen scooped her up and sat her down on the couch. "And be sure to ask the boys a lot of questions about what they did. I want to know why they did this." Rhoen nodded. Kay left the house. Sitting down on the chair opposite the couch, he sighed.
{This is really not my day,} thought Rhoen as he sat down in the chair. Letting a sigh escape him, he said, "So, which one of you two is Wilym?" The taller, brown-haired one raised his hand. "Should've guessed. So, you're Josef?" The shorter one, who had purple hair with brown streaks, nodded. "Well, which of you two wants to tell me what happened?" Josef took a deep breath.
"Mister Kay's Friend Sir-" he began. Rhoen cut him off.
"The name's Rhoen." He tried to say it with friendliness, but his voice was firm.
"Okay. Mister Rhoen, this morning Aunt Sheba was shot an' a lotta blood started coming out. Wil wanted to know what was goin' on, so he went an' asked Dad, but Dad said to go 'way. Wil didn' like it, but he nodded anyway. Then we went back to Gramma Erica an' Grampa Jim's. Mat told me to wait outside - he used his weird Dad voice, too - an' when he came back, he had Jade with him. He used the Dad voice an' told me to help him an' made me stand behind her 'cuz she might fall - she's not as balancing as us - an' then we came here!" The boy was out of breath by the time he finished.
"Yeah," said Wilym, "but Jos held us up 'cuz he didn' know what to do! He wanted to know if Dad said it was ok. Mister Rhoen, what happened to Aunt Sheba?" Rhoen shook his head.
"Kids, I think it's best if we wait until later." He used his authority as an adult, as well as a little bit of forceful command. "Tell me about your families."
Wilym seized the opportunity to say everything he knew about his family. Josef made occasional corrections, like saying that Isaac was his older uncle, and that they had three aunts now, not two, if Wilym hadn't been lying.
The two went on for hours about their past squabbles, their parents, their aunts & uncles, their grandparents, their cousin - who was fast asleep by this time - their neighbors, the people who came from far away, the big rock thing that sometimes came into their dreams, pretty much everything they knew.
As the twins finished, Ivan and Feizhi burst through the door, helping Sheba between them. "Aunt Sheba!" cried Josef. "Aunt Sheba! You're ok!"
Mat jumped up and yelled, "Hi Uncle Ivan! Hi Aunt Sheba! Hi Aunt Feizhi! We was just telling Mister Rhoen 'bout you!"
Sheba glared at the two boys. "Do your parents know you're here?" Wil shook his head. She then saw Jade. She gasped. "Do Isaac and Jenna know that their daughter is here?" Wil shook his head again. Josef sunk into the chair, preparing for the worst. "Wilym James Williams, explain yourself! You too, Josef!" Wil shook his head. "No you don't! Tell my why you're here, and explain why you brought Jade!" Wil shook his head harder.
Josef couldn't stand it. "We only wanted to see if you're ok! We was worried! Can you blame us?" Sheba's face softened, and she shook her head. "Ezackly! Wil was the one who wanted to bring Jade - ask him why!" Just then, Kay burst through the door.
"Josef Michael Williams, come here!" Josef jumped off the couch and slunk over to Kay. "Why did you follow your brother here?"
"He needed help with Jade, Miss Kay ma'am!" He knelt and folded his hands. "Please don't make me go back! I wanna stay! I like Mister Rhoen! He listens to my stories! He's a real good listener!" Sheba looked at Kay and urged her to come over to the table and relate her experience. Ivan and Feizhi sat their charge down, then went over to play with their nephews and now-awake niece.
"So, Kay, how did negotiations go?" Kay took a deep breath, then explained.
"What?!" Felix jumped a mile into the air at Kay's words. "I thought I told them to just play! I never told them to go over to your place!"
"That's not all, Felix. Jade's there, too." At these words, Isaac whipped his head around and looked at Kay.
"Jade's at your place, too? But I left her with Mum..." A bewildered look crossed his face.
"Look," said Felix, "we're not going to get anywhere just talking. Let's see our parents. After all, we left the kids with them. They should know if the children left." Isaac nodded, as did Kay. The three ran to the house where the three sets of parents were living.
Dora answered the door. "Isaac! Oh, and you too, Felix! Kay as well! Come on in, come in!" They needed no second invitation. Their hostess was very kind to all of them. "So, what's the reason for the visit? And don't tell me you don't need a reason," she added, "because you would've brought your wives otherwise. Well, except you, Kay, dear." Kay smiled.
"We just wanted to check on our kids, Mom," said Isaac. "If it's not too much trouble." She smiled at him.
"Of course it's not. Jade's in the second room on the left down the hall. Wil and Josef are in the room across the hall from her." Dora smiled as she added, "The boys are playing with Jade in her room right now." Isaac jumped up and looked in the two rooms.
"Mom," he asked, "where did you say Jade was?"
"In her room," replied Dora, her smile fading. "Why? Isn't she there?"
"No, she isn't... Mom, do you know what Kay said?" Dora turned to look at the eldest daughter of the Roberts family. "Tell her, Kay."
"I told him that your granddaughter arrived with Wilym and Josef at my doorstep, and Wil and Josef told me that something had happened to Sheba. I left them alone with my guest." At Dora's disapproving glare, she said, "Dora, Rhoen's as gentle as a lamb! The kids are just fine in his care. I know! He's a real sweetheart. He really is."
"It's not that, Kay. I'd probably like him if I met him. It's just... I've never met him, and I want to make sure my granddaughter's safe! Maybe if I met him, I'd feel safer leaving the children with him. But Kay, he's a stranger to me."
"Come over in a little bit, and I'll introduce you to him. Felix, if you really think your kids won't be safe just because they're with Rhoen, don't worry. In case you've forgotten, Ivan, Feizhi, and Sheba are all staying there, too. And yes, I think Sheba will pull through. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back home." She had become a little colder in voice in the last few minutes, and her attitude was colder still. A fit of cold rage came over her as she looked at Felix and Isaac. {Incompetent morons. They should know that he's ok! Why else would I let him stay over?} She grew angrier as she walked - no, stormed - off to her house.
"And that's the whole tale. I'm expecting Dora to come by sometime today." Sheba sat in her chair and said nothing during the whole tale. Finally, she spoke.
"Well, I'd like to see it when she looks around and sees her granddaughter laughing at the strange man who entered town a week ago. Although, truth be told, he's a natural around kids." Sheba smiled. Her voice was a little weak, but she'd been through intense healing, if Felix hadn't been lying. "I think you'll impress Dora favorably."
The door burst open for a second time that day. Three women crowded the doorstep. Dora rushed in and looked for her granddaughter. Hama followed behind quickly, grabbing her normally quiet son by the arm. Jenna was the last in. When she saw Jade giggling happily at Rhoen's face, her face softened. "It's like she is with Isaac," she muttered. Rhoen looked at the three, his face dropping. Dora walked over to him. He stood up.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am. The name's Rhoen." He looked down at Jade. "I believe she's yours?" He directed the question at Jenna, who was standing behind Dora. "She's got your hair and eyes." Jenna smiled at the comment.
Dora smiled at him. "I'm Dora, and this is Jenna. We were just wondering if Jade was here." She nodded. "It appears she likes you."
"She's only an infant. She's got no reason to like me, but no reason to hate me, either. Truth be told, I like little kids. They're uncorrupted... unlike me..." He looked Jenna in the eyes. "Madam Jenna, your husband's Lemurian friend, Piers... Do you know him?" She nodded. "Would it surprise you to learn that the one thing he'd like to do to me is plant a blade between my ribs?" She shook her head.
"Although why, I can't imagine. I mean, you seem like a kind man." He averted his eyes. "And Jade likes you. She tends to like good people." He locked his eyes on the child. Hama had already left. Kay walked up to him.
"Rhoen's a nice guy," she agreed. "Almost like Isaac in some ways. Almost. How about we talk about things over a cup of hot tea?" Jenna nodded.
A stone figure changed its place on the board. Two figures moved away from another. A male figure was now missing its companions. Alex nodded as he noted the changes. {Only three hundred sixty-four days,} he muttered. {He'll never get them all on his side before then.} He forced himself to pull a monster through the portal. It wasn't much, but it was food, and food was essential. He created a goblet of water using Mercury Psynergy and began his meager feast. Soon, he would live the life of a king. Soon.
8BTFreek: Well, that's that! Chapter 10 all done! Now onto the next chapter! If I can finish it, it'll be up before Germany. Otherwise, expect it to be a while.
Eshli: A long while. I still don't like you abandoning us.
8BTFreek: It's not abandoning. Well, review, please!
Eshli: Yeah, review, or I'll fly over in a spacecraft and rain destruction upon your pitiful village!
8BTFreek: Riiiiight...
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Joker: Wow, that's interesting. Hmm... I like the second. Perhaps next chapter. Actually, I was somewhat disappointed that you just accepted it. How cold and heartless do you think I am? Besides, I already said it was an important plot twist...
tigerlily98: Yeah, she is. Well, at least you're satisfied. Hope you like this chapter too.
Mesoforte: I'm sorry for not reviewing chapter 7. I could swear I did... Thanks for liking the chapter.
Allexandra: Thanks for the review. Well, off to writing!
ACL: Depressing? How? Thanks for reviewing anyway.
Rallalon: Because yours was more of a "chapter yell" in my eyes, but I did see a halfhearted attempt at a "Sheba Yell" in there. If the death threat had been a little more severe, I would've counted you as four. Yeah, it was like the Kibombo, except Gobamba was sorta real... in a way... Um... There's an easy way to take care of that. Just send over someone else. That way, the OBHL can get Ollie and I get another one to deal with - so long as it isn't Adrian. It's hard for me to harm an OC I created for someone else.
END RESPONSES
8BTFreek: Well, this one's up and written in under a month!
Gannon: Told you.
8BTFreek: Shut up. Unfortunately, I won't be on very much in June - I've got a trip to Germany that's going to take the entire month. Thought you ought to know.
Eshli: Why? Why are you going to abandon us for a month?
8BTFreek: Exchange program. Sorry, readers! Sorry, people who I review stories of! Well, while I'm still here, here's chapter 10: Mother, Father! The song kick is still going strong.
Gannon: And Freek doesn't own Golden Sun or Journey.
Chapter 10: Mother, Father, or The Children's Decision
Children. In some places, they are meant to be seen, not heard. This is often the case in Felix and Hama's home, especially since the twins would be making too much noise otherwise. Yes, Wil and Josef were trouble. Fortunately, it was easy to pick them apart - unless they made a mess.
Wil was glad to go see Aunt Sheba and Uncle Ivan arrive. He'd blamed the mess he made on Josef so that he wouldn't be left behind as punishment. Fortunately, his parents had fallen for the bait. {Parents are so easy to trick,} he thought as he walked alongside them to meet his favorite almost-never-here aunt and his favorite never-here-but-still-alive uncle. That's when he'd met Aunt Feizhi. He told Josef all about her, of course - how her hair was like their mom's only worn differently, how she clung onto Uncle Ivan's arm like a person in a river clings to a branch, how she seemed to know Uncle Isaac.
Josef had simply nodded his head and asked their dad if Wil was lying. He knew Wil was a chronic liar. But Dad said yes, there was a new aunt.
On the third day of the visit, their parents had dropped them off with Missus Dora and Gramma Erica. Their husbands were there too, but Mister Kyle and Grampa Jim just sat around talking about "the good old days," whatever those were. Wil was curious, but Josef didn't really care. Of course, that might've been because Josef was too busy blasting Wil's stuff with lightning to care. Wil just fixed his things, then made vows to break Josef's stuff when he figured out how.
Josef didn't care. He'd read the adults' minds and knew all about the "good old days", and he'd read Wil's mind and knew how to protect his toys. He shrugged, then went to play with Jade, his younger cousin - {but she's only my younger cousin 'cuz Uncle Isaac and Aunt Jenna didn' get married 'til they was twenny. An' then they had to, or Jade woulda been "born outta wed lock," Mom says. It doesn' sound too good. I hope I'm not "born outta wed lock."}
On the day of the Blow-dart incident, Wil and Josef were outside, up the hill from Miss Kay's house. Mister Albert and Missus Alicia, Miss Kay's parents, had come to live there. Neither of the boys understood why the two had gone to live there, and neither cared too much, to tell the truth. Josef had shrugged it off, while Wil just asked if they were staying for a while.
A few moments later, the boys were playing outside when Sheba was shot with the blow-dart. "Did you see that, Jos? Why'd Aunt Sheba fall down? What's that red stuff on her dress? Why's Mister Piers running over to her? What's that thing Dad's got?" Josef was asking almost the exact same questions of Wil, save one.
"Wil, I think that stuff is blood." Wil jumped up and dragged Josef to his feet. He was about to go and investigate, but investigation wasn't necessary. Their father and "Mister Piers" were bringing their beloved Aunt-who's-almost-never-here to the Sanctum, which was close to their Grandparents' house. They saw their dad standing outside the sanctum. "Dad," asked Josef, "what's goin' on with Aunt Sheba?"
Their father turned to look at them and patted them both on the head. "Josef, Wilym, go back to Mom and Dad. This isn't something for kids to see. Just wait, and I'll tell you what's going on." Wil was angry. He didn't want to be brushed aside; he wanted answers. Josef turned to go back, but Wil grabbed his brother's hand and looked in the door. Inside, he saw Aunt Sheba lying on the table. He ran off then, dragging Josef behind.
"What was that about?" asked Josef the minute Wil stopped running.
"I dunno, but something's wrong with Aunt Sheba. Maybe we outta tell Miss Kay an' her friend." Before Josef could respond, Wil ran into the house. "Miss Dora! Gramma! I'm gonna be playing with Jade, 'kay?" A faint shout of "fine" echoed from the kitchen. Wil ran into his cousin's temporary bedroom and got her to follow him out. Mainly by pulling her and dragging her and telling her to come with many times. Finally, she duck-stepped out behind him. Josef was there, just about to shout at Wil, when Wil ordered Josef to help with Jade. Quickly, the three youngsters made their way to Miss Kay's house.
A small knock on the door sent Kay flying. "Who is it?" she shouted.
"It's us, Miss Kay! Me'n'Josef'n'Jade! Let us in!" She raced to the door upon hearing their voices and opened the door. "Thanks Miss Kay," muttered Wilym as he helped his younger cousin in. Josef was standing behind Jade, making sure she didn't fall. "We wanna know what's goin' on with Aunt Sheba!"
"Wilym, why did you bring Jade? Wait, don't answer. I suppose you told your father you were coming?" Wilym shook his head. "Why not? No, don't answer that, either. I'm not sure I want to know. We really should get you back to Dora and Kyle's place." Wilym shook his head again. Kay was getting frustrated. "Fine, just sit here on the couch." Wilym nodded - {finally!} - and got up on the couch. His brother also got up, still dragging Jade. Kay rolled her eyes and took Jade from her cousin's arms. "Now then, just sit there." She left, taking Kay into another room.
A few minutes passed before she re-entered the sitting room. Following close behind was Rhoen. "Kay, I don't understand."
"It's really very simple, Rhoen. I want you to watch the terrible twins until Ivan and Feizhi get back. I'm going to visit Mom and Dad and tell them what happened with these barbarians and their captive princess." Just then, the "captive princess" started to toddle away. Rhoen scooped her up and sat her down on the couch. "And be sure to ask the boys a lot of questions about what they did. I want to know why they did this." Rhoen nodded. Kay left the house. Sitting down on the chair opposite the couch, he sighed.
{This is really not my day,} thought Rhoen as he sat down in the chair. Letting a sigh escape him, he said, "So, which one of you two is Wilym?" The taller, brown-haired one raised his hand. "Should've guessed. So, you're Josef?" The shorter one, who had purple hair with brown streaks, nodded. "Well, which of you two wants to tell me what happened?" Josef took a deep breath.
"Mister Kay's Friend Sir-" he began. Rhoen cut him off.
"The name's Rhoen." He tried to say it with friendliness, but his voice was firm.
"Okay. Mister Rhoen, this morning Aunt Sheba was shot an' a lotta blood started coming out. Wil wanted to know what was goin' on, so he went an' asked Dad, but Dad said to go 'way. Wil didn' like it, but he nodded anyway. Then we went back to Gramma Erica an' Grampa Jim's. Mat told me to wait outside - he used his weird Dad voice, too - an' when he came back, he had Jade with him. He used the Dad voice an' told me to help him an' made me stand behind her 'cuz she might fall - she's not as balancing as us - an' then we came here!" The boy was out of breath by the time he finished.
"Yeah," said Wilym, "but Jos held us up 'cuz he didn' know what to do! He wanted to know if Dad said it was ok. Mister Rhoen, what happened to Aunt Sheba?" Rhoen shook his head.
"Kids, I think it's best if we wait until later." He used his authority as an adult, as well as a little bit of forceful command. "Tell me about your families."
Wilym seized the opportunity to say everything he knew about his family. Josef made occasional corrections, like saying that Isaac was his older uncle, and that they had three aunts now, not two, if Wilym hadn't been lying.
The two went on for hours about their past squabbles, their parents, their aunts & uncles, their grandparents, their cousin - who was fast asleep by this time - their neighbors, the people who came from far away, the big rock thing that sometimes came into their dreams, pretty much everything they knew.
As the twins finished, Ivan and Feizhi burst through the door, helping Sheba between them. "Aunt Sheba!" cried Josef. "Aunt Sheba! You're ok!"
Mat jumped up and yelled, "Hi Uncle Ivan! Hi Aunt Sheba! Hi Aunt Feizhi! We was just telling Mister Rhoen 'bout you!"
Sheba glared at the two boys. "Do your parents know you're here?" Wil shook his head. She then saw Jade. She gasped. "Do Isaac and Jenna know that their daughter is here?" Wil shook his head again. Josef sunk into the chair, preparing for the worst. "Wilym James Williams, explain yourself! You too, Josef!" Wil shook his head. "No you don't! Tell my why you're here, and explain why you brought Jade!" Wil shook his head harder.
Josef couldn't stand it. "We only wanted to see if you're ok! We was worried! Can you blame us?" Sheba's face softened, and she shook her head. "Ezackly! Wil was the one who wanted to bring Jade - ask him why!" Just then, Kay burst through the door.
"Josef Michael Williams, come here!" Josef jumped off the couch and slunk over to Kay. "Why did you follow your brother here?"
"He needed help with Jade, Miss Kay ma'am!" He knelt and folded his hands. "Please don't make me go back! I wanna stay! I like Mister Rhoen! He listens to my stories! He's a real good listener!" Sheba looked at Kay and urged her to come over to the table and relate her experience. Ivan and Feizhi sat their charge down, then went over to play with their nephews and now-awake niece.
"So, Kay, how did negotiations go?" Kay took a deep breath, then explained.
"What?!" Felix jumped a mile into the air at Kay's words. "I thought I told them to just play! I never told them to go over to your place!"
"That's not all, Felix. Jade's there, too." At these words, Isaac whipped his head around and looked at Kay.
"Jade's at your place, too? But I left her with Mum..." A bewildered look crossed his face.
"Look," said Felix, "we're not going to get anywhere just talking. Let's see our parents. After all, we left the kids with them. They should know if the children left." Isaac nodded, as did Kay. The three ran to the house where the three sets of parents were living.
Dora answered the door. "Isaac! Oh, and you too, Felix! Kay as well! Come on in, come in!" They needed no second invitation. Their hostess was very kind to all of them. "So, what's the reason for the visit? And don't tell me you don't need a reason," she added, "because you would've brought your wives otherwise. Well, except you, Kay, dear." Kay smiled.
"We just wanted to check on our kids, Mom," said Isaac. "If it's not too much trouble." She smiled at him.
"Of course it's not. Jade's in the second room on the left down the hall. Wil and Josef are in the room across the hall from her." Dora smiled as she added, "The boys are playing with Jade in her room right now." Isaac jumped up and looked in the two rooms.
"Mom," he asked, "where did you say Jade was?"
"In her room," replied Dora, her smile fading. "Why? Isn't she there?"
"No, she isn't... Mom, do you know what Kay said?" Dora turned to look at the eldest daughter of the Roberts family. "Tell her, Kay."
"I told him that your granddaughter arrived with Wilym and Josef at my doorstep, and Wil and Josef told me that something had happened to Sheba. I left them alone with my guest." At Dora's disapproving glare, she said, "Dora, Rhoen's as gentle as a lamb! The kids are just fine in his care. I know! He's a real sweetheart. He really is."
"It's not that, Kay. I'd probably like him if I met him. It's just... I've never met him, and I want to make sure my granddaughter's safe! Maybe if I met him, I'd feel safer leaving the children with him. But Kay, he's a stranger to me."
"Come over in a little bit, and I'll introduce you to him. Felix, if you really think your kids won't be safe just because they're with Rhoen, don't worry. In case you've forgotten, Ivan, Feizhi, and Sheba are all staying there, too. And yes, I think Sheba will pull through. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back home." She had become a little colder in voice in the last few minutes, and her attitude was colder still. A fit of cold rage came over her as she looked at Felix and Isaac. {Incompetent morons. They should know that he's ok! Why else would I let him stay over?} She grew angrier as she walked - no, stormed - off to her house.
"And that's the whole tale. I'm expecting Dora to come by sometime today." Sheba sat in her chair and said nothing during the whole tale. Finally, she spoke.
"Well, I'd like to see it when she looks around and sees her granddaughter laughing at the strange man who entered town a week ago. Although, truth be told, he's a natural around kids." Sheba smiled. Her voice was a little weak, but she'd been through intense healing, if Felix hadn't been lying. "I think you'll impress Dora favorably."
The door burst open for a second time that day. Three women crowded the doorstep. Dora rushed in and looked for her granddaughter. Hama followed behind quickly, grabbing her normally quiet son by the arm. Jenna was the last in. When she saw Jade giggling happily at Rhoen's face, her face softened. "It's like she is with Isaac," she muttered. Rhoen looked at the three, his face dropping. Dora walked over to him. He stood up.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am. The name's Rhoen." He looked down at Jade. "I believe she's yours?" He directed the question at Jenna, who was standing behind Dora. "She's got your hair and eyes." Jenna smiled at the comment.
Dora smiled at him. "I'm Dora, and this is Jenna. We were just wondering if Jade was here." She nodded. "It appears she likes you."
"She's only an infant. She's got no reason to like me, but no reason to hate me, either. Truth be told, I like little kids. They're uncorrupted... unlike me..." He looked Jenna in the eyes. "Madam Jenna, your husband's Lemurian friend, Piers... Do you know him?" She nodded. "Would it surprise you to learn that the one thing he'd like to do to me is plant a blade between my ribs?" She shook her head.
"Although why, I can't imagine. I mean, you seem like a kind man." He averted his eyes. "And Jade likes you. She tends to like good people." He locked his eyes on the child. Hama had already left. Kay walked up to him.
"Rhoen's a nice guy," she agreed. "Almost like Isaac in some ways. Almost. How about we talk about things over a cup of hot tea?" Jenna nodded.
A stone figure changed its place on the board. Two figures moved away from another. A male figure was now missing its companions. Alex nodded as he noted the changes. {Only three hundred sixty-four days,} he muttered. {He'll never get them all on his side before then.} He forced himself to pull a monster through the portal. It wasn't much, but it was food, and food was essential. He created a goblet of water using Mercury Psynergy and began his meager feast. Soon, he would live the life of a king. Soon.
8BTFreek: Well, that's that! Chapter 10 all done! Now onto the next chapter! If I can finish it, it'll be up before Germany. Otherwise, expect it to be a while.
Eshli: A long while. I still don't like you abandoning us.
8BTFreek: It's not abandoning. Well, review, please!
Eshli: Yeah, review, or I'll fly over in a spacecraft and rain destruction upon your pitiful village!
8BTFreek: Riiiiight...