Sleep and roses

What's up with the roses?
Um...meaning what?
Why aren't they on a bush or something?
They are a special breed.
You forgot didn't you.
Yeah.

Unpleasantries in a Desert : Chapter five

This is the elusive chapter five?
Yes!
...Which has taken you three months to write?
Yes.
And you will most likely rewrite?
Yes...
Okay.

Chapter 5

May, 25, 1949, the west Keldor ocean

Jarro leaned on the side railing of the steam ship H.M.S Penguin, once again board out of his mind. If this was a sample of what he would spend the journey feeling like he might as well have stayed in office doing paperwork, he thought gloomily.

Retin wasn't talking to him, every time he tried to speak to her she would glare at the wall above his head till he gave up. Lucuse was busy with various unnamed tasks. Lady Kayle never did directly punish him as far as Jarro could tell but the young Sekiller's duties kept him constantly busy. He hadn't seen the mage Edward again since coming aboard either. The ship was a week out from port, and not due in the cape town of Perll for a another two.

His main company was the captain of the guard. He was different then Jarro had imagined him. For a start he was a she, with long vivid orange hair and temper of a slighted barbarian. She also wore plate armour, tempered and adapted to stop even bullets, a gift from a great grandfather, and a sword along with the pistols on her belt. Captain Beladine Roise claimed the sword was magical and with the way it could go from sheath to his throat in a second made him disinclined to argue with her.

It was in Beladine's nature to be enthusiastic, and with her enthusiasm came noise. He could locate her three decks away just by the sound of her voice. Given only slight provocation she could go from normal to furious. But a few minutes later she would be chatting cheerily to the waiter, anger non-existent. Nevertheless the Captain was fascinating to talk to, as there was nothing she didn't have a view on, and so long as he avoided annoying her too much they got along fine.

Beladine was drilling her few troupes with vigour and after a suggestion he join them Jarro decided to find her when she was finished for the day. He had nothing against exercise in moderation or for a reason, but mindless, and pointless exercise was just not his thing.

He stood leaning, head resting on hands, glazed eye staring at the rich blue mass below him. A crisp new hat covered his eyes, random notes flickered about him as he hummed. A tune might have hid among the noise but it was unlikely. A Something heavy and wet landed on his head, knocking him over and drenching his clothes.

Jarro spluttered, and pushed his soggy hair out of his eyes, clinging to the now floppy hat in the other. What the heck had just hit him, freak wave maybe? Sitting next to him a girl observed him. She looked about nine years, with a wide grin plastered across her face, and a mess seaweed like hair.

A crew member yelled from somewhere on the ship,”Changers incoming! Lower the ropes!”

She motioned toward the sea, “Take a look, it really is neat from up here.”

Jarro, raised an eyebrow, and righted himself, pushing the limp hat onto his head, and glanced down into the water below. He gasped, the once empty sea now teemed with life. Fish in a rainbow of colours, dolphins grey sides gleaming, whales half the size of the ship, and porpoises riding the bow wave. He realised this must be one of the many changer clans who chose to live alone. The sea changers built entire cities under water, many lived their whole lives at sea never seeing land.

A killer whale, rose out of the water in a breach, water flooding off his dark back and white belly, then in mid-flight changed to a human, landing in a rolling dive and ending on his feet. He gave a bow to a round of clapping and laughter. A dolphin who had just pulled herself on to the deck yelled,”Show-off!” to more laughter.

The crew produced clothes from lockers on the deck, few of the ocean dwellers had any on. Even so none showed any embarrassment. Underwater, clothes were not really practicable, so few wore them. One amused sailor handed Jarro a towel, and the girl accepted a simple dress, and gave it a doubtful look before pulling it over her head.

“Hi! I'm Kefy, what's your name?” The girl did not wait for an answer but plunged straight on, “Sorry for getting you all wet but I was in a hurry to get up on this ship. This is the first time I was aloud to come to come. Mum says that I am too hyperactive, I am not sure what that means but it sounds like fun. I'm a parrot fish, what are you?”

Jarro waited a moment, amazed she had not passed out from lack of air, “Just a boring human I am afraid, I'm Jarro, pleased to meet you Miss Parrot fish.”

She giggle at the name, “A human? Really? I heard about them from my teacher! Is it true you can't breath under water?”

“Yep.”

“Huh.” Kefy blinked, “I thought my sister was being silly again, how do you get home if you can't hold your breath?”

“My house in on land, I do not need to hold my breath to get there.”

“You live on an island?”

“Um, no I live in a country called Brilsion.”

“I saw a map once, with all the cities on it, and there were all these brown bits with cities too, is that were you live? How can you live on land! What would there be to eat?”

Jarro felt like he was being slowly buried under questions, “Well, we eat what we grow and-”

Kefy shook her green head gravely, “You need water to grow plants, and on land there is no water.”

“Yes there is but just not as much.”

“You need lots of water for plants to grow, there is not enough. All the water is in sea.”

“The plants on land do not need as much water as yours.”

“But-”

“Kefy! Come here now! You are not aloud on the ship.” A plump woman called up from the water.

The parrot fish stuck her head though the railing, “But mum!”

“But me no buts! Now young missy!”

She pouted, turning back to Jarro, “I have to go now,” she wave at the water, “Maybe I'll see you again when you're going home?” she looked up though her fringe, big eyes sad.

Jarro grinned at her, “Not the puppy dog eyes!”

Kefy scrunched up her nose in puzzlement, “But I'm a fish, not a dog.”

Jarro paused, then rephrased it, “In that case, don't give me those cute fish eyes. I am sure I'll see you again.”

Her mother called out again, and Kefy let out a wistful sigh, glace at Jarro a wicket glint came into her eye, darting forward she grabbed his hat and dived over the side, sliding into the water like glass.

“Hay!”

Kefy surfaced, and pocked her tongue out, “Now you have to come back!” she giggled, sticking in among her curls, in fell forward blinding her. Jarro laughed with her, as she paddled off to show off her land clothes.

Well they would be coming back this way, and who knows, he might even get his hat back. On his own again Jarro surveyed the deck, Edward had come out of what ever corner he had been hiding in. Retin also was socialising, Jarro sidling over hoping catch a word or two, picking a nearby spot he sat cross legged on a chair, back toward them, focusing all his attention behind him.

“-But I thought we would still have months.” Retin muttered, Jarro pricked up his ears.

“That's just wistful thinking now, there is mage who has tamped with the minds of our agents, the Reformers know what we are doing.” A squeaky female voice replied.

“Any idea who the mage is?”

“None, but they almost certainly powerful.”

“Could it be him?”

“You mean Edward? I don't know, I mean maybe? I can't be sure yet.” Jarro almost fell forward, Edward again? He must have done something to have anyone suspecting him. He tilted his head trying to hear more clearly.

Someone grabbed his ear, hauling him around. “Has no one ever told you that it is rude to eavesdrop?” Retin asked, voice low and deadly.

“Oww!” Jarro whined, meeting her eyes, an irate mother tiger couldn't have looked more dangerous, he tried to look innocent.

“This time you live, but if you ever ever try something like this again...” Jarro's mind handed him a stack of options of what an angry assassin could do to him. He attempted a smile. “Good, now go annoy someone else.” Retin stomped off, leaving Jarro rubbing his throbbing ear.

Well, that could have gone better, Jarro thought.

Space, More Colorful then Advertised

...So why is the sky is ridiculously colorful?
It's a nebular.
Which one?
No idea, but it has lots of purple in it.

On the street

You do know that her hair is from the 80's?
So?
Just checking you knew.

Unpleasantries in a Desert : Chapter four

How final are these chapters? Or will you end up doing more editing or drafting?
Your second question? I thought that just one would overload up brain!
When you have finished waffling answer it, if you please.
Oh yes, well these drafts are more or less done, but they are only first drafts, I will be rewriting the bits I don't like. The basic plot is what I am trying to write but since it will be some time before I complete it I thought I would go ahead and submit this now.
Alright.

Chapter 4

May, 18, 1949, Tecon province Brilsion.

“Uhhhhhhssshhhh...” Lucuse moaned as he nursed his throbbing head. As Jarro understood it the young snake changer had somehow, while under his master's watchful eye, managed to get drunk. Lucuse was muttering under his breath “Ordering me about like I was a child, I don't take that from anyone.” Though even feeling like someone was inserting white hot pokers into his head, Lucuse wasn't repentant.

There seemed to be little conversation about to happen here; the third minister gave a non-committal reply to the incoherent mumbling and started to stroll along the swaying corridor of the newfangled diesel train. It was the main line throughout Brilsion and carried thousand of people a year and for it to be replaced was to be expected. He still like the old steam trains better though. He remembered riding them when his father had business somewhere and would take him and his brothers along. Dad would sit in their compartment reading and let them scamper up and down the train, until they wore themselves out. Seeing the old trains replaced made him a little nostalgic.

Jarro sighed, then leaned against the window and gazed out. Grass spread like a green puddle from either side of the road, only a few isolated homesteads or patches of trees breaking up the endless green. It was peaceful, and mind numbingly dull. The minister glared at the inoffensive grass until someone laughed.

“It is not the grasses fault you know.” a young man with a head of messy dark hair smiled. Without the floor length robe he looked different, but the voice, even if it wasn't in his head this time, was the same. “I'm Edward of the magi.” he held out a hand in greeting.

“Jarro, third minister, what is not the grasses fault?” he queried shaking the profited hand.

“That you are bored. You looked as if you were attempting to set it alight.”

“I was not, I was merely observing it.”

“That was not observation, it was disdain at it's existence! Mayhap you were once insulted by a nasty piece of grass and have thenceforth carried a hatred of the green plant?” Edward gave him a wide eyed stare of innocence.

“And how could a plant insult me? They can't talk!” Jarro replied with a half grin. He knew this was a game of sorts and was happy to play along.

“Ever listened to one?”

A tapping of feet coming made him glace up to see Retin coming toward him. Jarro opened his mouth ready greet her but the expression on her face stopped him short.

“Here you are, I need you to come go though some documents,” Retin announced briskly, grabbing Jarro's arm. She turned to the mage bobbed a curtsy,”Excuse me sir,” Ice flecked her words as she glowered at the mage, then she whirled back to Jarro,”Come.” she ordered before dragging him down the hall and into a compartment in the next carriage. She pushed him on to the seat.

“What were you talking about with that man?” Retin stood arms folded, her voice hard.

“Huh?” Jarro stuttered, surprised. Retin rarely displayed anger, “Oh, um, how it is not the grasses fault I'm board? Why did you pull me away like that? Whatever I did to upset you this time, you had better tell me because I haven't a clue.”

The assassin continued glaring at him, ”That was one of the most powerful mages alive today, and a member of a group criminals.”

“Really?” Well this was news.

“I know him, not personally, but enough. In my...previous job-”

“When you were an assassin.” Jarro filled in helpfully.

“Yes, well I had many connection with the underground.”
“The underground? You mean the sewers?” He knew that this blatant misunderstanding of her would do absolutely nothing but he was really getting fed up with her arrogance and this was the best way to get back at her.

“No, an underground movement, they call themselves The Reformers, they are trying to change the Grycite government into a more fair system. At the moment the government controls everything. Food, resources, even people, what ever the High Counsel tells you, you do or else you could be executed for treason, anyone who speaks up just goes missing.” her eyes move to the window, “The idea behind the Reformers was a good one, but in the hundred or so years since it was first founded they have changed until they are as bad as the people they are trying to depose.”

“Um, if it is an Grycite thing why are they here is Brilsion?”

“I told you what it was, now it is a organisation that controls all criminal activities, it controls thieves, pickpockets, assassins, cut-throats, spies, black marketers, anyone who works were the law dares not go must have some connection to them. Now it is international, every capital has a branch of it.”

“Very interesting but what does this have to do with Edward?”

“He is involved with them, I don't know what position he holds but I bet it is important,he is in right up to his neck!”

“Any proof?” He doubted it, that mage, part of a terrorist underground moment? Sure he quite powerful, and more than a little weird, but seriously?

“I have never heard of him by name, only reputation. They say a-”

“Who's they?” Jarro asked, once again aiming to annoy.

Retin paused, “What?”

“Who are they?”

“Oh just people, ones I talked with, but that isn't the point so kindly stop asking your stupid questions. What I was saying was there was an apparently a well known figure, a human mage, and one who tapped into his power young”

Jarro opened his mouth to ask what she meant by tapped into his power, but Retin knew him well enough to guess his reaction.

“You what to know what it means?” Jarro gave her an expectant look, “Fine,” she gestured in defeat. “You know how mages never seem to age? Sure there are plenty of old mages but they don't get any older.” Jarro nodded, “The reason for this is simple, they are running off the magic inside them. It will run out anywhere from twenty to six hundred years, and then they will continue ageing as per the norm and loose their magic. But while it lasts they do not age physically.”

“Is that where they get the power for spells?”

“No, but they do use it to get the power.”

“So they do use it for spells.”

Retin massaged her forehead, “I just said they didn't! You know of the magic layer? It is just above the atmosphere. Well using their inner source they channel that down and use it.”

“Okay, fine but still how do you know it was Edward?”

“To activate a mages inner source needs a lot a will power, most are well past middle aged when they tap into it. He only just past childhood! There are only two others alive today even close to that age and both are female. I also have his description, it matches, more or less, I have no doubts as to who he is.”

I bet you don't, Jarro thought, aloud he said “Sounds like you put a lot of effort into this.” He leaned forward, she started, eyes flicking to him and back to the grass slipping past the window. “And you know a lot about them also.”

“I was part of the Reformers for-” She stopped, one hand flying to her mouth.

“Really? So you dragged me here to tell me that someone I was talking to comes from the same organisation as you?”

“I quit! He is still active!” Retin spat.

“So?” Jarro snapped back, “And how do you know that if you are no longer working for them?”

“I-I- He was not the type who would quit!”

“I thought you said you never met him. No let me guess, you hear it from 'Them'.”

Retin stuttered to a halt.

“How well known is this organisation?” There is a mountain of information she isn't telling, however Jarro considered, she is unlikely to say any more for now, perhaps Edward would be more forthcoming.

“Hard to find anyone these days without a tie to them.”

Jarro sank back, and murmured to himself, “Hmm, so how come I have never even heard of them...”

Retin ignored or simply didn't hear the last statement, “I want you to say away from that mage Edward in any case.”

“Why?”

“Because-”

“Because I am an dull witted fool who trusts everyone, is that it? What are you afraid I'll do?

Put poison in someone food if I am told it is medicine? Give away government secrets?” Jarro stood and stepped toward Retin, his fiery eyes watching her closely, she was try to block any way he could gain information on The reformers, Jarro was certain of it.

“You are very trusting!” She stood her ground against him, her voice now a little shrill.

“Trusting?” Jarro glared incredulous at her.

“You trusted me didn't you? An unknown girl with a wild tale of an assassin?” Retin now stood nose to nose with him.

“You thought I trusted you?” He took in her now shocked look, and realised that she had. The intelligent and skilled assassin believed that he had from the beginning trusted her, and she called him naive!

“But you did everything I said, you put all the guards on alert, and put me in a nearby room! Why would you have done that if you didn't trust at least a little?” she desperately pointed out.

“That was so I could keep an close eye on you. Not to watch out for some none existent killer that you just 'happened' to hear about.”

“But, but, “ she shook her head, bewildered.

“You never even suspected?” Jarro paused, biting his lip, “Well you know now. Still think I'm too trusting?” he turned and walked to the door, halting as his hand touch the handle, “If it makes you feel better I trust you now.” More or less he added in the privacy of his head, as door clicked shut behind him.

He leaned on the wall outside. So Retin had worked for the reformers, this explained a lot. But if she quite then who did she keep secretly meeting on her days off? Edward would be tough to get any info out of, but Retin wouldn't be telling him anything else. He'd just have to wait for his chance.

Inside Retin collapsed on to the bench, it rattled with the movement of the train,“You know I don't know whether to be angry that I believed him or proud that he didn't.” The secretary told the empty room.

Bushfire Season

Red sky at night shepherds delight, red sky at morning shepherds warning.
And red sky in the middle of the night?
Call the fire brigade!

Raindow Stained Hair

Huh, looks like you spilled rainbow ice-cream all over the picture.
It looks yummy!
...Right, and what the odd things in the background?
Flower petals!
Okay, but I'll have to take your word for it.