SEVENTY-NINE: Full Trust Fraction Twelve

“I have to go back,” said Arous.  “You know I went there a couple of weeks ago to visit Jason. He was screaming at me, he knew me as the girl who killed his friend.”

            “Who’s Jason?” asked Siobhan. 

            “Just a guy I met,” said Arous. “But one of the Novices there said he did that at another person that was in the HaleSpa that was Lunese but the head nurse made her stop talking about it. My mom is still there Siobhan. I know it.”

            “She died, Arous.”

            “That’s what they told you.”

            “It could be another Lunese,” said Siobhan.

            “There are no more Lunese, Siobhan. We were the only two.”

            “That you know of.”

            “I know it’s her.”

            “What do you want me to do?” asked Siobhan.

            “I’m going to miasma-port inside at mid-night. There’s a fountain-”

            “Miasma-what?”

            “Ricci installed that fountain for her. He can go right in whenever he wants.”

            “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” said Siobhan. “First you’re talking about some guys with dogs screaming at you in a HaleSpa.  Now you’re attributing some fairytale status to Ephor Ricci. Jude talks some sense into her.”

            Jude had sat in a corner with Octavius looking out the window.

            “He’s not a Misaman,” was all Jude would say.

            “Not a Misamen – the  Miasman,” said Arous.

            “If I’m going to believe you, you have to explain.”

            “Look, Siobhan, it’s not a fairytale, but all the magic you hear about in fairytales its real.  It’s just been gone. It’s coming back.”

            “Granted I’ve seen you skin-dance but now you’re talking about . . . what?”

            “Teleporting using water,” said Jude still looking out the window.

            “Okay. . . what?”

            “Look, I’m getting there. Inside the HaleSpa.  I don’t need to explain how.”

            “That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day,” quipped Jude.

            “But what do you want me to do?” said Siobhan.

            “Nothing, I guess.”

            “Good because I’m not porting with you through a fountain or whatever you do.”

            “Nothing, like that, I mean. I need you waiting with my hoveh a mile from the HaleSpa.”

            “That doesn’t sound like nothing,” said Siobhan and she cover a cough. “Arous, I’m not feeling well.”

            “I can’t port her back with me. I can only get there myself. I could but Ricci would probably know. It’s like – when someone walks down the hall or up to your room door. All Miasmen can feel the vibrations of someone traveling in the Miasma. Just one person, they probably won’t think anything of it, but if I was to try to bring someone through with me, especially someone who doesn’t port, it would be like someone pounding on your door just before a car crashes through your wall.”

            “So, wait with the hoveh,” said Siobhan.

            “Yeah, I’ll get us out and into the woods.  Jude says there’s a service road that goes into the woods and around behind the HaleSpa. It’ll be dangerous to drive up that road and just park in the woods for too long but if you time it right you should be on that main road that runs into the service road right as we’re coming out of the woods.”

            “And if you don’t?”

            “Wait,” said Arous. “Don’t leave until you see us.”

            “I mean, if you don’t find her?” asked Siobhan. “What if I don’t see you, what if I see the Spartan Guards first.”

            “What would Spartan Guards be doing at a HaleSpa?”

            Siobhan colored then went pale. She began coughing again.

            Arous picked through her words. “What exactly do you know, Siobhan? You know she’s there, don’t you?”

            Siobhan didn’t say anything.  The two stared at each other for a moment. Arous walked to the kitchen a got her a glass of water.

            “Thanks,” said Siobhan.

            “Don’t worry,” Arous said to Siobhan stroking her face. “I’ll find her. She has to be in a room off the fountain. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

            “When are we doing this?”

            “Tonight. In 15 minutes,” said Arous.

            “Arous, first I have to-” asked Siobhan.

            “Don’t bother calling Simon,” said Arous, “I’ll see him with I get there. He’s on duty. I suspect he may even be guarding my mother.  No wonder he didn’t tell me he’d gotten a promotion.”

            Siobhan didn’t even bother stopping her jaw from flapping open.

            “Siobhan,” said Arous. “I consider you my friend.  I need your help, please.”

            Siobhan’s face had gained its color. She was shaking, she was sweating.

            “Did Simon tell you?” Siobhan asked.

            Arous didn’t say anything and didn’t look at Jude. She walked into the bathroom.

            “Jude?” said Siobhan almost inaudible.

            Arous walked back out holding a large mandrake plan in each arm.

            “Jude, can you walk these downstairs? Please.”

            Jude took them without saying anything and left. Arous turned to Siobhan.

            “I’m trusting you,” said Arous. “You should leave in about thirty minutes. As soon as you hear the shower, I’m gone.” And she Arous walked into the bath room.