In Lost Dreams the Four Were Bound

34 - Elis - Stirring the Pot

Elis had been up since before sunrise, stirred from her sleep by wistful dreams and unrequited frustration. Neris had danced in her head all night, luring her into deeper depravities as she whispered tantalizing secrets in her golden-red ears. Needing fresh air, Elis had left Rais bundled up and climbed the small wooden staircase built into the trunk of her tree. Atop the highest platform, she sat and watched as the pink-and-gold morning light overtook the dark blue and purple of dawn. Her lavender eyes scanned the treetops as she shivered with only her thin lavender gown to cover her.

In every direction, the forest seemed to stretch forever, the impossibly tall trees blocking out the horizon. But with only a day's walk north, she would find herself emerging onto the human highroad nestled between the woods and the dying grasslands. South was a farther trek, but in a day or two, she could be in the rolling plains of the Grannas.

Her mind full of the possibilities, Elis wondered when she had last contemplated how easy it would be to leave. In the pit of her stomach, she understood it was not that trivial. The beasts and thickets of brush and thorns that lined many paths made traversing either way dangerous. Diverting around those obstacles added hours, if not days, to the effort. East was a clearing that the Grannas smugglers used to trade goods, but even that had its perils. A long fork of clearance was bounded by the woods on either side for days. At least it was safe, relative to any other misadventure.

It had been a long time since Elis had fallen in love, but she found herself swooning for Neris like a younger woman. Infatuation was a dangerous thing, as was newfound love. Either way, the feelings worried her. So much of her current life had been built upon a patient, precise give-and-take with the people around her. The Hyunisti were kind but stuck in their cycle. Nothing short of a miracle could break them from it, and Elis did not have the heart to be part of their constant suffering.

"You look lost in thought." A hoarse male voice caught her attention. Unshaken, Elis turned her head, watching as Bedimer ascended the steps of her retreat. "I'm not disturbing you, I pray, vindal Elis?"

"Not at all, Bedimer. I would enjoy the company," Elis motioned to the bare wood beside her.

The haggard, grey-eyed talvuo laughed, his rough, brown ears flexing as he sat beside her. "You have a wonderful view, vindal." Bedimer coughed as he cleared his throat. "Forgive me. The evening has been long."

"Still leading the watch?"

"Trying to, when I'm not directed by other's whims." He gestured down below.

"I never apologized for rushing off that night," Elis said, blushing as she remembered how she had abandoned the man with Rais. "I hope she gave you no trouble."

"Nothing she wrought," Bedimer said, taking a deep breath.

For several moments the two of them sat quietly, watching as a cloud of blackbirds swarmed in the distance. At their front, an awkward fowl coaxed and bobbed as the flock mimicked its chicanery. One more twisted breed trying to fit in among its peers.

"How is she?" Bedimer asked, his grey eyes fixed on the scene in the distance.

Elis turned her head toward him and smiled. "You saw her. She's as healthy and bright as a child should be."

"Still have nightmares?"

"Every now and then. She's getting better, but if I'm not at home, she can be restless."

"Have you left her often?"

"Only a handful of times of late." Elis felt admonished, pondering how selfish she had been.

"I can take my post here next time, if it pleases you."

"You don't have to, Bedimer," Elis said as Bedimer shifted his gaze toward her. "I need to be better about my own habits."