The New Freeglader
Chapter 10
Author's Note: Woohoo! Double digits! Thanks to all for putting up with my lengthy narrative and I hope you're all enjoying it.
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The next morning, Rook tentatively knocked on the door to Eavis's room.
"Eavis? Are you in there?"
To his absolute surprise, Eavis answered.
"Hold on a minute."
There was a short scuffling, the sound of material being moved around and Eavis opened the door.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Rook asked carefully. Eavis shrugged.
"Better than yesterday. I was planning on going to that Mervis's restaurant for breakfast. Do you want to come?"
"Sure," said Rook, slightly miffed. He'd been expecting the same broken wreck as yesterday, not…normalcy.
"Do you want to pick up Xanth on the way?"
"That sounds good. I'm sure he'd like to come."
Xanth was just waking up as Rook knocked on the door.
"Xanth? Are you awake?"
"I am now," he grumbled blearily.
"Oops. Sorry. Eavis and I are going to Mervis's for breakfast. We thought you'd like to come."
"'Eavis and I?'" Xanth muttered, but out loud he said "Uh…sure. Just let me get dressed." Pulling on a shirt and pair of clean pants, he frowned.
"She was all but catatonic yesterday." He pulled open the door. "How could she possibly be…?"
"Coming, sleepy?" Eavis asked, impassive eyes sparkling. She led the way down the road.
"That's the problem with that face," Xanth muttered to Rook. "You can't tell whether she's joking or not."
Breakfast passed with tones of laughter, but sombre undertones. Eavis seemed completely healed of the previous day's apathy and chatted with them just like always.
Xanth watched her carefully, noting the impassive face and the hair falling down over her shoulders, right down to the stumps where her fingers used to be. He wondered at how she could heal herself so quickly. He would swear she was completely over Magda's death, but people shouldn't stop hurting that quickly…
He relaxed into listening to her voice, but before he could follow another train of thought, Rook nudged him in the ribs, jerking him back to reality. Eavis looked at him, eyes slightly wider, almost imperceptibly. He prayed his face didn't look too red and desperately thought of something to say…
"Sorry. Go on, I'm listening."
"So, as I was saying," Eavis continued, "Today's the next self defence lesson. Are you th- two coming?"
"Of course," said Xanth quickly.
About five minutes later, Rook pushed his plate away and leaned back. They left and went their separate ways.
As they were walking along, Rook nudged Xanth. "You've got it bad," he commented, grinning.
"What?" asked Xanth, affronted.
"You should know. Eavis. You've fallen head over heels, Xanth."
Xanth coloured and began to mutter some excuse. Rook laughed, not unkindly.
"Oh, come on, Xanth, you never stopped staring at her for a second."
Xanth coloured even deeper and they walked in silence for a moment.
"Do you think…?" he asked, looking hopefully at Rook.
Rook clapped Xanth on the shoulder. "Of course. Who could say no to that face?"
Xanth scowled at him, but Rook had got him thinking.
Was it possible…?