Chapter 15: Partings

Peace looked around at the medium sized room. The sun would rise in a hour or so. Justice and Zeal were also awake. Dafrin would likely wake soon, but Peace would have to wake Yevish. He was young and no internal clock was permanently set for him yet. He had also worked hard at the stables for the last two days.
It was the morning of the day they would leave. Justice and Zeal had told Dafrin the news yesterday and helped him spread news of his need for a new work hand. He had given them his blessing. He would be fine. Justice and Zeal had worried a bit, but Dafrin had reminded them that he had made it through the war without them.
“Besides, you know how eager the young men are for a job. I’ll have plenty of ‘elpers soon.” Dafrin had reassured them. The thought had settled Justice and Zeal.
Dafrin stirred and slowly sat up, his age and injuries were beginning to get to him. Justice and Zeal pulled their shirts on and started gathering their meager belongings. They owned a fair amount but they were only taking what they needed. They were leaving the rest for Dafrin. Peace noted her brothers. They were in their forties, yet both were still fit and strong. Thy likely could’ve been mistaken for younger men. The gray hairs were beginning to show however, likely from the stress of living in this land. Peace wondered if hers was doing the same.
She was glad to find that her brothers were accustomed to sleeping in their clothes, for the most part. They did seem to have collected the habit of sleeping without their shirts however. Peace hoped she could undo that habit, at least while they were traveling together. She had seen many bare-chested and a few bare-bodied men in her life, and that had been bad enough, but to see such with her own brothers was a bit more than awkward.
Justice and Zeal noted this when Peace took to intently studying her bedroll until they had donned their shirts. They’d have to be more careful; it’d been so long since she’d been around.
The brothers finished packing their things as Peace headed downstairs with her and Yevish’s bundles. She would get Darkstar ready now and finishing packing his saddle when they were ready to go. She would wake Yevish after she was done with Darkstar. Once they were all awake they would eat and then head out. Justice and Zeal each owned a horse. They weren’t as large and strong as Darkstar. They had been cavalry horses in the war, and hence were enduring and good horses, even though they weren’t a specific war breed. The would be able to keep up with Darkstar easily however.
It was another 45 minutes before they were all ready to go. They all stood before the stable, horse reigns in hand and surrounded by a silence which came from uncertainty. It would likely be their final goodbye and no one was quite sure what exactly to say. Dafrin’s new work hand, a young neighbor boy with a bit of a limp, stood by Dafrin. He looked at the silent faces, unsure and uncomprehending of the depth of the scene.
Peace had chosen not to wear her face mask, being as she looked enough like a male from a distance and she was safer now that Justice and Zeal were traveling with them. Her face was set, not entirely sad, not really happy, a bit unsure of which expression to take on.
Finally Dafrin spoke, “So… this is it.” He stepped forward and gave a manly hug to Justice and Zeal. “Take care ya rascals. And take good care of your sis.” He continued as he hugged Peace. Then he bent down and hugged Yevish, ruffling the boy’s hair as he did so. “And you keep your head about you and watch these ‘uns. There’s much you can learn from them.” He paused and smiled at the boy. “You’re a good worker, m’boy, keep it up.” He then stood and backed away. “Well, off ya be.”
The siblings and boy called out their farewells and then turned and mounted their horses. They waved and then turned and trotted off down the street. The sun was just rising to light their way, and the street was fairly empty. The gates were open when they arrived and soon the three horses were running off across the desert. While in Qualith Peace had gained a heading on Firenight, after her brothers had officially crossed off all the other names Peace had come across. They had filled her in on every good and bad detail about every so called hero in the land, and only Firenight had remained a standing option afterwards. Their heading was about as good as Peace’s had been with her brothers: it was the last place he’d been seen. A town called Sundown.