Please see http://laurelinarchives.org/node/4171 before you read
Kuzgun closed her eyes for a moment as her hand holds the silver necklace…
When she opened her eyes it was another day… a faint memory still she could remember how she enjoyed the warmth of the sun caresses her face. She remembered running down from the hill, shoes on her hands, feeling the soft touch of the long green grasses under her feet. How old was she? Where was she going? As Lhak came into her view she remembered raising her hand to wave madly but her hand froze in the air as she noticed pretty Elena. Kuzguns’ steps slower down while she watched him extending his hand to help her standing up. Her blond long hair danced around, enchanting…
Kuzguns’ hand fell down onto her mixed and messy short cut red hair. She watched Elena rising on her feet and giving a kiss on his cheek before she started to run away. Lhak just stood still watching after her and yet Kuzgun remembered how she felt sick… She had a high fever that night and had to rest the other day but the next day she clambered out of the bed unable to evaluate what has happened. Yet her heart came to an understanding how to burry those unnamed feelings, found its way to hide them, tease them…
“Why?” muttered Kuzgun wondering why she remembered that memory all of a sudden. Maybe it was the first time she has to accept sharing her best friend, accept he has a life own his own.
“Still a bothersome feeling…”
Barliman turned over her and asked “What did you say dear?”
“Ah.. I was wondering if the room, in the attic. Is it vacancy?”
“You’re the only one who wants that room leaking from the roof you know”
Kuzgun smiled wryly “But it’s not raining yet..”
Barliman burst into laugh as he hands over the keys of the room “Here you go..”
She thanked him and before climbing up to her room decided to stroll in the inn. She took a brief look as she pass by the patrons.
“It seems nothing has been changed around” muttered herself and noticed the man standing in the corner. “Cecil!! The only man who was able to cut my hair”
Barber laughed at her words and they start a spirited conversation till two paintings hanging on the wall catches Kuzgun’s eye. She frowned for a slight moment and stepped closer. Soft colored paintings reminded of her childhood. Kuzgun sighed softly as her fingers reached out to touch the red haired girl in the paint. “Looks like everything reminds me of those times recently. Everything reminds me of him” whispered as a regular starts to play another tune of his snoring symphony.
She glanced at the man and turned her attention over the paintings once more, to the red haired girl, to the butterflies…
The man coughed this time
Kuzgun voiced a name softly before turns back to Cecil. “Lhak...”
“Cecil, do you know who made those? Did Barliman buy them? Do you remember when?”
Her voice sounded louder then she wished and the drunkard opened an eye mumbling about loud people around. Kuzgun didn’t pay any attention on him as Cecil says he knows nothing.
“Maybe Barliman knows then” muttered herself.
Drunkard woke up all the noise and noticed the red haired girl. He coughed before call out to her. “Hey cutie!”
Kuzgun hardly took off her eyes from the painting which she was studying if she could find a clue or a signature and turned her gaze over the stranger.
“Hey! Want to come for a drink on my lap?”
“Maybe on your grave..” answered Kuzgun
Stranger laughed at her words “Good girl”
Hodek was his name, a butcher and a regular of the Prancing Pony. Although he could hardly stands still on his feet, noticed the similarity between the red haired girl and the one in the painting. Human nature, curiosity…
But Hodek was remembering the artist who sold them to Barliman. He said it was two weeks ago and not a Wednesday. He had to think hard to get pieces out of his cloudy mind yet he remembered how he looks tired.
“Poor lad..” he said and added in a ridiculous voice “He said he need money to buy colors not even expecting to get something to drink”
As Hodek continued to tell about the painter, Kuzguns’ worries about Lhak grown bigger. At that time she made up her mind to find him just to be sure he is safe and secure. “Time for me to full fill my promise” mumbled softly and thanked the man for his help, promising to buy him a drink in return.
For a while Kuzgun talked with Barliman about the paintings and the painter. She tried to get any information as her suspicions gets stronger in every minute. After a short notice she was already on her way to find a merchant who could have sold the dyes to the painter.
