Smoke and Mages
“I trust everything is alright with you and the Warmaster?” Jiv’undus asked quietly when they met in Loch Modan. He had been with them when Edrick first suspected his connection to the mage. He had seen how flustered Bjorke had been at the news.
She nodded, sighing. “Yes. We had a long talk about it.”
“How certain is he about this question of parentage?”
Bjorke squared her shoulders, trying to keep her face clean of any emotion. “The man has revealed himself to me, and I looked in his eyes. They are Edrick’s eyes.”
The old elf nodded, his usual reticent self. Read the rest of this entry »
Past Presented
Bjorke’s footsteps made a rhythmic sound along the road, her breath coming in steady pants. She willed herself to clear her mind, to think only of the running, the breathing, and the sounds of the jungle around her. At the arena, she turned towards the coast, to her favorite thinking spot. When she reached the beach, she stopped, and flung down her heavy pack. Hero gulped and panted – he hated these runs in the heat. Bjorke opened her pack, and pulled out his bowl, and filled it with water for him.
As he lapped it up, she removed her gear, folding it neatly near her pack. Then, she ran to the water, diving in when she came to the dropoff below the surface. The cool water felt good on her bare skin, refreshing her, and cleansing the sweat from her body. She loved this part of the sea, diving down to hunt for pearls on occasion. Read the rest of this entry »
The Hawk
The tailor found her in the Guild Hall, pouring over the books. “I have a message for you. You are to meet him tonight. Choose a high ground, something with a view, and with meaning. Bring the items.” He kept his voice quiet, despite the fact that they were alone.
Bjorke frowned, thinking. Where could they meet? Then she looked up as she thought of the spot. “Wait a moment.” She crossed the room to the shelf of books, scanning for the right one. Pulling it out, she crossed back to her desk, and opened the large atlas. She pointed to the map, showing an area just outside Ironforge, where the guard post overlooked Dun Morogh, and Edrick’s hut. “Here. It’s out of the way of foot traffic, and the guards don’t patrol regularly. I’ll make sure they are kept busy tonight.”
Thukad studied the map, so he could tell Akaga the correct spot, then nodded. Without another word, he turned and left. Bjorke quickly wrote a letter to Edrick, telling him of the meeting, and asking him to come with her. She mailed it, then sat down to her books again. However, she was unable to concentrate, and ended up pacing the floor instead.
Edrick arrived at the appointed time, frowning as he saw her still pacing and agitated. He crossed the room in two long strides, and wrapped his arms around her. “It will be over soon, beloved,” he whispered in her hair, in Althorin. “Are you sure you want me with you?” Read the rest of this entry »
