Private Tales Light After Dark

[Audreyn]

Her brows furrowed, her finger raised. Her mouth opened to chastise on that but the bustle of the inn keeper behind her nudged her out of the way. She rubbed at her ribs, half glowering at the mans back as he grunted and lowered the heavy tub to the ground.

A smaller girl came in with the first bucket of water. Audreyn let the quip go, deigning to move to her bed and watch them work.

"...Money can buy the best things..."

Better them than her.

 

[Gerrard]

Gerrard gave his boots one last look as if they themselves had betrayed him. He decided that if he wasn't going outside it just wasn't worth the effort. Despite feeling much himself it was painful to bend over at the waist.

He stood and straightened his tunic with.a look of determination on his face. There was just a hint of pride there too.

"See," he said. "I'll let you enjoy your bath and get myself another tea I think." With another drop of something strong.

 

[Audreyn]

Her legs swung in excitement as he saw himself out and the tavern maid tossed the heavy bucket in.

It would be a bath well enjoyed indeed.

She stayed in it until the water turned cold, her skin pruny and muscles eased. By the time she made her way down to the bar, it was lunch hour and her stomach grumbled at her for it.

She approached Gerrard sitting there, her hair dripping water droplets onto the bar as sat down and leaned against it with a soft sigh. "...Your turn."

She rubbed at her face, then sat up a little straighter. "Can I get food? Huuuuungry."

 

[Gerrard]

"We were about to send someone in case you had drowned!" Gerrard laughed. He had a half empty mug of ale in front of him. It had been helping to keep the remaining pain a dull ache.

The maid was already heading to their room with a steaming pot. It was hopefully enough to at ar bring it back to a comfortable temperature.

Gerrard decided to leave the rest of his beer and carefully slid from his chair. He flashed Audreyn a brief smile, seeing how much more content she looked after a good soak. That, or because he was on his feet. Probably the bath.

"Just ask what they've got, I'll get some lunch when I'm back."

 

[Audreyn]

She saluted a sassy goodbye, then watched him walk out with an abruptly sharp eye. She turned to the tender and grinned, a jittery energy puffing through her.

"He looks good."

The man blinked. She remained nonethewiser to the implications of her comment, indeed just glad that color and life had returned to his face. Not that the tender knew that.

"Food please."



By the time Gerrard came down, a plate of still reasonably warmed lunch waited for him. Audreyn sat buzzing in her seat, full of an unprecedented amount of energy. "Canweout?" She blurted, glancing at the windows eagerly.

 

[Gerrard]

"Can... Oh. Go out? Yes. Of course." Gerrard stubbornly refused to admit how difficult it had been to get out of the tub and dry himself. Going for a walk would do him good, but he had come to the realisation that hitting the road today was likely a stretch.

For once his hair was unbound. Still slightly damp, the long hair was a charcoal grey instead of silver, loose against his shoulders.

"Let me get eat and finish drying," he said, taking a seat. "And you might need to help with me my boots sorry," he added more quietly so that no one else would hear.

 

[Audreyn]

She smiled wide, practically bouncing in anticipation. If she minded about the boots, it didn't show at all. She craned in her seat, trying to catch sights of the movement out on the street.

Up until this point, she had been too distracted to care that they were in the city. But now that they were both rested and he was showing improvement, her thoughts had space to branch out.

"Have you seen it out there? It's huge. Huuuuge. Like. Fifty buildings. And a hundred people! Is there a market? There has to be a market. I bet it's beautiful," she mused, plopping her head in her hand and turning to look at him.

 

[Gerrard]

"Oh it does have a market," Gerrard said. The town sat on a busy crossroads. It might not have been the largest settlement but there was plenty of trade. It was a waystop for a lot of travellers. Some of those needed things for the road. Others had failed to shift their stock in the city and needed to offload some more to avoid hauling it home.

"Anything in particular you need for the road? Though I've decided we might stay another day or two."

I've realised I was entirely wrong about feeling well enough to ride.

 

[Audreyn]

Oh blessed be.

Her face relaxed into tangible relief, the road spared for several days more. And to stay here? With him well and baths and yummy food and markets?

It was the first real spark of light in her life for what felt like a draggingly long time now. But instead of being happy, she felt abruptly and remarkably sad.

"...Maybe just a blanket," she answered softly, her shoulders rolling inwards as the mood overtook her.

 

[Gerrard]

Gerrard noted, with curiosity, the relief at not getting back on the road. He didn't know whether that was because she was intimidated by the idea of a much larger city or because she really didn't like riding and the road. Or perhaps just having a warm bed and proper food.

The sudden shift in her mood that followed also caught him off guard. He was not accustomed to having someone on the road alongside him whose feelings he needed to consider. When he hired staff to assist with his research it was all too important to stop to consider their well being. If they took coin to work the long shifts then that was contentment as far as he was concerned. It was that, ask for a raise - which he thought himself very fair for always considering seriously, or leave.

Audreyn had no real options. No home to go back to, only to miss. He drummed his fingers on the table.

"Well, you will need to replace the stained clothes. Is there...anything else you want to do whilst we are here?"

 

[Audreyn]

Audreyn swallowed hard, slowly shaking her head. She didn't understand where her shift in mood came from, all she knew was it was there-- heavy and oppressing. Never one to linger though, she tried to press on as if nothing was wrong.

"Maybe just... could we walk a bit? See the- see the wall?" There was a small bite of hopefulness to that question, the walls having interested her from the start. How they got the rocks that high, she'll never know. Or -- she blinked-- maybe she did know.

Magic, duh.

"Are there others like-... like us in this city?"

 

[Gerrard]

"Mmm? Mages? There could be I suppose, but none that I know of." As far as Gerrard was concerned that meant none that were worth seeking out. If a powerful mage had come to reside in such a small town it would have been news. It was only a few weeks since he had last passed through.

Unless their bald friend was here too. That had not been what Audreyn was asking. Gerrard suspected that this time at least he would have returned to his organisation. Gerrard had allies - or at least potential allies - in Vel Anir. The Order of Coin probably had eyes and ears. If the assassin had survived would he be put off by his failure or would they be even more determined to exploit Audreyn's raw abilities? Gerrard could not guess.

"The east gate is oldest and certainly the most interesting. Mr Pennington has an estate outside the town and might entertain us at short notice if you want to walk his formal gardens. Maybe tomorrow when I'm feeling. More myself."

Wizards and mages were almost a class of nobility of their own. It was increasingly popular for the wealthy to act as patrons for magical research. To Gerrards amusement this often led to quite introverted wizards being asks to display their knowledge and conversational skills at events.

 

[Audreyn]

"Maybe they were the ones that built the wall," she muse to herself between his answers, her thoughts becoming distant and curious as she tried to puzzle it out.

His last words brought her attention snapping back to him, her gaze shifting over him for a sign that he was going to fall ill again.

"Maybe..." she allotted. "I go out by myself? Give you time to work on your needlework or something," came the weak but present jest. At least she wasn't lingering in her wallow.

"I've never seen a place this big before, but if I can't get lost in the woods, I don't really see how this is different." Either way, she needed to get out. She needed to be on her feet and moving, the seditariness of the past few days had been leaving space for emotions to pop up that she really didn't want to entertain. In that way, it was ironic that she didn't want to hit the road just yet either.

Damn, she was confusing herself.

 

[Gerrard]

"If you'd like. It's a fairly safe town," he explained. He appreciated that she had taken the time to watch over him since the injury, but she probably needed some air. "Just don't go to the streets by the South Wall," he explained. There was a murmur of agreement from the innkeeper who had come to take away plates.

"Why don't I come as far as the market then you can explore? I want to get outside just for a little while myself." That would also give him time to think up some scrying spell to see where that assassin had gone. He wasn't concerned about leaving her coin to purchase things. She was more likely to avoid buying things she might need or want he thought.

 

[Audreyn]

"What's wrong with the South Wall?" She asked curiously, hopping down from the stool and stretching a little. She felt good, she noted. Rested. Full. Clean. Reasonably ache free. It was enough to help lift her mood up just a bit, the spell on its way to quickly passing.

Boy was he gonna have his hands full with her.

She pushed in her chair then instinctively went to help him up, not thinking much on the gesture, though he might not appreciate it. Right. First shoes and cloaks, then ... the world!

 

[Gerrard]

There was no annoyance in his tone when he stood on his own. "Need to start moving on my own again," he explained.

"The South Wall itself is absolutely fine. The miscreants that live in its shadow are another matter. Thieves and beggars down that way."

In fact there was only one particular street that was a problem, but it was easier to rule out an entire area than try and explain precisely where the problem area lay.

"I will still need help with my coat and shoes," he admitted. Pride only went so far.

 

[Audreyn]

"Wow. I mean, I've heard of thieves before. But I've never met one. Not unless you count the butchers boy from down the lane, but his pa whipped his ass so raw he'd never do something like that again."

She moved up the stairs with more grace than him, a pep of pent up energy returning to her step as she push onward to their room and let them in.

"Why don't they go grow stuff instead of begging? There's plenty of land out there," she pointed out, slipping on her cloak.

 

[Gerrard]

"Some people don't know how to farm," Gerrard said. "It's strange really, how attached some people are to towns and cities. There are always farmers looking for more workers."

He didn't care to enquire much further. He knew that type of person existed and he did his best to avoid them. He saw no value in understanding them further.

The tub had been dragged from there room and sat in the hall, being dutifully emptied one bucket at a time. Gerrard had plenty of room to fetch his coat and throw it over his bed.

"Best to just keep away from them."

 

[Audreyn]

Audreyn mused, saying nothing to that.

After a moment of silent deliberation, she unwrapped the gem broach from its pouch and caressed it. For the first time, she put it on-- gingerly pinning it into place.

She ran a finger over it one last time before looking up with a pleased grin. No doubt, it was the nicest thing she had ever owned. She stood a little taller, the beauty to felt she gained from it amounting to confidence.

"Well, we'll go as far as you want and then I'll walk you home at least," she concluded, grabbing his shoes and bringing them to him, kneeling to help him slide them on.

 

[Gerrard]

He had always thought that those in the college who had been arrogant whilst also completely reliant on those around them to be a very particular sort of foolish. A kind that lacked self awareness.

Gerrard was well aware of his own attitude, which was often taken as arrogance. With that also came a strong sense of independence. He felt distinctly awkward about Audreyn having to slip on his shoes.

He hadn't deliberately spoiled her with the broach, but he quite enjoyed catching her expression out of the corner of his eyes. Gerrard had never put aside much time to bring happiness to other people. If he could just finish his work, push past the last barriers, then it would be his gift to everyone in the world.



"There's a small market in town, but there are shops spread around too," he explained as they left the inn behind. "The main square around the market as well as interesting little shops in the alleys off them. I might go and see if the apothecary has anything interesting."

 

[Audreyn]

"I thought that was a bunch of bogus," she accused, casting him a skeptical eye.

She was more than happy to walk where ever he took her, so long as she was on her own feet and inside this massive forest of houses. They didn't even have to be particularly tall to catch her eye, though no doubt many of them were to her. More than two stories high! How did they do that?

She felt abruptly small. Like an ant in an ant hill. Yes. That's what these streets full of people reminded her of.

 

[Gerrard]

By contrast Gerrard missed the scale of Elbion. He had researched there for many years. He missed the fresh fish off the river, he missed the old Bell Theatre outside the market district and the most recent works of the playwrights. This town seemed isolated by contrast, small and unimportant.

If he went to Vel'anir permanently they would try and control his work. If he went back to Elbion they might just lock him away. The research was more important than his own personal needs. It had to be finished.

"A good apothecary sells many things required for certain spells. A bad apothecary might also sell them without knowing what they do."

For once, Gerrard had enough sense not to bring up the assassin and what spells he wanted to put together.

"Maybe we'll get a packhorse and a more comfortable shelter," he suggested.

 

[Audreyn]

Her expression lit up, a hopeful glance caste at him. "Pillows?" Came the wordless request.

She had made the choice not to ask him for those things on their first start of the journey, seriously underestimating what life on the road would be like. But the longer she stayed in his company, the more she began to trust the solidness of his wealth and his kindness to her. It became less hard to accept things like meals and, if she got her way today, pillows.

 

[Gerrard]

"We can pick up a tent. One of the lighter ones with just one pole. More bedding. Pack horse can carry that," he said, fairly absently.

It was a long journey to Vel'Anir. He had a lockbox there with some belongings he had left and they would normally offer him a comfortable apartment. Gerrard was cunning when he wanted to be. He was well aware that the occasional visit would be heard of back in Elbion and they would be less likely to cut off the income his brother sent from his estates.

"If you need more clothes for the road we'll get some here. More formal attire we can get at Vel'Anir. I've never been one for keeping up with fashions, but I know some there who fill their little heads with nothing else."

 

[Audreyn]

"Maybe just a change or two," she allowed, the shadows that had caught onto her during lunch fully shaken off. She moved with an excited bop, trying not to linger too much on the topic of bigger walls least she not even appreciate the ones before her.

This was all feeling like a dream. She couldn't even catch words to say next, they all felt properly silly. She had half a mind to ask what happens to her once they got there, but it took a moment to remind herself that he had no true obligation to her and it was best not to push the topic while he could still easily find himself done with her.

She hoped to earn a place before then. She really didn't want to fathom what life might look like if she was handed off elsewhere.

She snaked her arm through his, glancing up with a friendly smile before she tore off to gape at a metal gear-like gadget that was turning and heating the mostly deliciously smelling cakes. They all were perfectly shaped like flowers, each dropping from their metal mold onto the table behind glass.

"Look, Gerrard. More magic." But before he could comment, her head turned towards the cart besides it, dried corn kernels popping over a pot of burning sand.

"What the!"

Good luck reaching that apothecary before it closes.