The Gift
Richard's (SF) Storyline, Chapter 4.1
copyright comidacomida 2018
I thought a lot about what I'd seen as we walked back toward my house. I hadn't expected Jack to take me to one church, let alone two, and I certainly didn't think that I'd run into two separate spirits guiding the thoughts and actions of two separate ministers. Although the Ram and the Lion couldn't been more different in the way they went about guiding their respective humans, when I looked at it in the most basic fashion, they weren't quite so varied: both sought out a certain kind of parishioner and used the feedback from the church's worshippers to further reinforce the sermons and beliefs of their 'host'.
The Ram and the Lion, Meloi and Maahes each sought to guide the Human they inhabited in a different way but their goals were the same: influence their Human to influence the congregation and gain Spirit Energy from both sources. Why then did the two Spirits go about it in such dramatically varied fashion? Did choosing different 'holy messages' allow them to exist in the same area without fighting for followers? Was it something more fundamental in how the two Spirits each saw the world separately, or perhaps it was based more on the Humans' views and the Spirits were merely a catalyst? It was one of two thoughts about which I obsessed on the way home.
The other topic was the small bronze key in my pocket, and in my mind it weighed much heavier than the small trinket in my pocket. It was strange in a way that the bracers which Jack wore were made of spirit matter and yet the key he gave to me felt as real as anything I had ever touched. Giving my brain a break from considering the Ram and Lion, I chose instead to put my hand into my pocket and run my fingers across the small metal key. It was real, that much was certain, and in a way that Spirits didn't feel complete.
I mulled the idea over in my head again and again until we were two blocks away from my house, at which point I couldn't stay quiet any longer. The street was clear and so I spoke up, albeit, quietly. "Jack?"
The Gryphon stood up a little straighter, feathers puffing out as if startled. With a start, he turned to regard me. "Yes, Richard?"
I closed my hand around the key. "That promise you made... you called it an 'Accord', I think..."
Jack nodded. "Correct. I made an Accord with thee."
Letting out a breath, I slowly drew the key out and looked it over. The brass was flawless and without blemish, crafted in a way I didn't think possible for something made of metal. Had it been cast and then worked smooth or was it wrought out of some kind of mold? I couldn't say. In the end, my question was more related to 'what' rather than 'how'. "What is this key I'm holding exactly?"
The Gryphon offered a pleasant, conversational smile. "That is a physical manifestation of our Accord. For as long as thou dost hold me to my promise, I wear these bracers and thou dost hold the key."
I turned it around in my fingers, admiring the reflective quality of its perfect sheen. "It feels so real."
Jack nodded. "Because tis as real as Spirit Essence could be."
Closing my hand around it, I turned to walk up toward the door to my house. "You made it, right?"
The Gryphon nodded. "When the Accord was made, so too was the key. It was something I could not create without thee as it requires an Accord to take physical form."
Rather than getting out my key chain, I first gave the key a light rap against the door handle; it made a distinct sound and, for all intents and purposes, was as real and as solid as anything I had ever seen. "This... it can't be spirit essence... can it?"
Instead of answering my question, Jack motioned to the concrete step beneath me. "Drop it, Richard, and see for thyself."
I was hardly convinced but I was intrigued enough to follow his direction. Turning my hand over, I opened my fingers and let the key fall to the ground; I jumped in surprise when it disappeared in a disbursing haze. "What did I--?"
My statement got caught in my throat when I righted my hand and the key dropped into my palm once more. Jack smiled; it looked almost serene. "Tis an amalgam of thy soul and my essence, Richard. It exists because we exist, and is a combination crafted from our Accord. What thou dost hold is neither physical nor spirit, but a union of the two."
That brought up yet another question, and I asked it as I put the key away and fished out my key ring. "But I thought physical and spirit can't mix."
The door unlocked for me even as I pulled my keys out. I opened it slowly, only to find Sabhana waiting for me on the other side. She smiled, bowing her head ever-so-faintly in greeting. "Ah, Richard... it warms my heart to see you back safely."
I smiled, showing myself in and the Wolf stepped aside so Jack could follow. Once we were inside I closed the door and regarded Sabhana. "Why wouldn't I be safe? I may still be pretty knew to Cherry City but I know the places to avoid, I wasn't out late, and, besides, I had Jack with me... right Jack?"
The Gryphon smiled his widest yet and his eyes gleamed with a soft golden light. "He speaketh the truth, Sabhana. At no time was there any danger during our travels."
Smirking, I sat down to take off my shoes. "Well... except for the two spirits we ran into at the churches."
Treboada, who had been lounging on the sofa was up in an instant. "Spirits? Whae yeh be doin' puttin' th' boy en harm's way, berd?"
Jack held up a talon. "There was no harm. I wished to enlighten Richard into the ways of spirits and show him that danger could be in the least likely of places."
Seeing that the black Wolf was on edge, I came to the Gryphon's defense. "Besides... they were both Skin Riding other Humans so they weren't interested in me."
Sabhana reached out and brushed her paw across the air, the tips of our fingers passing through one another. "Not entirely true, Richard... a Spirit will always get the most spirit energy from a Seer. If things had been going poorly for either Spirit they could have caused real trouble for Jack, or you, or both."
The developing argument had apparently been enough to rouse the attention of Balam, who, with languid, fluid movements, emerged from the wall leading to my room. He was 'oozing' across the floor on all fours as he appeared but, as if it were the most natural gait in the world, somehow managed to rise up onto his hind legs and continue his forward motion. "What are they saying? The Wolves do not sound happy."
I relayed the basic part of the discussion to the Jaguar, who simply listened. At the end of my summary, Balam nodded. "Did you feel like you were in danger, Richard?"
I shook my head. "No, I--"
He spoke over me. "Do you understand the risks that he took in bringing you to see other spirits?"
"I... guess?"
Balam motioned to the Wolves and then to Jack. "Tell them that he did no wrong and that I believe you are better for the experience."
I conveyed the Jaguar's words to the Wolves. Sabhana nodded in thought while Treboada simply hrumph'ed. "Well... show's what yeh know then, don't it, ket?"
It wasn't really the most friendly exchange but, then again, considering what Jack had me experience that afternoon it made sense that everyone was a little on edge. If I'd thought about it a little more at the time I might have revised what I said next. Once there was a break in the conversation I--
b) -- quickly interjected "We can talk about this later. I'm just here to get changed because I owe Jack a thank you for the lesson so we're going out tonight."
c) -- turned to the Wolves. "Hey... I appreciate your concern, but I'm a big boy and you don't have to babysit me. If you're that worried, why don't you two go pick out something we can do tomorrow while the rest of us debrief?"
d) -- stepped between the debating parties. "Come on. That's enough. Nobody got hurt and I even learned something. I have a buy-one-get-one coupon for pizza, so how about instead of bickering we have a night in and everyone can relax?"
Voting is now open and will close on midnight (pst) on Thursday, July 12th.
...................
A Honor my word
I opt for (C) which gives the wolves time to plan tomorrow's activities, while Richard, Jack, and Balam have the opportunity to enjoy tonight's activities, whatever they may be. Perhaps a bonding ceremony between the three, perhaps a bit more, perhaps just a warm cuddle with the two before drifting off to sleep. ;)