Elements of Change

Questions That Need Answered

"We need to get supplies," Kammon said as he joined Ezo in bed. The past week, Ezo had been the one to fall asleep first, tossing and turning until his lover joined him. Some nights, he waited him out. Other nights, he hunted Kammon down and dragged him away from his books. Whatever he was reading, it was pulling him from bed early and keeping him late. Ezo tried asking him what it was, but Kammon had successfully distracted him every time he did. Ezo didn't mind being kissed within an inch of his life, but when he realized he was being purposely thrown off his purpose, he was determined to figure out why.

"We can go tomorrow," he answered as he settled into Kammon's arms. "I need to stretch my legs, anyway."

The next afternoon, Ezo found himself a few hours out of Riverkeep. It was better to ride further afield for supplies than to give away their location to anyone. They would do their shopping today, then head back to Riverkeep in the morning.

Ezo stared into a shop window as he waited for Kammon to come out from the inn. He heard Kammon walk up behind him, so he started across the street.

"Ezo! Where are you going?" Kammon asked.

He didn't say anything as he walked into the shop. An older woman was sewing on the other side of a table at the back of the room. Ezo waved at her as he entered. Carefully constructed outfits were displayed on stands every few feet throughout the storefront. Shelves lined with fabric bolts took up the long wall behind the counter.

"Ezo, what are you doing in here?"

He looked at Kammon and gave him a once over. He'd stopped wearing the red cloak of the War-Sworn, but his jacket was still styled in the same fashion. The edges of his clothes were frayed, and while they were well cared for, it was obvious Kammon needed to replace them. Ezo knew his own weren't any better.

"We need new clothes," he answered Kammon, as the woman at the back of the shop approached. Ezo smiled at her. "A set for each of us. And a nice jacket." He looked over his shoulder at his lover. "Jaroh always said I would want for one if I didn't have it."

Kammon shook his head. "Do we have time for this?"

"We need it, so we make the time."

Kammon glared at Ezo, then walked around the shop. He'd been more and more moody over the last few days, withdrawing into the library and keeping his own counsel.

Ezo negotiated with the seamstress, but noted the fabric that Kammon looked at as he wandered. The seamstress measured Kammon first, but as soon as she finished, he walked out the door without a word.

The seamstress watched him with an open mouth. She looked at Ezo. "Do you know what he needed, sir?"

Ezo would be pissed, but he was worried about Kammon. He had no idea what was going on in his lover's head. He wasn't even worried that he'd angered him because if he had, Kammon would have blown up at him already. And he wouldn't hold Ezo so close in bed every night the way he did.

"It looks like I'll be picking it out for him," Ezo said. "If he doesn't like it, he should have stayed to do it himself." He smiled at the woman and pushed his concerns about Kammon to the back of his head. He was probably off to get their supplies and make sure they were ready to leave in the morning.

The seamstress flew into a flurry of fabrics and Ezo had to pick out something for the both of them. He tried to keep Kammon's preferences in mind, but if the man complained, he could wear his old clothes until they rotted on him. It would take more than a day to get all of it done, but she agreed to complete a set for each of them to be delivered in the morning. He would pick up the rest in two weeks' time.

Kammon wouldn't be happy about that return trip either, but Ezo could make it alone if need be.

As he exited the shop, he looked around the village for the other elementalist. He headed to the market way, but didn't see him with any of the vendors there. He walked the shops and vendors for close to an hour before he headed to the inn where they were staying.

To his surprise, Kammon was sitting at a table at the back with a mug of ale in front of him. It was mid-afternoon, and the room was half full of patrons. He walked straight to Kammon and took a seat.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Ezo complained.

Kammon took a long drink from his ale, but didn't say anything.

"Have you eaten?" Ezo asked. Kammon shook his head but surprised Ezo by pulling out his journal instead of talking to him. Ezo bit his tongue. As much as he wanted to blow up, they didn't want to draw any attention to themselves while they were traveling. Instead, he went to the barkeep and ordered food for the both of them.

Their food came, but by the time Ezo finished eating, Kammon still hadn't spoken to him. Kammon was buried in his journal and whatever he'd been writing in there since he started this current research project.

"I'm going to walk around and see if I can find some work for the afternoon. Have to pay for those new clothes somehow," he said as he stood.

Kammon grabbed his hand. "Don't. Ezo, we should keep a low profile here."

"Oh, that got your attention?" he snapped. "I don't want to keep a low profile. I want to get out and do something. I'm not going to sit here and drink all day."

"I'll go with you. We need to get supplies anyway."

"You didn't get them already?"

Kammon put his journal into the bag on his hip and walked out of the inn without answering. Ezo was torn between staying where he was just to be spiteful and following Kammon out. When he looked toward the door, though, Kammon had stepped back in and was waiting for him. He let out a deep breath and joined him.

"When will the clothes be ready for pickup?" Kammon asked.

"Tomorrow morning, she'll have a set for both of us ready. The rest I'll have to come back and get in a few weeks."

Kammon nodded. "I heard some interesting stories while I was at the inn earlier."

"About what?"

"Traveling players."

"You found them?"

"A merchant came through. He seemed reputable. They're in northern Distria, and he had the name of the next village they were heading to."

He pulled Kammon to a stop. "What are you thinking?"

"We should grab our supplies in the morning and drop them off at Riverkeep, then find Jaroh."

"Is this really the right time, though?" he asked. "I want to see them again, but there are still so many things I don't know."

Kammon ran a hand over tired eyes, and he leaned closer to Ezo. "I have questions that need to be answered, Ezo, and the only person in all of Distria I trust with them is Alvrey."

Author's Note: Does anyone else think Kammon really needs to let Ezo know what's happening? I don't think getting grumpy over it is going to help, and Ezo is showing a surprising amount of patience. Do you really think Alvrey can help Kammon with the questions he has though? He's said no healer can help with his soul's darkness, but what about this thing with Ezo? And the Vow?