Part 7 (2/2)
Eve gave her a quizzical look. ”Well, yeah. We've been friends since we were little.”
The woman laughed. ”I take it you are not from any of the large towns?”
Eve thought of their little village and laughed. ”No, we're from Swift.w.a.ter. I bet it's about as small a place as you're going to find. Where are you from?”
The woman curtsied. ”My apologies. My name is Melody. I was born in Moenia where The Children of the Immortals took me into their order when I was a little girl. I am actually returning there from a trip I took on their behalf. Who might you be?”
”I'm Evangeline.” Eve let out a giggle. ”But you can call me Eve.”
”It is nice to meet you, Eve. If I may ask, what brings you out across the dead lands?”
”Tyco, the grumpy one bossing us around, used to be a member of the Protectors. A messenger showed up in Swift.w.a.ter with orders that he is supposed to meet with them in Moenia. He asked Max to go along with him because Max wants to be a Protector like his father. I came to keep Max out of trouble.”
Melody joined Eve in her laughter before asking. ”Max's father isn't taking him?”
Eve frowned and shook her head. ”He was killed by bandits when Max was six. That's why he's been so determined to join the Protectors. He wants to take his dad's place in helping others.”
”I knew a lot of the Protectors. What was his father's name?”
”Peter Laskaris.”
Melody's eyes widened. ”Captain Laskaris?”
Now it was Eve's turn to be curious. ”Yes. Have you heard of him?”
Melody seemed in deep thought. ”Yes, Captain Laskaris was well known to the people west of the dead lands.”
Melody let the thought drop and focused back on Eve.
”Im surprised you wanted to go along with them to Moenia?”
Eve shrugged. ”I didnt want to at first, but Max asked me to and, Im worried about him. There's no telling what trouble he would get into without me.”
Melody laughed. ”Is that right? Like I said, I know several lacarna. I would be willing to bet you're the one that usually gets him into trouble.”
Eve couldn't keep back the mischievous grin that always worried Max. ”Maybe.”
Melody almost doubled over with laugher. ”I thought so. Now, I'd venture to guess the old man is Chiron Penna, but who's your furry little friend there?”
How'd she know Mr. Penna's name? Furry friend?
Eve looked behind her where Melody pointed. Spook had crept up to the water's edge where she sat methodically cleaning herself.
Eve giggled. ”That's Spook.”
Melody shook her head. ”You are certainly different from any lacarna that I've ever met, but given who your friends are, I think I know why.”
”What do you mean by that?”
Melody tapped her chin with her finger as she thought aloud. ”Why don't you, Max and Mr. Penna come join the diggers and myself for dinner tonight? I'll explain more then.”
Eve anxiously wanted to know more, but Melody clearly meant to keep that information to herself until later. Eve shrugged her shoulders.
”Okay.”
Melody looked west. ”The sun will start to set soon. We had better finish cleaning up and get back inside the camp walls.”
The two of them finished bathing then re-dressed as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Together, they headed back into the camp.
CHAPTER NINE.
Max sat under the stone shelter, staring restlessly at the east gate of the camp. With the sun slipping below the horizon, he stood, determined to find Eve despite Mr. Penna's objection. He made it halfway to the entrance when Eve and the acolyte walked through. Seeing the worried expression on Max's face, Eve giggled.
”Hey, Maxy, off to save a damsel in distress?”
Feeling his face start to flush, Max ducked his head.
”No, no, I was getting hungry and didn't want to sit around waiting for you if you werent coming. You know, in case you'd drowned or something.”
”Max, you know I wouldn't go and do that. Who would keep you out of trouble?”
The acolyte stifled a laugh as she walked past Max towards the diggers. Eve returned with Max to Mr. Penna and Tyco. There she faced Mr. Penna, standing straight as she could trying to take on an air of dignity.
”We have been invited to dine with the diggers and Melody this evening. She would like to know more about us.” Eve changed back to her normal, excitable self. ”She's heard of your dad, Max; you too, Mr. Penna!”
Max's embarra.s.sment about Eve vanished in an instant. ”Really, what did she say?”
While the others were bathing, Tyco had pulled out a dagger to sharpen to help pa.s.s the time. He paused at Eve's news.
”That woman is of the Children of the Immortals. They are an odd group. You should be careful who you choose to dine with. I would recommend staying over here.”
Eve stuck her nose up. ”I think you're right, Tyco. We should be careful of whom we eat with.” Eve turned to Max and Mr. Penna. ”Come on Max, Mr. Penna, let's get our food and head over.” Eve looked back at Tyco. ”I'm glad you don't want to go. You weren't invited anyways.”
Tyco stared at Eve, a dour look on his face. Eve simply turned and headed for the center of the camp where the small stack of firewood now burned. Tyco grunted and returned to sharpening his dagger, a little more forcibly now.
Max looked expectantly at Mr. Penna. ”Mr. Penna?”
Mr. Penna sighed. ”I knew we would be recognized at some point. I had hoped it would not be so soon, but perhaps it being the Children is a good thing.”
Max tried in desperation to contain his excitement. ”Is that a yes or no?”
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