74 Illusions (1/2)

It was dark inside the Seer's guest-hall with the doors pulled closed. A little light came in through the gaps in the door planks. Nelda considered the wall sconces, but decided not to try to get them lit.

[My expertise with kindling fires stops and starts with knowing how to operate a Bic lighter. I should have brought one with me from Earth. That and a lot of other things.]

Everyone seemed to be looking at her. SmithGuild, looking noticeably gaunt and disheveled now. Manny the manticore, looking like he had a headache and would like to take it out on anyone who gave him the opportunity. The pony centaur was picking fluff out of his hair.

It might not have been their most pressing issue but Nelda just had to ask. ”So, mister… centaur.”

”You don't remember my use-name, do you?” the centaur.

[Dude, there's been a lot going on!]

But Nelda took a deep breath and tried to remember how much it sucked to be a more-or-less forgotten cog in a not-very-nice machine. ”Would you be so kind as to tell me your name?' she asked. ”I can only imagine how tiresome it is being used as part of other people's plans and schemes. Let alone, I guess changed into another creature altogether.” Her eyes flicked to SmithGuild. ”But… and our only chance of making things a bit better is probably working together. There's a lot of assholes in the world and there doesn't seem to be any limit to what they are willing to do to get what they want.”

There was a bit of a silent pause.

”I'm sorry,” Nelda added. ”That wasn't really a very inspiring thing to say but I am not really trying to be a leader here just more of and… organizer. To see if we can all agree on what to do about the current situation, the prophecy and… Brenda.”

The centaur cocked his head. ”Brenda?”

”That's the name of little Miss Method-Actor out there.” She pointed vaguely towards the sky.

”So you know her real name,” the centaur said. ”That is good. If it is her real name. Like, I know different peoples have different ways but with the centaur there is a true given name from birth and a use-name of lineage. It refers to one's most recently deceased direct ancestor. So I am called Freyason, after my mother.”

”Oh, I am sorry,” Nedla said almost reflexively.

Manny snorted. Which seemed to remain Freyason that he was standing quite close to an enormous cannibal, and they hadn't even been introduced. The centaur moved each of his four hooves with a distinct 'clop' to move slightly further away.

”Right, so, Freyason. If you don't mind sharing, just how did… that, happen you.”

Freyason shifted his hooves again, more an uneasy shuffle. ”The woman came to the BellMare and was alone talking to her most of a day. I don't know if she convinced her of some quest, or bespelled her. I would not have thought that possible.” He was lost in thought a moment. ”Afterward we were sent out to capture any bird of flight we could find that was pure white in color. Geese, swans, doves even. She rejected any with even the slightly blemish of color on their feature, and then….” He shuddered.

Manny seemed bored and lay down against the wall with a thump and a sigh.

”I know it might be hard,” Nelda said. ”But it will help us to know how Brenda did this.”