No Matter How Far Away You Roam

Dannyl took a deep breath as he stepped outside, letting winter air chill his lungs for a few seconds before creating a warming shield. He had always loved the outdoors; even in the winter, he tried to go outside every day and would start to feel restless if he missed a day. He supposed it was one reason why he loved travelling and had taken so well to the role of ambassador.

On the current occasion, the Guild buildings were also beginning to feel too confining. Dannyl felt like someone was constantly watching him; even in his quarters, he could not shake the feeling that he needed to be on his best behavior to avoid starting any rumors. He knew his worries were bothering Tayend, but he simply could not bring himself to stop. For whatever reason, however, he felt freer outside, as if taking himself outside the walls of the University removed him from the public eye somewhat. He knew it was not logical, but he had never claimed that all of his thinking was perfectly logical.

As he made his way toward the forest, hoping to find a place where he could truly be alone, he saw a figure sitting to the side of the path, staring into the distance at nothing in particular. Interestingly, there was no tell-tale shimmer in the air around the person, indicating that he had not erected a heat shield despite temperatures that were well below freezing. Stepping closer, Dannyl noted that the person was smaller than an average novice as well, likely a child who was no older than ten or eleven.

A quick glance around the area told Dannyl that the child was alone, and they were a considerable distance from the Magicians' Quarters. Wondering if the child was lost, Dannyl approached, clearing his throat loudly so he would not surprise him. As soon as he did so, the child spun around, and Dannyl found himself looking into a very familiar face. Two dark eyes stared at him from a long, angular face that would likely grow to be as handsome as that of his father in a few years though Akkarin's features were rather harsh on a child.

"Lorlen?" Dannyl guessed. He had met the twins a number of times, but he still struggled to tell them apart, a common problem in the Guild. He wondered how their teachers would manage when they joined the Guild in a few years.

The boy nodded. He glanced over Dannyl's figure quickly before standing and bowing. "Ambassador Dannyl," he greeted stiffly.

"What are you doing out here?" Dannyl questioned.

Lorlen shrugged. "Just thinking."

"I would think your house would be warmer."

A scowl formed on Lorlen's face. "It's too noisy. Besides, no one wants me there."

Dannyl was a shrewd enough to realize that he had hit on the root of the issue. "What makes you say that?" he questioned, stepping closer to the boy and letting his heat shield surround him. He noticed Lorlen relaxed somewhat and imagined he had been sitting out in the cold for quite some time.

Lorlen shook his head, turning away from Dannyl. "It doesn't matter."

"Hmm." Dannyl studied him for a moment, noting that though he no longer appeared cold, there was still a tension in his shoulders. "It looks like it does," Dannyl noted.

"You wouldn't know anything about it."

"Try me."

Lorlen looked back at him, staring at him with a defiance that made him look quite a bit like his mother despite the fact that he shared his father's features. After a minute or two, he let out a long breath. "No one understands. Sometimes, it's all just. . . too much, and I have to get away, but there's always someone there trying to get me to do something. They don't get that I just want to be alone. I just don't fit in with my family. They all think I'm weird."

Dannyl suppressed a small smile, knowing Lorlen would take offence if he showed it. "Trust me, Lorlen, your parents certainly do not think you're weird. And I guarantee they, too, need to get away sometimes; they are just better at hiding it than you are since they're older."

"How do you know?"

"You are talking to the master of not fitting in. Come on, I'll walk you home and tell you about some of my experiences and how I got through." Lorlen hesitated a moment but finally nodded, turning toward the High Lord's Residence. As Dannyl fell into step beside him, he sent out a mental call. Sonea? I have a gift you may be looking for.

He felt Sonea's presence in his mind. He knew that open mental communication was still discouraged, but he guessed that allaying the fears of two undoubtedly worried parents was a good reason to use it. Thank you, Dannyl, Sonea replied, and Dannyl felt her relief flood the connection. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?

No need; I will bring him home. I think it would be good for us to chat for a bit. Dannyl sensed her assent before her presence retreated. He looked back at the boy who studied him with a hint of eagerness in his eyes, and Dannyl smiled. Lorlen was lucky—he had the support Dannyl had never had, and Dannyl knew he would be just fine. He only hoped that one day, he could say the same for himself.

A/N: I do like the character of Dannyl, and I plan to use him as one of the narrative characters once I move into the muti-perspective sequel to High Lord's Fate, so I decided to introduce him here. I also had the idea to let him bond with one of Sonea and Akkarin's kids and could not get it out of my head, so I went with it. Based on the way I was developing the kids' characters, Lorlen made the most sense because they could bond over their shared experience as outsiders (admittedly for different reasons). And yes, I have shamelessly borrowed my own children's personalities for Akkarin and Sonea's eldest three; I, too, have identical twins-though mine are girls-who are nevertheless quite different in personality. I think it is fascinating to watch how differently they develop as they grow despite sharing all their genetics and most of their experiences, so I drew on that here to write Lorlen and Orson.