45th Ymiden, 718
The Scholars' Nook
The Scholars' Nook
"Flea? Oh I am so very sorry," Faith said and, without thought or hesitation, she hugged the young man. He looked at her and fury filled his expression. "I didn't hear anything, Faith, I swear it." Faith nodded and just hugged him for a moment, then walked over to some chairs with him. The Nook, as they all knew it, was closed but equally it was busy. People were here to help and yet in the midst of that, Flea looked lost and alone, looking around and wondering what to do and when to do it. He turned to Faith and spoke, his voice sounding more like that of a child. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say to people, Faith." She nodded, her hand in his as they moved together to sit. "What happened, Flea?"
Looking at her and then glancing at Maz, the server here who put down a cup of tea in front of them both, Flea began to speak. It was heart wrenching to hear him talk, so stilted and unsure. Flea told stories and loved words, but even they were failing him at the moment. She listened and she got no more information from him than she'd heard on the way over here. Caz's body had been found by Flea in the early breaks of this morning. He'd come downstairs to open up and she'd been here. "If I'd heard anything, maybe...." He looked at Faith and Flea frowned. Suddenly, as though realising something. "You. You do things, everyone knows it. Good things, helpful things. Miracles." Faith put her hand on his arm, wishing that she could say something different. "I can't bring her back, Flea," he looked at her as though she was talking nonsense.
"Well, no one can do that!" Flea said, like she really wasn't that bright and Faith looked at him with serious silver and ruby eyes. "I meant, you can find out who did this, you can, can't you?" Faith looked at him and wished that she could say yes, she could do that and she would, he had nothing to worry about. But fundamentally, she was far too honest for such a thing. So, she answered him the best she could. "I will certainly try. If you want me to, I believe the Elements will allow me to conduct an investigation." Flea smiled at her, nodding his head and his hand squeezing hers. "I know you'll find out what happened to her, Faith. I know you will. Thank you. And I've already told them," Flea said, the anger returning to his gaze. "I don't trust them. No one does, you know. This happened, how could they let this happen?" Faith squeezed his hand gently.
"I think they're just people doing their best, Flea," she said, softly. She wanted to believe that, anyhow. Yet, she understood why people didn't. She really understood. "But with your permission, I'll do my best. You'll need to think about what level of access you want me to have to her, now, that kind of thing. You don't need to think about it now but..." Flea looked at her and shook his head. "Full. Whatever you need. If there are clues on her.. on her body, then you'll find them. And you'll do the funeral, Faith, won't you?" Faith looked more than a little surprised. "Please. You were her friend and you're blessed by Famula and Vri. You will, won't you."
With a nod of her head and a squeeze to his arm Faith spoke softly. "Of course I will, Flea. Of course I will." It was her duty and her privilege to do so at his request. "I'll make sure she's loved and cared for. We'll see her safe." She spoke softly to him and, at her last words, Flea started to sob.
640 words
Looking at her and then glancing at Maz, the server here who put down a cup of tea in front of them both, Flea began to speak. It was heart wrenching to hear him talk, so stilted and unsure. Flea told stories and loved words, but even they were failing him at the moment. She listened and she got no more information from him than she'd heard on the way over here. Caz's body had been found by Flea in the early breaks of this morning. He'd come downstairs to open up and she'd been here. "If I'd heard anything, maybe...." He looked at Faith and Flea frowned. Suddenly, as though realising something. "You. You do things, everyone knows it. Good things, helpful things. Miracles." Faith put her hand on his arm, wishing that she could say something different. "I can't bring her back, Flea," he looked at her as though she was talking nonsense.
"Well, no one can do that!" Flea said, like she really wasn't that bright and Faith looked at him with serious silver and ruby eyes. "I meant, you can find out who did this, you can, can't you?" Faith looked at him and wished that she could say yes, she could do that and she would, he had nothing to worry about. But fundamentally, she was far too honest for such a thing. So, she answered him the best she could. "I will certainly try. If you want me to, I believe the Elements will allow me to conduct an investigation." Flea smiled at her, nodding his head and his hand squeezing hers. "I know you'll find out what happened to her, Faith. I know you will. Thank you. And I've already told them," Flea said, the anger returning to his gaze. "I don't trust them. No one does, you know. This happened, how could they let this happen?" Faith squeezed his hand gently.
"I think they're just people doing their best, Flea," she said, softly. She wanted to believe that, anyhow. Yet, she understood why people didn't. She really understood. "But with your permission, I'll do my best. You'll need to think about what level of access you want me to have to her, now, that kind of thing. You don't need to think about it now but..." Flea looked at her and shook his head. "Full. Whatever you need. If there are clues on her.. on her body, then you'll find them. And you'll do the funeral, Faith, won't you?" Faith looked more than a little surprised. "Please. You were her friend and you're blessed by Famula and Vri. You will, won't you."
With a nod of her head and a squeeze to his arm Faith spoke softly. "Of course I will, Flea. Of course I will." It was her duty and her privilege to do so at his request. "I'll make sure she's loved and cared for. We'll see her safe." She spoke softly to him and, at her last words, Flea started to sob.
640 words