a hooded Clarice wrapped in her cloak, leaning against a tree trunk.
“I thought you’d gone again.”
“As you can see, that’s not the case,” she replied.
“Where will you spend the night? Do you already have a room at the tavern?”
“Don’t worry about me. If all else fails, I have my pelt of fur.”
“It’s very cold out here, and it’ll only get worse as the night deepens.”
“I know. That won’t be a problem.”
Kaj shrugged. “Then I won’t insist. But I’ll leave the door open for you, just in case.”
“Do you have anything strong to offer me?” she asked before Kaj crossed the threshold.
“I might,” he said, bidding her inside with a jerk of the head.
Kaj took off his cloak and hung it on a hook on the wall. Clarice lowered her hood and observed the house closely.
“Want to hand me your cloak?” asked Kaj.
“I’ll put it on the chair.”
The first thing she noticed was how cozy and welcoming the small house was, defying her expectations. There were bunches of many types of herbs hanging here and there, while others were carefully preserved in jars. The bottles placed in the cupboard stood out in particular, and a stone mortar sat next to them, along with a stack of bowls, some glasses, and a few spoons. A big knife was stuck in one corner of the cabinet, with some cheese and apples nearby. The two doors at the bottom of the cabinet surely concealed the rest of the supplies.
A very damaged wooden table lay at the center of the room, with two chairs next to it, and two stools near the wall. A pile of wood and two buckets of water sat adjacent to the hearth. A handful of candles, placed here and there (with pools of hardened wax beneath them), illuminated the room.
Clarice peered at Kaj for a moment. She’d been nursing some doubt about him ever since she’d found herself stealthily tailing the man and his cart on the flatland road up to Falcon’s Pass. Her meeting with her old friend had only intensified that doubt. Nevertheless, he was a human, and she knew it wouldn’t have been easy for him to carry out his plan.
Holding a bottle, Kaj placed two glasses on the table and poured them a liquid with a green sheen. She sat down, and Kaj handed her one of the glasses.
“Have a taste and tell me what you think.”
Clarice grabbed the glass and sniffed. The aroma impressed her a great deal. “This is no common spirit. How did you come by it?”
“I have my connections. I knew you’d like it,” he smiled.
The elf drained the glass, and her expression could hardly be more satisfied. “I haven’t had the stuff in some time. Offer me some more.”
Kaj obliged, pouring more into both glasses. They knocked it down in one fell swoop.
“You’d better go easy,” said Clarice. “You’re not an elf.”
“Wonder what it is!”
Typical human, thought Clarice.
“Can I ask you a question?” asked Kaj.
“Ha, like you haven’t been asking questions of me already!”
“Where are you from?”
The elf rested her arms on the table and poured herself a little more. This time, she savored it slowly, with a little sip to start. “You and your questions.” She paused. “…I haven’t had the opportunity to sit in a warm house and enjoy this tipple in a long while,” she said, smiling wistfully. “I lived in a village on the Red Rises near the Valwald River. My family traded maple juice for a living. I still remember the strong aroma that wafted from the barrels during fermentation. The vibrant color of the leaves, the rushing river waters… it feels like centuries have passed since then.” She finished drinking. “This damned hooch is making me talk too much,” she said, vexed.
She got up from her chair and, with a broad motion, put her cloak back on her shoulders. “Take advantage of the tranquility of your home while you can. I have a feeling that times will worsen sooner rather than later,” she said, distraught. She adjusted her hood and headed for the door.
Kaj was leaning against the back of the chair with his arms folded. “Do you really want to sleep outside?”
“I’d be getting some fresh air. It’s hot in here.”
“Blame the booze for that,” he said, smiling. “If you want to come back in, make yourself home anywhere you like. I’m going to sleep!”
Clarice exited, and closed the door behind her.
The night was deep and silent in Fenan. The thick and clear clouds were gathering apace. The village streets were illuminated by scant lanterns, casting the hush that enveloped Draelia into greater relief. One could hear only the slight patter of footsteps that grew louder and more rhythmic before slowly dissipating. A door creaked slowly open, which was then closed gingerly. So it was that sudden, faint flashes of light gleamed from the sanctuary’s windows, followed by more silence.
Clarice had ambled for a spell amidst the quiet of the night, before the cold forced her to take refuge in Kaj’s abode. The elf settled herself down on the floor near the door, still wrapped in her cloak and furs. The warmth of the embers in the fireplace had her dozing in no time.
The next morning, the sun peeked out from behind the Slumbering Peaks, though its heat was meager, as winter was upon the lands. The nalnir woke up when a tiny ray of sunshine managed to infiltrate a hole in the window’s wooden shutter, striking her straight in the eyes. She got up with a sleepy groan and lit the fireplace anew.
Cilna woke up early, with a fire inside her. She went to the sanctuary, and when she arrived before the door, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for another difficult day. What she witnessed left her breathless. Moments later, she was running at breakneck speed toward Kaj’s house. When she arrived, she started knocking violently and without restraint.
“Kaj! KAJ! Open the door!” She was in no state to wait; she had to take him to the sanctuary immediately.
After a short wait, Clarice opened the door. “You must be Cilna…”
The young elf was annoyed. “Yes, I am! And I have to see Kaj right away!”
“He’s sleeping. Wake him up if you must.”
Without hesitation, Cilna ran towards him.
“Open your eyes, Kaj! C’mon, wake up!”
Kaj suddenly heard his name, and his body getting shaken. He realized that he was not, in fact, dancing with fawns in the woods.
Clarice was leaning against the door, thoroughly amused.
With difficulty, the man opened his eyes, to be greeted by Cilna bent over him trying to wake him up. The words that came out his mouth were not terribly friendly. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Something
