The Monroe Entertainment Company's time has drawn to a close. Their acts made us laugh, cry, and want more.
After their fifth day, we invited them to spend dinner with us. The tavern was used once more because of the sheer number of people.
"Are you sure about this, Demelza?" I asked.
We were in a secluded corner with just the ladies, minus the children, and Demelza had decided to have her future read.
"I am. We've been trying for ages. I hope she sees a child in mine, and in the near future too," she answered.
She and Alexander were frustrated; they had been longing for a second child before little Arnold got too big. Their efforts had so far yielded nothing.
"Very well." Veila gave her a sharp knife and a cup. "Don't need a lot. Just a few drops."
Demelza was far from the timid housewife she once was. She made the cut with ease, no hesitation. Aim and Mia stood behind their little sister and handed her the wine. She filled the cup, probably for the taste. Veila stopped and asked one last time.
"Are you sure? It's no guarantee that—"
"I know. It's a gamble, and if you can't see it first, I won't even ask for another. But do me a favor. Good or bad, just tell me, okay?" she asked with a sure smile.
With a final nod, Demelza downed the cup.
She closed her eyes. Other than the men and children at the tables, we all stood silently. Behind her eyelids, a white light pulsed, and her eyeballs moved around rapidly.
It took just a minute.
The light disappeared, and her eyes opened slowly, as if she had just woken up from a dream.
"I'm sorry, Demelza. No luck. I didn't see children. I saw you with a bow and arrow surrounded by a large cheering crowd," she said.
"Uhh... that must be the upcoming tournament, huh?" asked the excited Eli.
Demelza was sad, but only for a second after hearing Veila's vision. "Did I win?" she asked, going straight to the point.
The little future-teller just smiled awkwardly. "Unfortunately, I only saw you competing. But there was another. It's actually super rare to see two, but the second was a little strange," she said, looking a little confused.
Miranda, who also contemplated a reading, was the most silent until now. "Stop with the suspense, sweetheart, and tell it," she said.
Veila gave an apologetic smile and continued. "You looked a little more mature, battle-ready, and surrounded by archers in matching armor. You were looking down from a cliff toward a town near the sea. You looked... in command, but... more soldier-like?" she said, thinking out loud. She struggled to find the words, since saying Demelza looked colder or unfeeling in her vision would sound a little insulting.
Demelza loved it, though. Just like the ladies previously held back by numerous warnings:
"I'm next!" Miranda stepped closer, eager to cut herself.
I looked toward the boys, paying no attention whatsoever and deep in conversation. Only Anna and Ciren remained at the table. My husband was talking to Ceron about something.
"Lylly, are you sure?" asked my sister.
I didn't have to ask her what she meant. "Yes. I don't want to know anything," I answered again.
I was afraid whatever was shown would be a catalyst for me, making sure I would work towards it, to fulfill it. In a way, with Demelza hearing about her archery competition, she will 100% double her efforts to achieve similar results. Plus, her leading a squad as its capable, older-looking captain? She was good as done with the knives—that was my best guess. She would work hard until she achieved at least one of those outcomes.
Eli saw my resolve and hesitated again. I knew people would buckle eventually. Seeing part of your future was too tempting. Not just her; let's face it, we would all be tempted to hear some of it. In a way, it was lucky Veila didn't see a little girl running around Demelza. She could end up with a dozen kids before one born a girl, doing her best to self-fulfill those prophecies.
Miranda's reading was done. "Your new love is on his way. He looked like a priest? I'm sorry, it was the outfit color that made me remember the priest of Ehlite in the city," she said, looking at her sister for confirmation.
"FINALLY!" shouted Miranda. We all laughed, seeing the tiny woman jump up, punching the air.
Poor Lucian couldn't catch a break lately. First, the promotion and recognition he always yearned for finally achieved, and then his failure to build his own effective style, being outdone by his girlfriend, injuring her, and then injuring himself. Now... a new stepfather.
Zephyr saw how a simple thing like that just added to his growing depression and leaned over to whisper something in his ear. Whatever it was, it worked like a charm. Lucian was energized suddenly and walked out with a smile, and Zephyr followed him.
I was more interested in that interaction than hearing Setil's future and followed the boys who had already walked ahead. I ran back to my coat and put one on Anna before she ran out in just a dress.
It was late and cold. The weather was still unforgiving.
The two lunatics were already sparring in the gently falling snow—hopefully, the last of the season. Lucian, though already bruised, smiled happily.
"Are you trying to take it easy on me, Mordin!?" asked Zephyr.
His taunts were enough to spur him on. His long legs were his best weapon; since Zephyr introduced his martial arts, they were lethal. The constant barrage of kicks forced my husband to take him seriously, and some of the roundhouse kicks battered Zephyr.
"See... you don't need... silly stupidity... it was..." he defended while squeezing out the words after each block. "...always... your speed!!"
He grabbed him by the shirt, turned sideways, and threw him using his back and the momentum gained.
(THUD)
He sat on his back before he got up, just in time for Eli and Demelza to join us.
"You wanted to create something special so bad... you forgot you already had something all along," he got up and pulled his brother up from the muddy snow. He continued, "You're fast, and those legs can reach the sky one day. Stop the silly shit!" A not-so-friendly punch to his shoulder rocked Lucian. "Concentrate on your future wife's technique. Together, you can make my footwork into something... special."
They smiled. Zephyr cleaned him up a little.
Lucian's depressed expression was no more, and even his body language walking towards us changed.
Eli smiled, gently leaning on me. "Look at him. Me saying the same words for days... nothing."
"He just needed his ass kicked... by Zephyr," I added, smiling.
Lucian walked closer to Eleanor with a sneaky smile and buried his head in her hair. "I'm sorry... for my behavior and for being mopey a little."
"Shh... here's an idea... show me, don't tell me," Eli said.
"Alright. Dismissed, you two," I said quickly, cutting them off. The last thing I wanted was to overhear their exact plans for tonight.
We watched them walking away, and Anna climbed over to her forever-preferred parent.
"Good for you pulling him out of his funk," I said.
"He got too focused, partly my fault for tasking him so abruptly." He pulled us all in, covering Anna completely. "He is so serious all the time. I forgot he only turned seventeen."
This made me think. I remained silent because it's been a while since I was tasked to decide on my own husband's age. Right then and there, I decided.
"Zephyr... I..."