Flight Of Fancy

CHAPTER 5: A PLAN FULFILLED

I decide to start the tale with Tristenhold and give him a little backstory. He was pushed by a father who had no time for weaklings, to be the greatest warrior he could possibly be. This mentality he took into his arranged marriage to his first wife. She bore him a son and, following the oracle's instruction, he banished the child and his mother. A pattern he would repeat until the birth of his daughter.

The lord pushed his daughter just like his father before him to be the greatest warrior the kingdom had ever seen, very much in keeping with the theme previously set. But this time I made Darsius a playmate from her early days who helped to ground her humanity and give her a more sympathetic angle as she is pushed more and more to leave such notions behind.

Then my creative side takes over and I expound upon the romance had between the two of them. They take walks, go for boat rides and just enjoy each other's company. They are passionate with one another and make love like theirs is the only love in existence. It shatters the very fabric of space and leaves nothing unchanged.

All of this makes it that much more poignant when they are betrayed by a servant taken into their confidence. I had to make that part up as the diary did not mention who gave them up. And instead of striking down her father at the execution, she won him over with her words and her father embraces her for the first time since she was a babe and the people rejoice.

I sit back and take my work in. My penmanship is still terrible, doubly so with the scratching quill. Luckily, I have my two assistants who turn out to write much better than I. So I dictate the story and allow each of them to write as they interrupt my words and combine the two narratives into a single, cohesive tale.

The whole ordeal takes up the entirety of Uriel's absence and I work like mad to put on the finishing touches just as she returns. The sisters bind it up and take it to her ladyship and I sit back and await my summons. In the meantime I busy myself with whatever I can find to occupy my mind, mostly making silly little doodles and just spending time with my assistants who possess so much depth I'll likely not be able to perceive it all.

A whole five days passes with me getting anxious for every minute that passes. I hide it from the sisters and play along as I try to focus on anything else. But how long does it take to read a short story? She should have been done by now. Maybe she has and doesn't like it. Maybe she is at this moment collecting a guard to have me escorted from the premises and thrown into the yawning void.

A knock at the door completely dishevels my feverish brain "Come in," I respond out of reflex rather than conscious thought and I stare at the door as hard as I can.

It opens up and the butler floats through. "Pardon my intrusion sir," he apologizes with a bow. "Lady Uriel has requested your presence."

I give a nod and stand up as my stomach does flip flops. I feel ill as though I would vomit, but I mask my feelings and follow after the dutiful servant. He leads me down the corridors and into the library. We find Uriel sitting at a table, my book in her hand. She seems engrossed and I hasten my thoughts as to whether that's a good thing or not. I try to imagine the emotions she must be feeling, but I just can't seem to read her face.

She looks up from the book and catches sight of me. "An amusing little story," she suddenly speaks as she shuts the book..

I was so taken aback that I haven't even the time to formulate a response. Then the word hits me, amusing? I would have called the story many things, even silly, but amusing? As though a trifle to be passed by. To me it's a harsh criticism, but I take it in stride. She says nothing more. She only stares at me.

"Well," she starts at last as she stands up. "I have a war I need to get back to. Have my-""

"What?" I cut her off as I approach as though the distance between us is what propagates the ignorance on her part.