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What's in a name? Could a bookstore called B. Dalton in a mall smell as musty? Myra's mother grudgingly had agreed to drive her daughter to the shopping mall to pick up the book her teacher had special-ordered for her. Not that Myra wanted to go there, but, she wanted the book very much, and so where the book was, there must she go. Her mother stopped short of being willing to go into the mall, however. She told Myra she would be having coffee in the coffeeshop located conveniently at the outskirts of the mall's parking lot. Myra should come there to get her when the trip was done and the book safely in hand.
Myra stepped warily into the mall. She was dressed in a dark green t-shirt and navy velour pants, with dark brown sandals on her feet. She pushed some of her wispy black hair behind her ear as she looked both ways in the tiled halls, trying to ascertain where the bookstore she seeks is located.
"Now, if I were a B. Dalton, where would I be?"
Myra's pet crow, chimerical as it were, answered. "You? You'd be in a swamp, or a cave, or a forest, and you'd make no money at all."
"You're no help." Myra looked around, and took the left causeway.
Close by the entrance, Cyan sat on the counter of a make-up stand, casually inspecting the customers. His body was carved of wood, polished to a shiny finish but smudged with black make-up. They all ignored him, as their minds were in general too narrow and banal to realize where they were, and what had once lived there. Suddenly distracted, Cyan looked into the air, his head turning at an odd angle, as if he was looking for something. He carefully climbed off the counter, taking care not to bump into any of the mundanes.
With a strange combination of intuition and kenning, Myra walked past the department store where Cyan sat just as he moved. She noticed him there, with her near preternatural awareness of chimerical beings, but she would walk past. Her bird startled her by swooping. "What do you think you're doing now?"
Cyan started at the beating of wings, and snapped his head in that direction. From afar he spotted the black bird, then walked closer, keeping to the side. Myra ducked her head cautiously, her hair falling into her face. "I think the store must be that way", she whispered to her bird. Myra took a tentative step in the direction she indicated, hoping her pet will follow. She stopped when she saw Cyan looking at her, and quickly sat on a nearby bench, lowering her head, pretending she's examining her fingernails.
When they were a few yards apart, the bird spoke. "Shouldn't you have strings?", it asked the mannikin. Cyan started at the sudden address. "Who me?" Myra put her hand on her forehead, embarrassed, as Cyan took a step back in confusion. "I... was just looking..." His voice sounded creaky and high-pitched.
"Nothing to see, move along." The bird chirped away. Myra started whispering. "I'm sorry... he's so rude..." Cyan turned his head and looked back the way he came. Then he squinted his eyes and looked at Myra again. "Um... is this your friend?" Myra ducked her head more, so all he saw was a fall of black hair. Cyan ducked his head in mimicry.
"Usually. But he's being annoying today." Myra smiled a little at Cyan's imitation of her. "I... see." Cyan looked up, and edged his head an inch backwards, then stuck it forward again. Myra moved her head slightly up too, her nose peeking through her hair.
Cyan emitted sounds once again, very squeakily. "Are... you a kithain? By which I mean... you know..." Cyan scratched his bald head.
Myra snorted softly. "If I were I wouldnt admit to it."
Cyan nodded and pointed at the raven. "I am looking for my friend... he looks a little like yours... Yes..."
"Seen anyone who looks like you?", Myra asked her pet.
"..only he usually has color", Cyan interjected, while looking from the sluagh to her bird.
"Haven't seen anyone as handsome as myself in ages."
"What color?", Myra asked softly.
Cyan's eyes lit up bright red. "Blue, and yellow, and all sorts of colors. Like a rainbow. I do not know why. I like yours better." He looked down at his black tank top.
"It sounds very pretty."
“But he is still my friend... he is usually here. Apart from when he's not. Which... is not that often.”
Myra rubbed her fingers along the soft velour of her pants on the outside of her thigh, stroking it almost affectionately. “I'm sure he'll come back.” After a second of thought, she looked up at her pet. “Would you go look for him? Just for a little? Please?” Cyan nodded at the bird.
The raven squawked. “Oh... all right. You owe me now. I'll probably find the bookstore while I'm looking, then you'll owe me double.” It promptly flew of over the heads of the busy shoppers, leaving the two children alone.
Myra rolled her eyes at the bird's behavior, then looked at Cyan very suspiciously as he looked around cautiously, then whispered, “Do you want to go somewhere nicer?”
“Like where?”
Cyan took a panoramic view around at the shoppers that were oblivious to his presence. “There's this... place where less of the big ones come. But their dreams flow down there still.” He made motions towards an escalator with his curiously flat hands and his eyes were open wide, as if a great thing was happening. He looked back at her, then continued. “But... only if you don't tell anybody.”
Myra whispered, after looking rather frightened, “Oh... okay.” She looked like she'd rather not, but unable to resist a secret. She stood up carefully. Cyan stood up and straightened his legs, then spun around on one foot and started sneaking towards the escalator. Myra followed him, watching around herself suspiciously, and was about to step onto the escalator when Cyan ducked underneath it and hid behind a big green plant. Myra hid next to him, starting to enjoy herself a bit, she liked hiding. Her green shirt and navy pants seemed to blend in with the plant's fronds. Cyan made a 'sshhh' motion, which Myra thought must be hard without mouth and fingers, and placed his hand against the polished wooden floorboards they sat on. He slowly lifted his flat hand, and by doing so opened a completely hidden square hatch onto a deep hole, with a crude ladder against the side. A warm, soft glow came from the hole, and Cyan offered his hand to help Myra climb down. His red eyes beamed with pride as Myra started climbing down, misgivings rising. What was this creature, she wondered, and would it be trying to trap her in its den? But her curiosity wouldn't let her pass up this chance to explore secret places.
The ladder ended in what seemed to be a cave. About the size of Myra's living room with its arched ceiling, the cave was narrower and longer. Columns of cream marble surrounded the sluagh and the mannikin, and the floor and walls were made of the same dark stone, overgrown with moss and lichen. Curiously, she crouched down and rubbed at the lichen on the floor. The dark stone seemed faintly marbled in a pale green or cream. "Pretty," she said softly. She heard Cyan drop to the ground and looked up at him from her position on the floor. "How did you know this was here?" she whispered.
Cyan seemed not to hear the whispered question. "Yes, so pretty. It's all that's left of our home." He seemed sad as his eyes wandered around the cave, catching the eyes of the mannequins he'd taken from the department store where they peeked out from behind the marble columns.
"Whose home?" Myra's whisper drew Cyan's gaze back to her.
"Mine, my lord's, and his subjects."
"Who is your lord?" Her whisper was even softer now.
Cyan began walking toward the back of the cave, where an olympic fountain held a small blue flame. The faintly flickering light of the flame provided most of the cave's illumination. When he replied, his voice had lowered in pitch, and held a monotonous drone. Myra shivered to hear it. "He is the glorious lord Piphiatas. His court was the Effigy Dream."
The surge of anxiety made Myra sarcastic. "Sounds nice and pompous," she whispered. A silence fell between them. Cyan seemed lost in recollections; Myra felt trapped and afraid. To assuage herself of fears of being trapped here, she said softly, "I really can't stay. My mom will start worrying."
Cyan looked at her curiously. "But... this is Glamour. Do you not like it?"
She didn't want to hurt his feelings. "It's great, I'm glad you have it," she said softly. "It's nice and spooky. I'll come back and visit sometime when I can, okay?" She gave him a sympathetic glance, peeking out from behind her curtain of hair.
Cyan nodded to himself. When he spoke he sounded hesitant. "Do you... do you know something called the Dragon Host?"
Myra had little idea of that, though her chimera Ludin had mentioned it. Something about an invasion, though she hadn't completely understood him. Softly she said, "Yes, have heard. Are you scared?"
Cyan looked more than scared - he looked panicked. "Just don't tell them I'm here! It's all their fault, I'm sure."
"Of course I won't," Myra said softly. "I can keep a secret." She looked at him, mildly offended by the implication.
"Ah, yes. Thank you." His eyes seemed to smile at her. Myra briefly wondered how he did that. "Shall I show you the way out?" he asked, cocking his head, sad she was leaving.
Myra looked at the ladder. "Is the way out different from the way in?" she whispered. "I have to go to the bookstore... a book is waiting for me."
"Okay," Cyan said. He walked to the ladder and took hold of the rung, about to climb up.
"What is the Dragon Host's fault?" Myra asked in a low whisper. "Your lord's court being gone?" Watching Cyan, she almost tripped over a knight's helmet.
Cyan began to climb, looking upward. "Yes. THey wouldn't have just left without us."
Myra set the helmet aside gently and began climbing after him. "If I find them, I'll come tell you."
"Not the host - I don't want to find them. I just want them to leave me alone." Cyan opened the hatch and climbed up behind the plant again. Myra followed.
"I meant your court," Myra whispered. "Effigy Dreams."
Cyan closed the hatch behind them. "Thank you."
"Thank you for showing me your secret." Myra kept hidden behind the plants.
"You're welcome. Thank you for sending out your friend." Cyan stuck out his hand toward Myra, who took a nervous step back. She did not like to touch anyone, really. She glanced around and when no one was looking, made her way back to the escalator. Cyan followed.
"I wonder if Ludin will find ..." She paused, not recalling the other chimera's name.
"Shimmer. He is... strange sometimes." Cyan stepped off the escalator. "So you like books?"
Myra nodded, her hair falling in her face again. "Mmmmhmmm," she murmured, then looked around. "Do you know which way it is to the bookstore? I'm lost now."
Cyan spun around and took the lead. "Down this way to the other end and to the left." They made their way to the B. Dalton.
"Have you bought things here?" he asked on the way.
"Never been here before," she whispered. "My mom doesn't like malls."
"Ah. I've seen people, only. Watched and watched. Moms and daughters. Watching taught me to see, listening to speak."
Myra looked at him curiously. "You couldn't speak?" she whispered.
Cyan stopped in front of the bookstore, looking through the glass of the window that said "B. Dalton." "Not your way."
Very quietly she whispered, "What way?" She hunched over a little as she entered the store, wending her way almost randomly. Little by little she drew closer to the counter.
Cyan positioned himself next to a shopper, who didn't see him at all. He made a gesture of a hug. Myra was fascinated. She wondered if Cyan were really there, or if he was only there to her, like Ludin. But intent on getting her book, she let the thought go.
The bookstore clerk could barely hear the whisper of the teenage girl in the dark blue T-shirt. He leaned closer, and caught her name and the title of the book. Scooping it off the shelf he handed it to her. "Thankyou," Myra whispered quickly and turned, nearly stumbling into Cyan. He zipped out of the way, grinning with his eyes. She harrumphed almost inaudibly and pretended she hadn't noticed, walking past Cyan then turning back to him with a look wondering if he was coming with her. She giggled breathily as she left the store. Cyan followed her quietly. When they were out of sight of the bookstore window, Myra stopped and showed him the book.
"You probably don't want to come meet my mom, but if you do - she's out in the coffee shop in the parking lot," she whispered.
"Uh, better not," he answered, looking at the book. "What is it about?"
"Myth and legend," Myra answered in a whisper, "the best stuff."
"Sometimes, I wish I could read them," Cyan told her.
Myra's eyes widened. "You can't read?"
"Well, I can read numbers and letters - but not words."
"Oh, um," she stammered softly. "It's not that hard, you know. I could probably teach you, or at least try. When I come back."
Cyan looked thoughtful. "Okay. I would like that."
Myra smiled at him. "I'll bring you a book, too," she whispered.
Cyan scratched the back of his head. "Thank you. I hope you come back very soon. I'm very alone here nowadays." He paused. "Apart from Shimmer. Who is usually here."
Myra nodded, her expression grown sad. She stopped as they reached the mall entranceway. "Where are they?" she asked softly.
Cyan looked down. "I wish I knew."
Raising her voice to its top volume, not quite as loud as normal speech, but sounding much more strained and hoarse, she called, "Ludin?" The chimerical bird fluttered to her shoulder, seemingly out of nowhere. She stroked him with one finger then tilted her head to listen. He spoke though it was audible to none but her this time. "You looked everywhere? It's okay."
Ludin spoke aloud. "Whatever it is, it's not here."
Cyan told the bird, "Thank you for trying." The bird remained silent.
Myra put her hand on the exit door. "I'll see you again soon ok? With a book for you." She clutched her prize tightly and left with a seeming rush of air. The sunlight was far too bright for her, and she let her hair shade her eyes as she made her way back to the coffeeshop where her mother waited.
Mom was reading a magazine and didn't even notice Myra until she looked up after draining the last of her current cup of coffee. "Oh, there you are. Did you get your book?" Myra nodded silently. "Well, let's get going then." Mom stood and Myra followed her to the car. In the car she said nothing, read her book intently, and let Mom's conversational attempts slide by unanswered. Nothing unusual, typical Myra, Mom thought nothing of it.