LOREN
It turned out that even Loren, as tense as he was, could only stay vigilant for so long. Given that they were cooped up inside, and there was no light streaming through the boarded up and covered windows—it was pitch black outside, so even if they hadn’t been, that wouldn’t change—it made time a little hard to measure. Still, he’d gotten a little bit of sleep on what he assumed was the first night. It was restless, but then again he’d always been plagued by nightmares. When he woke, probably before dawn his body still following the natural rhythms he’d gotten used to as a farmer, he’d scrounged up some food for himself, Beatrix, Jace, Astra, and anyone else who'd chosen to stay with his strange little family. Then he’d made sure they were all fed, and his relatives were set up for the day with some toys, books, and sweets (plus whatever else they needed) before informing them that he’d needed to go to work.Even now, he couldn’t sit idly by. While it was probably a bit silly, he decided to patrol and guard a bit. Maybe the sight of him would inspire confidence, given the small luxere by his side, peering at everyone with curious eyes. Or maybe not: he was still too thin, a fact accentuated by the form-fitting dark clothes he’d taken to wearing. At least he wasn’t as painfully gaunt anymore as he had been until recently. He nodded at those he knew, and those who looked like they needed some acknowledgement, though he didn’t stop moving until he found himself in the tunnel to the Rathskellar.
Opening the door, he was surprised to find it empty. Oh, the signs of people staying there were obvious, but they’d either drank themselves into a stupor and stumbled somewhere else to sleep it off or they’d gone elsewhere when they woke up, the cramped quarters not as nice as the more open spaces of the main area of the Temple. Regardless of the reason, he decided to enjoy the unexpected solitude; taking a chair, he positioned it so he could watch both entrances, then tried to get in a little light meditation. He’d need all the calm he could get in the coming days. They all probably would. Astra curled up at his feet, and he smiled, reaching down with one hand to give her an affectionate head rub before focusing on his breathing.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
