"It's a what?" Abe spouted, his brow furrowed deeply and his gills flared as far as they could. Radais giggled.
"A unicorn. With no horn. Calm down, you look like a puffer fish," she said, her eyes sparkling. Abe had become a new person in the half-hour she had left him alone, acting toward her like he had always acted toward Red and Liz.
"And it just appeared when you were walking?" he glowered.
"Jumped down from the trees. The bats called her."
"You trust her?"
"I think so. She kinda feels like part of me, like I've always known her. I think it's like a bond, from birth or whatever. I read about it in a book."
"Uh-huh," he growled. His face grew pensive for a moment, then he spoke again, "How do you know this isn't a trick of Gahliendo's?"
"Um, I don't. I mean, I don't really have a way of knowing, but it doesn't feel like a trick," Radais said, pursing her lips.
"Alright, but the second it goes south, the thing is glue."
"Deal. Now come meet her," Radais twittered, turning and trotting to the cottage door. Abe followed her down the hallway and out the door. Radais bounced to the bottom of the steps and over to the white mare, her smile wide and her eyes glinting in morning sun. The mare shook her mane and looked eagerly toward the fishman.
"Hello," she said merrily, mirroring Radais' smile with her tone. Abe took the steps slowly, then cautiously walked to the horse. Gently he reached out one hand and placed it on the mare's forehead.
"Hello," he echoed after a moment. He stepped back and lowered his hand, looking to Radais.
"She is pure of nature," he said, "And she is missing a part of her soul, the part that you fill."
Radais furrowed her brow, then placed her hand on the mare's neck. The horse whickered lightly.
"Perhaps the same is for me?" she asked, half to Abe and half to the mare.
"Yes," the mare answered, "We are each part of each other, so it is written."
"You keep talking about things being written," Radais began thoughtfully, "Written where, exactly?"
The mare whisked her tail over her flanks.
"Written, admittedly, is poor word choice. What I mean is that it is rooted deep into the laws that govern all magical beings, ancient powers that have existed since before the creation of planets and worlds. Woven into fate, prophecy, and destiny. And part of that magic is the bond between an elf royal and his or her unicorn."
"Not gunna lie, I feel like I'm five, talking about elf princesses and their unicorns," Radais said, grinning.
"Call me by another name, if you prefer."
"No, it's fine."
"Well, you have to name me anyway," the mare mused.
At that point, Radais realized what she should have realized much earlier. The mare had given her no name.
"Name you? Why?"
"It is written," the white horse recited, "In the deep magic."
Radais groaned and made a face. That would be the reason. What's a good name for a unicorn, anyway? She brainstormed a bit, then settled on a Spanish word that seemed to fit the broad-shouldered mare.
"Bruja."
"Why Bruja?" Abe asked immediately. Radais remembered that Red had once told her that Abraham was fluent in several languages, and mediocre in several more. Apparently, he knew the meaning of bruja.
"It just fits," Radais retorted.
"How interesting," the newly named Bruja interjected.
"What is?"
"Your brother's unicorn, my own brother, is named Banshee. How interesting that you name me Witch."
Radais bit her lip, and she saw Abe's face go from interested to concerned out of the corner of her eye.
"Interesting, indeed," Abe said, grimacing. He looked from Radais, to Bruja, back to Radais, then turned and retreated into the cottage. Radais watched him go, her face frozen with disbelief, then stared at the closed door, until a sharp snort from Bruja relocated her attention.
"How rude," she said. Radais grimaced at her, then told her that they would be able to talk more later on, but right now she had to go talk to Abe and see what the matter is.
"Fine enough, I should find myself a locale to sleep at anyway, there's a storm coming."
Radais nodded absentmindedly, then trotted to the cottage, rather hastily.
"Abe?" she said, quite audibly, as soon as she had the door shut securely behind her. An answering grunt sounded from the kitchen, giving Radais the impression that he was on the phone.
"Mental connection with the prince? Is that possible?" said a scratchy, distant voice. Radais recognized it as Kate Corrigan, probably on Abe's long-distance communicator.
"It's probably not active, more like general emotions, all precognitive and subconscious," Abe answered. His voice was strong and a bit harsh.
"Could it be used against us?"
"I doubt it. Even if the prince knew, which I somehow don't think he does, I don't think it's anything that can be manipulated."
If Radais had been ignorant to their subject, she would have though they were talking about a creature, not a human being.
Well, human being is poor word choice, the girl thought mildly.
"So, you're telling me it's not a threat?"
"Not so far. If that changes, I'll let you know. Sapien out."
"What were you and Katie talking about?" Radais growled, dancing slowly down the hall with confident, almost vicious, steps.
"What did it sound like?" he asked, sitting down on the couch facing her.
"A head of cattle you are buying at auction," she spat.
Abe looked confused for a moment, then reflected and understood.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that."
"Oh, it's fine. I know how vindictive you are, it doesn't bother me."
He grimaced, then stood and walked passed her and into the little room he had claimed as his own during the vacation. Obviously, she had made him mad. She heard the echo of his voice in the back of her mind, telling her that she is corrupt, selfish, and ignorant. Perhaps she would feel better if he had actually said it to her. Then again, perhaps she would feel better after she slept. Realizing that she hadn't for the better part of twenty-four hours, she meandered into her own little room, crawled into the bed, and fell asleep, into dreams of pale princes and unicorns of the non-horned variety.
So I've been doing a little bit of soul-searching about Warmonger, over that fact that it's ridiculously long and seems to be headed in no real direction. Well, there is a direction, I promise. But honestly, I really don't care what you guys think, because Warmonger is my pet project. It might not be my greatest writing or anything. But it makes me happy. And I will continue to write it. ^-^ Don't worry, they won't all be like this. I already have a plan for a boy named Dmitry and a homeless girl in Hawai'i. So never fear. But I WILL finish Warmonger first.
And thanks, everyone who likes Warmonger.