It's still early morning when Tylum leaves the Sanctum behind him, striking out across East Karana once more. As much as he hates to leave Thalisa, especially now, his euphoric mood is irrepressible. He finds himself whistling as he walks, and the miles roll by under his feet unnoticed. Soon he comes to the gorge that leads to Highpass Hold, and he starts up, though without the disheartening feeling he usually gets when he faces this long, monotonous climb.
Though his heart is still light, the foolish grin eventually wears off, and his thoughts turn to what awaits him in Highpass...or, rather, the myriad possibilities that may await him, for he'd left in the midst of...well, nothing, really. A huge cloud of uncertainty. He had delivered a report to the boss, which was received as though he'd asked if he could get him another refill on his coconut milk cocktail. And then...nothing. No call, no assignment, not even, "As you were." He wasn't looking for praise; he knew full well that that would never come. But to be left in limbo like that...
Eventually Anson McBale had told him to take a couple of days to himself, not out of kindness, but out of irritation at Tylum always hanging around, under foot. Tylum, however, had seized the opportunity and taken off for the Sanctum, hoping to see Thalisa. His smile returns as he thinks of her. He had gotten his wish: he had spent his entire leave with Thalisa. His Thalisa. The young man's heart warms with the thought, and he quickens his steps. The sooner he gets there, the sooner he can get back. Some part of his mind reminds him that that's not exactly good logic in his particular case, but he consoles himself with the cliched idea anyway.
By evening, he is back among the canyons of Highpass. Tylum walks comfortably here and suddenly realizes it. He's used to this place. He's known here, in the way that the others of his organization are known...some by name, some not, but most of their faces generally recognized in an avert-your-eyes sort of way. At first, the attitudes of the place had unnerved him. Now, however, they seem normal. Comfortable. He's not expected to speak often here; in fact, he's expected to keep his mouth shut whenever possible. Unlike some of his fellow recruits, Tylum has absolutely no difficulty with that.
In no time, he has left the well-traveled paths of Highpass Hold and slipped into the alleys and crevices that lead to the clearings and dens of Stanos Herkanor's small kingdom. Snatches of canting talk are suddenly audible as Tylum passes barracks, offices, and storehouses. Tylum climbs the path that leads up to the barracks he stays in when he's in the area. He walks in and tosses his pack onto his lower bunk near the door without looking, but jumps when the bunk springs to life. A youth Tylum doesn't recognize who had been asleep under the blankets sits bolt upright--groggy and startled--and spits a curse at Tylum for waking him.
Tylum stands there in silence for a moment, looking at the recruit in his bed who looks back with a sneer at the strange Feir'dal who seems to be frozen in surprise, dumb and unmoving. Seconds elapse, and the strange silence between the two young men gains the attention of the handful of others in the back of the bunkroom, who had been gathered around a table playing cards. Two of them stand up and take a couple of steps closer, to see what's going on.
Though his heart is still light, the foolish grin eventually wears off, and his thoughts turn to what awaits him in Highpass...or, rather, the myriad possibilities that may await him, for he'd left in the midst of...well, nothing, really. A huge cloud of uncertainty. He had delivered a report to the boss, which was received as though he'd asked if he could get him another refill on his coconut milk cocktail. And then...nothing. No call, no assignment, not even, "As you were." He wasn't looking for praise; he knew full well that that would never come. But to be left in limbo like that...
Eventually Anson McBale had told him to take a couple of days to himself, not out of kindness, but out of irritation at Tylum always hanging around, under foot. Tylum, however, had seized the opportunity and taken off for the Sanctum, hoping to see Thalisa. His smile returns as he thinks of her. He had gotten his wish: he had spent his entire leave with Thalisa. His Thalisa. The young man's heart warms with the thought, and he quickens his steps. The sooner he gets there, the sooner he can get back. Some part of his mind reminds him that that's not exactly good logic in his particular case, but he consoles himself with the cliched idea anyway.
By evening, he is back among the canyons of Highpass. Tylum walks comfortably here and suddenly realizes it. He's used to this place. He's known here, in the way that the others of his organization are known...some by name, some not, but most of their faces generally recognized in an avert-your-eyes sort of way. At first, the attitudes of the place had unnerved him. Now, however, they seem normal. Comfortable. He's not expected to speak often here; in fact, he's expected to keep his mouth shut whenever possible. Unlike some of his fellow recruits, Tylum has absolutely no difficulty with that.
In no time, he has left the well-traveled paths of Highpass Hold and slipped into the alleys and crevices that lead to the clearings and dens of Stanos Herkanor's small kingdom. Snatches of canting talk are suddenly audible as Tylum passes barracks, offices, and storehouses. Tylum climbs the path that leads up to the barracks he stays in when he's in the area. He walks in and tosses his pack onto his lower bunk near the door without looking, but jumps when the bunk springs to life. A youth Tylum doesn't recognize who had been asleep under the blankets sits bolt upright--groggy and startled--and spits a curse at Tylum for waking him.
Tylum stands there in silence for a moment, looking at the recruit in his bed who looks back with a sneer at the strange Feir'dal who seems to be frozen in surprise, dumb and unmoving. Seconds elapse, and the strange silence between the two young men gains the attention of the handful of others in the back of the bunkroom, who had been gathered around a table playing cards. Two of them stand up and take a couple of steps closer, to see what's going on.
