From: Michael Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 19:17:37 EST Subject: Re: Service check... [ADMIN: Top credit on this should go to Andrea Evans (as if she and Stephen haven't helped virtually every step of the way), then to myself.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Lancos awoke as the sun filtered into his eyes. He tried to roll over, to recapture his sleep, but his stomach protested too loudly. His rest had not been as long as he might have wished -- could not make up for the time in AK Ir'neg -- but for a change it had been uninterrupted. He rose, quickly dressed, and made his way out of his room. He passed by Valgar's room, and almost knocked, but then he heard slight snoring coming from within. He moved on, knowing that the freedman needed recovery also -- possibly more so than he had --, and headed for the stairs. The Dragon's Inn was still relatively quiet -- the odd atmosphere of the town must have been keeping folks away. There was the omnipresent Rabble, always interested in others' lives. The only current new addition seemed to be a bald headed man -- indirectly reminding Lancos of Vornik -- who appeared to have joined with the bar's collection of musically-talented people. That corner -- was that The Shrouded One? That one had been here longer than Lancos could remember, and perhaps was a permanent fixture. And finally, Kadrys, sitting alone at what had been somewhat established as "their table". Even from the top of the stairs, one could see the general shape of the chess board that 'Raelf had engrained upon it. But before making his way there, his appetit demanded satisfaction. Lancos headed to the bar, and ordered breakfast. As he waited, he noted Serene's unusual absence from the area. But he didn't ask about it -- most likely, it was a personal thing. Soon his food is ready, and Lancos takes it to the table, and sits next to Kadrys. "Well, here we are." Lancos greeted. "I've ordered food and sat down at your previously empty table. I almost feel like incorrectly offering you a meal, and making a lame pun." Kadrys smiled at the reference to their first meeting, to the essential beginning of the quest. "Glad to see you remember that comparatively pleasant experience." Lancos continued. "Which reminds me of my topic -- for which I'm greatful we're alone to discuss. I owe you for... for what I did to you in Ak Ir'neg." "Nonsense." Kadrys said soothingly. "I know that wasn't your fault, you deserve no blame and thus have no need for restitution." Kadrys silently mused that if Lancos HAD been guilty, the warrior would most likely no longer be alive. "Hush. This group seems to be slowly drifting apart, and I'm NOT going to allow your last -- strongest, memory of me to be that I killed you. And to that end," he said, grabbing a pouch from his belt, "I'm going to bring out something I've been REALLY hesitant to show anyone." Kadrys' eyes widened in a combination of interest and shock. The warrior had been initially reluctant to produce the medallion; he couldn't imagine what might have been held back THIS long. His eyes soon fell upon a ring. It was covered in gold, and beset with a clear, obviously magically gleaming jewel in the center. "My wedding ring." Lancos explained. "You were married?" "No, this was for Felria -- she died before anything official could be performed." Lancos replied, turning the ring so Kadrys could view it. The picture was not all that clear, but the vampire could easily make out features: the long, curled, whitish-blonde hair; the dark green eyes, seeming full of life; the fair but not outstanding face; the gleaming smile, making it appear she was happy to see whomever she was looking at. "She had -- has -- one exactly like this, except with my likeness. So of course, anyone would find this one the more valuable." Lancos says, adding a tidbit of humor to an otherwise very serious conversation. "Very beautiful." Kadrys siad, easily seeing why the fighter had kept it hidden. "Thanks for showing it to me." "Show? I'm going to do more than that! I'm going to give it to you!" "Why would you want to do that -- why would you give it up?" "Several reasons. First, I..."he pauses, recalling Alita's words, "was reminded that there are other women. That I should be open to them -- perhaps even actively pursue them, and leave her in the past. To fully do that would mean ridding myself of even this -- though I cannot forget, I should not have to be reminded. "Second, although it still presents the woman foremost in my mind, it doesn't seem to hold the same, formerly permanent, face -- another sure sign of a change of heart. "And third -- and perhaps most importantly, since it's the least selfish -- before all these dealings with the dragon, you told me a bit about a love of yours you couldn't be with due to fate. I think this would serve you well as a reminder of her, for whenever you might need such a thing." Kadrys mused. Lancos could not know that he had recently seen Imariye', that perhaps the meeting had been his salvation in Ack-I-Renege. The gift suffered somewhat from bad timing. But the vampire could tell that Lancos would need some persuasion, or he would keep trying to find something appropriate until he succeeded. Kadrys picked the ring up slowly, turning it over in his hands before at last slipping it on a finger. Its gem flashed and Lancos saw a brief image of a slender, delicate woman with long, wavy brown hair. While her face was perhaps too fragile-appearing to be conventionally beautiful, her eyes were striking: large and clear, an extraordinary shade of violet. Behind here there was a glimpse of a pale blue sky with high wisps of cloud, a green meadow. The woman was smiling warmly. Kadrys' expression, on the other hand, was quite unreadable as he gazed at the image. Silently, he removed the ring and placed it on the table. When he spoke at last, his voice was a low, pensive murmur. "It is a kind gesture, but... I have my memories." A trace of a smile, wistful, longing, appeared fleetingly and was gone. "I have kept them in my heart for a very long time... They - suffice. As they must." He picks the ring up and places it in Lancos' palm, closing the young man's fingers gently upon it. "Keep it." he said softly. "You still have your life before you." A roguish grin lifted the corner of his lip. "I'll wager you will have use for it yourself one of these days. It may be that it will show you another lady's face someday..." Lancos produced a somewhat involuntary grin -- it already HAD, due to Alita's wont. And if he ever found another woman to fill his life, she would get her own, special gift. He was saddened that his gift his failed, but he knew he couldn't -- wouldn't try to -- convince Kadrys to chance his mind. Lancos thought a bit. Perhaps he would find some other thing that would be worthy. Perhaps his eventual actions would speak louder than his words. Perhaps... perhaps he just needed some time to think, in the place he seemed to do it best -- the outdoors. Having finished the meal, he rose from the table. "What will you do now?" Kadyrs asked. "Well, eventually, I want to give a service for William, and check on SunStorm and company. But I think 'Raelf and Valgar will want to be privy to that. After that, it'll be up to fate to determine our lives. But for now, I'm going to get out, and enjoy the sun that I haven't seen in too long..." Kadrys grinned slightly at Lancos' last words, instinctively drawing the lightproof folds of his leather cloak closer round his shoulders. He murmured quietly, half to himself, "Yes, I never thought I would find the return of that pain so welcome..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu AKA Lancos Erredan SAQ: "Women/Women/We can't live without you"-Def Leppard