Chapter 7

Dreams are funny things…Brownie had the reoccurring dream once again. She was in a strange place, and for some reason it felt eerie, and the light was gloomy, she could see very little. It was daytime though Brownie trying to get her bearings but failing to make or recognize any point of reference to use as a guide. She knew it was only a matter of time before the usual bullet points of the dream began to play out. First, the little girl weeping, then contact, and then the impending feeling of imminent and present danger. Waking in a frantic state, and feeling of being in crisis.

Perhaps it would be different this time?

Because she’d dreampt this before and the sense of urgency was not as intense in this instance. she walked around, the mist got thicker the more she moved, she could see through it, but it obscured her vision, was something guiding her, like a conductor wanting her to play out her role?

She heard sobbing from a short distance, like every other time she followed the tiny voice to an overcast spot. The little girl was breaking her heart, and it gave her goosebumps. The mask she wore was only half a mask it covered her nose and eyes and seemed to have two big ears it must have been some type of folk creature. Brownie had never noticed before, but the girl seemed to have vibrant red hair, in fact, it was as red as wine.

The scene was set up almost as if her lines were expected to be delivered ” what’s wrong little one!” She asked the little girl? Like every other time before.

Something was different this time; there was something that felt more insidious as if something had been there all along watching from the shadows through the mist, not close but not far away either?

The small child looked at her and replied: ” I’m lost!” , Brownie had become aware of a dark shape encroaching through the haze of the dream. she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, it was then she thought about what li kay had said about the knightmare, and suddenly Brownie felt the words in her mind vixen, she could see the mask that the girl was wearing looked more like a fox mask.

Something in her pocket felt jagged like a sharp piece of glass. She reached in and touched the dagger that kay had given her on the first night of Tempest retreats. The little Sprite took out the knife the blade seemed jet black, and it seemed to reflect things, she could see her own image in the blade which was forged out of obsidian.
She put the dagger inside her forearm with the blade running up along the outside of her sleeve as if she were palming the knife.

Usually, brownie would ask do you want me to help you, but for some reason this time she offered the girl in the mask her empty palm and said, ” come with me, we’re getting far away from here!” The girl took her hand, and they began to run, through the fog, in the distance there was a piercing wail, it made her heart beat faster as if it were about to burst out of her chest, it was chilling, a gather of banshees were stirred.

The two ran on and stopped a moment as brownie tried to ascertain the best evasion strategy.looking back for a moment the girl in the mask was shaking her head and proceeded to let go of her hand; it was as if a piece of elastic had been cut, abruptly she awoke, disorientated feeling like someone had slapped her across the face hard. ” noooo!” She cried out.

She felt the Martian sunlight on her face; it gave her a sense of relief. She sat upright, and tears streamed down her face, she felt the overwhelming sense of crushing guilt, she did not make any noise, but she heard kay talking to Eulin from the lower level.
From out of nowhere Beiba appeared she sat on the edge of her bed said nothing and passed her a single silk handkerchief.
Beibers face seemed to be different as if she was seeing things for the first time, something had made her question everything she knew like she’d taken the red pill, ” are you alright!?” She asked it seemed that Bieber was saying words that did not come easily to her, like telling someone you loved them, when you don’t know how, and you weren’t too sure what their reaction would be. Brownie wondered what the circumstances that had made her into the person she was, lost love, or a feeling of being unentitled, perhaps parents that were unkind.

Brownie fixed up her face, and replied: “I’m ok!” Sensing she wasn’t welcome Beiber turned to leave. For some reason, Brownie felt sorry for her, and she called her back “Bieber!” She looked back towards Brownie! “Thank you!” She nodded, and with that, the Governess was gone.

Brownie rebuilt her bed which had been destroyed being so restless; it was comprised of oblong cushions which were deceptively comfortable. While uncovering and remaking her bed she found the black dagger, she remembered the dream and looked into its icy black reflection, and it caused her to shiver once again.

After breakfast, Brownie sat on her own she puzzled over, the dream and what she had seen, Kay crying, crying like an infant, up until now he’d appeared like a seasoned veteran, he was tough, and he was a loner.Now she saw a vulnerable streak about him; she wondered what was the catalyst for his pain it must have been something personal she thought. Was there some connection between, them, the key, the note, the girl in the dream, and the sudden tearful outburst. She deliberated for a while.

Suddenly she felt a hand grab her shoulder; she let out a shrill and she spun around sharply to see Beiba once again.

“and what are you up to Sprite! I can see things turning in your mind” she said gruffly. Brownie wondered if that was a Meer turn of phrase or if the Martians really had the ability to see one another’s thoughts.

” I want to apologize sincerely, for my first impression, I must have seemed like an ogre!” She said

“Hmmm Yes!” Said brownie as she recaptured her original train of thought.

“Are you listening to me Sprite!”
Brownie glanced at Beiber,” what’s troubling you?” She asked as she appealed to her Naivety

Changing the subject ” I saw li Kay alone .. it looked like he was upset” she said in her young voice. she was after all very young and could get away with more than most,
Beiba opened her amber eyes wide and slightly withdrew her face as if she had shuddered, ” Young sprite, you must never repeat what you’ve seen to anyone!” She said as she decided to take a seat next to Brownie on the Martian lawn which appeared to be nothing more than burgundy coloured moss and the discussion lingered like a ghost in the air but was never revisited.

Later that afternoon kay and Eulin were cleaning up after the carnage left from the tempests,

There must have been something about Tempest retreats that made you lose track of time. However, Brownie through rudimentary math’s and rounding up had worked out that Today was her 13 th Birthday. Was this the reason she had felt so melancholy? Why had she forgotten about her birthday?

September the 11th, hmmm, Being parentless it wasn’t a big deal she never really had many presents to open, but just being at the unit with the other children they would make a fuss of her and make her aware that today of all days was her birthday.

Kay stood in the courtyard with Eulin Something had garnered his attention something about Brownie, and he had a grim look on his face as he broadcast his emotions.

He called over to her, “is there something I’m missing Sprite!” He questioned her as he could see the look of being disenfranchised written all over her face.

” what’s happening with your eyes?”
” Oh no!” she sighed “let’s not go there again!”
“They look red!” He said softly

She. Replied with great reluctance as she straightened herself up and thought to herself I’m a big girl now, ” oh! Today is my birthday is all!! I’m a little down.”
Perplexed kay replied, “no it is not !”

“What!” She said sharply in disbelief, Martians didn’t always react as you expected them too.

“You’ve been around for 30ish days, that I know of!” He said as he realized he was showing off his ignorance.
“It’s a lie!” Brownie screwed up her face; kay could be quite infuriating at times.
“That’s not fair!” Said Brownie and continued to speak “this is wrong all wrong!”

“no, it’s not!” He said with a false sense of impunity
“Yes, it is!” The young Sprite protesting Kay’s pomposity
“No!”
“Yes!”
“No!”
And they went back and forth like that until brownie said
” it’s not fair!”

Comical it was odd to see anyone arguing with the grand marshal, Intrigued Eulin watched before interrupting” Jussi I think she means the anniversary of her hatching!”

“Oh!” Said li kay looking at Eulin and then at Brownie.
” then we must celebrate it!”
” a big celebration, with!” He looked at Brownie; she inserted her words in his speech “Cake, buns, tea, jam tarts, cider.!” Giddiness began to take hold of her, as her excitement grew.

“We’ll see to it, and we’ll all make sure we are wearing something befitting of such a grand occasion!”

“Help me get the decorations out!” He said to Beiber who had just entered the courtyard “why?” She asked, ” it’s not the jubilee!” In a hint of sarcasm ” were having a celebration for the Sprite, it’s the anniversary of her origin” he explained ” and can you find something out for a young Sprite, something more befitting of a young Mercian lady about court.”

And with that, the plans were underway.

That evening Beiber bought her an elegant sapphire blue dress as well as jewelry to match a headdress earrings bangles, she enjoyed dressing up, and Beiber also looked different she almost had a new glow about her, ” come Sprite let me style those black locks of yours!” She said as she styled her hair in the latest court fashion, ” how do I look ourainne!” Brownie asked as she whirled her slender waist around in the new outfit, the house a.i replied: “with your eyes mistress!”
She looked at Beiber and said ” OH, you are silly ourainne, ” and the pair of them laughed.

Li kay wore a grey tunic with silver threaded embroidery the collar was higher and almost had an oriental look, his hair was tied back, and he wore it in a loose bun, it suited him.

Eulin strangely was adorning jewelry he wore a silver clip over his beak.

The three of them gathered together

“Are you ready Sprite?” they asked as the compelled her to close her eyes, they led her by the hand into the lounge

” ourainne soft incandescent lighting please!” Asked Beiber.

The lounge was dark only the roaring fire illuminated the ornate metal fire guard .it got brighter as ourainne increased the luminosity. She saw the silhouette of a mighty banquette. The Martian equivalent to birthday cake something called nymbus cake, buns, jam tarts, mek~Turiah. They all sat down, and preceded with a glass of tea, honey mushroom & fire flower, Beiber asked Brownie if she wanted extra milk as she was the birthday girl, pausing as she poured out each glass. She blushed and then realized she was holding the milk jug in her hand, and so she did.

Strangely Brownie thought it would be odder dining at a table with a great white bird sitting across from her.

They all had a piece of cake, Eulin just had a small piece pecked at the crumbs and seeds, and then it was time for presents

Eulins present was the First she unwrapped, it was loosely wrapped in a napkin, a single white feather, kay piped up ” is that one of your tail feathers? You’ll find it hard to attract a member of the opposite sex now!” Beiber nudged him in the ribs, Brownie proceeded to put the feather in her headdress and said: ” Thanks, I Love it Eulin!” And she kissed him on his beak.

Next Kay’s present a small bound book and what looked like a charcoal pencil, it had some drawings already in it, but most of the pages were blank “thanks, kay, she hugged him, now I can record my magnificent discoveries!” And she smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

Next was biebers present
It was a quaint, decorated small wooden box with copper marquetry and colored crystals, ” I know your penchant for old relics, I got this for you, from the market!” Said Bieber, Brownie flicked it open, it played a haunting melody, and threw soft light onto the ceiling and walls, images of stars and the moons, and then the mountains and finally the sea, it was both moving and sad, Kay looked at
Beiber and said, ” my that Is old!” as he strained his eyes over it. ” is that from the lost city of Lyness ?!! Beiber nodded ” that melody I know it, ” said kay
” one of Esmie’s poems- Now let me think!” He recalled it and started reciting it “Abashed we stood oppressed and alone against our enemy, we sharpened our skills and sharpened our swords, donned our armour and bid farewell to our loved ones, we held our wives near one Last time, offered
Songs to the fallen…lest we forget, gave the last requiem to the gods both great and terrible, then we marched, we marched for one last battle, from our home, from our city’s gates to return no more!”

“Why that’s !” Brownie was utterly speechless she hugged Bieber and nearly swept her off her feet, “that’s the best present I’ve ever had!” Then the cube fell silent. And the air could be cut by a knife.

The rest of the evening went swimmingly. There were party games; kay played his flute and Eulin sung, there was dancing and much merriment, Brownie worked out all their birthdays and wrote them down in her book, drunken juggling by kay didn’t go down too well, he’d got carried away and drank too much wine.
Fell asleep, and Eulin began to throw seeds at him to wake him up.

We’d better put the drunken sot to bed, Bieber said poking fun at him

After everyone had settled for the night, Bieber decided to stop over in the spare room.

Brownie put on her night attire and neatly put away her presents; she drew the covers back on her bed, it was then she thought she heard a voice far away. It seemed to be talking to itself she walked over to the spiral staircase and sat on the top step, it was kay and Eulin talking, chatting by candlelight kay wasn’t drunk at all it was an elaborate ruse. Brownie wondered why the need for deception, they were planning something between them? she could hear Kay’s words but could not feel Eulins words in her mind he must have been naturally shielding his thoughts, ” you’ll know her when you find her he said, she’s the Women with the really red hair!” , ” Godspeed and return safely. ”
Brownie sneaked downstairs as the two were talking. Creeping stealthily and silently she continued to the landing, she took the adjoining doors off the latch and opened them to the roof terrace and waited in her nightdress. The stars were bright, and the two moons were lustrous. Eulin showed up and landed softly on the terrace roof; he was surprised to see Brownie “Jussi, what are you doing up?!” I heard you talking to kay!” ” yes!” he said, “I have to go away for a while!” He sat quietly contemplating ” but I’ll come back I promise!” “Why?” Said Brownie hurt and confused ” you’ll see!” ” I’m sorry about your birthday celebration, it was necessary!” He said Brownie hung her head ” erm, that’s ok … I was wrong!” she said, “I worked my dates out wrong it’s actually in 2 days!” But before another word was spoken she said quickly, ” but I loved everything, thank you!”, he paused a while, and the two of them sat watching the moons until Eulin flew off into the night sky, part of Brownie wished she could fly with him, and she hoped he would make a safe return soon.