88th of Spring 515AV, at Dusk
Elise put his mug of ale down with a worried smile. The sun was burning hotter every day. With little else on his mind, Timothy had decided to pay Caelum a visit. A question ached in his heart and he’d finally mustered the courage to enter Alements and ask it. Almost to his relief, the bartender wasn’t present. “Thanks,” he mumbled, eyes tracing after Elise’s swaying hips.
Ale, he had uncovered halfway through Spring, was like distilled courage, and he required plenty. Hopefully the Ethaefal would come today or he would be wasting precious coin on liquid bravery. It tasted a bit better than the sample he’d had in the Rat Hole but was still bitter to his tongue. Determined not to make a fool of himself he took cautious sips and only wrinkled his nose when he was sure no one was looking.
Seated criss-cross in one of the cushy armchairs, Timothy closed his eyes for a moment and let the gentle murmuring and caressing sun tickle his senses. At times like these he was happy. He had met nice people in Riverfall and was no longer ordered about. Freedom, food, drinks, he had it all, and yet…
None of them, however well-intending, could replace his mother –the only real family he had known- or what few friends he had made in Sunberth. He closed his eyes even further, afraid that the water lingering therein would have Elise come over to him if he opened them. For all intents and purposes fate had dealt him a good hand, he was better fed and clothed than ever before, and yet he was still hungry for more.
Riverfall wasn’t his home, the Akalak weren’t his people. Kavala and all the others he had met so far were simply too busy, too concerned with the world to give him the time of day. It was impossible to blame them. They hadn’t asked for him. The same dreadful uselessness he’d felt during Winter started to wash over him.
If only he had a purpose. Something to wake up for in the morning. His eyes fluttered open. The half-filled mug of ale had lost all its appeal. Perhaps it was best to go.
ledgerMug of ale -1sm