EverBright: The Darkness Pool

Interlude: Vorlox Spawn

If a person could see with the eyes of a bird, flying over the forest, they would see the way the darkness pool had blighted the entire section of forest where it lay. The trees that surrounded it died and blackened, the pool greedily sucking in every falling leaf and branch as eagerly as if it had been human flesh. It was all food. It all meant strength and growth. Though the thing could subsist on metals and ore for millennia, it had to take life to grow. And in the growing, it found that it only wanted more life. So much so that it braved that repulsive orb in the sky in search of life. Even under the naked sky, it had grown enough now to push its clouded visage onto the earth.

It was too small, though, at that time for its tendrils to reach beyond this forest. However, it was patient. It was more patient than any other living thing. The last time it came from the ground, seeking flesh, EverBright had not even been named. It was merely a few boats and huts. If the people of that day had done any writing, the name Vorlox may have been heard, but the books that it resided in would be so old that the pages themselves would be apt to flake into dust rather than be turned.

The Vorlox, of course, knew nothing and cared nothing for such things. It knew only hunger and the pleasure of the kill. There was nothing now within its reach, though. It had feasted greedily, and grown to the limits that food would allow. Its traps and snares had come up empty for a long while, and the forest around it was dying faster than it could be devoured, and like the rock, once dead, the trees offered sustenance but no growth. So, the Vorlox remained, waiting for travelers it could tempt.

Meanwhile, the forest road began to be swallowed by thorn and thistle not beaten back by constant wear. Those who once wished to make their way between Sea Cray to Everbright needed only travel a few days east or west on this road that joined them. Now, though, that journey was made in a few weeks and began with a journey to the south. Often, in fact, the journey was no longer attempted because EverBright did not need Sea Cray for its success, and those from Sea Cray, still wary of the journey even skirting the dread forest, began to trade with Tursdeg instead.

The Vorlox waited. It knew that truth becomes rumor which then becomes folly. This meant that men would again travel this road not believing the stories. Then, it would feed. Then, it would grow. Then, its plan would move forward again. Until then, it would be content to send out its foragers.

Once the caracasses of its prey were consumed, the Vorlox could thrust a tendril into the skeleton, forcing out everything within it that was not itself. The result was a black approximation of the living thing. Thus imbued, the tendril would break away with as a rabbit or squirrel the color of ink, reeking of the putrescence of death. Its movements betrayed its nature. At times, the tendrils could recreate the lithe motions of the living beasts, but these moments were so surrounded by undulations and jerks that they were nearly unnoticeable.

A single one of these foragers was an assault to the senses with its confusing and unnatural gait. Seeing them amassed, regurgitated into existence by the Vorlox, the hundreds of writhing beasts crawling and clawing over one another in search of food would break that person’s mind. Likely, such a person would never escape the moment, and death would be a welcome event.

The Vorlox was alone when spewed out its foraging spawn. Though no single creature among them could bring back a prize of any note, the conglomeration of their efforts would be a quality feast. Most importantly for the Vorlox, the foragers were likely to bring back fresh meat, that most-desired item, the only thing that brought it growth.

Chapter 3: Tiernan’s Apprenticeship

By the time Tiernan had been playing for Landor for two years, he began to grow restless. He was eleven and, as part halfing, he had reached his full height. He would never come up to the shoulder of a regular human, and with a man the size of Landor, he would always be craning his neck to look him in the eye. When his mother casually mentioned this, he was at first quite upset.

“You mean this is it? This is all the height I’m going to get?”

“Yes, son.” Melody’s voice was equal parts amused and commiserating. “I’m sorry. I guess I could be wrong, but you’re of the typical age when a halfling is done with growing. Maybe your human half will take over and keep you growing, but I don’t think so.”

“Well, that’s just great. What do I have left to look forward to?”

“What do you mean? Your music is always growing. Landor’s permanent store has only been open a few weeks. The restaurant portion is still a month away”

“That’s his dream, not mine.”

His mother looked confused and a little shocked. “I thought you loved playing.”

“I do love playing, but maybe there are other places to play as well. Maybe Landor isn’t the only person I want to play for. Maybe playing isn’t the only thing I want to do.”

“He has done a lot for you, you know. Without him…”

“I would never have even gotten an instrument to learn on. I remember. He makes sure I remember. You make sure I remember. What no one asks me is whether that means I’m beholden to him for the rest of my life. You know I have been earning real pay for a while now. I’ve saved enough to pay him back for the Yuke and buy myself out of this contract.”

“Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t know. I only know that I need to try something new, or I’m going to go crazy.”

“What do you intend to do with your Yuke, then? Will all this time be thrown away?”

Tiernan groaned in frustration. “I never said I was going to stop playing. Ever. Those words never came out of my mouth. I just can’t keep doing the same thing over and over much longer.”

“What about Cleal?” Mother asked. “Have you told her about your plans to quit your music?”

“I’m not quitting my music. You aren’t listening to me!”

Melody’s face snapped toward him and stared him in the eye at the shout. “You do not shout at your mother, young man. I have been around a lot longer than you. I know that if you put this down now, there’s a very good chance that you won’t go back to it.”

“I’m sorry for shouting, mother. I don’t want to quit playing. Honestly. I just…”

“You just what?”

“I have other things I want to try.”

“No.” Melody knew what he was talking about. He’d brought this up again and again since seeing Narlix.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” Tiernan fumbled at incredulity, but never really had purchase.

“You weren’t going to mention Narlix or hand crossbows?”

“Okay, so maybe you do know. Still, I’m grown. You said so yourself. You can’t coddle me forever.”

He was right, and she knew it. She was just afraid. Weapons meant something or someone was going to get hurt. That’s why they existed. He wanted to keep him as far away from them as possible. Still, she knew she couldn’t hold on forever. She knew this day was coming and her argument was primarily reflexive. “So, what do you plan to do then? Do you expect someone as important and busy as Narlix to teach you himself? I’ll not have you learning from someone who's inexperienced.”

Tiernan perked up at this. This was a very different tone from the past. Maybe she was listening to him after all. “So, I just need to hunt down Narlix and have him take me on as an apprentice?”

Melody sighed and tousled his hair. “You know I only want you to stay safe. Will you promise to do everything you can to be safe?”

“I’m just learning to hunt, mother. Most of the animals sold at market are not ferocious. I’ll be careful and stay out of danger.” Tiernan couldn’t hide his smile.

“The conversation with Landor is going to be a tougher one.”

Tiernan’s smile faltered at that. “Right. I guess I have to tell Landor that I can’t play so much. I think I have an idea that will make it better for everyone in the long run. I guess I’ll just have to ask.”

“And Cleal?”

“That will be the hardest conversation, but I’ve been giving her Yuke lessons, and she’s quite good. Still, I don’t want her to feel like I’m abandoning her.” At 11, Tiernan still wasn’t ready to try and explain why the thought of upsetting Cleal felt far worse than upsetting his mother or Landor. “Well, I guess it’s best if I talk to her first, then I’ll go to Landor.”

He went first to the kitchen to look for Cleal and found her father instead. “Fenly, sir, have you seen Cleal?” Tiernan was still not sure where he rested in the man’s estimation. He and Cleal had been performing together for two years, and still Fenly was cold and dismissive. Of course, Fenly treated a lot of people that way, but Tiernan always felt like those feelings were directed at him more intensely than others.

“She’s working. Don’t bother her now. Don’t you already occupy enough of her time?” Fenly turned and left, assured that he had put the matter to rest, or at least assured that he was done caring about it.

With only that vague information to go on, Tiernan began to search the places she was likely to be working. She was not gathering water, she wasn’t cleaning inside. It was when he was leaving the stable that he caught sight of her, talking to Landor. It appears this conversation just got simultaneously easier and more difficult.

“...It’s certainly an interesting thought…” Cleal was looking up at Landor expectantly as Tiernan approached.

“Hello, you two.” Tiernan greeted them.

“Well, there’s the person to ask. Let’s see what he thinks.”

Cleal turned to Tiernan and asked, “Tiernan, how’s my playing?”

Tiernan grinned. This was going to be easier than he’d feared. “I think you get better every time I hear you play. At this point, you could do a show on your own.”

Landor shifted his eyes between the two of them. “Was this a planning ambush? Cleal was just telling me the same thing.”

Cleal cheeks began to redden. “Tiernan, I wasn’t trying to go behind your back or anything. It was just a thought. Landor, I haven’t mentioned this to him at all. Tiernan, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad at all. I was sort of looking for both of you to say something very similar. See, I’ve been thinking for a while that I need to step back from playing so much.” At this, he pulled his money pouch from his belt, hefted it with mixed emotions and handed it to Landor. “There. There’s the cost of the Yuke, free and clear.”

Landor was confused and starting to feel his anger rising. “Are you intending to stop playing altogether then? Is that what this is? Are you trying to use this girl as an easy means of escape? You know, I’ve only just got my storefront opened, and your name and playing had a lot to do with that. It’d be foolish for that to end. What’s this all about anyway? What are you trying to do?”

So, Tiernan launched in. He told Landor about that party so many years ago. He tried to express to him just how much learning to use the hand crossbows meant to him. “It’s as important to me as the Yuke, Landor. I only started with the Yuke because my mother wouldn’t stop me for being too young. Besides, I have a proposition that will give you plenty of good entertainment and save you some money at the same time.

There’s never really been a place in the market for new musicians to get their start. You can’t just let anyone come off the street with an instrument and expect them to bring in the patrons, but I can help with that. This is my thought: I will perform once a week. The other days, you will showcase new talent that is hand picked by me. You know you can trust my ear, and since they’re new and looking for a break, you don’t have to pay them at all for their first show. The show is payment enough for them. Then, we can eventually create a steady rotation of new talent. It will give you a much bigger name in the city than just having me play, and I think we have the perfect first act right here.” At this, he gestured to Cleal. “What do you say?”

“Well…,” both Landor and Cleal started at once, stopped and laughed.

“I would love the chance.” Cleal said.

“I like the way you think, Tier. I think it may just work. We’ll try it.” Then, turning to look into Cleal’s expectant face, “Cleal, how would you like to be the entertainment for the first night of our open kitchen?”

“That would be amazing. Thank you! And thank you, Tiernan.” At this, she wrapped arms around him in a crushing embrace. “Now, I have work to get done so I can practice.” Then, Cleal ran off toward the house.

Landor turned his full attention to Tiernan. “I expect you to do your best to see that this works. I think it’s got a shot to set my place up as something unique. I still don’t have a good enough hold on clientele to drive them away with a failed gimmick, though. Make sure the performers you bring in are ready for the stage.”

“I will, sir. Of course, I still have to find Narlix and get him to take me on. That’s bound to be a whole new problem.”

The storefronts in the marketplace were brightly-colored and inviting. Every direction offered sights and sounds to interest and entice. However, the back alleys were much the opposite. The alleyways were narrow affairs. Dark almost constantly because of the shadows of nearly abutting buildings, the width of these passages, while uniform, was daunting as it barely allowed one cart to pass at a time. In his days delivering messages, Tiernan had navigated the cramped confines many times.

He knew they were the most likely place to find Narlix. He had seen him often throughout the years delivering fresh kills to grocers. As he made his way through town in search of the man, Tiernan imagined the confrontation. He knew that if he could project the right amount of confidence and strength, then Narlix would surely hire him right now. He just had to present himself in a way that let Narlix see how helpful he would be. The trouble was, Tiernan wasn’t actually sure how helpful he could be, at least not at first. He’d never touched hand crossbows. He’d seen them used a few times since that night so long ago but never up close. He certainly didn’t own any, and since paying for his Yuke, he didn’t have much money left. So, as his search continued, the doubt began to gnaw at the bottom of his stomach. Still, he kept his head up to hide these feelings as he walked. He knew it wouldn’t help to focus on his worry, so he tried to keep his successes in mind. He couldn’t equate his music with hunting, though.

Wrapped in his own head as he was, he entered an alleyway that led to the back of the market’s largest meat seller. He began to rehearse his opening line, “Hello, sir, My name is Tiernan. I saw you perform when I was young, and I never forgot it.” This seemed like a great way to start. He settled on it, but as he squeezed past a cart, he nearly ran into Narlix, who was backing out of the grocer’s door engrossed in conversation.

“Hey, It’s a good bird. Look at the size. Even at that price, you’ll make more than double what you pay me.” Narlix was negotiating.

“I don’t need more fowl. I need venison, rabbit, or even squirrel. What else do you have?” The grocer seemed intent on something other than what Narlix had on offer.

“This is the best of what I’ve got. The forest has not been as giving as it used to be. You can look in my...Hey, boy, watch where you’re going.”

Tiernan was startled by the jostling, and his surprise betrayed all the planning he’d done. “Hey, you shot at me!”

Narlix screwed his face up in a look of utter confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Tiernan realized what he said, and his cheeks went pink. “I’m sorry. I mean, Hello, my name is Tiernan and I…

“Beat it kid. We’re trying to do business here. I thought you gave up messaging when you started working for Landor.” Tiernan had delivered messages here many times when he was younger.

“Oh, yes, I did, sir.” There was a stutter in reply, shocked as he was by this whole scene. “That’s not why I’m here.”

“Well, then,” The grocer intoned. “Don’t interrupt.” The grocer then leaned over the cart, moving things around with his hand to better inspect its contents.

Tiernan nodded and stepped to the side, waiting until the conversation was over. As they talked, Tiernan noticed how the hunter’s black hair and beard had gone almost entirely gray and the way his eyes looked wrinkled even when his face was at rest. Their talk seemed to go on forever, though Tiernan figured his nerves were heightening his impatience. In the end, the grocer took only a couple of squirrels.

“It really is a nice bird.” Tiernan offered.

“Yes, it is.” Narlix eyed Tiernan. “You say I shot at you?”

“Yes. I mean, well, it was on stage. I was much smaller then. The cherub’s halo, you called it.”

“Ah.” Narlix’s aspiration was one of acknowledgement rather than recognition. “I’ve performed that trick many times in my days. When and where was this then?”

“Six years ago. At Lord Marol’s estate. The night before that year’s noble hunt.”

Narlix’s eyes shifted up and to the left in concentration. “I think I remember that party. It’s been so long, though. Anyway, what causes you to seek me out this many years later?”

“Well, sir, I’ve never stopped thinking about that night. The things that you and Dilou did amazed me. I’ve dreamed of learning from you ever since that night.”

“Why now?”

“Well, I was finally able to convince my mother that I was old enough to learn to hunt.”

Narlix chuckled and nodded. “I see. Unfortunately, I never take on apprentices. I’m a solitary man. I need my space without someone under foot.”

“Well, I can do any work that you want sir, if you’d reconsider.”

“No. I’m sorry, son.” With that, Narlix turned to his cart, lifted it, and began to pull it to the next shop.

Tiernan watched him walk away and tried to decide what to do next. As he did, he saw something tumble from the back of the cart. He rushed forward to grab it while yelling out to get Narlix’s attention. “Narlix, your cart has lost something.”

The aging hunter turned around just as Tiernan was bending to pick up what turned out to be a quiver of crossbow bolts. As he did, his nerves again got the better of him, and he spilled the quiver’s contents on the ground. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Tiernan apologized as he rushed to pick up the bolts.

“Careful of the tips, son. There’s no need to go stabbing yourself.” The narrowness of the alley made it impossible for Narlix to come around the cart and help retrieve the arrows, and backing the cart up would likely break several of the arrows. So, Narlix watched as Tiernan cleaned up the mess.

The combination of the crash to the ground and Tiernan’s mishandling of the bolts as he retrieved them managed to damage the fletching on several of them. “Oh, I’m sorry about the damage.”

Narlix transferred his gaze between the bolts and the boy a few times, making a decision. “Well, I don’t need an apprentice, but now I do need to refletch some arrows. Care to learn?”

Tiernan saw this offer for what it was and seized upon it. “Yes, sir.”

“Well, then, come with me to sell the rest of these things and we’ll head to my shop after that.” With that, Narlix turned and began to pull the cart again calling behind him, “Watch the back for me, will you?”

“Yes, sir.” Tiernan grinned and followed. At the first few stops, Tiernan just watched silently. There was a rhythm to the negotiation process. It was like a song with two parts. The words varied from shop to shop, but the nature of the song remained the same. As he picked up on it, he could sense the cues and took it upon himself to begin handing things to Narlix as it became apparent what he wanted. Narlix didn’t even bat an eye at this. The transition from doing it himself to allowing Tiernan to assist was seamless. After seven or eight stops of Tiernan helping him, the cart was empty.

“Let’s go.” Narlix had weaved his way to the very edge of the meat market. He stopped his cart at a small building that seemed to create the border between the food sellers and the textile merchants. He grabbed the case that held his crossbows and the quiver of bolts, heading for the door of the building. Tiernan followed, taking hold of the door as Narlix swung it wide and walked in behind him.

The shop inside was a study in contrast. Everything was neat. Neat in a way that warned you that there would be consequences for messing it up, yet most of the room had a noticeable layer of dust. Even though everything was neat, there were still piles everywhere. Everything looked like it belonged, but the sheer volume of things was a bit overwhelming. Tiernan slowed his movement and began tip-toeing without even realizing he was doing it. It was just the sort of room that demanded that kind of delicacy.

The exception to the piles and dust was a workbench in a back corner which Narlix was now bending over as he arranged an assortment of feathers, shafts, and sinew.

“Turkey and goose.” Narlix said.

“What’s that?” Tiernan asked as Narlix's voice drew him out of the stupor created by this overwhelming room.

“The best feathers for fletching.”

“Why’s that?” Tiernan’s full attention was on the old hunter now and he thought that the lines and creases of age made Narlix look both weathered and majestic like the proud rough bark on large old trees. His face seemed to say, “I’ve been here a long time, and I’ve outlasted more storms than most will ever face. I could tell you too if you’ll take the time to listen.” As Tienan looked into that face and listened to the man’s words he was determined to listen and learn from this man. This wasn’t like the Yuke. Hunting wasn’t the sort of thing that was safe to learn on your own. Even though Narlix had turned down his request for apprenticeship, he knew he had to find a way to change the hunter’s mind.

“Why? Well, mostly because they’re all over the place! It’s easy to find both birds around here. That makes it possible to replace part of a fletching when there are still good feathers on the bolt. I’ve always believed that an arrow flies truer when all 3 feathers come from the same type of bird. Sure, you can use something exotic like puffin or macaw, and you’ll see both around from time to time. For me, though, I’d rather have feathers from a bird I know I can hunt down on any given day. Gull will do the trick too, but I hate sand. I stay away from the beach.”

Tiernan nodded along, not sure how much of this speech was really important. It didn’t matter to him. He was in conversation with one of his heroes, and he would learn what he could. So, he listened carefully as Narlix transitioned into a rather detailed explanation of how to properly prepare the feathers and the care of finished arrows. Tiernan recognized a few important things about the man as he spoke. First, Narlix was dedicated to his craft. He never accepted less than what he deemed to be perfection in his fletching. Tiernan was shown arrow after arrow, each appearing consistent and beautiful. Not once did Narlix show him questionable craftsmanship.

“Consistency. That’s the key. You need to cut the rachis evenly as you can, all the way down. That way, the feathers lay flat against the bolt.” His knife work was deft, though Tiernan could tell he was working slowly but couldn’t decide if this was because of his age or because he was demonstrating the work. Tiernan guessed it was a little of both.

The lesson went on like this for a long while. Each part of the process was explained and demonstrated. Narlix showed him not only how to fletch but how to find and prepare wood for the bolts. By the time he had Tiernan try his inexpert hand at the task, Narlix had already fletched more than Tiernan had ruined on the street. It was a good thing too. Tiernan was bad at the task. Narlix allowed him to ruin half a dozen feathers before stopping him.

“That’s enough, son.” The old hunter placed his hand gently on the boy’s, stopping the progress of his current destructive attempt. “You’ve done well, listening to me prattle on. It’s more than penance for your earlier blunder. You can go on home now.”

“But I haven’t replaced a single bolt,” Tiernan protested.

“Of course not. I never expected you would. I did wonder, though, whether you would see the task through to the end. Being true to your word is a much harder skill to learn than fletching. It’s also more important. Now, get on home.”

Narlix’s tone made it clear that Tiernan was being dismissed, so the boy turned and walked out of the shop deep in thought without another word.

The next morning, Tiernan struck early. He took with him three satchels. He left his Yuke hanging beside his bed. It was the first time in years that he’d left without it. He knew, though, that he would have to tuck it into a smaller pocket of his attention if he truly wanted to learn something new. So, with just the three satchels, he struck out to find Clockwise and Widdershins and get his plan rolling.

He found them in a location where they were accustomed to meeting, the beach. This morning, though, the boys were not searching for shells. Instead, they were waist deep in the tide, casting nets.

“Hey. Are you catching anything?” Tiernan asked in greeting.

“How could we catch anything when people come around shouting and scaring away the fish?” Widdershins smiled as he teased.

Clockwise followed up this comment. “Nothing. We were hoping to sell some bait to the fishing boats, but this morning we’ve come up empty. What are you up to?”

“Well, I managed to meet up with Narlix yesterday.”

“Oh yeah?” Clockwise spoke, but both boys were looking at him expectantly now.

“Yeah. I managed to break a bunch of his bolts. He also turned down my request for an apprenticeship, but the two things were really related.” Tiernan’s melancholy smirk hinted that he wasn’t ready to give up.

Widdershins responded. “Oh, very nice. I’m sure he appreciated you tearing up his stuff.”

“Exactly. But I’ve got a plan.” He proceeded to tell the twins what he wanted and asked for their help. They obliged without hesitation, cleaning up their nets and each taking a satchel. They walked together to the huge park where Tiernan taught himself to play Yuke. There, he put the twins in charge of hunting for feathers while he set to work finding potential bolt shafts. While it’s true that birds will drop the occasional feather, they aren’t just falling off in any steady or predictable way. In fact, after an entire morning’s work, the twins' hand only accounted for a dozen or so feathers each. Then, they got a bright idea, and raced from the park leaving Tiernan to gather wood alone.

Of course, Tiernan’s task wasn’t much quicker, but it didn’t need to be. Truly, at most, he only needs one usable piece of wood for every three of their feathers. He expected that he wouldn’t even need that many considering how his attempts to fletch had gone the day before. After finding only 20 or so pieces he thought might work, he was content to see how the twin had made out in their search. When he found them, they were just coming back into the park, satchels stuffed and overflowing.

“How did you do that?” Tiernan was confounded.

Widdershins face split into the widest grin as Clockwise shared the secret of their triumph. “Well, we looked around here for a while and got almost nowhere. Then, it kind of came to both of us at the same time. Why search around when we know where to get loads of the things? See, our Ma is friend’s with a butcher’s wife. We help her out sometimes. They always have plenty of birds this time of year, so we went to their shop and she let us take as much as we could carry.”

Tiernan couldn’t help it. He laughed at himself. “Why didn’t I think of that to begin with? Well, I guess I need to find more bolts.”

Clockwise nodded in agreement. “We’ll help. Tell what you’re looking for as best you can.” With that, they set to the task of gathering wood together. By the middle of the afternoon, they had Tiernan’s satchel full, and they stood together at the storefront Narlix had taken Tiernan to yesterday.

Tiernan turned to his friends, knowing that they had been better to him than he could have expected. “You guys have been great. I need to do this next part alone, though, since it could get me in trouble.”

Clockwise looked at him like a scolding parent looks at a child with mischief-making in his eyes. “You mean to go in there without him around? You’re right. That could be real trouble. Are you sure about this?”

I am. The equipment is in there. He taught me the skill, and I am using my own materials. He could have the constables on me for sure, but I have to try. It’s worth it. I’d not have to do more than pay a fine anyway. I’m only eleven. I can always go back to Landor full time if I need to.”

“Okay. It’s time for us to head home anyway.” With that, the boys unshouldered their burdens and placed them at Tiernan’s Feet. “Good luck.” The farewells and corresponding waves were simultaneous as they often are. Tiernan gathered his load and walked into Narlix’s shop as if he belonged.

It was late enough in the afternoon that the sun was casting a reddening light which terminated in the workbench at the back of the shop. Tiernan couldn’t help but stop a moment to stare at the beautiful red aura glowing around the table like a halo of heavenly fire calling him to his task. An hour, and a half dozen failed attempts later, that glow felt sinister as Tiernan’s frustrations made his focus waver. No matter how smoothly he thought his foot was pumping the lathe’s pedal, his bolts kept turning out with divots and warbling indentations. He had forgotten to bring his knife which he realized now was an extremely foolish mistake. The only knife he found in the shop was a neglected, chipped blade, dull with small circles of rust adorning it. It mangled the feathers as often as it cut them. Still, he worked. He tried again and again. Nothing he made that day looked as if it would fly true, but two hours in, the final product at least began to look like real bolts. He was so deep in concentration that he didn’t notice Narlix when he returned from the day’s work.

“I wondered if I would find you here.” Narlix said without any sense of alarm.

Tiernan startled at the sound of the man’s voice then blushed. “Well, sir, I thought this was the only place where I could prove my ability to learn to you. I’m not there yet, but at least they resemble bolts now.” Tiernan proffered his latest attempt to the old man.

Narlix took the bolt with an appraising frown. “You need to work on smoothing the shaft better.

“Yes, sir.”

“You need to even your feathers and tighten your string winding.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ll be back tomorrow, I expect then?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, you can leave your materials over there.” Narlix pointed to a corner empty of any piles and dust free, though Tiernan was sure there was no place in the room like yesterday beyond the workbench. “I’ve not had an apprentice for a long time. Don’t be surprised if I change my mind before this process is through. If you want to make it learning from me, then you need to do one thing above all others. Listen. That means you don’t interrupt with a question. It means that you don’t ask a question that was clearly answered when I first spoke. If you can’t handle that, then your day was wasted.”

“I can handle it.” Tiernan’s smile was evident in his response.

“I guess we’ll see. Tomorrow. I want you to practice making bolts until you run out of materials. Then, I want you to get more, bring them back here, and practice until you run out of those. First, though, I want to show you where you’ve gone wrong today.” Narlix spent the next hour showing Tiernan how to improve his technique. By the end, the product was a little better and Tiernan was beginning to see how if he changed the way he held the knife, even the dull, rusty one he’d been using, he could make smoother, more sure cuts. He was starting to get a feel for the way Narlix twisted his wrist as he wrapped the string around the feathers as he fletched, noting how much tighter he could bind them if he imitated the motion.

When Tiernan showed up early the next morning, he arrived just as Narlix was leaving. The old hunter gave him a nod and left without so much as a word. Tiernan spent the entire day making arrows. He spent his morning shaping and smoothing the shafts, and his afternoon fletching them.

When Narlix returned, Tiernan was still fletching. Upon entering, Narlix went straight to the work table and took up a couple of Tiernan’s most recently finished bolts. “Come.” That was all he said, and Tiernan followed him through a door he hadn’t yet entered. It was another long room like the main room but it was nearly empty. One wall was lined with windows, so that light spilled across the stark room from the side opposite of the door they’d entered.

Seeing a row of targets on the far wall, it was easy for Tiernan to guess that this was a practice range. On the side of the room that they’d entered, there was a contraption that had the boy somewhat perplexed. It was a sort of tall, wooden box. On the bottom, each corner had a wheel fixed to it, and these wheels were set into tracks on the floor. The top of the box had a hand crossbow attached to it. There was this rope trailing down from the crossbow. Tiernan had never seen anything like it.

“It’s how I test bolts. Occasionally, I like to try my hand at different designs. If one of those ideas fails miserably, I could really injure myself, so I built this. I’ve got a couple of clamps built into the top of it that keep the crossbow from moving and the wheels let me use different targets without changing my firing distance. If you looked at the tracks on either end, you would see there are wheels on them that can be engaged to move the entire track forward or backward. I don’t do it much, though, because the blasted contraption is so heavy. Now, let’s see how you did today.”

He began by pulling a bolt from the pack slung over his shoulder. “This is one of mine. I’ll shoot it first just so you know that my invention here is calibrated correctly.” Tiernan was sure what “calibrated” meant, but he had a good idea that asking would constitute the type of question he wasn’t supposed to ask. Instead, he nodded and watched. Narlix slid the arrow tester down the track and lined it up with one of the targets. Tiernan noted as he did, that there were marks painted on the floor to help Narlix ensure he was lined up properly. When he had the wheels where he wanted them, he pressed something on the back wheels with his foot which rendered them immobile. Then, Narlix took his bolt and loaded it into the crossbow. He stepped back and handed the rope to Tiernan. “Go ahead. Pull.”

Tiernan pulled. He felt the rope tug back from his hand in response and the bolt shot forward and plunged into the center of its target.

“Now, for one of yours.” Narlix again loaded the arrow tester, this time with one the bolts he had just taken from the workbench. “Pull.”

There was only the briefest hesitation brought on by trepidation as Tiernan once again pulled the rope to trigger the crossbow. The bolt flew free but began wobbling almost at once. When it finally reached the target, it was so shaky that it glanced off the target’s edge and clattered to the floor. Tiernan was devastated. He had thought he was making good progress, but the bolt was an embarrassment.

Narlix only said, “Tomorrow.” There was no indication of how he felt about Tiernan’s failure or progress or technique. Tiernan assumed this meant that the lessons would only be taught once. Of course, he could help but think, once should be enough for a boy that learned to play the Yuke from a book and even less instruction than he’d had with this.

So, he came the next day and the next and so on for months. Some days the bolts wobbled less, some days they were as bad as ever. Some days the bolts hit the target, but in all those months, he never got close to the center. It was always along the outside edge. There was always some flaw in his work that kept them from flying true. One day, disgusted with himself and angry with Narlix for the lack of help, he exploded.

“What do I need to do? How can I figure this out? I’m not getting any better, and YOU’RE NOT HELPING!”

Narlix again only responded, “Tomorrow.”

Tiernan screamed and stormed out. All the way home he fumed. He blamed Narlix for not teaching him. He blamed himself for not learning. He blamed his mother for not letting him go to Narlix sooner. He blamed his father for never even taking the time to meet him. There was still something inside him convinced that, if he had known his father, everything would be alright.

When he got home, he was too angry to talk or eat, so he went to his bed and consoled himself with his Yuke, playing and playing until the pain bled through his fingers, turned into sound, and drifted off into the night air. Finally, too exhausted even to play amidst the rush of emotion, he slept.

The morning chill blunted the anger, and the sunrise promised hope. He trudged back to the workbench and started again. His lapse into self-pity had abated, and he refocused his determination. For weeks, things seemed to be the same as before, then eventually, small, nearly imperceptible improvements took place. It was only evident to his eyes in the target room. The flightpath of his bolts straightened out, and it was clear that his craftsmanship was beginning to show competence.

At first, he feared that he wouldn’t be able to understand how he was improving, so he began to deliberately focus on what his hands were doing. Finally, he reached a point where he could judge a bolt shaft by feel alone. At last, he mastered a repeatable process for affixing the feathers evenly. In all, this took him about six months of constant practice, and it proved to be far simpler than learning how to shoot the way his hero could.

“Yes, my boy. You are now making good bolts. In another year’s time, they will no doubt be exemplary. Now, it’s time to learn how to use them.” With that, Narlix went to the target gallery, unfastened the hand crossbow attached to the bolt tester and put it into Tiernan’s hand. “It’s nothing special, but as you know, it shoots straight when it’s aimed well.”

“Yes, sir.” Tiernan nodded and took the weapon into his hand. For the second time in his life, when he gripped something, it just felt right. Like the Yuke years before, when Tiernan gripped the crossbow, it felt as if something missing had been returned. Unfortunately, that feeling of rightness, of wholeness, did not translate into sudden competence with the weapon.

With Narlix’s go ahead, Tiernan loaded and fired a dozen bolts that first day before being stopped. In total, he had hit the target 4 times. From its center, the target contained four concentric circles. Of the five separate fields created by these circles, Tiernan bolts only disturbed the outermost two, and those hits were low on the target's belly.

“You’ve got to get the hang of understanding a bolt’s arc here inside before you can even think about being successful outside with winds and distractions.” With that, Narlix launched into the first lessons of becoming an accurate shot. Tiernan’s focus never wavered. He absorbed everything the old man had to teach on the subject.

The next several months found Tiernan creating a rotating pattern for himself at the shop. He would spend his mornings fashioning bolts and his afternoon firing them. He was a quicker study with this than with the bolt making, and after just a few months, seven of every ten of his shots was finding a target’s center. Narlix watched this progress with few words except to outline for Tiernan new and specific challenges.

Slowly, Tiernan was beginning to grasp the understanding of Narlix’s show and his trick shots. Even as he learned these things, though, he itched to hunt. In fact, he was actually confused about the nature of his training.

“Why am I learning tricks first? Surely, hunting is more important.”

Narlix looked at him with a grin. “You don’t really expect to hit a moving target before you master one that stands still do you? Besides, at this point, bringing you along would only make my day more difficult. You haven’t learned to be quiet. We haven’t begun to talk about sign tracking. There’s a lot more to do before I take you out there.” Narlix points out the bank of windows toward the woods. “I don’t trust you yet to keep yourself safe, and I’m not fast enough anymore to watch us both. There’s more than food out there, boy.” It was the first time that an adult had confirmed to Tiernan in any way the whispers of danger in the woods.

“What is out there?” Fear and curiosity warred for supremacy in Tiernan’s mind.

Narlix again fixed him with a stare. This time, though, there was nothing of his previous playful smile in it. “I don’t know. Not for sure. I can tell you this, though. Whatever it is has made men disappear in the past, and it whispers to me when I hunt. It takes a strong will to defy. Men say that it fills your mind with temptations. Luckily for me, I’m content and too old to be tempted by much. Still, I can feel it try when I’m down there. I only hunt the outskirts of the woods now, but it doesn’t seem like the animals delve too deeply into it these days anyway. One day, you’ll be ready. This isn’t that day.”

So, more months passed. Finally, Narlix made his declaration that Tiernan was ready. By his own assessment, Tiernan greeted this news with mixed emotions. On the one hand, he felt he’d been ready for a while. On the other, he wasn’t entirely certain what he was supposed to be ready to do. “It’s all set up, boy. Your final exam. If you pass that, we move from shooting to hunting. I will prepare you to face the woods and stalk your prey. I will make the hunt as natural to you as breathing, but not until after the exam.”

“Great. When will I take it?”

“How about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Actually, that’s when I play with Cleal at Landor’s shop.”

“Perfect! I’ve already spoken to her. She seemed worried at first, but I convinced her that it would be just fine. Of course, I discussed it with Landor, too. It’s all set. They’ve even changed the sign.”

Tiernan felt a pang of regret at the thought of missing a chance to play, but these were the exact kinds of sacrifices he knew he would have to make when he made this decision almost a year ago now. He tried to put as much reticence as possible into his voice. “Okay. Where will the test be held? Here in the practice range?”

Narlix looked back at him confused. “I thought we just talked about this. We’ll be at Landor’s shop.”

It was Tiernan’s turn to look confused. “What do you mean?”

Narlix let out a full belly laugh. “Your test will be the night’s entertainment!”

“And Cleal was okay with that? She loves to perform.”

“What do you mean? She’ll be the center of attention, along with you, of course.

Realization rose in Tiernan’s mind while beads of sweat rose on his brow. “What? Really? No.”

“What do you mean ‘no?’ You’ve got to have someone to shoot at. Now, go rest. It’s late, and tomorrow looms heavy on the horizon.” With that, Tieran was ushered out the door with a shooing motion that had become as much a part of his daily life as any custom could become.

He walked out into the dark with melancholy purpose, not sure whether he trusted himself to keep Cleal safe in the face of the coming test. He worried all the way home over how he should approach her, but the worry proved to offer no ideas. When he saw, his emotions took the lead as he blurted, “I didn’t mean to get you into this. I’m sorry. I’m sure I can find a way out of it.”

Of course, when he made this declaration, she was busy with something else and was paying no attention to him. She turned toward the noise with a questioning half smile on her face. Tiernan instantly realized two things. First, she had no idea what he was talking about. Second, the thought of how pretty she was to him rose to the surface. It took him by surprise. He had never thought about anything like that before. To have it come unbidden to his mind was a little alarming. He didn’t know what to do with the thought, though, so he filed it away an instant after it had registered, and he started his apology again.

“Cleal, about tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t mind giving up a performance for you. It’s a big deal.”

“I appreciated that, sure. I was really talking about the part you’re going to play in the show. It wasn’t my idea. I’m not sure what to do.”

“Mr. Narlix said you would need help. I had no problem offering. What will I be doing anyway? Is it something you don’t think I can handle?”

“It’s not that. I’m sure you’d be great at anything you wanted to do. I’m just not sure I trust myself as much as Narlix apparently trusts me. You see, my final test involves shooting at you. Not at you, really, as much as around you or at a target with you very near to it.” He knew that he was stammering, but he was nervous and that nervousness was taking over. “It’s only just two or three shots really. It’s so I can prove that I’m ready to be in the woods without being a hindrance or a distraction. Really, I won’t hit you or anything. I’ve gotten quite good.”

“Oh. I know.” Cleal’s response to this onslaught of explanation was succinct, standing in stark contrast to what she had just heard.

“I’m sure I can find someone else to do it. I know my mother would be willing. I’ll go talk to her about it.”

“I want to help you. I am willing to do it. You don’t need to ask anyone else.”

“Really?”

“I was nervous at first, but Narlix talked to me about what you would be doing and explained how far you had progressed. I trust you, or Narlix trusts you, and I trust his judgment. I do want to help.”

“Okay. I still feel strange about it, but if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure. Can you talk me through it?”

That’s just what they did. He spent the next hour talking through how he would have her stand and how he expected the event to be organized. Of course, he conceded that Narlix could change any of this on a whim, but he talked her through it the way that Narlix had practiced it with him. When he was done, the toll of the day dragged him quickly to his bed and to sleep.

Landor’s shop was packed with patrons when test time came the next day, most of whom were there for the food which had achieved a rapidly growing reputation. The cook Landor had hired was a master. Whether they had come for the food or not, they all looked at Narlix when he took the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen. For the first time in 20 years, I have taken on an apprentice. He was persistent. He wore me down, and I’m glad of it. Many of you have probably heard him play Yuke before, but now you will see that he has become skilled in another way. Tiernan, bring your assistant to the stage!” Amidst polite applause, Tiernan took Cleal by the hand and guided her to the stage. As the crowd watched Tiernan help Cleal get into position in front of the target, Narlix continued his introduction. “When I first agreed to take Tiernan on, I had no idea how quickly he would take this beautiful weapon.” Narlix opened a case at his feet and brought out a pair of hand crossbows. He displayed them for the crowd. “But no student of mine has become adept in so short a time. If he is successful tonight, he will move on to the next stage of his training. He will learning how to properly hunt.” At this point, he walked to the target where Cleal was standing. “To pass this test, Tiernan must make 3 perfect shots.” He pointed to 3 red dots on the target. Two of these dots were on either side of the girl, just above each shoulder near her face. The third was just above her head. “The first shot will be from halfway across the stage, the second from three quarters of the stage’s length, and the third fully from the other side. He will have the choice of which targets he aims for at each distance. Once again, I give you, Tiernan.” With that, Narlix turned and handed a crossbow to Tiernan with three bolts.

“Thank you.” Tiernan gave a slight bow to the cheering crowd. It was lucky for him, and in this case Cleal as well, that his nerves always seemed to calm once he was on stage. “I’ve been lucky enough to have Narlix teaching me how to shoot. I hope to make him proud tonight.”

Narlix gave the boy a small smile at this, urging him to continue with a circular motion of his fingers.

“Now, my assistant will be tethered to the board you see before you. I will then pierce the board all around her head in the spots indicated with red circles.” As Cleal stood before the board, Narlix fastened her to the wood. “I will begin on the left side, continue to the top of her head, and finish on the right side of her face. The stage has been marked already, so without further ado, I will begin my test for your entertainment.”

Tiernan confidently strode to the first mark, knocked a bolt, and took aim. His body was still, but his emotions were as reckless as the waves at morning tide. Narlix, though, spent countless hours teaching him how to block out everything but the shot. It was a reflex now. As soon as he was in position to shoot, the rest of the world melted away. Even Cleal was only on the periphery of his thoughts because she was not part of the shot, only a distraction from it. As he readied himself, he again repeated what he’d been taught. “When there is nothing but the shot, the stakes are always the same.” Every shot was the shooter's reputation, and if he wanted to be a true hunter, his life would depend on that reputation. On his inhale, he finalized his aim. On the exhale, he loosed the bolt.

It found its target. The dead center of the dot was pierced. The dull thunk of the bolt hitting the wood was followed, first by a pregnant pause, then by audience applause. This was only the beginning, though, and even before the cheers had died away, Tiernan found his next mark on the stage.

Since he was indoors, and since his target was motionless, Tiernan knew these shots would be much easier than what he would face as he hunted, but he did not allow that to lull him to complacency. He readied another bolt and began adjusting his aim for the new distance. As he began his steadying inhale, though, he was distracted. Cleal smiled at him. She still stood stock still but her acknowledgement of him threw him off his rhythm. So, when he loosed this bolt, his aim was only mostly true. He did, in fact, hit the dot above her head, but the bolt stuck in at the topmost edge of the dot. Again, the room broke out in applause. This time, they were louder than they’d been before. Perhaps Tiernan took a little too much notice of them this time around. Maybe that’s why he got careless.

As he made his way to his final test mark, he again addressed the audience. “With this final arrow, you will see me pass through the apprenticeship of childhood into the work of an adult. I know I am small. I know I am young, but as part halfling, I’ve grown as much as I ever will. I am only a couple years from full grown halfling age. I am ready to put youth behind, and I will do so now.”

There was another round of applause at this. Tiernan’s years of performing for Landor had taught him how to work a crowd. He would clinch his success with this final flourish. He faced the target. He aimed. He focused. He inhaled. Then, she winked. He exhaled and fired. However, the wink worked its way through his calm in the space of time between inhale and exhale. His aim again was not as true as it could have been. Sure he hit the dot. A bit. The inner edge.

As the crowd erupted into cheers, those nearest the stage slowed their cheers as they saw the angry red mark slowly gain prominence on Cleal’s cheek. It wasn’t deep, but it was there. It wasn't grievous, but a drop of blood escaped it and ran down to her chin.

Cleal, for her part, never flinched. Tears welled in her eyes, but even as they ran and mingled with the blood, she did not flinch. Narlix went to Cleal then, loosening her constraints and handing her a kerchief from his pocket. As he directed her backstage, he took over the proceedings.

“As you can see, young Tiernan has succeeded in hitting all three targets. He is ready to learn the ways of a hunter. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Tiernan, hunter in training!” The applause exploded. The crowd seemed to forget the moment that had Tiernan’s stomach in knots. He has the wherewithal to bow to the crowd and wave as he took deliberate steps backstage. He stopped where Narlix stood on center stage just long enough to hear the old hunter encourage him to exit. “I’ve got this. You did well. Don’t fret. Now, check on that girl.” He didn’t have to be encouraged beyond that. He deliberate steps to a decidedly quicker gait, but he maintained a sense of dignity as he disappeared backstage.

The store itself, being a mercantile and restaurant, did not have any wasted space. The back of the stage led to a space almost too small to properly call a hallway. The left side led to the kitchens where Tiernan could still hear the hustle of cooking. The crowd had been a fair size. They would undoubtedly be cooking for a while yet to feed everyone. Tiernan went to the right which led to a dry storage pantry. The pantry was large enough for two or three people to navigate on various errands at the same time without disrupting one another. Once inside, he saw Cleal sitting on the pantry floor, soundless.

For a crazy moment, he wished that she had been crying. He figured that if she was crying, then he was the monster he felt like. Instead, she just sat there. She looked up at him when he came in, but she didn’t speak.

“Are you alright?” He walked toward her, but he felt awkward and out of place. He didn’t know how to comfort her. Besides, he was the one who had hurt her. Would she hate him now? He was sure she should.

“I’m okay. It stings a bit. Did you pass?”

“I did. I’m not sure I should have, though. I can’t believe that I hit you.”

“Me neither. I’m sorry if I flinched.”

“No. You were great. It was all my fault.” Tiernan walked to her, took her hand and helped her to her feet. He reached up gently and touched the handkerchief. She let him pull it away from her cheek. “It’s not bleeding anymore.” As he said this, he gently rubbed away what remained of the tears and blood, tearing up himself in the process. “I’m so sorry.”

She hugged him, then. “It’s alright. I forgive you.” She leaned away from the embrace and looked him in the eye. “Would you ever try to hurt me?” Tiernan shook his head. “Don’t you know that our friendship is strong enough for me to trust you? Guess what? I still trust you. If you needed me to stand there again, so you could take that test again, I would do it this instant.”

Tiernan responded to this by gently running his thumb along the red mark, squeezing his eyes tight to fight back more tears. Cleal pulled him close then and kissed him. Then, she hugged him tight one last time. “Come on,” she said, taking his hand, “there are people out there waiting to congratulate you.”

He let her lead him to the dining area, but his mind was on the kiss. He was absorbed in a tumult of surprise, excitement, and confusion. He hadn’t given much thought to a first kiss before then. He was too preoccupied with learning to shoot lately, and learning to play Yuke before that, to even think about girls. Sure, he had noticed recently that he thought of Cleal as quite pretty and kind, but she was 14 and human. Maybe he was mature by halfling standards, but he was still just 12, and he knew how the world was. Halflings and humans weren’t supposed to mix. Most people thought halflings didn’t belong in a society of humans.

Tiernan was steered away from these thoughts, awash in a deluge of cheers and congratulations as he emerged from behind the stage and headed toward the table where his mother and his friends were waiting for him. He did notice, though, that even when they arrived, Cleal did not let go of his hand until his mother told him to come sit beside her.

“I’m so proud of you,” Melody told him as she brushed his curly locks out of his eyes.

Tiernan smiled as a blush rose to his cheeks, “Thanks. It could have been better though.” His eyes flicked to Cleal who was taking a seat across from him.

Melody looked up then, noticing Cleal’s cheek for the first time. “Oh, dear, are you alright?”

Cleal started to smile but stopped as the motion tweaked the pain in her cheek. “It’s fine. The conversation my father will want to have about it is going to be far more painful, I fear.”

Melody nodded in commiseration. “I’ll go with you when you first go to see him. Hopefully, he’ll see that it was just a scratch.”

The back and forth continued as Tiernan’s mind began to drift to thoughts of hunting and the forest. His mind teetered attempting to balance anticipation and fear. He only knew stories at this point. Even his mentor had been tight-lipped on the topic, reminding him each time he asked that his focus was with marksmanship at this point and did not need to be cluttered with other concerns. Still, the hunt called to him. Somewhere inside him, he was sure that mastering would help him find that piece that seemed to be missing. Surely, if he could prove his ability to take care of himself,he would finally be free of that haunting notion that he needed a father. Usually, the ache wasn’t so clear. Most often, it was like bees in the back of his head, offering only their mildly threatening buzz. In some moments, though, he could see it and name it, and it could grab hold of him for a while, pulling him into a spiral that trickled down without ever finding a bottom. He was on the verge of heading there now when his contemplation was broken up.

Landor came up to the table with a tray of cakes, shouting, “Congratulations!” Tiernan returned Landor’s smile as he sat down the tray.

“Thanks! These cakes look amazing.” With that, Tiernan led the charge in celebrating his test with food. Everyone ate and drank as they recalled the shots. Widdershins was especially fixated on the mechanics of shooting and kept asking Tiernan more technical questions than the rest. It was nearly an hour before Tiernan realized that Narlix had slipped away at some point.

“Does anyone know where Narlix went?,” Tiernan asked. This question was met with a series of head shakes and small, noncommittal sounds. The responses struck Tiernan as strange, but before he had much time to dwell on them, Narlix came from the kitchens carrying another tray with a cloth draped over it. “Oh, I couldn’t eat anything else. Thanks, but I’m stuffed from the cakes…” Tiernan trailed off as Narlix lifted the cloth to reveal a set of hand crossbows.

“Now, boy, these aren’t new or anything, but they’re sturdy and clean. I have used them off and on for a few years, but the grips were always a little too small for my hands. They ought to fit you perfectly.” The weapons on the tray showed age. They had clearly seen some use. But Tiernan saw right past the nicks and scrapes to the beauty of the crossbows themselves.

“They’re perfect.” Tiernan glanced around to see everyone smiling. “You all knew, didn’t you? That’s just amazing. This is a fantastic surprise. Thank you, Narlix. I can’t wait to start learning to hunt.”

“Good,” Narlix replied. “We start in the morning.”

The presentation of the crossbows brought the celebrations to a close. Tiernan continued sitting at the table, though, until after everyone else had left.

“What’s keeping you here?” Landor’s question, asked while he was wiping tables and stacking chairs, startled Tiernan.

“Oh, I guess I was just thinking. I’m hoping that the storm at home will have blown over by the time I get back. It’s late enough now. I’ll see you soon, Landor.”

“So long as that girl’s father doesn’t get hold of you!” Landor said, following it with a laugh. “Seriously, though, you’ve accomplished a lot in your young life. Be careful, and don’t be afraid to find Fenly and apologize face to face. You may not have hurt him, but he’s bound to take an injury to his daughter personally.”

“Yeah. I thought the same thing. I’m going to find him now.” With a wave, Tiernan scooped up his newly acquired hand crossbows and headed out the door. The walk home gave him ample time to practice what he might say when he faced Fenly, but when he arrived, he had reached no conclusions. It turned out, though, that his plans didn’t matter. He never got a chance to speak. As he entered the gate, Tiernan could see Fenly stalking toward him under the moonlight. Knowing the man’s temper, Tiernan steeled himself for a barrage of shouts he had witnessed in the past. What he got instead unnerved him.

Fenly’s posture bespoke a barely contained wrath. His words were quiet, contained. “How old are you?”

Tiernan’s face scrunched in confusion. Fenly just continued to stare him down. “12, sir. I’ll be 13 in 2 weeks.”

“Perfect. As I’m sure you know, the halfling age of adulthood is legally 13. At that point, you will no longer be under the protection of your mother. I have spoken with the master of the house, and he has given me leave to make the following declaration. Upon your 13th birthday, Tiernan, you will no longer be welcome to live at Lord Marol’s estate. That gives you all the time you need to procure alternate lodgings. Considering the way you tried to murder my daughter tonight, I think this is more than fair.”

Tiernan’s words fought through his shock to protest. “What? I would never do anything to hurt her!”

“The mark on her cheek says something different. You are clearly dangerous, and I will not have you around her anymore. You no longer do any work for this household, and therefore, you have no grounds to claim a home here once you’re of age. Enjoy your last two weeks.” With that, Fenly turned and walked away.

Melody already knew what was happening when Tiernan got to their little cabin at the back of the property. “I’m sorry, son. I tried to calm him, but there was nothing I could do. I also can’t afford to lose this job, so I don’t know what we’ll do.”

For the first time in years, Tiernan just put his arms around his mom and cried. At his full height now, he was a head taller than her, and his tears spilled into her hair as she held him, rocking gently as she had done when he was still young enough to hold in her arms. As he lay in bed that night, though, his sadness turned to resolve as he formulated a plan.

The next morning, Tiernan went to Narlix and asked him to visit Landor’s shop. When they arrived, he laid out his proposal. “I’ve been turned out. Lord Marol gave Fenly permission to kick me off the estate when I come of age. That’s two weeks from today.”

“Is this because of that scratch?” Narlix asked.

“No, It’s because I shot at her at all. I should have known it was a bad idea when I heard it.”

Narlix put his hand on Tiernan’s shoulder. “It’s my fault,” he said, “I asked her, and told her to talk to her father, but I guess she didn’t. I should have gone myself.”

“That doesn’t matter now.” Tiernan said. “What does matter is this: I need somewhere today, and I know, Landor, that this shop has a spare bedroom. My hope is that I can work for you to pay rent while I’m learning to hunt.”

Landor’s face pulled down into his thinking frown. “I think I can make that work if your schedule gives you time to play four times a week. We’re looking at a couple hours in the evening. Narlix, can we make that work?”

Narlix began to nod in response. “I think so. It’ll mean not getting much sleep, Tier. When we hunt, we leave early in the morning. Think you can handle it?”

Tiernan smiled. “I think so, sir.”