10th of Eleasis, Night interludes

 10th of Eleasis: Night interludes

Chapter 1: After Dinner

All during dinner preparations Sorrow had played his fiddle to lighten and relax the mood.  He had been pulling threads and sampling from the old world songs he knew.  Testing the interest and inclination of their Gurish hosts.  By the end of dinner, and the night preparations which followed, Sorrow had woven the threads into a loose set for after dinner.  He settled back against a loveseat that had been uncovered in the livingroom and "dusted" with a little help from Inman.  Nevil lit and passed some nightcap offering to Sorrow first.

The Gur joined them, somewhat awkwardly, unsure what to discuss after such a heavy day.  Sorrow dove into his experimental Gur inspired set, lightly plucking and then playing fully, a spirited and passionate staccato filled ballad (think traditional Spanish folk and flamenco).  Rennic and Vinique's eyes went wide and they looked over to Madrina who smiled and nodded to their silent requests.  They both stood with purpose as Sorrow's first song reached a crescendo.

Inman grabbed Cirilli's arm to get her attention as he studied the reaction of the group. Cirilli grew concerned and asked Inman quietly. "What's wrong?"

Inman smiled and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, "Nothing is wrong, but you are going to want to pay attention." 

Sorrow, noting the reaction of his hosts, sat up and leaned into his work.  Rennic returned from the kitchen with spoons and Vinique reached above the fireplace to pull down a hand drum.  Soon they had settled into the pace and rhythm, accenting Sorrow’s melody.  Madrina closed her eyes feeling the story of the song, she began to tap her heels to a counter rhythm and elegantly slid her hands through the air.

At the conclusion of the first short set, the room had relaxed significantly.  

Madrina spoke first, asking Sorrow with a subdued interest.  "What tribe have you practiced with? It sounds familiar but I cannot place it."

Sorrow smiles, "I'm afraid I haven't yet had the opportunity to play with Gurrish musicians."

Rennic laughs, "Interesting.  Then you are both talented and keenly intuitive."  He looks at Madrina, "She will have fun with you tonight."  

Sorrow raises a brow and nods his head to acknowledge the compliment.

Madrina continues, "The feelings you evoke echo that of our tradition.  If I may offer… a lesson..."  She begins to hum a melody.  Sorrow listens to the progression and deftly picks the pattern and he locks his eyes on Madrina.  Then returning the fiddle to his chin, he adds his strings to her even rich voice.  

Vinique and Rennic slowly add accompaniment and Sorrow settles comfortably into the music, beginning to add spice and flourish to the tune.  

Boz turns the corner of the kitchen wiping his hands with a towel.  Tossing it on the table, he then sits in the large high backed chair by the hearth.  When Atalaya emerges from the kitchen soon after, seats have run short.  Boz grins, noticing the opportunity, patting his thigh, beckoning her to join him.  

Atalaya scanned the room as she entered from the kitchen winked at Vaz when she saw him gesturing for her to sit on his lap.  Going to a side table, she placed a towel over the wooden surface and gestured to Cirilli to place the huge bowl of popped corn she carried on the towel.  The smell of melted butter, salt and the steaming popped corn wafted behind Cirilli as she walked through the parlor where everyone was enjoying Sorrow and Madrina’s music.  “Since it sounded like a party was occurring in here and I found the popping corn squirreled away in the back of a cupboard, we decided a treat was in order.  Help yourselves.”  Atalaya made her way over to Vaz and settled herself crosswise on his lap.  Cirilli settled herself, sitting on the floor and leaning against Vasilya’s legs, a large handful of the popped corn in her fist. 

Boz beams, overwhelmed by the rarity and beauty of the moment, of his culture.  Madrina stands.  Her long dress flowing, swaying, with her body. Sorrow stalks her with his eyes, reading her like a sheet of music. 

Starting gently and with control, she begins to gradually build the storied song, accentuating it with purposeful yet elegant gestures and expressions.  Madrina and Sorrow do not break their focus on each other.  His eyes hold an unusual depth and he seems entranced, as Madrina dominates with a sultry confidence. 

"Dar întunericul era gelos; o ținea aproape, să o păstreze pentru sine. S-a curbat sub șoldul ei, în jurul micului spatelui ei, sub întinderea sânului ei. Acolo secrete păstrate pe care buzele ar găsi când s-a trezit..."  {“But the darkness was jealous; he held her close, to keep her to himself.  It curved under her hip, around the small of her back, under the expanse of her breast.  There secrets kept that lips would find when he awoke…”

Then she grabs the corners of her dress, with raw wildness, twirling, arching, higher, and stepping with a rhythmic fury. The music follows.  Then, as if reaching a precipice, the song stops. Into stillness, Madrina and Sorrow remain, panting, sweating, and still watching the passions of the other.

Cirilli sat transfixed as Madrina danced.  Her last kernels of corn falling forgotten from her hand as she watched.  Her hands began trying to copy some of the intricately graceful movements Madrina made as her upper body began to sway with the music.  The stark ending of the music shook her out of her daze as she searched both Sorrow’s face and Madrina’s for a reason for the sudden stop.  “That was amazing!” she exclaimed.  “More please.  Will you dance again?”

Madrina continued to watch Sorrow through a few deep breaths, as a deeply satisfied smile crept across her face.  Sorrow set his fiddle down and walked over to her with a sly half grin.  

Boz stared at Atalaya, as she watched Cirilli’s excitement.  He pulled her closer, brushing her hair back to expose her neck, as he whispered in her ear.  "That song and her movements....  Did you catch all the words? Gets the blood going, yes?"

Madrina turned to Cirilli as Sorrow approached.  Inman was still sitting near her with the bowl of popcorn between.  Madrina looked back at Sorrow as she responded.  "Your friend is very talented.  It would be a shame to end the night so early."    

Madrina addresses Boz, "do you know the dances of our people?”

Boz frowned slightly at Madrina’s question.  “No.  I recognize the sounds and flavor of the music, but I don’t know the songs or dances.  I remember the kumpania celebrating and watching the adults dancing.  But I don’t know the dances.”

Cirilli perked her head up at Vasilya’s comment.  “You need to learn them Boz.”  Standing up, she reached for Boz’s hands and began trying to tug him into a standing position.

Laughing, Boz carefully lifted Atalaya to her feet before standing by himself.  “Careful Little Warrior, you don’t want me to drop Atalaya, do you?”

Shaking her head, Cirilli moved to the side slightly, so that she had a clear direction to pull Vasilya without pulling him into Atalaya.  “Come on.  Madrina is going to teach you.”

Madrina made her way over to Cirilli and Vasilya.  “No, Cirilli.  The men’s dances are different.  But I believe that we can encourage Rennick to demonstrate and maybe even teach one of the men’s dances.  He and Vinique sometimes dance for the gadjos for coins.  They are very good.”  She winks at Cirilli and then turns to Rennick.  “What do you think?  You going to show our lost one, how to dance?”

A wistful smile crosses Taspar's leathery face. He puts his pipe down. "C...c...come, chavi," he says, gesturing to Rennick. "Let us w...w...wake these old boards up." He turns to Sorrow. "Mmmmen...men's dances are fast." He gives a few quick, sharp claps with his hands.

Sorrow gives Madrina a broad, toothsome smile and turns to the men, bouncing his bow and launching into a quick, spirited reel. Rennick and Taspar jump, slapping the soles of their feet with their fingers, striking their thighs, leaping and twisting as their hands provide a staccato accompaniment. Rennick is graceful, quick, lithe. But Taspar, like Madrina, shone with the beauty of wisdom, and life lived with pain and joy, his body remembering youthful skill. 

Cirilli watched Taspar and Rennick with wonderment spreading across her face.  “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she whispered to herself.  Sorrow lowered his fiddle as he reached the end of his song.  Cirilli pushed Boz from behind towards the men of the Scarlet Sash.  “Go on,” she hissed.  “Learn your people’s dances from them.  Now is your chance to learn one.”  Then standing on tiptoes she tugged his ear close to her mouth as she added, “You know Atalaya likes dancing.”

“All right, peace Little Warrior, I do know that,” Boz stated.  Then leaning down to her ear, he added, “And finding new ways to impress you ladies is always an important task.”  Picking up his mug of ale off the floor near his chair he emptied it and handed it to Cirilli.  “Why don’t you fill that up for me while I talk with Rennick and Taspar?”  Cirilli nods as she takes it and heads into the kitchen to find some more ale. 

The men gathered in a corner of the room and began discussing the men’s dancing and clapping rhythms and started to teach the most basic of the moves to Boz.  The men quickly realized that Boz had no concept of the complicated rhythms they were using and resorted to a very basic rhythm used in some of the first dances learned by the young boys.  Taspar left Rennick to the teaching and found a drum which he used to tap out the beat while Rennick demonstrated and assisted Boz in learning it.  Once Boz was able to follow the hand percussion, Rennick smiled wickedly and added a few foot slapping elements into the rhythm.  Much to Boz’s delight, his body seemed to find the cadence, as if it was pulsing through his body.  

Vinique watched Cirilli as she was in turn watching Vasilya.  Coming to a quick decision, she walked over to the child and steered her towards Atalaya.  “Perhaps your friend would prefer to learn without this one’s attention focused on him as he does.  If you permit and if Cirilli would like, she could perhaps accompany me upstairs and help me put on my festival dress.  It makes our dances more …” she falters as she searches for the word she wants in common.

“More flamboyant,” Madrina finished for her.  Nodding to Vinique, “That is an excellent idea Vinique.  And perhaps you can find a dance skirt that we can adapt for Cirilli.  I was watching her as I danced.  I think perhaps you would like to try our dances?”

Cirilli immediately nodded, her face full of excitement and anticipation.  “May I, Atalaya?”

“Of course.”  Cirilli followed the younger Gur woman upstairs to their room.

Madrina smiled as she watched the pair depart.  She then turned to Atalaya with a warm concern.  "Men are often prideful.  So, I ask,   his mate... How is it that he knows so little of our ways?"

  Atalaya’s countenance fell.  “He doesn’t speak of it much.”  Her eyes quickly searched the room and then gestured towards the kitchen entrance. She began walking towards it expecting Madrina to follow her.  Once they were separated from the others, Atalaya continued in a soft voice.  “Boz hasn’t said much about his past.”  She watched Madrina’s face as she spoke.  “I wouldn’t say anything, but since he wants to stay here and learn more about his culture I think you need to know at least some of his past.  I worry that he is going to bring up a lot of memories and that he won’t have any of his new family with him as he does.”  

Atalaya searched Madrina’s face again as she leaned against the counter where earlier that evening she had prepared dinner.  “If we didn’t absolutely have to be back in Blue Haven for a meeting that can’t be missed, we would all stay here while Vasilya spent a few days with you to learn about his background, his culture.  Since we can’t miss that meeting, I would rather handle that and then return to let him speak with you and your clan, again with his family here with him.  But now that he has this chance to learn more about his background he seems driven to do everything immediately.”  Atalaya looks a little embarrassed.  “Perhaps because I sort of pushed him to talk with a drabardi when we were last in Riverport.  He needed… well perhaps that is for him to tell you if he chooses.”  

  Atalaya took a deep breath as she tried to sort out her myriad of thoughts and emotions.  “So okay, I’ll share the little I know with you, because I want you to understand what is driving him to learn about the Gurs, by a Gur and not by the masses out there who tell him that he is better off never looking back and to ‘just be glad you made it out of all that’.”   

“I’m not sure how much he remembers.  It seems that he has repressed most of his childhood.  What he has told me is that his kumpania was massacred when was still a child.  Somehow he survived but found himself all alone.  He eventually ended up in a city.  He learned to keep himself alive there.  Eventually he ended up in a jail cell with an older halfling woman named Seraphina.  They worked together to escape and became friends.  Eventually the two of them met and became friends with Sorrow and his ranger friend Joan.  I met all four of them earlier this spring while I was with a group of my own.  Most of those people are off doing other things lately, but Boz and I met Nevil and Inman recently.  Actually Seraphina arranged for us to meet.”

“I’m not sure why Boz doesn’t remember his early childhood.  Personally I think that it hurt too much to remember when he was learning how to survive on his own.  Boz will tell you that he has made his own family, his own kumpania with Seraphina, Sorrow and Joan.  He expanded that family when he met my friends and myself.”  

 Sorrow grabbed a drink from the kitchen then plopped on the couch next to Nevil who was refilling her pipe of nightcap.  Inman had gotten up, exhaling the smoke toward the ceiling as he stood.  "I'm going to freshen our accommodations while Boz takes his lesson."   Inman followed Cirilli and Vinique up the stairs.

Nevil smiled as she handed Sorrow her pipe.  "You've done a fine job breaking the ice with this group.  Music.  A conduit to the soul."

Sorrow accepted Nevil’s pipe and drew the pungent smoke into his lungs as his fingers unconsciously fingered the chords to the song he had been playing while the Gurs danced.  He smiled at Nevil.  “Music does that.  And I think everyone was ready to relax for a bit and enjoy the company.  Inhaling another time he reluctantly handed the pipe back to Nevil.  Relaxing on the couch he idly findered the chords as he reviewed one of the songs Madrina and Vinique had danced to as he watched Boz continue his lesson with Rennick.  

Madrina had listened to Atalaya’s words intently.  A look of heartbreak and greater understanding formed as she listened.  "I see. What an unexpected weave fate has made for us. Yes?"  

She nodded looking around at the odd assortment of guests.  "Family is not just through blood.  It is what we make it to be."

Atalaya nodded as she turned back to the kitchen.  She began absentmindedly wiping the counters and other surfaces again as she pondered what she had told Madrina of Vasilya’s life.  Sighing, her thoughts turned to her own parents as she sent them her love and concern for them over the miles that separated them.   “I’ll see you soon.  Once my business with The Eye and the Red Wizards is done with, I’ll come back home,”  she promised them.  

Chapter 2:  Vaz & Atalaya discuss Vaz’s plans

Atalaya looked around the manor’s kitchen one last time.  The place looked spotless.  The dishes had been washed, dried and put away.  The leftovers were stored safely away.  The counters were spotless.  Vasilya leaned against the doorway watching her warily.  Finally placing the damp cleaning cloth over the edge of the wash basin she picked up the lantern and handed it to Vasilya.  Allowing him to take her hand she followed him up the stairs to the study.    Someone had been cleaning there too, she noted.  The dust was gone.  The pillows on the chairs seemed cleaner and the curtains were no longer musty.  Small rips and tears had been repaired.  

“I see Inman and Sorrow have spent some time in here,” commented Atalaya as she surveyed the room.  Too bad they can’t reverse fading and general wear and tear.  Her hand traces along the carvings in the chair she stood next to.  This must have been a very beautiful piece at one time.”  

Vasilya places the lantern on a nearby table and then sits in the chair Atalaya has been admiring, not letting go of her hand.  A gentle tug from Atalaya releases his hand as she sits on a nearby sofa.  Soft sounds of people settling down for the night can be heard from the nearby bedrooms.  Several thumps and crashes come from behind the closed nursery door.  Atalaya looks tired and worried as she tries to settle into a comfortable position on the chair.  Still uncomfortable, she finally looks at Vasilya again and asks, “Are you sure you can’t wait until we come back with a priestess to help us find peace for the child?  We could stay for a few days afterwards so that you can have time to talk with the Gur.”

Boz sat tensely in the faded velvet chair in the manor study, watching Atalaya's face. He scruffed his fingers through his beard, agitated, and pulled the chair directly in front of Atalaya; he then gripped her hand. "I know we should not be parted, my Iubita. I have been thinking about this since the fight with the wolves." He sighs, waving his free hand as if to collect his scattered thoughts into some semblance of a neat pile. "I feel...I feel I must. I...cannot pass on this chance. "I've needed this so desperately, to meet someone that could answer questions. I have so many."

He grips her hands with both of his. "I am torn, Iubet. My heart cannot be in
two places at once, though it needs to be.  I would never consider this if not for Nevil and Inman accompanying you and Sorrow." 

His breath catches. and his green eyes are desperate, intense. "I hate this. We will talk every day, yes? I'm so afraid. Just for a few days. Promise me you'll be back." 

“Of course I will come back.  Why would you think otherwise?  But maybe Cirilli and I should just stay with you.  She and I could work on her bowmanship and maybe some tracking while you visit with the Gur here.  Nevil, Inman and Sorrow could go back to Blue Haven and meet with Captain Hawk to retrieve The Eye,” she suggested as she watched Vasilya's face.  “Or we could even send Cirilli back with Nevil.  That way they would only have to put up with one non-Gur.”  

Atalaya looked at his face, seeing the conflict and desperation in his eyes and the set of his shoulders.  Sighing, she reached for his other hand and brought both to her lips and kissed them gently.  “All right.  All right, I can see that you really can’t wait.  And I see that you don’t think that I should stay with you.”  She searches his face again, a single tear running down her cheek.  “How did you do this to me?  I know that I have teased you about your statements that I was not allowed to be separated from you again, but now that we are facing just that, I find that I’m the one who can’t stand the thought of being separated from you.  I might hold your heart for you, but you have stolen mine.”  

With that she swiftly shifts onto his lap, her arms going around his neck as she holds him to her.  “A day to return to Blue Haven.  A day to find The Eye and a final day to return here.  You better be here and waiting for me when I get back.”  Atalaya rests her head against Vasilya's chest and holds him tightly.  “Don’t you dare leave this house.  Stay away from the portal and you better be here when I get back.”

"I will be," he nods. "And you...come back. I could never let you go if I didn't absolutely believe in you." His arms pull her closer, resting his head against her breast. "You're the strongest person I have ever known. And besides," He shifts, snuggling her warmly. "Of course I have stolen your heart, Iubet. I am a thief. You left me little choice, having stolen mine long before that."

Atalaya snuggled into Vasilya’s arms, holding him tightly. “Thief,” she whispered.  “I best not hear of you stealing anyone else’s heart while I am gone.”   After several minutes she sighed.   “Come on.  You should speak with Cirilli for a bit tonight.  She seemed much quieter than usual tonight.”  But, she remained cuddled in Vaz’s lap, hoping that the closeness and the strength of his arms as he held her close would calm her fears and let her focus on creating a memory she could cherish for the next few days.   

Realizing that their sitting there was doing nothing to reassure Cirilli, Atalaya started to stand as the sounds of feet carefully treading their way up the staircase was heard.  Atalaya quickly pulled away from Vaz, uncertain as to who was making their way towards them.  Seeing Inman and Nevil entering the study, Atalaya relaxed as she sat back down on the sofa.  “Do you have a moment?” she asked the two.

Nevil dropped Inman’s hand, her fingers gently slipping away.  They both looked up with casual concern, “of course.  What do you need?”

“You know that Vaz wants to stay here while we return to Blue Haven, pick up the item with Hawk and then return with, hopefully, a priestess or priest to help us provide rest for the child’s spirit.”  She waited for both Inman and Nevil to nod.  “Well,” she winked at Vasilya, “I have agreed to permit Vaz to stay…”  She quickly dodged the questing fingers from Vasilya, pushing them aside as he tried to tickle her.  

“Stop that.” She added when Vasilya tried again.  “A little seriousness please.”

Turning back to Nevil, “Anyway, what do you think about having Cirilli ride Vaz’s horse back to Blue Haven?  If we avoid the dragonets and the boar village, it should be safe enough, right?  It would provide some good practice and would eventually allow you to ride your own horse.”

Atalaya looked at  Inman and Nevil, waiting for a response.  “Of course, we could also lead Vaz’s horse, or leave it with him and try to explain to the stablemaster why we aren’t returning it yet.”

Nevil gave a motherly look to Atalaya, "Yes, that would be a good opportunity for Cirilli... but is that concern really on the forefront of your mind?  Stop worrying about the details of tomorrow.  Go be with your family."

Boz with a playful look, "You heard the Paladin..."

“... Let’s find Cirilli, we can spend some time with her before she heads to bed.”  Vasilya pulled her off the sofa and to his side.  His arm around her waist he headed her across the room and to the hallway heading towards the room they had commandeered the night before.  

Atalaya laughed.  “She’s not in there.  She hasn’t come up from the parlor yet.  I believe she was still importuning Vinique to help her with the hand motions from one of the dances she was trying to learn when we came upstairs.  Turning the two of them, she headed down the stairs to the parlor.  

Inman selected a book from the library and sat on a couch in the study.  Nevil waited, watching the soon to be parted couple with an expression that playfully demanded action.  

When they left, Nevil took Inman’s hand as he guided her to sit next to him.  She lay with her head in his chest and rested under his arm.  He opened the book, holding it in one hand, draping her side with the other, and turning pages with his mage hand.  "Unwert's Treaties on Courtship.  Volume Five."   Nevil almost rolled off the couch with laughter.  "You can't be serious."

Inman restrained giggles as he explained. "We have limited options, my dear.  And why not?   Dwarven courtship could build a solid foundation..."

Nevil nearly sat up to roll her eyes, "God, not puns too!  I know you've figured out by now that the topic doesn't matter much.  I just like to listen to your chest while you read, but I have limits."

Inman smiled, ushering her back to his embrace, "Poems of Devotion.  This could still be a wild card, but we may get lucky.”

Vasilya and Atalya stood by the entryway to the parlor, watching Cirilli and Vinique.  The skirt that Vinique had found for her twirled around her as she tried to imitate Vinique’s graceful movements.  She had slowed the pace down to allow Cirilli the chance to see exactly what she was doing.  The two were giggling at Cirilli’s efforts, but she determinedly tried the movement over and over again.  On her final try the skirts twirled and spiraled around her, closing resembling the effect that Vinique had created.  Smiling, Cirilli looked up at Atalaya, “Did you see that?  I got it so much better that time?”  The twinkle in her eye alerted Atalaya that she was about to try being sneaky.  “You need to try too, Atalaya.  If Boz is learning your elven dances, you should learn his Gur dances.  Right Boz?”

“We will see youngling.  We’ll see.  But right now, you should thank Vinique and then we need to head upstairs to bed.  We have a long ride in front of us tomorrow and you and I will need to be well rested for that.”

“But Atalaya, …”

Atalaya made her way towards Vinique and Cirilli.  “Thank you so much for showing Cirilli your dances.  I loved them too.  They are amazing.  But we need to get up early if we hope to make it back to Blue Haven in time to get done what we must tomorrow.  If you are willing, perhaps you can show Cirilli some more when we return for Vasilya.  If you are willing, I might even try your dances myself.”

Vinique turned her attention to Atalaya, as Cirilli went to Boz's side.  But also in deference to her clear position as a tribe matron. "She is a fast learner.  She can probably teach you some basics while you're away."  She glanced at Boz then back to Atalaya. "No doubt he will want to dance with you when you return.  You could surprise him."

“Well, perhaps, but we are returning directly after completing our business in Blue Haven.  But perhaps there will be time when we return for Vasilya for me to learn at least a couple of your dances.  He learned a couple of my dances at Midsummer.  I would like to learn some of his,” Atalaya added.    

Vinique smiles and gestures with her eyes towards Boz.  "Well, it is just a suggestion.  I see the way he looks at you and suspect he will want to use his new skills when you return.”

Atalaya turned her head aside as a faint rosy blush colored her cheeks.  “Then I shall need to prevail upon Cirilli’s and your skills when we return.  Vaz seems to pick up dances easily.  He probably will want to perform them.  Perhaps we can show you some of the dances of my elven family in return.  

As Atalaya spoke with Vinique, exchanging girlish side glances, Boz looked at Atalaya with the still eyes of a man caught imagining a future family. 

Cirilli skipped with excitement to Boz and took his hand.  "We have a lot of practice to do? don't we?"

Vasilya smiled down at Cirilli, bringing her into his side with an arm around her waist.  “That we do Cirilli.  But not now.  Aren’t you tired yet?  It’s been a long day and you have a long trek to make tomorrow.  And, you need your sleep.  And Atalaya needs…”

Cirilli laughed as she interrupted him, “Don’t try to tell me that she needs her sleep.  You know she doesn’t.”

Vasilya’s eyes grew large as he glared at her.  “Cirilli Loravaris get yourself upstairs and ready for bed.”  Not being able to maintain the harsh demeanor he broke into a smile as he started tickling her sides.  When she started squirming he finally relented.  “Go on now.  Before you have to explain to Atalaya what you just said.  We will be up in a moment or two.”  

Cirilli gaze swept towards Atalaya as she gulped.  “Right, going now.”  She made her way out of the room and up the stairs before any of the adults could say anything to her.

Vasilya walked to where Atalaya and Vinique were talking and pulled her into his arms.  “It’s time to say good night.  You are getting up early tomorrow.”  He then whispered into her ear, “And I need to say my goodbyes tonight.”  Nodding to Vinique, he guided Atalaya up the stairs.

Nevil met Cirilli on her way up the stairs, whispering. "Hey, grab your stuff.  We're having a sleep over tonight."  Cirilli looked confused. Nevil continued, "Let Boz and Atalaya have some quiet time...  And did you see the size of that four post feather bed?"

Cirilli looked surprised.  "I get the bed?"  Nevil nodded, "If you're alright sharing half of it with me."  Cirilli looked to Inman who looked up from reading from the couch in the study. She whispered, "What about Inman?"  Nevil smiled, "there is a lounge in the room... and we figured it would be fun." Cirilli did not wait to answer, she ran to the room where she had set her stuff down, and came quickly back down the hall.  Had the floor boards been in better shape, she may have slid on the turn into the room. "Oh, It's huge!"  

Inman settled again with a new book in the study. Nevil walked past, bending over him just enough to make him lift himself from the couch and crane his neck to kiss her.  "Thank you dear.  Boz and Atalaya, and I didn’t want her alone in this house..."  Inman stopped her, "You don't have to explain.  I wouldn't have it any other way."

Inman settled back again as Nevil entered the bedroom. Cirilli had already claimed the side of the bed closest to the fireplace.  Nevil approached the side table and began to let her hair down, brushing it smooth. "Inman is going to read for a bit. So, we get some girl time.  What did you think of all the dancing tonight?  You think Boz will get the hang of it?"

Cirilli grinned.  “He had a little trouble at first, but he figured it out after a few tries.  I think he’s going to be good at it.  It was almost like after a bit he started remembering the dance moves.  Do you think he knew the dances when he was little and just forgot?”

Nevil paused between brush strokes considering, "I suppose even Boz may not know that answer.  Either he remembers something, on some level, or it's in his blood.  He did seem very happy tonight."

Nevil moved to lay out clothes and items for the next day.  Fingering her prayer book.  "Who could have anticipated this quick trip would have been so complicated?  Monster boar, dragonlings, werewolves..."  If we had known, we wouldn't have brought her... but she's done well.  Looking at Cirilli across the room.  "You've done a really good job this trip. I'm proud of you.”

Cirilli’s face brightens.  “This has been so much better than being stuck back at the ship.”  Then turning more serious she added, “I know why you and Atalaya tell me to stay back, but it’s really hard.  I worry about Atalaya.   I know she loves me a lot more than my parents ever did.  And, I don’t like to be separated from her.”

Seeing Nevil’s startled face she quickly adds, “I don’t mean like this, like being in a separate room.  I just don’t like it when you go off to do dangerous things without me.”  Then remembering a conversation about just that before they had rescued Sorrow.  “I know that you get to tell me when I can and can’t go with you.  And I’ll keep my promise.  But I’ll still worry about Atalaya and all the rest of you when I can’t be there.”  

Nevil softened as she walked over to the bed, "Hey, I'm trying to give you a compliment.  You keep your head pretty calm in battle.  For your age, it's pretty impressive."

An impertinent grin danced across her face.  “Well, I have had the best teachers, Atalaya, Joan, Seraphina,  Raven and Cirdan Greenleaf, and now you too.  And you all say the same thing, that I must learn to control my temper.  The words may be different, but the meaning is the same.”  She put her own hairbrush down and crawled across the bed to Nevil’s side.  Giving her a big hug she added, “Thank you.  Thank you for teaching me and for being our friend.”   Cirilli leaned against Nevil for a minute or so and then pulled back slightly.  “I’m sure that Atalaya must have told you that we are going to make a copy of the journal that Rennick brought to us at the bookshop for Boz.  Can you help me come up with something that I can make for Atalaya?  I can’t decide on a good gift for her.”  Pulling out the meditation token that Atalaya had given her she lightly traced over the tooling and then showed it to Nevil.  She made me this.  No one has ever made anything for me before.”

Nevil contemplated as she settled under a blanket, "the journal idea is really good.  As for Atalaya... She will love whatever you put your heart into.  So the question is, what is your medium?”

Cirilli grew pensive as she thought about different things she had seen others make or that her friends had talked about.  “I don’t know.  I never really learned any crafts.”  A sad smile crossed her face as she remembered her life before being taken captive by the cultists.  “I’m really good at doing chores, but that’s something everyone just has to do.  It’s not a gift.”  

Cirilli twitched restlessly under the covers as she thought.  “I can mend, but I was never permitted to actually sew new clothes, ‘because you will only ruin them,’ as my mother would say.  I was learning to cook with Seraphina and Macterah, and I like that a lot, but that’s not something special for a gift for Atalaya.”  Suddenly a wide smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkled with enthusiasm.  “You know what I really enjoyed doing?  It was helping you make the hanging couches.  Maybe you could help me make her something with wood.  Maybe like a little wooden box to keep her drawings in so they don’t get wrinkled or water damaged.  Could you help me make something like that?  Summer had a box like that.  The top was covered with pretty scraps of fabric and then something was put on top of the fabric.  It protected the cloth pieces and made the box look really shiny.  Do you know how to do that?  Would you help me?”

Nevil grinned with Cirilli’s excitement.  "That sounds reasonable.  I have some hard wood already that would work.  I can help you make a plan and show you the techniques, but you're going to have to craft the pieces that make the case.  We are going to have to look for the fabric pieces if you want something more decorative than sail cloth.”

     “I want to make it myself, if you will just teach me how.  When the workers were making the floor even though it was busy and loud, I thought that it was so neat the way everything came together to make something new.”  Her voice faded away as she was obviously thinking about something.  “Destruction and creation in the same task.  I find something soothing or maybe I should say calming in that thought.”  Then with a dramatic shift in mood she giggled, “We can always go shopping when we get to the point of needing the cloth pieces.  We could even take Atalaya.  It would confuse her to see me looking for cloth.”

Nevil listened.  Watching her bloom is going to be so much fun to watch. Woodcraft it is then. 

With an amused look, Nevil gave a slight nod.  “Well then that sounds decided.”

*****

Inman gives a nod to Boz and Atalaya as they enter the study.

Boz looked around the room, seeing Inman but not Cirilli.  “I thought Cirilli came up here?  Has she gone to our room?”

Atalaya, her arm around Vaz’s waist glanced around the room.  “Where else would she be, since she isn’t here.  She isn’t downstairs.”

"Auntie and Uncle Setter invited her to stay the night. Did you really think we'd take the master room to ourselves?"  He smiled and started to pretend to get up.  "I'm sorry. We should have asked.  Let me go tell her to wrap it up with Nevil."

Boz looked at Atalaya and then drew Inman aside, “If you really don’t mind playing Auntie and Uncle…”  He gazed back at Atalaya, “... well, I would welcome the chance to say a prolonged goodbye to ‘Laya, if you know what I mean.”  He grinned at Inman but his gaze was drawn back towards Atalaya in the next moment.  “Separating is going to be hard, even though I know I need to do this.  “Please, keep my girls safe for me while I am here.”

Pausing with the weight of the request.  "Of course.  For as long as it takes. We all watch for each other." Inman lightly smacked Boz on the back. "Now, get out of here. Of course it's alright."

Boz's grin spread wide and he trotted to catch up with Atalaya.  

Inman settled back with his book, a lamp warmly lighting the still house.  A chapter or two later Sorrow lumbered up the stairs and drew closer to where Inman sat.  He fell hard into the padded chair.  His head lay over its back, exposing his neck and chest through his loosened shirt, his clothes steamed from sweat in the cooling night air.

Inman placed a string in the book and closed it. With a grin, "If I didn't know better, I would wonder what you've been up to."  Sorrow rolled his head across the fabric to look at Inman, he chuckled.  "Either that music challenges the stamina of even a practiced bard.... or Nevil left the tobacco out of that last pipe."

Inman leaned over on one knee, handing a book to Sorrow, "Oh I know she did.  I was going to change clothes before coming back out to read, but I had to sit down at the top of the stairs."  

Sorrow stretched to reach the book with considerable effort to raise his hand.  "Your woman is trouble, brother.  But only in the best ways."  

Inman raised a brow.  "Of that I am quite aware.”

Sorrow tried to read the faded book's title in the dim light, "What is this?"

Inman settled comfortably back upon the couch.  "It appears the baron was a lover of lyrical verse, particularly thinly veiled satire.  Most of his collections are commonly known, but this one I thought you'd like to see.  I've been to many a tavern and some of these were new to me."

Sorrow began to look intrigued, as his eyes adjusted, reading over the first page of the text. "Mmmm,  indeed.  Subversive?"

Inman grinned, "If you're lucky."

Vasilya, his hand against Atalaya’s lower back, guided her into the room they had commandeered the night before, closing the door softly behind them.  He gently turned her so that she was encircled in his arms and held her tightly in his embrace.  

“Cirilli?” Atalaya finally asked.  

  “Nevil and Inman are keeping her with them tonight,” Vaz answered.  He pulled back slightly so that he could plant soft kisses across Atalaya’s lips, before suddenly gathering her in his arms and heading towards the bed.  Whispering in her ear he confided, “I’d just toss you over there, but I’m a bit worried that such rough handling would be more than that bed can take.”  Instead he purposefully placed her on the bed, kissing the top of her head as he released her.  Sitting by her side he pulled off his boots before turning to her and tenderly tugging hers off as well.  Next he removed his belt with all its pouches, daggers and shortsword, dropping them on top of the boots.  Releasing Atalaya’s belt and pulling it off from under her, it also joined the pile of items growing on the floor next to them.  Her pouches that fell off were added.  

His eyes gleamed with mischievousness as he asked, “Any other sharp, hard, or pointy things on you that I need to remove for my safety?”  

“No, replied Atalaya as she pulled him down to her and kissed him thoroughly, pushing her concerns of the upcoming separation far from her thoughts.  

Inman let the giggles die down before he lightly knocked and entered the master bedroom.  Not hearing a response he snuck over to the lounge, pulled off his boots, and curled under a blanket, watching Nevil sleep a while before falling asleep himself.

Sorrow was found the next morning, asleep with the baron's book of satire laid open across his chest.