The voice was different. I found myself back in the room. I guess that flashback was over. XaMayCa was at my side, poking at me to see if I was here. I poked her back playfully, as
I had realized I had ignored her for some time.
She smiled at me. I saw that she changed out of her robes into more casual clothing. I guess even the saints had to be comfortable. "Glad you decided to rejoin the world," she said. "You just kept looking out the window. I couldn't see what you were looking at. I wondered if you were listening or not."
"I was just thinking to myself a little bit." I said.
"Must have been deep thinking. I'm suprised you weren't alarmed by any of those loud noises."
"The what now?"
XaMayCa seemed to say something, but then shut her mouth. She opened it again, but only tell me to forget it. I wondered what I had missed.
I kept looking out the window. But then XaMayCa brought up the question how I would get back to Nepeth. I couldn't stay here forever. The place was hostile to outsiders, and I could feel some that hostility myself. She suggested that I leave during the night, head back to Tantallon on one of the coaches and get out there. I agreed, since I had no better alternative then to run and take down anyone who got in the way.
"That a sensible idea?" she said, when I told her of my mad plan.
"You took it seriously? I was only joking." I said. I wanted to calm her down. I think she really thought that was a viable option.
"Yes. I take all things seriously. Well, not all the time....but most of the time!"
"Not all the time?"
"Hey, I need my drinks just as anyone else. That's why you see up in Nepeth some times, just so I could get some Crutches."
I laughed out loud. "If you really need them, I can give some to you next time around."
XaMayCa joined in my laughing. "I'm sorry, just haven't had a laugh in awhile. These have been trying times."
She was serious. "Hrm, then what's up?"
"Nothing...It's nothing."
She sounded reluctant to talk. I didn't want to press further. "That's fine. I'll let you sort it out."
XaMayCa was probably eager to change the subject. In any case, she quickly did. "Anyways, Oaxaca should be coming back soon."
Oh yeah, Oaxaca. Xay's little sister. They looked very much alike. If you didn't know the two, you think they were twins. Doesn't help they also act very much alike too. And I've had the honor of meeting both of them. "How is little Oaxaca anyways?" I asked.
"Her? Good as ever. She's been growing well. And her cleric stuides are advancing quickly. Seems every time she comes back from Tantallon, she's learned some new spell. Managed to burn part of the room down one time." I looked around the room. There was a very visible burn mark in one corner. "So, I've made her take off her holy symbol every time she comes in."
"Not because you want too?" I said.
Seems she wanted to say the same thing. XaMayCa opened her mouth, but nodded after she heard what I said.
"They grow up fast." I said.
"Hrm, not fast enough. If she acted more like her age, she'd be here by now." I had to let lose a giggle at that.
Both of us waited a few minutes. XaMayCa started to doze off, and I probably would have joined her. But a knocking at the door broke the silence. XaMayCa got up and headed over to the door. She opened it, and Oaxaca burst right in, dropping bags on the floor.
I didn't realize it at first, but Oaxaca quickly got closer and closer. Just I knew what was gonna happen, she jumped and tackled me. She probably didn't mean to hurt me, her force knocked me down, off the chair, and onto the ground. While Oaxaca was on top of me, she gave me a tight hug.
"Knight!" she exclaimed.
I grinned. I didn't expect this much happiness. "Ah, Oaxaca. Excited as ever." I got up from the ground. "How nice it is to see you again. Last time I remember was a few months ago."
Oaxaca couldn't stop bouncing around. "I couldn't wait to see you! Everyone is talking about you outside."
XaMayCa had been quietly listening from some distance, but now she looked serious. "What do you mean outside?"
Oaxaca turned to XaMayCa. She probably didn't understand why XaMayCa asked that question. "Everyone says that an outside came into the village. I asked them what he looked like, and I quickly found it was KnightRC over here." She pointed at me for effect. "Says they saw him behind you on a horse."
XaMayCa didn't look too happy. "Well, this is just great. This can't be good. Knight?" XaMayCa motioned me over.
I looked puzzled, but came over near her.
"You know what they do if they think an outsider is in Duender?" she whispered.
"Something bad?" I whispered back.
"Something really bad!" she said in a quiet tone. "They're gonna search every part of the village, include the Eldar manor. And god forbid they actually find you."
"Wha.." I tried to say. But Oaxaca quickly interjected.
"What's going on!" Oaxaca exclaimed, breaking my conversation with XaMayCa. "How come you left me out?"
"Oh, nothing..." XaMayCa said. "Why don't you start to make some tea while I go and talk on the guild line?" XaMayCa motioned for me to help Oaxaca. I nodded.
As XaMayCa sat at the table, telepathically talking to her Eldar comrades, I helped Oaxaca make the tea.
She was skillful at it, that was for sure. She probably made it faster than anyone. "Hand me the tea leaves?" Oaxaca asked.
I looked for them. I only found two small bags that looked alike on the counter. "Which bag is it in?" I asked.
"It's in the small bag."
I shrugged, and picked one bag. I handed it over to Oaxaca. She opened it and then acked.
"Are you playing a joke? These are ears!" She showed me the bag's contents. They were ears all right. My ears.
"Doh! That's my ear bag. I must have dropped it off." I'm sure if I did or not, but I sure was feeling stupid. I took the back from her hands, and stuffed it into my pack. Oaxaca just took the other one.
Oaxaca continued on her tea making. She rarely needed my help, asking a few times for me to hold something, or get something. She knew the exact temperatures to heat it, when to release the steam, how long to let stay. Only after a few minutes, it was done. Oaxaca poured the tea into three cups. I took one over to XaMayCa, who was still busy in her deep thought. I gave it to her, and she mumbled a quick thanks and sipped at it. She quickly went back to the guild line.
I rejoined Oaxaca back in the kitchen. "Are you in trouble?" she asked me.
I was caught off guard by that question. But XaMayCa probably had a reason for not telling Oaxaca in the first place. "Of course not." I said, trying to dim down her fears.
"You sure? XaMayCa looked a bit worried when she talked to you. I just don't want to see you getting hurt."
"I thank you for your sympathy, but its misplaced. Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine." I pondered for a moment. I was a terrible liar, so I had to do something. "How about you, what going on with you?"
Oaxaca smiled with delight. "You want to know about me?"
"Of course! I haven't seen you around in awhile."
"Well, my cleric studies are going great. I try to get in as much at the church before the coach leaves for Duender." Oaxaca looked thoughtful for a moment. "Wait a minute, I learned a new spell! Let me show you."
"Nah, that's okay." I remembered XaMayCa's short little speech about Oaxaca's spell casting. "I'm sure I'll see it soon enough."
"Whatever suits you. Besides, I'm not supposed to be casting spells inside. XaMayCa gets a bit touchy about that." Oaxaca winked at me and grinned mischievously.
"Anything else?" I was honestly interested in hearing what Oaxaca had to say.
"Well...." Oaxaca thought to herself for a moment. "Nah, never mind."
"Okay, now you really have to tell me."
"Been seeing this guy. Pretty nice. His name is Thorn."
"Ah...so you have a love interest now. Must be a lucky person."
Oaxaca laughed out loud. "Sure...whatever. I'm going get married to him eventually."
"I believe so. You'll just have to invite to wedding though. That Thorn person, seems like a nice guy. I think I saw him browsing around Nepeth castle. Wouldn't be suprised if he became a Knight."
"Guilds. Maybe I should join one?" Oaxaca had been guildless for quite some time.
"How about coming over and joining the Knights? We're open for clerics."
"I dunno. I'm not too sure."
"Well, just don't do anything crazy like joining the Scythe."
Oaxaca playfully pushed me over. "And become your enemy? Aint gonna happen."
We continued talking, while XaMayCa still sat at the table. I wasn't too sure of what was going to happen, but it was gonna come to a spectacular end very soon.
