PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

4. Blackthorn

"difficulty and austerity"

Sabina is the most guarded person Tuluvey's ever had the pleasure of trying to befriend. She's ill at ease more often than not and has a habit of being in conflict with herself. The Goldhands often helped people that were hurting and Tuluvey knows what it looks like. He looks at her and he knows that something hurt her, but has little idea of what to do about it. L'gaoia would know- she's been doing this kind of thing for decades- but Tuluvey's not L'gaoia, so he does his best. As far as he's concerned, a bit of kindness will go a long way.

When Sabina starts awake from a nightmare, all he can do is ask if she's all right, to which she inevitably says she is. He makes sure they eat, since he has a feeling Sabina would try to save the food they have if he didn't. He gives her smiles and flirts with her, just a little, though he doubts she even notices. He tells her stories, mostly about the Goldhands. He tells her about all he travelled with, the people he admits he misses. She listens and doesn't offer any stories of her own.

A day passes, then two, then three- and Tuluvey finds that he's already extremely attached to her. He likes her and knows there's more to uncover. He sees it when he startles a laugh out of her or when he says something so outlandish that the only way she can possibly reply is with sarcasm. He likes Sabina, and he's determined to get close to her.

The good thing about traveling up Terrowyn Pass is the amount of taverns they come across. Once they hit the main road, sleeping in the woods becomes an option rather than a surety. So, when they run low on food, they stop at the next tavern they find.

"The Lovely Rose," Tuluvey reads. "Sounds like a brothel."

"A low end one, maybe," Sabina says dryly.

Tuluvey holds open the door for her, and they go in. The inside of the tavern is even more well kept than the outside. All the surfaces are immaculate. The curtains are drawn, allowing rays of sunshine to illuminate the room. The silver gilding on the chairs and tables gleam in the sun. The Lovely Rose is practically barren this time of day and the only noises are the clinking sounds coming from the kitchen.

One of the flowers sitting on the windowsill is wilting, so Tuluvey freshens it up before going to get a key. He catches an elven woman seated at the front desk. Her hair is braided over her shoulder and she's reading a tome of significant volume.

There's a lot more elves everywhere ever since Tormoira burned. Guess they had to go somewhere.

"Hello," Tuluvey greets brightly. "Could I have a room key? My friend and I are looking to stay the night."

The elf looks up and then briefly puts her book down to grab a key from a drawer in the desk. "What will you offer me?"

Tuluvey unlatches one of his various beaded bracelets and holds it out. "This one's amethyst."

The woman takes the bracelet and hands him a little golden key.

"What should I call you?" she asks. "I'm Onora. I built this place."

"I'm Tuluvey. I'm headed to Ilsted with my friend, Sabina."

He makes idle chat with Onora and he decides he likes her well enough. He learns that she's extremely into politics, which he supposes is a given considering what Shasan, or more specifically King Vulre, did to her homeland not even two years ago. Tuluvey never belonged to a kingdom himself, but feels a certain allegiance to fae and has always wanted to visit the ruins of the fae kingdom, Cathkar. Cathkar hasn't existed for over a thousand years, but it's said to be beautiful still, if you ignore the weird cult that worships a giant tree like it's one of the Gods.