Chapter Text
He was putting it off. He’d justified it at first by telling himself he just wanted to make sure Noon was recovered before he left, but it had been days now since the last of their companions--Edér--had bid them farewell. Noon was well, and keeping busy working with the Steward on plans for the keep.
Aloth needed to set off now, lest he be forever ensnared by the comfortable bed in Brighthollow and the smell of Noon brewing tea in the afternoons.
It didn’t take long to pack up his things. Adventuring had taught them all how to travel light. On his way downstairs, he caught sight of Noon’s Berathian scripture, lying on a chair in the living room and looking rather dusty. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Noon reading it since Sun in Shadow.
Noon was looking out the window when he got downstairs, watching the bees buzzing around the flowering hedge that just peaked above the sill. She turned to smile at Aloth when she saw him.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Morning,” said Aloth. He glanced back towards the chair, on which the book lay abandoned. “No scripture today?”
She shrugged, her smile slipping. “Not much point, is there? The Berath I was praying to...” She shook her head. “May as well have been an imaginary friend.”
“I must say, that’s a strange conclusion to draw when you recently spoke directly to them.”
“I spoke to the Engwithan entity that calls itself Berath,” Noon corrected him. “The Berath who lived in my book cared for me. Loved me.” Noon turned back to the window, but not before Aloth caught the trembling in her lower lip. “But that wasn’t the real Berath.”
“I’m sorry,” was all Aloth could say. Noon sighed, then turned to him again, her smile firmly in place and her hands clasped in her lap.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Her voice was soft.
“I can’t delay any longer.”
“I know.” Noon stood from her chair and reached for the scripture. She picked it up and held it out to a bemused Aloth. “Here. It still has some sentimental value to me. Perhaps it will bring you a bit of my uncanny luck… or you can just throw it away for me, since I can’t seem to bring myself to do the deed.” She was still smiling, but Aloth could only guess at whether it was reaching her eyes.
“Are you certain?” He took the weathered book gingerly. For a split second, he thought he knew what it must be like to be a watcher, because looking at this worn-ragged book, he felt like he was catching a glimpse of Noon’s very soul.
“I’m certain.” The spell broke. “I had most of it memorized anyway.”
They walked together to the Eastern Barbican. Aloth already had his next steps planned--make for Defiance Bay and pick around the Woedican temple. After that, he could find a boat and sail wherever he needed to go.
“You have everything you need?” Noon asked when they reached the gate, clasping her hands behind her back.
Aloth nodded. Noon opened her mouth as if to speak, hesitated, then said “you know, you could always--” then she closed her mouth, and looked to the ground.
“What is it?”
Noon looked up at him again, smiling implacably. Her shoulders were high and tense. “It’s nothing. Just meant to say you’re always welcome at Caed Nua.”
“I appreciate that.”
Noon held out her arms in invitation, and they briefly embraced. “Take care out there, Aloth,” she whispered, then stepped back.
“You as well,” replied Aloth, and then he started walking.