An
Offer of Assistance
I focused on Cerridwen's image in my mind, and the contact formed
almost immediately. She was seated on some sort of a reclining chair
outdoors and was wearing a rather, well, immodest one-piece bathing suit.
I felt my eyes widen almost imperceptibly upon viewing her attire, or lack
thereof. Apparently she had overcome some of her embarrassment regarding
her artificial limbs since last we spoke, for it was the first time I had
seen her prosthetics so clearly. I could see where they joined to her arm
and leg, silvery and smooth. There was nothing to mark where her real
flesh left off, save for the change in color. Not metal at all...very
like flesh...but more perfect somehow. It appeared to be night, wherever
she was, with a moon in the background providing some light on the pool by
which she was seated. She was drying her hair with a towel as she
answered me.
"Melanie...it's been ages."
I smiled. "It has, indeed, been a while. I have a bit of a puzzle on
my hands, and I was wondering if I could, perhaps, ask your advice on the
matter. If you are not too busy, of course."
"Busy?" she replied. "No, not at all. I am vacationing, in fact.
Would you like to come here, or shall I join you in Skeltland?"
I got the feeling that someone else was there...and that he or she
might be listening in on the Trump conversation. Which made me more
inclined to have her join me, but politeness prevented me from admitting
that. Instead, I responded, "As I am the one imposing, whichever is more
convenient for you."
I hoped I might catch a glimpse of the other person reflected in the
pool, but sadly, the angle was not right. I did not have long to wonder
as to his identity, however, for Cerridwen held out her hand and brought
me through. Almost immediately, I felt a sense of shifting...it seemed
that she was on the other side of reality. Strangely, though, the Trump
passage was quick and easy. And standing beside Cerridwen was the other
presence I had sensed, a man I had seen only in paintings until now...a
man of whom I had heard much, though never met. Almost immediately, I was
inclined to avert my gaze, for his choice of clothing was even more
indiscreet than Cerridwen's...though a part of me was inclined to
appreciate what I saw. The bathing suit, if such a small piece of
clothing could be dignified by that term, covered only the necessary parts
to prevent his appearance from crossing the line from immodest into
completely indecent. He was roughly 5'9" in height and slender, with
broad shoulders and a well-muscled build. He had dark hair and green
eyes, and the shape of his nose and the wideness of his brow placed him
immediately as Sarah's son Derrick. He, too, was drying himself with a
towel, and regarded me with mild disinterest.
I was, of course, slightly discomfited by Derrick's state of undress,
although I politely pretended not to notice, keeping my gaze focused on
his face while I quickly attempted to recall what I had heard about the
man. He and Sarah were rarely seen in each other's company, but they were
not estranged, exactly. It was more that they had different
interests...namely they desired to attain the opposite poles of reality.
I sometimes wondered if this had something to do with a desire not to
compete with one another. Sarah obviously respected her son, and approved
of his ambitions, but I suspected that she preferred him on the other side
of reality as much as he preferred to be there.
Cerridwen cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to the
present. "Melanie, allow me to introduce Duke Derrick, Lord of Corilaine.
Derrick, this is Lady Melanie of Chanicut, an esteemed advisor to your
mother."
I extended a gloved hand at Cerridwen's introduction and replied, "I
am pleased to meet you."
Derrick made a gesture and a robe appeared in his hand which he
casually donned, much to my relief. Then he took my hand and kissed it
lightly. Strangely, I felt no warmth from his touch, though I could see
hints of steam rising from his skin and hair. The pool seemed warm, the
night air cool, and he even colder.
"A pleasure, Lady Melanie," he replied formally. "It is always nice
to meet one of my mother's friends."
Cerridwen also donned a robe. "Derrick, Melanie and I have some
catching up to do. Do you mind terribly if we take leave of you?"
"Of course I don't mind, Cerridwen," he replied. "Mayhap we'll have
opportunity to speak later, Lady Melanie," he added, with a slight arch to
one eyebrow.
I arched an eyebrow to match. "Indeed. I shall look forward to it."
Maybe. There was something about the man that made me wary.
Cerridwen led us into an enclosed garden a ways past the pool, and
took a seat at a stone bench there. "To what do I owe the pleasure of
your arrival, Melanie?" she asked with a smile.
I sat on the bench as well and returned Cerridwen's smile. Now came
the tricky part. I did so hate to ask for help. "I seem to have
encountered a difficulty that is beyond my own means to resolve," I
admitted reluctantly. "I was hoping that perhaps you might offer me some
advice on the matter."
"My knowledge and discretion are at your disposal," she replied. "Do
tell me of this difficulty."
"Simply put, I have found a little sanctuary that I wish to claim as
my own, the previous owner no longer being in a position to need it. The
difficulty lies in the time-flow therein. It is rather abysmally slow,
even when compared to the Courts, and the climate could use a little
improvement." I shrugged. "Alas, my own studies have been regrettably
limited in these areas." That was an understatement.
"Given your history, it would seem that you have been given little
opportunity to research such things," she replied. "Well, of course I
will be willing to adapt this sanctuary to your needs in terms of time
flow and climate. If you'll give me a moment to change, we can head there
directly." She paused for a moment before inquiring, "How do we get
there?"
I smiled, not wanting to reveal too much. "I believe I can arrange
that. When you are ready."
"Of course." She indicated her attire. "I've just been relaxing and
lounging about the house this way. It's very nice."
I could not imagine why dressing that way would be relaxing, but I
kept that opinion to myself. "I was not sure if this was your place or
Derrick's," I commented. From the way they were both dressed, I wondered
if perhaps they were lovers.
"Oh, it's just a little vacation spot in Shadow."
"Hmmm," I responded, not sure what else to say to that.
"Derrick's an interesting conversationalist," Cerridwen added, then
paused for a long moment. "He's also a polite young man. He doesn't
threaten me with any issues. You know. That's always so nice to find in
a man."
I nodded, this seeming to confirm my earlier opinion. "It is rather
rare, too."
"It's a sad thing that the only man I can find in that way, is
undead."
I raised an eyebrow at that. I had suspected there was something
unusual about him, given the coldness I had noticed about him, but I had
not quite expected to hear that he was undead. "Indeed? How did that
happen?"
"Oh, I don't know," she said dismissively, "someone killed him and he
didn't die?"
Not the answer I was looking for, but I had not really expected her to
divulge the details. If she even knew them. "That is a handy trick," I
observed with a dry smile.
"Useful to learn, but somewhat limiting."
"Hmm, ah yes, I imagine there are certain things you just cannot do
anymore once you are dead." At least if half of the tales one heard about
such creatures were true.
"Yes, I know, how wonderful," she responded with a sly smile.
Something in her tone told me she was referring to something entirely
different than I had been, and I was quick to protest, "I was not thinking
of that!"
Cerridwen laughed. "I almost made you blush."
"Yes." And to my annoyance, I felt my cheeks heat a little bit at
that. I never had felt particularly comfortable discussing such matters.
It was not seemly.
Thankfully, Cerridwen's next words were on a more proper topic.
"Well, let me go get changed real quick and then we can leave
immediately."
"Very well," I replied, more than happy to get back to the business at
hand.
"Derrick will understand. And I don't think it is actually going to
take that long, to make the changes you need."
"Oh, that would be nice."
"I won't bother with the Tir on this one, it's currently docked and I
don't see the point in bringing it.
"Yes, it should not be needed." Nor did I particularly want Cerridwen
bringing her seat of power to my new acquisition...if, indeed, it could
travel there. Not that I expected Cerridwen to betray me, but... Why
take unnecessary chances?
With that, Cerridwen left, returning a short time later dressed in a
formal gown. Obviously she spoke the truth when she said she did not
expect this would be difficult. She smiled as she approached. "Shall I
take us? Oh wait, you'll have to take us there."
"Yes, yes I will," I responded, wondering how she knew that. Had she
been to Father's keep while Werewindle was in her possession, or was she
simply assuming I would have protected any place I was making my own?
Either way, I was going to have to reveal my means of accessing it to her.
I glanced around to make sure that Derrick was not lurking around, since
I had no particular urge to share the secret with him, then reached back
and drew Werewindle from its scabbard, removing the spell concealing it as
I did so.
Cerridwen smiled as Werewindle was revealed. "I've been wondering
when you'd get around to investigating that."
Well, that answered the question of whether she knew the image was
there. I shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, well, you know, there are so many
things to do when one has been gone for a while. It took me a little
while."
And so saying, I extended a hand to Cerridwen and activated the Trump
in Werewindle's hilt. It was time to claim Father's sanctuary as my
own.
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All text on this page is © 2000 by Kris
Fazzari.
Last modified on February 16, 2000 by Kris Fazzari.