(no subject)
Out on the street again, Llyr jotted down a few notes as Mr. Lighsterick dictated.
“Bit of an unwilling soul…happens with most murder victims. Happens so quickly they still feel attached to the physical form. I was able to call it with the harp, thank goodness. I almost feared she would require the sword. Now, where is my scribe?”
At this point, Llyr stopped writing. Mr. Lighsterick had lost himself again…a common occurrence among the truly old souls. They lost sense of time, including which lifetime they were living. Llyr had learned to recognize this and simply waited for him to come back to the present.
“Well now…where was I? No matter.” Mr. Lighsterick climbed into his cart, waiting for Llyr to follow. “Now Llyr,” he continued “I have some rather important news for you…for everyone really.”
“Yes, Sir?” Llyr responded, the possibilities running through her head.
“As you know, I am an old soul. I'm just so tired. Well, I've decided that this body will be my last. I put in my application for retirement to the Government offices, and yesterday I received news of it's acceptance. In fact, I've already selected an apprentice.”
Llyr's heart stopped. Surely it couldn't be her. She was one of the Young. But perhaps…
“You don't know him.” started Mr. Lighsterick, quickly shattering her momentary hope. “He's a new soul. First one in about one hundred and twenty years I believe.”
“When will he be starting, Sir?” Llyr asked, trying her best to screen the disappointment from her voice.
“I'm expecting him this afternoon in my office. It's all happening very quickly, I realize that my dear” he said in an indulgent tone, responding to the misinterpreted look of dismay on her face, “But I do expect you will be present. Correct?”
“Yes, Sir.” Llyr replied, rallying herself defiantly. She glanced at the hourglass hung on the side of a nearby street lamp. The morning had flown and it was almost time for her afternoon meal. “Please, Sir.” she said, signaling the mule to stop. “I'll just get out here and take my tea.”
“And walk back? Alone?” Mr. Lighsterick responded incredulously.
“Yes, Sir. I don't mind the exercise.”
“Well then,” he continued thoughtfully “take your time. I won't be needing you until later this afternoon as it is.”
Llyr inclined her head. “Thank you, Sir.” Tapping the mule's rump once again, Mr. Lighsterick set off and Llyr was left to her own devices.
Walking along the busy street, Llyr chided herself for her unrealistic hope. Of course she wasn't chosen as the apprentice. A job so important and honored could hardly be assigned to one of the Young. It was perfectly just that the position should be appointed to a person capable of greatness. There had been no reason to expect such an honor, and yet…but no. It was simply out of the question. Llyr had resigned herself to her average life. In fact, she considered herself luckier than most. At least she was able to experience the adventure of the Collector…even if it was merely as a spectator.
Llyr stopped at a cart parked in an alley, purchasing her meal of bread and cheese while managing to avoid eye contact with the vendor. After a murmured “Thank You”, she continued on her way. The morning's mist had lifted with the noon sun, and the wool of Llyr's tunic became heavy and warm. She loosened the top button, allowing herself to breathe but still maintaining the standards of decency required by the government offices of all those they employed. A half hour later, upon reaching the office, she was grateful for the cool respite provided by the towering stones. Upon inquiring of the clerk in the main hall, Llyr was told that Mr. Lighsterick was in conference. Rather than disturb him, she retreated to her own study, a small nondescript room on the fifth floor.
A room used only by herself, Llyr had filled its shelves with books on every subject imaginable. Mostly, they told of the great souls who had left their impression on the world, many of whom were still doing so. Kings and criminals alike, Llyr found them equally fascinating. A small round window allowed the afternoon breeze to float through. Llyr yawned slightly, weary from her walk and the day's heat. Checking the hourglass on her wall, she concluded that it would be best to start her paperwork for the day.
“Bit of an unwilling soul…happens with most murder victims. Happens so quickly they still feel attached to the physical form. I was able to call it with the harp, thank goodness. I almost feared she would require the sword. Now, where is my scribe?”
At this point, Llyr stopped writing. Mr. Lighsterick had lost himself again…a common occurrence among the truly old souls. They lost sense of time, including which lifetime they were living. Llyr had learned to recognize this and simply waited for him to come back to the present.
“Well now…where was I? No matter.” Mr. Lighsterick climbed into his cart, waiting for Llyr to follow. “Now Llyr,” he continued “I have some rather important news for you…for everyone really.”
“Yes, Sir?” Llyr responded, the possibilities running through her head.
“As you know, I am an old soul. I'm just so tired. Well, I've decided that this body will be my last. I put in my application for retirement to the Government offices, and yesterday I received news of it's acceptance. In fact, I've already selected an apprentice.”
Llyr's heart stopped. Surely it couldn't be her. She was one of the Young. But perhaps…
“You don't know him.” started Mr. Lighsterick, quickly shattering her momentary hope. “He's a new soul. First one in about one hundred and twenty years I believe.”
“When will he be starting, Sir?” Llyr asked, trying her best to screen the disappointment from her voice.
“I'm expecting him this afternoon in my office. It's all happening very quickly, I realize that my dear” he said in an indulgent tone, responding to the misinterpreted look of dismay on her face, “But I do expect you will be present. Correct?”
“Yes, Sir.” Llyr replied, rallying herself defiantly. She glanced at the hourglass hung on the side of a nearby street lamp. The morning had flown and it was almost time for her afternoon meal. “Please, Sir.” she said, signaling the mule to stop. “I'll just get out here and take my tea.”
“And walk back? Alone?” Mr. Lighsterick responded incredulously.
“Yes, Sir. I don't mind the exercise.”
“Well then,” he continued thoughtfully “take your time. I won't be needing you until later this afternoon as it is.”
Llyr inclined her head. “Thank you, Sir.” Tapping the mule's rump once again, Mr. Lighsterick set off and Llyr was left to her own devices.
Walking along the busy street, Llyr chided herself for her unrealistic hope. Of course she wasn't chosen as the apprentice. A job so important and honored could hardly be assigned to one of the Young. It was perfectly just that the position should be appointed to a person capable of greatness. There had been no reason to expect such an honor, and yet…but no. It was simply out of the question. Llyr had resigned herself to her average life. In fact, she considered herself luckier than most. At least she was able to experience the adventure of the Collector…even if it was merely as a spectator.
Llyr stopped at a cart parked in an alley, purchasing her meal of bread and cheese while managing to avoid eye contact with the vendor. After a murmured “Thank You”, she continued on her way. The morning's mist had lifted with the noon sun, and the wool of Llyr's tunic became heavy and warm. She loosened the top button, allowing herself to breathe but still maintaining the standards of decency required by the government offices of all those they employed. A half hour later, upon reaching the office, she was grateful for the cool respite provided by the towering stones. Upon inquiring of the clerk in the main hall, Llyr was told that Mr. Lighsterick was in conference. Rather than disturb him, she retreated to her own study, a small nondescript room on the fifth floor.
A room used only by herself, Llyr had filled its shelves with books on every subject imaginable. Mostly, they told of the great souls who had left their impression on the world, many of whom were still doing so. Kings and criminals alike, Llyr found them equally fascinating. A small round window allowed the afternoon breeze to float through. Llyr yawned slightly, weary from her walk and the day's heat. Checking the hourglass on her wall, she concluded that it would be best to start her paperwork for the day.