Found:
It's afternoon now. Rare are the days when I sleep through the sunlit hours but it was already late morning when I went to bed. At least this time I was alone.
I was happily working my shoulders and back in my room; the low hanging beams are quite useful for pull-ups and the like and goodness knows my shoulder needs all the help it can get to stay in the socket! My workout was interrupted by a knock on the door. A messenger boy coming to tell me that I was "late" for my lesson. Hah! One can hardly be late for such a thing if one was not previously informed of the time and location!
I gave the lad some silvers for his trouble. The look on his face was priceless! It's always nice to make a child's day even if they do think I'm insane for casually handing over what they consider to be a such a large amount. Let them buy something nice for themselves, or feed their families for a few extra days. Let them have something to smile about, even if only for a short time. Goodness knows this world is hard enough.
So, I went on my way to my lesson with Loakee. Atop a hill in the cold evening air, I refused to wear a dress this time! Better to be warmly clad in my leathers and free to move without the constant threat of flapping hems to get beneath my feet!
Loakee proved to be a patient and willing tutor. Knowing me to be very unfamiliar with the style of dancing he wished to teach, he made a point of starting slow and with the basics. He never admonished me when I made mistakes or became in the least bit frustrated. Reminds me of someone else who once pretended to be patient....
No matter.
After dancing, we sat and spoke again. It was cold. I hate the cold with a passion! But the company was good, the sky was beautiful and it was wonderful to be spending time outside of the tavern again. I've been feeling so very trapped of late.
A part of me just wants to leave. A part of me wants to be back on the road, to travel to simply be free... but I may be needed here soon enough and there are promises to keep.
Dammit!
A little horseplay saw Loakee soaked to the skin from the frozen ground. Poor thing. I went to fetch us a blanket and some other useful items; kindling to make a fire, my tinderbox, some bread, butter and honey for a light meal and a flask of tea for warmth. Perhaps I took too long for he was gone when I returned.
That makes twice.
There won't be a third time.
Still, I made the most of it. Loakee or no Loakee, I wasn't about to squander this opportunity to simply sit outside and watch the sun rise! And the toasted bread and honey was delicious!
Perhaps I'll do the same tomorrow. Perhaps I'll go up to that hill, or another, watch the sunset, the stars and then the sunrise. Perhaps that'll help stave off the wanderlust.
Perhaps.
