The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [106]
Haarn sat and listened to her, amazed at how soothing her voice could be after thinking for days only about how she could drone on and on.
"When it became apparent that I wasn't going to be the housekeeper my mother wanted and that Josile, the girl next to me, absolutely loved those things, she was given the chores and I got the opportunity to work with my father in the smithy."
"You found that work preferable?" Haarn asked.
"For a time," Druz admitted. "I was a fair hand at repairing armor and hammering out horseshoes, but I came in contact with men and women who'd traveled around all of Faerun. Suzail, as large as it had seemed to me, was only a stopping place for them, a waystation while they rested to continue their travels to far-away destinations. One day, after I was grown, or at least thought I was, I decided I wanted to travel. Over the years, Fd been learning swordcraft from anyone who'd teach me. I learned well, and some said I had a talent for it."
Haarn agreed, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
"One night I left Cormyr, caught the first ship that would hire me on as a sellsword," Druz said, "and I began making my way as a mercenary."
"Have you been back to see your family?" Haarn asked.
"Several times."
"What did your mother and father think about the life you'd chosen?"
"They didn't like it," Druz said. "They still don't, but they know I'm happy. I'm getting to travel, and the things I fight for-" She wrinkled her nose."-usually, the things I fight for are of my own choosing and causes I believe in. It's not a life for everyone, but it's the life I chose. That's why I'm telling you this, Haarn.
"Maybe the cities aren't to your father's liking, and maybe they won't be to yours, but you shouldn't have to feel guilty about wanting to see them and explore those ties to your mother. I mean no disrespect for your father. Please understand that."
Some of Haarn's anger and resistance went away, and he thought perhaps he did understand, though he wasn't certain why Druz would be so adamant about telling him.
"If you ever did get curious about cities and wanted to see one," Druz said, "and if I were available to show you one, I… I think I'd like that very much."
She glanced away from him, as if unable to any longer hold his gaze.
Haarn looked at his father's sleeping form. Normally elves didn't sleep, just went into a meditative trance for four hours or so every day. He could never recall his father sleeping.
"He loved her very much, didn't he?" Druz asked some time later.
"Yes," Haarn whispered. "Losing her almost killed him." "He'd never known that kind of love before? I know elves are long-lived."
"If he has, he's never mentioned it." "And he's never loved like that again?" "No."
Haarn fed more wood to the fire, basking in the warm radiance.
"Not many people are fortunate to know a love like that," Druz said.
"Love like that," Haarn said, meaning it, "is a terrible thing."
"Do you really think so?"
He gazed at her, surprised by the intensity in her eyes.
"I've seen what it can do to people."
"You've only seen what it did to your father. Love like that is special, not something easily found."
The tone in her voice suggested that she'd had more than a passing interest in the subject.
"Love like that is a death trap. Better to find someone you like, share time together, then be on about your business."
"And you practice that, Haarn?"
Druz's voice carried a biting chill to it that was worse than anything outside the protection of the lean-to.
Haarn looked at her, seeing the challenge there and not totally understanding it. He let his breath out when his lungs started to ache, not even knowing he'd been holding his breath.
"No," he answered. "That's not what I practice."
A smile, partly coy and partly relieved, played on Druz's hps and she asked, "Have you ever been with a woman, Haarn?"
Haarn's face burned and he couldn't believe