This Tale of Omphalos, a scene at a place villagers would later call the Old Cottage was the result. This took place back when it was the only dwelling in a valley next to a garden, below a hill with a ruined tower...
If Danyel listened, he could hear the bells in the distance, under the steady tapping of the rain.
They were always louder on a cloudy day, but where were they coming from.
Rivulets of water ran down the window pane from the roof of the cottage. Would the ceiling hold? Would it keep the water off his brothers and mother’s head?
The bell tolled in time with each droplet, urging the rain to strike their shelter, to strike them.
What nonsense. There were no bells. No angry chimes ringing out for Danyel’s pain, discomfort, and anyone else’s under this roof.
“Do you hear them?” Unable to keep the question unsaid, he turned towards Tayel. His twin was the only one listening.
A large, rumbling snore drowned out the rain and every other sound, real or imagined. Map sprawled in her favorite chair, eyes closed, mouth open, fast asleep. Loud, snuffling sounds emerged from her, resting, blissfully unaware of the world around her.
Some of Danyel’s apprehension vanished at the sight of her slack face. If Map could sleep, unconcerned, there wasn’t anything to worry about.
“That’s right,” Tayel murmured into his ear. “We have nothing to fear as long as she’s here.”
Danyel tried not to jump or twitch and failed. “I’m not scared.” The words tasted sour with untruth. “I mean, I’m just hearing things in the raindrops, aren’t I? There aren’t any bells.”
“Rain erodes the barriers between us and those who would harm us.” Tayel scowled in the direction of the window. “They’re still here and so are we. Waiting. Judging.”
“Judging what?” Danyel rubbed his hands against his arms, glancing in the direction of his twin’s scowl. All he could see was the rain running down the windowpane.
Not that he’d seen anything. He couldn’t see shapes in the shadows. Not like Tayel could. Sometimes he heard things. The faint sound of music, laughter. Voices. Bells.
He shouldn’t know what bells sounded like. He’d never heard them before. Some of the voices weren’t familar either.
“Anyone who doesn’t fit into their world.” Tayel glanced at Map, a wrinkle appearing in the center of his smooth forehead. “She tries to protect us from them. Leiwell, too.”
“Protect us from what?” Danyel walked over to the window. Water blurred the image of the hill and the tower into a ripples of gray and green.
He didn’t think Tayel was talking about the tower. Not this time. Perhaps there had once been a bell in its crown. That wasn’t where the sound came from.
“Those who judge.” Tayel wrapped his arms around himself and bowed his head. “They look at us, at other people, only to see their own inner ugliness.” He glanced at his brother from beneath a long, curling lock of silvery golden hair. “You’ve read about them. The ones who blame others for their own weaknesses and coax mobs into hunting down those they point their fingers at.”
Monster! For a moment, Danyel heard the high pitched, angry cry. Halfling! He shivered.
“Can they find us here?” His skin crawled, shivering with reaction. “Are we safe?”
“Map and Leiwell are doing all they can to keep us safe.” Tayel shook his head, sending stray curls flying in every direction. “Believe in them. Put your faith in them rather than strange sounds, echoing with anger.”
“I suppose the bells don’t have to angry. They could be pretty.” Danyel tilted his neck to one side. “It’s just I sense so much fear in the ringing at times.”
“Don’t let them frighten you.” Tayel pushed his hair away from his eyes. “Enjoy their beauty if you can.” He looked his twin up and down. “Maybe appreciation will soften their anger.”
“How?” Danyel ran a hand through his own unruly locks. “I’m not sure even sure where they’re coming from or if they’re real.”
“It doesn’t matter. Don’t underestimate the power of your feelings.” Tayel allowed his mouth to quirk into a half smile. “You may not be able to alter reality, but you can influence it. Persuade it to be more friendly than it’s currently inclined to be.”
“How would I do that?” Danyel crossed his arms, once more feeling like his twin was making a fool of him.
There was so much Tayel saw which Danyel didn’t. Not that he would explain or share any of it, except in riddles.
“I don’t know. Surprise me.” Tayel walked over to where Map sprawled, snoring. “What’s more, surprise yourself.”
He plopped down on the rug at Map’s feet. Tayel crossed his arms behind his head, lay back, and closed his eyes.
Danyel’s twin wasn’t about to explain himself as usual. Danyel was not surprised, just a little frustrated.
“I might surprise you, eh?” He gazed back at the window. “I may not explain myself either if I do.”
Enigma was Tayel’s way, but it wasn’t exclusively his. Danyel might just show him this, if he got a chance.
If he got a chance.
“What’s more, surprise yourself.” Ooh. I like that.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Tayel does try to be eloquent, in his enigmatic, maddening way...a pity his twin doesn't appreciate it more. (wry grin) Thanks for stopping by!
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