A Lovely Vision

The Stake & Stocking was far from the type of establishment Agnes would typically frequent. She didn't understand why Hektor was apologizing so profusely for bringing her to such a place. It's not like she was put off by young men wasting their money and the showgirls were quite kind to their irregular patron this evening. Agnes made herself comfortable in a spot near the window for the evening, simply content to spectate as the wild passions of youth unfolded before her.

Tumlin swore up and down he was only trying to blend in and get information about the goings on of the logging town. For someone playing a part though he sure seemed to be on a hot streak in a dice game with several laborers. Not that it really bothered Agnes, herself making many of the young men who came to patronize the bar this evening jealous. The dancers got a kick out of the kindly older woman, making sure her teacup was never empty and that she had the finest cushions in the building to elevate her knee.

It was hard to believe they had the welcome to Zylpolis they did earlier in that same day. Agnes still wasn't quite sure why she felt such a need to intervene in the thief's harsh punishment. She was pretty sure after the dust had settled that it was the same young woman who robbed the market in River's Bend. Same light build. Same copper-colored hair with tufts that reminded Agnes of pointy little cat ears. “Maybe she's the forest witch too,” Agnes joked to herself as a yawn slipped out. Despite the nagging pain in her knee, it was a nice moment to reflect on how raucous the past few days had been.

Even just a week ago, almost nothing could have tempted Agnes to pack a bag and traipse across the countryside all the way to Zylpolis. Not even if you promised her the finest accomodations. Yet here she was, spending a night in a bordello to hide out from the law with a gambling Littlefoot companion. It was fun! Was this the type of thing that motivated her son Leonidas, or her grandson Alexander? For all of her frustrations with her descendants over the decisions they made, Agnes always hoped they had fun on their journeys. Moments like this to contrast the toil and hardships.

“Is you knee giving you trouble, Mrs. Agnes?” She hadn't realized that Hektor had approached her, or that the thoughts of her foolhardy progeny made a few stray tears trickle down her cheek.

“Just an old woman being sentimental. But thank you for checking on me Tumlin.” Agnes wiped her tears away as she rose gingerly to her feet. “I think it's time for bed though.”

“I'll join you,” Hektor said as he handed Agnes her shepherd's crook. “And once again, I am truly sorry we had to settle for sharing a room.”

“I'm no shy maiden Tumlin,” Agnes replied with a horase cackle. “Tired of your winning streak?”

“Well...” Hektor blushed as he turned away, “Uncle Dorian always told me to quit when I was ahead.” Agnes could see what he meant from the sour looks on the faces of his vanquished opponents.

Their room on the second floor was nice enough, though it was so late by the time the two travelers settled in that they barely took the time to appreciate it. Before too long Agnes had drifted off to sleep. She didn't often dream, or if she did she didn't often remember them, but the one she had that night was so vivid she would have mistaken it for a memory had it not been so otherworldly.

Agnes was back at the edge of that tangle, or at least something that reminded her of Artemis's Wood just north of the city she was in. A shimmering golden deer stood before her, casting a knowing gaze over Agnes before turning to plunge gracefully into the forest. Agnes felt compelled to follow, unsure of how she was ever supposed to keep up in such thick underbrush but the journey was surprisingly easy. With each leap and bound over gnarled root and dense brush she found her body changing. Growing...younger, more limber and energetic than she had felt in a long time if ever.

Agnes followed the golden deer to a spot deep within the Wood, where the overgrown tangle gave way to a clearing. The stone columns of a grand temple still stood, choked by vines with brillaint white flowers opening in the moonlight. But the compound had clearly seen better days. On closer inspection, Agnes couldn't remember when she had ever seen a temple of this design. There was something ancient about it, like it came from a world long ago.

The golden doe reappeared beside her. It's shimmering light giving off a comforting warmth. Agnes reached out to touch it, but the deer sauntered forward to a spot in the ruins. Judging from the layout of the ruins it would have likely been where the grand statue of the central deity would have stood. Agnes thought she saw the visage of the huntress Artemis for a moment, surrounded by supplicants that reminded her of old tales about the Fair Folk. As soon as the mass of lithe frames, flowing robes, and shining silvery hair appeared the scene was back to simply Agnes and her spectral guide standing in overgrown ruins. The golden doe strode to a particular spot and started to dig at the ground with her hoof. Click, click, click. The rhythmic tapping of the doe's hoof on lingering flagstones continued as Agnes approached.

Click, click, click. It was steady, sharp as Agnes wove between the standing columns and negotiated the dilapidated parts of the ruins. The sound continued as she leaned down to observe the spot the doe was digging at. But just as she reached her guide...Agnes awoke. The dream felt so real she thought she could still hear the clicking of the doe's hoof. Or at least that's what she thought it was until Hektor groaned and rolled over, trying to muffle the sound by folding a pillow around his ears.

She looked around the room as best she could, eyes straining in the minimal light. Then, in the window she spied the culprit. The cat ear-like tufts on her head were a dead giveaway. Framed by the moonlight and standing on the sill of their second-story window was the thief girl from earlier today.