Willow's End - Jera Skyspear
Elvish words/phrases linked to Glossary OR hover mouse to see translation.
Curious Correspondence part four

Frost and icy puddles made the morning sparkle. Ashe and Jera stood outside in the sunshine after breakfast, just taking in the chilled air and breathing out wisps of warm vapor. Ashe slipped his hand into Jera's as he looked out on the rising day. "Amrun tiri ar sinya," he whispered. She soaked in the crisp clear morning herself, "Ta naa oio ve'sina," then squeezed his hand, "Thank you for being with me and sharing these reminders." He lifted her hand to kiss her fingers then whispered against them, "Amin saesa." After exchanging soft grins, they slowly lowered and released their hands then began the next part of the journey.

The destination was now within walking distance and so they left their horses at the inn's stable. A leisurely walk along Thetford's streets was quite pleasant after the riding, especially while the mud was somewhat frozen. Jera pointed out various establishments to give Ashe an informal tour, although several places had changed hands and purposes in the last few decades. The village was home to many a vendor because it was a gateway to more prominent markets, but offered quiet rest in between such forays.

Naturally Jera stopped at the place where Sandaeren's shop had been. It was still unmarked, no placard at all to tell of its business, if it still housed one. She could almost smell the wax and fragrances in her memory, so she just breathed for a bit. Ashe watched Jera more than the village and now was concerned. He had an idea why they'd stopped but she hadn't said. After a moment, she simply turned and continued walking. She smiled to Ashe, "Good memories there," then commented on the next point of interest as they proceeded toward the edge of town.

Vosper's home appeared to be a menagerie of small houses stuck together. Jera recalled there were two sections when last she saw it. Now there were at least four squarish timber sections with a small stone round house attached on one corner. No portion of thatched roof had the same pitch or peat as any other. There had obviously been additions in prosperous years, with patch-as-patch-can in lean ones. It was fortunate that Jera had asked the innkeeper for directions, else she might have thought she'd found the wrong place.

The front entrance to the house was a bit of a challenge. Firstly, the round section nearly overlapped it. Secondly, the overhang from the roof was just tall enough for Jera to stand under it. Ashe had a wonderful view of recent re-thatching efforts. So, both elves had to bend a bit to smile at the woman who answered Jera's knock upon the worn oak door.

After a squeal of apparent delight from the woman, and a brief exchange of introductions, she invited the visitors in. "Mercy me, do watch yer heads! Oh, Da will be so glad to see ye. We got yer return word only two days past." Hildith, Vosper's daughter-in-law as she explained, continued to chatter while she moved them through the main room. Although none of the ceiling beams were actually threatening, they felt terribly close. It was a relief for both Ashe and Jera to enter the round room which was capped by a conical vault and thus provided more comfortable standing space.

A hearth warmed the room of mismatched chairs. Even so, cloaks were still welcome. In one of the chairs sat an aged man of wiry grey-white hair and beard, but Jera recognized him nonetheless. Vosper's wrinkled eyes smiled warmly as he rose to bow and greet. Jera expressed her pleasure at seeing him again. She introduced Ashe, who was a bit surprised when the elder man grasped his forearm in the way of a warrior while Ashe had only extended it as part of his bow, he thought.

"I know a swordsman when I see one, 'specially when they're wearing a sign of it here or there, eh?" Vosper's comment on Ashe's scar was meant as a compliment for he saw it as fortune and strength for a man to still be up and walking around after such wounds.

Ashe looked down at the elder man's hand against his forearm. Jera looked as well, how could she not, for the ring and smallest fingers on his right hand were only stubs, cut back to the first joint. Vosper caught the pause then withdrew his hand to turn it in the air. He looked from there to Jera to Ashe and back again, then oddly, he grinned. "Ye know, it IS possible to string a crossbow a tad too tight... and to have yer fingers in the wrong place." He shook his head. "Paid no attention and not even to my own preaching... Gloves. Can't ever forget yer gloves."

Hildith disappeared during the greetings and later reappeared to deposit a few papers on a small table beside Vosper's chair. Then, she begged her leave to make tea. Halfway out of the room, she turned with a smile to verify that the visitors actually liked tea. Upon their smiling approval, she bid them, "Sit. Sit! Warm yerselves," and disappeared again. Vosper shook his head, smiling after her.

"Well, I'd trot out all within the house to meet ye but you've now seen all that's lived here since the youngers grew up and out. Alas, the missus, well..." He shrugged and a weak smile curved the edges of his thick moustache. "I don't believe I'd met her yet when you were here, milady. Even though my oldest is gone too, passed I mean, his Hildith takes care and keeps me company." Vosper gestured around the room. "Better do as she says or she'll not let up on it." He chuckled. "Pick a chair ye like and move it where ye wish. That's how we do here."

The elder man then leaned to take up a pipe from the small table and bent to the hearth to relight his smoke with a thin firebrand. As he rose, he looked at Ashe and gestured with the pipe, "Do ye?" Ashe declined with thanks. The men waited until Jera sat down then took their own seats.

Vosper lifted the papers Hildith had brought in. He gestured with them as he spoke. "Sent that word to ye in early Summer or so. Not sure if I'm surprised ye didn't get it til now or that ye got it so soon. Sorry to not really say much of... well, here... these'll tell a bit. One's in some other speech and I think it's yours, though I can't read English any better." He grinned and handed Jera the folded parchment, "Truth be told, if I'd had any adventuring left in me, I'd have liked to make a quest of the thing, but... I don't. And even if I could have known where ye were to start, I'd not have trusted anything more than paper to get to ye." He chuckled then sat back in his chair to smoke and wait.

The reading was delayed a bit while Hildith served tea, then sat to join them. After a few sips and a compliment, Jera began to follow another thread of missives concerning the object which had yet to be presented or mentioned specifically. She skimmed, since the others in the room were waiting for her. Two of the pages were penned by Brother Hullyn on Vosper's behalf and they referred quite vaguely to 'it' and what should be done with 'it' and who should have possession of 'it'.

Two others were the rest of the conversation and spoke mostly of the thing being of elven make and quite old, possibly near a hundred years old. The other writer was a smith and bowyer. Apparently he had a broader range of acquaintances and suggested he might know someone who knows someone who can tell more about "it" and so forth.

Those were all the letters. Jera looked through them again, then to the elder. "Dear Vosper, I can see that you've gone through much to find out about the... item... but these missives are all English and they still do not tell what it is that you have found." She was legitimately amused. It was amazing how much each had said without saying much of anything.

DHP and Bill West © Jan 2003

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