THE KEEPERS RISE

Chapter 2 - Winds of Change - Part 3

*Remember to click the play button to listen to the soundtrack as you read!*

Velda crept down the stairs as Cha flew towards her to keep up. Miss Lexio was washing the dishes in the kitchen corner, and more meps were sprawled out playing all over the ground floor. "Hey," Velda said, tapping the matron on the back, and she swiveled around.

"Velda? What are you doing up?"

"I'm feeling better, and Cha suggested that I get some more breakfast since I haven't been eating very much."

Miss Lexio looked from her to the vaya. Cha was in mep form again and almost appeared almost normal if not for its color and the green strand connecting it to Velda's stone. "Chalchiuitl," she said huffily, "Why are you allowing her to walk around like this? Don't you have any common sense?"

"I was under the impression that she could manage a trip downstairs. She does look better, does she not?"

"Yes, but what if she was to have another sleep attack down here? I don't want to have to carry her back."

"I will take care of her," Cha assured the matron. "You must learn to trust me. I made a decision to stay with Velda, and I quite literally have no choice but to be by her side every step of the way. All I ask is to have some more food for her."

Miss Lexio hmphed and left to find something for Velda. Then, suddenly, Cha told her, He is coming.

Velda didn't have enough time to figure out what the vaya meant before Mortimer appeared to her right. "Velda." He said this with as much contempt as he could muster, but it wasn't that much considering how frail she still appeared. "You're willing to be with us peasants, I see."

Velda raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"After what happened, I assumed you would be headed straight for the door to wait for the royals. They're going to be here any minute."

"What? Why didn't someone tell me?"

"I guess they assumed you were ready," he smirked. "You are, aren't you?" Velda stared him down in disgust, but he only said, "Good luck with your friend," and sauntered off.

She was still fuming when Cha said to her, I cannot decipher his actions. He may be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Velda sighed and brushed down a few stray prickles. If only it was that easy.

Miss Lexio returned with some more sugarroot toast and a steaming bowl of meal, which Velda gratefully accepted. As she sat down to eat, she noticed San and some of his friends come down the stairs and gather at another table nearby. They must have already eaten, as the sun was well above the horizon. Lisabe had brought a deck of playing cards, and they all eagerly formed a clump around her as she shuffled the deck.

Cha paced behind Velda as she ate for a while, then decided to do its best to sit down beside her and floated up to the seat. She smiled at the vaya, and Cha tried to smile back, but it was difficult since Cha was unused to making facial expressions, so what Velda got was a little contorted. She couldn't help but laugh at how silly Cha looked, and the vaya laughed too, which made the situation even more ridiculous.

As Velda was quieting down to eat some more, she heard a snippet of conversation from San's table. "Do you think Mortimer's still got a chance?" Lisabe asked, drawing a card for her team and frowning at her bad luck. "What will MepQueen Rhea think about Cha and Velda?"

San replied, "I'm sure they'll have a one-way ticket out of here. Cha is stuck with Velda, and the royals will want to know as much about it as they can." He played an Aegemic Priest and his team cheered.