"Look kid, if you
don't have the silver you don't get the house. And if you ain't
getting' the house then I ain't spending my time standing here
wasting my breath. Got it?" The ill-tempered landowner
growled.
The situation was becoming
more and more hopeless as time passed. This was the fourth place
that I had looked at since arriving in Meribia this morning. It
didn't look like things were going to get much better.
It was a nice walk from
Vane to Meribia. Since I'd grown up in Vane I'd never seen the
world below up close, seeing it from the ground was a truly
unique experience. I also came to realize that Meribia was definitely
a lot larger than it looked from a bird's eye view.
I cleared my throat.
"Loud and clear sir. I'm sorry to have wasted your time, if
you happen to change your mind..."
The landlord slammed the
door in my face. "Well," I began, hoping to sound a lot
more light-hearted than I felt. "Portia's probably having
better luck at it than I." I headed to the Seagull Tavern
where we'd agreed to meet.
The place was loud, filled
with cigar smoke, and the vulgar language known to sailors and
drunkards. A very familiar, very drunk, feminine laugh echoed the
others. I was sure I was mistaken. I had to be.
"Well haay thar
Yahsuoh!"
Why couldn't I be mistaken?
Just once? Why me? I felt like bawling like a little baby. This
day was just getting worse as it wore on. I admit my surprise; I
hadn't taken Portia for a drunk. Then again, Portia and I weren't
very close either. "Hey yourself Portia. Should I bother
asking if you found a place?"
"Well shur you cain! I
dun mind et all!" Portia replied with a giggle.
I took a deep breath.
"Did you find a place?"
She stared all bleary-eyed
at me for a moment and laid a hand on my cheek. It took me by
surprise and all I could do was look back at her. Those
mesmerizing orchid colored eyes of hers. So beautiful... so...
"Dammit! Why the hell did you punch me!" I cried out as
I covered my left eye. I groaned, it was gonna leave a mark if
the pounding was any inkling.
Portia laughed and snorted
in the process, which made her laugh even more. I'd had enough.
"Okay, say goodbye, we're leaving now," I stated,
picking her up out of her chair and throwing her over my
shoulder.
"Bai bai
friendsh!" Portia giggled, waved and hiccuped as she kicked
me about the head and shoulders.
"Haay boy! Wait jest a
dam minuut! Wear yah goin' with da purty gurl? ::belch::" An
inebriated patron demanded unsteadily rising from his chair, then
as if thought better of standing sat back down.
"Leaving. Good day
sir." I replied with a wave of my hand. Outside, I sat
Portia on her feet. She swayed back and forth and finally fell
against me hugging my middle. My breath caught in my throat.
"Dew yew knows yur my
heerow yahsuoh?" Portia asked cutely, hiccuping again.
I smiled, and unwound her
arms from about me. "Really? Why thank you Portia," I
took a deep breath. "So, did you find a place?" I asked
as my hand found the tender flesh around my left eye.
"Naw," She
sounded so dejected. "Buut I won los of muney et
pok-er!" She reached inside her wrap and pulled out a
handful of silver. "Do yew think dis ish enuff?" Then
haphazardly stuffed the silver back in its place. "I dun
nurmolly drink buut ah coodin't get a jub nowere ::hic:: an wen
ah came har ta meet yew ah sawl all tha men winnin' all kins of
munny."
I just stared. "You
don't have to explain," I could no longer hold on to my
excitement "Do you know what winning all that means
Portia?" The day was looking so much better!
"Eff got a
plash." She mumbled into my chest.
"Yes! What you've won
is more than enough to get a place! In fact, it's even enough to
buy us some new weapons, armor, and to take care of our needs for
a few weeks!" I hugged her. She began to snore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The second day of my new
way of life was nearly at its end. The apartment that I'd managed
to rent at the last minute, though small, had a great view! Right
by the pier no less. The sun's dying rays sparkling on the water
was a most beautiful sight.
But as I gazed at such
captivating scenery it didn't inspire any sudden revelation. I
was there in Meribia. Now what? Don't you just hate it when
you're on the verge of remembering something and it's so familiar
to you, whatever it is you're trying so hard to reveal in your
mind, yet it dances just out of your reach? That's exactly how it
felt. Try to forget, and move on? Not a chance. Even the
meditation I'd learned in Vane hadn't helped one iota. Relaxing
was totally out of the question. At that very moment I was tenser
than I'd ever been in my life. Wouldn't it be ironic that after
all these trials and tribulations, whatever I'm seeking turns out
to be nothing at all? Nothing but a figment of my fantastic
imagination?
I sighed. "Please
Althena, give me a sign."
"Yasuo?"
I blinked, ending my
reverie. "The dead has arisen I see." I said
sarcastically, but with a grin, my back turned to my roommate.
She socked my shoulder.
Hard. "Jerk!"
"Whoa, hey there Kitty
Kat, watch the claws!" I chuckled and turned to her. Hair
mussed, sleep in her eye, and pillow creases on her cheeks, she
was still the most beautiful lady I'd ever set my eyes on... too
bad I couldn't stand her.
"Claws! I ought to
scratch your eyes out for saying that!" Portia retorted,
with a twinkle of laughter in her eye.
"I guess that means
-GuhAAAAHHHH!" I doubled over. By Althena, no! The searing
pain, it was back!
"Yasuo! W- what is
it!" Portia cried, kneeling beside me, she attempted to rest
a hand on my back, but drew back as if burned.
I tried so hard to answer
her, but only screams of severe pain found their way from my
soul. Yes, this was beyond any physical agony. It was as if my
whole being was being torn in millions of shattered directions.
As if that inner part of me that made me human was being ripped
from me. But how could I know that's what I felt? Not even
Althena herself could know such anguish... Could she?
"Althena! Entrust me
with the power, t-that which will take away this hold of
suffering upon your child!" A soft blue light traced an
outline of Portia's hands before she touched me once more. I
could hear the fright in her voice, see the fear in her eyes. I
wished this moment to end.
Perhaps Althena heard that
wish, for as before, the void returned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Am I dead? Where
am I?"
"You are not dead
Yasuo. As for where you are, worry not, you will know in due
time."
"Then... Why am I
here? Who are you?"
The genderless voice
laughed. "One so powerful, yet so weak at the same time. You
are a walking contradiction Yasuo. You are here because I wished
it. You need not know who I am at this time."
"Fine, then what is
my purpose for being here! Tell me!"
"You rise to anger
so quickly Yasuo, just like before. I long for those times once
more. Such happiness then," There was a sigh. "I was
hoping that now was the time... I'm too impatient. You are not
ready... Far from being ready."
"Why will you not
answer my questions! Don't answer with more riddles!"
"Be patient Yasuo.
As I said, you shall know all that you need too...And perhaps
more than you wish to in time. Do not worry, once you wake, you
shall not remember our meeting."
"Wait! Do you know
what happened to me? You're undoubtedly the one that caused me so
much suffering! You owe me the answer to that which afflicts
me!"
"Owe you Yasuo! If
only you knew how backwards your words really are..."
"Then tell
me!" Somehow I sensed that the voice was no longer going to
answer. Even that couldn't stop me from calling out. "TELL
ME!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tell-?" I jolted
awake. My head ached so much. Guess that's what a hangover must
feel like...
"YASUO!"
Suddenly, I was pounced on; a pair of arms cutting off my air.
"P-portia! Ack! I
c-can't breathe!" I managed to squeak out.
Portia moved quickly away,
dangling her legs over the side of the bed. "Thank Althena,
my spell worked! How are you feeling?"
I sucked in more air.
"Better. Thanks, Kitty Kat." I winked.
"If you weren't all
banged up, I'd hurt you! You know I can't stand that nick name
you jerk!" Portia replied with mock earnestness.
"Seriously though, I have some good news."
"Great, I really need
to hear some!" I answered as I leaned over to turn the
bedside lamp on; the room had gotten considerably dark since our
conversation began. "Now," I said turning back to her.
"What's this good news?"
Portia eyes widened as she
screamed...
§ Chapter
Two § Main
Page § Chapter
Four §
