long road out to recovery

Since Sam had moved into Ronin's guild partly to hide from potential attackers, he had not left often. The outside world had become in his mind a dark place full of people just waiting for a chance to jump. He had not felt so paranoid about what lurked beyond his own four walls in a long time and the uncomfortable creeping cold of fear settled into his skin comfortably, like an old coat. There was only one thing that was greater than the terror and that was his love of his work and his friends. He had seen Ronin back and recovered, had heard others were doing well, but did not dare let himself be optimistic for the fate of Jigano. The man had seemed far gone at the Spire, beginning to lose control of himself. So he headed to the Loreseeker's guild intending more to look about and try to work out the place for a possible takeover than find his friend. Amalia had told him the position would be his in another time and while he was sure she wouldn't be happy about him, an Ascended, leading her guild...not to mention the fact that he didn't much fancy a leader position anyway. But if Jigano was gone (a thought that brought an immediate lump to his throat) it was his responsibility to make sure the guild did not die too. Walking into the hall, he traced his hand slowly along a table, looking about the place with a sigh. Could he do this? The emptiness of the room seemed to mock him. Samuel He took a step but then felt tired He said, I'll rest a little while But when he tried to walk again He wasn't a child