Epilogue
On the outskirts of Beldon Mor, a cloaked and hooded figure made its way through driving rain to the door of a ramshackle but clean cottage and knocked on the door. The cottage's occupant tensed at the sound, then steeled himself, got up, and limped toward the door. It was hard on nights like these. The rain intensified all the old aches from the beating he'd gotten when they dismissed him from Benedict service; a dose of brandy dulled the pain enough to walk, but he wasn't good for much else just now,he thought bitterly. But if the boys from the kennel had come back to finish what they started - well, he'd do his best to take one or two of them with him.
He opened the door, bracing himself. But his visitor was small and slight, even bundled into a bulky rain cloak. When she pulled the hood back, his tension drained out of him, replaced by a slow, proud grin. "Lady Benedict. You're looking well."
"I wish I could say the same for you," she retorted; then her voice softened. "Andrew, I'm sorry. For what my family did to you. I never thought to look for you here, after I couldn't find you at...at the old place."
"I'll live, Lady," he replied simply. "But I don't think you came here - on a night like this, yet! - to ask after my health. What can I do for you?"
"Nothing," she said hastily. "At least - well, I'm hoping I can help you. I've been corresponding with somebody who can get safe passage out of Terreille. It's a gamble, but neither of us should have trouble finding a place - and I owe you, after what you've done for me."
He thought about it, but not for long. "Anything's worth a try, and I can't find work here since the Benedicts dismissed me. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I let you travel the Realms unescorted?"
She closed her eyes for a relieved moment. "I'm glad you'll come. I wanted to find someplace safe, Andrew - something terrible is coming to Beldon Mor, and I don't want to be here to meet it."
"I'll drink to that, lass. Only one question - where are we going?"
"Home, I hope. We're going to Kaeleer."
-End-
On the outskirts of Beldon Mor, a cloaked and hooded figure made its way through driving rain to the door of a ramshackle but clean cottage and knocked on the door. The cottage's occupant tensed at the sound, then steeled himself, got up, and limped toward the door. It was hard on nights like these. The rain intensified all the old aches from the beating he'd gotten when they dismissed him from Benedict service; a dose of brandy dulled the pain enough to walk, but he wasn't good for much else just now,he thought bitterly. But if the boys from the kennel had come back to finish what they started - well, he'd do his best to take one or two of them with him.
He opened the door, bracing himself. But his visitor was small and slight, even bundled into a bulky rain cloak. When she pulled the hood back, his tension drained out of him, replaced by a slow, proud grin. "Lady Benedict. You're looking well."
"I wish I could say the same for you," she retorted; then her voice softened. "Andrew, I'm sorry. For what my family did to you. I never thought to look for you here, after I couldn't find you at...at the old place."
"I'll live, Lady," he replied simply. "But I don't think you came here - on a night like this, yet! - to ask after my health. What can I do for you?"
"Nothing," she said hastily. "At least - well, I'm hoping I can help you. I've been corresponding with somebody who can get safe passage out of Terreille. It's a gamble, but neither of us should have trouble finding a place - and I owe you, after what you've done for me."
He thought about it, but not for long. "Anything's worth a try, and I can't find work here since the Benedicts dismissed me. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I let you travel the Realms unescorted?"
She closed her eyes for a relieved moment. "I'm glad you'll come. I wanted to find someplace safe, Andrew - something terrible is coming to Beldon Mor, and I don't want to be here to meet it."
"I'll drink to that, lass. Only one question - where are we going?"
"Home, I hope. We're going to Kaeleer."
-End-