Jigano had been doing his best to prepare the guild hall for LongNight, mostly on his own. Caiside was also recovering from the blight, Amalia had the world on her shoulders as it was, and Sam... well. The bard regretted how he had said a number of things, especially how harsh he had been with the blight still stirring him to petty sniping, but he had spoken honestly. Sam had the right to his hurt feelings over it, but Jigano had the right to his pain and anger over the blight the Voice had spread as well, and until some of that faded a little space was probably good for both of them before they could try and work things out again.
At least the blight had receded to a ghost of its former hold on him, allowing him to get back to work and training, regaining his strength and rebuilding his sense of self and purpose. He remembered how Maea and Sam had helped him work last year, digging out the window wells of the south wall of the Guildhall, and since he didn't want to have to reprise that task he had gone out to lay heavy planking over the wells, then shoveled snow back on top of it. It meant the Hall would be without sunlight until the snow melted, but it also meant that the Hall was hidden from the outside, and hopefully from the monsters that walked LongNight. He had brought a few more of the boards with him as he headed back inside, stomping snow from his boots and cloak on the steps outside the Atheneum before he made his way back into his Hall.
And stopped in surprise to find a stranger standing there as he came around the curve of the stairs, just inside the door. It had been awhile since anyone had visited seeking knowledge, and immediately the Provost perked up, setting the boards aside and stripping off his gloves as he offered a smile to the other man. "Good afternoon, sir," he began, courteous and welcoming in voice and manner. "What brings you to the Loreseekers' Guild today?" His eyes flicked to the book thatAdam had picked up, noting its orientation, but he kept his expression friendly and open as he waited to hear what the other man was looking to know.
At least the blight had receded to a ghost of its former hold on him, allowing him to get back to work and training, regaining his strength and rebuilding his sense of self and purpose. He remembered how Maea and Sam had helped him work last year, digging out the window wells of the south wall of the Guildhall, and since he didn't want to have to reprise that task he had gone out to lay heavy planking over the wells, then shoveled snow back on top of it. It meant the Hall would be without sunlight until the snow melted, but it also meant that the Hall was hidden from the outside, and hopefully from the monsters that walked LongNight. He had brought a few more of the boards with him as he headed back inside, stomping snow from his boots and cloak on the steps outside the Atheneum before he made his way back into his Hall.
And stopped in surprise to find a stranger standing there as he came around the curve of the stairs, just inside the door. It had been awhile since anyone had visited seeking knowledge, and immediately the Provost perked up, setting the boards aside and stripping off his gloves as he offered a smile to the other man. "Good afternoon, sir," he began, courteous and welcoming in voice and manner. "What brings you to the Loreseekers' Guild today?" His eyes flicked to the book that
