Pouring himself a cup of tea, Aedon took the cup and walked outside. The night was calm, with a soft breeze blowing from the southwest. It carried with it the scent of pine boughs burning in the hearths of the homes nearby. Though the ground was covered in a soft blanket of snow, Aedon thought that it seemed oddly warm for the time of year. Sitting on the topmost step of Connemara, he slowly sipped his tea and allowed his thoughts to wander.
He had only been back in Aegis a short time now, and though all surrounding seemed familiar, there was something which had troubled Aedon since he reopened the door of his house. The woods he walked through were the same as before, and little of the Glade had changed. And yet there was an uneasiness which filled his heart and caused his thoughts to ever stray down the paths in his mind searching for something or someone.
Many of the old residents of the glade seemed to have moved to other towns, and only a few of those he had once shared many evenings at the Night’s Rest remained. And the Rest itself was now closed, her doors which once stood open to welcome those seeking rest, or to share a drink or a song were bolted fast, her windows dark and bare. There was little left of music within Aegis, and the stark bare trees of winter only served to increase the feeling of loneliness which emanated from the ground on which Aedon’s home stood.
Taking a long deep drink, Aedon laughed a bit as he lowered his cup and looked down the path towards the library.
“Well you old fool, what did you really expect to find waiting here on your return?”
In truth, he could not recall what it was which drew him to leave his home and family, and make the long voyage back to Aegis. He tried to explain to Janissan what it was he was looking for, or seeking to do. But all the words he fumbled with seemed to fall just short of conveying the true reason for his journey. He did not ask that she and Kylee accompany him, he know well enough that they were settled in and happy where they were. And though he yearned to stay put and forget the call which forever nagged at the corner of his brain, in time he surrendered, and sought only Jan’s understanding as his time of departure drew near.
And now, here he sat. Far from his family, and the life they had built looking down old paths towards the distant past, with little true understanding of what it was he came here seeking. The nights of solitude, and long days of riding old roads searching for …..for what?
Finishing his tea Aedon slowly rose and moved towards the door. In the distance, deep in the great northwest forests he could hear the cry of wolves on the hunt. He could not help but see that he now had more in common with those creatures than he seemed to have with people he had long known. Like the wolves, he was now on the hunt. He had tracked his prey across countless miles and been led to a place long remembered and yet veiled in a mist of confusion. Within that mist lay the answers to his questions, he had only to keep searching, and hoping that one day soon, all would be revealed. And that his family would once again forgive him his wanderings, and be waiting for him when he returned.
He had only been back in Aegis a short time now, and though all surrounding seemed familiar, there was something which had troubled Aedon since he reopened the door of his house. The woods he walked through were the same as before, and little of the Glade had changed. And yet there was an uneasiness which filled his heart and caused his thoughts to ever stray down the paths in his mind searching for something or someone.
Many of the old residents of the glade seemed to have moved to other towns, and only a few of those he had once shared many evenings at the Night’s Rest remained. And the Rest itself was now closed, her doors which once stood open to welcome those seeking rest, or to share a drink or a song were bolted fast, her windows dark and bare. There was little left of music within Aegis, and the stark bare trees of winter only served to increase the feeling of loneliness which emanated from the ground on which Aedon’s home stood.
Taking a long deep drink, Aedon laughed a bit as he lowered his cup and looked down the path towards the library.
“Well you old fool, what did you really expect to find waiting here on your return?”
In truth, he could not recall what it was which drew him to leave his home and family, and make the long voyage back to Aegis. He tried to explain to Janissan what it was he was looking for, or seeking to do. But all the words he fumbled with seemed to fall just short of conveying the true reason for his journey. He did not ask that she and Kylee accompany him, he know well enough that they were settled in and happy where they were. And though he yearned to stay put and forget the call which forever nagged at the corner of his brain, in time he surrendered, and sought only Jan’s understanding as his time of departure drew near.
And now, here he sat. Far from his family, and the life they had built looking down old paths towards the distant past, with little true understanding of what it was he came here seeking. The nights of solitude, and long days of riding old roads searching for …..for what?
Finishing his tea Aedon slowly rose and moved towards the door. In the distance, deep in the great northwest forests he could hear the cry of wolves on the hunt. He could not help but see that he now had more in common with those creatures than he seemed to have with people he had long known. Like the wolves, he was now on the hunt. He had tracked his prey across countless miles and been led to a place long remembered and yet veiled in a mist of confusion. Within that mist lay the answers to his questions, he had only to keep searching, and hoping that one day soon, all would be revealed. And that his family would once again forgive him his wanderings, and be waiting for him when he returned.