that followed helped to bring Sean out of his black mood.
* * *
As he changed from his modern clothes into those given him by his new companions, Sean pondered the changes he’d experienced since Drath stepped around that oak tree, as well as the tremendous change waiting on the other side of those identical pine trees. He still wondered why he believed their outrageous story, concluding that the most convincing evidence was the presence of the three non-humans. They had allowed him to verify their features were not prosthetic, though Dart had smilingly claimed to be deeply offended.
Sean was not yet accustomed to seeing them and kept rubbing his eyes to clear them every time one of the elves’ long, pointed ears poked up from beneath his hair. In addition to their ears, their slightly olive skin made them appear the most foreign of the whole group, Thorne’s only non-human aspects being his extreme shortness and overall gnarled features. He appeared carved from the very rocks he claimed were his home and had the gruff bluntness of a mountain. But he seemed as reliable as one, too.
Sean found he liked the dwarf immensely, especially in contrast to the two sly elves. Talking to them was slippery and sometimes annoying, and their stories were usually hilarious, though hard to believe. The musical lilt to their voices made them easy to listen to and counteracted Thorne’s deep bass.
He knew Drath truly wanted to be his friend, for the regard he’d shown over his bad dreams and the helpful advice he’d given him during the three days of their trek to the portal had convinced the young man of that. Merdel always approached him on a more intellectual level, for he asked all sorts of probing questions. He didn’t seem any less concerned for Sean’s well-being, for the advice he gave him usually helped. He’d also presented the best arguments when Sean had wondered and worried if he should leave.
Merdel’s brow had knit. “At the risk of sounding obnoxious and rude, who would miss you?” The mage had tried to grin a little to take the sting out, but to Sean he succeeded only in looking like a wizard who believed he had all the answers. Unfortunately, Merdel had a very valid point. Sean was, after all, in school almost five hundred miles from home, and his parents didn’t expect him to contact them as often, now that he was beginning his junior year.
Thorne, Rush, and Dart had not said as much to him since he’d met them, though Thorne’s admission had helped boost his self-confidence tremendously. They had all expressed their desire for him to join their quest, and even the elves had shown more than a little concern over his anxieties. They kept reassuring him they prayed regularly to the Great God for him to grow stronger. One day, they were going to have to tell him who this Great God was. Merdel and the elves spoke of Him with reverence and obvious belief, while Thorne made sport of them for being foolish. Drath simply avoided the topic.
Drawing on his wool trousers and tucking in his shirttail, Sean found they fit well enough, though might wear better with a belt. He pulled his boots on and worked his feet side to side, trying to loosen the stiff, new leather. He found everything fit quite well and was pleased that nothing hindered his movements in any way.
He placed the throwing dagger Dart had given him in the top of his right boot, and the other he tied at his left side. He thought again how much an extra belt would help. Checking himself over, he hoped he looked nice decked out in his favorite charcoal grey and wished he had a mirror so he could see all of himself at once. Pleased with his new clothing, he picked up his gloves and tucked them into the waistline of his pants, for their thick warmth was not needed now. The woolen material had already begun to feel hot.
“When our good Vaun Tarsus deigns to join us,” Sean heard Merdel say wryly, “we will depart.” He found he liked hearing his
* * *
As he changed from his modern clothes into those given him by his new companions, Sean pondered the changes he’d experienced since Drath stepped around that oak tree, as well as the tremendous change waiting on the other side of those identical pine trees. He still wondered why he believed their outrageous story, concluding that the most convincing evidence was the presence of the three non-humans. They had allowed him to verify their features were not prosthetic, though Dart had smilingly claimed to be deeply offended.
Sean was not yet accustomed to seeing them and kept rubbing his eyes to clear them every time one of the elves’ long, pointed ears poked up from beneath his hair. In addition to their ears, their slightly olive skin made them appear the most foreign of the whole group, Thorne’s only non-human aspects being his extreme shortness and overall gnarled features. He appeared carved from the very rocks he claimed were his home and had the gruff bluntness of a mountain. But he seemed as reliable as one, too.
Sean found he liked the dwarf immensely, especially in contrast to the two sly elves. Talking to them was slippery and sometimes annoying, and their stories were usually hilarious, though hard to believe. The musical lilt to their voices made them easy to listen to and counteracted Thorne’s deep bass.
He knew Drath truly wanted to be his friend, for the regard he’d shown over his bad dreams and the helpful advice he’d given him during the three days of their trek to the portal had convinced the young man of that. Merdel always approached him on a more intellectual level, for he asked all sorts of probing questions. He didn’t seem any less concerned for Sean’s well-being, for the advice he gave him usually helped. He’d also presented the best arguments when Sean had wondered and worried if he should leave.
Merdel’s brow had knit. “At the risk of sounding obnoxious and rude, who would miss you?” The mage had tried to grin a little to take the sting out, but to Sean he succeeded only in looking like a wizard who believed he had all the answers. Unfortunately, Merdel had a very valid point. Sean was, after all, in school almost five hundred miles from home, and his parents didn’t expect him to contact them as often, now that he was beginning his junior year.
Thorne, Rush, and Dart had not said as much to him since he’d met them, though Thorne’s admission had helped boost his self-confidence tremendously. They had all expressed their desire for him to join their quest, and even the elves had shown more than a little concern over his anxieties. They kept reassuring him they prayed regularly to the Great God for him to grow stronger. One day, they were going to have to tell him who this Great God was. Merdel and the elves spoke of Him with reverence and obvious belief, while Thorne made sport of them for being foolish. Drath simply avoided the topic.
Drawing on his wool trousers and tucking in his shirttail, Sean found they fit well enough, though might wear better with a belt. He pulled his boots on and worked his feet side to side, trying to loosen the stiff, new leather. He found everything fit quite well and was pleased that nothing hindered his movements in any way.
He placed the throwing dagger Dart had given him in the top of his right boot, and the other he tied at his left side. He thought again how much an extra belt would help. Checking himself over, he hoped he looked nice decked out in his favorite charcoal grey and wished he had a mirror so he could see all of himself at once. Pleased with his new clothing, he picked up his gloves and tucked them into the waistline of his pants, for their thick warmth was not needed now. The woolen material had already begun to feel hot.
“When our good Vaun Tarsus deigns to join us,” Sean heard Merdel say wryly, “we will depart.” He found he liked hearing his
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