Maya's plump hands never stopped working as she clucked at Anna like a scolding mother hen. Providing room and board for five stray adventurers didn't appeal to the titan of thrift. Anna smiled inwardly and eased her hand towards a wayward raisin that escaped the bowl for the temporary security of the kitchen table. Maya's hands left her pastry pin for a split second while she plopped the fruit back into place. Better luck next time, thought Anna wryly.
"I know coin is light these days, but they are guests," Anna said, contenting herself with a scrap of crust. The household was in no danger of ruin but to Maya all hung by a slender thread. "It wouldn't do not to show proper hospitality."
Maya eyed her sternly. "You're not trying that one, miss. Them folk will be more than enough to keep tongues here wagging." She sighed with the weight of the universe. "But it'll never be said that a body goes hungry at my table, queer adventurers or no. Just as well, that one lad looks fit to fade away. He's an elf though, probably too busy dancing or summat to take notice of mealtimes."
Anna choked on her piecrust. Any stranger looking at the abundance of food that baked, bubbled and roasted in the steaming kitchen might've casted doubts on the housekeeper's protests of poverty. Maya spoke more with her hands than her heart, and her joy at seeing Anna returned whole and hale expressed by a table fit for a king.
The back door opened and a straw-haired girl of twelve entered, gingerly carrying a jug of cream.
"Girl, where have you been? That duck's getting singed. I've only got two hands here," Maya said.
"Sorry, Gran," the girl drawled. "But Marco's dad's got a mule. I didn't believe him, I said it were just a horse. But he has. Ten feet high, it is!"
"I don't care if he's got a ruddy unicorn, Sophie! What's he want with a mule, anyway, oxen aren't good enough fer him? Bah, Farlen always was one for show. Never seen a farmer put on so many airs. Get the custard on, love."
"I'll see to it, Sophie," Anna said. Sophie was a pleasant little urchin but cracking eggs wasn't a particular skill of hers.
"Now, I'm not having ye work here when there's company about. Go and see to them odd folk in the other room. You might check that the silver drawer's locked, too. Just give it a little tug. Can't be too careful," Maya said.
Anna couldn't resist giving the housekeeper a little peck on the cheek as she went by.
"None of that," the matron said, but a smile crept onto her ample face.
...
The next night Anna sat in her chair by the firelight, full to bursting from another feast of bounty. Finn sat near her, staring into the fire. He said very little since Tranzig's death the day before. She wanted to talk with him but left him to his own thoughts. He would speak when he was ready.
Xan also sat near the fire. He leafed through the pages of one of Anna's books though he didn't really seem to be reading. Imoen and Khalid were engaged in a friendly game of chess and Jaheira, who examined some maps, looked up at them and commented from time to time. Anna felt an itching need to talk to someone, about anything. Finn was immobile so she made Xan her unlikely target.
"So, you are from Evereska?" Anna asked. "It must be an incredible place."
Xan seemed oddly startled by the comment. "Yes," he said slowly. "That would be putting it mildly."
"Your family will be happy to hear from you. They must have worried that you were gone so long."
"I have very few family left in the city," Xan replied.
"Oh. Still, they will be glad to hear from you." Anna said. Never in her life had she felt that conversation was such a dangerous road as she had in the past tenday.
"Yes, I suppose they will," he sighed.
Anna was quiet, but unexpectedly Xan continued.
"I notice that you do not live with your family."
"Maya's like family now. My father was the only kin I had here, though, and the others are either in Cormyr or back in the Dales."
"How did you come to be so far from your home?"
"Father was a mage and travelled around a fair deal. I was his apprentice and often travelled with him. He settled in Beregost to conduct some research. That was nearly ten years ago now."
"And he is—not here, I take it."
"No…" Anna said. "He was called back to Cormyr by his family, and died in a battle." She was quiet for a moment. "He was too old to be fighting, but he went anyway. They needed his help. I wanted to go too, but he wouldn't let me."
"Ah."
Anna felt emotion creeping up, but suddenly laughed to herself.
"Forgive me, but I miss the humour."
"Oh, it's just that every conversation I have lately seems to take a grim turn, whether I want it to or not." She laughed again.
"You were the one who brought up families. Although I have been accused of such things myself," he added.
"I suppose I am the one to blame for that," Finn spoke up. The mages turned to him.
"It's hardly your fault," Anna said. "You've been through some terrible things recently."
"And the people who caused them are out there somewhere. I don't want to sit around here, I want to do something."
"Jaheira thought everyone could use a short rest," Anna answered.
"Indeed," Xan said. "Sometimes it is better to withdraw and regroup than to be constantly pushing forward."
"I thought you'd be keen to head out too, seeing that your organisation charged you to investigate the troubles," Finn said.
"My organisation?"
"You're a Greycloak, aren't you?"
"I am," Xan said, surprised. "How did you know about us? I did not think the workings of my city were common knowledge in the human lands."
"I grew up in one of the great libraries of the world. Believe it or not, I didn't just flirt with the milkmaids the entire time."
"Just ninety percent of the time," Imoen called over, apparently listening in on the conversation.
"Don't listen to her," Finn said to Anna. "It was more like sixty percent. Seventy, tops."
Anna shook her head but couldn't help laughing.
"Your being a Greycloak explains more what you were doing down that mine," Finn continued. "Though exploring it solo wasn't the best idea. Do they often send you out on your own?"
"It depends," he said slowly. "Although you can give me some credit for not wandering into the Nashkel Mine looking for trouble. I was exploring the area when I was ambushed."
"Still, I'd have thought they'd send someone out looking for you when you didn't report back after awhile."
"We are expected not to need nursemaiding on our missions," Xan said rather sharply. It seemed Finn touched a nerve with the elf.
So Xan was a Greycloak, Anna thought. She'd read some about the elven agents that protected the secluded elven city, but couldn't help thinking that moonblade or no the frail elf didn't seem like the best choice for such a dangerous duty.
"Tell us about Evereska, Xan," Imoen said. "I read that there's a crystal tower there, and that things can float in the city. I'd love to see it."
Xans mouth opened slightly and he stiffened in his chair.
"Doubtless, but few humans are allowed beyond the city gates. Forgive me, but I would rather not speak of the city with strangers."
He turned back to his book and Imoen looked slighted but she tossed her head and focused on the chessboard.
"You must miss it," Anna said.
"Yes, very much."
His eyes wandered to the elvish amulet resting around Anna's neck. She had seen him looking at it before. She removed the jewel and placed it onto the open page of the book in his lap.
He seemed a little surprised but took up the amulet in his hands, caressing the silvery metal with his fingers.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
"It was my mother's. She found it in the woods near her home when she was young."
"In Cormanthor? You said you were from the Dalelands."
"Yes."
"It's a pretty thing, just a bauble though. No heavy enchantments," Xan said thoughtfully.
"No. Its only magic is that it belonged to my mother," Anna smiled.
"I suppose it is." He turned the amulet over in his hands and gave it back to her.
"I've been making some potions," Anna said to Finn. "They will be ready tomorrow. We could leave anytime after that."
"We? Do you mean you're coming with us?"
"If you still want me to."
"Yes, of course!" A broad smile stretched across Finn's face. "That's great."
Anna smiled back at him and looked at the fire. It felt good to finally make a choice. She knew in her heart that she had to continue on, no matter what would come.
...
Later than evening she slipped into the kitchen. Maya sat by the fire, humming to herself while she mended Anna's cloak. She looked up when the mage entered.
"You said there was kobolds down the mines. Didn't realise they had a fondness for wool. Looks like they took a few bites out of the hem here."
Anna smiled and went to sit at the housekeeper's feet.
"I don't suppose you'll be needing it straight away?"
She peered at Anna over the tops of the spectacles she wore sewing.
"Well…" Anna said quietly.
"So. They've got you collared again, have they?" If Anna didn't know better she'd swear that the housekeeper's lip wobbled.
"No one's 'collared' me, Maya. This is my choice."
"Aye. Aye. And I don't suppose that fine young man had anything to do with your choice, did he?"
"Maya! I'm not that foolish."
"No, I suppose not. I'm sorry, miss. But I wish you'd think of your life here before going running off with these fools again."
"I'll see to Tom Wentway tomorrow. I have more elixirs to give him. Hopefully it'll tide him over until I get back."
"I don't give a toss about that old fishwife," Maya fumed suddenly. "I'm talking about your life. What happens when you go and get yourself killed? All right, you played the hero and made it back in one piece. That's better than most folks manage. Take that and be done with it. Don't be a fool, girl."
Anna opened her mouth to reply but shut it again. Maya's plump hands forcefully drove the needle through the wool, her mouth a tight line.
"They need me," Anna said finally. "This is important."
"They don't need you. Not like you need to keep breathing. I don't know what's got into you. You'll drive me into the grave, you will."
Her eyes glistened in the firelight. Anna laid her head on her knee and felt Maya's hand stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry," she said into her skirts. "I'll come back. I promise."
"Less you're a god you can't promise a thing like that. But you'll have your way, I suppose." Her hands went back to her mending.
