Chapter 5

“Who are you?” Talitha asked one of the spirits.

It had taken her a week to find the first spirit. Markarayan had told her that spirits can only be seen if they wish to be seen. It had been pure luck that made her stumble, literally, into an entire room filled with them. They had immediately left, however, much to her chargin.

“I am Dikran Barronstar, former king of Lepola,” he introduced himself. “And who might you be?”

Dikran had been wandering arond, looking lost in thought until Talitha had spoken. He had been there for a long time, he knew, yet it felt like only a few weeks since he had left.

“I’m Talitha Anoushkara, current agent of the Lord Markarayan,” she replied, the words flowing naturally from her mouth.

“Current? Don’t you mean only?" he asked.

"You meanto tell me that he has never had an agent before me?" she queried curiously.

"Of course not! I'm not sure why he has one now. You are a little small . . . How did you get stuck with the job, anyway?”

“I was going to die, but I didn’t,” she explained. “It was either this or die.”

“Oh, I guess that does make sense. He never had an agent before…” Dikran trailed off as he wandered away.

“Dikran has been here for forty-two years,” Markarayan said as he stepped from the shadows to stand by Talitha. “Soon his son Adeben will join him. I need you to bring his soul here. Make it quick,” he ended, the shadows engulfing him as he walked off.

“But. . .” Talitha protested before she thought better of it. It was her duty, after all. She quickly willed herself to Adeben’s side.

#

Adeben was an old man. He had been on the throne for forty-two years, and finally realized that his time had come. He was lying in a huge bed, surrounded by his court and his family. He barely noticed the girl that had just appeared at the foot of his bed until she spoke.

“Um, are you Adeben?” she asked. He looked himself over.

“I think I am. Who are you?” he asked kindly.

“I’m Talitha, current agent of Lord Markarayan, at your service,” she said with a curtsy.

“Lord Markarayan? As in the God of Death?” he asked doubtfully.

“Yes. Um, I’m going to have to ask you to come with me,” Talitha replied.

“Very well,” he sighed. Adeben took her outstretched hand and was suddenly by her side.

He looked back at the bed, where his body lay. His wife started keening, and the children and servants picked it up, too. Then he was soaring. It lasted but a moment, and then he was in a dark stone room that held many people. His father was there.

“Father!” he cried joyously, rushing forward to meet the former king.

After a while, he guiltily remembered Talitha. When he turned around, she was gone.

“She was just here,” he stated.

“She’s gone back home, or to her lord.” Adeben nodded and went back to enjoying his afterlife.

#

Markarayan left the High Library despairingly. He could not find the spell they had used on him, except for a description, which didn’t tell how to remove it. He went to his study and slumped down in the chair; something he didn’t normally indulge in.

He sighed as he put his head against the cool desk. He didn’t notice Talitha quietly put her book down and come over to stand by him.

“Bad day?” she asked him. He just nodded and closed his eyes. Talitha hand on his shoulder and quietly replied.

“It will get better. It always does.”

Markarayan opened his eyes at that. She was gone.

#

Talitha jolted awake with a small cry. She sat up while she concentrated on slowing her breathing down.

“Is anything wrong?” Zeroun asked with a knock on her door.

“Fine!” she called out. “I’m just fine!”

With that, she jumped off of her bed and changed into some clothes. Then she opened the door to find Zeroun carving something out of a block of wood.

“I ran out of yarn,” she remembered to tell him. “Do you think it’s safe to go into the village?”

“Yes,” he replied, looking outside. ”Be back before noontide.” She nodded and grabbed a basket.

When she got to the village, she went straight to Peshda’s hut. Inside, it was somewhat cooler, the mud insulating from the summer heat. Pesda was weaving at her loom, just like every other time Talitha had seen her.

“You come for yarn?” Peshda asked, her gray head never looking up.

“Yes,” Talitha answered, as she watched the hands weave wonders, even as she stared at the cloth.

Peshda stopped and gathered brightly-colored yarn. As Talitha paid for it, she spoke.

“Many people know where you are now living, and make improper assumptions,” Peshda said. “If you wish, come be my apprentice. I will feed, house and pay you. If you stay where you are now, you may be in danger.”

“I will have to think about it,” she replied, already knowing her answer. Peshda simply nodded and handed her the merchandise.

Talitha thanked her and left, heading towards the market. She was browsing among the vegetables when the fight broke out. Kevork and one of his friends were drunk, making their way towards the stand where she was shopping. Kevork’s friends said something derogatory about her and Kevork decided that his former wife was not like that. A fist fight ensued, and the town guards were forced to break them apart.

Talitha was on her way back when Kevork caught up with her. He walked alongside her in silence, his split lip dripping blood on the dusty road. Unnerved, she walked faster, hoping to leave him behind. He was having none of it.

“Did ya misth me Leeta?” he slurred drunkenly.

“Hardly,” was her only reply, as she walked even faster.

“Don’t talk ta me that way!” he roared suddenly, all pretense of chivalry gone. “I’m your husthband!” He tried to hit her, but she jerked out of the way. Tightly holding onto her basket, she ran.

#

Zeroun looked out upon the road that led to town. He had a bad feeling that something was terribly wrong. If he strained his eyes, he could seen two figures making their way up the road to his house. They were both running.

Talitha raced up to the house and pushed past his into the house. Zeroun heard her shout a warning about Kevork, but he already knew. He had seen Kevork from far away.

Kevork lunged at Zeroun drunkenly, a knife in his hand. Zeroun reacted quickly, sidestepping the blow. He grasped Kevork’s arm and twisted until he heard a snap. The man cried out and ran away, towards town. Zeroun thought he had seen the last of Talitha’s former husband. He was wrong.