This story takes place shortly after the conclusion of Windswept's "Poison in the Blood" plot.
Ella sat overlooking the pond, enjoying the early evening air. Much had happened over the last few days, so just in this moment, she was taking full advantage of this time of calm and peace.
As she sat, she heard the familiar beat of wings coming towards her. This did seem like good timing. She breathed a happy sigh, as the owl came closer. But as it drew nearer, she noticed something wasn’t quite right. Usually the bird would glide down and sit beside Ella, but this time she just spent time circling her before landing and taking off once more. She carried on in this way for some time. Ella stayed quite still, so as not to panic the already quite flustered creature, but the longer it went on, the more concerned she became.
Slowly, and carefully, Ella held out an arm, willing the creature to land. She came closer and closer, but eventually did so. The talons of the creature pierced through her jacket and into her arm, but Elladoraa barely flinched. She was too focused on untying the all too familiar note addressed to “Fruit Boy.”
Her mind began to race. The owl had been gone for days, and had never failed to find Baralinion before. Something had happened, it must have – but what? And where the hell was he? Adiwen and Maerstan had also travelled with him, were they okay?
An all too familiar coldness filled her lungs and she struggled to breathe.
Quite forgetting that there was an owl on her arm, Ella began to move to stand up. This of course caused the bird to once again take off, ripping into her arm as it did. Once she was upright, she just stood there, staring at the pool. Her mind was spinning.
Where was he going?
Should she go look?
Perhaps she could persuade Thinthil to accompany her?
But no – this was foolish, she had heard him speak of Rohan and the Great River when making plans with Adiwen, but other than that – she new nothing of his whereabouts. She began to feel physically sick. She tried to focus on calming her breathing, slowly breathing in through her nose, and gently out from her mouth.
It didn’t happen immediately, but eventually the screaming in her head began to soften and she was able to think.
“Who might know? Who might know?” she racked her brain.
Then it came to her. Of course. Galtharian. He might know. Or at least know what she should do next. She would head to the inn and see what advice he could give her.
She must go and find him.
