She saw him place the coins within the envelope, and lay it carefully on the table. He meant to leave. She wished that there had been a longer space of time granted him for solace within the small boundaries of the Inn. Pio sighed. Well she knew the dark matters which could press upon the spirit, driving one on toward darkness and shadowed doom.
Her hand itched to grasp her blade again, proof against the encroaching Shadow. But the life within her stirred and she stayed those thoughts, feeling their needs call to her. ‘My task is done, for now.’ she told herself, feeling the Darkness which rose up again and yet again to challenge the Light.
She watched as he left the room, disappearing into the obscuring safety of the night. ‘The grace of the Valar be with you, Awyrgan.’ she murmured, knowing that those words could bring but cold comfort to the chosen
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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