He had never said goodbye before, but he was compelled by Sana. These were short moments that had simply felt good. No self questioning, acid or angst from her. No insults under the guise of "jokes". Her humour was frequent and wholesome. No low handed sarcasm or falsities. She was polite, sassy but truthful. Considerate, respectful, fiesty and open enough to expect exactly the same, equal. Had he not heard that word just prior? He wondered if he had a better idea of it than some. In any case, he felt lighter to be around Sana. He wanted her to know she had made a difference to that dark mood he had been in, several days prior.
It truly was as simple as telling her.
He bade her farewell on glowing terms and turned to leave. She caught him off guard with a swift and eager embrace. He laughed - it made his heart fly to laugh with her in that brief gesture. Mutual gratitude, and bright yellow. One of his favourite colours. She was like springtime, despite all she had forgotten or left behind. It was fitting that for his first ever attempt at goodbye, he would find himself openly enjoying (also for the first time) the simple act of a hug. Nothing more, nothing less than it was. No complications or guesswork. Easy, affectionate and wonderful. For once, he wasn't uncomfortable. It didn't require masks or forcing himself to tolerate it. So this was why people enjoyed friendly embraces so much. How enlightening!
He was so content after parting ways with Sana, that he even waited for Rhoddy - his friend - by the fountain. He said a fond goodbye to Rhoddy, too. Rhoddy stayed to listen to one last song. He asked Ryheric to come back. Ry was swift becoming speechless at this newfound habit of making friends.
There was something syrupy and difficult in the air that shouldn't have been there, when he saw some of the others. He mended it swiftly with Lavendara. Another result he was grateful for. They had had a trying few days. Difficult, but a strengthening and shared experience. Comraderie formed firm between them during the midst of his dark spell. At that time, he had succumbed to bad memories and old habits. She had been there when no other was, no backing down. She was independent and far more enterprising than he'd assumed. Her network of contacts was extensive, something she so easily kept unnoticed. Definitely something to build on for where they might go, and what they might do hence. She had the silver to fund their kits from the doctor, now. The coin was hard gained, but like most dangerous tasks, the pay off was worth it.
Winnie was more open and earnest than he had ever seen her before. Having her teach him the next letters and sounds gave him more reason to be appreciative for his luck and good mood.
He had been reluctant to pester Silver about it again since what she'd learned that had her stuck in the library for three days, given how much she seemed to have on her plate. The woman had other things on her mind, as she usually did.
Silver's flippance and attitude of entitlement was tolerable on most days for one such as he. But it had worn into tedium for now, especially when it mismatched the refreshing vigour he was beginning to see around him in others. Was she grateful for anything? Willing to initiate anything publicly that wasn't a cover or abrasive act? Perhaps she sunk into burgundy, the colour of injustice and boiling resentment, like Clothillde. He knew they were similar in many ways. Rather than dwell on this, he took the opportunity to remember the look on Clothy's face when she had pressed the chestnut mare Suzie into a canter for the first time.
There was more than angst in Clothillde, yet. He was hopeful for them both. The dust would settle, soon. He wondered how he would look upon them in a tenday.
Though, something was lingering. His good mood seemed almost detached from it. He was in high spirits and with no intention to tolerate the insecurities of others. So, the day after arriving to Buckland, he took advantage of Winnie's offer to help him gain more letters. Then he left on his own and went for a walk.
He later met up with the hobbit Earn, who insisted Frogmorton was a most promising location to find Polly Daisyleaf.
Earn seemed a little too excited about this, but Ryheric was too cheerful to bother with suspicion for now. Frogmorton was as good a place to search as any.
Earn was simply delighted for the excuse to visit Miss Tilly again, the only girl who could make him blush. When Ryheric agreed to go, he congratulated himself on being very wiley, indeed!
