A Casual Stroll

[Kender Bard]

"Not terribly long," Shyamal answered as Fausta took a seat on the edge of the other bed. "We stayed longest in Naurorod. That was an interesting experience. Dreadfully hot but there's a clarity to the land there. All that open sky... it feels as though your soul has room to breathe."

That's a load of hogwash, Fausta thought uncharitably.

"But we stayed only briefly in Caelium and even more briefly in Humontis and Reave."

[Darastrix]

"I've not yet visited Naurorod or Humontis," Dusk remarked as she took a seat beside Fausta. "I believe Twilight escorted Queen Lya to Mount Humontis once before the construction here was complete, though. I don't have the fear of being underground that some of the Caelium Winds seem to, but I prefer open skies myself." She spread her wings and smiled. "I'm not very fond of riding and would much rather fly."

Dusk turned to Fausta and held her hands out. "Let me see one of your hands," she said.

[Kender Bard]

Fausta put out a hand, obediently.

"It's unusual down there," Shyamal replied. "Very busy. It's easy to get lost and disoriented. I had to have someone point me the right way to go a couple times, actually. Fausta, you seemed to enjoy the underground, didn't you?"

"I liked the darkness," Fausta agreed. "It reminded me of home, a little. Not Morilanta, just the house."

Shyamal turned his head and looked at her a little amazed. She sounded a bit homesick.

[Darastrix]

"You might like Wintersong manor," Dusk commented as she took Fausta's hand in hers and began a gentle massage. "It's not dark, though I've noticed Zira tends to keep it a little less well-lit than most would." She paused, then asked, "Do you miss your home?"

[Kender Bard]

At Dusk's touch, Fausta's first instinct was to jerk her hand away though she quelled it, so that it was merely a small twitch. She listened to Dusk talk of Wintersong manor in silence, though at her question she curled her fingertips a little, as though contemplating scratching the woman. Then she forced her hand to relax as she replied, "It is my home." She cast Shyamal a look that was a little dark. "No matter how sinful or hateful it may be to some. It is where I have spent my entire life. I barely left my home; the church is nearly connected to the mansion. Those are the only two buildings I had ever really known until I found myself suddenly in the forest."

Shyamal glanced away, guilty without knowing why he should. "You haven't enjoyed these other lands? They're full of wonder and such new ways of living and thinking."

"They're not home," Fausta reiterated with some hardness in her voice.

[Darastrix]

No matter how sinful it may be...to some. No to her, then.

Did Fausta embrace Morilanta's teachings, or did she not care one way or the other and just miss the familiarity? Dusk wasn’t sure, but the thought was saddening either way. Of course, people older than Fausta had repented, though, so there was always hope.

"It's hard," Dusk murmured, "leaving all you've known behind. Even those who've left other places to live elsewhere by their own choice can have a hard time--they left because they wanted to, but it was still the place where they grew up and lived for twenty, thirty, forty years. But just because a place isn’t home doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it in the meantime, or at least try to.”

[Kender Bard]

Fausta lasped into silence at Dusk's words, even closed her eyes, and seemed to just close up completely.

Shyamal let out a small sigh. ~Well, I agree with you, Your Majesty.~

[Darastrix]

And at the least, you both do have a home to return to, Dusk thought as her hands continued their work, and sighed as well. Though I'm not sure mentioning that would go over well. But we of Contrasta can never go home; it's gone forever.

[Kender Bard]

~I never knew Contrasta~ Shyamal admitted. ~And many in Morilanta did not grieve the loss of our nation. They saw it as an opportunity; or so I'm told. Father remarked that mother saw it as a blessing than a curse. I don't really understand why.

"Enough," Fausta murmured and pulled away abruptly. She went to where she had a book laying and, without a word more, busied herself with reading.

Shyamal glanced at her and then Dusk. "You don't have to do any more if you don't have the heart for it now," he told her lightly.

[Darastrix]

Dusk gave a little smile and rose from Fausta's bed. "Fausta's not the first person to decide she'd rather not partake of a loving touch, and I doubt she'll be the last," she told Shyamal as she crossed to sit at his side. "Even some people who regularly do still have things they'd rather not have done."