by S.J. Drew
She went first to Zeki's house.
There was a light on, and she listened at the door for the murmur of voices. It was quiet.
"I need to make sure this is settled," she thought, plucking up her courage. She knocked.
In a few moments, Zeki opened the door, looking surprised.
"Eliora? You're here awfully late. Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not. Can I come in for a few minutes?"
"Yes, please."
He appeared to have been finishing up some paperwork in the living room.
"What brings you here at this hour?" he asked.
"I tried to find you and Ofira at the coffeehouse earlier, but you weren't there. I got promoted."
"That's great. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
He waited a moment. "Talk to me. You have more on your mind than that promotion. We haven't talked in two weeks."
"Basir and I have moved to the next phase of courtship."
"You did?" he stammered, looking a little stunned. "That's great too. Really great," he replied, but didn't sound entirely enthusiastic. He stood there for a few moments, just blinking.
"Zeki, are we really both alright with this situation?" she asked.
"Is that why you really came to see me?"
She nodded.
"I think we can both try."
"I think I can agree to that."
"And I really am glad you and Basir are moving forward. I honestly hope it works out for you."
"Thank you, Zeki. I hope things work out for you and Ofira as well. I really do. And I hope we can stay friends. We've known each other for too long."
"I agree." He smiled wanly. "Now someone else can help you remember things."
"And now someone else can cheer you up when you get depressed," she teased.
"You'd probably better go, while we're both in a good mood."
She nodded. "It will be alright again. I'm sure of it."
"Well, now that you've set your mind to it, I'm sure it will happen. Goodnight, Eliora."
"Goodnight, Zeki," she returned, and went home. She spent more than two hours discussing plans with her parents. She went to bed, feeling excited and only a little bit sad. "It will be alright again," she thought firmly, then relaxed and fell asleep.
Donnan managed to meet with Alain about two weeks later at the Golden Flagon. His brother had again chosen a table in the back, well away from the windows.
"Hey, little brother," he said cheerfully, but it was clear he wasn't in a good mood.
"You're almost done."
"I know," he replied glumly. "Gods, and I'm glad for it. Reese got into a fight a couple of weeks ago, and rumor says he actually got in trouble for it. I know he got into a fight. He had two black eyes and got his pretty face all bruised up. But I figure rumors about him gettin' in trouble are right, 'cause he's been an even bigger jackass lately."
"He keeps that up, and he'll get in trouble again," he replied, suddenly wondering if Blake's request for vengeance was being answered.
"I can only hope. I feel real sorry for the little guys. I can take the cheap shots. They can't."
"That reminds me, I was visited by Aolani a few weeks ago. She wanted me to thank you for her for takin' care of her little brother, Kennet."
"Oh, him." Alain looked surprised. "The wiry redheaded kid. No need to thank me. He's goin' to be a tough, scrappy fighter when he's done."
"Well, I'm just deliverin' the message."
"So Aolani talked to you 'cause of me. Don't say I never did anythin' for you," he said with a smile.
Donnan just shook his head. "You're right. I got no chance."
"What's wrong with you?"
"I've been wonderin' if I should tell you. I guess you should know, but you've got to promise you won't do anythin'. You promise you'll finish out your trainin' and graduate."
"Alright, I promise, but I'm real confused."
He sighed and lowered his voice. "That fight Reese got into, that was with me."
"With you?" he exclaimed.
"Shut up," he hissed.
"Sorry. With you? When, where?" the older man asked in a loud whisper.
"'Bout two weeks ago. I was headed over to meet with the gang, and him and two of his stupid friends cornered me. They'd been drinkin'. I figured since I was goin' to end up fightin' them, I'd get in the first shot. I mostly hit Reese. Figured he deserved it most."
"Godsdamn, little brother, are you crazy? Three to one? They could've killed you."
"Well, they didn't," he replied with a very black look on his face.
Without realizing it, Alain leaned back a little. He'd never seen his brother so angry, and it was somehow frightening. "Well, you don't look hurt too bad."
"Blake rescued me. He was lookin' for me, and broke up the fight. They didn't want to fight with a Dark priest."
"Well, now you thank Blake for me. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on the guy."
"He's a better friend than I thought."
"He probably saved your life. Damn, fightin' three armed guards." He ran took a long drink. "Well, I'm glad you came out of that alright. If he'd hurt you too bad, guard be damned, I'd beat him into a pulp."
"I know that."
"I might anyway."
"But you just promised you'd finish."
"I did," Alain nodded. "And I don't break promises." There was an awkward pause. "So, you had any luck findin' a new job?"
"Not yet, but I'm still lookin'."
"You'll find somethin' soon."
"I don't know. I don't have a lot of useful skills. I don't want another stupid dishwashin' job."
"You've got to have faith. Things will work out all right."
"Why do you think that?" he snapped.
"What?" he stammered, nonplussed.
"Nothin' has ever worked right for us."
"I'm goin' to be a guard," Alain replied mildly.
"Yeah, but that's not workin' right. We don't get the breaks. When good stuff happens to us, somethin' bad always happens too. You get into guard, Reese makes your life miserable. I talk to a beautiful woman, and I get beaten up by her jealous, drunk, stupid former suitor."
They stared into their drinks for a few minutes.
"It isn't fair, little brother. I don't think it's ever goin' to be."
Donnan sighed. "I know. And bein' angry doesn't help."
"Bein' angry and not doing anythin' doesn't help."
"What can I do? I got no money, no rank, no formal education, and no power."
"Well, I don't know. But when I figure somethin' out, I'll let you know. In the meantime, we've just got to make due. We aren't starvin'. We got clothes and a place to sleep. You've even got some books. We're doin' fine, little brother. And when I finish basic, we'll be doin' better."
He sighed again. "You're right."
"Sure I am. Now, let's eat. It's good stuff."
The spring equinox dawned bright and hot in Nahaar.
"Eliora, time to get up," called Adiva.
Eliora did not get up, nor seem to hear her mother's call. After a few minutes, Adiva knocked on the door to her room.
"Daughter, you can't sleep late. Now wake up."
She moaned and turned over in bed. Even though the nights and early mornings were cold, all the covers had been kicked off the bed. She was soaked in sweat. "I don't feel well," she groaned. "Gods, it's so hot."
"That's enough, Eliora," came Adiva's voice sternly. She opened the door. "It's past time to get up. Breakfast is ready now."
She opened her eyes, but they wouldn't focus. "Mother, I think I'm sick."
Adiva went down to the bed. "Gods, you're burning up with fever," she exclaimed worriedly.
"I'm so hot," she murmured, the words strangely muzzy.
"I'm going to fetch a Healer or a cleric."
"Healer?" she repeated. "I don't feel good."
Adiva was already down the stairs. In a few moments, Meorah rushed up the stairs with a cool compress and a cup of water. Oriel quickly followed with a fan.
"Sister, can you hear me?" asked Meorah.
Eliora opened her eyes again, but the shapes were fuzzy. "What?"
"This is bad," remarked Oriel, fanning her sister.
Meorah pressed the compress against her forehead and tried to lift her up. "You need to drink."
The sudden movement caused her to pass out. She came to some time later. Groaning, she tried to open her eyes. A voice she didn't recognize told her to just lie still. "Where is Mother?" she asked.
"Hush, now," came the unfamiliar female voice. "You're in the Temple of Light. Do you understand?"
She succeeded in opening her eyes, and found herself staring at an old woman with white hair who was wearing priestess robes. "Matriarch?" she stuttered, surprise penetrating her fever-induced delirium.
"Yes, child."
"Mother? Where is she? Where are my sisters?" she demanded. She tried to sit up, but the effort only caused her to pass out again. She fell into strange dreams of fire and tumbling rocks.
The fall equinox came to Renfrew, and Donnan found he couldn't get out of bed.
"I've got to get to work," he thought, shivering violently. Hearing his teeth chatter, he reached under the bed, pulled out the spare blankets, and bundled them around himself. "Not today. Gods, I'm so cold." He drifted into a trouble sleep until a knock on the door woke him up. Groaning, he wrapped himself in blankets and unlocked the door. "Blake? What're you doin' here?"
"Gods, you're pale. And you're cold?"
"I'm goin' to bed. What are you doin' here again?" he asked, feeling light-headed.
The acolyte looked uncomfortable. "I think you need to see a Healer."
"I'll be fine," he muttered, and stumbled back into the lower bed. "Just need to sleep."
Blake said something in the Dark language, and he became aware of others in his room.
"What's happenin'? Who's
