| Wessley |
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| Loriann's face finally softened. "No, Boss, I'm not quitting. However, I will be unavailable for quite some time. I have some matters to which I must attend, and very few of them can be resolved in this town. Forgive me for the short notice." "Well, of course, but . . . ." He trailed off. "Then never mind. I will turn to someone else. Good luck with . . . whatever you are planning." He extended a hand that was missing a finger and Loriann clasped wrists with him. "Good day, Loriann." "Take care, Aien." She ushered him out the door. "And now," she said to herself, "to business." Wessley wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. The rain had stopped, only to be replaced by a heavy mugginess that permeated and weighed down not just the air, but also his siprits. He had walked all day with no sign of a decent place to stop for the night. Though he had just washed his clothes, he found that they were already completely soaked with sweat. The heat of the day was greatly exaggerated by the humidity, and now that the sun was almost completely below the horizon, Wessley supposed the night would be still and muggy. He wished for a wind, even a hot one, as he turned to sit wearily under an elm. "This will be as good a place to stay the night as any," he muttered, pulling his rolled sleeping mat from his pack. He began a small fire and placed a piece of Loriann's chicken skewered over it to cook it. He sat in the still night air silently for sever minutes, quietly pondering. After a time, he grasped a thin case that reached two handbredths hanging from his belt, and unlatched it to reveal a wooden flute. He fitted the two pieces together and held the instrument gently in his hands, rubbing a thumb slightly over the holes. He put it to his lips, but hesitated. As if thinking better, he separated the flute into its two parts and placed them in the case. He leaned forward to check the progress of the ckicken, and found it ready to eat. As he pulled the meat off the bone, he determined that he should take the southwestern road, though it was a bit out of the way, to stop at his sister's home. "I really ought to know how many children Sari has," he chuckled. "I'm sure I can make it there by tomorrow evening." A slight breeze ruffled the leaves above him, and he stood quickly to feel it blow back his unruly hair. His spirits higher, he completed his meal and slept deeply that night. He clutched his ring unitl morning. I glanced balefully out the window. How could he . . . I thought. "Aaryn! Do you have something to say?" I turned hazel eyes that were anything but warm to meet the Mage's face. If only . . . but too much is at risk right now to give him my usual cheek. "No, sir, nothing." I forced a grim smile on my face. "As I was saying," the Mage growled, prowling the rows between the students, "someone here has been using a magical tool to contact the outside world. You all are aware that this is completely forbidden. If the one who has done this steps forward in the coming week, he will be blessed with only a month of Punishment. If he does not show himself . . . ." He let the threat hang. "And believe me," he hissed, his eyes narrowing, "I will find him." I felt my stomach turn unpleasantly as he swept from the room. "Wessley . . ." I wispered, "what do I do?" A knock sounded from the front door. Joshua sighed. He got to his feet, placing the napkin on the table, and walked to the door. In the doorframe stood a man, dripping wet, head bent against the weight of his soaked cowl. "Can I help you?" Joshua called against the torrent of rain. The man's head rose. "Joshua? Have an extra bed?" Joshua's face split into a broad grin. "Hello, Wessley! Come in, come in." Wessley was ushered into the house, given dry clothes, and shown to a seat at the table. He embraced his five nieces and nephews, as well as his pregnant sister. He also placed a bright, albeit wet, daisy in the hair of each niece, much to their delight. The food was all but forgotten as the family celebrated their reunion. Sari's oldest child, a girl of five years, pulled Wessley by the hand to sit before the fire with the rest of the family. No less than three children crawled up into the chair to sit in his lap. "Wess," Sari beamed, "it is wonderful to see you again so soon. What have you been doing?" "You know the answer to that," Wessley sighed slightly, brushing back the hair of a child with a gently hand. Sari's smile faded a bit. "Wess . . . you know I hate to say it . . . but he has been gone three years--" Wessley's anger flared. "Sari, he will return. I just have to find him, that's all." "Wess, you're twenty-two years old. You could be starting a family, getting settled down," she coerced. "I must find--" "Wessley, isn't there some woman out there?" "Well sure, half of the world is women," he growled. "That is not what I meant. With your handsome face, I'm sure there are women lining up to court you. Is there not even one?" "Well, I . . . ." He was abashed. "Give it some thought, Wess. I do not mean that you must marry this afternoon or that you should ever give up on Aaryn, but I wish only happiness for you." "Having Aaryn back is all the happiness I need," Wessley said wearily. "Before I start my own family, I would first completely reunite my closest of kin." Sari's smile returned. "Women admire such devotion in a man." Wessley only rolled his eyes as Joshua laughed heartily and clapped him on the back. "You cannot win, my brother," Joshua said after his final chuckles died away. "My wife is one determined woman." "I don't know how you put up with her," Wessley smiled. "I certainly never could." He then ducked as his wet shirt, which had been hanging nearby, was chucked at him. He resurfaced to implore to his brother-in-law, "See what I mean?" The night was passed with several bottles of ale, much laughing, and some musical entertainment provided by Wessley and Joshua. Wessley fell asleep more tired than he had been in weeks, but his sould had gained a profound sense of peace. |
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| Don't worry; more is to come! . . . (eventually) |