"I'm making macaroni," Sam said. "Eat. Then leave."
Sam was from the gold chapter. He was the bridge carrying the prayers to the gods and bringing back the blessings to the worshippers. The gold chapter was the face of the temple to the majority of the people.
He knew his friend didn't like keeping secrets, but he didn't want to put Klaus in the position where he had to even consider the choice. He left, giving Klaus and Porez space.
Sam's intent wasn't lost on Klaus. He smiled at his friend's back, and then looked at Porez.
"Like Sam said, we'll leave after eating. What I haven't told you. There was nothing at the farm. Nothing obvious and nothing out of the ordinary. As far as we searched, there was nowhere in the vicinity of the farm the ekhto could have risen from. We can't rule out deliberate intent, but there's no evidence. Most importantly, like I said before, it's not the usual ekhto. We tried holy texts as conduit, didn't work. We even used the water, medals and talismans. Nothing worked. It's almost as if it's no ekhto. I honestly don't know what to make of it. The reason I want you to come over, is because I want to rule out the possibility of a lack of energy. Before we rule it as a variant, I want to make sure it's not an abnormality. It could just be an overly powerful ekhto."
Porez looked into Klaus' eyes to the end and then looked at the bag of cookies with a conflicted gaze.
Klaus smiled. But offered no help. He sat enjoying the sight, until Sam returned with dinner, ending the conflict.
Sam sent them off from the chair. Klaus and Porez rode a taxi to the governor's house, where they were greeted by Mr Reigh at the gates.
"Good evening Mr Klaus."
Reigh gave a proper greeting. A full bow and a standard salute. Klaus returned an unaffected smile, one that was perfected from having received countless greetings. Porez didn't seem to have even noticed. Reigh didn't show the grimace as he thought inwardly, why were there so many uncommon people today?
As they followed the old manager in, Klaus asked.
"Has there been any changes?"
Reigh didn't miss a beat as he answered.
"What could you mean Mr Klaus?"
Klaus smiled praisingly, even though Reigh couldn't see.
"Has someone come? You show it in your eyes. You seem troubled. The kind you seemed with dear little Porez here. He's special. You know that. So, has someone else special come too?"
Reigh sighed. Klaus was smart, and talkative. Rare were such difficult days, that he wished never were.
"Yes, Mr Klaus. The governor had invited someone, like you said, special. I plead for honoured priests such as yourself to not take offence."
"Nonsense," Klaus brushed the words away easily. "Help is always welcome. You say special, but you have that look in your eyes. Difficult special?"
Reigh's straight face broke for a moment. He couldn't understand why a man of Klaus' age and position would hold such love for gossip. He didn't answer, and hastened his footsteps.
Klaus snickered, just loud enough. He loved teasing strict people like Mr Reigh.
Porez had waited as long as he could. Reaching into the bag, he pulled out an almond crescent moon cookie and began eating.
Reigh led them straight to miss' room. They arrived just as YaYa pushed the door open. The two parties looked at each other, and grinned.
"Hello little guy," Klaus greeted first.
He walked over and offered YaYa his hand.
"I like you," YaYa said with a toothy smile and accepted the hand.
"Aw, so sweet. I like you too," Klaus replied excitedly. "I'm Klaus. I'm with the temple. This is my little buddy, Porez. He's with the temple too. He's quiet. And he loves cookies. Would you like to be his friend? I'd love that."
YaYa looked at Klaus and at Porez. Nodded. And spoke.
"Sure. I'm YaYa. I'm from Muria. I like ice-cream. Mother makes the best cookies. You should come over. I'm sure she'll love you more than me. I like ice-cream."
Porez quietly stepped up, studied YaYa's face closely, and nodded.
"I know," YaYa said, smiling even wider. "I'm pretty."
Klaus was delighted. He allowed himself a moment to appreciate the grand event. Porez made a friend. He wanted to speak. But before he could, YaYa did.
"Let's go in," YaYa said lazily.
Klaus' eyes flickered in surprise. YaYa walked in through the open door, together with Porez. Reigh followed robotically. Klaus was last. He closed the door after him.
The room was beautiful, like the room of a young miss of a big family. The palette was a mix of green and blue. The walls were painted in broad strokes of a wide brush. The effect was as much exciting as it was calming. The four post bed was against the wall, a thin mesh falling over the tall posts. The mesh was a light shade of green, like the colour of fresh grass under morning dew. The curtains over the windows were more blue than green, and they seemed to have been under the same brush that coloured the walls. It was a picture of beauty, except for the girl in bed, tied to the posts with silk scarves that wouldn't scar her skin. Her eyes were open and sunken, and showing the natural blue of her eyes as well as the dark black that wasn't hers. Her skin was pallid. Her lips appeared chafed, and were parted in an ugly grin.
Reigh felt horrible. He wanted to cry. But he knew now wasn't the time for tears.
YaYa went over to the bed, met her eyes.
"Move," he said.
She moved. He sat on the bed and sighed comfortably.
"My bed is better," he said to the girl. "What's her name," he asked Reigh.
"Collie," Riegh answered.
"Collie, you look really ugly," YaYa told the girl. "Don't you think so," he asked Porez.
Porez came close to the bed, stared into the girl's face, and stayed silent.
"You're so quiet," YaYa told Porez. "Or maybe it's me. Mother did say I became a different person when I had ice-cream. She called it sick. I don't know. Am I talking too much?"
Porez stared at YaYa, and his hand stopped short of his mouth.
Klaus was grinning like he was suffering a sugar rush. He ran over and grabbed YaYa's shoulders.
"No," Klaus told YaYa. "You're not talking much at all. I'm so happy. Everyone says I talk too much. But I've finally met someone who talks too. We should have everyone see us. They would understand then that it's not us, it's them who are weird."
Klaus meant every word. He truly felt delighted at having met a kindred spirit.
YaYa was smiling a smile that was many things.
Porez looked blankly. He pushed the cookie in through his lips and took a big bite.
Reigh looked confused. He wanted to remind everyone that they were here to help Collie, but his courage fell short.
The protagonist of the evening lay tied up in bed, confused and seething with rage, at being completely ignored.