24th of Tarsakh:
When I woke this morning Swift had something delicious cooking for breakfast. Once everyone was awake, we sat around talking while eating another tasty meal prepared by Swift.
"Will you continue helping Zira to find Eldora after we return to Thornhold?" Swift asked Elisha.
"Israel and I have talked and intend to stay with Zira. We feel the gods put us in her path for a reason."
"I'll miss you both. I would have never figured out the magic without your help Israel," Adrala smiled at the tall man.
Israel blushed a bright red but smiled back and said, "You are quite capable. I think you could have figured it out on your own."
Adrala's cheeks turned pink from the compliment, "Thank you Israel." She threw her arms around him in a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
Elisha chuckled a little before a look of sadness crossed over his eyes.
Israel, keeping an arm around Adrala, looked at his brother and asked, "Are you missing Amnel?"
Elisha's face glowed when he heard the name, "I know I'll see him again. I just hope I make enough money before he's married off to his betrothed."
Elisha continued to tell us, "Amnel and I apprenticed together in Settlestone. We hit it off right away. He is always joking around, and together we took very little seriously. Often this got us into trouble, which his parents didn't like. His father Benmin Mineheart is a very important dwarf in Settlestone. He and his half-dwarf wife, Jennrielle, own the mines the stone comes from. They didn't approve of our friendship, but we didn't care and we found ways to sneak out together. Amnel and I loved to explore old caverns and mines around the city, many of them have secret passages and rooms. During this time our friendship grew to become something more. I was falling for him. The way he smiles. The way he works the stone…" Elisha trailed off with a sigh and a longing smile.
"Why did you leave him? Did his family send you away?" asked Swift.
"No. The problem is he's betrothed to a woman named, Brystael. He doesn't want to marry her, but his family insists because her family owns a stone mine near One Stone. It's an alliance marriage."
"Those are often common among high-ranking families in Settlestone," Adrala added.
"Israel and I are trying to make enough money so Amnel and I can run away together and start our own stonemason workshop out of his family's reach. I can't put my dad's place in jeopardy and I'm sad that I won't be able to return and work with him."
"Oh wow. Elisha, I'm sorry. I would be devastated if I couldn't work my family business if I wanted to," I said.
"I am. But my heart's desire and love of my life is more important to me," He smiled wistfully.
"Why didn't you become a stonemason Israel?" Yukouth asked.
"I love working with stone, but I was always slipping off to read a book. Especially as I grew taller in my teen years," answered Israel.
We all looked confused.
He answered our questioning looks, "We do our apprenticeships in Settlestone. It's a mostly dwarven settlement. There are some half-dwarves and a few humans that live there too. But none of them are my height." And he stood up to his entire 6'3" height to emphasize.
Israel sat down and continued, "I already had to stoop at my father's shop. I couldn't imagine living with the dwarves in Settlesstone. So I followed my second love, books, and information. I've found if you can find a book to read, you can find any information you need. I never had any formal training in magic, but I found a spellbook and after careful research, I cast my first spell."
"So you're a self-taught wizard?" Yukouth responded.
"I am," he beamed, "That's how I knew I could help Adrala learn magic."
She beamed up at him, "Thank you."
After we finished breakfast, we quickly took down camp and continued our hike out of this forest.
Z