Torn took Jacob at his word; quickly but gently the two eased Ashlin into the back seat. Then, without a moment's hesitation, Torn kicked the hovercraft into high gear. It sputtered and shook for a moment, just long enough for Ashlin to anticipate an explosion, before zooming around the corner. The take off was so sudden in fact, that Ashlin barely had time to keep Jacob's fruit basket from flying out the side. Of course a few ripe plumens managed to escape; hitting a second-story window with a satisfying smack.
"Be careful or you might hit something." Ashlin gripped the rickety sides of the rusty, old hovercraft. She didn't mind flying. In truth Ashlin loved flying, but she also loved being in control. As the blurred outlines of dilapidated buildings flew past and engine exhaust trailed behind them, Ashlin felt her heart give a little cartwheel of panic. She was definitely not in control.
"Well, I don't know about you," Torn began "but I'm really not in the mood to be stopped by Krimzon guards today." He sped around another corner, nearly hitting a dangling roof tile. "Right now time isn't—" the hovercraft passed under a slow moving delivery wagon. "—on our side. When the sun rises we won't have the shadows to cover our tracks. What makes it even better is that the guards are already on the lookout for this hunk of metal."
"Why?"
"Turns out you aren't the only one who knows about my father's little underground bed and breakfast," Torn made a 'U-Turn' into the Bazaar. "and as luck has it, the Baron isn't too happy about a renegade hospital."
"Oh," Ashlin looked down at her hands. She knew her father had done some pretty bad things, but shutting down a hospital? No, he wouldn't do that. He was busy fighting a war to protect the city…to protect her. "Does that mean he's after you?"
"He's after my father more than me. But hey, the Baron's really out to get all of us isn't he?" Torn said darkly, and the hovercraft came to a screeching stop.
"My f—" Ashlin caught herself just in time, but Torn eyed her suspiciously. "My… friends and I don't think that's true at all. The Baron just wants to protect us. He's trying to save everyone in these walls from metalheads. They're the ones out to get us. We'd all be dead if it weren't for the him!" Ashlin tried not to think what would have happened if she had let it slip that the Baron was her father.
"Protect us? Look around you. What do you see? Death, sickness, destruction?" Torn's hissed as he gestured to the palace. It looked so much more menacing than what Ashlin remembered. "He sits up there on his throne and destroys our lives. Anyone who holds on to even a single shred of hope is killed or tortured. Why do you think he's after my dad? Huh? He's the one person in this dump of a city who gives a damn, who gives people hope and the Barron is trying to kill him! You'd be dead if it weren't for him!" Torn never let his voice grow above a whisper, but the severity in his tone still rang through the alleyway.
Ashlin's eyes remained steady, but her insides were doing summersaults. She knew that everything Torn had just said was true, even if she had never let it sink in until just now.
"Rawwwwk, what are you two lovebirds wasting time out there for? Onin has been expecting you!" Suddenly, a blue and red parrot… or wait, monkey? What in the name of Mar what that thing?
Without thinking, Ashlin gripped Torn with one hand and the basket of Jacob's plumen's with the other. "What—What is that thing?" Her fingers were automatically tightening around Torn's arm and a piece of fruit.
Pecker sighed. "Always the same. I, Pecker, introduce myself, and you screa—RAWWWK!" The bird-monkey ducked as a plumen was hurled in his direction.
"You, you just threw something at me! Why you little red-feathered, chicken brained…"
"Eahhhh, it talks!" Ashlin recoiled as if Pecker's mere presence were breaking some natural law.
"Well of course I talk." He monkey spat back at her; ruffling his feathers indignantly. "I'm not just some stuffed trophy to be hung up on a wall. I can walk and talk and oh yes, I have feelings too. Not that it means anything to you, apparently. Now, come inside before you wake up the whole city." Pecker flapped his wings back into the tent.
It took a moment before Ashlin realized that Torn was prying her fingernails out of his skin. "Oh, sorry" she withdrew immediately. There were five crescent moon shaped engravings where her fingernails had been seconds before.
Torn shrugged, but didn't say anything. Even Pecker's interruption had not seemed to soften his mood. For the first time Ashlin noticed the lines in the young man's face. If she hadn't known better Ashlin may have guessed Torn to be twice her age. The lines in his face were etched with anger, remorse and even fear. They were the marks of someone who had lived life hard—with passion and purpose. They made him look older, wiser. Not matter how hard she fought it; Ashlin could not deny that she felt a newfound respect for Torn. Had it not been for her pride, she may have regretted her outburst at him. Even apologized.
"Onin welcomes you." Pecker said in his airy accent as Torn carried Ashlin into the tent. Though the pain from her bruises and scars hand subsided slightly, Ashlin still cringed with every step they took.
"My father sends his greetings," Torn nodded to a pile of abandoned rags in the middle of the room. He set Ashlin down gently.
"Onin also says she is glad to meet you—though I do not know WHY you would want to meet anyone who is so, rawwwwwk, rude. Alright, alright I added that last part" Pecker narrowed his eyes.
"Onin, who is Ohhh," Ashlin finished softly as comprehension dawned. The pile of rags had lifted its head to reveal the wrinkled and time-worn face of a woman. Though toothless smile and milky eyes where slightly shocking at first, Ashlin understood that there was a certain kind of ageless elegance and beauty about the soothsayer. "How do you do, Madame?" She asked apprehensively; holding out a hand.
Pecker rolled his eyes, but Onin smiled another toothless grin. As she lifted her arm, bracelets slid down her wrists and rattled together. Instead of taking just Ashlin's hand, Onin pulled the younger soul towards her, and the two embraced. It was electric. Possibly the first true female affection Ashlin had felt since her mother had died. Wait a minute, that's right. Mother. Death. Golden Basin. A woman whose skin was not brown, yellow, peach or…
Ashlin faded out of time, and out of place. She was not in the tent anymore. Torn, Pecker and even Onin were all gone. She was in front of a golden basin with ancient inscriptions etched into a ring around it. Her father was there; clutching the Basin with his mighty hands; face almost touching the water.
The woman was there too, the one Ashlin had seen when she dreamed on the battlefield. She was still chanting the words from a forgotten time; moving her hands to a natural rhythm as her voice grew stronger. Ashlin strained her senses, as though by some miracle it would enable her to understand the meaning behind it all.
'I can't see her. Why can't I see her? WHY CAN'T I?!' Ashlin could feel her father's anger as he screamed into the golden basin.
The woman continued to chant and move, but did not respond. Instead she shut her eyes tighter as though attempting to block out the rest of the world. She breathed heavily as her hands traced symbols in the air. There were circles, clouds, triangles, diamonds, human figures and finally, the Seal of Mar.
The ancient symbol sparkled a piercing blue as it filled the otherwise dim temple. It soared overhead for only a few seconds before swiftly floating down into the basin. 'We call upon you Mar, ancient warrior. Help us to discover the light of truth where there is darkness.' She sighed as the symbol sizzled into the water. 'Now tell me Praxis, what do you see?'
Ashlin noticed her father's expression soften as he glanced into the water. Pictures were forming. At first they were only distorted outlines, but soon people began to take shape. A woman was running; screaming. Ashlin gripped her father's hand. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them blinked.
Ashlin saw her mother pull out a handgun and fire aimlessly into the darkness. Blood was caked to her arms and legs. Her clothes were in shreds. Of course her eyes, Ashlin could never forget those eyes, were tearless. Her stunningly pure, green eyes stared fixedly into the darkness. They appeared as strong and steadfast as the woman herself.
'My beautiful wife,' Ashlin heard her father murmur in an uncharacteristically soft tone. 'I see her, but I don't recognize her surroundings. How can I find her? Where is she?'
'You know that even I cannot answer that, Praxis. The water shows truth, but how that truth is interpreted is dependent upon you.'
'But she'll die if I don't save—no, I can't loose her! You will tell me where she is. You will tell me where to find her or be damned to the wastelands!' The monk woman cringed as Praxis' temper began to rise again. He was only inches from her face. 'Cast your magic spells, brew your potions, and use any of the occult arts you like. I don't care so long as you find a way!' Ashlin took a step back. She could see the mad fire burning in her father's eyes. He shook the monk fiercely before throwing her across the temple. Her body scratched into the rough floor.
For a moment Ashlin was sure her father had killed someone, but after a moment the woman's arm twitched and her head turned to one side. 'You,' she panted as though every breath was a struggle. 'You will have your magic.' The woman forced herself up with one arm—the other was twisted in an unnatural way. 'Antolle ulua sulrim 'Ksher' . She spat. 'Bela ed' templa Kshonna lle. Amin feuya ten' lle. Amin thanga yassen templa lle.' She gasped before repeating 'amin thanga yassen templa lle.'
There was a jolt in the universe. Ashlin felt herself being thrown forward into reality where she landed in the arms of an old soothsayer.
"What…what was that? What just happened to her?" Ashlin blinked until the world came back into focus. She recognized that scratchy voice. Torn was leaning over her and Onin with a concerned but bewildered expression. He looked down directly at Ashlin. "I thought we'd lost you again."