<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> Back to our main team... -LurkingWolf _________ <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> March 6, 708CR<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> With Lois in a cage and the threat of plague weighing heavily on his mind, Alex passed his evening in a state of restless contemplation. In the end, he rose well before dawn and waited beside an eastward facing window to watch the sky brighten as the sun slowly painted the far reaches of the sky.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> As it turned out, he was not the only one to have trouble sleeping that evening. His first inkling that another one of his companions was also restless was a spicy tang his sensitive nose detected coming from behind him. He turned slightly, and caught a glimpse of Lucy approaching, carefully carrying a small, steaming pot with a cloth. She nodded to him, setting the pot on a nearby table before drawing out a pair of cups as though from midair. While her apparent age could not have been much higher than ten years, the subtle confidence with which she executed every daily task spoke of her hidden years.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Ever drink tea?” she asked quietly.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> He shook his head. “It smells good, though,” he admitted, turning back to the window.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> She silently poured a cup for each of them without further inquiry. The lynx sniffed the proffered beverage experimentally. It combined a spicy scent that he did not immediately recognize with a second, sweeter flavor that complemented the first flawlessly. He took a sip of the concoction, and nodded in approval.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “It is quite delicious,” he stated. “Thank you.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lucy took a small sip from her own glass before responding. “I had gotten this for my father in the Keep before we left, but did not have the time to leave it with him before we left. With the quarantine and Lois’ situation, I expect that it will be disappointingly stale by the time I return, so I decided to use it now. My father also drinks it to relax, and I think that is a use we can both appreciate at the moment.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Alex sighed with resignation. “Have you taken a look at Lois yet?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Yes,” she responded. “It was only a brief look last night; I wasn’t certain where to start, and I needed some rest. I think I’ll finish my drink and take another look at the earliest possible convenience.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Alex nodded his understanding. “Where is Julian?” he asked.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> She tilted her head and nodded towards one of the barracks walls. “Sleeping in the next room,” she replied. “Based on my experience, we do not have to worry overly much about waking him. He has an unprecedented skill when it comes to sleeping through any situation.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Do you think he might have any useful input into the question of reversing the spell on Lois?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lucy shrugged. “It is possible. He spent quite a bit of time in Nasoj’s base of operations. He might be familiar with spells I do not recognize. I am likely the more experienced party when it comes to enchantments, however, so I will perform the initial examination.” She sipped her tea once more before turning to look at him. “Do you have family in the Keep?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> He shook his head. “I don’t have any family remaining in the North. Much of my family moved south after Nasoj’s last attack prior to the Three Gates, and my father lost his own life during that battle. As far as I know, my family in the South is still alive and well, but communications have been difficult to maintain since the Curse. Attempting to visit is a near impossibility for the same reason. I worry for those within the walls; plague is perhaps the worst way I know of to die. Gerard and his family do concern me, but I still do not have as personal a concern as some others.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lucy nodded. “My father should still be outside of the walls, and I know he can care for myself. I do not worry overmuch for him, but I am concerned about what this could mean for Metamor. Trade relations are difficult as it is, and there are bound to be many merchants trapped within the Keep during the quarantine. Things may become much more difficult, very quickly.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Alex sighed before quietly taking another sip of the warm drink. It truly was relaxing, he decided. He would have to find some of this tea for himself once the walls had reopened.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The two continued to drink their tea together, but conversation stalled until well after they had finished their drinks. By that time, the edge of the sun’s disk was visible over the horizon, and they both realized that they had a task to tend to. Lucy collected her teapot and the cups, and left to stow them with her belongings before they began their work.<o:p></o:p> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml">  <link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"> <link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CNathan%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml">  <style>  </style> </body> </html>