The old lady nodded. Mesu was irritated. She had expected a bigger response when she had broken the news of her discovery.
“There is not much in life that surprises me anymore. Owning this place, I have heard many stories come through. Usually, that’s all they are, stories. It’s kind of validating to hear this.”
“I’m glad that today has made your life-long work worthwhile. Now what?”
“That is a great question,” Ilene answered. Mesu huffed. She wanted a definitive answer. “Now, child, no need to get like that. There are many places Enya may have ended up. You have to ask yourself what your goal is?”
Mesu sat back in her chair and thought, What did I want to do now? Her first instinct was to answer that she wanted to go home or wake up. The hope that this was all a dream had almost completely faded. Her new reality had begun to settle in. The uncertainty hung in her mind.
“What if I go looking for more information about Enya?” Mesu blurted out.
“Well then, you have already started on your journey. Now we think about where you go next. No use in having you wander around.” They both sat in silence. Mesu was already doubting her decision. This is likely a fool’s errand, she thought. There were stories of Enya all over the known world and even somewhat in the unknown, according to Ilene. The ones she knew all started to flood back to her.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to include another in this little group of ours. I admit I have a secret, and she’s possibly more knowledgeable than I.” Mesu shrugged her shoulders in approval. The woman stood up and disappeared through the door. Mesu thought about lying down but decided against it. She tapped her foot in anticipation as she sat on the edge of the bed.
Two people walked in through the door. Ilene was one, but the second was a face that Mesu didn’t recognize.
“This is my granddaughter, Anna. Anna, meet Mesu.” She had light skin, which was a contrast to her own. Her skin was much fairer than her grandmother’s, which had a leathery look to it. Anna’s build was thin, and she had short blonde hair that flowed to below her shoulders. She barely waved to Mesu as she tried to make herself even smaller.
“It’s nice to meet you, Anna.” Mesu knew she didn’t sound enthusiastic as soon as the words left her mouth. If she thought lying down would have been rude, this easily topped it. Mesu looked her over again and was even more embarrassed. Mesu felt like a brute compared to how fancy Anna was.
“She is shy. Sit.” The old woman moved to the chair and Anna joined the table. “I bring her in for a few reasons. The biggest one is that she has been my scribe from a young age. Anna learned to read and write, one of the few who have in the family. This gift created a bit of a library. Not just any, though, one dedicated to Enya. Her stories have a wide reach. It isn’t our place to say which is true or false. I had Anna write down each one we hear.”
“Why her?”
“Enya is truly a legend. I’m surprised you aren’t more informed than I am.”
“My father told me stories. However, there were some he was waiting until I was older to tell.”
“Fathers and being worrywarts. You are of an age that you can know full details of your ancestors’ exploits.”
“I think it was mostly because he was afraid of me leaving. He was concerned I would go out on my own in the world. Try to live up to her name.” Mesu looked down. She could feel the tears well up in her eyes as it started to sink in. The room was silent except for Mesu sniggling and the muffled music down the hall. She wished her mother or father were there. She wanted to feel the comfort of their arms around her to make her feel better.
“It’s okay to let it out. What happened to you is tragic. Don’t live in this moment or that past. One way or another, you will be moving on. My door is open, and you have a place to live and work if you wish here.” Ilene did the best she could to comfort Mesu by reaching across the chairs and rubbing Mesu’s shoulder. It was something to Mesu, and she was appreciative.
Mesu started to calm herself. Her breathing was still quick. The offer was something that she considered. It would be an easy life, she imagined. She would serve food and drink or cook. Each day would be about the same, and she could feel safe.
What would Enya do? What would her choice have been?
“I know you’re considering it. We need you to hear this, though.” The old woman turned her attention to Anna. Anna blushed and scrunched up a little more. “Come now, child. I brought you here to speak. Now tell her of Enya, in the beginning.”
“Sorry, grandmother. I’ll do my best.” Anna turned her attention to Mesu. She held a book in her hand and kept it close, unopened.
“The beginning of Enya’s legacy is said to start from many places. However, there is a common story or tales with some differences that can be matched to this. Enya was part of a traveling act. The whole family were performers of both dance and acrobatics. Enya was our age, around 13 or 14. The family went to a town like this one. The name is always different, but it happens the same. Enya and her family had finished for the day and were resting at an inn. She had gone to sleep, and when she woke up…” Anna paused. It was one that Mesu wasn’t sure would end or if the story would continue.
“She was an orphan.” Anna continued. Her voice was softer. “Her parents were caught up in troubles the night before. All Enya knew was performing, and she tried to continue it. She wasn’t very good at it yet, and it was all she really knew. Adventure found her when a couple of travelers asked her to help retrieve a treasure. It was something they couldn’t reach, but her skills and size were perfect for it.”
“They went out to the temple and went to retrieve the item, as well as whatever else they could get. Enya was able to help them, although the building was destroyed in the process. She set off a trap that started the collapse. She was able to dive across a table and snatch the item out of the air as it was popped up. She grabbed a support rope that was there for her safety and used it to jump out the window. The swinging motion, along with the falling structure, allowed her fall to slow, and she landed with one of the other adventurers outside the building. That was her first adventure.”
They all sat silent again. Mesu hadn’t heard of this before. She sat back and looked up at the ceiling. It wasn’t surprising that her father hadn’t told her that story. She wondered if he had known it or not.
“I don’t know about you, Mesu, but I feel as if something big may be in store for you. I hate to think this, but it seems as if the age of heroes passed with Enya. Maybe it is time to revive it.” Mesu looked at Ilene. An excitement had risen in her that Mesu had never seen. Maybe it is time, she wondered.