Wooh! Twenty chapters down! AND MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS! I kill, NaNoWriMo!

(victory dance)

Chapter 20:

Cautiously, Keilah raised the piece of food Tarres had concocted. She lifted it to her lips, and slowly took a bite. "Bleh eh ech!" she blurted, almost dropping it.

He glared at her impatiently. "Very amusing," he scoffed, shaking his head.

She grinned, then ate about half of his meaty bread. After taking her share, she handed it back to him. "Quite delicious," she admitted, nodding.

"You still sounds surprised..." he sighed, chomping down his food hungrily. "And even after I cooked you the scrumptious eggs this morning," he added with his mouth half-full.

"It was not the eggs that made me suspicious;" she corrected, "'twas the dunk in the river."

He smiled in amusement. "Ah, but a refreshing exercise after a delightful breakfast is healthy for the mind and body, is it not?"

She rolled her eyes, but consented. "True enough."

Satisfied, Tarres cleaned up the mess they had made, then sat down a few yards from their tents.

Keilah joined him, and they both gazed up at the stars. "The glowbugs are out," she stated, noticing the bright fireflies shining and hovering about. Trying to keep conversation, she continued, "And the stars are rather lovely tonight, as well. No stinking clouds blocking the view."

"Yes," he agreed, "but the stars are dull in comparison to the beauty of my captivating self!"

She laughed out loud. "I half-thought that you were going to say me!" They both snickered at this, but then grew silent again.

The Stables were listening quietly to their brother and sister with amusement. "Apparently they've heard what we said to each other, as well," Mya stated.

"Yes, but Tarres really thought we were discussing children..." Nait shook his head, but chuckled softly.

"Well, in a sense, we were," she explained, grasping his hand.

"I suppose one could call them that," he admitted, smiling. "But, we should now rest, for 'tis late."

"I agree."

So the two of them fell asleep.

After the song ended, Saight and Rairo returned to Mr. Vasije, and met Tajuiri there, as well.

The ball was drawn to a premature close when a drunken couple accidentally tipped over a few candles, resulting in many burned tables and cloths.

The hosts of the ball decided that it would be best to simply cease the ball from continuing.

Thus, on the way home from their acquaintance's mansion, Saight and Sir Vasije threw more rude comments at each other, most having to do with Saight's request to ask Rairo to dance. Mrs. Vasije joined in on most of these, saying that Saight had been very forward.

And, of course, Rairo and Tajuiri tried to ease the tension, according to their peaceable nature. Cliare felt no need to enter the argument, so she simply decided to sit up by the carriage-driver.

As soon as they returned home, Saight stormed into her room and slammed her door shut, as she always did when something went dreadfully wrong.

Rairo and Tajuiri secluded themselves to Tajuiri's given room, while Mr. and Mrs. Vasije quarreled a bit more, and Cliare contented herself to play with some of her dolls.

The rain started to pour.

Following a series of curious occurrences, Saight met someone who helped her in her misery immensely.

Nait sat up slowly, stretching. He glanced to his right, but already knew that Mya had awaken. She was the early-bird type of person, so 'twas futile to even try to awaken earlier than she.

Letting out a yawn, Nait stood up and stuck his head outside his tent. Keilah's snore could be heard from his place, about four yards away. He chuckled softly to himself at this, then maturely began to gather some items from his cart for use of cooking.

While he was doing this, he noticed Tarres speaking quietly to Mya a short distance away.

Tarres glanced up, fixed his eyes on Nait, and shouted, "I'm going to awaken your darling sister, and then my sister and I shall head into the village to purchase four places on the soonest ship!"

"Fair enough!" Nait called back, "But you needn't shout!"

Tarres laughed, since they were only a few yards apart. "Alright," he agreed, lowering his voice.

"I and my 'darling' sister shall clean up camp and prepare ourselves," Nait finished, half teasing.

The three of them decided that this was the best plan.

So, Tarres bounded into Keilah's tent.

"I guess you were correct, dearest," Myakio giggled, taking Nait's hand.

Keilah's wonderful sleep was suddenly and abruptly interrupted by a shout. "Keilah! 'Tis time for awakening!" She also felt herself being lifted into the air.

"GAHH!" she screeched, locking herself onto Tarres, fearing a repeat of yesterday's horror.

He stared at her blankly, confused. After a few moments, he realized what she was fearful of, and sighed, "Ah, dear Keilah, do you think me an idiot that would make the same mistake twice?"

Keilah's brain was somewhat cloudy, but registered two things: he had called her "dear" (though he didn't mean much by it), and he had called himself an idiot. "Yes, you are an idiot," she agreed, though more with herself than with him.

He only rolled his eyes, but gently and deliberately set her down. "Actually, I'm going with your sister to Teño to purchase four places on a ship," he explained, feeling astute.

"Hmm," she pondered aloud, staring at the floor, "that's wonderful. Now get out." And she shoved him out of her tent (a bad habit, I must say - him being in her tent, not her shoving).

So after a speedy breakfast, Tarres and Mya headed into town, arm in arm.

They strolled a few paces, then were quickly attacked by a horde of mosquitos as they entered a swamp-like puddle. Tarres heroically plucked Myakio up in his arms and bounced over this breeding ground, and carried her safely to a less infectious and insectious road.

When they were fully alive again, Tarres quizzed her. "If you could choose your way of death, would you prefer to have a gigantic octopus swallow you alive, or would you like to be eaten to death by those pesky insects?"

She was stumped - for a moment. "I have absolutely no idea. Perhaps I could befriend the giant octopus. Ah!" She snapped her fingers. "Of course! I could befriend it, and then it could carry us to Ciudad de Aguilas! What a wonderful idea, Tarres!"

He became immediately dumbstruck. "How on earth - no, you don't understand! It's an either question. You can't choose something else," he instructed, shaking his head.

"Oh. Well, if I really had to choose...I'd feed myself to the octopus, but become his friend whilst being digested in his stomach."

Tarres rolled his eyes. "Alright, little sister. Now answer this question: do you and your dearest - "

She quickly cut him off. "If this is going to become a perverted inquiry, then I shall gladly trudge back through the mosquito-infested swamp back to Nait, away from you, and you can go on somewhere else alone."

"I may be somewhat of a swine, but don't think of me as levels near to Sartes," he scoffed, shaking his head again. "I was going to ask if you and Nait want children."

"Oh." Mya was caught off guard for a moment, but smiled. "I surely do! He's a bit shaky, but we'll manage. But I don't think children are in our near future, unless God wills it."

"That's quite possible, though," Tarres laughed, grinning.

He bolted up the few steps, took a deep breath, then knocked on the door.

A somewhat large woman, black-haired and hazel-eyed, opened the door. "Hello, there! You must be here to see Marie, mustn't you?"

He nodded, his heart beating in his chest.

"Maria!" the woman called, turning her back to the young man who was very nervous.

A boy, rather short in height (though he was about fourteen or fifteen years of age, and his name was Isaias), appeared. "She's back in her room," he stated, then waddled into the kitchen.

"Go ahead," the woman coaxed, and the young man entered the house hesitantly. When she urged him on, he treaded into Marie's room quietly.

Anamarie stood at the far wall, patiently stroking her paintbrush across the parchment.

"Ana?" the young man called, taking another step.

She jumped around with a start. "Clarence!" she exclaimed, nearly dropping her paintbrush. Taking a quick glance at her painting, she set down her utensils, then dashed towards him. "How goes your day?"

They exchanged a brief embrace, then he slowly dropped his hands onto her shoulders, and gazed at her straight in the eyes. "Ana..."

This is incredibly awkward, he smacked himself mentally. Mya said it wasn't strange at all for them...and they were only thirteen and fourteen!

When no words would come to him, Clarence burst into song. "I will love you more than wind and air, dearest Ana!"

Her face took on a delighted yet shocked expression.

"'Till the last of years, I shall love you, Ana, without hesitation or sorrow! Through all obstacles I shall travel for you, dearest!" Clarence was the poet of the Caminelles family, and he had suddenly gained the ability of impromptu song. "I ask only one request: would you, dearest Ana, give me your love in return?"

About half a second passed before Anamarie blurted, "Of course, Clarence! Goodness! You needn't go into a whole song just for me, but I really loved it!" She started giggling, but Clarence managed to kiss her before her joy became uncontrollable.

This happy occurrence was quickly spread through both families, and soon the greater part of Ciudad de Rios.

Saight crept outside, garbed in an old cloak. She didn't plan to be gone for very long; she left home very frequently to let out her anguish and distress.

She usually traveled to a small pavilion about a half-mile from her home: it boasted a small but lovely garden, a little patio of bricks, an overhanging tree shading the patio, a few chairs to sit in, and a beautiful view of the surrounding acres.

Saight made her way here using some dirt paths which were rarely used by anyone aside from herself. She found her "hideout" very easily; as I said, she left home often, and most of those times she took refuge in this little area.

She bundled herself up cozily in one of the chairs, then just stared at the falling rain.

As the tapping of rain grew louder and more fierce, she thought she heard something behind her. The sound was difficult to decipher, for the rain blocked out the noise a bit. She turned her head round and saw a tall figure standing beside her.

"It's quite late," commented the figure, though Saight wasn't sure whether it was a he or a she.

Saight decided not to respond, for then the person might go away.

When she said nothing, the figure asked, "Do you know me?"

Saight stared at the person's face for a long moment, still unsure of their gender, and replied, "No."

"Good, because something would be very wrong if you did." The stranger's words surprised and confused Saight.

"Were you placed in a mental cure society?" Saight inquired, now a bit curious.

"No, nothing like that." They both grew silent again, until the tall figure cleared up something Saight had wondered. "I'm a female, though not by the same standards as you might have, since 'twas easy to tell you were wondering."

Though this answered one question, it also brought many others. "Not by the same standards? Are you part male? Are you not a human?"

"Please listen, Saight. I know you're having trouble, so don't continue to ask questions. I need to depart quickly, but I'll give you something to do while I'm gone. Find it."

The stranger, now verified as a female, placed a small piece of parchment in Saight's hand, then bolted away swiftly.

Saight sighed in frustration, but glanced at the parchment. It read,

Letter to Ephesus

Four

The Second-to-Last

Saight was bewildered. "What in the world does this piece of nonsense mean!?"

Consuelo smiled before whispering, "Find it, Saight. May He help you!" And without another word, she was gone.

Tarres continued to probe Mya. "If you were to have a child, what would you name it?"

"That entirely depends on whether it were to be a boy or a girl. For a boy, I like the name Agapito. Nait isn't very fond of that name, though..." she trailed off, musing over the subject.

"Then what of a girl's name?"

Mya was beginning to tire of this, but she replied, "Perhaps Buena...I like that name. Nait likes the name Ventura, though. I don't really know." She sighed. "What about you? Have you found the woman of your dreams yet?"

Tarres laughed aloud. "Right. Corjiana is simply fantastic," he teased, "and Anamarie has to be the smartest person alive."

She giggled as he just kept on.

"Oh, or perhaps you were speaking of Sidella Genda! She's not too elderly for me, wouldn't you agree?"

Mya cackled loudly, "Alright! I understand! Please stop!"

However, they were both finding too much enjoyment in this for him to cease. "And Keilah is definitely mature enough to hold down my immaturity, especially with her thick muscles! Oh! Perhaps you thought of Trella Genda? She's not too elderly, and she makes the most delicious soup in the world!"

Tears came to her eyes as she laughed uncontrollably.

"And she might be married...oh, right! She is married! Mya, how could you say such a thing? Wishing me to marry an already-married woman!"

Mya grabbed his arm and snickered, "Please stop, or else we might die of laughter!"

Keilah and Nait completed the packing of the tents and items, then sat down by their carts to await Mya and Tarres.

A somewhat awkward silence tugged at them, 'till Nait stated, "It seems odd for you and I now."

"True," she agreed. "But why should it be? We're still the same persons, except that you are now going to have children."

Nait's jaw nearly fell from his head. "What!?"

She looked at him curiously. "Isn't that what you and Mya were talking about last night?" ;)

"No, not at all!" he stammered, shaking his head.

She grew suddenly very inquisitive. "Then what were you speaking of? I remember that you said... 'It's rather obvious,' or something similar to that."

"Well," he began, then quickly formulated a stupid lie in his head. (He was going to say that he and Mya had been discussing diseases in her family and her likeliness of receiving one such disease.) When that lie proved itself to him to be very ridiculous and not believable and also wrong to say, he instead blurted out, "You really ought to find someone perfect for you, my dear sister!"

Keilah raised an eyebrow. "What on earth are you talking about? What does that have to do with your and Mya's conversation?"

"Nothing at all, really! Nothing!" From Nait's blank face 'twas easy to see that he was trying with futile attempts to cover up something, but he added, "You really should! You need to find a suitable husband."

"And I suppose you might know who that is?" she inquired, staring at him with a sort of annoyed - yet amused - expression. He probably was thinking of some young idiot, like Sartes or Tarres or Clarence...she accused him mentally, but said nothing.

He might have been thinking of such, or he might not have, but that is a tale which cannot be told quite yet.

Sartes sat silently under the rain, sulking in his frustration. I wish we could just have that one time again, he huffed, reminiscing.

One time. It only happened once.

Corjiana agreed to dance with Sartes.

Once.

When Sellís and Rell were betrothed, Mr. and Mrs. Caminelles threw a party for them. Corjiana, Nait, Keilah, Anamarie, Celestia, and several other friends were invited, and Mr. Caminelles even managed to hire a quartet of musical players to perform.

The music was a bouncy, rythymic type, one which Sell enjoyed very much. After a song or two of just talking, however, she strolled up to Sartes cheerily. He was feeling rather depressed, for obvious reasons (this was after Sellís had been diagnosed with the crab disease).

"Brother," she exclaimed, "why do you stand motionless here? Ask someone to dance!"

He glared at her angrily, though he should have ceased his childish behavior, being nineteen now. "And whom would I ask? You yourself are just making merry with all of your old friends, and that - " he stopped himself, and instead fixed his eyes on Rell, seething.

She only rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't start that again. And anyway, I see a perfectly good girl over there, just waiting for you to ask her to dance," she whispered in her ear, pointing at someone a few yards away.

You can probably guess whom she pointed to.

Corjiana stood there, not sure what exactly to do. She had almost made up her mind to go and retrieve some sort of beverage when Sartes stepped up to her.

(She and Sartes had mended and even become friends a little by this time.)

"Yes?" she inquired, folding her hands.

He took a deep breath. This was the first time he'd ever asked a sensible girl to dance. "Would you - uh, this is rather difficult, but - would you mind if we danced together?"

Sellís couldn't help but giggle a few yards away. Mya, fourteen now, came and asked her what was so amusing. "Sartes is asking Corjiana to dance, and he's really butchering himself," Sell replied, still snickering.

Corjiana stared at him in shock. "Are you in earnest?"

"As earnest as I've ever been," he replied truthfully. (the Caminelles' are well-known for their common cliché phrases)

She hastily tried to make a decision. She glanced over his shoulder, and saw -

Sellís was grinning at her, nodding fiercely. Sell mouthed the words, "You'll be grand!"

Had this not been Sell's bethrothal party, Corjiana might not have agreed. Perhaps not.

But, almost solely for Sell's sake, Corjiana accepted Sartes' offer.

And, as Sell had insisted, they had a simply wonderful time. Not that either of them are very good dancers, of course not, but they felt so free and joyful just waltzing together with so many of their good friends.

That almost made it worse. Had they not enjoyed themselves at all, Sartes would probably not be clenching his fists and remembering it now.

He longed for an instance such as that to occur again.

Why must everyone age?

Couldn't everything stay as it was?

He held his breath in anger until he turned red in the face.

Couldn't that bloody doctor have done something to save her!?

Saight plodded home, confused and very wet.

As she entered, she caught sight of one of their higher servants.

"Servant," she called to him (she didn't know his name - she had never been taught this).

"Yes, my mistress?" he replied, bowing his head to her.

"Have you ever heard of something called 'Ephesus'?"

He gave her a quizzical look, but quickly smiled. "I believe it was an ancient city in the Old World, if I remember correctly." He tapped his chin for a moment, then added, "Why don't we look it up in the library of your father's? I was merely going back to the servant's quarters to await orders."

"Fair enough," she agreed, nodding.

Thus, the two of them made their way into Mr. Vasije's library.

As you have probably guessed, this library was gigantic, as the rest of the house was.

Before the servant got two feet into the room, Saight asked, "What is your name, sir?"

He balked in surprise. "Did you, mistress, just request my name!?"

"Yes, and you needn't raise your voice so."

He raised his eyebrows. "I apologize, mistress. No one's asked me my name for quite some time. I haven't the slightest idea what it was."

She stared at him in confusion. "You don't know your own name?"

"No, mistress," he replied, shaking his head.

"Then I shall grant you as Zorios, for you always seem happy," she decided.

She had just glanced at a book entitled "The Inner Workings of the Lungs" by a man named Zorios Castado.

"Thank you, my mistress! I shall show you what we came to see now!" he exclaimed, very pleased. He grasped an old map from a shelf full of them. "I believe this is it." He unfolded the map on a large study desk.

This atlas appeared very strange to Saight. It did not look at all like what she knew to be their country; she recognized nothing at all.

Zorios pointed to a small blue shape on the map labeled "Mediterranean Sea."

The shape was far too small to view clearly, so he quickly scanned the shelves of maps again. "Aha!" he cried, sliding out another. "This is an atlas of Western Asia. These documents are - well, copies, I suppose, of the real ancient atlases which were - four centuries old. Though these aren't the originals, let's take great care in handling them."

He laid this one out on the desk, as well.

This map was a much more focused and larger view of the Mediterranean. "There is Ephesus," he stated, placing his finger on a small black dot.

Saight tried to comprehend this city's whereabouts. It sat north of the Mediterranean, that she could see, and it was north - perhaps a little northwest - of a small island called Crete. None of these places or names made sense to her: "Why are these names in such an odd fashion? They certainly don't sound Portuguese, and I've never heard of the" I must tell you now how incorrectly she pronounced it "'Maydeetayrrayneeahn sea,' or any of these odd little islands..."

Zorios smiled at her. "Of course not. These are places from the Old World. And they aren't Portuguese - they are some other language. I'm not exactly sure what language they are, though...but, does this answer your question?"

She blinked, suddenly remembering what she had first asked him. "No, it doesn't. What sort of letter would I know of that was sent to a city from the Old World, which was departed from over four centuries ago?"

"A letter?" he asked, inquisitive.

"Yes...I received a bit of parchment which read, 'Letter to Ephesus.' It doesn't make sense." She shook her head.

Zorios squinted, as if he were trying to remember something long forgotten. "Ephesus...that sounds familiar..."

Saight waited patiently for him as he tried to recall whatever it was that he had forgotten.

"Of course!" he cried, clapping his hands together. "Ephesians! The letter to Ephesus!" He nearly leaped with excitement, but calmed himself. "I apologize. I wonder if your father would have one here..." He swiftly gleaned the shelves for whatever it was he was searching for, Saight following.

"What are you looking for?" she probed, confused.

"This!" he exclaimed, suddenly finding it. He retrieved a large and rather dusty book from a far-back shelf.

Though she didn't know what glories this book held, Saight soon found that her mysterious friend from the hideout had given her a mission of great worth.

;) She actually believed Tarres...

(yet another long author's note...)

I was inspired by two songs. The first was "Come What May," from Moulin Rouge for the Clarence/Ana part. It's a weird and very dirty movie...but the song is good. The other song was... "Hound Dog," by Elvis Presley for the Sartes/Corjiana dance. It just totally made sense for them.

I can really relate to Sartes here - where he remembers a time when he and Corjiana (for me, it's a crush) did something really fun together, and he really wants something like that to happen again. Maybe that's why I wrote it.

I'm such a hopeless romantic (laugh-cough).