05-18-2014, 12:22 AM
Tehya listened to his words, but her dark eyes were unfathomable. No change in her expression flashed across her face. Connor looked at her searchingly. He'd wanted...what? What did he want from this woman? He wasn't sure. But her wall stayed up. It seemed like she lived in tower, behind a castle wall, surrounded by a moat and the gateway was never let down. Again, he felt that sadness he had felt when they first met earlier just....wow. It hadn't been that long at all. It seemed ages since he had first made his way to the platform. But it had only been a short time. She didn't know him and she owed him nothing. He was foolish to have wanted to make a connection with her, especially in view of the chaos that had ensued.
When she did respond, she seemed to deflect his words. Dryly, she said, "I'm Native American, Connor. Not a magician."
Well, it wasn't his place to judge the truth of her statement. If native wisdom knew of the Ijiraq, then it could also have traditions that harnessed some unknown power. He was reminded forcefully how little he knew of what was going on. It didn't have to be the same kind of power as Jensen and Giovanni had. But he had given her the warning. It was all he knew and he could do no more.
And then, as if slightly chiding him, she added, "Such a... group. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself; anyone could be listening."
It was an odd response. She didn't ask for details, which, though he had none, would have seemed logical. Nor did she express doubt at his information. Instead she warned him off. Curious. Probably doesn't want to give too much away of herself. It made sense. She was closed, Tehya was. Admitting concern for such a group would indicate she had something to fear. He didn't know her, but she exuded competence and a complete self-sufficiency. Whatever she was about, he knew she excelled at it. And that she needed nothing from anyone. Again, he felt that sadness.
But her warning made him think. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself. The idea of the Atharim and their treatment of people born with gifts angered him. I might be careful indeed. He was grimly thankful that Hayden had not come up on their radar. The thought of that made him bitterly glad.
"My son is gone and those Atharim never got to him."
He smiled tightly, knowing that he had been able to protect his son. "He's safe from them now."
He looked her in the eye. "I'm not afraid of them. I don't imagine I'll be seeing them again anyway. I have nothing they want. Not anymore."
He reigned in his sense of bitter triumph. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. Not trying to pry. Your business is your business. Just wanted you to know."
And then her walls came down a little and she seemed to soften a bit. "You're a gentleman, but I really am okay."
And then that beautiful smile- this time more muted then when she had first said her lovely name- showed itself. "And thank you, for what you did,"
head inclined reservedly.
The car rolled to a stop and the doors opened. He stood there. Why didn't he just leave? He felt some pull like he wanted to stay. But...she had made it clear. From beginning to end, she was an enigma. His wish to know her would go unfulfilled.
"I was happy to do it,"
was all he could think to say. "Please be careful going home. I'm still tempted to escort you but...,"
he let the words die. He knew what she'd say.
He looked at her for a moment more, unsure what else to do. Then he looked at Elias. "Well, good to meet you Elias. Sorry about what I said earlier."
He doubted there'd be any love lost between the two of them. "I guess I'll see you around."
like that would ever happen.
One more look at Tehya. The door chimed that it was going to close.
Edited by Connor Kent, May 18 2014, 09:28 AM.
When she did respond, she seemed to deflect his words. Dryly, she said, "I'm Native American, Connor. Not a magician."
Well, it wasn't his place to judge the truth of her statement. If native wisdom knew of the Ijiraq, then it could also have traditions that harnessed some unknown power. He was reminded forcefully how little he knew of what was going on. It didn't have to be the same kind of power as Jensen and Giovanni had. But he had given her the warning. It was all he knew and he could do no more.
And then, as if slightly chiding him, she added, "Such a... group. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself; anyone could be listening."
It was an odd response. She didn't ask for details, which, though he had none, would have seemed logical. Nor did she express doubt at his information. Instead she warned him off. Curious. Probably doesn't want to give too much away of herself. It made sense. She was closed, Tehya was. Admitting concern for such a group would indicate she had something to fear. He didn't know her, but she exuded competence and a complete self-sufficiency. Whatever she was about, he knew she excelled at it. And that she needed nothing from anyone. Again, he felt that sadness.
But her warning made him think. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself. The idea of the Atharim and their treatment of people born with gifts angered him. I might be careful indeed. He was grimly thankful that Hayden had not come up on their radar. The thought of that made him bitterly glad.
"My son is gone and those Atharim never got to him."
He smiled tightly, knowing that he had been able to protect his son. "He's safe from them now."
He looked her in the eye. "I'm not afraid of them. I don't imagine I'll be seeing them again anyway. I have nothing they want. Not anymore."
He reigned in his sense of bitter triumph. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. Not trying to pry. Your business is your business. Just wanted you to know."
And then her walls came down a little and she seemed to soften a bit. "You're a gentleman, but I really am okay."
And then that beautiful smile- this time more muted then when she had first said her lovely name- showed itself. "And thank you, for what you did,"
head inclined reservedly.
The car rolled to a stop and the doors opened. He stood there. Why didn't he just leave? He felt some pull like he wanted to stay. But...she had made it clear. From beginning to end, she was an enigma. His wish to know her would go unfulfilled.
"I was happy to do it,"
was all he could think to say. "Please be careful going home. I'm still tempted to escort you but...,"
he let the words die. He knew what she'd say.
He looked at her for a moment more, unsure what else to do. Then he looked at Elias. "Well, good to meet you Elias. Sorry about what I said earlier."
He doubted there'd be any love lost between the two of them. "I guess I'll see you around."
like that would ever happen.
One more look at Tehya. The door chimed that it was going to close.
Edited by Connor Kent, May 18 2014, 09:28 AM.