You're Dumb

Keola slammed the door shut moments before a beer stein smacked into it . If she were any slower that would have been her head! "It's just me, Miss Xethra! Did you get my post that said I'd be coming by?" There was some rustling and a thump from inside and Keola assumed that meant 'enter'. When she cracked open the door another stein hit it - this time, full of beer. Keola moaned and slipped inside. Xethra must be in a foul mood to throw a glass full of beer during Brewfest.
"I don't mean to intrude, but I need more mana pots. Stronger ones. I sent you a letter, doesn't anyone get my post anymore?" Keola asked.
Xethra was sitting on an overturned chest, cackling softly. The warlock's eccentricities seemed somehow wilder than months before. Keola felt bad for Xethra - Seton had told her months ago she feared Xethra's main ailment was a broken heart. As a result, she was loosing her grip on her sanity AND her fel magick, and was probably slowly being corrupted by it. As much as she denied it, Keola knew Xethra still loved Glaine very much and Glaine himself held onto his love for her, too. Until a cure was found for the Forsaken (the main reason Xethra continued to study alchemy), Keola doubted that the two would be together. Xethra was to proud and to headstrong to allow it.
That mastery of alchemy was what brought Keola here today. "I don't see why everyone loves this holiday so much. Drinking isn't good for you, it just makes you do dumb things."
"Blasphemy!" Xethra shrieked. "Beer is liquid bread IT'S GOOD FOR YOUUUUUU!" She sang, horribly off key.
"I should come back when you're not....uhm...having so much fun..."
"Nonsense! Mana pots, in my sleep." Xethra said, pulling up another chest laden with empty flasks. "Sit. Just a few moments."
Keola plopped herself down on the foot of the bed. She hoped she was going to get mana pots out of this and not pygmy oil as a drunken mistake...but she could tell by the way Xethra was handling her herbs that the Forsaken wasn't as toasted as she appeared. It was all an elaborate front. Keola almost missed the once strong, tenacious but short-spoken woman who had rescued her and brought her to Earthsong.
"Why don't you loosen up? Have a beer?" Xethra waved in her general direction.
"Oh, no! I don't drink that stuff, you know that." Keola chided.
Xethra made a grunting noise. "For the best. You probably shouldn't drink anyway. You're dumb enough already. When are you going to kick those stuffy druids to the curb? Think for yourself?"
Keola opened her mouth for a weak retort...but thought twice. There was a certain sad truth in those words.
Xethra spun around and thrust her arm out, three glowing blue mana potions held between her slender fingers. Keola stuffed them in her bag. "Don't move! More." Xethra said shortly.
"Do you think they are telling me wrong?" Keola asked softly.
Xethra didn't reply for a few good minutes. Probably for dramatic effect. That or she was concentrating on the task ahead. "You need to take charge of your own destiny. You should know what is good for you by now. Nice people like you get manipulated by people like them."
"What if I don't know what's really good for me?" Keola asked.
Xethra this time tossed the finished potions over her shoulder, and Keola scrambled to catch them before they hit the floor. "You are so good. Pure. Darling. You would figure it out. Easily. That, or come across some strong man who will care for you the rest of your days. Don't worry about it."
"Thanks Miss Xethra, I'll think about it." Keola said, taking the rest of the potions that were handed to her. She stood and made her way to the door...but was stopped by her cloak in Xethra's bony fist. "Yea?"
Xethra's gaze was hard and blank. It was hard to say what was on her mind. "Nothing. You'll figure it out. Now get out of here, before I make you drink."
Tags: Keola, Xethra
Category:Horde Stories