Cadmium XVII
Chapter 17
Indigo Isle
“The poem reads:
‘≪Themu gi folgon sculunan sô huilike gardos, sô gi ina gangan gisehat, ia gi than themu hêrron, the thie hoƀos êgi, selƀon seggiad, that ik iu sende tharodte gigaruuuenne mîna gôma. Than tôgid he iu ên gôdlîc hûs, hôhan soleri, the is bihangen alfagarun fratahun. Thar gi frummien sculunuuerdscepi mînan. Thar bium ik uuiskumoselƀo mid mînun gesîđun.≫ Thô uurđun sân aftar thiuthar te Hierusalem iungaron Kristesforđuuard an ferdi, fundun all sô he sprakuuordtêcan uuâr: ni uuas thes giuuand ênig.’
A mystery in the old language passed down the millennia.”
(Poems 1:1)
High tide had come in and Wendy looked down from her window at the red bench disappearing under the waters of the world wave. Her house sat at the edge, the boundary, between the old wet city and the newer dry city. Miamm was a complex web of mud, water, and politics. Wendy North wore a traditional orange frock interlaced with tear-shaped indigo crystals. She examined the rising tide because she did not want to leave her home. She knew that she must, but she still did not. From her window, she heard the muffled voice of her lady-in-waiting and a man. She was certain it wasn’t her husband, and she was happy for it. Since they had buried their son she could hardly look at him without a creeping iciness rising from her chest. She could not stand to be around him.
The voices died down and she waited impassively while looking out at the quickly flooding cityscape. It was beautiful, she thought, as meditated on the power of the sea. Here history attested to the weakness of the Middle People. They who built the world and tore down mountains. The people said to have travelled into heaven and back. They who conquered the ocean were in turn conquered by it all. The Mighty Four let the Middle People play and then they took back what was theirs.
Wendy looked back at the bedroom door and she finally said, “Who is there?”
She heard the heavy steps of the person as they retreated from the door and then stopped abruptly. The person turned back and knocked on the door.
“Come in, the door is open.”
The rounded handle turned and Wendy faced the window again.
“Lady Aquamarine, I’ve come to offer my assistance today.”
Wendy North immediately recognized Hazel Zennor’s voice. “Why the formality Hazel?”
Hazel stood in the position of at-ease and said, “It is expected. Is it not?”
“We have known each other for too long Hazel,” She paused and then said, “Far too long.”
Hazel looked past Wendy at the city outside her window. The sun-drenched multi-colored buildings looked beautiful rise from the waters of the north. The view stood in direct contrast to the gray and utilitarian room. “Wendy, the dread of what I did, or didn’t do, sits in here,” Hazel pointed absentmindedly to his gut, “every waking hour.”
“I do not. No. I cannot,” Wendy paused while playing with the sapphire ring in on her hand, “Listen, we, this, it’s all done.”
Hazel stiffened. He knew it before he had entered the room. He knew it when Wendy had disappeared a few weeks ago with her husband and the corpse of her son. There was nothing to be done. He snapped his feet into the position of attention and said, “Then, you answer your question Lady Aquamarine. I am here on official business. I will be your escort today as you make your rounds through the municipalities.”
Wendy North turned from her window and looked at Hazel. He stared back at her. She knew the look on his face. He tried to hide his pain but she could see his eyes looking past her. There would be no more late night conversations. There would be no more plans for a future that always seemed on the cusp of realization. They had been destroyed by the same forces that destroy everything. Their sin had taken away what she loved more than him and now they must face the consequences together.
“I feel nothing, Hazel, nothing.” Her words were icy. She needed to be done with this once and for all.
“That is a lie,” he said bluntly.
A noise at the door made Wendy look and she saw her husband. She spoke to him, “Danil, are you ready?”
Danil Resd shook his head, “You are right about that Hazel, she always hides behind her family’s unfeeling reputation. She is devastated about Ademar. How could a mother not be?”
Hazel did an about face and walked to the door. He bowed before Danil and said, “I will wait for your Ladyship at the gate.”
“Thank you, Hazel,” Wendy offered him sincerely, “your presence is always welcomed.”
Danil bowed his head slightly at Hazel as he excited and walked into his wife’s room. “What was that about?” He asked Wendy.
“The Pretorian Guard have established two special details,” Wendy filled in the gaps of Hazel’s story, “one will serve my brother and the other myself. Hazel has been assigned to my detail.”
“Of course he has,” Danil said blandly.
“And why wouldn’t he? You know how fond he was of Ademar.” Wendy started walking to the door.
“Not fond enough to prevent his death.” Danil said bitterly.
“And where were you?” Wendy’s hands rose in a flash of anger, “Where were ou when our son was murdered in front of me, Danil? Where?”
Danil rushed at Wendy and grabbed her arms, “Don’t provoke me, woman.” Wendy whipped her hands out from his grasp.
She continued past her door into the hallway and said calmly, “Don’t forget who brought you up from a minor family. Let’s not forget where you stand.”
Danil composed himself and left the room. With a quick step, he caught up to her and whispered ominously as they headed downstairs, “Let’s not forget that times are changing. We will see where your family stands a month after the election.”
They met Hazel Zennor at the entrance to their building with smiles on their faces.
