Quanil’s energy was a little overwhelming and Rance knew that, have he been in raven form, his feathers would have been fluffed up in reaction. But the smile stayed on his lips and the young Loreseeker continued, brightly welcoming and interested in Rance’s opinions. Their enthusiasm was an much more overt version of the curiosity Jigano said was common among the guild members. “I guess so, I don’t have a easy answer, and no, in that order.” Rance ticked off, chuckling a bit by the end, their excitement reminding him of his own younger siblings whenever he came home to visit.
He didn’t have time to dwell on the sadder aspect of that comparison before Jigano was giving instructions. Having heard it all fairly recently, he tuned out, putting together another boxy lantern as he had before. This time, instead of having his sister in mind, he began decorating with the life he’d left behind in his thoughts. Bright ‘jewels’ of colored paper for his mother. A pine branch for his father. A flock of tiny black birds for the others. They were all rudimentary and, really, the only reason he knew what they were was because he made them, but it was the thought that mattered.
Conversation murmured around, the crowd having gone a bit quieter as they worked, but Rance didn’t look up until Quanil spoke. He blinked up from decorated paper as the last piece was set to dry on the frame and sucked in a deep breath. “Hmm? Well, it’s not art, but it’s not like a queen’s goin’ to be judgin’ it.”
Eventually, Rance almost chose not to let the lantern go and take it instead back to the tavern in Sanctuary. Only, with help to light the candle, did he choose to release the lantern, watching the memories of his home slip away as a bittersweet farewell.
He didn’t have time to dwell on the sadder aspect of that comparison before Jigano was giving instructions. Having heard it all fairly recently, he tuned out, putting together another boxy lantern as he had before. This time, instead of having his sister in mind, he began decorating with the life he’d left behind in his thoughts. Bright ‘jewels’ of colored paper for his mother. A pine branch for his father. A flock of tiny black birds for the others. They were all rudimentary and, really, the only reason he knew what they were was because he made them, but it was the thought that mattered.
Conversation murmured around, the crowd having gone a bit quieter as they worked, but Rance didn’t look up until Quanil spoke. He blinked up from decorated paper as the last piece was set to dry on the frame and sucked in a deep breath. “Hmm? Well, it’s not art, but it’s not like a queen’s goin’ to be judgin’ it.”
Eventually, Rance almost chose not to let the lantern go and take it instead back to the tavern in Sanctuary. Only, with help to light the candle, did he choose to release the lantern, watching the memories of his home slip away as a bittersweet farewell.
