Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I should have you killed for this!" Nadia paced her tent as the flaming image of Thomas scoffed. "We need more soldiers and I have brought one! What is the problem?"

"The problem is you disobeyed orders, involved a civilian in your mission, endangered her life, and now expect to turn her into a soldier. You're an idiot! I won't allow it!"

"You have to, Nadia."

"Why? Because you're in love with her," she shouted angrily. "No, because she's a minstrel." Naida was stunned into silence by his words. "I... A minstrel? And... and you're sure about this?" Thomas nodded; she snapped out of her surprise. "Fine. But you're responsible for her. I'm not going to go easy on her and I'm not going to go through any trouble for her either."

"I understand," he said.

"I hope you do." With that, she closed off the connection and rubbed her temples. What am I going to do with him? Stupid man...

Thomas felt Nadia close the connection with a sharp snap. He sighed, walking down the lane a short way toward the sound of Trinity's violin music. He stood behind her, waiting patiently until she had finished her song. Once the last wavering not faded into silence, he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "Come on. We should get some rest."

The rest of the night passed in a hazy blur of dreams for Thomas. When he woke, the sun was just starting to rise. He retreated the other room and, after a hot bath, redressed and wrote a note for Trinity, placing it gently on her pillow. "Gone for a run. I'll be back with breakfast. Thomas."

The cool morning air felt good against his face; autumn was only two months off. He ran silently from roof to roof, evading the wandering eyes of the few people milling about in the streets and browsing the market stalls.

Soon, he reached a forest. He waited, perched in a tree, until the scent of pheasant wafted up to him on a breeze. His pupils dilated. "Time for a little hunt..."

Thomas wiped the blood from his face. A wolf had caught the pheasant's scent and arrived before he did. He looked down at the injured beast. "Sorry, friend," he said, "I can't help what I am. It was impulse." The wolf looked as if it understood. Thomas stooped and bandaged the wolf with a bit of cloth; it limped away into the brush.

"Perhaps the market is a better idea," he said aloud, trying to force back his instincts. He knew he'd have to find a way to tell Trinity soon about his true nature, but the timing never seemed right. Turning on his heel, he headed toward town, pushing the memories from his mind. "Perhaps I'll buy something special for her. Something exotic and full of spice."

A far off, upbeat tune reached his ears. He smiled; Trinity was awake. He picked up his purchase as soon as the merchant finished wrapping it up and followed the sounds of children's laughter.

That's when it hit him.

His father - his true father - was talking to a mortal couple who waited on the other side of a strange, ornate door. A shimmering veil-like substance seperated them. "I entrust him to you. Please take him as your own until he is old enough to be trained as a soldier. They'll place him where they think he is best suited." The man and woman nodded. "We will, my liege. We'll protect him." His father knealt down. "Be brave. You are carrying on a great legacy. We lesser gods serve the great ones and as such, it is your job to serve the great mortals of this realm. It is the only protection I can offer you. Do your duty. When you're old enough, you will fulfill your role in our realm. Make me proud, my son..."

Thomas blinked away the memory, frustrated. He used to have no trouble controlling them. Why were they spilling out now? It must be the magic crystals in the mines here. Once I leave, I should be clear of this problem.

Thomas approched Trinity, holding up the parcel to her attention. "Spiced, dried meats for our journey and exotic fruits for breakfast," he announced. "And... there's something I've been meaning to tell you..." He trailed off, looking into her eyes.

How am I supposed to tell her something like that now? She's been through a lot. What if I frighten her away? I can't do this. Not now.

"Never mind," he said with a smile. "Shall we go eat?"

"Later," he said, not meeting her eyes. "I'll tell you later. Once we've reached the encampment in the north."

He took her hand and began walking swiftly down the lane. "We'll have to make sure you pack light. Do you have someone to look after your shop while you're gone? Someone you trust," he asked, changing the subject quickly.

If she was to know and understand, he'd have to show her what he was and change out of his mortal guise. The middle of the street in a peaceful mining town was hardly the place to do it.

"You'll be given a green uniform, yes. Your uniform will look different based on your role. All runners wear what I wear. You're probably going to be stationed with the other minstrels. They're usually out of the way on cliff tops or hills using their music-weapons," he told her, glad she let it go.

"They don't see too much hand-to-hand combat, but lately..." He trailed off again and cleared his throat, "It might be a good idea to pack some other clothes, though."