A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 34 - A Last Shot At Honesty

Sometimes, it was easy to simply live in the moment. It was easy to forget about all of the stress and worries that left one's mind ramshackled. It was easy to deny the anxiety that resulted in turbulent thoughts and simply succumb to the delusion of happiness like a deep and dreamless slumber. But inevitably, the sun would rise, the curtains would billow and upon waking from that sleep you'd be forced to face what the light revealed: a broken down home, barely standing and on the brink of collapse.

It was how Honey had gotten by. For months of travel, that end goal—that light—had been there, on the horizon and Honey had been chasing it. She'd been stalking it, following it all the while she was preoccupied by other things. The light was what guided her journey but not her thoughts. It fleeted through her mind like a flickering flame, and when there was darkness there was peace.

Honey was a step away from that light. She stood at the edge of the world, ready to bask in the sun and finally uncover all the obstacles she'd been tripping over as she stumbled through a seemingly eternal darkness.

It was a fruitless sleep she'd been trapped in. The kind that was restless, disturbed. Where she'd struggle to fall into a slumber and when she did it never proved to be worthwhile. She'd wake, delirious and in those moments she'd remember all it was she fought for, all that she'd risk and all the uncertainties that had her heart seizing and her thoughts tempestuous as an ocean storm.

A knock sounded on the door—a hesitant, almost shy one.

Anatui.

"Come in." said Honey, clearing her throat.

Doing as told, the Ethnarch opened the door tentatively, an almost guilty expression on her darling features.

"Jortías told me you would be able to explain to me what it is that's going on." Honey said.

Anatui seemed taken back, her eyebrows raising slightly at Honey's candour.

"Well..." Anatui paused, searching for the correct words, "Striker has given you his favour, and that is not something The High Chief is going to brush over."

"Meaning what, exactly?" Honey asked anxiously.

"Meaning High Chief Tōtui will speak with The Seer."

Honey felt her shoulders slouch, "Do you think she'll- Do you think The Seer will let me speak with her?"

Anatui pursed her lips, "I imagine so, though it'll likely take a day or two."

Honey nodded silently, gaze wide and fixed on the greyish wood of the floor.

"And the others?" Honey added, "Aedis? Chip and Zemira, what of them?"

Anatui pursed her lips, "The High Chief has decided to keep you separated."

"What? Why?"

"A precaution." Anatui explained, "But once you visit the Kahuna, the four of you will be free to go."

Honey nodded vacantly, her heart pattering an anxious rhythm against her ribcage.

There was a silence for a beat, as Honey stared off into space. But there was something that Anatui had been wondering, a question wedged in her mind that she hadn't quite been able to dislodge.

"Where will you go?" The Ethnarch asked, and Honey's attention snapped back to the girl before her.

"I don't... It depends, I suppose." Honey frowned, "I haven't thought much of it but... If I do find answers about my past, then I suppose I'll follow those..."

"And if not?" Anatui asked hesitantly.

Honey stared at the girl, a lost expression befalling her sun-red cheeks.