rest at last

Tamy bit her lip, realizing that her haste in speaking to Rhn was completely unwise. She'd now unsettled him, and left him expecting an explanation...and did she have one to give him? She opened her mouth to respond to the gentle demands of Torbin and the ranger, but realized that words alone could not accomplish the necessary effect. She was so exhausted she could hardly breathe, or she would have connected, to show them. "I...I can't...I'm sorry but, but not...not now." She spoke between the labored breaths that were being wrenched from here fragile frame. Torbin gave her shoulders a reasurring squeeze.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. Neither of us meant to pressure you." Torbin met Rhn's eyes just to make sure the ranger could accept waiting the necessary time for a response from the exhausted child. His nod was without hesitation. Torbin smiled briefly at him, hoping to convey in the expression her twin anticipation of some sort of answer. Smoothing Tamy's hair back from her face, she studied both the girl and Dase in turn. "Are you both all right?" When their tired by sincere nods confirmed that they were in fact unharmed, she relaxed, but only slightly. "All right, both of you, I'm going to brew some tea to help you sleep, and I want you both to rest. No more talking about what happened. There will be plenty of time for that in the morning." Although Torbin could hardly bear to keep from asking questions, she recognized the two children's requirement for immediate rest.

Telling them sternly to sit without speaking, she took out her bags and began to combine several powdered substances from various packages and vials, measuring each with a practiced eye in the over-sensitive cup of her right palm. Having the materials in her hands soothed her, and she realized suddenly just how agitated Tamy and Dase's trancelike state had made her. She glanced over at the two children briefly, as if to simply assure herself they were both still of this world, and then returned tersely to her task.

Tamy was glad that Torbin told her there was no rush to share the experience, and the discoveries that Tamy had made because of it, but the little girl desperately wanted to at least speak with Dase about what had happened, and Torbin wouldn't allow that either. If she'd had any strength left at all, she might have connected with Dase, or at least made an attempt to contact Airy, who was no doubt upset right now. However, she wouldn't dare disobey the healer's orders, and so she sat silently next to Dase with her eyes downturned.

When Tamy saw Odin enter the clearing with the other two men, she stiffened subtly, then quickly forced herself to relax, hoping no one had noticed the momentary tension she'd felt. The shifter's eyes caught hers in that fierce blue embrace, and Tamy stared back guardedly. She considered a quick, unobtrusive look, just to be sure that the shifter wasn't beginning to formulate some sort of a conniving plan, but her weariness was too great.

"Here you go," Torbin said softly, distracting Tamy. The girl saw that Torbin's eyes, too, were drawn by Odin, even as she handed Tamy a hot cup of a steamy, herbal-smelling liquid. Its twin was passed to Josen. While Torbin sternly looked on, Tamy obediently drank. The flavor was actually very good, although she was braced for disgust. It slid down her sore throat like a balm and collected in her nervous stomach it seemed immediately, literally easing her abdominal muscles. She felt a new degree of litheness to the interior of her body. Encouraged by the tremendous relief, she quickly drained the cup and handed it back to Torbin. The female healer was already standing up and facing Odin while Josen introduced every one to his friend Ben. Tamy nodded quietly when her name was spoken, offering a tired smile. In fact, she felt the call of sleep even stronger all of a sudden. Whether it was due wholly or only in part to Torbin's brew, Tamy didn't know, but she suddenly wanted nothing more than sleep - and right away.

Torbin was glad to see Tamy quickly becoming drowsy. The formula wasn't meant to douse the senses and send the drinker to sleep, but it often had that effect. All it did was calm and soothe, allowing the discomfort to leave the patient and the weariness to overcome it, in most cases. Torbin generally only perscribed it in situations where sleep was the end goal, because the degree of relaxation caused by the formula was so great, it could cause delayed response to happenings during the waking day.

The newcomer was interesting, and welcome, it seemed, by all. After all, another burly individual with good command of his weapons was a comforting addition, considering the quest Odin had foretold they would be taking. While the three men tended their horses, Torbin volunteered to cook. However, despite the fact that she was in the business of combining things in a positive way, Torbin had always struggled with the culinary arts. Fed by a characteristic determination to overcome her own shortcomings, she'd forced herself to learn after she'd gone to sea with her father. The ship's cook, a talented, grisly individual with the fitting name "Mister Fourtooth", had at first begrudged but eventually delighted in schooling the captain's young daughter in the whys and hows of feeding people. Adding to that base knowledge a considerable span of time spent around a fantastic chef in recent months, and Torbin had gained a tentative confidence in her ability to make things taste good.

No one looked at all interested in roaming around the forest to hunt, so Torbin took dried meats from her own packs and boiled them in hot, spiced water to soften them and add flavor. Then she grilled each serving and placed it on a plate (She did sample one serving first, just to make sure, and smiled in self-satisfaction). There were also edible vegetables amongst the other specimens she routinely collected while moving through differing terrain, and these, washed sliced and boiled in the same water the meat had been prepared to, were a fine addition. She served Dase and Tamy first (better to sleep on a full stomach) and then invited the others to take their food as well, while she made sure the children were comfortable, and then moved off to check on the colt and the stallion.

They'd been standing long enough it was now appropriate to check for heat and soreness. Torbin began the routine of running her hands carefully down each leg, beginning with the gray colt, bending her head and closing her eyes. With him, she was so familiar with his structure and the very feel of his muscles and tendons and bones through his skin, that it didn't take long to assure herself he was in fine condition. The stallion, aside from being considerably less cooperative, was less easy for her. She felt with extreme care every crevice of his appendages. There was some heat in his right fore pastern, but that seemed to be owing to a stone wedged between his frog and the hoof wall. Torbin was attemptin to pick out the obstruction when she glanced up to see Odin standing before her.

Frowning, she returned to her task. "What do you want?"

"Just making sure my borrowed mount is feeling all right."

They eyed one another briefly, Torbin with a sour mood. Had he really noticed the horse picking up the rock? It was possible, she supposed, and although the infliction was far from severe and would recede by morning, she felt ignorant for having failed to catch the problem immediately. Odin obviously hadn't.

He had handed her a curved, thin iron rod she accepted with no word of thanks, and she quickly and efficiently removed the stone. The stallion's neck jerked as it was pulled free, whether in surprise or relif Torbin wasn't sure. She released his leg and stroked his shoulder, pondering what demands precisely she felt the need to make of Odin.

"How did things go in the city?"

"Didn't Josen already say?"

Torbin's fast glance was only slightly short of a wholehearted glare. "I meant from your perspective."

"Well. We've gained an asset, after all, and he seemed to know more than a few things about the possible fates of Josen's son."

He isn't the only one, Torbin thought darkly.

"Well, I won't keep you. Dinner is over there." She nodded pointedly, and Odin's downright amused grin made her want to slug him. Instead she struggled to hold together the frayed ends of her temper and smiled politely before moving hurriedly away from him.

On her way toward Rhn - she was very anxious to speak with him about his repeated visions immediately - she almost collided with Josen. "Sorry," she said. "Oh, how are you feeling?" Anticipating impatience, she grinned wryly. "It's kind of my duty to ask." She touched the tattoo on her arm, but then quickly realized that only in Rhudma and amongst others of her craft would the mark be recognizable.


****


Odin quietly noted the marked differences between the at first similiar seeming individuals of Ben and Josen. They both contained the same strictly human male ruthlessness that Odin did not deny admiring, but beneath that most transparent of layers, one discovered that dangerous, contemplative edge to Josen that bespoke genius - in the ways of combat, the ways of men, and the ways, Odin was beginning to fear, of other creatures as well. He took another swallow of his ale while slowly mulling over that inadvertent realization. He hadn't acknowledged the fact that his respect for this particular human was rapidly coming to border on intimidation, but now that he was forced to do so, he felt the impact of the thought like a punch in the gut. He quickly contained the sensation, running his tongue over the edge of his teeth to savor the aftertaste of the precious liquid in an effort to distract himself from the current train of thought.

Ben's reference to Odin's enjoyment of the ale drew the shifter's attention once more. When the two proceeded to indulge in a suspicious exchange, Odin felt a near-physical ache for the loss of his power. He felt the restraints surge against the attempt the moment he even considered looking, and clutched his forehead as if to brush the hair from his eyes.

Ben's admittance of his knowledge in regard to Josen's missing son was interesting. This considerately well-kept secret was somewhat monumental, though neither man was likely to know it yet. Odin got a distinctive, recollective flash of the energy that had first drawn him to the situation involving these odd humans. It encompassed Josen perhaps even more closely than it did all the rest. Odin allowed himself a wry mental chuckle, and knocked back the remainder of the contents of his glass.

Odin listened to Ben's tale with half an ear. Not because of any disrespect to the retired mercenary, but because that was quite enough of his attention to absorb every facet of the man's relation. With the other fifty percent of all of his senses he was attuned to his surroundings, hearing the relatively thunderous churning of the air and the distant noises that occupied the vicinity, inhaling the telltale odors of the streets, and feeling the precise direction of the light breeze on extremely sensitive bare forearms. He was beginning to feel the pull of his other counterparts, the will of his many forms. It was going to be a difficult withdrawal.

The red mare arrived close behind Josen's stallion, but Odin didn't have the energy to reprimand her. Instead he ran his hand down her neck with absent affection and swung into the saddle. He followed at a respectful distance behind the two comrades for a short distance, and then Ben drew up companionably on Odin's right, inquiring in a friendly tone of the nature of their pending adventure.

"We're going to traverse several different physical planes, in order to find a castle fortress that contains information about Josen's son, and a few other mysteries his...our...companions are dealing with." That would have to suffice; Odin's temper was growing short. Josen was attempting to patronize him, and it was certainly beginning to work. He had suddenly remembered the higher power's message - if one of the party was lost, so would be Odin's powers...eternally. He swallowed heavily. He could not, would not allow that to happen, he decided. It wouldn't be the first time he'd changed the future, although the times he had done so numbered small.

Odin removed himself from Ben, hoping he wouldn't have to answer any more questions, and was glad when they returned to the clearing. All adults present tensed and were battle-ready when the trees stirred to announce the trio's arrival, but when Josen - not necessarily Odin and Ben, but Josen - came into view, they all noticably relaxed.

While Josen introduced his friend, Odin's eyese sought and held Tamy's. Here was the only venue he would have for some time for insight into the other realm. He wanted to connect with her immediately, but he felt her resistance. That had no place in a seamless use of her; he would have to gain her trust before she would be useful. Resigned to that, he unsaddled the mare, watered her, and released her in the trees. Shortly thereafter, he came across Torbin, checking over the two male horses for injury or heat. He admired her comittment to the well-being of her animals. In a land where horses were often vital to the survival of people, he was suprised by how often basic evaluations were neglected.

When Torbin noticed him, her mood was less than welcoming. Although irritating her was amusing, he didn't attempt to lead her into an argument. She had other uses to put herself toward this evening, after all, if he was to consider the betterment of this group he was meant to "bond" with.

His skepticism aside, Odin could admit to being fairly ravenous. He took one of the plates Torbin had prepared, moved off by himself, and hoped Josen and this new Ben fellow chose to leave him alone. It had been a terrible day, and further questioning from either of them would accomplish making it worse.