Page 75 of Homeward for a Spell

And equally as talented

As the ranger was strong.

The party assembled beside the sea,

In a pearl most gritty and rough,

The bard sang for the ranger,

Of how life on the road would be enough.

Long the road stretched before them,

Treacherous and hard,

But they rode side by side together,

The ranger and her bard…

The song flows on from there. Araphi strums her lute, singing the verses that tell of their travel north and the various perils they faced, falling into the river, the pocket dimension, the cabin (though she left quite a bit out of that verse; there were some moments that are just for her and Sage), meeting a sorceress with a giant owl, then settling into life in Arkney.

Tears rise in Araphi’s eyes as she plays the last verse:

Long though they rode together,

Their story had to end,

So they said goodbye after the winter,

Never to meet again…

“That’s a mighty tragic tale, Bard,” Wren’s voice calls out from the doorway. Goway hoots in agreement.

Araphi sighs, putting her lute down. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to know you love your ranger, and that you’d be a fool to let that go.” Wren walks into the room and sits down on the edge of the bed.

“It’s not that simple,” Araphi says.

Goway blinks at her and Wren raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure I know all about how complicated relationships can be, but this one seems clear: You and Sage adore each other. So much so, I almost can’t stand to be around you. I swear, if I have to come across the two of you kissing in an alcove every time I’m on my way home after dinner, I might actually leave the village.”

Araphi grins. “We are very discreet, always.”

This makes both Wren and Goway cackle.

“Would you ever leave your life in Arkney, or your family?” Araphi asks. She stands and starts pulling on a sweater and her boots from the trunk at the foot of the bed.

Wren shrugs. “I’ve been thinking about it more and more lately. The adventures you and Sage have told me about have me thinking the world is quite a bit bigger than I’ve given it credit for. I suspect I want to see more of it.”

Goway hoots loudly.

Wren rolls her eyes. “And the bird says it’s time. I think when you all leave, I’ll head out too. Make my way to Shearwater perhaps, and see if I can’t learn something more about what happened to…my friend.”

Araphi knows all at once what she wants to give Wren to thank her for all the kindness and good care. For rescuing them from the cabin and welcoming them into her village. For gifting them these precious months together, away from their real lives and the rest of the world.

She stoops and pulls from the trunk the dress she wore on arriving in Arkney. Rolling back the hem, she uses her teeth to rip out one stitch, then unravels the thread that opens the tear in the lining. From there, she fishes out the artifact that’s caused them so much trouble.

“What’s this?” Wren asks.