Jobs

So this past Saturday was my last day down at the fabric store. Kind of sad when I think about it. Everybody (read employees) was really nice to me, and it was just a good atmosphere to work in. Even the majority of customers were nice, we only had those crabby customers a few times a year. I think that I will miss it, even though I have the possibility of more money and less driving up here.

This comes up because sometimes there is the job that you just like, and since you know that is a rare thing you tend to want to hold onto it. The fabric store was that Job for me. So I am of course a little sad for leaving it.

Anyway, enough rambling. On with the story. By the way. the easy to read web page was updated yesterday.

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24

Julius got Maureen settled back into her bed.

“I’m going to be outside for a little while.”

“I thought that you were going to keep telling me about your world. You mentioned prophecies before dinner, I thought that you were going to continue with that.”

“I will, tomorrow. I need to let my people know that you have become ill. Time moves different in my realm, and I don’t know how long I have to talk to somebody.”

“You can talk to people from your world?”

“Yes, but it is not without difficulties.”

“Tell me about it?”

“If you’re still awake when I get back in, but don’t wait up. I’ll tell you eventually anyway.”

Maureen was satisfied. She yawned and settled back on her pillows.

Julius walked out of the room and into the backyard.

He chose a spot in the middle of the yard and sat down. Closing his eyes he focused on the person that he wanted to speak with.

He felt like he had been there forever when a reply finally came through.

“Hold on your report, we believe that the other side may be monitoring psychic channels. I will be at your location in a few minutes.”

Julius opened his eyes, and waited for his contact to arrive.

Soon the fabric of the night opened and a tall pale figure stepped through the hole in the realms. Julius stood up, surprised.

“Dienira, why have you come? I though that Claudius was to come.”

“He was, but he was here last night. You wouldn’t be contacting us this soon unless it was an emergency. When I saw him preparing to come I told him that I would come instead.”

“What has happened back home that the elven commander would be visiting with vampires, especially when you have your own forces to prepare?”

“We believe that Jack may have shown himself.”

“When?”

“Last night. There was a forest fire, and a thunderstorm. The thunderstorm came out of nowhere. We think that it was meant to cover up Jack’s doing by making the nearby villagers believe that the lightening caused the fire.”

“Can we move in? Can we get him before he has a chance to attack her?”

“I’m afraid not. He is still being protected, but not from the same source as before. He probably isn’t even aware of the protections surrounding him, like she isn’t aware of the protections surrounding her.”

“Is that why you were in the vampire caverns? Checking on Jack and his well-being?”

“Essentially, yes. Now why did you feel it necessary to make a report tonight, when anything ordinary could have been reported last night?”

“Kyra has fallen ill.”

“How ill?”

“I couldn’t revive her for close to five hours today. She collapsed, as we were about to return to training. I feel that we will lose at least tomorrow as well.”

“Her progress?”

“She has learned, or relearned incredibly fast. But we still don’t know the level of Jack’s abilities, and I feel that any assumptions would be woefully inadequate.”

“May I see her?”

“Stay here, I will return in a moment with an answer.”

Julius returned to the bedroom and found Maureen already deep in slumber. He smiled, knowing that sleep was probably one of the best remedies.

He went back to where the elf was. “She sleeps.”

“I would like to examine her. I will not wake her.”

Julius considered for a moment, then nodded his assent. Quietly they made their way to the bedroom.

Julius didn’t know what to expect from the elf, so he stayed close.

The elf walked to the bed, and gently laid his hand on Maureen’s forehead.

“How long has this fever persisted?” he whispered, removing his hand.

“Since she collapsed.”

The elf sat in the chair next to the bed and took Maureen’s hand. He closed his eyes and appeared to go into a trance.

Julius waited.

After several minutes the elf roused himself. As he stood up he removed a small pouch from his robes. He handed the pouch to Julius.

“What’s this?”

“Put it in her drinks tomorrow. It will help her to regain her strength, and fight the ailment troubling her.”

“Yes, but what is it?”

“Medicine. Elven mages combine plants and magic to make remedies that can fight almost any ailment. This one is one that humans would call a panacea.”

The elf walked out of the room. Julius stayed a moment, looking at Maureen, then followed.

When he reached the backyard he saw that the elf was just about to leave.

“Wait. What about her family?”

The elf turned. “What about them?”

“You said that she was being protected. Are they being protected as well?”

“They’re not vital to the success of out side.” The elf turned to leave again.

“What do you mean they’re not vital? They’re people, they are what we are fighting for, they along with the rest of creation!’

“We don’t have the resources to protect everybody.”

“Well, you had better spare the resources to protect them. If she does win we still need her to fight. Will she be willing if her family has been taken away? Will she fight for us if we let them be taken away from her? Deciding who lives and who dies, that is not our role. But not protecting those that need protecting, that makes us as bad as them.”

The elf sighed. He knew that he would not win this fight.

“It will be discussed,” He said as he disappeared.