The Chimera

Chapter Four: Enter Tai (Unfortunately)

The four Taymons don't get far in their deliberations. Giada hurriedly explains the situation as best as she can while Fallon bounds up the steps to retrieve the book and knife. Rian and Edeline confirm that they have received no gifts themselves, a fact which seems to bring them relief.

No one ever knows what to do with a gift from the chimera.

Edeline and Rian take turns reading the attached notes. Their reactions are less worried and more serious than Giada had anticipated, for which she is grateful. It is Rian who speaks first after he finishes examining them.

"Yours mentions diving in, and Fallon's mentions a war. I don't know what else it could mean except that you're diving into the war, whatever that implies." He regards her with his steely gray gaze. "You're not planning to enlist, are you?"

Of course she isn't. Giada loves her job at the archives too much to relinquish it for steel or scrimmaging.

After flipping through Fallon's book and confirming for herself that there is nothing of interest in its pages, Edeline asks to see Giada's knife. Obediently, Giada hands it over, cognizant that this is the first time someone other than herself will handle it, and oddly reluctant to give up that sole right. What's this reaction for, I've barely had it, she wonders to herself.

Edeline takes the knife in hand but almost drops it in her initial surprise at its touch. "It's so warm," she says, eyes wide. Giada frowns at this. She had not noticed. To confirm its temperature hasn't changed since her last holding it, she reaches out to rest her hand against the red and black wrought metal. It is cool to her touch. After telling Edeline so, Rian and Fallon each test it as well, both confirming that to them, it is almost uncomfortably warm.

"Maybe it's different for you because you're the one it's for. We might not be meant to touch it," Fallon suggests. "But my book looks like it's the same for everyone."

Before they can pursue this line of thinking any further, a distant knock is heard. Edeline, as the eldest, leaves the parlor to answer whoever is at the door. After it opens comes the sound of voices, low but happy to see one another.

Edeline's steps back to the parlor are tailed by those of a few others, her own tread louder than usual, likely trying to alert her siblings to the presence of others coming in so that they may hide the chimera's gifts if they wish.

Giada has a narrow window in which to decide if she will hide her knife away, and ultimately decides to do it. She does not want to try to explain something that she herself doesn't yet understand. Hurriedly, she places the sheathed knife behind her back so that it is between her and the chair, hopefully concealing it from view. Following her lead, Fallon places his already inconspicuous book under his sketching paper in his lap, shielding it from a cursory glance. Rian takes Giada's note from the chessboard table and pulls it into his pocket just as Edeline and three guests enter the room.

Giada recognizes them all, her sister's longtime friends having been frequent visitors to their home for years upon years. Or, two longtime friends and one strained acquaintance. The former are Dalmar and Marikit, each nodding their greetings to the three siblings. The latter is Taihei, the younger son of one of the city's wealthiest aristocrats, often called Tai by those scant few who voluntarily talk to him. Giada frowns to see him. She does not like Tai.

Despite Edeline walking in first, Tai quickly pushes past her to examine the beginning moves made by Giada and Rian in their game of chess. Rian tenses at his approach. He does not like Tai either.

"You can do better," Tai says, hands clasped behind his back as if in deep thought.

Giada does not know what he could possibly be thinking so deeply about. "We've barely begun," she points out. "Also, hello."