Jadlin Hayes
It was not difficult to tell that Black was not content to stay in the East Street district. After the hostilities, he could hardly blame her. He himself was not eager to go back through the gauntlet they'd survived. But if he was going to pick up his list where he'd left off, that was the place to go.
But he came to a decision that even surprised him. 'Screw that!' he thought to himself. Black had backed him up. She had to have seen him coming into this part of town, and been worried about him...'Worried...about me.' This had kept coming back to him as they'd checked off these last two names. He'd never felt special enough to be worth anyone's worry before. Sure, he and Black had had their dalliance the day they'd met, and it was not that he didn't think it meant anything more than a physical attraction. But this was her putting herself in mortal danger, and in a area where the residents clearly knew her, to some degree at least. For her, there was no going back. She'd staked a major aspect of her life on his welfare.
He owed her a major concession. But more than that, he wanted to make her happy. He didn't get the sense that she was thinking in terms of "debt". And he knew she was not trying to stop him from tracking down these names. But what was the big hurry? Did it matter if it took another day to find out who had a connection to his "M" ring? Two days? Ten? A season? He'd had no clue that he had ANY family until a half a year ago, out of his twenty or so. He really didn't know how old he was, but what little could be verified indicated this to be a reasonably accurate estimate.
The thought of "family" took on a new aspect. He'd come to Zeltiva looking for his family. But that wasn't exactly what the "Lykata-Lady" had said back in Syliras. She'd said the ring belonged to his father; and that he should go to Zeltiva to find him. This was no guarantee of any acceptance. Even if he found the man, he may get the door slammed in his face. The Lykata had not said he'd get a warm welcome.
He looked in Black's eyes. Deep, brown, soft...welcoming...Here was acceptance. Here was warmth...He himself had said the word "family" to the Lykata-lady. And though she had never connected that word with the mention of his father, she had not said he was wrong about finding his family in Zeltiva. Maybe that "family" was NOT his actual father. Maybe it was this woman before him, patiently waiting...ready to accompany him wherever he chose to go.
And he wanted her to be with him. He knew it now. He would follow up his search for what family he might have here in Zeltiva. But regardless of how they received him, they would accept him with Black, or not at all. Of course, he knew that this would be HER choice as well. And again, there was no hurry.
When he'd first arrived in town, there had been a sense of urgency to get his search underway. The ship had been several days behind schedule and was due to make something called the "Novallas Run". He didn't know exactly what that was, but assumed it was the name of some northern destination. He'd wanted to know where he stood with his family, just in case they rejected him, in which case he'd decided he would sign up officially with the crew. This option was off the table now.
He realized he'd taken a bit longer to give Black a response to her question than he'd intended. He thought she even looked a little concerned. He smiled at her and stepped over to her. Taking her chin in his hand he tilted her lips up to kiss them softly. Nothing to arouse passion, just a sweet sign of affection. "Hey, how about we forget about the list for the day? I've got something I want to show you."
He took her hand and they started down toward the docks. It was not that far, just far enough to accommodate a slow, roundabout explanation about how he'd left the option open about going to sea as a career. She said nothing, and he felt a bit of shame over how he was manipulating the situation for his surprise. But if she felt bad over the thought of him leaving, then he believed she would be glad to find that it was just for the delivery of his decision to stay.
They sat on the quay and looked out at the setting sun, framing a departing pinnace. "That's 'Bethany's Badge', the ship I came in on. It's just beginning its Novallas Run. That was the ship I'd have been on if I hadn't decided to stay in Zeltiva." He gave her a direct look, hope and vulnerability in equal parts, "I may not have found the owner of this ring, but I believe I've...found all the...family...I need."
But he came to a decision that even surprised him. 'Screw that!' he thought to himself. Black had backed him up. She had to have seen him coming into this part of town, and been worried about him...'Worried...about me.' This had kept coming back to him as they'd checked off these last two names. He'd never felt special enough to be worth anyone's worry before. Sure, he and Black had had their dalliance the day they'd met, and it was not that he didn't think it meant anything more than a physical attraction. But this was her putting herself in mortal danger, and in a area where the residents clearly knew her, to some degree at least. For her, there was no going back. She'd staked a major aspect of her life on his welfare.
He owed her a major concession. But more than that, he wanted to make her happy. He didn't get the sense that she was thinking in terms of "debt". And he knew she was not trying to stop him from tracking down these names. But what was the big hurry? Did it matter if it took another day to find out who had a connection to his "M" ring? Two days? Ten? A season? He'd had no clue that he had ANY family until a half a year ago, out of his twenty or so. He really didn't know how old he was, but what little could be verified indicated this to be a reasonably accurate estimate.
The thought of "family" took on a new aspect. He'd come to Zeltiva looking for his family. But that wasn't exactly what the "Lykata-Lady" had said back in Syliras. She'd said the ring belonged to his father; and that he should go to Zeltiva to find him. This was no guarantee of any acceptance. Even if he found the man, he may get the door slammed in his face. The Lykata had not said he'd get a warm welcome.
He looked in Black's eyes. Deep, brown, soft...welcoming...Here was acceptance. Here was warmth...He himself had said the word "family" to the Lykata-lady. And though she had never connected that word with the mention of his father, she had not said he was wrong about finding his family in Zeltiva. Maybe that "family" was NOT his actual father. Maybe it was this woman before him, patiently waiting...ready to accompany him wherever he chose to go.
And he wanted her to be with him. He knew it now. He would follow up his search for what family he might have here in Zeltiva. But regardless of how they received him, they would accept him with Black, or not at all. Of course, he knew that this would be HER choice as well. And again, there was no hurry.
When he'd first arrived in town, there had been a sense of urgency to get his search underway. The ship had been several days behind schedule and was due to make something called the "Novallas Run". He didn't know exactly what that was, but assumed it was the name of some northern destination. He'd wanted to know where he stood with his family, just in case they rejected him, in which case he'd decided he would sign up officially with the crew. This option was off the table now.
He realized he'd taken a bit longer to give Black a response to her question than he'd intended. He thought she even looked a little concerned. He smiled at her and stepped over to her. Taking her chin in his hand he tilted her lips up to kiss them softly. Nothing to arouse passion, just a sweet sign of affection. "Hey, how about we forget about the list for the day? I've got something I want to show you."
He took her hand and they started down toward the docks. It was not that far, just far enough to accommodate a slow, roundabout explanation about how he'd left the option open about going to sea as a career. She said nothing, and he felt a bit of shame over how he was manipulating the situation for his surprise. But if she felt bad over the thought of him leaving, then he believed she would be glad to find that it was just for the delivery of his decision to stay.
They sat on the quay and looked out at the setting sun, framing a departing pinnace. "That's 'Bethany's Badge', the ship I came in on. It's just beginning its Novallas Run. That was the ship I'd have been on if I hadn't decided to stay in Zeltiva." He gave her a direct look, hope and vulnerability in equal parts, "I may not have found the owner of this ring, but I believe I've...found all the...family...I need."
