Customs
"If you're lost, you can look and you will find me
If you fall, I will catch you; I will be waiting
Time after time."
--Cyndi Lauper; Time After Time
The messenger carefully dropped the parcel on the steps of an Aberliath schoolhouse.
She had been paid well to deliver this particular thing with both the utmost care and the utmost speed -- and she had dealt with a most patient customer. She found it a bit odd that her customer did not permit her to see anything of himself beyond a pair of dark little hands. She heard however, the understanding behind the broken English and the depth of emotion felt for he who should receive this delivery.
The fact that the parcel wasn't ornately wrapped seemed somehow fitting.
The messenger girl stopped at the schoolhouse, placed her burden down and walked away, quietly pondering what lay behind the plain brown wrapping.
-----------------
It had been delivered; that, he was sure of. Renne allowed himself to smile a little and he hoped that the gift would be received.
He found himself not too terribly anxious but didn't deny the hope that the parcel sent would be at least enjoyed.
-----------------
It sat on the schoolhouse doorstep wrapped in plain brown parcel paper. Although it had no corresponding note on its outside, its message lay within.
Inside, the package held a book, a quill-pen and a pair of rather handsome jacket cuff-links to match a woven queue-ribbon. None of it was overly fancy or extravagant -- the cufflinks of a fine hematite set in silver. The queue-ribbon was of a strong linen and at one end, bore Archie's name in gold thread.
The book and quill-pen were the final parts of this gift. Within the book, two-thirds of it lay filled; one-third had a story each. One-third held the Shakespearean tale of King Lear. The next third held a tale of brotherhood from the L'Langam Spires. This tale had a happy ending and at its end, a loose sheet of paper bore a note.
Beyond this, the pages were blank.
'Chee,
I have been told it is now the time called June. As I promised and as I wished, I offer a gift to honour your Sacred Day and to honour you. You remain valued to me and I wish to demonstrate this.
I do so in the legend of K'Lairemhal and Enhasivan. They were T'hy'la of ancient times. My other story for you is one you spoke of with fondness, the King of Lear.
I leave part of your book without words so that you may be at liberty to speak your own stories if you might wish. You have always been Friend and Brother to me.
You are forever loved,
-Renne
He didn't tell Archie that the story of K'Lairemhal and Enhasivan was the only written document of an extinct race. He didn't need to, really for that was not what mattered.
Archie was what mattered.
"If you're lost, you can look and you will find me
If you fall, I will catch you; I will be waiting
Time after time."
--Cyndi Lauper; Time After Time
The messenger carefully dropped the parcel on the steps of an Aberliath schoolhouse.
She had been paid well to deliver this particular thing with both the utmost care and the utmost speed -- and she had dealt with a most patient customer. She found it a bit odd that her customer did not permit her to see anything of himself beyond a pair of dark little hands. She heard however, the understanding behind the broken English and the depth of emotion felt for he who should receive this delivery.
The fact that the parcel wasn't ornately wrapped seemed somehow fitting.
The messenger girl stopped at the schoolhouse, placed her burden down and walked away, quietly pondering what lay behind the plain brown wrapping.
-----------------
It had been delivered; that, he was sure of. Renne allowed himself to smile a little and he hoped that the gift would be received.
He found himself not too terribly anxious but didn't deny the hope that the parcel sent would be at least enjoyed.
-----------------
It sat on the schoolhouse doorstep wrapped in plain brown parcel paper. Although it had no corresponding note on its outside, its message lay within.
Inside, the package held a book, a quill-pen and a pair of rather handsome jacket cuff-links to match a woven queue-ribbon. None of it was overly fancy or extravagant -- the cufflinks of a fine hematite set in silver. The queue-ribbon was of a strong linen and at one end, bore Archie's name in gold thread.
The book and quill-pen were the final parts of this gift. Within the book, two-thirds of it lay filled; one-third had a story each. One-third held the Shakespearean tale of King Lear. The next third held a tale of brotherhood from the L'Langam Spires. This tale had a happy ending and at its end, a loose sheet of paper bore a note.
Beyond this, the pages were blank.
'Chee,
I have been told it is now the time called June. As I promised and as I wished, I offer a gift to honour your Sacred Day and to honour you. You remain valued to me and I wish to demonstrate this.
I do so in the legend of K'Lairemhal and Enhasivan. They were T'hy'la of ancient times. My other story for you is one you spoke of with fondness, the King of Lear.
I leave part of your book without words so that you may be at liberty to speak your own stories if you might wish. You have always been Friend and Brother to me.
You are forever loved,
-Renne
He didn't tell Archie that the story of K'Lairemhal and Enhasivan was the only written document of an extinct race. He didn't need to, really for that was not what mattered.
Archie was what mattered.