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Chapter 5
Balfor watched as Fitz shifted uncomfortably under Gabe’s intense stare, the fire crackling warmly behind the small man.
“Well Fitz, did she finish everything?” Gabe asked, leaning back in his armchair, looking uncharacteristically agitated.
“Yes, sire. The tray was cleared.” Fitz said, and Balfor thought he caught a small glint of disapproval in Fitz tone. He couldn’t blame him.
“I am sorry to have put you in this position.” Gabe said, gentling his tone. “Please understand, we only want to help her. If she was to sneak out in the night, the others…they may not be as gentle with her. She will drift off into a natural sleep and wake up on the morrow feeling refreshed and none the wiser.”
“Yes sire, but—”
“I know. This situation is unusual. We are doing our best, but we need to protect ourselves first. If it displeased you, please, I urge you to speak plainly.”
Fitz sighed. “So much has changed since the old time.”
“You would know better than I, and even I find myself weary of this new world.” Gabe said, sounding wistful.
“Yes, sire.”
Gabe nodded, and Fitz moved to take his leave.
“Fitz, wait.” Balfor called, an idea half forming in his head.
“Yes, master?”
“How many times do I need to ask you to call me Balfor?”
“The formalities are deeply ingrained in us, as you know well.” Fitz said, his tone chiding, which had a smile tugging the corners of Balfor’s mouth.
“About the girl, Nayome…did you notice anything about her?”
“Master?”
“Anything unusual, maybe a spark of something familiar…”
Fitz hesitated, and Gabe frowned thoughtfully.
“A small thing, master, mayhap not of any relevance.”
“Please, speak plainly, I would know your thoughts.”
“I followed her, as you instructed, as she explored the upper levels. When she retreated indoors, I thought I glimpsedteine,emerging from the trees.Though it was too short a moment to be certain. I thought it must just be my wistful imaginings.”
Gabe breathed out.
“No one has seenteinesince Shorcha passed away.” Balfor murmured, “And that was decades ago. What I wouldn’t give to feel their energy once again…”
“With each generation, we seem to lose a piece of the past.” Gabe chimed in. “We hide ourselves here in the Glen, but I fear we will need to learn to adapt to survive in this new world. But, at what cost to our legacy?”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you for years.” Balfor said.
“Maybe this woman is the wakeup call we needed to make change.”
“If it were only that simple,” Balfor said, not convinced.
Gabe nodded to Fitz as he took his leave, bowing and scooting backwards out of the room.
“We will have trouble with the woman when she wakes tomorrow.” Gabe said, as he peered thoughtfully into the flames.
