Dreams of My Fractured Reality

[Navenna]

Chapter Three: Lies

Andrea could no longer see the dragon because she was indoors. The air was heavy with strong smelling insence that was much too musky to be nice. The light in the long room she was in came from hanging lanterns that resembled dragon heads. The mouths were open to reveal the burning breath that was the burning oil of the lamps. Everything on the walls and ceiling, with the exception of the hanging lanterns was made of dark wood with intracate carvings done into it. The floor was tiled in jade, simly reflecting the dragon's breath.

Although beautiful the hall gave her a feeling like a church after hours. It was a holy place and she was breaking some unwritten law from being there alone and without any intentions of honoring the God of this temple.

She chose a direction and started walking that way. Every step she took made loud resounding noises that echoed back to her several times before dying off. After only a few steps she stopped and removed her shoes. Continuing on in her socks she felt much less obtrusive.

For a few blissful minutes she remained undiscovered. It was the first real breathing room she had gotten since she and Carrick had left Wingfeldt place for this strange new world that wasn't all that new to Carrick at all. It even had a familiar feel to Andrea, like she had seen it in a dream. As this thought crossed her mind she realized all too clearly that she had seen this place in a dream. It was the dream that had made her go back to that garden and her inborn curiosity that had shattered her thoughts of reality and thrown her into this mess.

At the end of the room she found a set of sliding doors that seemedto be made out of jade colored paper. It was illuminated from the other side and once Andrea figured out how to open the doors she was met with the blaze of sunlight from the other side.

Shes teppedo ut into the light and let her eyes adjust as she put on her shoes again. There were a few steps leading down from the temple that merged with a path of white stones. The path led into the flower garden she had seen on the map and branched there to go in several other directions. She had only just put her foot down onto the stone path when a bright eyeed and smiling woman appeared from behind a bush.


"G'mornin'." She said in a voice that was a bit too high and cheerful to be likeable. It reminded andrea a great deal of cartoon character voices.

"Morning." She replied automatically.

"Are you a guest at the inn, love?"

"No ma'am, I'm not. I came here looking for help however." Andrea wasn't sure what sort of help she needed or could receive. She was starting to get used to not knowing what she was doing and saying things without understanding why she said them or what half of it meant.

"What sort of help do you need child?" The woman's voice deepened with concern and she held out a hand for Andrea to take. When Andrea had taken it the gardening lady led her away from the temple in a motherly fashion.

"I ran into trouble with someone I thought was a friend and I need somewhere safe to stay for a while. I'll work while I'm here in exchange for you hospitality." Andrea said all this rather quickly, as if she really was panicing. But in reality she felt quite calm about the whole situation. Even a little bit smug. Carrick wouldn't find her here.

"My dear child, of course you can stay here for as long as you wish. There is no need for you to work to earn your keep or our silence. My sisters and brothers maintain everything well enough on their own."

"But I'd feel bad if I didn't do something to help..." Andrea protested. She didn't mention how bored she might get, the Gardener seemed to understand.

"We'll see what we can come up with for you. Fr the time being let's get you settled at the inn."

Andrea stopped in the path, causing the motherly woman to stop as well. "He- my friend that is- will probably check the inn. Is there any way I can stay with the-"

Again the woman seemed to understand. "With the priestesses?" She frowned for a moment, looking at Andrea but then nodded. "We'd better take you to see the Temple Master. He'll know what to do."

The Temple Master turned out to be a rather young man. He was not at all an attractive man however, which made it seem fitting to Andrea's mind that he'd choose a life as a priest instead of trying to start a family of his own of even to seek his fortunes elsewhere in the world. His face, and entire body, was pudgy, his eyes were set too far apart and one of them was missing with a patch over it, his nose was oily, his hair was worn in a messy style where the tightly curled ginger hair stuck off of his head in tufts. It looked rather like someone had taken the old woman's shears and tried to cut this man's hair in the night. She imagined the way his mouth firmly sat in a straight line between two very deep dimples that were not cute in any way was result of that poor haircutting experience.

He sat rigidly in his chair as they entered and seemed to take just as long in looking at Andrea as she did looking at him. When both of their curiosities seemed satisfied he nodded his head towards a chair. Andrea sat down and his face broke into what Andrea supposed was a rare smile. The smile faded as Andrea explained why she was there and what she wanted.

At last it was his turn to speak. His voice was pleasant, even if the rest of them wasn't. "Of course we'll do anything we can to help you. It's in our Temple Code to do so. You may join the ranks but remember that this means you take on all the responsibilities and rules of the Temple as well."

Andrea quickly agreed, silently hoping this wasn't a temple where they sacrificed living things. She'd rather skip that bit of life.

"Welcome to Five Bay Temple then." He said, standing up to shake her hand. His hand was a horrible purplish color and Andrea didn't look forward to touching it.

"Five Bay Temple?" She repeated, standing as well. "I thought that this was the Temple of Almon-Ohv."

The purple hand was taken away then, without being shook. For that Andrea was releived. But any relief this gave to her shrank away as she noticed the looks she was geting from the Temple Master and the gardener.

"That is a private name used only by the most devote believes in our God. I will thank you never to use it again."

Andrea stared and then nodded. "Yes, I'm sorry..."

They seemed to accept her responce and the meeting ended without further conversation.

- - -

"Cinthia!" The name sounded even worse in the high pitched voice of the gardening woman. She had learned that the woman went by Nina, though no one ever seemed to call her by name. In fact, names were rarely used among the people of the temple. They all knew exactly where to find everyone else, regardless of the time of day. But, seeing as she had been there only a week, they all used her name far too often. The only upside to this that Andrea could see was that she was getting used to responding to Cinthia.

"Yes?" Andrea called back, looking up from the path she was sweeping. In the temple she had two main jobs, keeping the rooms of the inns clean for guests and keeping the pathways outside looking neat. Generally speaking, it was dull work but it was something to do and no one spoke gave away anything of why she was there, so she never complained.

"Oh good." Nina said, bustling up. She had the usual pair of pruning sheers in her hands and came from the bushes instead of the path. Andrea was beginning to wonder if she ever used the path at all. "I was hoping I'd find you out here. We've got two very important guests arriving sometime today to stay at the inn and the rooms need some attention before they are used."

"That shouldn't be a problem. How much time do you think I have?"

"Not much, they arrived two minutes ago. They're here quite a bit earlier than when they said to expect them."

Andrea groaned slightly. "Which rooms?"

"Just number five, the two of them are sharing. I think they're sweet on each other." Nina winked and Andrea grinned at her for a moment before handing over her broom and starting for the inn at a jog.

The guests were just inside the door of the inn and Andrea very nearly ran into them. They didn't look all that important to her. They dressed like most people who she had seen visit the temple. What caught her by surprise was not their rather ordinary appearances, however. It was the fact that she knew them both despite them not being anyone she had met thus far on her trip in this dream world.

Unfortunatly one of guests recognized her as well. She could tell by the expression on his face as he looked at her. He was at least ten years her elder and had a very ruggad appearance which rather suited his facial structure. His jaw line would be far too pronounced if it wasn't covered in stubble. His body frame was sturdy, although he looked a bit thin to her eyes. His own eyes stared bessechingly at her, begging silently for an answer to a question she could only guess at.

"I'm sorry for the wait, your room isn't quite ready yet. If you don't mind waiting a short while I can fix it up for you and get you something to drink while you wait. The gardens are particularily beautiful right now if you're interested in walking to pass the time."

"You work here?" The man asked, a suspicious tilt to his eyebrow.

"I liveh ere as well." She said with a friendly smile. He was prying for the same thing her mind was racing to figure out- were these people who she thought they were?

"Those two things do tend to go hand in hand around here." He replied, still looking at her oddly.

"Yes, Sir, they do. What can I get the two of you to drink?"

"Nothing for me." The female guest replied. She wasn't following the conversation between the two and didn't seem to recognize Andrea. For that, Andrea was glad.

"I'm not thirsty either." The man said quickly. "If you don't mind the bother we'll just go to the room now. We can unpack while you finish cleaning it up." At this suggustion his companions shot him a puzzled look to which he simply replied wordlessly that he'd explain later.

Of course, Andrea did mind the bother of them being in the room while she cleaned it. It would be crowded with three people and they'd undoubtedly get in her way. And, she strongly suspected that his motives for suggusting such a thing was to pry some answers out of her. But she didn't know what those answers were, although she could easily guess the questions.

She nodded silently and led the way to the room, opening the door and letting them inside first. The cleaning supplies she needed were already inside and waiting for her. And sure enough, when she started cleaning and the two of them started to unpack the questions began.

"How long have you been living here?"

"Just about a week now." It was a good idea to stick as close to the truth as she could. "Before that I as living with my parents."

"Where do they live?"

"Near the Third Bay. Our house there is in the middle of nowhere really..."

"I see, your accent sounds native to Rocinu so I thought you might be from there."

"Both of my parents grew up there." She was impressed with how easily these lies were coming to mind.

"When did they move to the island?"

"Before I was born. I forget by how many years though..."

"And what did you say your name was?"

She was nearly finished and looked up at him, grinning.

"I didn't say. My name is Cinthia. If you need anything while you're staying here be sure to ask. Anyone of us at the temple would be glad to help you."

"Actually, there is something I want you to do for me before you go and do whatever it is that needs doing."

She paused at the door, anxious to leave.

"Yes?"

"Tell me the truth. Who are you, really?" There was a chill to both his voice and eyes.

His female companion stepped between him and Andrea and glared at him.

"Oh really Elliah, would you stop harrassing the poor girl already? We both know she's telling the truth or else the testing spell you put on her would be going off by now."

Elliah looked quite put out, and looked closely at Andrea. If his spell worked and she did lie her face would have turned a sickening shade of blue. But there wasn't even a tint of blue to her complexion.

"You can go then." Elliah muttered, turning away from Andrea and his female friend.

"Thank you, Sir. Enjoy your stay Lord Elliah, Lady Corba."

She turned and left, missing the ehated converstion that followed the closing of the door.

- - -

"Idiot." Elliah said spitefully, turning to his companion. She stood with a look of blatant shock on her face.

"Maybe she learned my title from someone else?"

"Lienor, you haven't gone by Corba in your entire life. There are only a few people who even know it's your name."

"Okay, so it's suspicious but we can't jump to conclusions, Elliah."

"But she knows things about you that no one else knows... even if someone used your full title it doesn't make sense. We didn't tell anyone we were coming here except Pan, and I dobut she's very talkative with temple girls."

"Stop being so damned logical, you're giving me a headache. I'm trying to find some glimmer of a doubt to prove that girl was and is not Najena."

"It certianly did look like her... older of course..."

"Yes." Lienor said, defeat in her voice. But then she thought of something. "The truth spell you used on her- it didn't respond to any lies. Maybe she really is who she says she is."

"Assuming nothing has changed in the past three years, my spell wouldn't have worked on Najena. She never liked having people testing her with magic... and her gifts are stronger than ours. Also, what if she had Alec do a memory charm on her? Maybe to her mind she really is Cinthia, the temple girl from the country side?"

"Damn it, Elliah. You're right."

"I know." He grinned at her until he caught sight of her less than pleased expression. "Alright, I'm sorry. I know this causes mroe trouble than anyone can predict but the fact that she recognized us, or at least you, and still lied to us is the first thing we need to worry about. We were friends at one point, so why does she lie and hide from us now? What has happened to her in the past three years and why now, out of all times, does she choose to reappear?"

"Maybe she didn't choose to reappear. There was no way to know we were coming here. And this is a safe place. Even if the man-hunt for her was still going on Pan refused to let the Rocinu guards search her island."

"Yeah, I remember. She insisted that she watched over entries to her land very carefully."

"Do you think she still does?"

"Knowing Pan? Yes. But Najena wouldn't come here by convential means, would she?"

"The maps..." Lienor said quietly.

"Yes."

"Which do you think she had acess to?"

"Alec's maybe... but that's assuming she's been on the island for three years..."

"Well, let's find out what we can about her from the other people here. They must know something." Lienor suggested, half-heartedly. It felt hopeless. Najena was a careful person. She would ensure her safety and if Alec had helped she would be even more secure.

"I'll go speak with the Temple Master and see if he can or will tell me anything."

Lienor sighed and sank down onto the bed.

"Good luck."

Elliah sat next to her for a minute, his hands braced on her shoulders.

"I hope I don't need it."

He kissed her lightly before departing to seek some much needed answers.