Found:
I awoke in the middle of the night, as I so often do. This time it was not due to a nightmare, although my dream had certainly been heading in that direction. I'll not recount it here, save to say that the very real terrified wailing of Jamar had mingled with my sleeping struggles in such a way that, at first, my unconscious brain had believed the cries to be my own, seeping back to me across the decades.
I was both surprised and more than a little annoyed to find the poor boy in my bed. Scared by being in a strange, dark room with naught but my thrashing for company, he had done as any small child would and burst into tears.
After settling him down, I went in search of his father only to find that Rahvic had slipped out of the house without telling me, and - more importantly - without asking me to take care of the child in his absence!
Idiot man! Anything could have happened to the boy! My house is certainly not child-proof and given that I wasn't aware I was alone with him... Ugh!
Through a mixture of fear, anger and frustration - and not only for the danger Jamar was put in, but also everything else that is going on right now - I must admit that I punched my brother in the face at the first available opportunity. I don't usually condone violence and avoid it where I can - only indulging where absolutely necessary - and yet... and yet, this being Rahvic, sometimes the only way to get something through that thick skull is to slap him around the head!
It wasn't all bad, though.
It's been a while since I last spoke to Atharann. In truth, I did not expect to be giving the man a motivational speech on not giving up on the notion of companionship, but stranger things have happened.
Balnirar seems to be regaining his memory. I only had to tell him the same story once today. Unfortunately, he did recall that I was supposed to go with him to hunt down the stupidly-named bandit, but thankfully I have now been replaced by Curnden, who is a much better fit for such an endeavor!
Speaking of the Guardsman, he joined us for a drink, though I didn't have the opportunity to buy him one this day. That promise will need to be kept another time, preferably one that affords the chance to keep the topic of discussion away from his daily work. Given what little he shared with me of his past exploits when we spoke in the jailhouse, I must assume that there is more to him than his current line of work. I may well enjoy finding out!
Dernwynn and Cyriah joined me as well, though not for too long. The former, I think, was feeling a little delicate. The sudden busying of the tavern may well have been a bit too much for her at present. Plus, she needed to fix Rahvic's broken nose.
The latter, sweet as she is, is trying to teach herself Haradaic in an effort to join in the conversation between so many brown-skinned people. I've offered to help, of course! And why not? What good is knowledge if it isn't shared? Besides, the sharing of language is good for everyone! It broadens the mind, aids in understanding and makes the world that bit more inclusive.
It could use some more of that.
