Chapter 20
Significant Visions and A Decision
1642 - Dunnedin, Vanders
Awaking from her deep reverie, Starrling was both relieved and terrified to leave her past behind… until she remembered that her past was in the Tavern looking for her. She was still so bewildered about his sudden appearance in Dunnedin. My daughter! A terrifying vision of her child in distress engulfed her. Panic seized her and would not let go, the panic a mother feels when there is imminent danger involving her child. She pushed the blanket away from her and stared deeply into the fire, breathing deeply and watching the flames dance. The red and gold colors leapt and did a jig about the cauldron that still hung from the night before. Soon, Starrling was in trance and could see her old village. There was no evidence of adversity or misfortune, but Etain did not appear in her vision. She shook off the trance, realizing that although she could not prove it yet, there was certainty in her heart that the child was safe and sound. Exhausted from the effects of the trance and the relief surrounding Etain's well-being overcame her and she lay down at the hearth, pulling the blanket close. Sleep came quickly and deeply.
Sleeping past dawn and well into afternoon, it was only the bleating of Ceiteag and Besaig outside that awoke her. Her heart pounding, she peeked out the window but there was no one about except the animals and their bleating was merely a plea for attention and of course, milking and feed. Dressed in only her shift, she ran outside to quickly provide her poor neglected family with food and to relieve the loudest members of their milk. Inside, she put an extra bit of the milk in the cats' saucers. And inside was where she would stay for the duration, until Gawen left Dunnedin. Would anyone point him towards her? She shivered at the thought. Her goods would not be delivered to her customers this day. She hoped they would understand when she delivered tomorrow, as she'd never missed a day before. She put herself to work baking cakes to provide to her customers tomorrow as apology.
When dusk came, she felt cold and alone. Suddenly overcome by homesickness and loneliness, she made a hasty decision. Dressing for the first time this day, she rode Cobweb into the village and hitched him as usual. Would she regret this, she wondered. Swallowing hard and delving deep within herself for courage, she entered the Tavern. A quick ale at the bar to muster more strength and then she leaned towards the bar tender.
"What room is Mister Abelard in, please?"
A puzzled look on his face, for he wondered what her business was with the stranger, he pointed her to the gentleman's room. She took a last swallow of her ale and then took the stairs two at a time. She knew her friends watched her from below, amusement and curiosity most likely upon their faces.
A swift knock on the door and it opened. There stood the only man who had ever truly stolen her heart…and broken it later. As she gazed into his blue eyes, he stole her heart again, but this time she vowed it would remain intact.
He stepped aside to allow her to enter the room and she was not seen to emerge until the next morning…
Chapter 21
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