Barret was up early, even by his standards. No one else was awake, not even Kathrine. He had used the summoning glyphs to restock his bag with all the herbs and spices he needed. He was in the kitchen, whipping up a few things they could eat through the day, and then he would go wake the other two up. They had talked it over, and decided to leave before dawn, hopefully without making a big fuss. This wasn't going to be 'goodbye forever', they would be back. They just didn't know when. He did feel a bit guilty, leaving without saying anything, but Kathrine would be awake soon. She would understand. Satisfied with the collection of berries and dried fruits, he left the kitchen to go wake Raine and Haelith.
"You would leave without saying goodbye?" a voice behind him made him jump. Standing at the edge of the main entryway was Natani. "After everything that we've been through?"
"This isn't the end. I will be back. We will be back. But… I need to figure things out. I'm sorry, but this is something I have to do."
"Then let's do it together! Barret, you're part of our family, part of our tribe!"
"I know. And that's why I have to do this. Until I can control my magic, I am a threat to everyone near me. I can't risk that. Last time I used magic, I killed someone without even trying. What if I lost control and attacked you? What if it was Trace? Keith? Zen? Flora? No. I must do this. I must leave. I love this family, and if I'm going to really be part of it, then I have to make sure I'm not going to hurt you."
Natani turned away. "I know. That's why I'm not stopping you. But… she might."
Barret turned around to see… "Flora. Please, I have to do this." She didn't say anything, but tears fell from her eyes, and turned away. "I promise: you will see me again."
"I don't want you to go." She was quiet, barely whispering.
"I know. But I need to."
"I know." She suddenly ran across the room and hugged him, tears falling like rain. "That doesn't make it any easier to let go!" The guilt was immense. Flora had been the one who accepted him first. She had convinced him to stay. She was the one who saw potential in him to cast magic, even before he did.
"This isn't my last goodbye. I will be back. And I will be stronger for it. Please. You have to let me go." he pleaded, tears welling in his eyes. But Flora stayed, clutching him. "Please." Slowly, she loosened her grip. She looked up, and her eyes were soaked in tears. "I will be back. I'm not going alone. I'll have Raine and Haelith to watch my back. We will be back."
Flora didn't say anything, but nodded, and let go. "You… you had better… you had better come back…" Her voice broke, and so did Barret's heart. He walked past, and up the stairs, where Haelith was already awake and in the hall.
"I heard you downstairs. I guess this wasn't how this morning was supposed to go?"
"No. Flora isn't taking it well."
"I already woke up Raine. She's just getting dressed, and we can head out." Barret sighed, and leaned against the wall. "Saying goodbye to your family is hard. Even when you know you will come back."
"Yeah… Harder than I imagined. Every other time I've said goodbye, it's always been the last time I see them. What if this is the same? What if I don't make it back?"
"You'll have Raine. And you'll have me. And we will be back. This isn't goodbye forever."
…
Raine was just getting ready to walk out the door, when he woke up. "What's going on? Why are you up so early?" Richard sat up, rubbing his eyes and glancing at the window. He then looked at her and had a moment of realization. "Why are you dressed? And carrying a bag? Raine, are you leaving?!" He was suddenly very awake.
"I am. I'm going to travel with Barret and Haelith. We need to figure some things out."
"Why didn't you tell me?! I thought- …I thought we had something." Richard turned away from her, disappointed. Raine set her bag down and walked over to the bed.
"We do. I promise, I will come back, and when I do, things will be different."
"But I don't want different!" Richard suddenly shouted. "I want you!" Raine opened her mouth, but no words came out. Richard also suddenly seemed to realize what he had said, and turned away, as red as his hair. "I'm an idiot. I always have been. But you haven't cared about that. Even when I've been an idiot to you, you still seem to want to spend time with me. No one else has really done that. Not Trace, not Sythe, not even the Datters. Everyone else seems to only see me as an idiot. Not you. You've looked past that."
"Hey, idiot." Raine reached around him and pulled his head to look in his eyes. "You're my idiot." And she leaned over, and kissed him.
Heartbeats later, she let go, and his eyes were wide. "You'll always be my idiot." He mumbled and stuttered for a moment, and sighed.
"I- Y- U- Wh- Di- …"
"Don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself." Raine smirked. "I promise. I will be back."
Richard smiled dumbly, but then frowned. "Don't be too long. We're going to have to talk about… that."
"Goodbye for now… idiot." Raine closed the door behind her, smiling. Barret and Haelith were standing by the stairs, waiting. "Sorry. Id- Richard woke up. Had to explain things."
"And he's alright with you going without him?" Haelith asked.
Raine nodded. "Surprisingly, yeah. He is. Then again, I didn't really give him a chance to say otherwise."
"We should go before anyone else tries to stop us." Barret said, leading the two down the stairs. Natani and Flora were both still standing there.
"You had better come back. All of you." Natani said, eyeing Barret.
"I'll keep them safe. And when we get back, I expect there to be coffee." he smirked.
"We'll keep the kettle warm just for you. Now go on. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can come home." With that, Barret, Haelith, and Raine left the estate, just as the sun began peeking over the eastern trees. Up above, eyes watched them from the second floor.
Trace watched like he had before, from the window in his bedroom, as his friend walked away with two companions. "You aren't even going to say goodbye?" He whispered, tears beginning to form.
"No. He will be back." a voice said in his mind, causing him to whirl around.
"Nora?!" His eyes scanned the room, and a white cat jumped up onto the bedpost.
"Hello, Trace. It's been a while."
"Nora, how are you? When did you get here?"
"I am better than I was. And I am not here."
"I'm sorry, what? You're sitting right… here…" He reached out to pet 'Nora' on the head, as she was masquerading as a cat, but his hand passed through her.
"I am projecting myself. I am not well enough to move yet, but I am well enough to cast my mind to places I am familiar with."
"I find it a bit creepy that you are familiar with my bedroom…"
"Trace, we have been friends for years. You've always been kind to me, even when you were a monster to everyone else. At least, you tried to be kind to me."
"I still don't understand, why are you here now?"
"I… I grew tired of listening to the same person. Reni is a wonderful young dragoness, but she's… loud. Talks far too much for my taste. I am grateful she is willing to stay with me while I recover, but there are times I wish she would try to be of help elsewhere in the world. Anywhere else in the world. I-" Nora fell silent for a moment, and the cat seemed to freeze in place. Then, as suddenly as it stopped, it moved again. "She wishes to tell you she misses you."
"We miss her too." Trace chuckled and sat down, and silence reigned for a moment. "Nora, what do you know about Ishtaer?"
"Ah, you asked. I know much, but much has changed. They are becoming part of your world, yes?"
"You could say that."
"You traveled with Barret for months, he's not just part of your world, he's part of your family, just like Keith and Natani. If you wish, I could share with you many things about the Ishtaer, though it may not be anything you actually care about. I have seen them when they were a thriving young race, and watched when they fell."
"Then what about Barret? Do you know anything about him or his family?"
"Trace, I do not watch every single person on the continent, I cannot know who is related to who by hearing just one name. I have had dealings with Ishtaer in recent times… though that would be recent for me… last time I talked to one was… 300 years ago. Yes. I remember now. His name was Olnrir. He was a desperate man, and I felt for him. It was one of the only times I walked on two legs in the last thousand years. I spent four years with him, and even gave him a child. Just one, and they were my last humanoid. He called her Zoni. I… did not watch her. If there is any relation to Barret, then it would be far indeed. You creatures of limited lives are so fleeting."
"Oh. So why didn't you say anything to him?"
"What would I say? That I may be his ancestor? That I could be his distant relative? No. Why would I make his life more difficult than it already is? I touched his mind briefly when I projected myself over here, and he has already lost so much. I feel… pity for him. But he is strong. He will become a great man."
"Well, if you say so."
"I wish good fortune to you Trace. My mind grows weary, I cannot keep this connection for much longer."
"Then rest. Feel better. May the wind be ever at your back."
"And may the fire of the ancestors burn brightly within your soul." And with that, the cat faded to nothing, leaving Trace alone.
End of Book 1