STORIES
155 - Horns
2009
The next morning ...
ORRIE:
... That’s her Brynie. See, I told you she was a giant.
BRYNIE:
Orrie, don’t say stuff like that, it’s … rude.
THYSSA:
In the child’s eyes I am a giant. He only speaks
the truth as he sees it. No offense is taken.
BRYNIE:
Oh, OK. I’m Brynie, his brother.
THYSSA:
I am called Thyssa. Hello.
ORRIE:
Brynie - I’m thirsty.
BRYNIE:
OK. Wait here, and I’ll get you something to drink.
THYSSA:
Little boy, you are staring at me.
ORRIE:
I see horns.
THYSSA:
How perceptive of you. I have horns. I keep them hidden from most everyone's view. It takes a special being to see them.
ORRIE:
Like me? Unbelieveable! How come they hidden?
THYSSA:
One doesn’t show an enemy their weapons until necessary.
ORRIE:
I'm no enemy. They go in and out. Will you show me?
THYSSA:
Only if you promise it will be our secret.
ORRIE:
OK. I promise.
ORRIE:
Unbelievable! Can you teach me how to do that?
THYSSA:
No. You must be born with them.
ORRIE:
I can't grow them?
THYSSA:
No.
BRYNIE:
Here you go.
ORRIE:
Hey Brynie - did you just see Thyssa's ...
ORRIE:
Oops, I almost told.
THYSSA:
winks
BRYNIE:
What are you talking about?
ORRIE:
Nothing. Where’s Fin?
BRYNIE:
He’s on his way to the airport to meet Daprima.
THYSSA:
Who is Daprima?
BRYNIE:
She’s Fin’s girlfriend. She was the first one to meet our
guardian A-m, and then they invited us to move in.
ORRIE:
Grace coming too?
RYNIE:
Uh-huh. That's Daprima’s little sister.
ORRIE:
She has a big mouth.
BRYNIE:
She sure does, and she’s bossy too.
THYSSA:
This is a little girl child?
BRYNIE:
Uh-huh. They’re humans, not elves, and they have a genie too,
his name is Io.
THYSSA:
How did a genie come to live among humans?
BRYNIE:
I’m not really sure, but it has something to do with him belonging
to the first clan – and that would be them. Daprima's really his master
but sometimes Grace manages to make a wish.
ORRIE:
Mez don’t like magic. He told me so. He don't make wishes.
THYSSA:
Only one with great power can hold a genie in its place.
BRYNIE:
I think Daprima's very powerful. I sure wouldn’t
want to mess with her.
ORRIE:
She reads minds and knows stuff before it happens.
BRYNIE:
I can’t wait to see them again. Well, maybe not Grace.
ORRIE:
No, not Grace.
Syrrah's Sitting Room ...
SYRRAH:
... I should have known I'd find you in here with my daughter.
CHINATSU:
I enjoy spending time with her. She's such a joy.
SYRRAH:
I cannot agree more, thank you. Shichi has been looking for you.
CHINATSU:
I am not surprised.
SYRRAH:
There is something about him … He is familiar to me yet I know we
have never met before. He seems to fancy you.
CHINATSU:
I know. He told me he didn’t plan to stay here.
Like you, I too was curious about him.
SYRRAH:
Was? What occurred that would leave you curious no longer?
CHINATSU:
We shared a night together.
CHINATSU:
... He told me things I don’t understand. Maybe they will make sense
to you? He is of the Sea Clan, but ran away as a youth … something
about wanting to learn magic and it being forbidden to him.
SYRRAH:
Ah yes the Sea Clan, I should have realized.
The Sea Clan is a matriarchal system.
CHINATSU:
A society ruled by women?
SYRRAH:
Indeed. Yesterday, I decided to test Shichi, I was almost rude. Yet he did as I asked. You say he left to study magic?
CHINATSU:
Yes.
SYRRAH:
I believe only the women of the Sea Clan can study magic.
Did he say anything about his connection to Phae?
CHINATSU:
Only that he was hired to guide her here. I think he genuinely
cares for her. In his eyes, Phae is a child in his custody. I suggested there was more to their relationship and he became insulted. This tells me
much. He has an air about him - much like you and your brother.
SYRRAH:
How so?
CHINATSU:
He was someone important at one time, perhaps still is.
SYRRAH:
You know this from one night’s conversation?
CHINATSU:
As a geisha, I was trained to recognize men of power.
SYRRAH:
This is helpful to me. I need to know all I can about Phae. She is determined
to marry my brother. Zyfan is naïve about many things. I will not allow
him to be hurt. Knowing who she associates with reveals much to me.
CHINATSU:
I like Zyfan and am happy to be of assistance, but there is one thing I don’t
understand. If Zyfan is drawn to men, how will Phae fit in?
SYRRAH:
That is for her to accept. Although it is possible that Zyfan may acquire a
desire for women in the future. This is the way of Elves.
CHINATSU:
All Elves? Did you have a taste for women once?
If so, is my brother aware of this?
SYRRAH:
Haha - that is a topic of many conversations that Vanni and I have had.
I was quite the wild child in my youth. Here, let me take her.
SYRRAH:
... And you Chinatsu, what will you do about Shichi? He is
quite attractive, do you not agree?
CHINATSU:
I do but he told me he was leaving. I am not looking for a relationship.
He’s complicated everything by returning.
Later ...
ORRIE:
K'ranthir you seen Brynie? I found my crossbow and wanna shoot him.
KARANTHIR:
Far be it for me to interrupt such an important task, but I’d like a word with
you first. I’m hoping you can clear something up for me.
ORRIE:
You need my help? Unbelievable!
KARANTHIR:
Isn’t it? It seems you and Zyfan had a little chat a
few days ago concerning the next One.
ORRIE:
I ‘member. That was when Chinatsu arrived. She was naked.
KARANTHIR:
Yes, I believe you’ve mentioned that to me, numerous times.
Let’s move beyond that please. Do you know what the One is?
ORRIE:
Yup. That’s the ruler of the Elves back home. Grampa told me.
KARANTHIR:
That’s correct. Presently Zyfan’s Uncle holds the position.
Did you know Zyfan is next in line?
ORRIE:
Uh-huh, grampa told me that too.
KARANTHIR:
Excellent. So why did you tell Zyfan he isn’t going to be the next One?
ORRIE:
'Cause he don’t wanna do it and I don’t want him to worry
no more. Pica's gonna do it. I’ll be her councilor.
KARANTHIR:
You have this all planned out, do you? Can you tell me how
you arrived at this conclusion?
ORRIE:
Nope.
KARANTHIR:
Why not?
ORRIE:
Don’t know what con-cu-sion means.
KARANTHIR:
How silly of me, my mistake. Let me rephrase the question.
How do you know Pica will be the next One?
ORRIE:
Saw it.
KARANTHIR:
You saw it?
ORRIE:
Yup, I saw it, in my head, like Zam’s tail.
KARANTHIR:
Zam’s tail?
ORRIE:
Yup. I think he’s a fish cause he has a blue tail. And you know what else?
Thyssa has horns! She showed me. She took them away when
Brynie came back. Oops, I forgot - that’s a secret.
KARANTHIR:
I promise not to tell.
ORRIE:
OK. We done? I really gotta go shoot Brynie. It can't wait no more.
KARANTHIR:
I know the feeling well. Yes we're quite through.
ORRIE:
Did I help you?
KARANTHIR:
Yes you certainly did, I’m eternally grateful.
