Icky was preparing to retire for the night when the deli door suddenly opened. Startled, she turned, half expecting to see a pirate standing before her. But it was Lucy. She looked very tired, and she was alone.
"Miz Lucy!" cried Icky. "Mees soo gladz yoos hom! Dedz yoos findz yoos sisterz?"
Lucy sat down and removed her boots. "My feet hurt," she said softly. "I'm getting a bit old for all this traveling. I have some good news and some bad news, Icky."
"Meybees yoos telz mees goos newz ferst?" said Icky.
Lucy nodded. "Luann has been seen in Heartwood lately, looking for recipes. I suspect she may be staying at the abbey in Yew. I didn't run into her this time, but I plan to return. Hopefully, I'll have better luck on my next visit. At least I know she's alive and safe. That's a great comfort to me."
"Wat aboutz Lora?" asked Icky.
Lucy sighed. "She was also seen in Heartwood, but it was quite some time ago. One of the elves told me she was planning to visit Darius the Wise."
The meaning of this was not lost upon Icky. "Nooes, nooes," she said, shaking her head.
"I'm afraid it's true," said Lucy. "I traveled to Moonglow and spoke to Darius myself. He remembered Lora... the pain and distress she was dealing with... and he offered her the quest. She completed it. Upon her transformation he also granted her the gift of forgetfulness. Her painful memories were swept away... along with all memories of her human life. He even gave her a new name." Lucy fought back her tears. "Even if I found her now, I doubt that I'd recognize her, and she wouldn't remember me at all."
Icky reached out and gently patted Lucy's hand. "Mees sory Miz Lucy. Butz shee bees alibe. Shee bees safes en alibe.... meybees eben happi."
Lucy sighed. "I do hope she's happy. That's all I ever wanted for her."
"Mees puts kleen sheetz ons yoos bid, Miz Lucy. Yoos tireds."
Lucy nodded. "Yes," she said. "Let's try to get some sleep, Icky. I think we both need it."
"Miz Lucy!" cried Icky. "Mees soo gladz yoos hom! Dedz yoos findz yoos sisterz?"
Lucy sat down and removed her boots. "My feet hurt," she said softly. "I'm getting a bit old for all this traveling. I have some good news and some bad news, Icky."
"Meybees yoos telz mees goos newz ferst?" said Icky.
Lucy nodded. "Luann has been seen in Heartwood lately, looking for recipes. I suspect she may be staying at the abbey in Yew. I didn't run into her this time, but I plan to return. Hopefully, I'll have better luck on my next visit. At least I know she's alive and safe. That's a great comfort to me."
"Wat aboutz Lora?" asked Icky.
Lucy sighed. "She was also seen in Heartwood, but it was quite some time ago. One of the elves told me she was planning to visit Darius the Wise."
The meaning of this was not lost upon Icky. "Nooes, nooes," she said, shaking her head.
"I'm afraid it's true," said Lucy. "I traveled to Moonglow and spoke to Darius myself. He remembered Lora... the pain and distress she was dealing with... and he offered her the quest. She completed it. Upon her transformation he also granted her the gift of forgetfulness. Her painful memories were swept away... along with all memories of her human life. He even gave her a new name." Lucy fought back her tears. "Even if I found her now, I doubt that I'd recognize her, and she wouldn't remember me at all."
Icky reached out and gently patted Lucy's hand. "Mees sory Miz Lucy. Butz shee bees alibe. Shee bees safes en alibe.... meybees eben happi."
Lucy sighed. "I do hope she's happy. That's all I ever wanted for her."
"Mees puts kleen sheetz ons yoos bid, Miz Lucy. Yoos tireds."
Lucy nodded. "Yes," she said. "Let's try to get some sleep, Icky. I think we both need it."
