The road rolled away from him, he could still feel that pull behind him though. That dire need that kept him moving when he wanted to collapse nagged at him. When had it changed? When had he? The silence of the road couldn?t manage to drown out the ringing of the hammer in his head. How long since he had been back? Days at least but then what was new about that? Kruger had spent more time away these days than at the house. He worked, it was true, day and night towards a goal, though the goals changed, and laid themselves on his anvil one by one before him. How long now? A week, or was it two?
Belglade spread out before him, the leaves dropping with those reds and browns that said autumn was nearly done. Already across the fields he spotted trees barren of their leaves and scratching at the air with bared branches. Kruger?s fingers wrapped the ironwork of the gate that crossed the entry to Abri nan silal, his haven in the clouds. The mason?s children weren?t playing as usual, the front yard was empty. The gardens planted to bloom year round were without admirers, and the smith knocked on his own front door.
He couldn?t say why he needed to, the place didn?t feel like his anymore. Nothing felt like it belonged to him anymore, including the pair of faces that were there to greet him with smiles that turned funny before his eyes. He stood on the stoop, unable to speak or move despite how inviting the parlor, or warm the company within. He looked on those pieces of the place he had built or helped to build. He remembered the work, the love that went into it. He remembered laughter and chasing dreams through the manor room by room. He could recall making love at all hours with one of those who looked on him now.
Kruger?s mouth worked a few times, still he didn?t move forward. Rochelle, ever the faithful l servant to his wife, had grown quiet. His gaze went to Shai his breath coming hard from the weight of what he carried inside. He closed his eyes and swallowed down whatever had him unable to speak. His stare burned into her still unable to take his eyes away. Maybe she saw, maybe they both did. His expression may hold a thousand words, but they all had the same meaning. His tongue dampened lips cracking from the cold and those wheat colored eyes closed one last time as the words finally came to him.
?I?can?t come in?I can?t stay.? His voice dropped in volume when the last words were uttered. ?I won?t be back.?
(tbc)
Belglade spread out before him, the leaves dropping with those reds and browns that said autumn was nearly done. Already across the fields he spotted trees barren of their leaves and scratching at the air with bared branches. Kruger?s fingers wrapped the ironwork of the gate that crossed the entry to Abri nan silal, his haven in the clouds. The mason?s children weren?t playing as usual, the front yard was empty. The gardens planted to bloom year round were without admirers, and the smith knocked on his own front door.
He couldn?t say why he needed to, the place didn?t feel like his anymore. Nothing felt like it belonged to him anymore, including the pair of faces that were there to greet him with smiles that turned funny before his eyes. He stood on the stoop, unable to speak or move despite how inviting the parlor, or warm the company within. He looked on those pieces of the place he had built or helped to build. He remembered the work, the love that went into it. He remembered laughter and chasing dreams through the manor room by room. He could recall making love at all hours with one of those who looked on him now.
Kruger?s mouth worked a few times, still he didn?t move forward. Rochelle, ever the faithful l servant to his wife, had grown quiet. His gaze went to Shai his breath coming hard from the weight of what he carried inside. He closed his eyes and swallowed down whatever had him unable to speak. His stare burned into her still unable to take his eyes away. Maybe she saw, maybe they both did. His expression may hold a thousand words, but they all had the same meaning. His tongue dampened lips cracking from the cold and those wheat colored eyes closed one last time as the words finally came to him.
?I?can?t come in?I can?t stay.? His voice dropped in volume when the last words were uttered. ?I won?t be back.?
(tbc)