�While my peers had parties and �coming out� galas, I mixed spells and cured the beggars and simple country folk that would come to the Manor, for food and water. So many of them were sick and I knew I had to help them. Like you, I could not understand that with all the money and means my parents had, why they would not help the poor dregs.
To my undoing, word got around about my �sorcery� and all who knew me disowned me, including my parents. I left my parents home, and found a tiny, abandoned, run down cottage in the country. My communing with nature had served me well. Soon my cottage had a new thatched roof, and I had all the firewood I could ever need for cooking and spell working. Without my parents knowledge I had once grown a wonderful garden, and knew I could survive on what I could cultivate from the land.
While walking the countryside one foggy, chilly morning, I met a handsome young man and we were married six months later. We were married for fifty-five years and raised six wonderful children. The good Lord called him home ten years ago. I still live in my cottage and am very happy. I can never go back to the life I once had and I never would. That life is foreign to me now. The life I have lived for my teenage and adult years is the only life I choose to live. I come here to this tavern to simply be with people, as I am lonely. I just never had anything in common with the boors of my peers. Oh these people are rough, as you have seen, and they can be cruel, but if you can break through the tough exterior they have, then they can be nice.
It is true that the people here fear me to some degree. Maybe I have led them to believe that my practicings are a little more devilish than what they are, but that is for my own safety. You have seen, first hand, what can happen to a woman in a place such as this.�
The old crone�s eyes sparkled. Farayne could not help but admire her. She had had the courage to leave all she knew, for a life that made her happy. How she wished she could do the same thing!
�Now young miss, do you understand why I told you my story?�
�Yes. Our people fear those less fortunate because they are still us to some degree. Nothing is forever and at any moment you can have everything taken from you. I do not feel you lost anything though Aggie. You had the courage I lack, to seek your heart�s desire. I admire you and wish I had your spirit.�
The crone smiled and patted the girl�s head.
�You have the courage young miss, you just have not tapped into it yet! Listen to your heart. You will find happiness, or I should say, it will find you when you least expect it!�
How ironic Farayne thought. Her father had said the same thing many times. However, Farayne knew he was not thinking of her happiness in the same way Aggie was. His idea of happiness was for her to get married and give him a house full of grandchildren.
�Now miss, you must get back home. It is past closing time and if you are whom I believe you to be, you have a long walk ahead of you, Lady Gleneden.�
The ancient crone smiled again. Farayne kissed her withered cheek and with a squeeze of her weathered and work worn hand, disappeared from the tavern.
Farayne felt happier than she had ever felt. Aggie's story had given her hope and ideas. Why�she could grow a garden! She could have the stable boys show her how to saddle a horse! She could read books and look for herbs! How wonderful this new life would be for her!
A rustling behind her whirled her around. She was suddenly very frightened. Feelings of dread that she had almost mercifully forgotten came creeping over her. She was almost too terrified to move.
�Who is there? Show yourself!�
�You have no need to fear me.�
The voice was gentle and Farayne relaxed somewhat. Out from the shadows stepped a devastatingly handsome man. With tumbling black hair, ebon eyes, and lily-white skin, he looked to be more wraith than man. Farayne thought him beautiful. Never had she seen such a specimen of man!
�Who�who are you?�
�I am Garrison Maxwell my Lady. I mean you no harm.�
�How do you know me?�
�I have been following you home for the past month from the Dancing Dragon Pub. A lady such as yourself should not be consorting with such lowlifes.�