Four Rings

Four Rings Chapter two

~::~Chapter two~::~

"Erm...Sir Rathad? There is someone here to see you." The butler said after he entered the dining hall.

Rathad was seated in his wheeled chair, shoving food in his mouth in a very ungraceful manner. He stopped mid bite when his ghost had entered though, and little syrupy crumbs fell off of his pancaked face. The butler stifled a laugh.

"Shrl frm rrr reet" Rathad said. Or tried to say at least. His mouth was too full of his breakfast. The poltergeist snorted from trying to hold in his laugh. But quickly recovered before more giggles could escape. But nevertheless his master heard him and glared at him nastily. Which in turn made the Butler swallow his joy and felt it go down in a hard lump. "Would you like help cleaning up master?" He asked.

"Frr." Rathad shook his head and shooed him off. Thankful to leave the room, the dead man hurried out.

"He'll be right with you young lady. Would you like to come in for a spell while we wait? I do believe there is fresh tea in the parlor." The Butler said to the visitor.

"Oh hey. Why not?"  The beautiful slender teen said. Then she stepped in with one dainty foot following the other, her hair bouncing with every delicate shuffle. She followed the Butler into a very expensive looking room. The walls were a deep red and bordered with gold. There were bookshelves on each side and a nice, big fireplace at the far end. Where two leather chairs sat in front a small coffee table waiting. Both of them glided over to the seats (though Belynna had slight more grace) and sunk down into the cushy leather.

"Wow. This place is fancy! You guys must be rich or something." Belynna innocently said. Though she knew that they were the Daelgoren family, she wanted to hear them say it themselves. The Butler just raised his eyebrows and frowned. The pretty girl waited for an answer, cocking her head to one side and widening her eyes, looking even more splendid. The ghost and the girl sat that way for a long time. Sipping tea every now and then. Rathad was the one to break the silence as he strode in making his presence loud and clear. Even louder still when he saw Belynna and nearly knocked over the table and tea.

"Um...Err... Be-Belynna! How nice... nice to see you..." Rathad stuttered. He picked up the sugar cup in which he had knocked over previously, and scooped up what had fallen out.

"Err... Butler!"

"I'm right here sir. No need to shout." The Butler stated.

"Oh... Um... Right. Take this sugar and burn it! It has been spoiled." Rathad tried to say grandly.

Belynna un-cocked her head and looked confused, "But sir Rathad, did you not get a ring?"

Rathad's face flushed a furious red as his mind started whirling. He had already formed a list of worries:

The Butler would find out about my powers Belynna will think me a fool for forgetting The Butler will start to question me

My legs still hurt very badly and I should have stayed in my chair.

Three out of those four came true.

The first one to happen was the Butler found out

The second was his legs were killing him

And the third was the Butler questioning him.

"Master Rathad? Is there something you would like to tell me? Perhaps how you got such an expensive looking ring? Or what she means when she asks you if you got one? Where were you last night again? Why are your 'royal' legs hurting exactly? How do you two know each other? Master Rathad as your caretaker I DEMAND to know what is going on. I can't take care of you if I don't know EVERYTHING." The ghostly face was so close to the human's it made Rathad cold.

"B-B-Butler! G-get out of my f-face!" Rathad feebly tried but to no avail. The Butler was just about to lecture him again when another voice stepped in.

"Excuse me ghost, but are you allergic to heat?"  Belynna asked.

He just looked confused, "Well, yes. All ghosts are. If we get too close to heat we evaporate. Temporarily of course, but still."

Belynna nodded, "Did you hear that Rathad? He is allergic to HEAT. Did you know that?"

Rathad's face lit up. He understood what she was getting at. And he slowly began to heat up his hand. The poltergeist sizzled, then started to steam.

"MASTER RATHAD! What is going on?!" And faster than you could say "Flapjacks" the ghost was gone. For now at least.

Rathad slowly inhaled and exhaled. He slumped down in the chair the Butler had sat in just a moment ago.

"Well done Sir."  The pretty girl said, "Now, since he is gone, may I ask you some questions about the ring?"

The Daelgoren nodded slowly, "Of course." He said.

The smile dropped from Belynna's face and suddenly she became very serious. Despite the fact that her eyes lost their glitter and her bright smile was no more, she was still, very stunningly beautiful. And Rathad was entranced.

"Now, master Rathad. Do you plan on using the ring?"

"Um... Well... Yes. I am plani-"

"What are you planning on using it for?" Belynna cut in.

"Well... I don't really know. But I know I wil-"

"Will what?" She cut in again.

"Will use it."

"For what?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" He shouted. His temper was as short as a fuse on a bomb.

Belynna's face softened slightly. As if she was satisfied with something.

"There is no need to shout Sir." She said soothingly, "I was only wondering." Her voice was slow and melodious. And each word melted into the next. Making Rathad's thoughts move like molasses.

"Please, let me see the ring." She said.

Still entranced he stuck out his hand for her.

Belynna snatched it up and gazed into the reflective scarlet stone. Her eyes grew wide as she stroked it gently.

"B-Belynna?" Rathad timidly said. A little frightened by how she seemed to adore the ring. Belynna looked up quickly, then put her smile back on.

"It's absolutely marvelous! You are very lucky." She put his hand down and sipped her tea. Rathad noticed her colorful song ring on her right index finger. But he also noticed that she had a bunch of other rings on a bunch of other fingers.

"Why do you wear so many adornments on your fingers?" he queried.

Belynna flinched slightly, "I like to dress up all the time. It's a girl thing really."

"But they loo-"

And right then Belynna started humming. She hummed a deep throaty tune that molded itself into a high happy sound. It was so gorgeous sounding that Rathad was immediately caught in the way it flowed. Riding higher and lower and twisting and turning. The table and tea in front of him was blurred. Belynna started adding words. She sung them quietly,

"Sleep soundly and don't wake up till the dawning sun, no don't wake up till the dawning sun." She swayed to the music and hummed a little more. Belynna was scolding herself for making such a stupid chorus but it really didn't matter. Because Rathad was falling asleep. And as soon as he did. She ran.