Cevic

Chapter 26

Where silent raindrops fell

And echoed

In the wells of silence…

The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls…

And tenement halls whisper the sound,

Of silence

 

-Sound of silence-

 

Life or death, black or white, truth or dare

 

I recounted my conversation with Princess Isha as fast and tonelessly as possible to not be submerged in the hodgepodge of ambivalent emotions that had gone through me during the conversation.

 James rubbed the nape of his neck. “It seems the pendant is more important than we think.”

 “It must be. I wish I’d heard why,” I groaned in frustration. “Why do you think she hadn’t told me earlier? For the twelve years I had the pendant around my neck, I had thought it was just a connection between King Decus and I, and a mere form of accessory with my name carved behind.”

 “I don’t think that’s the only thing she kept from you. We’re still uncertain of why King Decus chose you over others remember? He trusts you very much, yes, but that is not reason enough.” Rezia sighed.

 “It must be stressful,” remarked James quietly, “to be under so much…pressure and strain. Your life consists of interlocked webs of politics.”

  I smiled wryly. “You don’t say. Do you guys want some caffeine?”

James stretched his limbs, yawning. “Yes, please. I really need it right now.”

  Rezia remained stoic, staring into a wall, a frown carved onto her paper-smooth forehead. I pulled out a cheap can of coffee powder from the nearly empty cupboard, three cups, and poured powder in.

  The stress was starting to get on my nerves, especially after the conversation with Princess Isha. King Decus’ condition had deteriorated. I absent-mindedly fingered the still-glowing pendant, watching the water boil.

  “Wow, thank you, my lady. It’s really pretty,” I said sincerely, after I tore open my fifth birthday present.

  Enclosed in a small box was a beautiful glowing emerald-colored pendant with a thin leather strap. Princess Isha smiled, and pulled it out. “You might think it’s a bit girly, but it’s a special pendant. It connects to you Decus.”

 “It connects me to the king, princess?” I asked with my eyes as wide as they could grow, gaping as Princess Isha helped me put on the pendant.

 “Yes. And it also protects you, so wear it every day, okay? Never take it off.”

“Eron, Eron!”

I snapped out of my rumination, hearing Rezia’s calls. “Yeah?”

  Rezia was by my side, the water already poured and stirring the coffee. “I think we need look step back and look at it from a bigger picture. We’ve been looking into it, scrutinizing the details and reading in between the lines- too much. Let’s look at it as if we’re strangers to the whole matter. What will be the questions you will ask?”

  James perked up, putting down his cup. “The cure.”

Rezia leaned against the counter, rubbing her temples tiredly, but smiled at him affectionately. “What about the cure?” she prompted.