Rising Smoke

Chapter Thirteen

        "Come on, Conran, I want to sleep! It's been a long day. They won't be back for awhile!" I whine this to Conran as we leave the meeting room. Everyone pretty much scattered after Arlen's announcement. Then Conran told me that we needed to go back to practicing since we were interrupted. That's when I started to complain. I can only go so long before I collaspe. I don't know when the last time Conran slept. Dude's like never tired. Not like an Energizer Bunny but still always going. Consistent. But before sleep I needed something else.

       I wanted to eat. "I need food, too."

        He sighs, "Fine. So do I. Let's eat."

        Then we're in the dining hall. It's evening so there are people here, obviously, eating. I glance at the door at the back of the hall. I hope everyone is still okay. Or healed correctly. People don't look too shaken up still. Are they used to being attacked? Or are they just tough? I hope it's the latter. 

        We sit and are served food. Yum. This place sure does know how to make a good meal. Conran sits across from me. We are left alone for the most part. Good, I'm quite not yet ready to be introduced to everyone yet. I have too much to worry about. I think the people do too. Wars and attacks are nasty things.

        Thankfully, the people aren't making a big deal about seeing their rulers. That's good. It means Conran mingled with them throughout. A good ruler should know his or her own people.  

        "After this, I'm sleeping," I say around a mouthful of food. Conran gives me a disapproving look. Of course, he eats impeccably, with all good manners. Grr. 

        Bad Leila, Queens don't growl. A voice says.

        In their head they can. Another pops up.

        Uh, what is wrong with me?

        Conran finishes chewing and says, "Fine. But in the morning we will practice. No complaints."

        I nod, "Agreed. Hey, how do you think Arlen and Aleci are doing?"

        He taps his fingers lightly on the table, "Well, I hope. They are both smart, capable men and so is the team they are with. They know how to sneak around and do a basic recon mission."

        I nod. I start to feel like a bobble head and so I stop. "Stars, why couldn't I have come back with all this stuff done with?"

        "Because you were meant to end it all."

        "That's crazy talk. Why me?"

        This is when I notice Conran get uncomfortable. His green eyes look everywhere but at me. His shoulders hunch and that is when I know he isn't telling me something important. Conran never slumps. He is all poised and class. Regal in his bearing. He has grown up with this lifestyle and knows how to work it. He has always known he will be the ruler, the leader. It's intimidating sometimes.

        But that is not what is important. What is important is him telling me what needs to be told. I understand that does not make a lot of sense, but you understand. 

        "You're going to have to tell me everything. We are a team, Conran," I state.

        He runs a quick hand through his hair. Then looks me in the eye. His green eyes are full of fear,  but also determination.

        He glances around, realizes no one is in hearing distance—it's pretty loud in here—and whispers, "There's a prophecy about you."

        When he started whispering to me, I had to lean in close to hear him. But once he said that I jerked back so fast, I am fairly certain I was a blur to some people. Oh yeah, apparently I have some wicked cool speed that comes with my flame throwing powers.

        "There's a prophecy?" I whisper yell at him. He winces slightly. Of course there's a prophecy. Isn't there always one? I mean look at Harry Potter. "I guess it has something to do with me defeating Malakai."

        Conran glances away and says, "Yes." Except there's was a slight, ever so slight catch in his voice. If I wasn't completely tuned into him I would have missed it. I narrow my eyes. Then I kick him in the shin underneath the table. He yelps and swings his shocked gaze back in my direction.

        "Tell me the truth," I demand.

        "You would have to hear the prophecy. It's confusing and filled with a lot of confusing words. And we are not certain exactly what it's saying. We are still trying to figure it out today. But we do have some of it figured it out." He shrugs his broad shoulders as if that will suddenly make it okay. It doesn't.

        "Okay well tell me! And let me hear the prophecy or read it or whatever."

        He sits back, looking undecided. Then his face sets and I know he has come to a conclusion.

"Okay, I can tell you what we have pieced together so far. The prophecy confuses everyone and will confuse you. Also the old lady who told us this prophecy is no longer with us and it's not something that can easily be written down."

This sparks a memory. Was it that old lady with the smells and the chanting? I grip the edge of the table and whisper, " Have I heard this before?"

That's when Conran really looks at me, with a scared look in his eyes. "What do you remember?

Weird question to ask. "Not much. Just an old lady with chanting and odd smells."

By now Conran looks a bit comical, if this was a funny situation, which it is not. His eyes are as round as pancakes. His pupils have diluted so far I can't see the green. And this is the sixth time he has run his hands through his hair in the past five minutes. It looks comical, too.

"Well, I don't know when you came across the old lady, but you did. I just don't remember you ever near her when you were younger. She kept to herself for a long time, until she had that prophecy about you."

Which reminds me..."What is this prophecy?"