Day 20

Viola Stone, woke up early as usual. It was still dark. First light was still on the horizon. She remembered how the people of that gold city called her ugly. Not being someone type, was fine but a whole city thought she was ugly to look at. She examined her bruises while thinking about it.

Nikki had a green bruise on her face and Shane was hiding under his clothes.

Nikki had heard Viola get up but her body ached and it was cold so she lay under the furs and thought about how she had been thrown off a cliff twice and she wished she had stayed in the cave waiting for them. Then she realized she would still be in the cave waiting. She hugged the crystal tighter. She was not letting it out of her sight.

Shane got up at first light. The ground was wet but he needed to find a tree. As he came back to the tent, he saw Viola sitting by the stream. She was pensive and looked unsure.

Her hair shone in the light, the wind picked it up and made the red shine dance in the length of her hair.

Shane sighed, he wanted to go back into the tent but she had been kind to him the night before and he hadn’t said thank you yet.

He found himself standing next to her.

“You look nice.” He complemented.

Viola laughed.

“Not ugly?”

Shane sat next to her.

“You are intimidating, strong, confident and beautiful, smart and bold. What they said was from the point of view of people who only see gold and white. I am sure that if they weren’t so taken by your ness, they would have said, “this is our new beauty queen” and put a gold crown on your head.”

Viola laughed a sad but relieved laugh.

“Thank you. For saying all that. I am not feeling any of those things today.”

“Thank you for being nice to me last night, the food, the everything.” Shane said.

“Even trying to undress you?” Viola laughed.

“I would have preferred it under different circumstances.” He said smiling.

He nudged her shoulder with his.

“Ouch.” she groaned “I am so blue today, in more ways than one.” She said rubbing her shoulder.

“My almost girlfriend died in the attack on the castle.” Shane said.

Viola looked at him.

“An alien girl?” she asked.

“Yes, a Viden. She was special. I really liked her. But I brought her to the castle with me and she was killed.” Shane said.

Viola thought being with an alien was gross, but feeling guilty about someone’s death was a big motivator to hold her tongue.

“The one who killed her is responsible not you. She didn’t have to go with you, she chose and at this point the castle is a risk everyone understood. They thought it would be the queen killing them but instead it was Black Beard and his men. They knew, we didn’t but they did. That’s why they sent their son’s. You cannot blame yourself for her death. You can blame yourself for not trying harder to get a Felot for Tẽra.” Viola added trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Funny girl.” He said.

Viola sat at the stream with Shane beside her.

“Viola, how do you know what they were saying about you?” Shane asked.

She stood up.

Smiling at him she said “Girls have secrets.”

The camp awoke and slowly move towards the castle. Most of the camp had aches and pains. It was a day of feeling sorry for oneself and happily accepting any sympathy and comfort offered by another. The misery of the camp was feelable as the wounded cattle herded on.

They were not making good time. The camp moved slowly but they moved. It was late afternoon when captain Kumi ordered they make camp for the night.

Chayim had not been a gentle experience for Viola. She walked up the hill at looked down at the camp. Smoke rose from the fires. It looked like an army had marched through terrible terrain and that was what was left of them.

She heard a loud voice coming from the other side of the hill.

“I won! Whooohoo!”

Voila went to investigate. It was Ferox. He was standing on a horse. Another man was getting up off the ground while his horse ran away from him.

“Best out of three.” The friend said.

“Ready to lose three times?” Ferox asked.

“I wasn’t ready.” His friend replied.

So, both men sat on their horses and then when the shout was given, they went into a gallop. While the horses where galloping like lightning across the uneven land they stood up letting the reigns go and surfed their horses. The idea was who could go the furthest before falling.

Viola walked down the hill and stood where the men had started. She watched the dust storm that indicated where they were. She could hear excided voices but she couldn’t hear what was being said.

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The men on horse came racing back surfing their bare back horses. The massive beasts charged ahead with no fear. It was as if the horses were having as much fun as their crazy owners.

Ferox saw Viola and fell off his horse.

“Ouch!” Viola pulled an in-pain face.

“I won!” his friend exclaimed “I won! I won!”

“You won once!” Ferox said dusting himself off.

“Viola, I am surprised to see you.” He said.

“Your, crazy stunt was impressive.” She admired.

“You know this lady?” his friend asked Ferox.

The friend climbed off his horse,

“I am Gunther Brix, my fair lady.” He said kissing Viola’s hand.

Viola entertained it.

“I am Viola, good sir.”

“What happened to your face?” Ferox asked ignoring his friend.

“Oh this, it’s nothing really. I was just hit a few times by this gold guy who tried to strangle me with his hair.” Viola said all nonchalant.

“What?! Gunther exclaimed, “Why would someone hit a precious gem like you?”

“I was too demanding, asked for too much. Had unrealistic expectations. I was foolish enough to think I could get honest answers if I just asked.” Viola answered as if she was the victim of a terrible tragedy.

“Gunther, I want to speak to Viola alone please.” Ferox said.

“He may stay, it’s nice to know someone cares what happened to me?” Viola said giving Gunther big soft eyes.

Ferox glared at Gunther.

“It’s alright Gunther. I will catch up with you later.” Viola said.

“What are you doing?” Ferox moaned once Gunther was out of ear shot.

“He’s cute.” Viola said.

“You are playing games with him.”

“Jealous?” Viola asked.

Ferox looked defensive.

Viola kept talking.

“I am surprised to see you. It seems that me were meant to meet again.”

“Viola what are you doing?” he asked suspicious of her.

“I am paying attention to the signs. Here you are the guy who has helped me even in my worst state and now here you are again. I hope nothing bad happens.” she looked around.

“Are you playing a cruel trick on me?” he asked.

“Yes.” Viola answered “And no. I do find it strange that here we meet again so far from your home and so far from mine. However, I do not think the universe has brought us together.”

“You are like no one else I have ever met.” he stated.

“May it stay that way.” Viola replied.

“What really happened to you?” he asked.

“I was trying to get answers and he tried to kill me. We were newly acquaintance.” Viola answered.

“So, what happened to him?”

“Nothing you want to know about. I am fine, all is well and things worked out.” She answered.

“Do you always give such vague answers?”

“I try to, sometimes I fail and have moments of complete transparency like when we first met.” She gave an awkward smile.

Ferox looked so confused.

Viola walked over to Gunther, leaving Ferox standing alone next to his horse.

“Gunther, please walk with me to my camp, it would be terrible if some beast come along while I was alone.”

Ferox lead the horses over the hill as Viola walked arm linked with his friend Gunther.

Once they got near the camp Viola turned to them.

“Thank you both, brave strong men. I am going alone from here. I wish you a safe trip home.”

“May we meet again.” Gunther said.

“I will walk you all the way, what if you fall?” Ferox said playing Viola’s own game

“I insist please. Take your leave and may we meet again. Watch if you much but I will walk alone.” She insisted.

“No, we will take you back to your camp safely, we couldn’t have it said that we did not do right by the lady.” Ferox said.

“You will bring trouble upon me, take your leave.” Viola persisted.

Ferox started walking towards the camp with the two horses.

“Ferox, please.” Viola said running after him.

Gunther realized something was going on and he had no idea what it was. Ferox and Viola were on a different page and he had been left out.

“You kept my secret if you come to camp, how will my secret be kept?” Viola said.

“You are playing with my friend’s heart. He is poor and has no match because of it. But he is a kind, good man who doesn’t deserve to have you play games with his heart. If I am not enough for you and my family owns all of Northumbria then how is a man whose father cannot pay his tenant fee to my father going to be good enough for you?”

Viola stopped in her tracks.

“You are right, I have been cruel. I was told I am ugly and heard the girls whisper about how my hair and eyes and skins is so ugly. I used your friend to make me feel better. To reassure me that I am not ugly. It’s nice to feel attractive to a stranger. I am sorry!”

“You talk so much rubbish I never know what to believe. Everything sounds true but logic says it cannot be. Now I am conflicted. I feel the urge to reassure you that you are not ugly, but I wonder if you are just making up stories to get out of a tight situation?” he replied.

“That’s fair.” Viola agreed.

Gunther caught up.

“Are the two of you having a lovers quarrel?” he asked “I can see something is going on and neither of you have said how you know each other.”

Viola smiled at him and looked Gunther in the eyes.

“I am the disgraceful guest that was thrown out of his father’s house for defending the queen.”

“Oh, why would you defend the queen?” he asked completely taken by surprise.

“She is my friend, I guess. I am sorry Gunther for playing games with you.”

Ferox noted how she told the truth, that it was in a way that left out so much. He began to wonder if this was why everything she said sounded too much.

“Viola!” someone called.

“I am being summoned.” She said to them.

“Is anything you told me true?” Ferox asked.

“Most of it.” Viola answered.

Captain Kumi ran over, hand on sword.

“They are friends.” She said to him.

“Then welcome, come eat with us, we have plenty food.” He invited.

“If you are friends with Viola and know her secret then do you also know Viv?” he asked.

“No, we do not know a Viv.” Ferox said.

“What secret?” Gunther asked.

Viola’s heart sank as Shane came over.

“We have been looking for you?” he said in English.

Viola just smiled, “Let’s eat.” She said quickly walking away.

“What was that?” Gunther asked.

“Hi, my name is Shane.” He introduced.

“I am Gunther.” He introduced.

“Let’s eat.” Kumi said.

They went to the dinner pot and dished in some food. The camp groaned in pain and it seemed as if everyone was licking battle wounds.

“What happened?” Ferox asked.

“Shane and the two women travelling with him decided to climb a mountain and bring back a rock. Somehow, they found people living up there in the clouds and they were thrown down in a cage. My men found a dead boy and thought something had gone wrong so we tried to climb up the cliff to aid them. This was a mistake, we fell, they fell and now we all ache.” Kumi summarized.

“Was he gold?” Ferox asked.

“He had gold hair and gold diamonds on his body.” Kumi answered.

“Excuse me.” Ferox said going to find Viola.

Nikki recognized Ferox.

“Viola the man who hid us in the barn has just showed up.”

She turned to Ferox as if seeing him for the first time.

“Nikki.” He greeted.

“Ferox.” She greeted.

Shane looked at this from the line he was standing in for food.

Viola turned to Nikki.

“I will be back, need to find a translator.” She said leaving her food and taking Ferox behind a tent.

“Are you going to expose me?” she asked.

“Why does it matter to you so much?” he asked.

“I don’t know why. I just like to have my secrets. I don’t expect you to understand, but will you still keep my secret?”

“Who knows about you?” he asked.

“Viv and her family, I loved them, I guess. I just ruined things. Captain Kumi met me while I was with them, so he knows. You know, Gunther knows and that’s it.”

“Have you lied to me?” he asked.

“I have deceived you. The truth is ugly,” She answered “And because I don’t like people knowing me.”

“The gold haired man that Captain Kumi told me about, is he the one that hit you?” Ferox asked.

“Yes. I threw him off the cliff so his people wouldn’t find his body.”

Viola looked at Ferox.

“I am not going to change. I am a web of secrets and I will go home one day soon and you nor anyone born here will ever see me again. Please let me be.” Viola said.

“You are like strong willed, dangerous and alluring. Making victims of men.”

“Then don’t be a victim. Ferox if you were just a guy, I might like you. But you are an alien and I cannot stomach the idea. Take your friend and go. Forget about me.” Viola said.

Ferox shook his head and went to find his friend.

“Bye.” Viola said softly as he left. He didn’t hear it but she needed to say goodbye.

Viola returned to Nikki and Shane.

“New boyfriend?” Shane asked.

“Maybe.” Nikki responded disarming him.

“Eat your food.” Viola answered.

Nikki said, “I wish I was someone who could say that if loved looked me in the face, I wouldn’t be in my own way. But I think we all stand between us and our own happiness. We are governed by social ques and pride and fear of rejection. What if and so on. I think that if we were all a little braver, we would be happier.”

Viola smiled. She had been happy going her job. She had never had a boyfriend as Viola Stone but as many other people she had. She had never felt like she didn’t know herself nor had she been shy or unsteady. But as Viola the secret keeper on no mission at all, she felt unsteady. She wanted to be sure and strong. But it was running from herself, she was not trained to be herself, nor handle mind invasions, nor supernatural healing from strange people, nor dragons. She had decided there were a few things other than the food that she would not miss once she had returned to earth.

Shane knew that what Nikki had said was true. Jessica had been pushing him to be just that, braver. He wanted to be brave when it came to the matters of the heart but it was hard as the heart was easily hurt.

Nikki watched the two who had been bonding of late. She didn’t really care for relationships as it wasn’t really a thing in her life. She hid her wealth even now with her new friends that wouldn’t care. She wanted to be the Nikki she was when the family wasn’t there.

When she was with her family, she had to be perfect and presentable. She was like royalty never being able to decide things for herself. As a result, because her secrets needed to be kept, she never considered having a boyfriend that would need to meet the family.

Fiona was brave. She like this guy and she put herself out there and she won. But Nikki felt it was not something everyone would experience in life.