Zeleniec
***
<< Day 11 - Afternoon >>
"I just wanted to stop in before I left and thank you for your hospitality,"
the former rider said the next morning as he bowed to Merissa.
"You're leaving?" Merissa asked. "You know you are more then welcome to stay
.."
"I have to go back. I came because I felt people needed to know.. but .. I
have to find Waylene."
"Do you think you can find her?" Merissa tried not to let her doubt show in
her voice or her face, but it wasn't easy, and she did not succeed
completely.
Zeleniec forced a smile, "I know it seems impossible. But the one thing we
know for sure .. Aura died first."
Merissa nodded, "If Waylene had died first, Aura would have ported .."
The man knew she understood. "I may never find her, but I have to try .."
"I understand." Merissa smiled gently, "But please should you ever need
anything, we are here, and will do our best to help."
Zeleniec's face showed his appreciation at her offer, but he did not
respond. Instead he bowed once again and slipped back out the door.
Issabol
***
<< Day 40 - Morning >>
Issabol woke early to the smell of sausage and eggs sizzling downstairs. She
smiled and suddenly felt very lazy. It wasn't that she was late waking. On
the contrary, the rooster had not yet even crowed, though it wouldn't be
long now. What was in fact the case, was that Cybele was an even earlier
riser then Issy herself. She and Joren had married a little more then two
weeks earlier and the house had never run so smooth.
Issabol rose from her warm cozy bed and slipped her feet into her slippers
before slipping into her robe and tying it loosely at her waist. With her
fingers she smoothed her hair and wrapped it into a bun at the back of her
neck, catching a clip to hold it as she walked silently across the floor of
her room. Then she slipped into the hallway and down the stairs to the
kitchen.
"Good morning, Cybele." She smiled cheerfully at the young woman whose
cheeks were rosy from standing over the stove.
"Morning, Issy." She finished filling a large serving plate with hot,
steaming sausages. She picked it up and with practiced ease tossed a hot pad
down on the shiny wooden table and set the plate atop it.
"You've finished breakfast?" Issy asked. "Isn't there something I can do to
help?"
Cybele grinned, "Well you could get the cups and fill them with milk for
me."
"Sure." Issabol moved to the cupboard and began to pull down the cups. "You
know, Cybele, I'm feeling positively pampered, with you doing all the work
around here."
"I want to prove to your father that I can handle it while your gone."
Issy smiled at her sister-in-law. "I think you've outdone yourself. At this
rate he'll decide he doesn't need me at all."
Cybele chuckled, "Somehow I doubt that." Issabol watched her for a moment.
Cybele was going to make a good wife for her brother; there was no doubt
about that. She was a pleasant your woman, with a lovely face and she was
not afraid to work hard. Most importantly, it was clear that Cybele adored
Joren.
Just as Issy finished filling the last cup with the creamy milk from
yesterday's milking, the rooster crowed, waking up the rest of the house.
***
<< Afternoon >>
"Issabol!" her fathers voiced boomed across the kitchen as he came bounding
into the room at top speed. He blushed slightly as he spotted her sitting at
the table with Cybele and not across the house where his loudness would have
been necessary. ".. oh .. you're here .." he muttered.
"Yes, Daddy," Issy grinned. "Did you need me for something?"
"I just got back from town, and the warren's tithe will be shipped out in
the morning."
"Ok .." Issy raised an eyebrow.
"You're going with them." He smiled, "You and Polly."
"What?" Issy couldn't stop the smile that was beginning to pop on her face.
"I worked out all the detail. That way you girls don't have to ride by
yourselves."
"Oh that's wonderful!" Issy grinned.
"The thing is they'll only stay overnight. You and Polly will either have to
come back the next day with them, or send word and I'll come get you in
about a week. They say the hatching should happen by then. Hopefully we'll
get you there before it happens." Landon could hardly contain himself. While
he had not really wanted them to go, now that he had decided to allow them
to do so, he was pleased that he was able to make at least this part of it
easier on them.
***
<< Day 41 - Morning >>
It was early when Landon stopped his carriage at the depository and let his
girls down. Neither had ever been away from home for longer then an
overnight or further away the farm across town. This was not easy for him,
but he put on a brave face. "Now Polly, you mind your sister."
"I will, Daddy," the young girl nodded, hugging her father tightly. She
literally bounced her way over to the two heavily weighed down tithe wagons
while Issabol turned to father and hugged him.
"Thanks, Daddy."
"You keep Polly safe for me."
"You know I will. And we'll be home before you know it." Issy smiled at him.
She recognized the worry-line on his forehead, that try as he might, he
could not hide. "Don't worry, this will be good for Polly .. and for me."
He nodded, "I'm not worried.."
She put a hand on his face. "I love you, Daddy."
***
<< Late-Afternoon >>
Issy had never been so glad to step down off a wagon as she was when they
stopped just outside the warren to wait for their chance to register their
tithe. She looked up at the impressive peaks and stared in awe. It was so
different from the flat plains where she had grown up.
"Is this it?" Polly called down from her comfortable perch atop the bags of
grain.
"Almost .. it's just through that way."
Polly peered over the wagons, "Can we go now?"
"No, sweetie, we have to wait until the tithe is registered." Issabol told
her.
"Aww now, you go on and take the young lass into the warren," Jake Grey told
her. "The boys and I will stay with the load here. I know you been wanting
to get her your whole life.
Issabol smiled with a nod at their neighbor, "Thank so much, Jake. I am
looking forward to seeing more."
"Go ahead, you can find us later in the commons area. That's where they'll
have rooms for us all."
"Thank you," Issy said again, then looked up at Polly, "Well come on then.
Let's go see the warren."
Polly shouted with joy and jumped down off the top of the wagon with no
effort at all. Her dark hair swung down around her eyes in thick curls and
she grabbed her sisters hand. "I'm ready .. let's go!"
Regards,
Zeleniec (leaving the warren)
Issabol (arriving at the warren)
****
NRPG Well one NPC gone.. one new PC arriving :)
Kristen Gant
AKA:
Saul & Fayloth, Kalewyn & Sabbith, Darlea & Makayla from Jasra Warren
Th'rin & Areena from Whiteriver Warren
Meena & Vonn from Cleft Warren
Devon & Xanith from Daere Warren
***
Darlea Gentletouch, Aubi Gentlebreeze, Vonne Gentlenotes, and Sheltie from
Quellious Server, EQ