Ancient Studies

Telfenham had walked the planes many times before, but never in the way that would be required to get Gilean home as soon as possible. Unlike the elf that showed up with the necklace, Telfenham had no trinket which easily sliced through planes. Telfenham only had abilities. He could create planes, he could traverse them, but only in real time, and that meant from where they were, Gilean was a long, long, long way from home.

Telfenham sighed as he looked over the planar map in his study. There was only one way to make this trip fast, and by fast, 5 months. Only one way, and it would put them all in the deepest danger. He would have to escort Gilean through the Nine Hells. All the way down, until at last, they could reach the portal to the Outlands. once there, the city of Sigil would await them and they could easily find the portal to the material plane. But oh, the risk.

Celestials in the den of everything evil. Telfenham stared at the map, looking for any other way. It was the fastest, and he knew that Gilean would not hesitate to use it, but it was the most risky. Outside of that, the trip to the material plane would take them through roughly eighty-seven major- and demi-planes.

Velentham walked in and peered down over his father's shoulder. "You can't be serious, father. You can't be."

"I gave him my word, Velentham. What more can be done?"

"For him? Eosos? He's a traitor to his race and a... a..."

"There is more to him, Velentham. There are things you do not understand."

"Then help me to understand, father. Help me understand why you will go to such lengths for this man but not for me?"

Telfenham stood up and glared at his son. For the first time in a long time, the aura about him glowed with intensity. His eyes burned with a bright silver as he looked at the cowed young Celestial. "I have done more than I ever intended to do for you, Velentham. I have allowed you to insult me. I have allowed you to pout like a child. I will no longer have it. It is because of your appetites that we are here, and because of your appetites that we are both at risk of banishment. If you know what is best for you, you will stay your tongue and your temper."

His head bowed, Velentham vanished, leaving Telfenham to calm himself and look back at the map. There had to be another way, perhaps he just hadn't seen it yet.

Asking Nature

It had been a day, or perhaps it had been two, could it have been three weeks already? Sanria didn't know or care. She had trudged around the cavern doing everything she normally did without seeing herself actually doing anything. She moved in a perpetual slow motion and her constant companion was the note she held clutched in her hand.

She had climbed the stairs to Orn's room and found herself staring at the little boy as he played. Suddenly, he was at her legs. "Mama."

"What is it little heart?"

"Where's Papa?"

It was as though Sanria realized for the first time she wasn't alone in this. Orn wore an expression of both confusion and anger. She could hardly bear to look at him. "I don't know, Papa went on a trip."

"He went on trip?" the little boy parroted.

"Mmhmm. On a trip."

"Where he go?" The question out of the mouth of her son was nearly more than Sanria coule bear.

"I don't know, Orn," she replied, her eyes filling with tears. "He said he had to go away and think about things. He's going away for a little while."

"You miss Papa?" Orn asked, his little hand resting on Sanria's. The tears could no longer be held back.

"I miss your Papa."

"I miss Papa too. When he come back?" Orn asked.

"In a little while, I'm sure." Sanria looked to her hands. "I hope..."

"Tomorrow?" Orn asked, his eyes wide with hope.

"We will see. Would you like to go outside?" Perhaps the change of scenery would stop the questioning and make the ache in Sanria's heart cease throbbing.

"I want go see Papa!"

"We can't, Orn. I don't know where he's gone. I'm sorry."

Orn took Sanria's hand in his. "It's ok Mama, I find Papa! We ask trees! We go see him!" Sanria frowned inwardly, how she was going to deal with Orn for however long it took Colin to come back, she didn't know. With a small sigh, she rose and let the tiny boy lead her out of the room.

Arrival of a Man

Hector stood up as the last of Colin's limp form rolled off his back. "You didn't say he was this big." Arlenia didn't even hear the man say anything. She was already at Colin's side, brushing his curls away from his face. At last, she stood up with a bright smile.

"I thank you so much, both of you."

Brant rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Cake. This was super simple."

"Well I'm glad. I'll give you what money I can when I can. For now, just know I appreciate it."

"Well," said Hector, "I'm just happy to make a family whole again."

To that, Brant again rolled his eyes and snickered. "Man, shut up." The two men laughed heartily and left.

Arlenia walked over to the table which now contained two vials. One would allow her to wake Colin up a bit, the other, knock him out. She dipped a fine needle into the first and gently jabbed the big man in the arm. "Wh... where..."

"Shhh," Arlenia said with a smile. "Everything is alright."

"Where's... Sanria..."

The name made Arlenia scowl. Always Sanria. Always. "You left her."

"N... No..."

"Yes. You're with me now, Arlenia. Tomorrow we'll be getting married. Our family will finally be together."

"Already... married..."

"No. It's til death do you part... and she died. It's you and me now. You and me and our little one who has yet to be born."

"It... is?"

"It is. I love you, Colin."

"I... love you... too... Sanria."