For the Love of Gulbfish and A Lie - Part Three

Endings are awesome, both as a reader and a writer. Such a sense of accomplishment.

However, if you like to skip to the end (like I sometimes do), make sure you find Part One and Part Two eventually, okay?

Here we go...

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For the Love of Gulbfish and a Lie - Part Three
A side story from 'Sanctuary' - Book One in the Gilesian Trilogy

Mageid circulated throughout the cavern, not knowing how or where to start, for he was a low-ranking government official who assisted the Quorum, and not known for hatching clever schemes. He nevertheless gathered his courage, and came up behind Jong’Gin, whose cloak swirled with darker blues and greens, drinking some Nevanian wine.

“You looked worried, my youngling. Have you heard? I’ve just been to the kitchens and spoken with Jacubinia. She told me that Bougkin threatened her that if she didn’t meet him in darkness later, he would tell Tevogtulu that she was breaking triads? Breaking my triad, in fact?”

Jong'Gin's contented expression remained the same. “Bougkin can say what he likes – it’s only his statement against hers. Besides, Tevogtulu’s not likely to pay attention to such a small matter when such a momentous trip is before him – I know I would focus only on the priority at hand.”

“The Earth girl?”

“Of course – who knows what he will encounter there? The world is so unlike the planets in this quadrant, and such a rare gem of life.”

“It would be great to visit there one day. I mean, it was ridiculous really, to think that I’d ever break my triad, especially at the birth of yours….”

“Who’s breaking their triad? Jong’Gin, surely not you? Not on your very organization day?” said Lopav, the human conservationalist, as he walked up behind Mageid.

“Of course not – Mageid talked of breaking triad, not I.”

Mageid waved his arm, his cloak turning a bright shade of red. “No, no my friends – it is only a rumor, a silly rumor started by Bougkin, that I was breaking triad to melt with the kitchen hologram…”

Both men reacted with shock. “Such a statement to make, Mageid, in front of younglings! Were you wanting to travel with Tevogtulu to Earth? Is that why you’re breaking triad?”

“I am not – please, please. This is only a silly rumour!”

Jong’Gin nodded, the wine swirling in his head now. “She is beautiful, even for a hologram…”

“But still! Even the thought! And you with such a prize for a second, Mageid? What would she say? And your poor third!”

“Look, you understand little about this situation. I was in the kitchen with Jacubinia…”

“Jacubinia! Is she not a wonderful servant? Did you hear? Someone mentioned that she might accompany Tevogtulu to Earth when he goes,” said another, interrupting their conversation.

“Who said?”

“I only heard in passing.”

“No, it was Mageid just now in the kitchen with Jacubinia. Did she say anything to you, Mageid?”

“Yes, Mageid is breaking triad to go to Earth with her and Tevogtulu…”

 

He quickly extracted himself from the conversation and proceeded to his home caverns, his robes a dark red now. His head burned with embarrassment, as though he had sat in the sun fields all day. He felt conscious of his robes and of the stares of others, but he spoke to no one.

As the door rose to admit him, Hovchey, his second, stood to meet him.

“Mageid – how could you make such a spectacle of yourself in front of your younglings! Jong’Gin contacted me  – he told me such stories.”

“You heard about Tevogtulu’s upcoming fold to Earth?”

She slapped his face, her hand firm and cold. There would be no comfort of a melt tonight for him.

“We all heard the grouptalk. He said you would follow him…with a solid hologram, and that you two would be his new second and third! What about me? What about your younglings? Have you given us no thought at all?”

Mageid sighed in such a way he seemed to deflate. “Let me explain…”

“There’s nothing to explain! May you shrivel in the eyes of the Master Gardener, for this reproach!”

“Don’t blame me. It was Bougkin the tallos master. He started it all.”

Though, at that very moment, Mageid couldn’t remember for sure. Wasn’t this his story? Did Bougkin say anything at all? He’d never know now.

He wished himself away on Earth, wished the rumors were indeed true, even for just a moment. Despite the happy triad ceremony for his youngling second, he couldn’t help but cast a sad eye forward to a bleak moon-cycle in his own future.

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New story coming next week.