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The Arcane Order |
| Closing the front door quietly behind her,
Joylah stooped to pat her guard-troll on the head as he grunted at her
and then stepped off the porch. Glancing up at the balcony, she waved
out of habit, even knowing he wouldn't be at the window to see her off
to work. With a sigh, she turned and slowly began her walk to work, her
pace weary. She was tired. Between trying to keep up with the demands of
a thriving business and worrying about Kesar, sleep hadn't really fit
into her schedule since his return.
Her walk took her past familiar buildings but she barely noticed her progress. The turmoil in her mind occupying all her thoughts. He still hadn't roused out of his sleep. If he hadn't been breathing she would have said he was dead. Night after night she had sat up with him, occasionally humming the lullaby he would recognize, other times just stroking his hair. During the long hours, she could only think of him. But in the short times she spent away from him, she could dwell on all that had transpired. Asterius and his companion had brought Kesar back. What was his name, again? The green-eyed one... Mord'sythe... that was it. Someone mentioned he sat on the Council of Sin. That didn't worry her much, she had sat on the King's High Council. Positions mattered little. But... Asterius, he was so different, so cold and confrontational. That made her worry a great deal. And the other, so conciliatory, so obliging. Normally she wouldn't have thought twice about someone being nice...but those eyes. And something about his words bothered her. He claimed to have healed what wounds Kesar had, which was obvious since there were none in evidence. But...why was her drow still sleeping? He had offered to research something about Kesar's old chest wound. Again, normally assistance wouldn't have made her think twice... but those eyes. Shivering slightly at the memory as she trod up the steps of the conservatory, she quickly assessed what wares she needed to stock and set about doing so. Sewing always gave her more time to think, but this time... her thoughts only further creased her forehead with worry. So many questions that made no sense, and so few people to ask for answers. |
The
Library Arcane: The Lord of the Dead