Chapter 2: The Home of the Meager Patrons
The horse's fast galloping brought us safely to Church's small hometown. I expected his house to be a grand spectacle with vast fields, but instead it was only about the same size as the slave tavern. It was old but looked as if it could offer a warm and inviting bed. A bed was what I wanted most. Between my ankle and my fatigue I did not no which one was harsher on me.
From what I could see it did not look like Church even owned any slaves. That made me smile. From the time we left town till we arrived in the small town, Church had not ceased to surprise me at how heartfelt he was.
"Finally!" Church groaned, "We're home!" I too could not help but feel the joy he felt. It too felt like my home.
When we went around back his house, we stopped when we reached the stables. Church leapt from the horse and took my hand in escorting me off as well. When we were both earthbound, Church took the reins and led the horse into the stable. Minutes later he came back and we playfully hobbled to his Tavern. When Church swung open the door to his tavern I felt a great sigh of relief. He led me in before him and I was glad I was free from the pouring rain. I heard Church sigh loudly as he removed his dripping overcoat and threw it aside.
"There is a room at the end of the hallway upstairs. If you want to change and get some rest, then you can go there. That will be your room from now on." Church politely implied.
"I am grateful for the offer, but I don't have any clothes. Remember?" I said to him with a hint of regret as I finished. I knew that he would offer to get me some. He had already been charitable enough.
"I'll go into to town as you sleep and rest your leg. If your leg swells there is a compress in the cellar." He offered but I refused, "No don't! Please don't buy me anything!"
"Part of you working and living here is me feeding, sheltering, and clothing you. So don't refuse." Church was sincere. I could tell by his tone that I had offended him. I quickly inserted an apology, "I am sorry. I am headstrong, that's all. If I say something that hurts your pride in anyway, just tell me."
"It's no problem, Zabuza. I just want to be generous." Church said.
"But Church you have been. You have been more generous to me than anyone has been before. If you keep spoiling me like this, I'll lose some of my independence. I like that you care about me, but when I leave, like you said I eventually will, then I will have to be able to fend for myself. I will allow you to buy my habiliments, but I will henceforth cook my own food, clean my own room, and clean my clothes."
Church began to protest but then backed off when he saw that I had made my final decision, "Goodnight," was all he said.
The sleep I endured was as close I had ever been to total relaxation. Had my ankle not been sprained I would have perhaps met that calmness, but instead it bothered me slightly. I knew that I would be unable to move faster than a hobble for a few days, although I felt no urge to run from my current predicament anyways. Church had offered me a place to live, so I intended to live there. After all it was a very cozy tavern, although I could not help that it wasn't quite the cleanest tavern. It was exceedingly dusty and spider webs nestled themselves into the corners of the ceilings. I had no doubt that Church went to the slave tavern to buy a cleaning woman.
Alas the night carried on and I dreamt of sorrow. It was contemptuous and dark, the usual dream. It involved a crying boy and a raging father. The father runs to his daughter and snatches her from the ground. "No father!" the boy cries as he watches his father take his flailing sister towards the creek. The father ignores the boy and curses to his daughter, "Why must you deliberately disobey me! I gave you life. What more should you ask of? Love? No, love is for the weak."
As the father finishes he kneels down on his knees in front of the surging creek and dips his bawling daughters head into the creek, before she can get a breath. After several seconds he raises her head again so that she might breath just that he can dip her head under the water longer to make her suffer more. All the while the boy is cradling his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth murmuring a cry of sorrow. He whimpers for his sister, the only person who treated him with any love.
The father lifts his daughters head once more and she chokes for another breath, just to have it taken away again as he drives her head back into the hungry creek. This time was not as the others. He kept the head under the water much longer than usual. The girl shook violently to free herself, but the power of her father was too much. The father did not intend to kill her because she was essential. Instead he wanted to teach her a lesson, keep her under the water long enough to keep her alive, but to make her think she narrowly escaped death.
The boy, of course, did not know this. He thought his heartless father was headstrong for killing his own daughter. So the boy ran to his father and leapt onto his back. He began to bite and scratch at his father's throat; anything to save his sister. The father cried out violently in suffrage. In his confusion the man let go of his daughter, who had lost the strength enough to fight the raging current, and in time she was swept away from the life she had once known.
I awoke gasping for breath and I clenched tightly to my blankets. I felt refreshed from my sleep even though I had just had my usual dreaded nightmare. I had had my usual dream of my dreadful childhood. The dream normally went on resulting in me beginning my career as an assassin. I cringed; Church did not yet know that I had been an assassin. With that in mind, I shifted my thought directly towards Church.
I had hoped that my dream would change. Ever so often my dreams would add something new. This time I had wished it would make Church a new addition. I wanted to tell him that I wanted him in my dreams, but I assumed he would be flattered to the point that he would take it the wrong way. I liked Church, but I was afraid that if things got romantic between us, then I might eventually lose him if things didn't work out.
I shuttered; why shouldn't I like Church, though. He was tall and handsome. He was kind and forgiving. He had all the tributes of a man that I would have wanted to marry.
I stopped my thoughts of Church too late. I had already revealed to myself my true feelings about him. I did love and I did want to marry him. But he would never marry me, would he? I would hope so. Maybe he liked me to. Yes! That had to be it! Why else would he be so kind to me?
I figured Church was just nice to everyone, but I dreamt in my mind that he did indeed flatter me out of romance. I was overjoyed at the thoughts. So overjoyed, in fact, that I rested my head back onto my soft pillow. I was so well rested already, that I thought that I might have not been able to get back to sleep. But my drive to have Church in my dreams was so strong that I managed to close my eyes and dream once again.
The second time I awoke, it was by the sound of a knock on my door. I sat up and asked who it was already knowing who it actually was, "It is I." Church answered. I threw aside my covers and literally hobbled to the door. I opened the door and when I saw that he was smiling I could not contain myself. I leapt for him to embrace him. My leap was enough that Church actually caught me in his arms hand held me. "Why so happy?" Church asked.
"Because you were in my dreams!" I said in such excitement that I practically yelled. As soon as I said this I could tell that Church was embarrassed, "I am happy that I am in your dreams, Zabuza, but that is not all that amazing, is it?"
"Yes it is! My dreams have forever been filled with hate, rage, and sorrow, but for the first time since my dreams began, I dreamt of happiness. You were there to see my happiness to.
"But Zabuza, I can see how happy you are right now." Church said, his face now pure red.
I released him so that I would not make him anymore comfortable. I changed the subject as I saw boxes strewn on the ground. I had not noticed until then that Church had been holding those boxes until I had jumped into his arms. "So what's in the box." I asked.
"Clothes. I don't know what you like so I just grabbed a variety of things. I hope you don't mind." Church said somewhat sadly as if he had not used the best of his abilities.
"No it's fine. Thank you, Church." I said taking my turn to blush.
"There is the spa down stairs and out into the courtyard. If you wish to bathe then you can when ever you please." Church offered.
"Ok," was all I said, as I grabbed a towel from among the boxes and I ran past him and down the hall. I could see that he was surprised at my impulse, and I could also see that he was a little bit offended. He must have had something important to tell me, but I could not have helped it. Talking to Church had left me so bashful and breathless that I had to leave the situation or I might have literally passed out.
I went downstairs and went through the double glass doors that led to the enclosed courtyard. For some reason, I hadn't noticed the door before. I suppose I might have been too tired to care so much. When I felt the cold air on my skin I shivered. Then I looked to the spa and wondered how such a hot spring could exist in a place like this. I supposed that since we were near the mountains, the hot spring might have formed from them. It also could have been because much of the land in Exile is geothermal and has twelve volcanoes.
It did not take long for me to strip off my garments and literally plunge into the spa. It felt a tender relaxation, rivaling the bitter chill of the air. For several minutes I just wadded and relaxed in the hot spring. I never wanted to get out.
After many more minutes, I began to feel lightheaded. It was then that I decided it was best to finish what I had came to do and get out. I swam to the soaps and began to clean myself thoroughly. The soaps were by no means cheap. They smelled wondrous. And reminded me of nature and the wild. I had often heard of these kinds of soap. The wealthy women of Miraga used them and now I felt like one of them.
After I was clean I swam back towards where I had left my clothes. It was then that I heard a loud splash behind me. I turned around in time enough to see a man surface. "Church?" I began to blush, but it was far from Church. The man, even after submerging in water, looked like he had not bathed in months. I screamed and scramble out of the water searching quickly for my towel. When I found it, I wrapped it around my body and ran from the courtyard, not even bothering to gather my clothes. I ran up the stairs and ran into Church at the top.
"Church, there is a man in the spa!" I yelled. I expected him to become alert, but instead he held his thighs and laughed, "Zabuza," he laughed, "That was a customer! He wanted to use the spa so he did."
"But I was in there!" I yelled in confusion. Church understood and tried to explain, "Zabuza, part of the tavern is the spa. Customers can use it whenever they want. Yes, I do understand that it is not normal for you to see a man without clothes on, but these people are used to it."
"So the man was not interested?" I asked. Church frowned, "There is no telling for sure. Human nature is still human nature. Several guys will come here just to see a woman, but the women will more than likely slap them dead before they let the men come near them (although occasionally things do happen in the spa). Human nature still applies, but common sense does too." He paused. "Do you understand?" he asked.
"Yes I suppose so." I said with a sigh. I was not frightened of the man's nudity, but I was frightened that he might have been a thief. But now I knew he was a customer, and from now on, the customer came first.
For a little while we were silent. I looked up to Church, and I saw that he was blushing. Then I remembered that I was in my towel. I became so embarrassed that I ran down the stairs and back out into the courtyard. I ran to gather my clothes, but a voice stopped me. "I'm sorry that I scared you." The voice said. I turned to see that the man in the spa had spoken. He was cleaner now, but I still felt a little disgusted. "It is no problem." I said, "I overreacted."
The man said no more and I gathered my clothes. I walked from the courtyard once more and walked to my room, not running into to Church once on the way. When I was alone in my room I shut and latched my door. I dropped my towel and walked to my bed. On the bed were the boxes of clothes. I collapsed on the bad and opened the first box I grabbed. In it was a short black dress that appeared rather tight. I considered throwing it aside until I took into consideration that it might help me look appealing. I was slender and would look alluring in the dress. I wanted to look attractive to Church. I also wanted to look good to the customers, who I knew would probably spend more money for my sake if I slyly led them on. With my decision made I grabbed some undergarments and dressed my self. I then took a brush from among the boxes and began to make my hair as smooth as silk. When I was satisfied, I took a long deep breath and made my way downstairs where Church was waiting. Many others were there to. I saw every head in the now surprisingly crowded tavern turn in my direction. I could hear that their breaths had momentarily ceased. I saw that Church's mouth was gapped open, as were most of the men. The women too, even showed a little gape, although most of it was jealousy. I smiled. I had made my first impression, and it was amazing.
For the next several minutes, Church told me of my new duties. Most of all they were all bartending jobs. First he made me polish every bottle of wine. I did not mind though, I was going to work hard for my keep. Then he spent over an hour with me explaining every form of a drink and how to mix it just right. Then last he taught me how to count the money correctly. I was pretty good at it because the men almost always paid in full killos. By time the evening came, I had already managed to work alone. Most of it, though, was because Church had received a letter. He looked at it once and frowned, and without saying anymore he ran upstairs and locked himself in his room. When midnight came, and because it was not the weekend, I closed the shop.
When I made sure everyone had left, I went upstairs and knocked on Church's door. He told me I could come in. I hesitated but did not refuse the invitation. I saw Church sitting on his bed, his eyes were dark and his hair was a mess. I could tell he had been in deep thought.
"Zabuza." He said, "I am sorry to drop this on you so quickly, but I'm leaving for a few weeks. I don't know exactly when I'll return." My heart stopped, "But why! Why must you leave so soon!"
"There is something big going on. The Lizero army is marching for Wansaya. Which means that if they take it…Exile will lose its main means of water transportation, and without water transportation, we can't get imports or send exports." Church informed me, but I did not see what he was intending for me to understand, "How does this concern you?" I asked becoming impatient.
"Zabuza, I am…I'm a black mage. As a matter of fact, I am one of the best in all of Miraga. Which means that I am important to the military. They want me to fight." Church hesitantly told me. I was struck with every emotion. I was angry that he had not told me he was a mage, but I was also very sad that he was about to risk his life. If he were to die, all of my future plans with him would be ruined.
I was ghastly pale in fear of losing him. I saw that he was the same way. I wanted to say something, but the words did not flow. Instead, I did what I always did when things got out of control; I ran. I fled to my room and shut and locked my door behind me. I collapsed on my bed and began to rasp and sob. Why did everything good in my life change so rapidly?
For several minutes I continued to bawl, until with anxiety still within me, my tears brought me to sleep. I dreamt my dark dream again, but I did not care. I was oblivious to everything. Nothing mattered. I was destined to never find happiness.
The next morning I awoke and sat up in bed thinking for hours. I was devastated, but struggled so hard to grasp that everything would work out fine. If Church was such a good mage, then he could fend for himself. I believed in him. Then I got out of my bed, changed, and left my room. I wanted Church to know before he left, that I believed in him.
I walked down the stairs and saw no Church. Instead I saw a note on the bar. It was addressed to me.
Dear Zabuza,
I am sorry that I could not have gotten to know you better before I was forced to leave. It pains me to have to leave you, becauseI have grown rather fond of having you around, but I know that no matter what happens on the battlefield, I will see you again. I will write you letters of my progress, and inform you when I will return. I have left more than enough money to get you through a few months. Take care of the shop and just be yourself, strong, bold, and all around inspirational.
Love,
Church
Before I had even finished the letter I was in tears. He was indeed gone, and I did not get to tell him how I felt or that I believed in him. I was alone again…
