Chain Story resumed
(Brother_ Order, EAK and I started a chain story some years ago. Life intervened, and our entries got more sporadic. I think we are now ready to continue it. If you'd like to read the first part of the story, see Brother_Order's post on October 12, 2008. I have also posted some episodes in May and June of this year.)
Felix noticed that the door to his neighbor’s hut was ajar. This was not unusual for her, but in light of recent events, he approached it cautiously. The sound of her mumbling to herself reassured him and he knocked loudly.
“Hello Mother.” He said cheerfully when she looked up.
“Felix, my boy.” The old woman embraced him fondly, then scowled up at him. “I told you not to call me that.” she said crossly even as she accepted the covered basket he offered her. “Call me ‘Crone’. Everyone else does.”
Felix chuckled and shook his head. This was an old argument that neither of them will ever win. He glanced at the paper strewn table and saw that there were two cups set on it.
“I see you have company. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Oh no.” she said plopping the basket on top of the papers. “Harry and I were just catching up on the gossip, weren’t we?” She winked conspiratorially at the empty chair. “Would you like some tea?”
“Thank you. I would.” Felix sat down in a different chair.
“Hi Harry.” Felix wasn’t entirely sure whether the Crone’s friend was invisible or just imaginary. He knew she often saw things that no one else could. Either way, she trusted him. And if the Crone trusted Harry, then Felix would just have to trust him too.
“So….” The Crone said as she handed Felix a cup and poured tea into it. “What’d you bring me?”
Felix opened the basket revealing an array of vegetables and fruit and some packets of blended herbs for tea.
“Actually," he said with a nervous glance at Harry’s chair, “I brought a request.”
The Crone sat down and listened as he told her about being visited by the Scaven warrior and her warning that she might come back.
“And so, Mother,” he concluded, “We find that in trying to protect our children we have only made them vulnerable. They need to learn how to defend themselves. And quickly.”
The Crone peered intently into her cup and muttered something incomprehensible about highways and power. Then she put down her tea and pierced Felix with a startlingly direct gaze.
“And so you come to recruit me.” She said it like an accusation. “I never thought it would be you of all people.
“Do you understand what must be done for me to teach the child?”
Felix nodded.
“We will have to remove the shields and safeguards that… what was that Harry?”
The Crone seemed to forget that Felix was in the room, but he didn’t dare interrupt.
“Oh.” She said at length. “Is that what you meant? … For ourselves, yes.
“Well of course I could…. But what about the other one?
The Crone laughed and clapped her hands like a child. “Oh Harry! You never miss a thing. … Yes. He is the best if you can get him. Would you? … Oh, thank you.
“All right.” She suddenly turned back to Felix. “Send Maretta and Toru to me in the morning.”
“Can we…”
“In the morning.” The Crone interrupted. “At first light if you’re in such a hurry. Tonight you need to go to bed early. All four of you. Get some rest.
“I have much to prepare. Wait.” The Crone rummages around in a drawer and drew out a curiously ornate container. She dumped out the contents of the wicker basket and carefully placed the item into it. Then she started scribbling madly on one of her sheets of paper. She added the note to the basket and put it in Felix’s hand.
“Give this to Maretta,” she said. “Remember, first light.”
“Thank you Mother. And thank you too, Harry.” Felix nodded at his chair.
The Crone gave him a perplexed look. “Who are you talking to?” she asked.