Chapter 6: Feelings
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	Xyo sighed as she watched Merine dash crying out of the pub.  She
decided it would be better if she left her alone right now.  She turned
towards Banon, who was looking at her expectantly.
	"Sascha wasn't under mind control," Xyo said flatly.  "I felt her
conviction and ambition 20 miles out of the city."
	Banon nodded.  "You are an empath?"
	Xyo shrugged.  "So to speak."
	He studied her for a moment and turned back to his wine.  "'Tis
hard time when so much evil in so many forms is loosed on the world."
	Xyo said nothing and Banon chuckled to himself.
	"At least, during the last war, the evil was one definite threat.
Now, everyone wants a piece of this destroyed world.  Many have nothing
else to turn to for hope, guidance, or aspiration."  Banon shook his head
sadly.  "The world needs someone or something to follow.  Someone to unite
the lost people and bring the world back together!"
	Xyo glanced at her own water in doubt.  "So we look for a leader?
I thought you were the leader of the Returners."
	Banon frowned.  "I am old.  They need someone who can lead them
charging into battle."
	Xyo snapped distastefully, "Ah, a dashing young man of incredible
skill on a white stallion, wearing golden armor and slaying dragons..."
	Banon laughed.  "Not that extreme.  But I don't think there is
someone already prepared to lead an army and rally the people."
	Xyo rubbed her temple thoughtfully.  "He would need to be a peer.
A working class citizen of a small town."
	"Does it have to be male?" Banon murmured... he was staring at the
wall behind Xyo, not really listening to her.
	"A woman?" Xyo said scathingly.
	Banon snapped back, "What was that red-headed girl's name again?"
	"Merine."
	"Ah, she is a strong girl."
	She looked doubtfully at him and he nodded.
	He continued, "Oh, yes.  I think that once she has come to terms
with her loss, she will be incredibly strong-willed.  Her mind was strong
enough to resist the mind control of Sascha..."
	Xyo leaned forward, "Are you suggesting... her?" Her voice was
beginning to rasp.
	Banon shrugged.  "A young country girl from a small farming town.
Betrayed and battle worn.  Would seem ideal, don't you think?"
	Xyo stood up, "You've got to be crazy old one."
	Banon sighed, "Don't tell her, but keep a close eye on her.  I will
watch her too... when she is ready, it will already be reality... mark my
words!"
	Xyo leaned on her staff, her eyes narrowing.  "Why do you want me
to watch her?  Do you really like to go about asking shady strangers to
watch after your hopes?"
	"Let's say..."  Banon turned to walk away.  "I know a Dryad, too."
	Then he walked out of the pub, leaving Xyo in a state of shock.

				* * * * * * * *

	When Xyo regained her senses she shuffled out into the sunlight and
glanced around. She realized that Merine still had the money, so she had to
find her in order to get their supplies.  She figured that she had gone
back to the inn and proceeded there.
	No such luck. She sighed and pondered where a heartsick girl would
go to mope.  She grinned and proceeded to the docks.

				* * * * * * * *

	She found Merine sitting at the end of an empty pier. Her boots
were off and she was dangling her feet in the water.  She didn't even hear
Xyo approach.
	"I thought you were sick of fish," Xyo rasped briskly and Merine
jumped.
	"Huh?" Merine gasped.  "Oh, yeah, I am, sort of.  I was just
wanting a quiet place to think."
	"I need the money so I can buy us some supplies while you 'think'."
	Merine nodded, still looking away from her,"Sascha is under mind
control... right?"
	Xyo sighed, "That is something you will have to decide for yourself.
You know her the best, I have never met her..." Xyo stopped abruptly.
	Merine didn't seem to notice.  "Did you talk any more to Banon?"
	Xyo opened her mouth and then paused.  "No," she said flatly.
	Merine sighed, and stood up and detached her pouch of gold coins.
She handed it to Xyo,"You go, I need to be alone for a while longer.  I'll
be back at the inn by sunset."
	Xyo took the bag and tucked it into her robe, saying nothing, she
shuffled off the pier, leaning more heavily on her staff.

	Merine sighed and turned back to her thinking.