~Chapter 14~
Mae, having changed back into her dress, was fidgeting with her sleeve as she sat across the table from Karanosi, Ven at her side. They were sharing a meal of Kani'wah, a type of steamed vegetable dumpling served with bowls of a mild meat broth, at a table off to the side of a small restaurant.
Ven and Karanosi had been talking between themselves as Mae continued to stare down at the agreement she couldn't read and the crystal set on top of it.
"You need to eat," Ven remarked, nudging her shoulder.
"I'll eat once my stomach stops churning."
"The broth will help with that," Karanosi commented tapping at the edge of her bowl with his skewer, while giving her a 'don't disappoint your father' sort of look.
"Fine, but I want you to tell me what she said to you after I left," she replied picking up the bowl, which was completely normal to do, and taking a sip.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does to me," she remarked putting the bowl back down.
"She said a number of things. Including expressing her agitation for how I went about contacting her. She also told me to not let you take too long in thinking about her offer, and passed along a warning."
"About Boem'thol?" she questioned while keeping her voice low, given that they were not the only patrons.
"Yes," he replied, his eyes narrowing. "How did you know that?"
"Tien'shay passed along the same message, which is why I don't understand why she kept you back."
Karanosi sighed and lowered his utensil.
"It was about Nimaro, and it is nothing you need to worry about. Finish your food and we can go visit the Stable House."
"I'll never stop worrying Karanosi. It's the most prominent flaw in my character. This entire thing feels like a game, and I don't like playing games when I don't know all of the rules or when the other players are making moves, I can't see. And right now, it certainly feels like something is being kept from me."
"I know, but only until you meet with him. Then you will understand more of what's going on."
"Fine, but I still don't like it."
"That makes two of us. Nimaro being involved is troublesome to say nothing of how his presence may affect you."
"Yeah, I get it, he's scary," she remarked glancing over at Ven, before turning back to Karanosi. "I want to go home. Is this the way to do it? Is this agreement my best chance and would I just be wasting time trying to find another?"
"If going home is your goal, nothing says you can't keep looking for other ways, even if you agree to Omb's terms," Ven remarked as he put a small dumpling into her bowl. "Eat one for me."
Rolling her eyes, she ate the dumpling and finished her broth. Ven had made a good point. If a better offer came up, nothing could stop her from taking it, and even Aspects seemed to be limited with their power, so it wasn't like Omb could chase her down for backing out of her side of the deal. She also understood that there were certain nuances of the entire thing that she didn't fully understand.
When they finished their food, they did as Omb had suggested and enjoyed a stroll through Tag'thyr, straight up to the door of the Stable House.
"I feel really strange about tossing Omb's name around just to look at some rare stones. Besides, it's not like I really need to have one today. Right?"
"You should have one, and now is the best time."
"But I haven't even agreed to anything yet. It seems wrong Ven. Plus, what she said about the cost of one these made it sound really steep. Let's just go to the theater. I saw you staring at that flashy poster earlier. You want to go see it, don't you?"
"I do, but later tonight, when the theater is open," Ven replied as he stood his ground even as she tugged at his hand.
"Mae," Karanosi spoke, drawing her attention. "The cost is insignificant. Omb did not offer you this opportunity lightly. Like what happened at the stairs, this is also, most likely, a test. I'm very proud of how quickly you overcame her last one, in case I failed to praise you properly."
"Thank you, Karanosi," she replied, unable to stop smiling at his words.
It felt strange to her, being acknowledged in such a way, but it also made her think about what he had said; that this could also be a test. And that left her with some questions.
"Didn't Omb say that the owner was her father?"
"She did."
"How is that possible? I thought she was like… ancient."
"She is. This is the father of her current host," Karanosi replied as she stopped tugging at Ven.
"Oh. That explains nothing."
"The Aspects are more like spirits. Every fifty years, they must move to a new lawful host. Each has its own criteria and selection method, and after the term is up, the host is returned to its old life. Everyone around them maybe fifty years older, but the rewards for being chosen are apparently worth it. In some cases, they are treated better than royalty."
"Are you saying that for those fifty years, the host doesn't age?"
"Yes, but don't get any ideas. You aren't from our world Mae," Karanosi replied rather sternly.
"Obviously, but damn, that's a type of magic that could be useful. I don't care how long I have to be on this planet for. 70 years is a lifetime to me, but it wouldn't matter if I didn't age for fifty of them."
"Whatever it is that keeps the hosts from aging, it isn't a type of magic that can be learned or used," he informed her. "Promise me Mae, you will not pursue this line of thinking."
"I promise," she replied with a sigh. "As you said, I'm not from this world. Despite what Omb may have said, I'll be happy if I can one day use that stone Ven does to draw up my own bath."
"One day, I'm certain, you will be able to do just that. Now before we go inside, I've some advice for you."
"And what might that be?"
"Take the one you are drawn to, even if it isn't inside the box of rare mounts. It is always best when your mount picks you."
Mae didn't quite grasp what he meant, and it wasn't a lack of understanding over what he had said, that she understood well. This was more about not being about to comprehend the feeling and it certainly didn't help that she still had reservations about the entire ordeal.
Following Karanosi inside, The Stable House looked more like a high-end jewelry shop with glass display cases, settings and accessories one might use to showoff ones' precious stone. The stones themselves were little more than large marbles, displayed by species of mount and arranged by gradient across the entire spectrum of possible colors and combinations thereof.
"Welcome," a well-dressed cynocephali man remarked upon their entry, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"
Mae could easily see the family resemblance, even with his more masculine features, tied back hair and gentle, light brown eyes.
"Are you Pi'Kel?" she asked wanting to verify her assumption.
"I am," he replied as she walked towards the counter he was standing behind. "And who might be asking?"
"A customer. Omb recommended your shop," she replied, pulling her hand from her pocket, the crystal hanging from her wrist.
Pi'Kel's smile brightened, his eyes softening as he stared down at the crystal.
"How is my daughter?"
"Stunning, and in good health."
"I'm glad to hear it," he replied as he turned around and made his way over to an unassuming cabinet in the corner. "Omb has been good to my family. She doesn't come by as often as she used to, but she still sends business my way. You all tell me the same thing when I ask, but I never tire of hearing it." Unlocking the cabinet, he opened the door and removed a wooden case the size of a shoebox and carried it back to the counter. "I've only twelve years left to wait before Omb moves on and my daughter is back with me."
"Then you are already through the worst of it," Karanosi offered his words of wisdom from beside her. "These remaining years will pass by quickly."
"Very true. I was lucky enough to be able to move here from Tharand when she was chosen," he explained as he pulled an ivory hued cloth from his pocket and spread it out over the counter.
"Will you be moving back?" Karanosi questioned.
"Never. I may love my homeland, but I do far more business here, and the weather is nicer."
"Yes, I've heard tales of Tharand winters."
"Ha! Tales indeed. As far-fetched as they may sound, I've little doubt they are true. Tharand fills up like a bowl once the snow starts to fall; makes everything difficult. I certainly don't miss it. But you didn't come here to listen to me complain," he said as he opened the lid of the wooden case turning it so she could see inside.
The outside of the box was made of a plain, honey colored wood, but the inside was lined with a lush, blue, velvet material, half full with a mix of the marble-sized stones. Carefully, Pi'Kel began to remove the stones and set them onto the cloth.
"Are you looking for anything specific?" he questioned taking the time to arrange each stone with due care.
"No. I was told that it's best if my mount chooses me," she replied, oddly unable to remove her eyes from the case and she wondered if this wasn't the 'drawn' feeling that Karanosi had mentioned.
"I see," he replied with a gentle smile. "You let me know when one calls to you."
Setting out a handful more, her eyes were pulled from the box to a pastel grey stone with a crisp dark green streak swirling around inside of it. She couldn't help herself as she reached out and grabbed it.
"I think you can stop," Karanosi said as she held it up into the light.
"I think you're right," Pi'Kel replied moving back to the cabinet, returning with a large old book.
"What do you know of this one?" Karanosi questioned as Pi'Kel began turning through the pages.
"Nothing off the top of my head," he replied glancing up at the stone a couple of times before stopping at a page near the beginning and turning the book so Karanosi could read it too.
"My family has done its best to keep detailed notes about all of the stones we keep, but sometimes they are simply too old for us to know much of anything. According to this record, this stone has been in my family's possession since the beginning, and the only information we have about it, is that it contains a wild caught Warog. It's never been named or it refused to give its name. It has no gear and no previous owners are listed. Warog aren't the rarest of mounts, as I'm certain you've seen several about here and there. But wild caught, that is a different story. All the others you see in the case behind you are from breeders in Tythatin. No one is going to risk themselves to capture one these days. However, that also means this one is going to be superior in every way. Larger, stronger, faster. His skills would be naturally learned and he may even know some that no others ever will."
"That also means he is going to be unpredictable," Ven spoke up from behind her. "And that is a good thing."
"The price in your book seems to be out of date. What is the cost of this stone?" Karanosi questioned as Pi'Kel returned the others stones to the case.
"No, actually it is not. The price you see is what this one is worth. Please do not let that worry you. All of the mounts in this box are in here because they were inspected by Omb, and my agreement with her is to sell them at the prices listed. This one is one hundred and fifty onu."
"One fifty? Even an Iferisom is worth five hundred," Ven remarked causing Mae to look up at him. "Are you certain this is the one?"
"Yeah, I am."
"And you are certain of its price?" Karanosi questioned Pi'Kel, giving Mae the impression that even he believed he was charging far too little.
"I am. And now the question remains, what type of housing would you like for your new stone?"
"Gloves tend to be quite popular," Ven remarked as she looked around at the displays of 'mount stone housing' possibilities.
"Actually, I'd like one those wrist cuffs. The thick black one, third up from the bottom on the left."
"The one with the silver buckles?" Ven asked her as Pi'Kel went to retrieve what she has asked for.
"Yes, that's the one. Why? Is that not what you were expecting?"
"No, it certainly wasn't."
A few minutes later, Pi'Kel thanked them for their business and handed Mae her new chunky black leather wrist cuff with polished silver buckles, the mount stone seated within the silver housing made of delicate wires intricately woven together into a decorative cage, along with a small book.
Mae was overly pleased as they left the shop, constantly admiring her new wrist piece.
"I really want to summon him," she remarked as they began to walk back towards the Inn.
"I think it's best if you wait until we are out of the city," Ven remarked as they crossed the road.
"Why's that?"
"Because that 'rare' stone was suspiciously cheap, and there is only one reason for that, and it's nothing good."
"Why didn't you say anything before?" she practically yelled at him.
"Easy, it chose you for a reason. Good or bad, he's your mount now. I wasn't about to spoil that for you. More importantly, you have some reading to do before you summon him up."
"Elahemé," Omb's voice echoed from the crystal on her wrist.
"Yes, I'm here!" she exclaimed, lifting the crystal closer to her ear.
"Come to my temple. Nimaro has agreed to meet."
The news caused her heart to throb as a wave of anxiety washed over her causing her to stutter as she replied, "I'm… I'm… I'm on my way."