Chapter Seven
Elspeth looked anxiously at the door. Where was she? She promised she would be here. The last trainee got up and stumbled toward his lessons. Elspeth buried her head in her arms trying to fight back biting tears. Talia never broke her promises. So where was she?
... ... ...
In the courtyard someone else was also struggling to fend off tears. Talia knew that Skylar was finally going to let the words break loose.
"I hate it here." The words were spoken so quietly that Talia had to lean toward the girl to catch them. She gave an encouraging half smile.
"I know that it must be wonderful in your world. But maybe you're not really giving this world a chance. I know there's a lot of war and all, but..." Skylar cut her off before she could finish the thought.
"It's not that. War, God that's just human nature. You could go to a thousand different worlds and never get away from it. It's just...I'm so..." Making an aggravated noise in the back of her throat she jumped up and started pacing. "I can't even think of the words." She stopped in front of Talia and stared into her eyes. "I can't control my life here. I'm not a person, I'm just a tool." She started pacing again. "At home, at home I can spend a day however I want. I can go hang out with my friends, the people I've known my entire life and not have to spend the entire day freaking out over the fact that they could die any second." Her voice grew quieter. "I don't have to worry that some all powerful God is suddenly going to decide that it's time to leave. Whoosh, I'm gone, and I'm never going to see them again." Her eyes looked so hopeless that Talia was almost scared. She stood up and put her hand on Skylar's shoulder.
"Skylar, you can't avoid getting close to people. It's just not in you." The tears left Skylar's eyes and she looked at Talia with solid determination.
"Oh yes I can. Because I just have to one more time. When He sent me here this time, God promised me that it's the last time. After this I just have to pick which world I want to live in. Actually live in, for the rest of my life." Her eyes grew feverishly exited, and her pitch grew louder, harsher. "Do you understand that? I can finally have a life that moves linearly, when everything that happens to me just moves towards one single future. I don't have to deal with this magic crap; I don't have to solve your world's problems anymore. This isn't my world; this isn't my life. You can all burn for all it matters to me." This little tirade seemed to have burned Skylar out and she slowly collapsed into herself.
"Even Skif?" Talia looked at the girl compassionately.
"What are you talking about?"
"You said you wouldn't care if we all burned. Even Skif?" Skylar's eyes hardened.
"Why should I care? He's just another stranger. He's just another part of this crappy world." Shaking her head in disgust Skylar walked back into the Collegium, leaving Talia behind watching her with sorrowful eyes.
... ... ...
Talia shut the door to Selenay's audience chamber quietly.
"You wanted to speak with me, Majesty?" Selenay smiled at her Queen's Own.
"Oh come now Talia, you know better than to use that formal tone with me." Talia smiled her first genuine smile all morning. She crossed and sat in the chair across from her Queen.
"Yes, Selenay." Selenay leaned across the table urgently, leaning on her folded hands.
"It's about Skif." Talia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, I've noticed he's been a little off lately, but if you don't mind my asking Selenay, why does it concern you?"
"Talia, you know that I care about all of my heralds. Usually in private matters I reason that they are all mature adults who can work through their problems on their own. But I'm seriously worried about Skif. I think that his problem may be more dire than anyone realizes, even himself." Selenay's worry was contagious, Talia's eyes darkened with concern.
"Well, what is it then?" Selenay hesitated, trying to find the words to begin.
"Well, I'm sure you've noticed that he's very interested in Skylar." Talia tried to fight back a smile.
"That's a bit of an understatement. But that's normal for Skif, he's very curious about anyone different. Once she's been here for a while, he'll lose interest."
"But that's just it, I'm not sure he will. Talia, he's acting like he has a lifebond." Talia reacted to this statement by staring in disbelief.
"You can't be serious Selenay. Skif? A lifebond?" Selenay looked very tired all of a sudden. She nodded slowly.
"I've talked to my companion, and he agrees." Talia's eyes shown.
"Well that's good, isn't it? I mean, a lasting relationship may help to ground Skif a little more."
"Yes, well, I'm not finished. Skif is showing all the signs of a lifebonding. Skylar however isn't showing any."
"Is that possible?"
"Not that I know of, but then again, Skylar isn't supposed to be possible. And I'm afraid that when Skylar leaves again, because I'm sure she will, it will kill Skif." The two most powerful women in the kingdom looked at each other then, knowing deep in their hearts that with all of their power combined, they were still inept to save one of their dearest friends.
Hey does anyone know the name of Selenay's companion? I can't remember it. Thanks!
Elspeth looked anxiously at the door. Where was she? She promised she would be here. The last trainee got up and stumbled toward his lessons. Elspeth buried her head in her arms trying to fight back biting tears. Talia never broke her promises. So where was she?
... ... ...
In the courtyard someone else was also struggling to fend off tears. Talia knew that Skylar was finally going to let the words break loose.
"I hate it here." The words were spoken so quietly that Talia had to lean toward the girl to catch them. She gave an encouraging half smile.
"I know that it must be wonderful in your world. But maybe you're not really giving this world a chance. I know there's a lot of war and all, but..." Skylar cut her off before she could finish the thought.
"It's not that. War, God that's just human nature. You could go to a thousand different worlds and never get away from it. It's just...I'm so..." Making an aggravated noise in the back of her throat she jumped up and started pacing. "I can't even think of the words." She stopped in front of Talia and stared into her eyes. "I can't control my life here. I'm not a person, I'm just a tool." She started pacing again. "At home, at home I can spend a day however I want. I can go hang out with my friends, the people I've known my entire life and not have to spend the entire day freaking out over the fact that they could die any second." Her voice grew quieter. "I don't have to worry that some all powerful God is suddenly going to decide that it's time to leave. Whoosh, I'm gone, and I'm never going to see them again." Her eyes looked so hopeless that Talia was almost scared. She stood up and put her hand on Skylar's shoulder.
"Skylar, you can't avoid getting close to people. It's just not in you." The tears left Skylar's eyes and she looked at Talia with solid determination.
"Oh yes I can. Because I just have to one more time. When He sent me here this time, God promised me that it's the last time. After this I just have to pick which world I want to live in. Actually live in, for the rest of my life." Her eyes grew feverishly exited, and her pitch grew louder, harsher. "Do you understand that? I can finally have a life that moves linearly, when everything that happens to me just moves towards one single future. I don't have to deal with this magic crap; I don't have to solve your world's problems anymore. This isn't my world; this isn't my life. You can all burn for all it matters to me." This little tirade seemed to have burned Skylar out and she slowly collapsed into herself.
"Even Skif?" Talia looked at the girl compassionately.
"What are you talking about?"
"You said you wouldn't care if we all burned. Even Skif?" Skylar's eyes hardened.
"Why should I care? He's just another stranger. He's just another part of this crappy world." Shaking her head in disgust Skylar walked back into the Collegium, leaving Talia behind watching her with sorrowful eyes.
... ... ...
Talia shut the door to Selenay's audience chamber quietly.
"You wanted to speak with me, Majesty?" Selenay smiled at her Queen's Own.
"Oh come now Talia, you know better than to use that formal tone with me." Talia smiled her first genuine smile all morning. She crossed and sat in the chair across from her Queen.
"Yes, Selenay." Selenay leaned across the table urgently, leaning on her folded hands.
"It's about Skif." Talia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, I've noticed he's been a little off lately, but if you don't mind my asking Selenay, why does it concern you?"
"Talia, you know that I care about all of my heralds. Usually in private matters I reason that they are all mature adults who can work through their problems on their own. But I'm seriously worried about Skif. I think that his problem may be more dire than anyone realizes, even himself." Selenay's worry was contagious, Talia's eyes darkened with concern.
"Well, what is it then?" Selenay hesitated, trying to find the words to begin.
"Well, I'm sure you've noticed that he's very interested in Skylar." Talia tried to fight back a smile.
"That's a bit of an understatement. But that's normal for Skif, he's very curious about anyone different. Once she's been here for a while, he'll lose interest."
"But that's just it, I'm not sure he will. Talia, he's acting like he has a lifebond." Talia reacted to this statement by staring in disbelief.
"You can't be serious Selenay. Skif? A lifebond?" Selenay looked very tired all of a sudden. She nodded slowly.
"I've talked to my companion, and he agrees." Talia's eyes shown.
"Well that's good, isn't it? I mean, a lasting relationship may help to ground Skif a little more."
"Yes, well, I'm not finished. Skif is showing all the signs of a lifebonding. Skylar however isn't showing any."
"Is that possible?"
"Not that I know of, but then again, Skylar isn't supposed to be possible. And I'm afraid that when Skylar leaves again, because I'm sure she will, it will kill Skif." The two most powerful women in the kingdom looked at each other then, knowing deep in their hearts that with all of their power combined, they were still inept to save one of their dearest friends.
Hey does anyone know the name of Selenay's companion? I can't remember it. Thanks!