The Steer

An invisible house on the lips of a lake.

"What news do you bring?"

Vulcan asked, looking at Ayla, then looked away to Tahni and asked,

"And did you have a nice time?"

Tahni was the first to speak,

"Ayla already told me that, we don't get to ask too much questions when we expect an answer. One question at a time."

"Indeed."

Prium scorned, rolling her eyes.

"Ignore her."

Vulcan came on and built on what Tahni had edified,

"That's quite a way to think. So, Ayla, what news do you bring from the land of the mortals?"

Ayla stared blankly for a while as though she was trying to find her voice.

"The land will be plunged into chaos sooner than later. Though we didn't hear from the direct source because we didn't have the time on our side, but there is a rumor of war in the air which wouldn't be favorable to the people of the land. The men we saw the last time are with ill motives."

"How is that?"

Vulcan interrupted, and Ayla continued,

"The men we accosted said that the strangers wish to take over the land by war if the chiefs refuse to give them half of the land."

"How ridiculous."

Vulcan exclaimed. Tahni complemented,

"You can say that again."

"Why would they had thought of suc I think humans are more treacherous than I thought. That is quite a peak of greediness. What did they say their contention was?"

Ayla responded,

"Since the land doesn't have a king anymore, a lot of things would be introduced. But I'm certain that if the men can strive for their land, they would retain their ownership. But I fear that the men we saw wouldn't be able to do that."

"And why is that?"

He asked. She kept on her pace,

"Tahni, tell him."

Tahni scoffed,

"The men only think of women. One of them almost took an advantage of me."

"What the hell! What did you do?"

"I slapped him of course."

"That's my daughter."

Vulcan touched her hair.

The four of them were standing such that, Tahni was standing beside Vulcan by the right, Prium by the left, and Ayla by herself. They were all standing on the extended wooden base of the house.

"But we can't actually act based on rumor. All she had just said was a rumor. None of them heard it from the mouth of those men. If I had gone, I would had done a better job."

You guessed right. Twas Prium. Her face fueling the indifferent expression. She looked away from all other to the lapping lips of the water as though she hadn't directed the words to them.

"Father, I will have a word with you."

Tahni severed the awkward silence.

"Right."

Vulcan looked away from Prium shaking his head. Prium argued,

"The truth is bitter."

"Indeed."

Vulcan let it go and walked with his daughter, leaving Ayla with Prium. He knew he had made a mistake.

"Any problem, Tahnu?"

He asked, as they walked to the front of the house.

"Tahni, father. How long will it take to get used it to it. After all, you christened me."

Vulcan chuckled and ran his hand across her shoulders. Her body movement to the touch wasn't like Prium's, whenever he touched her. Twas such a relief. He was glad that at least, the younger sister was smarter than the elder.

"Do not mind me. I have quite the number of things troubling my mind. So, keeping track of things sometimes might be problematic. Maybe a part of the amnesia is still lingering. No one can be so sure. The only person who could be certain is Athena."

"That's why I wanted to speak with you. About Athena."

He dropped his hand from her shoulders.

"Athena?"

She nodded her head in response.

"I had a dream again. At first, twas a feeling. But then the omen began to graduate till he grew into a dream. I saw that she is very near. She would be here soon. She's very majestic. I have no idea how you talked her into loving you. She seemed very much beyond your league."

He chuckled and ran his palm through the back of her long hair,

"There are somethings that are better left unexplained. If you try to explain them you keep getting confused."

"But what I saw was quite strange too."

"Tell me."

He said, his voice tuned in anticipation. She said,

"Don't be scared, it's nothing bad. Just that I saw that you weren't old. You were young when she arrived. Your wrinkles were no longer there. Your face, round and inviting. Your lips thick and kissable. Your eyeliners enchanting. I didn't want to wake up from the dream."

He laughed. He loved the sense of what he was getting though he was puzzled at her news,

"You must be a fan of beauty to had noticed all those, eh?"

He nudged her gently. She chuckled and ran her arm across his back, holding dearly unto him,

"My man must be cute too. I love beautiful men. "

He nodded his head then faced her,

"Tell me, Where did you get that gift from? The gift of dream and omen? Even Ayla couldn't figure out when Athena would come. She hadn't told me about it, neither had Athena appeared to me in the dreams. Probably she wanted to make it a surprise."

She smiled and found her words,

"When I was looking for you, I found Aynea and asked her if she found you. She took me to a sorcerer in the heart of this forest instead."

"A sorcerer? In this forest? Why haven't I accosted one?"

"He kept himself hidden. He asked that I give him something in return if I wanted to know where you were."

"What did you give?"

"Sex."

"Woah. You're such a naughty girl."

"But I didn't get to meet you though. I thought he lied to me and took an advantage of me. But then Ayla told me that the sex deposited a gift in me which eventually led me to you. The gift had graduated from omens into dreams. And I'm not sure what would come again."

She paused and then added,

"And there's something I feel but I'm not sure of."

"What?"

She hesitated firstly but he nudged her gently and then she found her words,

"Ayla knows that Athena would be here soon, I'm sure Athena told her but she's holding it back from you."

"Why did you say so?"

His face was puzzled. She scoffed and said,

"Maybe she likes you."

Vulcan shook his head,

"I don't think so. She never acted it."

She chuckled and said,

"You're older but don't know many things about women."

Then suddenly they heard a cry from the other side of the hut.

"Prium."

He muttered and they hurried towards there. As soon as they got them, they saw Prium standing at the edge of the extended base of the house. As soon as she noticed them, she turned and said,

"She slipped."

They both looked towards the water and saw Ayla struggling to keep her head up in the water. She finally did.

"Witch."

Vulcan muttered and jumped into the water to bring Ayla up, even though he knew that the Nymph didn't really need his help.