Bwar!
Raine: ...That's not a word.
Yuh-huh, because I just said it. Anything one can say that has structures and letters that are pronounced, can be called a word. So hah!
Raine: Very well, it is not a real word.
What is it, an imaginary word? I can see it on the screen, I typed it. It's real, deary.
Raine: It has no meaning!
...Give me a few on that one. I'll come up with something.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the bleeding had stopped, at least. But she still felt dizzy, light-headed. She groaned again, quietly. If she could move, she would have crawled to the mouth of the cave and used the waterfall that had caused most of this pain to clean the wound that had been otherwise inflicted. But no, she was stuck sitting there against the hard rock, trying to stay awake despite the knowledge that death was lurking around, getting closer every hour she spent in this blasted cave.
Trying to steady her hand and blink the fogginess from her vision lest her writing be hopelessly illegible, she lifted her letter to continue ever onward in the story.
------
My first good news - my stomach has ceased its relentless bleeding. It still hurts, although there's really nothing that doesn't. But I suppose I had better stop wasting time with my injuries and get on with the story behind them.
That fateful mornig dawned. Five days ago this morning, I was sitting on the couch with a paper in my lap, and a pen in my hand. This letter is a painful reminder of what I did, but at least in this one I don't have to hide anything. And I won't, I promise...The very least I can do for you after everything.
I'm sorry if I get some of the words wrong, as my thoughts aren't as clear as they used to be. But I believe it went something like this:
"Regal,
Let me start by saying how sorry I am. I have to do this, there really is no other choice. I wish I could have said goodbye to you in person, for this letter could never come remotely close to replacing a conversation, a verbal farewell.
I don't want to leave. And I can't tell you whyI must, but please know that this is the only way. If I could change things, I would. In a heartbeat. But to protect everything, I have to go. Don't worry about me - it will be fine. I promise.
I'm so sorry, Regal. Goodbye.
Love, Raine"
That may have been the hardest thing I'd ever had to write. But there's something I should tell you before I go on. I did fully intend to return to you when I could. When I got the chance, I was going to come back and explain everything. Needless to say, it didn't work as I'd planned - but I'll get to that later. After all, the best way to tell a story is start to end, right?
So, then, as I was finishing this painfully short letter, I heard a knock. Damae Tudok...I knew that's who it was - it was noon exactly. It took a moment for me to be able to get up and answer it, though I knew I had to. "Yes?" I asked softly as I opened the door to see an almost pleasant looking man.
"Lady Bryant." He bowed to me, but my glare remained. "Your chariot awaits, ma'am. We must be going, I'm afraid, lest we be late. Master Wein doesn't like to be kept waiting, and he is very excited about your coming."
"I'm sure he is," I responded bitterly. "Wait." I wasn't asking him, I was ordering him and, oddly enough, he obliged. He took the letter and read it over just once more. I wanted to say more, but what was there to say? So I folded it, taking several seconds to make the crease perfect, and laid it on the table with your name scrawled on it. You were sure to see it there.
This finished, I looked back at Tudok. He nodded and smiled at me, something that made me hate him more. But the man took me by the arm, and started leading me away. I looked back at the house, my guilt growing and being complimented by the pain of losing everything. I was leaving it all behind. And I didn't want to, not in the slightest.
Thus, we made our way to the docks, where Wein - for that was the black-haired man's name - met us with someone else. "My Lady." He bowed, too, and I had to stop myself from snapping at him. Tudok released my arm, but Wein took it up again, walking very close at my side. I was led to a ship and when stopped and questioned by the captain, he leaned even closer to whisper something in my ear: "Tell him you're going ahead to Meltokio. Where you will be met by your husband for a little vacation."
Personally, I don't find Meltokio an ideal spot for taking time off. But I did as I was told, as well as explaining that the three men with me were an escort. It was really very degrading to have people think I needed three men to defend me on a tame trip to Meltokio. But I suppose that was the least of my worries.
You know, I never thought I'd miss Altamira as much as I started to as we began to sail away. I watched it growing smaller on the horizon, for once completely able to ignore the ocean, at least for a time. I could see you, in my mind, coming home to an empty house. Picking up the paper. Reading it over. Just thinking about it again now is hard. Oh, dear.
It was a quiet boat-ride. I did, of course, wind up below deck until we'd docked at the Bridge, on the continent of Fooji. Then I was led off again, but we didn't go to Meltokio. I wasn't sure where we were going, but it wasn't to the capital city. I could see it in the distance, and we weren't walking toward it.
Wein motioned Tudok forward as all three of them gazed upward. "There," he said at last, pointing to something in the sky. I recognized it easily enough - we were standing underneath Exire. Damae Tudok nodded and the third man, who's name I later learend was Kenneth, handed him a black cloak.
He clasped it around my neck and brought out a soft black cloth from his pocket. This he wrapped around the lower half of my face, stopping probably half-way up the bridge of my nose and hiding everything below it. He drew up the large hod of my new cloak, smiling all the while.
So not only would I work for them, but I would be wearing a costume too. Joy. After dressing me up in the odd clothing, Tudok raised his hand and spoke a word of Ninjutsu very clearly. In a matter of moments I found myself standing on a remote island of the floating city, Exire. The apparent ninja was with me, but neither Wein nor Kenneth were anywhere to be seen.
"What, exactly, am I retrieving for you here?" I demanded, wasting no time. I wanted my chance, and that meant I had to focus. Go along with their demented plans, and face the consequences later when I was not under their influence anymore. When I was back with you, where I belonged.
"First thing's first, My Lady. You must see the elder of this city, introduce yourself."
"If I introduce myself, it will deeat the purpose of this disguise," I reminded him, a bit confused.
He just kept smiling in that infuriating little grin. "Not if you do it right, M'Lady. Miss Leene Collins, welcome to Exire. The city in the sky."
I have to leave it at that now, with him leading me off to see the elder as "Ms. Collins," for my hand is hurting and I feel like I'm going to pass out. Probably from loss of blood the past several days. I'll take a couple of hours to rest, and then continue.
I am sorry, Regal. For everything.
------
She did, indeed, feel very near fainting. Even though the bleeding had stopped, the blood she'd lost in all that time was taking its toll. In a way, she was afraid that if she allowed herself to sleep no at this particular moment, in this particular condition, she would never wake up again.
But it was no good to try and force herself on with writing. So, taking a deep breath and hoping it wouldn't be the last, she closed her eyes, and leaned back to take her claimed few hours.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dun Dun Dun!
Raine: -Sigh- I resent this story of yours.
You resent all of 'em, Raine dear.Oh, and, I have a meaning now! It is the state of being a staple that was accidentally used on nothing and is now laying on the floor where it is stepped on and all bent and crushed and stuff. Mmmhm.
Raine:... -Thwack-
Ow. -.-