Brief Explaination

“So why did you tell Kjarbo that my life may be in danger? What happened on that boat?” Beldin asked as he handed me a cookie. Cookies have a very positive effect on me and this one I think was meant to sooth me. Everyone kept expecting me to come unwound again but I had done my crying and I didn’t intend to burden anyone anymore with it.

“Our histories are more connected than you realize.” I nibbled the edges of the ginger cookie and sucked the strong flavor out of the pieces more crushing it with my tongue than chewing.

“Meaning?” he asked.

“You killed a galka dark knight in a tavern a long time ago. I was there. I was working with him. I hated him and the story is more complicated than I need to tell right now but he was my partner for a job. His name was Bruto.” I looked up to try to read his face.

“He wanted to kill me.” Beldin said with a raised eyebrow.

I nodded and looked down at my cookie. “It seems Pete the Meat was his brother of sorts. He said I turned him over to you to die.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I know. I kinda hoped it might stay that way.”

“Well I ‘kinda’ wish you had told me now.” He said a bit exasperated. “Maybe I could have…” he stopped himself and we sat quietly for a few minutes that felt like eternity, both of us looking down at the valley below us.

“The ferry captain said a small boat picked up the galka before he could get to port. They just don’t have the security on those ferries to stop attacks during transit.” He paused and rested his hand on my shoulder. “We will find him Alison.”

I smiled weakly. I wasn’t sure I had the heart for more death and it seemed only blood would satisfy our angry friends.

The Hug

One, Two, Three, Four. Yep, still four beams. All just like before. Straight and perfect. Aged yet so strong.

Why was I counting beams? How do I know how many there should be? What are beams for anyways and who gave them that funny name? Do they actually have a purpose besides being pretty? Do I?

This is my room I think but I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming. Feels like dreaming. Very quiet and I feel odd. I feel sad. I don’t think I want to be here. Maybe I should close my eyes again.

“You look a lot better.” A man said. “Your face is pink again. You looked almost dead for a couple of days.” He paused for a few moments. “Alison, I’m sorry.”

“Why sorry?” I thought. I was reluctant to come out of my head but curiosity won and I lifted up to see blankets then a man sitting on a stool near the foot of my bed.

“Beldin.” I said aloud. My mind painfully began to realign and I remembered. I remembered everything. Tears welled up and threatened to spill down my cheeks. I wanted to go back to counting beams and I laid back.

Reaching out he took hold of my hand and squeezed it. Gasping for air I began to sob without even thinking of the reason why. I just hurt. Everywhere, everyhow, hurt. Pulling me up he held me close and let me tremble and cry out while I let it go. It flowed from me like an avalanche. Rolling, and crushing, and pounding emotion making my whole frame shake. I’m not sure how long it went on but it blinded me from anything going on around me.

Then the peace came and I gasped and caught my breath letting it enfold me. I just breathed and enjoyed the warm cocoon of arms around me. I realized as I calmed that I wasn’t alone. I looked up and Beldin kissed my soggy eyes. All around me my friends had gathered. More than I even realized I had, gathered in a group hug around my bed.

I think that was the moment I realized my greatest strength. My friends who never failed to rally around in times of need. I had no more doubt that things were going to be ok somehow. Not the same, maybe not even as good, but ok. With them I would never feel alone and together we would do our best to make things right no matter what.