Factionless

Chapter Eight: Vidya's point of view

I walked quickly through the muddy streets. Could they even be classified as streets? They were awful..."Stay. On. Task. You're looking for Basil."

The girl I'd asked about Basil came running back. "She's at Mother Quinna's house. Follow me," she spun away.

I had to jog after her to catch up. "Who's Mother Quinna?"

My first impression upon arriving at a small shack was: "That's a good house for a Factionless."

"Who's Vidya?" Asked a voice.

"No one important," a quieter voice replied. I recognized it to be Basil.

"Basil?" I asked. "Basil, are you in there?"

A brown head poked out of the shack. "Who are you?" The boy asked. He looked at my blue clothes then he went back inside. "Basil, I think one of your customers is here."

A girl put her head out and looked at me. Green eyes grew large with shock. "Out," she snapped, shoving the boy out of the house. Then she glared at me. "Leave," Basil slammed the door shut.

Startled I faced the boy sitting in the dust. He had a surprised look on his face. "Who are you?" I asked.

He turned to me. "I could ask the same of you," he turned back to the door. "I've never seen her so mad."

"I have."

"Oh, really?" He asked, getting up and brushing himself off. "And I suppose you're Vidya?"

I held out my hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Most wouldn't shake hands with a Factionless," he said, taking my hand. "I'm Andrew."

"Well, Andrew," I said. "How long have you known Basil?"

He shrugged. "Two years. They haven't been the best two years of my life," he frowned at me. "She doesn't like me very much."

"Welcome to the club, Andrew," I sighed, holding out my hand once more.

He laughed, he had a very nice laugh, and shook my hand again. "So why are you, Vidya, on Miss.Basil's bad side?" He asked.

I sighed and looked at the door to the shack. "That's a story," I looked at him. "Very long though."

"I got time. I'm not going anywhere, got nothing to do, no one to talk to. I'm completely free to listen to the longest story you've got- Hello, Mother Quinna," He turned to address an old woman who had just walked up.

"Good morning, Andrew," she looked at me. Then she turned to the door. "Why is the door closed? We only close the door at night."

"Mother Quinna, Basil kicked me out here," Andrew had a hurt puppy dog look on his face.

Mother Quinna, I assumed that was the woman's name, walked up to the door and banged on it. "Basil! Basil, open up this minute!"

The door swung open. "Yes?" Basil had an agitated look on her face. It melted off when she saw the woman standing in front of the door. "M-Mother Quinna. I-I didn't see you," Basil fell silent, in evident fear of this towering woman.

"Let these people in, Basil. We shall discuss your behavior later," the old woman swept by her into the house.

Andrew and I walked in behind her.

Bang! the door slammed shut behind us. I jumped around. Basil was standing there with a dark expression on her face.

"Basil," Mother Quinna snapped at her. This one word made Basil lower head and shrink back in fear. "Get something for these people to eat," she cast me another glance. "Something fancy."

Basil obeyed without hesitation. "Does this woman beat her or something?" I couldn't bear the thought of Basil being beaten.

"I'd like a sandwich," Andrew said sitting down on a cot directly across from the door. It squeaked loudly.

Basil opened her mouth to snap back at him but a glance from Mother Quinna made her fall silent.

"So, to what do we owe the pleasure of," Mother Quinna looked at me again. "This visit from a Erudite?"

"She knew what faction I was in! Of course she did, idiot," I thought to myself. "She was in factions once." I thought carefully about what I would say for a few seconds. "Um, I wanted to come see what Factionless living conditions were really like," I lied. "She'll know it's a lie immediately."

"I thought that-," Andrew started but was interrupted by Basil's cry of: "Sandwiches!"

Mother Quinna gave studied me for a minute with her electric blue eyes. I was starting to wonder whether or not I should run when she turned to Basil. "Good girl, now get me my pipe."

Basil set the food down on what could barely pass for a table before obeying Mother Quinna's order. "I wonder how she got the name 'Mother Quinna'. I wish I had a name like that. Then, maybe, I'd get treated with some more respect."

Andrew grabbed one of the sandwiches. "Yum, lettuce," he said before taking a huge bite.

I also took one of the sandwiches and examined it closely. Two pieces of bread, lettuce and a small slice of tomato in between. "This is what they actually eat? How awful."

Basil glared at me as she ate her sandwich. Why did she still blame me for something that had happened years ago? "You'll go crazy if you're left alone in the same room as Royal for too long." My own words hit me. I left Basil alone with Royal. The resulting consequence: Basil had gone nuts. I smiled a little at the thought but looking at Basil's face I stopped. Had I hurt her that bad?

"So," Mother Quinna began. "Erudite, what is it you want to know about this," she looked at her surroundings trying to find the proper adjective. "Place?" I was glad she hadn't chosen a stronger adjective.

"Um, well..." I trailed off and looked around. A whole host of questions suddenly came to my mind. "Why do you live here? Do you help other Factionless? What exactly do you do? Do you have jobs? Is there a money system here? Can you tell me more about how you became known as 'Mother Quinna'? How is it that-"

"Woah, woah, woah." Andrew said looking startled. "That's a lot of questions. Even for an Erudite such as yourself."

"What did you expect? An Erudite to ask one question at a time, Andrew? Have you ever even met an Erudite?" Basil asked him. I felt bad for the poor guy.

Mother Quinna smiled. "I have not spoken to an Erudite in a long time. Come," she placed a cushion on the floor of the shack. "Sit down, I'll do my best to answer all of your questions Miss."

"My name's Vidya," I held out my hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Upon taking my hand Mother Quinna smiled again. "Not many would shake hands with a Factionless."