Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene X

Elgiva looked quite different. Her face had slightly reddened due to the fresh air, and she was now much more comfortable in clothes that were more suitable to farm work than housekeeping. She had even grown to enjoy the outdoors somewhat, though today for the first time the weather made it a wholly unhappy experience. The wind and sleet cracking against every bit of exposed skin. Alongside her Taxilian and Mayleen were working equally hard, entirely focused on bringing in the harvest. Indoors they fretted over the fate of Julen, Box and Goola - just as Elgiva fretted over Liofia - but the battle against the seasons provided a welcome distraction. Even Luteeay - Box and Goola's other grandparent - was giving a hand, though somewhat more huddled and slowly than Taxilian and Mayleen were.

Amidst the dreariness on the farm it was difficult to know if it was afternoon or still morning. The mud of the fields seeming to seep into the grey-blue sky, as if a single perpetual hour of rain had been stretched across the entire day. The repressed Sun never quite getting bright enough to add warmth. As they toiled this sense of drudge felt never-ending, but then, in a moment, the muddy brown monotony was broken by a strange blur in the distance. It quickly grew into the figure of a man. Mayleen, more clearsighted than the others, called over to Taxilian as she espied the outline.

"We have a visitor."

At first the assumption was that it was a tribune, bringing news or instruction from the city. A tribune no doubt eager for shelter from the gale. In her mind's eye Mayleen had already started lighting the fire to brew the tea. An excuse for a break she was grateful for herself. On closer inspection the wanderer appeared to be a kytalyk though, unmistakeable in his hooded cassock. He politely acknowledged Taxilian and Mayleen as he splodged towards them, but headed past and on to Luteeay. After a brief, quiet exchange, inaudible to anyone else against the whoosh of the wind, Luteeay ambled back to his soaked co-workers.

"I have to leave," he stated, looking distracted.

He then pulled his own hood even more tightly around his face and headed off. As spritely as someone of such an age could.