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I walked down the beaten path that winded through the forest to the Inn; it was too quiet. I came out of the forest near a familiar white oak. It gleamed softly in the moonlight and I reached out to touch it. Upon touching it, I realized that I was home, safe. It was over.My knees very nearly buckled underneath me, but I managed to remain standing. I made my way around the oak and the sight I saw brought tears to my eyes.
Home.
The inn was whole; it's lights burning a warm welcome against the velvet of the night. I approached the inn, praying that this was not some illusion created by the Tyberan. I ascended the steps of the porch and reached for the doorhandle. I pushed it open before me, peering around it into the taproom. I almost fainted with relief; in one corner sat Calagreth with Firehair. In another was Krolaun, sitting by himself, as always. I stood in the doorway, taking all of this in with a thankful heart.
Oh, thank the Bright Ones, they're all safe.
Rememberance of my ordeal came back tenfold. I couldn't escape it this time and I fell unceremoniously to my knees before all of my friends. Cal looked away from Firehair, "Kat? Are you all right?"
"Yes," I murmured, "I'm fine."
He turned back, seemingly satisfied with my answer. Another was not. Krolaun got up from his seat and went to my side, his grey eyes stared at me, "Like hell you're fine, Kat."
I looked up at him, trying not to let the pain show in my eyes, "I'm fine, Krol. Really..."
He trapped my eyes with his, gently speaking into my mind telepathically, "You're not. . .I can tell."
He helped me get to my feet, as I softly said, "You would not understand."
He kept a hand on my shoulder, "I may not understand, but I can listen."
I sighed, looking over my shoulder at him. I could not bring myself to relive my journey. He waited, but finally his curiousity won out.
"What happened? Where have you been all this time?"
"I went home," I said simply.
Krol knew my story as well as anyone else. He knew I was an exile of the Tyberan Nation and the penalty I would suffer if ever I returned.
"They did this?!" he hissed.
I made no comment. I gathered my cloak about me and went back outside. The elf trailed behind me as I made my way down to the lake that was near the inn. I stared quietly across the water, but I could feel his eyes upon my back.
"Katja. . ."
"It was no one's fault but my own," I said with remorse, "I should not have gone."
"If you knew it would come to this, why did you go??"
I watched the reflection of the moon ripple across the water, "I had to."
"But why??"
"That place was the center of all that I had been. Everything that had created me was there. I knew the consequences, but I had to go."
"I suppose I understand," he replied reluctantly. I could tell by the tone in his voice that he no more understood than the stars in the sky. I knew he could not. The ways of the Tyberan were just too different.
He reached out and touched my shoulder and I winced. He pulled his hand back swiftly, his eyes lighting up with concern, "Kat? Did I--? What's wrong?"
I shrugged underneath my cloak, grimacing as the burns on my skin rubbed against the cloth, "Nothing," I said, turning to go back inside, "You didn't do anything."
"Katja, please. . ."
I raised a hand in an attempt to quiet him, and he stared at me mutely. His grey eyes stared into me so much that the only thing I could do was flee. I fled from him, re-entering the inn and going up the stairs to my room. Closing the door behind myself, I fumbled with the lock until I heard the bolt shoot home. I was filled with regret from what I had done, but there was no choice. I could not bear to relive that nightmarish journey.
A soft knock alighted upon my door, and I stared in apprehension. Softly, I called out, "Who is it?"
"It's just me, Kat," came a familiar voice; that of Calagreth.
I opened the door and did my best to smile at my friend. He stepped in and regarded me quietly, "So, how did it go?"
I turned, going to the window, gripping the sill, "Worse than I ever could have anticipated."
"You were discovered then?" he asked as he stepped up behind me.
I stared down at my whitening knuckles, "Aye, by my most bitter rival."
"I see," the half-drow made no further comment than that. He was observant though, he glanced at my neck, "That is not the Amulet, Katja."
"The Amulet is gone," I murmured.
"And the Dagger of Mystics?"
"Taken."
He nodded. As I stared out the window, he took his leave. The door closed softly behind him and, once I knew I was alone, I let my shoulders slump with exhaustion. I left the window, my heart sick, making me feel queasy. As I fell onto my bed with a sigh, one single thought remained in my mind.
I'm home.
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield
