The Master~Yarqi's Story by Barbara Underwood

Author:Barbara Underwood [Underwood, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-19T22:00:00+00:00

21.

Yarqi ascended the steps in the House of the Order until she reached the third level. She looked at Mohandu’s room as she walked past his closed door, wondering what he was doing. In the common rooms where food was prepared, Yarqi reached for some freshly baked bread and a jar of preserved fish.

“You should eat this,” said a man seated nearby. An odd-looking man with a partly-bald head and round, protruding belly smiled at her as he pointed to the plate of food in front of him.

“It is rice with meat in a sauce of many spices and flavours,” he enthused.

“Where do I get it?” Yarqi asked, and then let the man prepare a dish for her as he chatted.

“My Order Name is Strange Riddle – funny, isn’t it?”

“I think our Order Names reflect our real inner person,” Yarqi said thoughtfully.

“You have a storm inside you while outside you appear to be quiet,” Strange Riddle concluded.

Yarqi nodded.

…only The Master really knows me, understands me…

“The Master sees right into the depths of each person,” Strange Riddle continued solemnly. He continued to eat his meal as Yarqi sat down with her plate. She savoured the strong flavours and remarked on the texture of the tender meat and chewy grains of rice.

“It is very good food,” Strange Riddle agreed. He finished his plate in another big sweep of his spoon, then swilled it down with a cold beverage imbued with flavourful dried leaves. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and then looked reflectively at Yarqi.

“Did you feel strange when you spoke the pledge at your Initiation?”

Yarqi stopped chewing and considered his question carefully.

“Yes, I did.”

“Was it something The Master did?”

Yarqi nodded as she swallowed.

“It was when he laid his hands on my shoulders…and then looked into my eyes,” Yarqi recalled with a sudden cold shudder. “His look really paralyzed me!”

“Me, also,” said Strange Riddle with a frown.

Yarqi experienced fleeting fear which she saw reflected in Strange Riddle’s face.

“It disturbs me,” he said gravely.

Yarqi hesitated to answer, and then merely nodded in silent agreement.

“We must not talk about it!” Strange Riddle said with sudden fearful urgency.

Yarqi looked up at him, stunned.

“Finish your meal. Here, finish the drink,” he said standing up and placing a large urn of the seeped beverage in front of Yarqi.

Yarqi tried to brush off the disturbing feelings Strange Riddle’s words had stirred up inside her. As she finished her meal, she contemplated returning to her place of service, but the joyful excitement she had felt in the morning was dampened by Strong Willow’s stern and deterring words.

…should I go back to my service? People are waiting for me to help them…what if I come across another case like the rats?

At length, Yarqi decided to return to her place of service to pass the time until the sun’s descent. She went to her room and stored the small shiny bowl with lid in the wooden chest, and then checked the folded cloth in her pocket to ensure the hairs were still in place.

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