[Filter: Private]

I'm not even sure what's going on anymore.

[Filter: Aekaran]

So.

Can I ask, exactly, what spurred all of this?

[Fil ter: Aekaran]

yo u told eve, did nt' you?

[Filter: Aekaran]

you know, time is a much stranger thing than memory. much stranger. haha, think about it, time is very strange. do you know how long it's been since these books opened? a very long time, haha.

[Filter: Private]

... I wish we were closer to a chapel. Just ... one candle. Well Two, I suppose. For Chavi, and for the Asher I once knew. Before he ... before. Three, if you add in one for Mallorie.

It seems like I add a candle, every year, doesn't it? A few years from now, I'll have ten or more. Too many. I'll ... light a few, next time we're anywhere near a chapel. Surely Aekaran can allow me that much, for one day.

[Filter: Aekaran]

Did you know it's commonly considered bad luck to be on the road for the Night of the Dead?

[Filter: Aekaran]

So.

Pick a direction.

[Filter: Eve]

So, I've been yelled at.

I know you don't want to talk to me, but the woman who did the yelling did bring up a good point when she said that I ought to be apologizing to you, not to her. So, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone, now.

Have a good Festival.

[Filter: Private]

I think this is going to be something big.

Forna. If it were any other house they were claiming, I'd probably turn aside, but Forna? If it's attention that these people want, whoever they are, they've certainly got that. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's taken notice. Those men were clustered around reading the note for a reason. They know it's not a name or a threat you toss around lightly.

... Whatever Aekaran wants to do, I think we need to get out of here. This looks like it's only going to get messier, and I don't particularly want to be around when it inevitably does. I'd like to be, ideally, as far away from Rayla as possible, if it's going to be at the center of this little explosion. And besides

Yes. I think, very soon, we need to move. At least he's aware of that now.

That's ... odd. There's an entire crowd of people in this bar all clustered together. Aekaran, do you have any idea what the lot of them are looking at or chattering about? I can't get close enough to see.

[Filter: Aekaran]

Why are there so many people gathered around the wall, there?

[Filter: Private]

That


That went about as well as could be expected.

Dragons, what was I thinking would

I -- need to get out of here. As soon as possible, I need to ...

[Filter: Private]

We're not far away now, are we.

Dragons, I don't even know what to expect. Aside from, I suppose, a firm slap, but ... It's been so long since I've seen her. How much she could have changed, since then. How much I've changed. Haha. We're not the same people we were back then, are we?

Or, at least, she's not.

I feel ... stuck. I suppose it's just -- just me, but I feel so trapped. There's no forward motion and there's nowhere to turn back to. Eve has .... changed. Become a leader, a Queen, and I'm still just Davan. The same Davan I've always been. Even this business with relearning the sword, that's just more of an excuse to stay myself, isn't it?

I suppose that's the only answer.

I hope Aekaran is up for some cards. I'm in the mood to cheat a few men out of their savings as soon as possible. He can't exactly argue with money.

[Filter: Aekaran]

See, now, this could be going much worse.

[Filter: Private]

Well.

It's not anything special. Just a small distraction. A small ... way to work on myself, I suppose. I -- can't forgive myself for only being able to stand by. Mm, I -- I hate not being able to do anything. Anything at all, when things like that ...

I haven't changed at all. I've had this thing for years, now, and I haven't changed. I've been to so many places and met so many people, and I'm still just the same old -- same old Davan. Not a single change. Still hopeless, still useless, still just Davan. The same Davan Asher's been laughing at for so many years, the same Davan he's probably still laughing at, down in -- wherever he ended up. If there is a place to end up.

I've just -- got to keep going. Pushing forward. That's all I've ever had, is pushing forward, regardless of how -- how ridiculous it is, or how stupid. Just ... one foot, in front of the other. Day after day. Somehow, I'll last. The distraction will help.

[Filter: Private]

... Well.

[Filter: Aekaran]

I need a favor.

[Filter: Aekaran]

I've come up with an answer. The rest of the plan is "turn around and return home."

[Filter: Private]

And ... well, I don't really have a plan, do I? Walk in there, and then what. "Hello, Eve, I just thought I'd come by and say I'd made a horrible mistake."

Dragons. I'll have to figure it out sooner or later. This is absurd. What's wrong with me?

I believe I won last night's wager, Aekaran. I counted precisely three rats, no more.

I should have purchased a new scarf before we left town, though, I suppose. I think one of our fine furry friends may have gnawed holes into mine.

[Filter: Eve]

I know you hate hearing from me, but I write to you so rarely I thought it couldn't hurt. I just wanted to wish you a good day, nothing more.

[Filter: Private]

What am I expecting?

She's ... married. Happily. Her daughter is happy. Everything is perfect for her, and I'm going to walk in and ...

And what. What do I think I'm going to do? Say? What could I possibly say to her that would change anything at all?

Do I even want to change things.