From: alden@coos.dartmouth.edu (Laurie F. Alden)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Barmaid's Journal/[L] Wandering
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:11:12 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH


The hours had been getting long for Serene.  She watched all evening
out the window, seaward in the manner of sea-widows walking their
lonely watches.  She scented the weather like a deer, responded to
voices and echoes on the wind no one else heard.  Listener's tunes had
sustained her, but now, near midnight, she set her tray heavily on
Littlefair's bar with an expression of weariness.

She leaned on the bar, nodding at Littlefair's advice to sleep.  He
shooed her toward her room, but her steps led her to the solid front
door of the Dragon's Inn.  She reached for her grey cloak, thick and
wooly guard against the chill, damp evening.  Her hand grasped for it
but missed and she, distracted, went out into the night alone and
unprotected.

Mary Littlefair walked briskly over to Luthor's table.  She wore a look
of concern and she wrung her apron tightly.  As she neared the table,
she cleared her throat; Luthor turned and all others at the table fell
to silence.

"Excuse me, but this is rather urgent.  Serene just wandered out of the
inn and I don't think that she had all of her wits about her.  Being as
expecting as she is, I am worried for her safety.  I wouldn't want a
Low City thug hurting her or anything, so I was wondering if you could
go after her Luthor.  I've got to watch the inn and out of everyone
left, you probably know her the best."

Luthor was about to tell her that he didn't remember Serene, but after
recent discovery of what has been happening over the past four and a
half years, he wasn't sure about anything.  As far as he knew, the
child that she carried could be his.  "I will watch her, don't worry."

Luthor stood and excused himself from the friends at his table and took
the gray cloak that Mary held out for him.

Luthor left the inn and looked for Serene.  The night was very misty,
but as he looked, the mist seemed to part allowing him a view of her as
she headed West down Dragons Lane.  He caught up to her easily as she
walked a very slow and casual pace.  She had let her hair down and
taken off boots, leggings, apron, now wearing only her short black
dress.

Quietly, another presence followed, guarding in his own way, protecting
the wandering Fog Dancer in the night.

Luthor attempted to bring Serene out of her dream-state,  "Serene,
people say that we know each other yet I do not remember.  How long
have we been friends?"

The small woman turned - her eyes lit by distant lights.  Her graceful
hands reached out to Luthor to grasp his own.  "Friends," she agreed.
An unheard sound caught her attention and she smiled broadly.  "Friends
since the first Fog cast the first Shadow, dancing together in honour
and joy."  She flung her arms trustingly around Luthor for a brief
moment; he had chance only to return her embrace and wonder again just
how they knew one another, for her words rang true.

"Serene, are you all right?  I could take you back to the inn if you
would like.  It is nice and warm in the inn."  To Luthor, this was a
perfect night.  The heavy mists obscured vision and would enhance his
abilities.  "A watched probability never changes" his master had told
him over and over.

On the other hand, Luthor was not sure that the cold damp night air was
good for an expecting mother.  She could catch a cold and pass it on to
the child...  He wrapped her grey cloak around her shulders.  Better to
get her back to the inn where that would not be a problem.  Luthor was
about to suggest this to Serene when he noticed that she did not look
cold.  She seemed perfectly at ease in the mist.

Serene's eyes, fixed on sights in some other place, flicked to Luthor's
face again.  "Nice and warm," she echoed and turned toward the foggy
beach.  
--
lfa@dartmouth.edu                      |There's a little bit of dog hair
Stat Consultant - Dartmouth College    |in everything we do.
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