Factionless

Chapter Seven: Basil's point view

  *Ten years later*

Stretching I look around. Is that a duck I hear quacking? "I hate ducks..."

"Basil! Basil where are you?" Mother Quinna's voice rang out.

"I'm right here," I said.

"Ah, yes," she said coming around the side of our shelter. "Washing the clothes."

I nodded. There was a small stream behind our shelter that we used to bathe and wash stuff in. It was also where we got clean water. We were extremely lucky.

"Here is some more. Clean them well." She handed me a pile of clothes that needed to be washed. It was a combination of black, white, blue, gray, and purple.

"Are we washing clothes for the Regals again?" I asked curiously.

"Yes," Mother Quinna said. "And the other factions too. They like the way we clean things."

"They want to give us money," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" An electric blue eye looked me over. "What did you say?"

"I said," I cleared my throat. "I said 'Thank you.' Mother Quinna. 'Thank you'."

Nodding she sat down on a nearby rock. "Indeed, you did." She lit her pipe and puffed on it. "Basil, after you're done washing I want you to-"

An exhausted looking girl came into view. "Mother Quinna she-"

Mother Quinna lifted her hand and the girl stopped in her tracks. "The baby will wait, Faith. Now, Basil," she turned back to me. "When you're done I want you to go across the road and tell them that can go back to factions if they feel like being stupid." She rose to her feet. "Tell them I said it, Basil. Now for you, Faith," she turned back to the girl. "Lead the way." They walked off in the direction the girl had come.

I went back to my washing. "Why would the people across the road be acting stupid?" I thought to myself. I ignored it and continued washing.

"Quack." It was a very dignified quack.

I spun around. "Shut up!" I snapped at the duck. He was so fluffy and white but I hate ducks.

"First sign of madness: talking to things that can't talk back." It was the boy from across the road. He was rather ordinary looking but every girl I talked to said he was good-looking. Their definition of 'good-looking' was very different from most people's.

"Good morning to you too, Andrew." I said, walking back to the little shack that I lived in with a basket full of clean clothes to be folded.

"Why were you shouting at that duck?" He asked following me to the shack.

"Quack!" Said the duck. "Quack quack, quack quack. Quacky quack quack."

"Shut up," I snarled at the duck.

"Why are you still talking to it?" Andrew was really being curious this morning.

"I don't like ducks," I told him.

Andrew stood in the doorway. "Who doesn't like ducks? They're so cute and fluffy."

I sighed and looked over at him. "Why are you standing there in the doorway?"

"I'm talking to you! We're having a conversation," Andrew said. He had a hurt puppy look on his face.

"But why?"

"I dunno. It's fun to annoy you." A grin spread across his face. "You look so annoyed by everything whenever someone you don't like talks to you."

I frowned. "I don't mind talking to you."

"Yeah," he said walking into the house.

I frowned at him. "Why did you walk in here? This is my house. Stand at the door until I invite you in!"

He grinned at me. "Okay," he walked back to the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"No."

"It's actually Mother Quinna's house, Basil," he said.

"Yes?" I asked. "So?"

"She gave me permission to come and go as I please," he said, waltzing back into the house.

I just glared at him. There was nothing I could do if Mother Quinna had given permission.

"Basil," Faith came in. "Basil, there's a girl. Her name's...her name's..."

"Yes?" I felt like my stomach had just dropped to my toes. "Please don't say-"

"Vidya."