Glam

     They'd gathered outside Glams door. Ansanlyn came out. He looked tired. "Unless something goes terribly wrong," he soothed, "he'll live. Being a dwarf, and more, being Glam has saved him. I've never seen someone so mangled. Many of his organs were destroyed, and I've used nearly all my... well... many of his bones were busted too."

     Everybody paused, looking at each other relieved. Van, who didn't understand the extant of Ansanlyns skill, and had seen Glams shattered body, couldn't quite grasp it. "So he'll be ok?" he asked.

     "If he got an infection or some other such complication it may prolong his recovery. but I'll be monitoring him closely. I believe he'll be OK. I have with me several exotic substances that have impressive properties. I'll need to travel far and wide to replenish them. I'm a coward, you see. I can't stand the thought of losing people." Van nodded, but understood. Ansanlyn scrutinized him, then continued, "You have that look as well. You've lost someone. How you deal with... if it hasn't already, will change you, for good or ill. I'm available if you need some one to talk to," Van again nodded in affirmation, and the healer continued, "but i'm really no good at that sissy stuff. Eloin isn't either. More then likely she'll tell you to train through your emotions. I'm at a loss, Now that I think of it, we all lack in that respect."

     Van joined Ansanlyns musings, now speaking half to himself, "I'm sure you all are better at it then you think. If nothing else, it helps to see other people, that they suffered like you. For a long time I wasn't seeing beyond myself. I wasn't seeing that other people have this pain too. And this longing, worse then any addiction, to see that person again or just... sleep..."

     Ansanlyn ventured, "If it weren't impossible, I'd say you already fought this beast and failed.  Remember when you were a tiny child? elves do. we hated to sleep because we didn't want to miss anything. That's an attitude we must recapture to combat these feelings."

     Van smiled. "We call that 'fear of missing out' where I'm from. There it has a different connotation. I like yours better though. Yes, I failed miserably at the test of losing someone. I'm still struggling with it. Somehow I was given another chance. I had forsook my faith. perhaps this was... something to help me, to save me... again."

     "It's better to feel gratitude for being saved, then never having been saved." quoted Ansanlyn. It's an elven saying. Anyways, Vestis is waiting for you outside. They negotiated for your time. Eloin has you for a clock round every morning and every night, while Vestis got the Chieftans share. 

     Van shook his head sadly, "I fear they're right about the importance of having more options. I need to discard those heroic thoughts of wading into combat. I can still do that when it's practical, but options are good too. If Vestis hadn't arrived when he did... I was helpless to save her."

     Vestis was at the base of the hill amidst the cluster of buildings, the workshop, barn and storage. The milking barn was out by the pasture. Vestis was a quiet thing, and that contrasted greatly with his manner of dress. He wore a yellow tri-corner hat with a great red feather. He wore a blue knee length coat with yellow buttons and embroidery. He had a woolly red shirt with a silky type of yellow scarf tucked into it. The woolly shirt was lined with the same material as the scarf, although one wouldn't notice from a casual inspection. The grey wrap he wore was folded over a belt and was obviously lined with the same material. The wrap was long with frayed ends near the ground partially obscuring the wizards boots.

     As for Vestis himself, he was a sharsham, a thoroughly unpopular race, completely undeserving of their dubious reputation. His limbs and neck were of a slender, slightly longish dimension. He was tall and thin with a ropy musculature. His head and face was red, matching the feather on his hat, with a tan fleshy color about his mouth and downward into the scarf. You couldn't barely see that he was scaled unless the light hit him just right. His features, were handsome otherwise, at least by human standards. 

      "Show me what you can do!" Vestis exclaimed as Van approached him. Van produced his sword. Vestis continued grinning at him, but shook his head, "Not that. what was it the first time you used it?" dissipating the sword he'd worked so long on, he held out his hand, palm up. Above it formed a ball, a ball so black it seemed to actually absorb the light. It was the size of a baseball, but looked bigger. Shades of black swirled and fought inside it. Vestis took a step back, leery. "I... see. please, keep it away from me... and please tell me you haven't used that sword in your training. A scratch might be all it would take... to kill someone..." he trailed off, glancing toward the field where Eloin was harvesting tubers. Immediately Van closed his hand and dispersed the ball with a frightened gasp. "It'll act as a poison. Not even Ansanlyn could help them. Perhaps the sword is really the best way to use this... you're no doubt familiar with how my power works, right?"

     Soon after they sat at the table having a coffee with Ansanlyn. Vestis set a very old leather journal on the table and pushed it toward Van. Sometimes I'll activate my ability in the market. It's especially useful in bookstores. Several years ago this book fell into my hands quite literally from a stack of books being re-shelved. After having looked at it later, I dreaded the day it would become useful. I don't know whether to be relieved you've turned out to be an ally, or worried for you. You'll understand what I mean when you've read it yourself. On the bright side, training with Eloin all day is an option for you now. I don't think I could teach you more then that book. Everything else is focus, and combat training will help with that... oh and meditation. I'll help you with that, at least."

     Everyone started as there was a knock at the door. Normally it would be Glam answering it. Everyone looked at Van. Getting up he answered the door. There before him stood what appeared to be a family of Eddins. Mostly greys, with the patriarch being the only blue. "Welcome," parroted Van, trying to mimic Glams own door answering routine.