Part 8
So the week went on, and peace returned to the small village, As the roses wavered in the gentle springtime breeze. “Come, come on!” Chrysanthemum said, one bright sunny morning, As she led the Elementals through the village square. “Come and see the fountain! They repaired it, after so long! They repaired it, because Rose has given us all hope!” “That is lovely!” Saera said, eyes moving o’er the village. She saw Marter, who saw her, and smiled when he did. She smiled also, and she blushed, a red flush on her pale skin. Then they reached the fountain, whose soft waters glinted bright, Its old stony pinnacles were bright white with new limestone, And already there were crowds that gathered round its edge. They sat down beside it; Marin dipped her fingers in it, Playing with the water on her sallow, perfect skin. So they sat, in silence. Saera wondered as the time passed. It was close now to a week since the last bandit raid. Within a few days she’d see if they would come a third time. And if they did? She would try to deal with them again. “Oh, wow, look at you!” Chrysanthemum shouted abruptly. “Look at you, you’re wearing black all over, head to toe!” “Yes, indeed I am,” a voice said, gentle, cultured, eager, And all of the Elementals felt chills up their spines. They all turned as one, and saw a thing that made them frightened: Gabrielle and Uriel, both gathered in their midst. Gabrielle sat, staff in her hand, gently at the fountain, And the children gathered round her, eyes gone wide in awe. Uriel was standing by her, black cloak wrapped around him, Hiding where his axe was hanging back against his hip. Gabrielle’s head swiveled, and she saw the Elementals. Her blond eyebrows rose, but otherwise her face was blank. “Oh, hello,” she said, her perfect posh voice not raised loudly. “Ah, hello there, Saera, Marin, Terry, Ardo—hi.” Orchid gasped. “You know each other!” he shouted with volume. “Yes we do,” said Gabrielle. “I’ve known them for a while. They are wanderers, and so am I, though not the same type. Isn’t that right, Terry?” And her gray eyes glinted bright. Terry blinked his bronze eyes sharply, and he looked around them. He could see the villagers had turned to watch them all. “Yes,” he slowly said. “I know her, and I know Uriel. They know we lonely travelers, and escaped slaves.” Gabrielle’s eyebrow arched up at this, but then she nodded. “Yes,” she said. “We met them soon after they’d freed themselves. We helped them get further than they could have themselves managed, And it’s nice to see them once again, doing so well.” “Yes,” said Uriel, “I’m glad to see them fine and healthy. We have much invested in the welfare of these four. “Oh, oh!” cried Chrysanthemum, her green eyes bright, excited. “Oh, Saera, you didn’t say you knew such noble knights! But you’re very strange, you know—you four are very strange, eh!” And then she and Orchid both ran off, with no more words. Slowly all the villagers departed from the fountain, Until they four were alone with the two Seraphim. So with a frustration on his face, Terry stepped forward, And he said, “What are you doing here?” in angry tones. “We are here because the Technocrats are here,” Uriel Said. “We didn’t know you four were in these fields as well.” “The Technocracy’s here? They’re HERE?” Ardo said, with worry. “Well, not in this village, but we think they are nearby. All these warlords have far too much advanced technology. They have access to more than they reasonably should. We think they do business with the Technocrats covertly, And the Technocracy gets something from them—but what?” “So, you’re saying we should leave,” said Terry, sounding urgent. “I’m not sure,” said Gabrielle, her staff upon her lap. “They don’t seem to know that YOU are here—you four elude them. Else the Stalkers would have been about the rosy fields. But I think that if you stay here you will be in danger, Danger of the Technocrats discov’ring where you are. And you know that we cannot have that,” Gabrielle finished, And she smiled brilliantly at them, with gray eyes bright. “You tell us,” said Marin, her own blue eyes focused sharply. “You’re Arcseraphs, right? The four of you, best of the best. And you knew them better, because you knew them as grownups. They didn’t create you in the womb, like they did us. You know them well enough that you know their usual methods. So should we leave right this instant? Or can we still stay?” “I think,” Gabrielle said slowly, taking time to gather, “I think you are safe, for now, at least for some more weeks. As I said, I’ve seen no Stalkers, nor at night heard baying. We’ve yet to discern what the Technocracy does here. So you can stay, for a little while,” she said, then chuckled. “Why? One of you found a boy or girl you really like?” “Well--” said Ardo, but Marin elbowed him very sharply, And Saera said, “We just have enjoyed our peaceful stay. It has been nice not to constantly look o’er our shoulders, And these folk are very kind; they’ve been so nice to us.” “Fair enough,” said Gabrielle, taking her staff and standing. “We will keep your secret, and will not reveal you all. Uriel and I will find another nearby village, Investigating what we can see, what we can find. But do keep in mind: the Technocracy is persistent. They are here amid the rosy fields, and they have not Given up their hunt of you—they won’t, probably ever. And even if they don’t know you’re here, they may yet learn. Be careful, you four, if you are keen to stay much longer. Be careful—you may find yourselves caught ere you can blink.” “Nice to see you all,” said Uriel, courteous, gentle; He was not a many of many words, but of much thought. All four Elementals watched them walk out of the village, Down the road that led back out into the rosy fields. “The Technocracy is HERE,” said Terry in hissed whisper. “Saera, maybe we should leave, and leave this very night.” “No,” said Saera, gently, firmly, though she now was nervous, Frightened by what Gabrielle had told the four of them. But she thought of Marter and of Rose, and steeled her courage. “No, Gabrielle said they were not yet aware of us. If we keep a low profile they won’t find us, not yet. We’ve not used our powers in the sight of anyone. And apart from Rose, nothing unusual has happened; There’s nothing to draw them here, at least not right away.” “Fine,” huffed Terry, glancing at the dusty ground beneath them. Saera softly sighed and glanced into the cloudless sky.
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