Richie and Darius were taking a break from their latest sparring bout at the top of the stone spire. The majesty of celestial display could only last for so long for a couple of young men feeling their oats. Eventually, though, playful butting of horns, marked by clashing, sparking swords, gave way to hunger as afternoon approached. Besides, the wind carried upon itself an unmistakable scent, quite familiar to olfactory senses experienced with out of the way hole in the wall eateries.
"Barbeque..." Richie breathed, sniffing the air. He turned to look at the twin smoke columns nearby the villa, taking in the sight and smell.
Darius sniffed, too. He puzzled at the smell, wrinkling his nose. "I THINK it smells good," he said hesitantly.
Richie turned to him and laughed, "Dude, of COURSE it smells good. But wait till you taste it. Oh yeah. Good times. I wonder where they managed to find a dead cow, though."
"I remember cows," Darius said distantly.
"How? You've never seen one," Richie asked.
"They know," Darius said.
"Who?"
"Them. The voices. They tell me things," Darius said, sounding odd.
"About cows?" Richie asked with a chuckle. "Ok, Darius, quit fooling around. You're spooking me out."
Darius looked at him sharply and said with a quiet intensity, "I hear the voices."
"Huh," Richie said, looking at Darius with narrow eyes, "Hey, if you want to talk about it, bro, I'm here.."
"No."
"Ok...C'mon, let's go. I could eat a whole cow by myself."
The two of them began the descent, carefully finding hand and footholds. Richie watched Darius closely, and was worried. He seemed distracted. And then, he slipped. Richie's hand shot out to grab and stop him.
"Grab the wall!" he shouted to Darius. But, in steadying Darius, his own handhold slipped. And then, he was falling...
"RICHIE!!!!" Darius screamed, watching Richie's dark green eyes, wide with fear, plunge away.
"I'LL BE ALRIGHT! TAKE YOUR TIME!" Richie shouted, his voice fading quickly.
Darius, fearful, scrambled down, almost falling several times. At last, he arrived at the bottom, and saw Richie's broken, battered, bloody body. And it was growing less broken, battered and bloody by the second.
His hand was on the handle of his sword. He didn't even remember putting it there. His vision seemed to blur.
A distant voice seemed to say, "Do it. Do it now."
"No..." Darius said weakly, shaking his head.
The voice faded.
Richie sat up, an arm bent very wrong snapping into place. "OW! DAMN!", he swore.
He looked at Darius, "See, doesn't kill. Hurts like a sonofabitch, though."
Darius walked over and helped him up, looking odd and distant.
Richie looked at him with concern, "Hey, are you ok?"
Darius was silent, staring at Richie, then said, "Yeah, I am. Come on, I want to try cow."
Richie smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Let's go, dude. Got some cool stuff for ya!"
Fitz and Rebecca finished their fourth game of chess.
"Three out of four games won. Not bad for a beginner," Fitz said, stroking his chin. He then looked at her suspiciously, "You weren't getting coached by all those ladies in your head, were you?"
Rebecca blinked her blue eyes innocently; the barest hint of a smile on her face, "No, Fitz, I beat you fair and square. Some of them were watching with interest. I think there was even some bet making going on."
"You, the repository of all unclaimed female Quickening, lass. I can't imagine carrying such a burden."
Rebecca seemed to look inward for a moment, her eyes going distant. They then snapped back to the present, and sparkled as they focused on Fitz.
"I can't imagine not carrying it. I was born with it, Fitz. There hasn't been a moment where I've been silent with my voice alone. I was born knowing. The first time I saw you, the voices spoke to me."
"I can't imagine it," Fitz said wonderingly. "What did they say when you were born?"
Rebecca seemed to withdraw in herself again, then snapped back, "They said, 'Poor bairn.'"
She looked sad for a second, then smiled, "You know what they also said? They said, 'Enjoy it while it lasts, sister. Enjoy it all.' I intend to."
She reached out and took Fitz's hand. He smiled and squeezed her hand warmly.
"Now, aren't you supposed to take me to a birthday lunch? Joe's cooking a cow, Methos is making barbequed pig?"
"You're not supposed to know that, lass," Fitz said with mock reproach.
"I know," Rebecca said, hanging her head. She then looked again at Fitz and said, "Lead me! I'll act surprised!"
Fitz smiled brightly, "I should be proud to escort you then, m'dear."
The two chatted animatedly as they bent to pick up the chess set and store it, then were off, hand in hand, hungry and happy.