I've been lodging with Ellie for about two weeks now. Something tells me she wants me to leave, and sooner rather than later. She hasn't told me outright or anything, and I don't think she will (since we're family and all), there's just been a number of subtle indications that that's how she feels.
First thing I noticed was the day after I arrived. She asked me what I was going to do and where I was going to go after I was done staying with her. When I informed her that I didn't quite know for sure, she only sighed to herself.
Of course, I've been helping her with her dogs, so she shouldn't be complaining. I'm better at talking to people than her anyway, so she should appreciate my help in talking to customers. She doesn't have that many customers, by the way. I told her she should try branching out a bit, selling dogs to Shire-folk or the Eglain, but she said she didn't have enough dogs to do that. She does, of course, she just doesn't want me running her business operations.
I don't think she wants me to leave because of my business advice, though. I think she thinks I should get my own place, which is pretty unrealistic. I'm a nomad, why would I buy my own house, or cabin, or what have you? That would be a waste of money. She should understand that.
Last week I was out getting some meat for the dogs (and us, probably) and, upon my return, the door was locked. Only a few minutes passed before Ellie returned from her errand (taking one of her dogs on an emergency trip to Leecher Cartwell), but it made me realize something: after all this time, she never gave me a key to her house. Maybe I should take one from her drawer and have Rurik Fennel make me another just like it.
Also, on the subject of errands, she sends me on far too many of them. I guess I'm not doing much around the house anyway, but it makes me wonder what she does when I'm not around. They're usually long errands too. Like that food she had me get had to come all the way from Staddle! Maybe she's just trying to keep me busy. Maybe she thinks that 'taking couple weeks away from hunting' meant that I had left the career. Well, I hadn't.
This morning she made herself a nice breakfast. Eggs and all that. But when I entered the kitchen where she was eating - and, keep in mind, I didn't mention the breakfast at all - she said "Oh, I'm sorry, I would've made you breakfast but I didn't realize you were still here." It was a prepared line.
I guess that was a bit more than a subtle message. I told her, "Funny you mention that, I was planning on leaving today."
She seemed relieved. So I suppose I'll be out and about again these next few days. Don't know exactly what I'll do though. But spring is here, so whatever it is it should be more pleasant than my winter travels.
