Avela and Shorine waved, tending to sheep on my front lawn.
I waved back.
“It’s not much. And the cottage is nothing compared to your manor house, but it’s home. My grandfather bought this land off a destitute nobleman,” I said as we made our way down the lane toward the cabin. “He liked having nature around him, but didn’t need much of a house, so… this is it.”
“Still, this is truly lovely! An oasis within the city. You’re very lucky to live here.”
“Daz?” I called as we entered the cottage.
Silence.
I went to his room, but hesitated before entering, remembering yesterday. The difference between us was, I didn’t care if he was naked or not, so I went in.
What I found within baffled me. His room was made up and serene and… several of his things were missing. When I checked his wardrobe, most of his clothes were gone, as was his travelling bag.
Had he been called away on another urgent mission as a Phorasti?
That must be it.
I sighed and hoped he was well.
“Sorry,” I said to Veora as I returned to her. “Daz isn’t here. He must have been called off on Phorasti business. That means it’ll be a simple lunch.”
“Phorasti? Truly? Is he powerful?” She was a bit agog at this.
“I don’t really know. He says he’s a Master, whatever that means.”
“Oh! Thatisimpressive.”
“Is it?” I didn’t really know. He’d never really talked about his abilities.
All I knew was that when my father had taken me from Aunt Emri — eighteen years ago — he’d had with him a small Dathi boy. Father had told me I had a brother now. We’d been raised together for four years before Daz’s abilities had grown in strength and he’d gone off to The White Tower to study. When he’d returned, about nine years ago, he’d been a man, and a Master Phorasti, whatever that meant.
He’d been called away on missions now and then, and when the latest war had broken out, he’d been called to The White Tower once again, while I’d gone off to fight.
Our father had died while we’d both been away. I’d returned to an empty house. That memory still stung, especially since that had been right after Kel had abandoned me.
Daz had returned home roughly two years ago. He’d been tense and tight-lipped, refusing to say anything about where he’d been or what he’d done. But then… that wasn’t new. He’d never told me anything about his work.
Since then, he’d been a fixture in my life. Even when he’d gone away on Phorasti business we’d sent letters back and forth. And when he was home, he did everything for me. He liked the day-to-day stuff, which I agonized over. I truly appreciated everything he did for me.
If he was some powerful and impressive mystic, he’d never said a word about it. But then, he’d always been quiet and modest.
“Perhaps he’ll be around some other time and I can introduce you two,” I said to Veora. “Now… for lunch.”
We ate a simple meal, but I still had some of the exotic fruits from our market day, so we finished them off.
Veora sat back in her chair with a sigh. “Tell me, Tisi, is there a man in your life? You seemed to know that man who came with Victor the day we met.”
Ah yes, Kel.
I sighed, contented, from the sweet food and pleasant company. Could I tell her about Kel? I hesitated as she hummed softly to herself, a habit of hers. Then I shrugged. Why not…
“Yes, and no. There’s no man in my life now, but Kelric, the man you met that day, was a part of my life, long ago. Then…” I shrugged. “I don’t know. The war ended and so did our relationship.”
“Oh?” she asked, curious.
I nodded. “I… I wouldn’t say we were ever in adeeprelationship, but… I guess I’d hoped we could be.”
