10.  Communication... is something we all fail at.

 

  Life returned to routine quickly, and Dubrick was grateful for that.  Everything had gone perfectly, and that meant the village had been largely unaffected by the battle.  One small change, and life could be very different in Three Oak Hill.

  'How long, do you think, before we know what is going on?'  He knew he was testing his luck, and that at any moment his words might be cut off.  Prophecy did not normally involve a geas, but it seemed that this one did.  Imelwain in particular seemed peeved, as it kept silencing him when he wanted to talk about adventure in general.

  Evadel shot him an annoyed glance.  'I don't know.  The lot of you seem inclined not to tell me anything about what I said, and you know that I can't remember prophecy beyond the odd hint or two.  At least, not when I am the one giving voice to the darn thing.'

  'Do you regret it then?  The contract, and the other life you might have led?'

  'No, but I wonder about it.  Oh, and be quiet about that.  I already told you I don't want people to know about it.'

  'Why not?  It would be a classic in theater!  Giving partial control of your will to one of the Eweyvarin as a bargaining chip to save the lives of an entire city, and the resulting effects on you, it fits somewhere between tragic and heroic.'

  'The whole tragic part.  The loss of control.  The fact that most people are comfortable around a bard with magical talent, but are afraid when that involves something along the lines of gods.  I just want to settle down and live peacefully as I get older, and that means not giving people reason to be upset.'

  'You really should think about it.  Having your help writing it all would be nice, and I will be writing it someday.'  He flashed a mischievous grin at her.  'You deserve the credit, to be honest.  Nobody could expect you to have prevented the tragedies of the past... you didn't have the power.'

  'I really didn't get you to understand, did I Dubrick?  I don't want to deal with those memories.  I don't think we have anything more to discuss today.'  She turned, muttering to herself.  The words were too soft to hear, except for a few she made sure were audible.  'Stupid Eweyvarin talking to by naive pupil.'

  Dubrick let her go.  He knew there were things in her past that hurt, but there was so much good too.  He just couldn't understand letting all that go to waste because of things that weren't even Evadel's fault.  Like most people who have never lived in the middle of a nightmare he had no clue how the mind likes to recall the worst of things, dwelling on the pain of watching people die, and how no rational thought can change that.  Even the people who act to save as many lives as they can find themselves haunted by such events.

  He ended up walking through the spot where they had ambushed the Smalgor.  A small chunk of ice lingered there, having yet to melt.  He sat down next to it, and hummed softly.  The fight hadn't been very exciting, but it was a start and an end.  Although he tried, he just couldn't seem to make a good song out of it.

  'Yo!'  Imelwain called to him.  'You came out here too?'

  'Yeah.  I'm not really sure why.'

  'I've been here a few times.  I know it was a clean hit, and that everyone says this is done, but I just feel like it was too easy.  I wanted to make sure it really did just melt away.'

  'You seem rather unenthusiastic.  I thought what Ev said would have you rushing around all excited and cheerful.'

  'I had time to think, you know.  I wasn't there for the same reasons everybody else was.  I was the only one who didn't spend years working and training for that.  All this time I just thought things would work out, because they always do in every story about anything that matters.  Having been there, and done something to protect people... I just can't keep going on the same way.  I only have one thing going for me, without my bloodline I would just be a child who daydreams.  I'm weak, and I'm only now realizing it.  Things don't just happen to work out, they work out because people try hard, prepare, and sometimes die to make sure that the best possible outcome occurs.'  He smiled wryly.  'I've been hoping I'd get a chance like this.  You or Gerald, alone where I could ask for help.'  Imel slumped to his knees, and bowed as low as he could.  He kept his head there, almost touching a weed.  'I don't want to be a person who just pretends everything is going to be fine.  Your skills should be enough, I know how much Evadel trusts your abilities.  Please, Dubrick, make me strong enough to be a man.'

  'Imel, I...'  He stopped for a moment.  Always, each time he had looked at Imelwain he had thought of him as the goofy friend who would never pull his head out of the clouds.  He had never expected him to stop just dreaming about doing something important, and actually try.  The idea was so ridiculous, but he knew his friend.  This wasn't merely a flight of fancy.  Imelwain was determined to do this.  'Fine.  I want to know something though, and I have a feeling you can tell me.'

  'Let me guess, a secret.'

  'You know it.'  Dubrick collected secrets.  He kept them, never telling people who didn't know.  They were what he treasured more than anything.  'People don't keep things secret, unless those things are important.'

  'Ok then, but you won't want to tell this one.'  Imel grinned at him, like a hungry beast at prey.  'It's about Cynthia.  You know how she's always making sure she is paid.  Well, want to know the reason why?'

  'You know what she really wants out of that!  You bet I want to know!'

  'She's afraid she will be treated like a girl.  I don't know how many times she got told that a girl can't fight, but it upsets her.  She doesn't let it show very often, but she started the whole payment thing because of one time where she found out that the bakery pays men more than women.'  His grin got bigger.  'When she says to pay up, what she really means is that she had better be treated as an equal to any men doing the same work.  Actually, I think the idea is great.  Why should women get paid less, even if it is traditional?'

  'I never would have guessed that!  Why do women have to make everything they say have some hidden meaning?'

  'I don't know that!'  They both laughed.  'You know, I heard something from Ysen'theiril that seems relevant though.  She was trying to explain something to me, and I just didn't understand.  She thought it was simple, and yet suddenly she stopped and tried saying it a different way.  That was when I understood what she meant.  Right after that, she said "Communication... is something we all fail at."  The more I think about how we don't stop to consider something from the viewpoints of others, the more I think those were some very wise words.'

  'You may be right my friend.  Now, from my viewpoint you have a lot of work to do!  Let's start making you stronger!'  Dubrick leered at him.  'Don't think I'm going to take it easy on you.'