15th of Spring
519 AV
10th Bell
519 AV
10th Bell
Sunberth.
There was never such a place Hadyn was loathe to inhabit as this. The very thought made her stomach queasy and mouth dry for a drink. Yet here she was. Again. Though her reason now seemed even more inane than the last time she visited this shithole years ago.
Pursing her lips as she languished uneasily before the entrance of the orphanage the weaponsmith debated turning tail. No one knew she was there and she certainly could be on her way without much trouble. It really was ridiculous, this notion she'd find him - let alone in one piece.
No. She was here and not for the sightseeing. She had a purpose and would see it through, regardless the outcome. If he was gone then she would know and put any hope of his return to rest - for her and the children. And if he was alive - as her source indicated with only the minimalist of confidence - then she'd cross that bridge. Brushing invisible specks of dust from the thigh of her britches the woman released a light sigh. Get it over with.
Making quick work of the steps to the door of the imposing building before she could regret the decision Hadyn entered the orphanage. The courtyard had been empty given the chilly spring weather but within the walls the place was a small bustling city it seemed. Children passed by, offering the occasional glance in hopes of recognizing her. When it was apparent she was just another stranger they continued on, seemingly attending to chores. Hadyn gave pause in the atrium, doubting her intentions once again. Her bootclad feet nearly back pedaled her to the door but she remained rooted.
Either he's here or he isn't, she reasoned internally. Though she'd considered the two outcomes she hadn't given thought to what she'd do if he was there. Pat him on the back and be on her way? Slap him for the lack of communication to the children and storm out? Neither seemed appropriate given the time it took to travel here, much less the promise she left Emily and Liam with when she departed them in Zeltiva...
"What if he's not there?" Emily murmured, holding her lambskin doll by its tattered arm. Her blonde hair had been plaited in twin braids and she looked entirely adorable, the new dress Hadyn's sister-in-law gave her highlighting her sky blue eyes. It was far nicer than anything Hadyn would've purchased for her.
"Then at least we'll have an answer," Hadyn answered, though she knew it wasn't the most committed response. Or hopeful.
"Will Dada come home?" Liam asked casually, looking up from his new toys on the floor. The three of them sat together in the small room the children would share while they stayed in Ioan's residence. Zeltiva was foreign to all of them but Hadyn's brother and sister-in-law made them wholly welcome with gifts, food and much doting. Emily remained skeptical of their new lodgings but Liam was positively joyful since they'd arrived.
"I don't know."
"If he was there he would write," Emily reasoned dryly, this time marking Hadyn with her piercing gaze. The weaponsmith nodded in agreement, following it with a shrug. It didn't make much sense, this plan. Ioan had done his best to dissuade her from the long trip to Sunberth, especially with the limited information. But Hadyn needed answers - if only for Emily and Liam. And she definitely didn't want to examine her feelings on Orion beyond what was necessary for the children for them to either reunite with him or move on in the case of his passing.
"Miss?" Hadyn blinked as a young man of about fifteen stared curiously at her. Realizing she had been lost in her thoughts she offered a half smile to youth.
"I'm sorry," she began, knocking the dark braid off her shoulder. "I'm lookin' for the doctor. Is he about?"
There was never such a place Hadyn was loathe to inhabit as this. The very thought made her stomach queasy and mouth dry for a drink. Yet here she was. Again. Though her reason now seemed even more inane than the last time she visited this shithole years ago.
Pursing her lips as she languished uneasily before the entrance of the orphanage the weaponsmith debated turning tail. No one knew she was there and she certainly could be on her way without much trouble. It really was ridiculous, this notion she'd find him - let alone in one piece.
No. She was here and not for the sightseeing. She had a purpose and would see it through, regardless the outcome. If he was gone then she would know and put any hope of his return to rest - for her and the children. And if he was alive - as her source indicated with only the minimalist of confidence - then she'd cross that bridge. Brushing invisible specks of dust from the thigh of her britches the woman released a light sigh. Get it over with.
Making quick work of the steps to the door of the imposing building before she could regret the decision Hadyn entered the orphanage. The courtyard had been empty given the chilly spring weather but within the walls the place was a small bustling city it seemed. Children passed by, offering the occasional glance in hopes of recognizing her. When it was apparent she was just another stranger they continued on, seemingly attending to chores. Hadyn gave pause in the atrium, doubting her intentions once again. Her bootclad feet nearly back pedaled her to the door but she remained rooted.
Either he's here or he isn't, she reasoned internally. Though she'd considered the two outcomes she hadn't given thought to what she'd do if he was there. Pat him on the back and be on her way? Slap him for the lack of communication to the children and storm out? Neither seemed appropriate given the time it took to travel here, much less the promise she left Emily and Liam with when she departed them in Zeltiva...
"What if he's not there?" Emily murmured, holding her lambskin doll by its tattered arm. Her blonde hair had been plaited in twin braids and she looked entirely adorable, the new dress Hadyn's sister-in-law gave her highlighting her sky blue eyes. It was far nicer than anything Hadyn would've purchased for her.
"Then at least we'll have an answer," Hadyn answered, though she knew it wasn't the most committed response. Or hopeful.
"Will Dada come home?" Liam asked casually, looking up from his new toys on the floor. The three of them sat together in the small room the children would share while they stayed in Ioan's residence. Zeltiva was foreign to all of them but Hadyn's brother and sister-in-law made them wholly welcome with gifts, food and much doting. Emily remained skeptical of their new lodgings but Liam was positively joyful since they'd arrived.
"I don't know."
"If he was there he would write," Emily reasoned dryly, this time marking Hadyn with her piercing gaze. The weaponsmith nodded in agreement, following it with a shrug. It didn't make much sense, this plan. Ioan had done his best to dissuade her from the long trip to Sunberth, especially with the limited information. But Hadyn needed answers - if only for Emily and Liam. And she definitely didn't want to examine her feelings on Orion beyond what was necessary for the children for them to either reunite with him or move on in the case of his passing.
"Miss?" Hadyn blinked as a young man of about fifteen stared curiously at her. Realizing she had been lost in her thoughts she offered a half smile to youth.
"I'm sorry," she began, knocking the dark braid off her shoulder. "I'm lookin' for the doctor. Is he about?"