7. Complications.

Maria felt like her stomach wanted to return all the food she had just eaten. Saleem’s hand wasn’t cold nor clammy, but it was limp and had no spirit behind it.

She caught a glimpse of Theodore, who was back under the chair. He was circling on the spot and it looked as though he was chasing his tail. But Maria could hear that he was agitated. He was making chitering noises and in her head she heard, "Get it out.. get it out... get it out..."

She forced herself to stay under control as Saleem spoke to her after the introductions were made.

"I am glad that little Kamal was kept safe by you. We are very grateful. He is my wife’s favourite nephew."

"I’m her only nephew!"

The others laughed, even Saleem. But his laughter sounded hollow and mirthless. None of the others seemed to notice. Maria figured her upbringing probably had something to do with it.

"Well, we do have to go." said Ablaa, "We will see you later when we assemble for the town meeting."

They left leaving Maria and Ruwayda and Theodore behind. Maria could barely control herself. She had been so concentrated on not showing any emotions that they came back twofold. She quickly let out her breath she did not know she was holding, and scrambled to the chair. She put her head in her hands and tried to control her shaking.

"Maria! Are you all right? What is wrong?"

Maria did not answer Ruwayda right away. She wasn’t sure how her voice would sound right now and wanted a little more time to recuperate. She could see Theodore under the chair. He was curled up into a ball and was slowly rolling back and forth, still chitering away.

"Kamal, go out and play while mommy cleans up and talks with her guest."

Maria could hear the door open and close as the child did as he was told.

She saw Ruwayda move to in front of her, and felt a hand under her chin lift her head.

"What is wrong? please tell me."

"I can’t. It would sound unbelievable anyway."

"I have seen that others have been a little more uncomfortable around my brother-in-law the last little while. Even Taamir and myself have felt there was something different. But my sister is happy that he is still with her and does not see anything wrong. And none of the others have reacted as strongly as you."

Maria did not respond. She was trying to come up with a good reason for what had just happened.

"There is something wrong in the city." continued Ruwayda, "Ever since this conflict started, things have been changing. Taamir says that war changes things, and I am sure he is right. But sometimes I feel that some of the changes are not just due to the fighting. There is just something wrong happening tin the city, but I have nothing concrete to show."

She had been talking while looking past Maria, as if she was able to see all the city through the walls of her home. Maria could see that Ruwayda was concerned about what was happening around her but she was also scared.

"Whose army is out there anyway? And why are they here?" She asked Ruwayda.

It had occurred to her she had not asked earlier and she was even more curious now.

""His name is Faaris. He is the ruler of the lands to the west of us. He pretty much ignored us most of the time. We would even trade with him from time to time. Then one day, a few weeks back, he came here with his army."

"Why suddenly now?"

Ruwayda laughed, "It seems he has it in his head that we have quite a stash of gold and jewels that Ameera has hidden away."

"Why would he think that?"

"We are not sure. But rumor is that the sorcerer that he keeps near him is telling him so. His name is Nu’man. Taamir tells me he is a controller of fire. We think that he is spreading the rumours that have brought this down on us."

"Why would he do that?"

"No one really can tell. Some thought he had been rejected by Ameera and that he was getting revenge, but Ameera claims they did not know each other in that manner. It is not a lovers’ quarrel."

This situation was beginning to make less and less sense to Maria.

"Now," said Ruwayda, "I have answered some of your questions, even though some would say I should not trust you since you are a stranger,. But I feel that there is something different about you, and my gut feeling is to trust you. Will you answer my question now?"

Maria made a small laugh. "I don’t suppose your mother was a priestess or something?"

"As a matter of fact she was. Why?"

"Then you do take after her."

Maria looked at the young woman waiting patiently in front of her and was unsure what she should tell her. Tell her the truth, or try to make up a convincing lie to spare her the ugly details.

"I believe" she began, "that there may be something wrong with your brother-in-law."

"He’s a lousy meat puppet." said Theodore.

Maria was going to tell him to shut up and let her do the telling when she saw Ruwayda’s eyes go wide and look toward Theodore.

He had spoken out loud.

"He does talk." she said.

"What?" asked Maria.

"My sister claimed when she was small she had fallen into a river but had been saved by a bear that was all white, and that this bear had spoken to her and told her to be more careful. Everyone just put it down to the imagination of a little girl. But she told me it had been real and that she was told there are other animals like the bear who are all white and can speak. She was sure your friend was one of them."

"That’s why she had whispered in my ear, asking me if I could talk just like the bear." said Theodore.

"None the less, I don’t think your talking now was such a good idea."

During the conversation, Ruwayda had gotten up and came back with a cup of steaming liquid.

"Here drink this, it will help you relax." she told Maria.

Maria’s hands were still shaking so badly that the liquid was spilling out over the rim. Ruwayda put her hands around Maria’s to steady them and helped her drink. The warm liquid did help a little.

"Now, what exactly did Theodore mean by meat puppet?" she asked.

Maria frowned down at Theodore.

"I hate that term. It is not a proper word to use."

"But it is the most accurate." Theodore nearly spit out his words.

Ruwayda was still patiently looking at her. Maria sighed. there was no holding back now since Theodore, in his moment of foolishness, let the truth slip out.

"When someone dies their soul is gathered up by Death to be taken to the after life. When this happens all that is left behind is a vessel that is no longer filled. Like an empty pot or vase. But some time ago a sorcerer figured out that you could use these vessels after the soul had left it. It was empty, you just had to fill it and you could control it..."

"Just like a puppet." finished Ruwayda. She looked as if she was going to be sick.

"Just like a puppet. Hence the term certain people use for these creatures."

"But he remembers things as if he was Saleem."

"Yes, I am told that that is because memories are part of the entire body not just the soul. That they are imprinted there. so that when a puppet is created they still act like the original and remember things the original person did, but they never act completely like the original and so never fit in exactly as before."

"That is why everyone says that his near death experience changed him, but that is not exactly true." said Theodore.

"But what kind of person would do this? This is worse for my sister than having him die back then."

"That is what I am wondering too." said Maria, "I don’t know right now why anyone would want to do this to him. And I am more afraid to find out if he is not the only one."

"What makes you think that?" asked Theodore.

"Ruwayda, have there been any more of these miraculous recoveries coming from the healers?"

"Yes, several such stories have been spreading around. Taamir says it is just rumours, but now I am not so sure."

"If I am right," said Maria, "Then something truly horrible is going on here. And I am going to find out why."