Chapter Twenty:
Celebrating Gone Too Far?
Marium
was sitting downstairs, throwing little bits of beef jerky to LW to catch, when
Placid came down. She jumped up immediately. “Mr. Placid! Where are you going?”
He had an ever ready smiled for
her, but it was obvious by his cloak and medicine bag, that he was about to
travel somewhere.
“Marium,
I am about to go back home. There’s no more reason for me to be here.” He
stated, simply. Marium’s heart dropped. Placid was one of her warriors. She
wanted to travel with him, too.
“You
know, someone of your healing potential would be of endless help to us on our
journey.” She hinted, trying to get him to stay. He gave her a confused look. Okay, so maybe he isn’t the sharpest knife in the
drawer, but he’s still one of my knights!
“Please travel with me and my friends. You’re so nice, and you’d be a great
help!”
Smiling,
Placid bowed his head to her. “Priestess, are you sure? All I can do is fix
potions. I would be of little help to you in an actual battle. The only
fighting skills I have, I picked up from the monastery I lived next to. So I
can fight with a staff, but…”
“You
don’t have one? Let’s see.” Marium rubbed her chin in thought. “Jonah’s a
weapon smith. The best on Pallas.”
“I couldn’t possibly…”
“But
I could. Jonah wouldn’t have any problem making a weapon for one of my
warriors! He loves to work in his smithy.” Marium consoled him, gently. “Don’t
worry, you may not realize it, but I need all my warriors, just for emotional
support. The more, the merrier!”
Placid
finally agreed, and Marium stumbled up the stairs to talk to Jonah. When she
opened the door, she saw they were all asleep. “Oh… well, I don’t really have
to wake him up now…”
So
she sat down in a corner and played with LW until it was dark and they woke
from hunger. Placid was out buying the supplies he would need for the journey.
“Marium?
How long have you been up?” Cadillac asked, groggily. Altaire was straightening
out his white cloak, and Jonah was rubbing his eyes. Marium shrugged.
“Oh,
the whole time. I’m not tired. Dunno why.” She said, then went back to poking
the feerpt on his nose. “LW and I were having the more interesting conversation
about my world.”
Cadillac
glanced at her as if he was questioning her sanity. “How would that feerpt know
anything about your world?”
“I
told him about it. He’s a really good listener.” She said, then remembered why
she’d been waiting. “Hey, I got Placid to come with us, isn’t that great?
Jonah, I need you to make him a staff, okay?”
Faede
was sitting up easily, and his breathing was normal. “He’s a warrior of Yin,
yes? The warrior of the Goat.”
Marium
smiled. “Hey, I have quite an extensive knowledge of Chinese mythology. Yin and
Yang is the symbol of balance… The 12 mythological animals of Buddha, and even the
Tao. Hm, I didn’t think that it would ever come in handy.”
“I’m
a rat, if I remember correctly. Which is weird, since the rat is a sign of
Yang. And rats get along well with dragons and… monkeys. And oxen too. They
don’t get along with snakes or rooster.” Marium recited, since she had heard it
from her grandma when she was little. “Hehe! They’re smart and manipulative!
That’s not like me at all!”
She
had managed to lose all the occupants in the room. “I thought you guys would
know that. C’mon, Cad, what’s your sign?”
Cadillac
slowly understood. “Dragon. I’m the warrior of the dragon.”
Marium
smiled, simply. “See? I’m and rat, and you’re a dragon! We’re compatible.
Jonah, you?”
“I’m
the warrior of the dog.”
The
priestess thought for a bit. “Not quite as compatible as the dragon, but still
an option. Faede?”
He blinked. “I was born in the
year of the snake.”
“Not
good at all, the snake is too indecisive to maintain a stable relationship. And
besides, in the real world, snakes eat rats! Altaire?” she smiled at the
priest. Faede was stricken into silence. “Don’t take it seriously, Faede.
Remember, it’s not set in stone, you make your own destiny.”
Altaire
thought for a moment, calculating the year of his birth. “Pig.”
“Pigs
are shy, and don’t talk much. Usually the rat person would have to make the
first move for any type of relationship to form.” Marium stated. “See, on
Earth, my world, these things, Chinese zodiac signs are used at parties as
silly things that no one really cares about. Just like magic. No one believes
in it.”
“My
grandma taught me that stuff. Also about the western zodiac! I’m an Aquarius!
Those aren’t categorized by Yin or Yang, though.” Marium stated, then thought.
“I never really thought all of it would be of any use to me!”
Placid
walked in, and stalled at the sight of all the astonished expressions that were
being aimed at the priestess. “Uh, I must have missed something.”
“Nothing
much Mr. Placid!” Marium wondered if she could tell him some stuff about
medicine on her world, then decided not to. “My world is really advanced. I
miss my laptop. And my TV. And my heater blanket.”
“And
my water bed. I loved that bed. And all my brothers and sisters. They probably
haven’t noticed I’m gone yet.” Marium sighed, picking LW up by the scruff of
his neck. “This whole thing would be easier if we had a car. Dunno who’d drive
it though.”
“Okay,
I’m officially lost, Marium.” Cadillac said, rubbing his ears. “I’m thinking
that what you’re trying to say is that you want to go home.”
Marium
was silent, then nodded. “I guess that’s it. But then I’d miss all of you.”
“It
can’t be both ways, I suppose. You just have to weigh out your choices.” Jonah
added, to help her. “Either way, we’re behind you all the way.”
“That’s
great to know.” She said, comforted. Jonah could be really nice, and he usually
was. “Hey, I know! You guys aren’t still tired are you?”
They
shook their heads. “Alright, Faede, how are you feeling?”
“Pretty
good.” Was his short, clipped answer. She nodded to him.
“Then
how about we go celebrate? I mean, this WAS a big accomplishment! Faede isn’t
going to die now, and that’s always a good thing. Who would bug me if he was
gone, huh?”
They
all agreed to go out for dinner at a nice restraunt, but not too expensive. The
group ended up at a fancy tavern. Marium eyed it, wonderingly. “Um, you think
they’ve got stuff to drink besides alcohol?”
“Probably
not.” Jonah stated, thoughtfully. He hadn’t had any type of ale since before
Marium arrived on Pallas, and he was getting desperate.
“What
ever. I’m hungry, and we’ve looked everywhere else.” Marium sighed, and patted
her stomach. She left her armor and weapon back at the inn, and was just
wearing her regular clothes. It was almost like going out with Sachi and Tasae,
only… they weren’t there.
She
was silently reminiscing about her friends and how they’d gone to school with
her since they were little. Now they weren’t there. Gone, just like that.
“Let’s go in. I don’t like it out here when it’s dark.”
Marium
hurriedly opened the door and walked in, trying to push the memories back in
her mind. Altaire could tell there was something making her mood change from
cheerful to miserable. Faede was sensing it, too.
LW
was curled up on Marium’s lap, once they were seated. The waiter came to take
their order, but Marium was lost in thought. “Marium? What do you want for
dinner?”
She
was shaken from her thoughts by Jonah’s voice. And the answer she would
normally give to her mother without thinking, floated out of her mouth.
“Cheeseburger with fries.”
The
looks she received from her companions made her want to curl up and disappear.
“I mean, um, oh, I’m not very hungry any more.”
Her
cheeks blazed bright pink and she carefully shielded her thoughts from Altaire.
She rested her forehead against her hand, and found it to be hot. Like Faede’s
had been earlier. “No. I am not getting sick.”
Marium
whispered this to herself, but Placid overheard her mumblings. “Little one, are
you feeling alright?”
She
gave a bright, happy smile, and nodded. “Of course! I wouldn’t have suggested
we go out if I felt bad.”
Her
smile reassured Placid, and the men went back to talking about wars and
battles. Fighting, deaths, why the sorcery guild must be overthrown immediately
and without delay. Now that Faede was better they could move on to find that
mage knight of Yang. Then they could go find that archer…
Faede’s
smooth, cold voice was even and casual. “Why don’t we forget about collecting
more allies and go straight to the source of the problems? After all, we have
many powerful mages in our arsenal, and some good warriors, too.”
“Well,
that is one option.” Cadillac stated, then addressed the rest. “Shall we put it
to a vote?”
Everyone
nodded, Marium did so blurrily. “Alright, right hand in if you want to go immediately
away to fight Faede’s father. Left if you want to search out more members.”
Faede
, Placid, and Jonah all put out their right hands. Cadillac and Altaire put
their left ones out. Marium shrugged. “Just as long as something gets done.”
“Marium,
we need your input. You can’t just follow us into battle. It has to be by your
own choice.” Cadillac commented, making Marium put out both her hands.
“Iny
minnie miney moe, catch a tiger by his toe, if he hollers let him go, iny
minnie miney moe.” Marium’s left hand drew back, and her right went forward.
“How’s that?”
“Marium,
be serious. Is that your real answer?” Altaire asked, quietly. Marium nodded.
“Yeah,
that’s fine.” She withdrew into her shell again, and listened to the
conversation happening around her.
“Okay
then. It’s decided, we head out for the sorcerer’s guild the day after
tomorrow. Any ideas about how we’re going to raid the place?”
They
continued to talk and came up with a plan, thanks to Faede’s knowledge of the
hidden passages of the guild’s HQ. “And then we’ll get to him in his sleeping
chamber.”
It
was very late when they finally finished the plan, and Marium was beginning to
drift off every few minutes. She’d jolt awake, and glance around to make sure
no one had caught her. She was thankful when Cadillac finally stood and
stretched. “I think I’m ready to go to sleep.”
“Yeah,
we should get ready tomorrow, stock up on herbs and some such.” Jonah added,
standing and walking toward the door. Marium was in between Altaire and Faede,
and once Altaire stood to leave, she all but ran to the door. She was free from
that boring and torturous talk!
As
she passed Altaire, she remembered the meeting plan. “Okay, Altaire, I’ll meet you on the balcony as
soon as Cad goes to sleep.”
Cadillac
was out as soon as he hit the bed. Jonah was next. Placid followed soon after,
but Faede remained awake. Marium noticed that Altaire had already left, and so
she too stood and got ready to go to the meeting place.
“Marium.”
Faede’s voice was quiet and icy. “You will have to choose sooner or later. And
you can’t blame it on the tie forever.”
The
priestess turned to look at Faede, who was an obvious wreck from knowing that
she was sneaking out to meet his rival in what might possibly be a romantic
meeting.
“Faede,
you tricked me into becoming engaged to you. I don’t know how much the tie
manipulated my feelings for you. And I don’t know how much of what you say to
me is true, since you’re still bound by the tie. But, I will choose. When the
time comes, I’ll know who… I love.” Quickly, she left the room, shutting the
door softly.
Altaire
was standing on the balcony, leaning on the wooden rail heavily. He was gazing
up at the moon, which was light blue on Pallas, and always full. He felt
Marium’s presence as soon as she stepped out onto the wooden floor.
“Marium, what did you want to meet me for?” Altaire’s mind voice was clear. He was so real to her, everything
about him was solid and plain. If he had something on his mind, he made it
known.
“I’m
sorry. I did forget the promise we shared.”
Altaire
was surprised. Could she have known that he’d been awake that night? Why had
she still said those things to Faede then?
She
put her elbows firmly on the railing and stared up at the moon. “You think that
I love Faede the same as I love you?”
“I
don’t know. You’ve shielded your mind to me.” Altaire said, gazing at her face
in the moonlight. “And that makes me even more uncertain.”
“Remember
when I said there are some things people do that should be kept private?” she
asked, closing her eyes, still tilting her face up to the moon. “I was wrong.
Partially. There shouldn’t be anything you’re afraid to tell the next person.
I’ll tell you how I felt for Faede.”
Marium
let down her defenses for Altaire to see everything that she’d felt for Faede.
“And it’s confusing. Because, without the tie, like this, I can feel what I
feel for you. When I take the ring off, my whole world revolves around Faede.”
Altaire
nodded, slightly. “You have the ring on now.”
She
smiled at him, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Altaire, I can’t
wear the ring forever. What I need… is to overcome this obstacle. So that I can
love who ever I want to love.”
“I
see. Who do you want to love?”
Marium
shook her head. “Right now, all I want is you. What am I supposed to do? We’re
going into the biggest battle of our lives, and I’m going crazy because the two
men I love might…”
He
stared at her, wordlessly. “Might what, Marium?”
“Might
die. I love both of you. In different ways, but does that matter in the end?
All I feel is that I want to be so close to you, always. I don’t understand
what I feel for Faede.” She stated, ashamed. Her eyes filled with tears. “How
can you love someone like me?”
“Marium,
let me hold on to you. Even if it’s just for now. Let me wrap my arms around
you and keep you safe. I want to protect you always, and I will. During the
battle, I will watch over you.” He said, speaking earnestly and making her
understand. She was wrapped in the circle of his arms.
It
was warm and comfortable inside his cloak, and she felt the solidity of his
chest. She did feel safe with Altaire, and enveloped in a bright, endless
light. He was so there, so true. She managed to let him know what she was
feeling. “Altaire, go out with me tomorrow. After we prepare, just take me away
for a while. I don’t want to have to think about anything but my love for you.”
Altaire’s
answer was a simple kiss on her forehead and a gentle hand that pulled her
closer to him.
They sat there on the balcony, gazing up at the stars and
moon, for the rest of the night. The warmth they shared was enough to make them
not need anything besides Altaire’s cloak.