3.  The foolish arrogance of youth.

​

  Imelwain stayed to help Evadel get a few spare tasks done.  She was surprisingly agile despite having a wooden leg, and yet there were certain things that just proved troublesome for her.  Perhaps the worst was anything involving ladders.  The peg leg would slip if the ladder was made with rungs, and ladders made with full boards were rare.

  Theater, as he had quickly learned, required a number of items accessed from above.  There were lights, props, counterweights, and even adjustments to the curtains.  If the building had only been made for songs, then it would have been less of an issue, but Evadel had been inspired by the great theaters of the world.  She refused to settle for anything less than a full theater and opera house, with all the required effort that went into such an endeavor.

  Today he was helping to affix the curtains.  They were exchanged regularly, with the old ones coming down for cleaning and, if needed, patching.  There was never quite the number of people that were desired for the undertaking, but Evadel had enough employees to manage.  The grateful looks they gave him made the task more enjoyable, and there was a sense of satisfaction for Imelwain in any job that was well done.

  The thickness of the metal rings in the curtain, and the general weight of the whole thing, still felt a little unusual to him.  He has nearly dropped the curtain the first time he had tried to help.  Thick fabrics blocked out light better, and that was important.  He lifted a chunk of curtain, slipping the ring onto an equally hefty hook.  Evadel was a stickler for details, and she loved to keep the show a complete mystery until it actually started.

  Finally done, he climbed down one of the ladders and gratefully accepted a drink from an elderly woman.  The glass was chilled, and he took a big swig.  It was water, and hints of lime and kiwi added a little flavor.  

He drained the drink, setting the glass down carefully.

  Evadel was nearby, shaking hands with a person concealed mostly by a large cloak.  The sheer bulk of fabric that was wrapped around the person seemed to be impossible.  Could a person really need that much material?

  She escorted her guest toward a room.  Imelwain felt his curiosity surge.  No normal guest would need to talk to her in private!  Evadel might be a fan of mystery, but she rarely felt the need to talk away from others.  Imelwain followed them, a spur of the moment decision that had his heart racing.  They headed down a corridor, and he felt a little more at ease.  There would be less people to notice here.  Soon enough, Evadel reached the room she wanted.

  She held the door for her guest, and once inside closed it.  With a few nervous glances to make sure nobody would see him Imelwain crept close to the door.  He settled in near the floor, with his ear close in an attempt to hear.

  'Ysen'theiril, it... has been a long time.'  Evadel sounded weary, and a little worried.  'I did not expect to see you here.'

  'Aye.'  The voice was light, almost musical, and distinctly not human.  'There is little choice in my visit.  I am tracking a certain being, and he has come to this area.  I am afraid he may be hunting you, much as he has hunted others of our group.'

  'What!'  Evadel quickly regained control, but her outburst was a first in Imelwain's experience.  Evadel was simply not surprised by much of anything.  'That, thing?'  Her tone was laden with disgust.  'I thought we had defeated it for good!'

  'I am afraid not.  There are several means of doing so, but we did not know of them, much less have any means of acting on the knowledge had we known.  I... one of those possibilities is here Evadel.  This village has... a person that thing is weak to.  Do you mind?'

  'Mind what?'  Evadel was confused.  Imelwain sighed softly, careful not to betray his presence.  He was confused too.  The silence continued for far too long, and he imagined that there was something he could not hear happening.  'Very well, if you feel we must.'  Evadel finally said.

  'Good.'  Ysen'theiril moved quickly, opening the door and pulling Imelwain inside.  His first good look at the visitor proved that she was indeed not human.  She did look close, but she had feathers instead of hair, and her skin bore color patterns of red and yellow in bright, bold hues.  He smiled a little, she was very beautiful.  'This is the one.'

  'Imelwain.'  Evadel was giving him the evil eye.  'Eavesdropping is a horrible vice.'

  He blushed and looked down.  'I am sorry.  I just was so curious when you took a visitor to a room... it isn't like you!'

  Ysen'theiril pulled his head up, looking him close in the eye.  'Well, would you like to be a hero boy?'

  'Of course!'  Imelwain didn't hesitate at all.  This was his chance to see the stories, and the world, for himself!  'I'd love to!'

  Evadel dropped her head onto her palm.  She had tried so very many times to make him realize that life wasn't all as glamorous as the heroic stories, and yet somehow it never worked.  'How thick do you have to be?'

  'There is a thickness requirement for heroes?'  Imelwain asked, confused again.  'I never heard about that!'

  'You need not worry, your thickness will be adequate.'  Ysen'theiril smirked.  'It might actually be one of the thickest thicknesses I have seen from a prospective hero.'  She turned her head to the side, considering him.  'I would not have expected this to be the result.'

  'It isn't a matter of the blood, Ysen.  This is just the foolish arrogance of youth.'  Evadel snarled.  'At the least we must let the boy know the full measure of what is happening, and the danger all of us are in.'