| |
Thessa hurried back to the inn and into her room where Sarren was sitting in the window licking the blood off her fur. “What did you do?” Thessa asked.
He had to die. What a barbarian!
“You have put us both in danger. People saw you. If you come out of here with me again, someone will recognize you.” Thessa began to strip the bloody clothes and wash.
Wait, why do you have blood on you?
“I brought the man back.”
Why would you do such a thing? I must go back.
“You will stay put here in this room. I did it so you would not be hunted down and killed. Now, you are just dangerous.”
She gazed at the white in Sarren’s fur, “I wonder.” She reached down and touched the white fur and commanded it to true black. The fur changed. “Hmm, there you go. All black now. No, now saw a fully black cat attacking a man in the market.” She went back to cleaning the blood. “No more killing people unless you clear it through me first.”
But you will never say yes!
“Now you are understanding. No, I will not.”
Some black mage I am training you to be. Cassany will not stand for this. She will make you a killer whether you like it or not.
“I have no doubt she will try.”
I have no doubt she will succeed.
Thessa glared at her but kept washing, and then she went to get some fresh clothing.
You are not going back out there to meet that man, are you?
“That is of no consequence to you, servant.”
You are going to get him killed or worse.
“Shut up, you stupid cat. I am the Black Mage, remember. I know what I’m doing. Besides, it’s just a meal. I am not going off to marry him or something.”
That is how it all starts. You have been hideous all this time and now that you have looks and you’re getting attention, you are running off to the first man who said you were pretty.
“I wasn’t hideous.”
You were a gaunt, hideous blood feeder.
“I was getting my strength back after my mother cured me of it. I would have eventually recovered. I have no doubt I will recover even now.” She finished dressing. “You are to stay here. Only come if you call you to me. If you disobey me, I will make sure you never do again.”
Oh, what will you do? Turn me into something else, spank me, yell at me? I know you will talk me to death with kind words and a smile.
“You have not seen my dark side. It’s there. I vowed never to let it surface again once I was cured. I might just let it come back for a good cause, like punishing you!” She exited the room and came face to face with Hana, her mother and Red Mage. She froze. Hana smiled at her and walked around her.
“Excuse me.” She said as she passed. Thessa stepped aside. She turned to watch Hana stroll down the hall. She was flooded with a myriad of emotions. Hana stood there in the corridor searching for the room she had rented from downstairs. She looked at Thessa with a kind smile, and Thessa’s knees went weak.
“Excuse me, miss. Is this the way to room seven?” Hana asked.
Thessa did not comprehend the question at first and she stood there unmoving and silent.
“Miss, are you all right?”
“Hmm? Yes, sorry. What was it you were asking me?”
“I am so sorry to bother you. But this inn is arranged strangely, and I was wondering if this corridor might contain the door to room seven.”
“Yes, this room here is my room, room six. Your room is the door there across from mine. The numbers on these doors are faded and painted over in black, but if you look closely, you can see it still in the dark impression of the door.”
“Thank you, kindly.” Hana said. Thessa moved past her in the corridor and picked up the pace to get away. She had to process this new development. “Um, excuse me. I hate to bother you again.”
Thessa turned at the end of the corridor just above the stairwell to acknowledge her, “Yes?”
“You seem familiar. Have we met before?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Thessa lied. “Was it possible her mother could see her even through this facade? We must have run into each other somewhere.”
“What is your name, dear?”
“My name?” Thessa suddenly froze again. “What was she going to tell her?”
“Yes, dear. You have a name, don’t you?”
“Yes, it’s... Zarina.” She had a friend named Zarina when she was young. It was the only name she could think of on the spur of the moment.
“That’s a lovely name.” Hana said. “I knew a Zarina when I was younger. She used to hang around the house when...” Her face suddenly became ashen and sad. “Do you have children?”
“Me? No, I don’t.” Thessa said, remembering her guise made her appear close to her mother’s age.
“I do. I am looking for her now.” She squinted at Thessa. “Strange, I am usually tight lipped but I seem to be rambling on with you, forgive me. Thank you for your service.” She genuflected slightly.
“Did you find the room?” Came a booming male voice. “Oh, excuse me.” The man in a grey cloak said as he met Thessa at the top of the stairs.
“It’s not a problem.” Thessa said, moving out of his way. Asleth, the Grey Mage, squeezed past her carrying two cloth bags.
“Yes, this is Zarina. She pointed me in the right direction.”
“Excellent. Thank you.” Asleth said.
“Well, I best be going.” Thessa blurted out.
“Oh, nice to meet you.” Asleth called after her.
“You as well.” Thessa called back as she hastily descended the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and wiped a tear. She knew her mother would find her eventually, but she thought it would be better if she didn’t. It hurt her heart to think Hana blamed herself for Thessa becoming a blood feeder and then worse, the Black Mage, so she thought it might be better for everyone involved if she did not reveal herself. If she was to become the Black Mage against her will, much like Sarren taking matters into her own hands, she couldn’t live with herself if she hurt her mother more. It was odd to her that Asleth was still with her. What was his plan? Thessa vowed she would have to find out to protect her mother. Asleth was known as the protector, but why, and what did it have to do with Hana? She took a deep breath and continued on out of the inn and toward the marketplace.
Thessa tried her best not to appear distraught when she met Gaelyn in the marketplace. She spotted him before he spotted her, and she stopped for a moment to look at him carefully. He had sandy brown hair and a warm smile, which we used the moment he saw her. She strolled up to him as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“I was about to think you were not coming.” He said.
“I got hung up at the inn. I had to help a nice couple find their room.”
“It’s okay. It gave me time to plan where I wanted to take you for that meal.” He held out his hand and Thessa took it. He led her around the cat man stand. It was closed now and boarded up. But, as they strolled down the marketplace, people recognized her and gave her a big, approving smile or a wave. She cringed at the attention, especially since she found the man and what he was selling repulsive. Still, there was part of her that enjoyed the spotlight for a change. She didn’t feel as though everything she did was a mistake or an ill-timed blunder.
“Here we are.” Gaelyn pointed to a small booth with four wooden tables arranged in front of it. “They say this place has wonderful food.”
“It isn’t cat or rat or dog, is it?”
Gaelyn looked quizzical, “I don’t think so.”
“Or any other disgusting food from under a rock or up a tree or something.”
“I guess we will find out. What is it you like?”
“Right now, vegetables!”
Gaelyn laughed and led her to the booth where a man in a food stained apron was stirring a pot of something.
“May I help you?” The man asked.
“What is your best meal?” Gaelyn asked.
“No, no, no, friend.” The man began. “Let me take care of you two fine young people. You cannot walk up to a booth on this marketplace and ask what is the best meal. They will give you whatever concoction they are trying to get rid of before it goes bad. You ask what is their freshest meal.” He winked at Thessa, “And they will probably give you whatever is about to go bad, anyway.” He laughed uproariously.
“What will you be eating from your place tonight?” Thessa asked.
“Ah, now this is a smart one. You had better hold on to this one. I have a specialty that I like to enjoy. I take two slices of bread and put between them roasted chicken, crispy bacon, and aged cheese and bake it in the oven a few minutes until the cheese melts. I call it a chicken bake.”
“Oh, I’ll have one of those.” Thessa said.
“Make it two.” Gaelyn interjected.
“Coming right up. I will make it three! One for me, you know. Sit, sit, and I will serve you with some nice wine to go with your food.”
They picked a table and sat. “What a nice fellow.” Gaelyn said.
A few more people arrived and the man behind the booth served them the stew he was staring. At least Thessa imagined it was stew. The man winked at her when ladling it into bowls.
“Tell me about yourself.” Gaelyn asked her.
She knew he was trying to start a conversation, but he was treading in an area she didn’t want to go. “Oh no, you don’t. Tell me about yourself first.”
“All right. I am a dockworker here in Emlestra. It doesn’t pay a lot, and it’s hard on my hands, but it’s steady work.”
“That explains your muscles.” She blurted out and then immediately blushed afterward.
Gaelyn fixed his arm muscle, “You think so, huh? Well, I am scrawny compared to some men who work there.”
“Here is your food and wine.” The booth owner said as he placed two wooden plates before them with the chicken bake on them, and a bottle of wine with two glasses. Gaelyn paid the man, and he walked away satisfied.
“This looks delicious.” Thessa observed.
“It does.” Gaelyn agreed.
They were halfway through their meal when Hana and Asleth arrived at the booth. The man gave them the same treatment he gave Thessa and Gaelyn, and they turned to find a seat.
Hana spotted Thessa. “Hello again. Small world isn’t it.”
“Yes, it is.” Thessa said. “Gaelyn, this is the woman I helped find her room earlier.”
“Oh, so you are the reason she was late.” He stood and kissed Hana’s hand.
“I was. I am so sorry.”
“He is attempting a joke, miss.” Thessa said.
“Absolutely, I meant nothing by it.”
“Oh, good. You two are such a nice looking couple. Is the food good here?” Hana asked.
“It’s depends on what you ordered.” Gaelyn said.
“We were talking into something called a chicken bake.”
“Good, that we are having. It is delicious.” Thessa assured her. She noticed Asleth said nothing and stared at her intently.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” Thessa asked him.
“Hmm? Oh sorry, you just seem so familiar. I am certain we have met before.” Asleth said.
“I guess I have one of those faces.” Thessa said uncomfortably. She was thankful when the man brought them their food and their focus was taken off her. She hurried through the meal and then beckoned Gaelyn for them to leave. He got the hint. They said their goodbyes and exchanged a few other pleasantries and left. Gaelyn never questioned her about why she wanted to leave so badly, and she thought that was one of his best qualities.