Oracle Chapter 2

This is the begining of the second chapter of Oracle: I hope you like it.

II: Catterinia’s

I think that it is safe to say that we are lost in the last place on earth people can be lost in” Jerrak threw his hands up into the air and rolled his gray eyes. “If you just let me help you…”

Lyzanor shot him a look. “I’d like to think that I know my way around a Red Lantern Lane…”

“I think that you’re too drunk on that damn ‘faie wine to know what the hell is going on.”

Lyzanor stopped and then spoke out. “I resent that!”

A woman dressed in a red skimpy dress walked right up to Lyzanor and put her hands around his arm. “Hey there hunny; can I help you relieve your stress?”

Jerrak threw himself towards her and grabbed her roughly by the wrist and jerked her off of Lyzanor’s arm.

“He’s not for you my dear… we just need some information.”

The woman sneered and rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong sweet-cheeks? Did I move into your territory?” Jerrak opened his mouth and then blushed violently. He looked to the ground and then muttered something under his breath.

“What’s that sweetie? Did I say something’ wrong… or was it right?”

“Come on,” he yelled suddenly. The woman didn’t look startled at all. She just smiled. “What’s wrong boy; am I getting a rise out of you? Why don’t you follow me and I’ll get you out of that cloak and show you…” He looked at her for a moment and her eyes widened as she gazed into the cowl.

“You… You…” she began to stammer. He looked away from her suddenly and then spoke in a low voice. “Just tell us where the Green Lane is.” She snapped her mouth shut and then just pointed in the direction of a street.

They both nodded and Lyzanor turned to look at Jerrak. “I think that she knows about your secret.” Underneath the cowl, Jerrak just scowled and pointed towards the same direction.

“Just go.”

Lyzanor shrugged and began to walk. As they walked along, he spoke only once. “How can she stand to wear such a skimpy thing then it’s so damn cold?”

Lyzanor shrugged his shoulders again and that was the end of that conversation. Finally, the street began to change only slightly. The streets looked almost the same, and so did the ‘houses’. The only thing that seemed to change was that the lanterns that were red changed to green. Another thing that seemed to change was that there were not so many people inside of the streets any longer. Of course, Lyzanor seemed to notice nothing else, but Jerrak began to get a little nervous.

As they passed by the places that were on the street, they finally came to one towards the end, in which there was a rather bawdy statue of a man playing a flute and dressed in a rather skimpy silk cloth, which draped his body. There was no one outside at first, but the door flew right open and a swarthy blonde woman stepped out of the door. She was rather plump and her smile was large indeed.

The woman was dressed in a purple dress that hung across her shoulders rather limply and her bare arms both held cuffs that were simple bands of silver with a gleaming gem in each. The woman had her hair wrapped into a rather strange bun; it seemed to be eating in upon itself, turning in towards the back of her head. On her neck was also another piece of silver jewelry with another stone, which was purple as well. At a second look however, her hair actually appeared darker than the original blonde that the green light cast over her.

She spread her arms wide open and spoke in a rather highly happy voice.

“Welcome! Welcome to Catterinia’s! Come inside!”

Almost instantly, she grabbed them both by the arms and hustled them inside. The smell of jasmine and vanilla as well as another unknown, yet rather pleasantly invigorating scent could be smelled in the air. As they were hustled over the threshold, they were greeted by the decadence of a rather classy place. The main room was not gaudy at all, or filled with columns and ugly statuary. Instead, it had simple walls that were the purest white. Silk covered the walls in all colors, but mostly purple. A single staircase led up towards an overlooking balcony, which also led down a different hall.

As they continued forward however, through an arch under the balcony, they entered another larger room in which there was another statue. This one however was in the center of a fountain. It was a young boy dressed in a form fittingly loose tunic with a single vase, out of which water was pouring out rather tranquilly into a small pond at his feet. It made a small chime that sounded almost like music.

“We are the only ones on Green Lane that can say that in our House, we have a singing fountain. It has tumblers on the inside, which the water goes through at intervals, which allows for the notes. It plays ‘Minoura’s Lament’. It’s beautiful.” The woman paused in front of the fountain with both men.

The courtyard was lit by lamps, mostly white light to reflect the silk, but there was the occasional green candle and the flickering light was almost a comfort in the small area. A single couch was set in between two pedestal-like tables, in which were small braziers where the smell of the strange incense could be smelled, wafting upon the gentle breeze from the open aired area. Above the couch was a canopy that was made in a twist on a gazebo fashion. However, it wasn’t as cold here as the outside for some reason.

The woman, whom both assumed was Catterinia, sighed contentedly for a moment. Then she turned quite suddenly and smiled warmly at both of the men. “So what is it that brings you here? Are you each looking for a companion for the night, or are you simply looking for one to share?” Jerrak twisted nervously where he was standing and the woman smiled. “Oh. So is this your first time young sir? Well, we do have some of the finest here… tell Catterinia what it is you desire and I can be sure to try and provide it for you…”

“Ah, so you’re Catterinia?” Lyzanor turned an inquisitive eye to the woman; waiting for a response. The woman smiled and placed both hands upon her breast, hands laced.

“Yes, that would be me, Catterinia Manses.” She moved her eyes to Jerrak after answering Lyzanor’s question. “You may take off your cowl sir, as we value our patron’s privacy here more than anywhere else.” Nor coughed nervously and then took a step forward in front of Jerrak, shielding him halfway from Catterinia’s gaze.

“I don’t think that would be wise my lady…”

“Oh nothing bothers me,” she replied. “Why, I am one of the few people in the city who offers up Light-touched…” Jerrak took a sharp breath. Catterinia smiled almost knowingly. “However, if being slightly secretive turns you on in this case, then I would only ask that I see your face for the safety of my workers…” She grabbed both of her wrists and held them in front of her, directly under her rather large supple breasts.

Jerrak twisted for a moment as if to make a move to leave the room and go back outside and then turned back to face Catterinia. Slowly, he removed the hood of his cloak and his white hair cascaded out and down his shoulders and to the center of his back. His hair was tinged with slight silver in the lamplight of the room. Catterinia smiled and put her hands on her hips.

“Now was that so hard? I cater to people like you all the time. As long as you pay, I have no problems.” She smiled once more and then spoke again in her normal cheerful tone, ignoring Jerrak’s white hair.

“Now what can I provide you two fine young gentlemen?” Jerrak remained silent as Lyzanor rolled his eyes. “We came here in hopes of seeing Melody.” Catterinia raised her eyebrows and cocked her head towards one side. “Ah… so you want our finest then…” She smiled her innocuous smile again and then motioned to the couch that was there beneath the canopy. “Sit and I will be right back.”

They both sat as she walked out of the room. Four small beautifully carved caryatids held up the small gazebo. They were all most likely saints of Virtues; although, statues of the virtues would be rare inside of such an establishment as well as of saints. Nor grinned lewdly and then said, “I hope Melody has a beautiful rack. Then I won’t feel so bad for being here.”

Jerrak shook his head and then spoke softly to himself something that Lyzanor did not quite catch. He then turned his down-turned head towards Nor. “Lyzanor right? Isn’t he one of the saints of the Church?”

“The Saint of Mountain Hunters; he was supposed to be an impressing figure. I hope that I take after his qualities.”

“Doesn’t the Church look down upon acts such as this?” Jerrak looked around the courtyard and spread his hands as if to encompass the whole place.

Lyzanor shook his head, a wistful smile upon his face.

“No, only the Malctun zealots believe that. Although they are a part of the church, it doesn’t mean that I have to like them. I follow Nadiria. She does not mind a little getting to know of other people in a more than just friendly way.”

“Well, you’re in for a surprise…”

“What? You’ve met Melody before? So… is she good-looking?”

“I’ve never met Melody… but I’ve heard stories…”

They sat in silence for a few moments and then Catterinia came back. “I present to you… Melody.” She made a dramatic flourish and suddenly, a man walked forward into the small courtyard. Lyzanor gasped and Jerrak seemed indifferent.

Lithe of curve and white almost as the newly fallen snow, the boy stepped into the courtyard wearing a flimsy tunic of sheer silk that was wrapped in the traditional style of the Grelcians; a short skirt like which wrapped around his waist which also supplied a length of cloth that wrapped over one of his shoulders and left the other one bare. He was indeed not small at all, but had his muscles finely oiled so that he would appear to glitter in the light that was produced by the lamps. His slim waist was hinted at by the cloth that he was wearing. His legs were powerfully muscled in their own right, as if he had at one time been a runner.

His appendages, however slender, gave off an air of strength though. His jaw line was rounded and only slightly squared as it made a small jut from the rest of his face. The jut would have been hard place to spot and notice however, unless someone was actually searching for it. His eyes were a swimming green, which matched a blonde hair that was slightly long and tied back behind his head. However, there were just enough stray wisps that accentuated his normally curved ears and deep-set brow.

In his hand he carried a small tray with two finely crafted crystal bowls and a crystal oinochoe. The bowls were wide and had gold filigree around the top edges that had been made to look like a complex knot work known to be practiced mostly in the mountains around Septi and Luxin. The boy slowly kneeled and placed the tray upon the small table that was to Lyzanor’s left side and then proceeded to sit upon a faldstool that had been cleverly hidden in the flora that surrounded the courtyard. He silently poured what appeared to be ‘faie wine into the two bowls and then offered it up to the guests. They both took the bowls; Jerrak with a pleasantly crafted smile and Lyzanor with a little apprehension.

As the boy settled back down again, this time in front of both of them on his knees, Jerrak slowly sipped the wine. Lyzanor looked at the boy, who looked back with an anticipatory glance at both Jerrak and Lyzanor. It was immediately replaced by a small look of curiosity, which made no furrow in his brows. His eyebrows lifted up only slightly, not disturbing the rest of his face as his lips twitched rather quickly and quite suddenly. Hs face then became an impassive mask, which Lyzanor found slightly unsettling.

Lyzanor turned to face Catterinia who smiled one again innocuously. “I hope everything is to your liking so far…” Lyzanor shook his head and then proceeded to look around. He turned to the pump woman and then asked, “Where is Melody?” Catterinia looked at Lyzanor with a strange look and then tilted her head to an angle. Nor growled and then spoke up once again. “We were told that she would be here. Where is Melody?” At this, Catterinia laughed out loud.

Jerrak slowly took another sip of his wine as the youth looked in a different direction with a slight redness in his cheeks. As Lyzanor continued to look at Caterinia with a look of confusion, Jerrak placed his wine at the other table and then pointed to the youth who was kneeled before them.

“That, my dear friend, is Melody.”