Interlude: Behind Closed Doors (7)

Once the door had closed at their back, Meli stared angrily at Sert while blushing furiously.

“Why did you have to tell him we were married?” Meli chided him.

“You are the one that called him father causing all this mess!” he retorted.

“And you speaking Roman fluently?” she returned. “What else have you been hiding from me?” she added softer.

“It seems I'm able to pick up Roman easily unlike Egyptian.” he replied. “I cannot explain it Meli.” he continued with a sigh. He sat heavily on the floor. “You need rest more than I do after healing that girl.” he stated. “Take the bed.” he added quickly.

“As Lord Kestrel's honour guard, you need rest as much as I do.” she told him. “And it is like I did nothing in that room.” she remarked. “I wonder how much energy Kestrel burned to accomplish that miraculous healing.” she mused.

“What was wrong with the girl?” he asked softly. Meli came to sit with him on the floor.

“A large tumour growing in her mind.” Meli whispered. “Kestrel removed it using some cosmic ability while I stimulated the tissue to regrow in place.” she continued slowly. “It felt like I was on Atlantis with all the power of the island at hand and more ...” she added.

“You have dealt with problems like that on Atlantis before.” Sert returned with a shrug. “Why are you seeing it as so different this time?” he added.

“Because I should not have been able to do so away from Atlantis.” she replied. “You were fetching water when Kestrel explained to me how magic normally does not work away from Atlantis without harming the caster.” she explained pensively. “Only in specific locations do we have magical energy to use our gifts ...” she muttered. She was on her feet pacing the edges of the room with her hands, palm out at her side. “I am not feeling a mystic field like when we meet Thoth.” she remarked stunned. She turned to face Sert, the colour had drained from her face. “Kestrel must have created a temporary mystical point.” she added in a near whisper.

“I am still unsure what you are talking about Meli!” Sert retorted. “Try explaining it simpler to me than jumping to ending statements.” he added grumbling.

“Where did I lose you Sert?” Meli returned softly.

“Right before pacing the walls.” he replied. “I cannot see where that made you believe Kestrel formed a mystical point.” he explained.

“To be able to do what I did for the child without depleting myself, I needed to be connected to a source of magical power.” Meli stated. She return to sit with Sert on the floor. “It would explain why Kestrel looked tired if he somehow created a temporary mystical point we could both draw energy from.” she continued slowly. “But I do not understand how he was able to create it.”

“Could our little friend the Ken have done it?” Sert asked softly. A high pitch chirping peal of giggles made both of them turn to face the bed. There on the foot board sat the Ken looking at them with his twin emerald eyes. “I must think he did not do it.” Sert remarked with a soft chuckle.

“Lord Kestrel can do much more than he has shown either of you.” The Ken chirped at them. “More than he knows himself at this time.” it continued. “Like you do not know all you can accomplish yet.” it added. It giggled once more at them before dodging from the bed into a mouse hole in the wall.

“Cryptic little creature.” Meli commented.

“I like him even with his twisted statements.” Sert returned. “I believe Kestrel did do something but until we ask him, we will never know what.” he continued. “Best we get rest.” he stated softly. “Take the bed.” he repeated.

“I am sure we can share it without complaints.” she replied. They stared at each other for a moment in silence. “Or we both sleep on the floor since I will not take the bed if you are sleeping on the floor.” she concluded.

“We share the bed then.” Sert relented. They moved together to each side of the bed. Sert glanced across at Meli in silence. She glanced back before they both laid on the bed next to each other still fully clothed. “Not exactly what a married couple is suppose to do in private.” he remarked before chuckling. Meli giggled softly before both slid into laughter.

Meli turned to him. She placed her arm across his chest to have her hand on his shoulder. Her leg covered his as she snuggled close to him. Sert did not move, laying perfectly still under her breathing softly.

“It is odd for me also to be like this with you.” Meli whispered to him. “But I know neither of us wish to endanger our deep friendship by trying more.” she continued. His arm snaked under her neck to wrap itself across her back while his other hand found hers at his shoulder. “And we can always claim that we did not want to keep the farmer's family awake with our caterwauling.” she added with a giggle. He chuckled back as he nodded. They both lay this way as sleep took them. Morning was announced by a crowing rooster that none of them had seen as of yet.