Hi! Sorry for the late update! Hope you don't hate this chapter.


Chapter 9

Mustang

I don't know why I'm doing this…I don't know why I'm even thinking this…but I am…so I might as well get on with it.

Silvertongue was sitting under a big, old oak tree. I studied her as I drew near. She had taken off her gloves and I noticed a bright flash of something silver but it was only for a moment so I can't be sure.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

How did she know I was here???

"Shouldn't you?" I asked to cover my surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Where else would I be?"

"Don't you have a room?"

"No…its okay. I'm used to it."

I sat down beside her, leaning on the scarred trunk of the old tree.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" she asked.

I gestured at her hand. It was red and swollen now…I must have sprained her.

"Its okay, though it is inconvenient. I was going to change shape and roost in this tree."

"Why don't you?"

She actually laughed…at me I think.

"An owl with a sprained wing won't be flying anywhere." She said.

"I didn't think of that." I said, honestly.

After a while, when I realized she wouldn't say anything I said, "You need to bandage that."

"I will." She said, "I just need to concentrate, like I said, its inconvenient. I can't concentrate enough to create bandages."

Why does she think that she has to just magic anything she needs?

Without a word I took out a white handkerchief and tore in into strips. She said not a word as I began to bandage it.

"Thank you." She said when I was done.

"Its nothing. It was my fault in the first place anyway."

We were silent again. Now that I had helped her out and in so doing appeased my conscience and Riza I could relax. Or maybe not…Edward had mentioned a few rather curious details about Silvertongue.

"Edward tells me you tried to transmute your brother."

She sighed, "Very well, I guess I can't really escape it."

"He says you have automail."

"I don't."

She held up both hands, they were completely normal. Pale and smooth, flawless except for the bandage around the right hand's wrist.

I took hold of her left hand, the unhurt one.

"This hand is different from the other." I said.

She sighed, "You are very perspective, Colonel."

"Aren't you the one who keeps telling everyone to call me Roy?" I said with a small smile.

"Roy, then."

She pulled up her left sleeve; I saw only a normal hand.

"Watch closely." She whispered.

Slowly the flesh color disappeared. It was an illusion, I realized. I watched, transfixed, as the illusion melted away…leaving uncovered a smooth silver gray arm. It shone in the moonlight and had no mechanical bolts or other things like Edward's. It looked completely normal…like my own arm except for the color. Silvertongue moved her fingers as if it were in reality a normal arm.

"It's not automail."

"No its not. This is made from star metal," Silvertongue explained, "Its tougher, lighter and prettier than automail. Also, when forged into a sword it can cut though anything."

"Prettier?"

"Well it does, doesn't it?" Silvertongue protested.

"Whatever so who made it?"

She frowned at me but continued, "A friend made it for me, he's very good at it. Wanted to put a motor in it but I said no. Why would I need a motor? I can run it with my mind! Anyway, he made it but I cheated to make it this smooth and natural looking."

"How did you get it?" I asked softly.

I knew that what I was asking her was one of her deepest secrets. To tell me would mean that she trusted me…

I wasn't sure if she did…

So I held my breath and hoped.

Silvertongue took a deep breath…

Please…please…don't tell me to mind my own business…

"There was an explosion…"

Sorry if this is a cliffie. But I wanted to put in Sophie's POV here and it was on Mustang's so I'll just make it in the next chapter.

To whoever has read Belgariad: starmetal is sort of like the material used to make Riva's sword

Please review!

Thanks,

Sparkalie