The passage of time
(12-16-04)
As the days passed Keygan found herself shadowing Jerle's activities around the compound. She would go with him to watch arms practice, inspect barracks, receive reports, eat, visit the library and more. It was in this way she became a familiar presence in Arsenal and learned the comings and goings of that place. A full season had passed, Autumn had turned to Winter, and there was no word from Lucius. Keygan worried, and Jerle sent word to try to contact him more than once, but none of the messengers had returned.
Jerle's age showed more in the Winter, he moved a little more slowly. Keygan ran more and more errands for him as Winter set in. She became his unofficial adjutant and the men of Arsenal grew to respect her the longer she lived among them. She studied and practiced with the men and interacted with them daily even though on the coldest days The Commandant only gazed down into the courtyards below from his balcony while standing by a brazier that had been set up for such occasions. His health was good except for his arthritis which was at it's worst in Winter. Narelle and the healer Stepandore did everything they could to make him more comfortable, while Keygan and the Captains took over most of his duties. Keygan spent many hours keeping him up to date on the city's affairs and just talking and learning from him. She had grown immensely fond of the old veteran.
It was now halfway through Winter and still no word form Lucius. Keygan and Jerle discussed sending a larger group to find out what was happening come spring.
Many nights they sat until very late drinking wine or brandy by the fire while they talked of all things. While Jerle worried over what had become of Lucius he did not know how he would now manage things if Keygan did in fact depart, she had grown almost indispensable to him. He felt a great deal more than affection towards her, but of it he remained silent. Sometimes withdrawing into his room for whole days over his heartsickness, though he claimed it was aches and pains. Narelle however suspected differently, but even she would say nothing lest the Commandant lose any face over the matter. As Winter pressed on towards Spring Narelle began to believe that Jerle's feelings towards Keygan might be mutual.
As the days passed Keygan found herself shadowing Jerle's activities around the compound. She would go with him to watch arms practice, inspect barracks, receive reports, eat, visit the library and more. It was in this way she became a familiar presence in Arsenal and learned the comings and goings of that place. A full season had passed, Autumn had turned to Winter, and there was no word from Lucius. Keygan worried, and Jerle sent word to try to contact him more than once, but none of the messengers had returned.
Jerle's age showed more in the Winter, he moved a little more slowly. Keygan ran more and more errands for him as Winter set in. She became his unofficial adjutant and the men of Arsenal grew to respect her the longer she lived among them. She studied and practiced with the men and interacted with them daily even though on the coldest days The Commandant only gazed down into the courtyards below from his balcony while standing by a brazier that had been set up for such occasions. His health was good except for his arthritis which was at it's worst in Winter. Narelle and the healer Stepandore did everything they could to make him more comfortable, while Keygan and the Captains took over most of his duties. Keygan spent many hours keeping him up to date on the city's affairs and just talking and learning from him. She had grown immensely fond of the old veteran.
It was now halfway through Winter and still no word form Lucius. Keygan and Jerle discussed sending a larger group to find out what was happening come spring.
Many nights they sat until very late drinking wine or brandy by the fire while they talked of all things. While Jerle worried over what had become of Lucius he did not know how he would now manage things if Keygan did in fact depart, she had grown almost indispensable to him. He felt a great deal more than affection towards her, but of it he remained silent. Sometimes withdrawing into his room for whole days over his heartsickness, though he claimed it was aches and pains. Narelle however suspected differently, but even she would say nothing lest the Commandant lose any face over the matter. As Winter pressed on towards Spring Narelle began to believe that Jerle's feelings towards Keygan might be mutual.
posted by K-Squared at 6:29 PM
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