Incarno

Chapter 2

It was raining. The sound of the water droplets hitting the ground mirroring the murmur of the people passing the streets of London. Car horns broke the rhythm every now and then which made everything seem to be in a hurry, but despite that, my mood was cheerful.

People didn't seem to notice the man walking with not a care in the world, whistling to himself a tune older than memory, but Drin was not just any person. As the man passed him him he seemed to falter for a second. Everyone on the street suddenly diverted their direction, creating the bubble between them and the two men.

"Relax Seman, it's me." I said quickly.

"Yes, and I'm delighted to meet you again." Seman said in a voice so full of sarcasm it sounded like broken glass. The bubble got slightly bigger. The sounds of the rain and people merely background static now. The whistling stopped. Everything dimmed.

Then he turned to look at me and a sly smile replaced the cold anger that he wore on his face. " HA you fool, I heard your heart speed up for a second, you really got worried didn't you." We both grinned. Not much had to be said as a greeting between us. "Anyway come with me, better to talk in private."

And so I followed him. As we walked, the sounds didn't seem to become clearer, but the whistling began again, so fluid everything appeared to move in harmony with it. I could pick out that tune everywhere, the melody of the rain. Seman could feel it, the same as he could feel all melodies, but this one was especially hard, its mixed the lethargy felt form the rain with the life created by it into something new. I had missed it.

Soon enough we were in front of his house near Gloucester Road. A small expensive looking rug at the front door read "keeper of sound". Sigh. "You can drop the veil now Seman.". Sound rushed back. He opened the door and we entered. The house, as big as it was, was crowded with music instruments. The entrance corridor lead way to the living room where a large delicate piano resided. All the furniture seemed to have been arranged so as not to disturb the piano, the sofas a careful distance from it. Music sheets hung on the walls and an old gramophone was playing music from the corner. Several different types of guitar cases lay around and numerous other instruments. He had even managed to get his hand on a cifteli.

Sitting on the couches we finally got to talking. It had been long since we had last seen each other. So I told him about the last few years in Richmond. About my neighbours and how I had been laying low. I told him how these past 2 months I had been confined to my home because of the lacunae. "So that fire I heard about was really you? Deamn, they got close. What branches were they?".

"One of them was a brute" I said "I could feel his presence from a mile away and he was able to catch up to my car. But he must have been a new one. There were no permanent changes on him that I could see."

"I see, so so far Efferus has sent his hounds after you. What about the other one?" Seman was leaning forward with all his body now. His messy hair making him seem just as chaotic as his personality was. With his short stature giving him a very in unintimidating look, something that could change very quickly.

"So far I've guessed he was of the Sagacious. He didn't try to chase me but went for the house" grin "that was his last mistake."
" I don't know Drin," Seman said, a frown on his face " the sagacious are quiet smart, and those potions of them, he might have survived. But that doesn't matter, what does is that now we know Diturim is after you too. Two generals at the same time man what did you do to piss them off?"

"It wasn't me Seman, I was laying low. Actively hunting me again must mean they are planning something big, and they need me for it." I said. Semans frown suddenly turned into a wince. Leaning back on the couch he said "We'll figure that out later. How do you think they found you? Did you run out of moonstone already?"

"Not yet I have some with me right now. And I've been careful it should have hidden my powers and presence completely. I've been thinking about it these past 2 months ever since they first appeared but I'm not sure. Did I leave a paper trail?" I asked. Changing properties was always dangerous now, the lacunae had friends in high places.

"Surely not Drin, Vjosa made sure to keep it clean. You don't think she talked though do you?" Doubt crossed his eyes for a second but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "She wouldn't". He muttered to himself. Abruptly he stood up and checked the window "Well the rain has stopped at least. What do you think we should do now? You always were the decisive one." There was a slight hint of ire in his voice, so slight one who hadn't known him as long as I wouldn't have noticed it, but I brushed it off. Seman could be erratic but he was a good friend.

"We find out what they are planning. First we meet Buna, she's bound to know some of what's going on." He winced. "Yeah I know you don't like her but we need her."

"I know Drin but she loves SILENCE, can you believe that? What's the world without noise but a washed up picture?" He seemed to be steaming now. Exhale. "Fine you're right. Where is she staying now?"

"Last I heard she was close to Bayswater." I thought for a second. "it's probably better to go by tube. They know my car now and it attracts too much attention either way. We'll go tomorrow morning."

" Alright Drin its getting late and you've had a long 2 days. Ill get you set up, there is an extra room upstairs." And so he lead me from the crowded lvingroom through the shining clean kitchen and to the stairs. They were made of beautiful dark Brazilian mahogany wood, the handrails seemed to flow out of the wall as if growing out of it, follow the stairs up and double over into the floor where they appeared to root in. It made them seem alive. Organic.

"Did you have Lana do this for you?" I asked, remembering the last time I had seen here back in 2008. When she had almost died.

"Only she could grow something like this out of nowhere you know this. If that is your way of asking if she is alright then yes, she is. Still recovering mind you. But yes." Sigh "She still hasn't forgiven her self you know. She blames her self for the new Ambition general being appointed."

"She couldn't have stopped the 2008 crisis Seman she must know this. It was too sudden. And Res was smart about it. He manipulated the whole thing so the new bank monopolies would be established. It's not her fault he got accepted." But I knew Ithere was no point to this, we both knew what had happened. And at least flora survived.

We walked the rest of the way in silence until we reached my room. It was simple and tidy and here too was an ancient gramophone playing light music. I never really understood the point of still using them but Seman said there was something more natural about the sound they produced. Not that normal people could tell.

"Goodnight Drin, just remember not to stop the music." He said while suppressing a yawn.

"Yeah I know. Goodnight old friend." And so he left for his room and i went to bed. Laying down i went back through the events of the last few days. Something was nudging at me. Just out of grasp.
Sleep was long to come.