The days and nights had mostly been quiet in Yew. Aedon was thankful for this as he was for the time to simply enjoy life. There were no knocks on the door, followed by the yells and curses of two of the local farmers storming into his office wanting him to setting an on-going argument. No one came calling in the middle of the night seeking permission to add a new stretch of fencing along their property line in order to keep the sheep from the field over out of their crops. And despite of their sudden appearance at the Trinsic, there had been no word from the Hand. This was perhaps a temporary respite, but at this point Aedon would take his peace as it came. Even the Rest, which he once looked forward to opening on a nightly basis now stood empty except for the odd occasion when he invited folks to stop in for an evening of drinks and chat. The peace of Aegis had always been a sort of panacea for his pains. A respite from day to day work that had gone with the office of Governor of Yew. But some day the shout of the silence within the Glade was deafening, and he had to get away.
Skara had long been a place he enjoyed going. A city of Rangers, a town on the cusp of rustic, and a leap towards the future. And, the tavern served some of the best soup in all Sosaria. He often met Beleg and Ahmaya there on chill fall evenings, and they would sit in a quiet corner enjoying soup, laughter and the company of each other. It had been hard for some years after they departed for him to go there, and yet the draw of the comfort to be found in routine seemed to win out more times than not. It was the soup that had drawn him to Skara this night and was a bit pleased to find the tavern mostly empty. Ordering his soup, and a bit of bread and cheese, he took it to the same spot he once shared with friends in happier days. He did not speak to any of the handful of patrons at the other tables. He quietly, and somewhat slowly.
He finished his supper as the first long shadows of late afternoon reached the side of the building. Stepping through the door, he walked over to where Leannan stood, and taking an apple from his pack, offered the treat to the horse. He smiled a bit as with an odd dignity not really befitting a horse, Leannan took the apple, and happily munched away. Patting the great steeds neck, he took the reigns in his hand, and started leading him toward the gate beyond the bank, and home. Passing the Rangers Guild, he turned along the north wall of the Bank, and continued on. As he reached the spot where Bee Hives were erected something caught his eye. There on the wall, written in large red letters were the words
“Skara Is Bad”
Followed a bit lower by;
"Iúr go Bragh!"
There was little doubt in his mind that were only two he knew of who might have done such a thing. It was not as though Skara might not have a collection of oddballs who might be looking to incite some sort of rebellion in the town. And in the past books, placards and posters had been left about Skara speaking of rebellion against the powers that be. But few that he knew would have posted those exact words in Skara and only two would have written them in Gaelic. Looking at the red letters scrawled on the wall, Aedon was torn between a sort of odd nervousness, and just laughing out loud. Turning towards his horse he said softly.
“Well Leannan, it would seem that he has been true to his words. I just hope he does not get himself in trouble with the king or worse, raise the ire of some nut case looking for any reason to attack creatures of magic.”
Walking on past the building, Aedon shook his head a bit. Reaching the gate, he walked on through as Leannan followed close behind.
