Loren probably should have skipped this meeting, since every moment he was here was sheer agony.
While he’d been perusing the Notice Board, trying to catch himself up on recent events, the Launceleyn had seen the invitation from Remi. It had been close to the invite to Remi and Ronin’s wedding—something the former librarian still couldn’t quite accept, or wrap his mind around—and he’d instantly panicked at the thought of seeing the Attuned. Once upon a time, Loren had thought that he and Remi might find happiness together. But then the gods had intervened, and after that the summoner had gone and thrown it all away, along with the rest of his life.
But Loren had come back, eventually. And now he was forced to reckon with what little was left of his old life. Part of that reckoning would be reuniting with Remi. Again, eventually. Unfortunately, the Launceleyn didn’t know if he was stable to do that just yet. There was a way for him to maybe find out though: if Loren couldn’t handle seeing Remi in public, in a group full of people, then the former librarian certainly couldn’t handle seeing the man in private. So, if only to test his own raw nerves, Loren decided to go to the meeting.
Beyond that (and perhaps more importantly), it sounded as if Remi needed assistance with something. And while the summoner didn’t know how the other man felt about the Launceleyn, or how he felt about his former lover, Loren had never been able to stand idly by while his friends needed help. Even if they weren’t friends anymore, Loren owed Remi that much.
So the Launceleyn had shown up. Seeing Remi was like a punch to the gut, so Loren mostly looked away, keeping toward the back and the side. Thankfully, others were speaking, so he probably remained beneath notice; the hooded cloak he’d worn also helped to obscure his identity. Most of the people here were strangers, but there were some he knew from back in Northaven. Each and every one caused equal parts fear and panic to rise in him, but none were as bad as Remi.
As the meeting wore on, though, Loren was especially glad he’d shown up. Apparently, there were monsters that stalked the Hollowed Grounds during Deepfrost; Loren had been lucky to escape them last season, but he wasn’t going to take that chance again. Especially as more and more people spoke up and it sounded like a war zone. At least, according to Ashe, and knowing what little Loren did about her, he had no reason to disbelieve her claims.
Seeing her transform from a bird had certainly been shocking, to say the least (more so than her magic). Even in her regular form, he thought he could see strangely animalistic features, though it was hard with the distance and with the fact that he was trying to look at her without being seen. She definitely didn't look the same as his mental image of her. Although everyone looked at least a little different, though whether that was memory or actual changes he couldn’t say.. But he looked different too: thinner, paler, with lines on his face that hadn’t been there before. He looked older and tired, a ghost of his former self. Which wasn’t too far from the truth.
He’d been biting his lip, considering whether to speak up or not. He really, REALLY didn’t want to. Unfortunately, he had something to offer, something it sounded like they might sorely need.
So, though it almost physically pained him, he lowered his hood. “F-forgive me.” His voice came out barely above a whisper, so he cleared his throat and tried again, looking at the ground so he wouldn’t have to see their eyes on him. Loren couldn’t cope with that. “I also don’t know anything about these monsters, or the luxere, or these magical lights, though I know some magic and uh, might be able to help with that. But,” he bit his lip again, almost dreading what he was about to say next, “if you need a safe place place to bring people, or a place for people to stay, the Launceleyn Manor has...room to spare.” Because all the other Launceleyns had died or disappeared, leaving Loren and the children to fend for themselves. It was a fitting punishment for the former librarian’s own abandonment of his family, to be left behind in turn.
His voice, still weak, was at least clearer now. “It’s likely more comfortable than the Rathskeller, which might encourage people to stay.” A manor had to be better than a tavern in that regard; on top of that, there was one fact that might be more relevant to this group. “And, while I don’t know for sure, I’d ah be willing to bet the rest of my family left behind magical defenses of one sort or another.” It was exactly the sort of thing Zariah and Edy would’ve done.
What they definitely would not have done was open their home to strangers: family first and family only. However, Loren had many unpleasant memories of the locked doors of a Launceleyn compound. He had no intention of staying in a similar fortress. Besides, isolating themselves and setting themselves apart had obviously failed them. So it was time for a change.
Loren held his breath as he waited for answers. He was sure everyone was looking at him, wondering just who he was that he could offer to open the doors of the manor. Well, it would all become clear soon enough. LOREN Brought back by satisfaction more times than the cat
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