Part 30 (1/2)
”Would he continue south without you? Does he seek something else there?” Trigorah pressed.
”I don't think so. He was only going there so that he wouldn't have to worry about me when he tried to end the war,” Ivy explained.
”How does he intend to do this?” Trigorah asked.
” . . . I don't know. But he is going to do it. He's amazing,” Ivy nearly gushed.
Trigorah suppressed a wave of anger at the hero wors.h.i.+p.
”Do you suppose that he will realize you are gone?” she asked.
”Of course!” Ivy said.
”And he will come for you?” Trigorah said.
Ivy nodded vigorously.
”And the shape s.h.i.+fter?” continued the general.
”Um . . . yes,” came the answer, dejectedly. ”She won't leave Lain alone.”
Ivy looked to and fro before adding in a conspiritorial whisper. ”She likes him.”
”And Myranda. Is it true that she-” Trigorah began to ask.
”SHE'S NOT DEAD!” Ivy retorted before the accusation was even made. ”Everyone says she's dead, but I talked to her. I know she's still alive and Lain knows it too.”
This was new. And if it was true it would change things considerably, but something about her defensiveness made Trigorah believe that this was the wishful thinking of a naive mind. Still, it was worth noting.
”Very well. Tell me about Ether. What types of things can she do?” Trigorah interrogated. The others had only the vaguest of details about the mystical creature, and the ability to produce duplicates had never even been considered.
”I don't know. Lots of things. I don't want to talk about her,” Ivy objected. ”Don't you want to know about me? I can do plenty of things, too!”
”The shape s.h.i.+fter,” Trigorah ordered.
Ivy grumbled and crossed her arms.
”No!” she pouted.
”This is not a game, Ivy. Do as I say,” Trigorah warned forcefully.
”But . . . fine. She can turn into fire and water and all of that. Also, anything she touches she can turn into, and sometimes it takes a while. She gets tired quick because she overdoes everything, and . . . um, she hates crystals. One of the . . . .” she shuttered. ” . . . teachers, shoved a crystal into her chest and she would have died if I didn't save her. What I did was . . . ”
”We will discuss you later. First finish about Ether. Do crystals always work? Does she have a defense against them?” Trigorah said, refocusing the purposefully wandering mind of Ivy.
She grumbled again.
”No. I don't think so . . . wait. Yes. She turned into one of the silver crawling things that had a crystal right on its head and it didn't bother her at all. So, uh . . . ” Ivy began.
”If she takes the form of a creature immune to that attack, she inherits the immunity as well,” Trigorah deduced.
”Yes . . . I guess. Are we done with her?” the creature nearly pleaded.
”Very well. What would you have me know?” Trigorah relented. This was the most surreal interrogation she'd ever performed. In the alley it was like trying to juggle a tinderbox and a torch, and now it was like humoring a child that was starved for attention. She was beginning to wonder how much of the information she pulled from this damaged mind could be trusted.
”Well, I can play music, and I can dance, and I can sing too. Do you want to hear?” Ivy babbled.
”Now is not the time for that. Where did you learn such things?” Trigorah asked. Certainly it hadn't been a part of the education they had given her during her development.
”I don't know how I know, I just know. And I am very good. Watch!” Ivy said, pulling the box from the floor suddenly and beginning to open it.
Before the latches could be undone, Trigorah's sword was at the ready.
”Stay your hands,” she warned.
Ivy flinched, startled.
”Hey! I was just going to play the violin for you!” she scolded.
”Creature, as long as you are cooperative I will permit you to behave as you wish, but do not forget that you are my prisoner. Trust is acceptable, but obedience is mandatory. I am not your friend. I am your captor,” Trigorah growled, her blade's point held a whisper away from Ivy's throat.
”You wouldn't hurt me,” Ivy said with dismissal.
”I will do what I must to achieve my ends. Consider this your last warning,” Trigorah said with finality.
The general was accustomed to loyalty, obedience, and fear. She would NOT be dismissed.
”But we are supposed to be friends. Don't you feel it too? You and I are supposed to help each other,” Ivy said, confused by the threatening action.
”No. You only believe that because of something that was done to you while you were being created,” Trigorah seethed. Her logic screamed for her to stop, to weather this behavior. She could not bring herself to head the warnings.
”Oh, what do you know? I mean, look at that ugly thing on your arm. Who would wear that?” Ivy said, in the same infuriating tone, pointing to the outstretched arm that held the sword.
Trigorah looked to the bulge under her sleeve that Ivy had indicated.
”You will not mock my band,” Trigorah said, pulling back the sleeve to reveal a gold band engraved with runes clasped tightly about her upper arm. ”This band was presented to me before I swore allegiance to the four Generals. It represents my honored position at the head of the great army of this great land. The day I remove it is the day I forsake my superiors and forsake my kingdom. It has not left my skin since the day it was given.”
Ivy twisted her head to try to get a better look at the runes.
”To quench the flames and dim the light? What does that mean?” Ivy asked, perplexed.
”What foolishness are you saying?” Trigorah hissed.
”That's what it says. There are other runes after it but that is what the little ones say. You mean you didn't . . . ” Ivy began to explain, but suddenly she seemed distracted.
The creature sniffed at the air, concern quickly turning to fear.
”He's here,” she said, terror beginning to spill off of her again.