Avarice Unfortunate Sons CH 22

Of Leaving and Love

"Bah! They will eat us in our sleep!" Anna exclaimed with distaste as she spat into the sand. She had been referring to her unease over their nearby neighbors.

This sentiment was shared by many. For that reason, Bryn's people sat apart, in a small encampment further along the valley. It would not do for them to invest too much time or energy in the creation of New Town. As they had announced that they would be leaving soon.

"I hear ye," Bryn commiserated. He was looking deeply into the flickering flames that hungrily ate at the bone-dry wood. "So what do ye all wish to do? It seems that most of the old man's people don't feel the same way that we do."

Bryn knew that Stephan was disappointed with the idea of their departure. The hardened warrior's strong fighting presence had rallied the townsfolk. With Bryn's men present, they had all felt much safer.

"I don't see how there will be many opportunities if we remain here." Another man said as he reached for the billy to pour more acacia tea. "I twas not much of a farmer anyway. I say we try for the Bridge."

Bryn nodded; those had been his very thoughts as well. "Aye, tis true, there is nary much here to occupy any man. We lived like this once before, but it hardly works out in the long run. I say we look for sumthin better." Bryn thoughtfully stroked his long black beard. He should have felt less troubled. "Best we be a findin' someplace else. We will leave as soon as we can."

*****

Aurianne had accompanied a scouting party that day to seek more wood for construction. The nearby patch of 'forest' had been depleted swiftly. She had returned from her trip tired but satisfied. They had scouted several areas where suitable trees could be felled. She was glad, though, to finally rest by the fire.

Kario smiled expansively at her as she approached. Being the only one who didn't need the potion of understanding to communicate freely with the Laughing Ones. Aurianne knew that he spent the vast majority of his time with Onanta-noy. The tall redhead understood that he was desperately seeing a link with his past. She hoped that he could find it, but she didn't know what that would mean if everything Kario had told them was canon. A shiver passed over her as she thought about this. So far, all of Kario's claims, no matter how outlandish, had been substantiated.

"Evening", Kario greeted her approach in that dusky foreign accent of his. He smiled up at her and handed her a cup of tea from the freshly brewed billy.

Aurianne returned his smile and took the warm enameled cup with gratefulness.

"Find any timber?" He inquired.

"Yes, we did, might be a job to haul it back here, but the men say it's feasible." She took a careful sip of the scalding liquid as she watched the sun begin to set. "Where is Jhary?"

"He's off saying his goodbyes. The dark dwarf and his men are leaving tonight."

"Oh, yes, I forgot. It's a pity they cannot get past their prejudices. But it is what it is." Aurianne had liked Bryn and his followers. They would be missed.

"Yeah, Stephan tried, but they had made up their minds."

"I hope the Bridge doesn't eat them up. They have no idea. I tried to tell them, but their fear of our neighbors runs deep. Anyway, have you learned anything?"

Aurianne set down her cup and eased off her boots, relishing in stretching out her cramped toes.

"I have actually."

"Oh, do tell," she prompted. Aurianne was merely being conversational. Kario's upbeat answer filled her with an unsettling feeling. She should have been happy for him, and she was. Selfishly, though, she wanted him to stay.

"It appears that there is a cave system that runs deep under the settlement where Onanta-noy grew up. Her clan, the Shadow Cleft hold their rituals there. I hope there will be an entrance to my world there. But it is far away." Kario seemed delighted with this news, and fortunately, he didn't detect Aurianne's disappointment with his discovery.

A cave system. A location that Aurianne had tirelessly dreamed of for weeks. She saw the caves, but she never entered them. This was a recurring dream where nothing really happened. Yet somehow these caves made her feel terribly uneasy, and on waking, she would feel a pang of distress as though she had to be somewhere important.

"Well, that's good news then," she said, faking a brighter tone. Trying to conceal her strange feelings. She didn't want to lose her friend, but she sensed that soon Kario would depart once he had all the information he sought.

There was a part of her that felt a strong desire to leave also. She should have been content to stay here, build a home, and be with the man she loved. Though Jhary had already announced that he didn't think life in New Town could placate him in the long term. He enjoyed a large, adoring audience way too much. He had already said that in time he would venture back onto the road. That meant traveling to the city. A place that Aurianne had learned to very much detest. She didn't know what to do.

Ever astute, Kario sensed the hesitation in her reply. He didn't pester her about it, though. That's why Aurianne liked him. He knew when to pry and when to just remain silent.

"Well, are you going to say goodbye to Bryn?" Kario asked, artfully changing the subject. Though he already knew her answer.

Aurianne took another gulp of her now much cooler tea and shook her head. "Though they were great fighters, I really never got to know any of them. I hope, though, that they find what they seek. They have been wandering and living rough for so many years."

*****

A small party had assembled to see Bryn and his followers off, as the sun began to plunge below the sandy horizon.

"Good luck, my most excellent ally. I hope what we have provided will be enough to see you safely south." Stephan squeezed Bryn's stout shoulder, his smile one of sincerity. He hated to see them go to such an uncertain future.

Jhary was also present; he, too, had parting words for Bryn and the others. "I will miss you guys, but perhaps I will see you again on the trail. It's been a pleasure having you all by our side. Safe journey."

"Likewise," said Bryn warmly.

Tobias, standing tall behind him, nodded. Anna didn't answer; she was already looking toward the distant horizon. Perhaps hoping that this time, a better future could be found. Anna had never quite been the same since Chi, her closest friend, had been captured.

Renard stood at the crest of the dune as the sun set. The world, for but a moment, was bathed in rose. He, too, must say his goodbyes.

"Thank you all for everything you have done for us," Renard stated humbly. "You will all be missed. You lot could fight like lions."

"I'm just sorry we couldn't win it for ye. I hope it all goes well for you here." Bryn smiled broadly as he climbed onto his shaggy horse's back.

"Good luck out there, and I hope you all find what you are looking for." Renard felt the tendrils of sadness grip him as he uttered this final farewell. Bryn's crew had all been such stalwart souls. He waved one more time as the last rider's silhouette disappeared over the horizon.

*****

Though it was a blow to the settlers to see their numbers dwindle, others, freed from the impending specter of violence and war, finally made room for alternative futures.

Darius, who had toyed with the idea of heading south, had abruptly changed his plans. A skilled smith could find good work anywhere, even here in New Town. He had met and fallen for Carol, a young widow of the last skirmish. Darius had stepped in and become a husband, finding himself with a ready-made family. Aurianne was delighted for him. Now, another generation of children would have the benefit of the most awesome of stepfathers.

Lucy had found that she had naturally gravitated towards the Laughing Ones. A life of abuse and slavery had taken its toll, and she struggled to rejoin society. Even a kind one like New Town. Without Warren to lead her through societal intricacies, life in the fledgling settlement held little allure. Though Lucy could not speak the Laughing Ones' language, she spent the majority of her time among them. Even altering her waking hours to synchronize with the population. Onanta-noy had accepted her with open arms.

Maya and Raissa, to begin with, were worried by this and did their best to persuade Lucy to return to the fledgling settlement. Lucy, instead, took up residence with a scarred male named Jud. Though never a beauty, Lucy suddenly found herself desirable, and Jud treated her like a queen. Lucy was at last settled, and to her friends that was what mattered most.

Maya waited patiently. She helped out where she could, but New Town was not in her heart. She mostly filled her time repairing or creating new garments for the settlers. Many of the single men attempted to court her. She was, after all, a beautiful and desirable girl. She ignored these overtures. Scanning the southern horizon each day, waiting on a promise for her golden warrior to return.

Raissa had no intention of falling for any man. As she had often told Lucy and Maya, she had been put off any future relationship for life. Yet, love is a force that arrives when one least expects it. Having the capacity to turn one's world upside down and make one question everything.

With her skills as a nurse, Raissa had been responsible for many of the injured men who had returned from battle. She took this work seriously, always diligent and compassionate. In fact, after her son Eirik's death, she had finally found direction and even solace in the healing arts.

She had never expected Jerome to steal her heart. Yet he had.

At first, she had not expected Jerome to make the night. He had received a terrible head wound. His comrades had carried him home. She had cleaned his injuries as best she could and made him as comfortable as possible, out in the open and on the trail. Everyone had expected Jerome to die. Each morning, though he was still unconscious, Jerome had not conceded to lady death.

Because he slept, Raissa found herself talking to him. He was a non judgmental conduit to vent her troubles to. Perhaps he had heard her, or perhaps not. Finally, Jerome woke up. He grew strong again and fell for the nurse who had paved the way to his miraculous recovery.

With Jerome's love, Raissa felt as though she had finally stepped out of the shadow of Sven, into the light, and into a life worth living.

*****

Jhary had at least initially humored Aurianne with the idea that they would build a cottage. Right there in the main street of New Town. Perhaps, even, raise a family. The couple had been well and truly happy in these past few weeks. The work was hard, and the days were long, but burgeoning love cushioned those difficulties.

However, after watching Bryn's crew leave, the bard felt rather unsettled. There was a part of him that again longed for the trail. He didn't know how to tell his love of this. So he held his desires within and continued on his domestic path, oblivious to the idea that Aurianne felt this too.