Twyll stared at the young man in front of her as he explained that he was sent by the Dictator of Stoechìa to accompany her across The Crossing to "discuss" something with him.
She could not believe her ears or her eyes. A Stoechìan leader wanted to speak to her?
That did not make any sense at all.
"So, you are saying that an all-powerful leader of the crystal realm wants to speak with a lowly small-town girl from Rhodesïa ?"
"Yes." He replied nonchalantly.
Twyll was shaken by the young man's insouciance. Meanwhile, the young man- whose name she was yet to be graced with walked around the room, fidgeting with the various documents and scrolls. He hummed a bothersome jingle that set her teeth on edge. He stopped when he noticed the crystals sitting on the top of her desk, almost on display. His expression changed a bit but returned to its vacant stare. He moved on to my wall of weapons, dragging his fingers along the edge of one of my finer swords, drawing a line of blood in its wake. The wound immediately healed. That did not shock Twyll since Stoechìans are almost like the Fae. Of course, the Fae died out a long time ago, leaving behind the Stoechìans who draw their magic from crystal energies. Twyll was well versed in the dynamics of the Staklovìan culture. It was important to her aunt for her to be well educated and able to debate and schmooze with the higher society so that she could get married and have a secure future.
Twyll didn't agree with her aunt though.
She constantly felt under pressure and her only wish was to see the world while her aunt kept her sequestered away from civilization only to offer her to the highest bidder. It was like she was a burden that needed to be got rid of.
"What's your name?" Twyll asked after blinking out her consuming thoughts.
The young man smirked. "Cadence Rhodes, at your service."
Twyll gaped at him.
"You are a Rhodes?" She asked, her eyes disbelieving.
The Rhodes were the original settlers of Rhodesïa. They built the halflings settlements even though they weren't halflings themselves.
"Well, my mother is." He admitted. "My father is somewhat of a bastard. Hell, he even has a bastard son!" Cadence exclaimed in mock enthusiasm.
Twyll was a little alarmed at the evident bitterness and a little bit of shock as well at his open and disdainful outburst about his father.
"Do you and your father's bastard have a good relationship with each other?" She asked in a sickly sweet tone.
"Yes, actually. We bonded on our father's bastard-ness. It was truly a turning point in our life."
Twyll couldn't help but laugh. It was apparent that Cadence wanted a good relationship with his only brother and did not hold any resentment to this Bastard brother of his.
"Will you please tell me more about this meeting with your father?"
"I don't know much, but we will have to leave in the next few days if we are to make it back before the annual storms catch up with is and we are stuck at sea with a thousand sea serpents and sirens that can tear us apart bone by bone." He said calmly as if this was a daily occurrence.
Twyll felt numb. Her body felt stiff with disbelief and a little bit of apprehensiveness. She didn't know what to do. On one hand, she could, at last, get the chance to travel the world and find some answers to her parent's deaths. On the other, she would be leaving behind everything she's ever known.
"You should also know that time is of the utmost importance since other hostiles are wanting to kidnap you." Cadence continued sauntering over to the entrance of the cave.
"I'll be waiting for your answer at the tavern. I'll expect one for two days."
"And what if I don't?"
"Then I'll knock you out and kidnap you myself." He replied in the most unsympathetic manner.
Then he walked out leaving a baffled Twyll behind.
...
Twyll walked home in a hurricane of thoughts. She was so lost in her thoughts that she completely forgot about the little kitty that she had saved. Running into the house, she found the pitiful little varmint lapping milk from a saucer that was green with verdigris. Seems like Martha was here. Martha had been their housekeeper since Twyll was a small toddler constantly in need of care. Martha was the only mother Twyll had known, even though she was paid to do so.
Walking in, Twyll passed her Aunt's room and stopped short. Her Aunt was coughing and hacking up blood as black as soot in a bucket.
Twyll knew her aunt was sick- had been for the past few years, but she didn't know that it was this bad.
"Aunt Jinn? Are you ok?" She asked peeking into the door.
Her aunt looked up the sorrow in her eyes almost making Twyll's knees buckle.
"My dear child, come here." Her aunt croaked her tone for once, not filled with contempt but grief. "I'm so sorry Twyll. For everything." Her aunt said, tears dripping down her temples. She looked older somehow, her hair had gone almost colourless and her skin was papery thin and translucent, her veins purple. She looked worn and tired as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. "Listen to me girl." Jinn pleaded, " The Rhodes boy, go with him. Take your belongings and flee. Remember the training and the breathing exercises. You must know that you were never ordinary, you have a power greater than the sun. You are special. Be careful who you trust. You don't have much time, the Temnota are coming. They've found you, I can feel their darkness choking me.." She gasped out as more black fluid fell out of her mouth, staining her teeth. Just then a loud bang shook the room. Twyll swivelled toward the door. She could see shadows of a dozen creatures coming towards them. "Go, right now! You must flee Rhodesïa and find Starr Freesia. She is the only one who can answer all your questions. Stifling sobs, Twyll ran to her rooms, grabbing everything she needed. She had thankfully brought her crystals with her as well so she didn't have to run back to the cavern. All her favourite weapons were with her, strapped across her chest and back. She could hear the screeches. She jumped out the window just as the entire house shook and exploded, shrapnel cutting against her skin. Twyll ran and ran and ran her training kicking in as she jumped over ditches and pits veered away from potholes, and ran over sink pits with the ease of a gazelle. She ran to the tavern only to be stopped at the swinging doors by Ryker.
" Twyll babe! How are you? I haven't seen you in days. Is everything alright?"
Already irritated and afraid, Twyll kneed him in between his legs and grabbed his wrist before he fell, twisting it at an odd angle.
"Didn't know you were so violent Twyll Merrick" Cadence said walking out.
Twyll released a groaning Ryker as she grabbed cadence by the arm and rushed him to the docks.
"My aunt is in danger, some creature with skeletal snouts and black bodies entered the house. They blew it up. Everything just exploded! We have to save her. She apologised and she said she was sorry and everything I could ever have wanted to hear from her..." Twyll trailed off, her voice in whispers at the end.
Cadence' face had hardened even more at her tears and he told stock still.
"Twyll, your aunt is dead. We can't save her. We have to get out of here before they find you again. We have to escape." He commanded, dragging her to a pier where a sleek wooden ship was docked. He carried her up the ladder while she wept into his shoulders. Her bags were slung over his other shoulder. Twyll didn't understand what was going on. She was numb and everything looked too bright and sounded too loud. Soon everything was spinning and then... Nothing.
...
Cadence looked at the pale face and dank hair, as he laid her down on the cot. He carefully arranged her arms and legs and then covered her with a blanket. She shifted a bit her eyelids fluttering. He stilled not wanting to wake her up. He straightened, the movement causing the bag on his shoulder to fall, it's contents spilling across the floor. Through the melee of books and clothes, he noticed six brightly coloured crystals. Stoechìan crystals.
No. It was not possible.
Cadence was silent in utter disbelief.
Something was not right. Nothing ever was.