An Evening's Pause

He was distracted by a touch on his arm – Alithea. She showed him the corner of the tent where she would be sleeping. She held out a string made from Ibik hide. "I will tie this around my hoof after we eat. I will leave a piece of string under the tent wall. Before the sun goes down, tap out that Erthen is all right. I will sleep better."

Fallon was not a first time dad and was patient. He was used to her rythms and familiar with her anxiety just before the birth of their baby. The women prepared a light meal and Altiss ushered him out of the tent. He didn't see the faerie.

He rejoined Drindl and Alpen. Both of them assured Fallon that the egg was fine. Fallon felt more confident taking the egg pouch for the overnight vigil. Freed of the pouch, Drindl took Erthen to a nearby hill to watch the sunset.

As the rim of the sun sank below the hills, Fallon left the tent. Staying low as he moved through the reeds near the river, Fallon approached the big tent in the dim light. He found the Ibik string and pulled. He felt Alithea's hoof move, then the string grew taut. He tapped out that Erthen was happy and their egg was warm and goodnight. She acknowledged with a tapping of affection. Fallon circled away from the tent, careful to stay out of sight of the guards.
///////////////////////

Drindl was stirred from his slumber. He disentangled his arm from Erthen's sleeping frame and stood, then followed the whisper outside the tent. "Sarten wants all the warriors without eggs," the voice said. The moonlight filtered through the half-naked trees as they walked toward the rear of the camp. Drindl saw a few warriors outside a large tent in a clearing between the trees. He was led to a tent where there were thirty to forty warriors packed tightly together. Someone handed him some energy. He was confused and surprised that there was any left. He turned abruptly as Sarten entered the large tent and walked to the table.

Sarten held a piece of energy into his mouth and surveyed the warriors. "Eat and let us be done with these bothersome Glades and their foul eggs." Sarten put the energy his mouth and the warriors followed suit. Drindl was so alarmed that his mouth was dry and he couldn't swallow. He looked around and saw a small urn being passed. He held up his arm to signal the warrior that he needed a drink when Sarten saw him and called out to him. Drindl ejected the energy in his hand and answered, "Sir! Drindl, your faithful warrior here." He had never been spoken to directly by the leader.

"You shake like a child at the sight of Sprints," Sarten taunted and looked to the others. Drindl blushed with shame. "Tonight is not a night for children," Sarten said. "Go back to sleep in your tent and dream of little Faeries." The other warriors laughed. As Drindl shuffled past his companions on his way to the exit, he was poked and pushed. He was relieved to make it out of the big tent.