| 5. Drastic Turns Legend: Consequential Relocations Beautiful locations of course-- no one ever thought otherwise. The way the buildings glint in the sun and the ground is wet with dew in the morning is purely picturesque. Everyone I’ve talked to seems polite enough and the community acts together perfectly. I’m not in any rush to get home, I can stay here a while. Numair certainly wants to, he’s having the time of his life looking at all the technology. But if this place is so great, why do I want to leave at all? I miss Cloud. I miss Kitten. I miss Zek. I miss the riders. Hell, I miss everything! ~~~ Wildmage, Daine, Magelet-- I’m called them all, by various people of course. I’ve never exactly had the perfect life but suddenly it looks like paradise. I guess that old cliche about not knowing what you have until you lose it is true. I can’t ask my parents or anyone else for help, just wait for that capsule of Professor Lit’s to fill. I’m half-god-- my dad is a god and my mom used to be human. But that was before she was killed, now she is the ‘Green Lady’. I rarely see them but I’m okay with that. I am an adult after all and besides, plenty of adults’ parents are dead. I should think myself lucky. Back to Helsire. You know the deal, Alanna, King Jonathon, Numair, Kel, and I are all stuck back in the Old Ones’ time. But I can’t help but think that there is a reason for us to be here. Numair would probably scoff in that gentle way of his, he doesn’t truly believe in fate and likes to think that he’s in control of his own life. There’s one thing we don’t agree on. Anyway, I’m keeping this record not because Kel suggested it-- well okay, that-- but because I have felt it necessary to capture what is happening. Read on, because something very bad is happening to part of our group... ~~~ Veralidaine Sarrasri, Drastic Turns part 1, Mid-time: Basic summary of my first day: all right, so I spent that first free day at the ‘animal shelter’-- it was all I could do to feel normal as possible. After that I stopped by the lab to drag Numair back to the hotel, he would stay there all night elsewise. But it was four long days later when I was walking around with Keladry of Mindelan that it hit me. Just let me just tell you what happened that morning and you’ll understand. I’ll only be able to write so much and then Kel will have to take over... ~~~ I rapped on the door of the hotel room three times, waiting for a reply. For a few moments I was left staring at the fine grained texture of the door before it opened and Kel poked her head out. "Daine." she greeted, nodding to me and opening the door fully. I was suddenly reminded of when we had first met back at the palace. At the time it was I who was swinging the door like so. "What are you doing today? I figure we could go looking around town at the shops-- they have some amazing armor and weapons up on display. I want to go check out some of the bows they have, how ‘bout you?" "Um, sure, yeah I’ll come." ~~~ "So Kel, I haven’t seen you much over these few days, what’s up?" I asked as we peered down at items on display in the archery shop. As I turned to look at her again, I saw that she was shifting on her feet almost nervously, but her face was emotionless. "Kel?" "Huh? Oh right! Well, I’ve been hanging out with Diago, he’s been showing me the entire city and sometimes we go exploring out into the forest..." "That’s sounds like fun." I said and bent down again to check out the long bow in front of me. It was amazing handwork! The wood was carefully polished until it gleamed and smoothed so now slivers stuck out. It had grip in the right place made in the finest way I’ve ever seen. The string was placed in by notches so the tightness could be changed. I had to get this bow! "Hey, Daine?" Kel asked timidly as we walked off out of the store a few hours later. The ‘Sol’ as they all called it, was beginning to sink down into the sky. "Hm?" I was thinking of how I could pay for the bow in the shop. Maybe I should start a collection of bows... "Have you ever thought of staying here?" I stopped in my tracks and stared openly at Kel. Maybe I had heard wrong. Maybe I need my ears checked. Maybe I should get Alanna to take a look at my ears just in case. ...Maybe Kel actually said that. "What?" I said, a little louder that intended, but I couldn’t help it, I was a little shaken. "Staying here, as in forever?" I asked as we began walked again, "Not really, why do you ask. Are you thinking about it?" my voice was sharp, and for a good reason to. If Kel wanted to stay behind, the rest of us wouldn’t have a chance to get back either. Kel bit her lip and I didn’t have a clue of what she was thinking. Seeming to change her mind, she said, "No, no I haven’t." ~~~ I left Kel in her room and was about to walk down to mine when I stopped and started to think. Kel could’ve been lying, maybe she was thinking of staying here. But what if she did? The rest of us couldn’t get back without her sticking her hand in that capsule when it’s full with our energy. It would be impossible for us to ever return. A little voice nagged in the back of my head, and Kel has been spending a lot of time with that Old One, Diago. Snap out of it, Daine! So what if she has? Kel won’t do anything foolish or selfish, she’s coming back with us. But still my doubt remained. ~~~ Numair Salmalin, Drastic Turns, Part 2, Mid-time, Everyday I have been with Professor Lit, the scary looking Old One in the lab, working with him with the technology. Everyday I have put in more of my Gift power into the capsule. I didn’t really miss Tortall, not yet anyway. I still was on discovery-high with the technology. But I knew Daine and the others missed it and soon I would have to go back. Ah, well, life just works that way I guess. But sometime Life deals you bad cards and you still have to play them out. Or you can fold, but you’ll never win by doings so. I our case-- especially Keladry of Mindelan’s-- Life was preparing to deal us the most rotton cards ever. ~~~ On the fourth day of our ‘visit’, when I came home, I found Daine waiting in my room. "Daine, I’m not really in the mood for this tonight--" I began. "It’s not that!" she snapped and ran a hand swiftly through her hair. "What’s wrong?" I asked, concerned. Hey, something had to be wrong with her, she was acting completely frustrated and worried. Not like her. "Oh Numair!" she exclaimed and started pacing. "I’m worried about Kel." I sat down on my bed and rested my head against my headboard, "Explain-- you’re making no sense." She continued pacing and I wondered offhandedly whether it possible to wear a hole in the floor. "I was talking to her today and she was acting... odd. Saying strange things." "Strange things?" I wanted to ask, but kept my mouth shut, she would come around eventually. "She asked me if I ever thought of staying here-- not going back to Tortall." here I raised an eyebrow, this didn’t sound like the composed lady knight that I knew. "When I said no and then asked her about it, she quickly replied no but think she was lying... and she’s been spending a lot of time with that Diago guy." "The one with green diamond sigil? Yes I noticed that but didn’t really think about it." "Numair," Daine came and sat down beside me, "What if she’s... in love with him? That would mess everything up. What if she wanted to stay behind?" Impossible, Keladry never puts herself first. She’s always selfless and giving herself completely to her work. She is not selfish nor foolish and knows what would happen if she didn’t come back... ...maybe she’s finally going to act human and do something for herself? Surely not. I sighed, "Daine, I think we should go talk with Jonathon and Alanna." ~~~ Keladry of Mindelan, Drastic Turns, Part 3, Mid-Time: I suppose it’s best if I start from when it all began-- these feeling I mean. But I warn you, I’m not used to sharing my feeling with many people so it might sound strange from time to time... I knew I liked Diago from the start, knew we’d be good, if not great, friends. So on the third day of our arrival (the day before I spent the day with Daine), I wasn’t surprised when he came by to spend the day with me. Walking around town our into the forest while chatting or exploring was fun and we’d been doing it for the past few days. Diago and I walked out of the hotel in companionable silence, meandering around the streets, doing nothing in particular. After a few minutes, Diago spoke. "What’s it like back in your time, Kel?" he reached a pale hand up and rubbed the emerald sigil on his forehead, a gesture that he does a lot when he’s thinking. Thinking of back home made me feel a sort of longing, a yearning for the training yards and the city-- everything. Basic feeling of homesickness, I guess. "My home was pretty much everywhere," I began and immediatley kicked myself. Honestly, what does that sound like ‘my home is everywhere’ Gods, I must sound like an idiot! Nevertheless, I continued, "As you know I’m a knight, so I never really stayed to long in one place. I guess you could say the entire realm of Tortall was my home." "So, tell me about Tortall." he said and listened attentively. There’s another thing he does, he listens extremely well. It’s slightly unnerving sometimes. Shouldn’t he talk more like all the other guys I know? I sighed and warned, "All right, but don’t expect any poetic sayings." I ran a hand through my short hair and began, "Tortall had been in quite a few wars over the years and each time we’ve tried to stop them, but still they come. In fact, we were in war when we were first transported here, the Scanran War. The last war before that had left Tortall practically in ruins. Immortals run wild across the terrain and bandits rip through the lower lands, raiding villages. There’s a lot of work needed." I paused, horrified, I was doing a great job of making Tortall sound great, wasn’t I? "But when there isn’t any wars going on and there’s no prejudice flying about, it’s wonderful. Can you imagine riding like the wind across the hills by yourself, nothing but the breeze and the sun with you? It’s great." God, I hope that isn’t considered poetic! ‘Can’t stand poetry myself, had to listen to Neal to much with it. Diago frowned, lines creasing his forehead, "Ride? Oh, you must mean on horses... no, I’ve never done that. Except for going out into the forests, I’ve never been away from Helsire." running a hand through his rakish blue hair, he turned abruptly to me. "Do you like it here, Kel?" His emerald eyes thoughtful and anxious at the same time. "What Helsire?" No Kel, he means the street-- idiot! "Yes, you know I do, it’s a wonderful city." "But if you were like me and had lived here your whole life, would you want to stay or go ship out as a sailor?" All right, weird question. Taken aback, I asked cautiously, "Diago, are you thinking of leaving Helsire?" Diago sagged against a brick wall, rubbing the divided green diamond on his forehead, "I’ve never been out of Helsire and I’ve always wanted to see the sea. Besides, there’s nothing to hold me back here." "Do the words ‘friends and family’ ring a bell?" Diago gave a short laugh, "All my friends from the years before have left the city to start their own lives. And as for family... you know what happened to them." the sigil on his forehead darkened and began to glow slightly. Bad sign, it always does that when he thinks of his parents. "Diago, I think you should do what you want. But, if you do decide to become a sailor or whatever, could you wait here until I leave?" Diago’s head jerked up suddenly, "Of course." his eyes were dark, almost black. He reguarded me for a moment, and odd expression in his eyes and the sigil on his head returned to normal color, except a bit brighter. "’wouldn’t dream of not waiting for you." ~~~ I made my way back to the hotel with Diago after that and it was only Mid-Sol. Since our conversation, and the strange look in his eyes, I had been feeling extremely weird. Best thing to do is ignore whatever it was, I suppose. Acting careful not to brush hands or arms with him, I bid him goodbye and retreated-- more like fled-- into my room. It was then that the thought struck me: Of all the horrible, twisted luck! Could it please be possible that fates are wrong? Could it please be possible that I am just sick? Anything-- anything!-- just please don’t tell me I’m in love with a Old One! ~~~ Diago Ifson Mek-son, Drastic Turns Part 4, Mid-time: I’ve always known that the gods hated Old Ones, but this is ridiculous. The pain within me had been hard on me before but now it’s just horrible. How can I suddenly be in love with a human-- one that I can’t even hug or hold hands with, let alone kiss! Is this some cruel joke? No. It’s not, because I’ve known it all along. I became instant friends with her, I should’ve known it would have come to this. I’m in pain when I’m not with her and when I am, I’m saddened, knowing that she will soon leave. Love At First Sight, nope, this is more like, Love A Few Days After First Sight. For the Gods’ sake! What am I to do? I can’t even shake her damn hand! No, if I even hug her or brush hands with her the Gods’ wrath will come striking down on me. If we as so much as touch, it could all be over for all of us. There’s only one thing to do then: avoid her. I think it’s best for both of us, for I don’t think her companions will be pleased if she fell in love with someone from this time. It just wouldn’t work. ~~~ |