The Silent Thief

XXVIII

XXVIII

               “Why didn’t you tell us from the beginning?” Jabari was the first to ask.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “Something held me back.”

Sir William spoke up seeing I was uncomfortable. “Because it is what the prophecy says.”

I turned to look at him eager to hear more about this ‘prophecy’.

“It’s about time you explained that to me,” I said sternly. “From what I’ve heard, this ‘prophecy’ is the reason behind making my life a mess.”

Sir William looked to my father who stood a little ways off, watching the whole situation. I found it strange that he had not embraced or even spoken to me when he saw I had escaped.

“You wish to here the prophecy, so I shall incline to tell you.”

My father spoke clear and loud saying,

“A girl, whose name has been sown, will come to a stage of great sorrow,

Sins and deceit she will practice, for she searches to escape her sadness,”

“Would you mind explaining that to me in English,” I interrupted. “My prophecy understanding is a little rusty. This could be some other girl, for all we know, and how can we even trust this so called ‘prophecy’?”

“We know it’s you because of the first line. Your name is Grace Hall. Grace is a gift that has been sown by Jesus Christ and many others, as you’ve heard. You surname is Hall, which I presume you didn’t know. Hall means kind or forgiving, a trait that has also been sowed before,” Sir William somewhat answered.

“You’re right, I never knew my surname. The kids at the orphanage would call me Silent Ass Grace because I would appear silently when unexpected.” My statement was followed by a few laughs which stopped abruptly when my father glared at them.

“The prophecy is not finished,” my father said continuing.

“Of age twenty-one she will turn, to discover power that’s long since been adjourned,

The gem will then be known, by only her whose face is not shown,

And for this she will cease, by the wishes of the beast.”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘and for this she will cease’?” Captain James asked surprisingly loud.

There was silence from the two men. Sir William looked at my father who looked at him in return.

“Does this prophecy not give her a free will? No matter what, her life will turn out a certain way?!” Captain James said angrily while rising from his spot. His words were directed toward his uncle more.

“James, of course she can choose. If she chose to leave now, either another girl would be born that fits the prophecy or one who is already close of age will realize herself what she must do. The prophecy fits the girl who is willing to accept it.”

“It doesn’t seem that way to me,” I spoke again. “So far, everything that has happened is because of those words and without my decision at all.” I crossed my arms and awaited their response.

“Let us explain, Grace. Though on the surface it may seem that way, truly it is not,” Sir William quickly answered.

“Do your explaining, Sir William. And don’t forget to mention why I’m going to cease,” I said almost sarcastically. I admit that I was a little angry with him.

After a few seconds of silence he started, “When you were a child you were under the protection of your parents. Because of that you did not know much of the cruel world around you, but indeed it was there. Men killed each other over pieces of gold and it seemed there was always a race going on of who could find the most precious possessions. Our fathers told us stories of men finding great new lands and the abundant riches there, so of course as lads growin’ up, we wanted to follow in their footsteps. Your father and I were school mates, along with whom I’m sure you’re familiar with, Captain Sharp Stones. We were driven by our excitement to discover anything but Captain Stones, just like the other men in his family, was driven by greed.”