Narrator:
The summer has ended, but still the nice weather holds. Maia and Brennen are surprised the next morning when a knock is heard on the door. It's *early*, even for Maia, and it was a long night of talking before. Brennen's soul is still traveling the planes, or at least, it wants to be far, far away from the pounding in his head.
Maia: [unspoken]
Who could that be *here* and now?
Narrator:
Brennan groans and attempts to gather himself. Maia opens the door to find another druid standing there. It's Sunshine, one of the elves. Maia decides it could be worse. Sunshine seems to be terminally happy, or at least almost always cheerful. Not flippant, or frivolous, but cheery.
Sunshine:
Good morning, Maia! I hope it's not too early, but the Council asked me to see if you wanted to do something.
Narrator:
Brennen leans forward and focuses on the shadow in the doorway. Short...slim...it appears to be a female elf. As his eyes adjust he is able to make out more detail. She's pretty, but that doesn't seem important...
Then she turns that smile on him. A groggy "wow" and his head clears a little more. This woman would definitely have an effect on people. Brennan is a little surprised at the weakness of his own reaction...a few months ago and he would have been fascinated.
Sunshine:
Oh, you must be Brennen! Hi! I'm Sunshine!
Narrator:
Brennan winces as he cracks a dry lip trying to smile and nod.
Maia: [to herself]
Dank dungeons and cramped cages! I've *only* taught him a little about plants - they couldn't be coming for me already! *I* don't think I'm a Heretic.
Narrator:
She sets her chin stubbornly. But Sunshine isn't looking at her at all.
Sunshine:
What a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect to meet you.
Narrator:
Brennan manages another smile and nod. His lips survive the effort.
Brennan: [to himself]
Here is walking proof that my feelings for Maia are far beyond lust.
Maia:
What does the Council want me to do?
Narrator:
Sunshine turns to talk with Maia, giving Brennen a chance to get his head together. He slips over to a darker corner of the hut and pulls on his clothes.
Sunshine:
They'd like you to travel to McMannon. Jhereg is trying to get permission from Elizabeth McMannon to petition us to lift the curse on castle Llughen. You have experience working with these people. *I* think that Windwalker is trying to force Wood into doing something.
Heather:
I'm assuming that "life" means "lift" and isn't significant otherwise?
Neil:
Sorry. You are absolutely correct. It was a typo.
Maia:
Experience working with what people? Others? I don't know a Jhereg or an Elizabeth McMannon, but I have spent time with Others in the past years.
Brennan:
I think that that part of the message might apply more to me. I have travelled with Jhereg before and am acquinted with house McMannon.
[to himself]
"Others?" She said that with a capital "O". This training
may well have been more difficult for her than it has for me.
Maia:
Did Wood come back? I thought he had left ages and ages ago, and people thought he might even be dead. And Windwalker hasn't been a part of the Enclave ever since he went to be an Ambassador.
[to herself]
Travel to McMannon? Sure! That solves the problem of what to do with Brennan for the winter... I don't have to take him to my winter place, but I can keep teaching him.
Sunshine:
Wood has always been around, just not around the Enclave. We'd all know if something bad happened to Wood.
Windwalker has *always* been part of the Enclave, even when he's away doing something else. His hand has been in all sorts of affairs for longer than anybody cares to think about.
Maia:
[aloud, but quietly enough that Brennan can't quite make out what she says]
Sure. I'll go. What did the Council say they wanted me to do? And Why?
Brennan: [to himself]
Wood and Windwalker? And an Enclave, Ambassador, and Council? Food for discussion. She has said nothing about the organization of her people so far.
Sunshine: [looks at Brennan before she turns to go]
I'm so happy to have finally met you! Your much bigger than I imagined.
Narrator:
Brennan smiles and nods again while smacking himself mentally. This after a night of discussing control!
Brennen:
Good to meet you too.
Narrator:
Sunshine leaves and Brennan turns to Maia. She is busy unpacking several of her baskets and bags, taking a few things out and piling them on the floor, replacing others.
Brennan:
What are you doing now?
Maia:
I'm going to McMannon. I obviously can't take everything I own - Shabash is strong, but that would be a bit much even for him. Get going - if you are coming with me, you need to pack too.
[aloud, but to herself]
With two of us going we can be more efficient about it. Don't need as many pots, just two between us. Mine are better, we'll take those.
[louder, to Brennan again]
What is your rope supply like? How much more do I need to bring?
Bill:
If PBMs actually require documented preparedness, let's discuss it outside of this stream.
Neil:
This is just the right amount of scenery needed to say "We're going well prepared."