Makings of a Monster

- "Reiltar knows that you have a girlfriend, Sarevok. People talk. And he will want to meet her," said Winski. The dreaded tea ceremony was ahead, and Sarevok had adamantly wanted to arrange it when Reiltar wasn't home. The young couple had spent two weeks together now, and spared no moment they could be in each other's company.
- "I don't want to show her to him," answered Sarevok stubbornly. "He'd ruin it somehow, I'm sure of it. And I wouldn't want her to see Reiltar either. --- Girlfriend? It sounds wrong. Mundane, somehow."
- "Sarevok, I know that what you are experiencing with Tamoko is completely different from what other people experience when they are young and in love," said Winski, amused to note that the sarcasm went completely over Sarevok's head, "but that is a simple term to describe the situation. Call her your partner or what you want then, but you are eluding the inevitable."

- "How so?" Sarevok was nervous about introducing the most important people in his life to each other, and that made him irritable and stubborn. Reiltar had asked him about 'broads' as he put it, and Sarevok had made an elusive answer about a few and a false knowing grin.
- "Of course he'll find out soon enough that you have something serious going on, and wants to know what kind of woman his heir is dating. Have you any idea how far your reality is from his? He thinks everything is falling neatly in its place now, his empire starting to form. The only thing I'm saying is that we all have to deal with this," said Jelena.
- "Yes mother," Sarevok said in a softer tone. He never could talk to her in harsh or irritable tone. "But I will go for her now."
So he left, leaving the older lovers watching after him.

- "He does look handsome with that shaved head," acknowledged Jelena.
- "Imposing, certainly," answered Winski. "But he is still a child in many ways, though he would be indignant if told so. I haven't talked to him yet. Let's meet the girl first."
- "He hasn't told her about us or the Bhaalsblood yet," sighed Jelena. "I think he wants to live in a while in an illusion that all would be simple. That he would be a young warrior of the Throne and he would have a regular family he can introduce his girlfriend to, and no dark secrets, murderous plans and divine inheritances."
- "He even wants to pretend that Reiltar doesn't exist."
- "Can't blame the poor child for wanting all that, though. When has he ever had any regular, uncomplicated happiness?"
- "Never would be my closest approximation. But you remember what Allonia said?"
- "I fear," answered Jelena in a shaky voice, "I fear him even though he doesn't touch me. Much."
- "Much?" Winski's voice lowered into a silky hiss.
- "Well. He sometimes slaps me around a bit to show that he still is in charge. But his heart isn't really in it. It doesn't even leave marks."
- "You haven't mentioned this to me." Winski looked very angry, and Jelena couldn't tell whether he was angry with her with to Reiltar.
- "It doesn't even hurt much. If we are going to do what we have to do, it doesn't make any difference," answered Jelena, sorry that she had brought it up.
- "All the more reason that we should bring it up with Sarevok, and soon," said Winski, who was clenching his fists. He embraced Jelena fiercely, trying to calm down.

Sarevok and Tamoko walked the streets of Ordulin.
- "Really, Tamoko. There's no reason to be nervous about meeting them."
- "Why are YOU so nervous then?"
- "Because... there are things I will have to tell you. Serious things. And I am worried if you will want me still after I do."
- "Daidojis are not the kind to give their loyalties lightly," answered Tamoko with a hint of anger in her voice. "I said that I would be yours and I will."
- "I didn't wish to imply any different. But I can't help worrying."
- "Will you tell me tonight? I want to know what these things are. You have been mentioning them, and I'm getting curious." And a little scared, but she didn't say that aloud.
- "I will tell you after you have met them. I promise. I just wanted to pretend a little while... that Winski was my father and we were just an ordinary family, and nothing was scary or complicated."
Tamoko nodded and squeezed Sarevok's hand a little. She was still a bit confused. She didn't understand what was so crucially different about the situation Sarevok had just described to her. So she would wait.

As they arrived and entered the house, Tamoko stood confused in the doorway. No rack for the katana. Could she carry it at her waist? It felt blasphemous to leave it. Sarevok noticed.
- "I'm sure you can take the sword. I can explain that it is a custom of yours."
They entered the kitchen and Tamoko wore her collected, polite expression. The blonde woman had curly, long hair, and gentle, blue eyes. She was soft and round-shouldered, and radiated kindness. Sarevok's stepmother, whom he thought of as a mother. The man had coarse, black hair and the lean body of a cat. His eyes were yellow like a cat's too, and he smiled like one who is always aware of life's little ironies. He looked like a man who was going through a lot, and was puzzled in the middle of the process.
- "Good day, Mrs. Anchev, and Mr. Perorate. My name is Daidoji Tamoko," she said and shook their hands as westerners do. They greeted her and glanced at the sword, not commenting it.
- "Tamoko is a samurai, and they have always to carry their katana with them," explained Sarevok in a proud voice.
- "Well, it is no harm to have an armed soldier sitting at the tea table," grinned Winski. "If someone decided to burglarize us they'd probably run right away at the mere sight of you two."
- "Call me Jelena, and I'm sure Winski wants to be Winski too," said the woman. Her voice was musical and soft. Tamoko smiled and nodded.

- "You two have been quick in your moves," smiled Jelena.
- "I believe in fate," answered Tamoko. "There is no reason to avoid which is meant to be."
- "Sometimes people can go to amazing lengths trying, though," mused Winski.
- "I am a wave rider... it is a word of our land, it means that I can go where and when ever, like a piece of wood riding the waves. The waves could have taken me anywhere, and they took me here. Then I met Sarevok," said Tamoko.
- "What do you see in future for two of you, Tamoko?" asked Winski. The girl certainly had bearings of woman of soul and courage, but he wanted to know if she could be trusted, if she was serious enough with Sarevok.
- "We have promised to be the one to each other. We are both warriors, and it has been my experience that warriors are needed everywhere. We will go where fate will make us go, and we will fight what need to be fought." She spoke serenely and calmly, and Sarevok was beaming with pride beside her.
- "And if it was... more complicated than it looks? If you would have to face something truly scary or dark?" asked Jelena.
- "Cowardice, when facing the destiny of a one you have promised loyalty to, is twice as bad a dishonor as is cowardice in general," answered Tamoko. "I will face what I will have to face."

Tamoko actually enjoyed this tea ceremony. Now she could actually enjoy the tea as no one paid attention to how exactly it was drunk and served. She understood that the two were testing her. No matter. She had never been one to enjoy frivolous, empty small talk intended to fill the void for people afraid of silence. She felt that these two were also part of these complications Sarevok was talking about. No doubt she would hear what it all was about in a short while.