From: richk@tekeda.PEN.TEK.COM (Richard C Kurschner)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [L&S] After the Party (part 1 of 2)
Message-ID: <8861@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 21 Feb 93 00:46:19 GMT

Shadehaven was quiet.  The last of the guests had left the party, the
minstrels had gone to their homes, food and dishes had been cleared,
Serene and Luthor had gone to their rooms to rest.  Luthor had been up
more than a day getting ready for, and then hosting, the house warming.
Serene had rested briefly once, but with the excitement, found she couldn't
stand being left out.  Even the Captain's redoubtable aide, Sargent Alketus,
was exhausted.  The Captain himself was tired, but he had survived worse.

Mista, on the other hand, was wide awake.  She had not worried about
silly social customs like the impropriety of sleeping through an introduction
to a visiting dignitary.  Mista was more than awake:  she was bubbly, hungry,
and waiting to see her father.  It looked like the Captain would have to
wait before he got his chance to rest.

Yesterday had been a much better day for a party than today.  Today the
weather had turned cloudy and cold; a storm was coming in off the ocean.
That was good for it meant Mista's father would be still be easy
to find this late in the morning.  The Captain bundled up the little fog
baby and set out for the shore.

Knowing she was heading for her father, Mista settled down, allowing him
to turn his thoughts to other things.  Yesterday's party had been an quite
an experience for him.  In one day's time creatures that he had once called
legendary had become real.  Some had even become friends.  Undead he had
occasionally fought in his past, but he had never seen, let alone shaken
hands with, a ghost before.  He smiled when he remembered that he hadn't
actually succeeded in shaking hands with the hobbit ghost; it was more like
a "spiritual `low-five'" as 'Raelf put it.

Mista giggled when she saw his smile.  He smiled back and played
tickle-the-baby the rest of the way to the fog shrouded cove.

Down in the cove, even though it was foggy, it was definitely warmer than
back at the house.  He unwrapped Mista's blankets a little, then sat back
on the rocks.  Mista coo'ed and squealed with delight as the fog swirled
around them.   The Captain enjoyed the extra warmth here, it was much easier
on his joints than the cold wind up above.  His duties in the past had not
been overly hard on him, but the grey in his hair agreed with the
occasional ache in his joints:  he certainly wasn't getting any younger.
Yes, the warm fog felt good; he was tired, yet he almost felt like dancing!

And then it was time to go.  He rewrapped Mista's blankets for the cold trip
back to the house.  It was also time to start thinking about the duties
ahead, not those past.  Shadehaven was a beautiful house, but its security
was a little lacking.  Between themselves, he and the Sargent couldn't cover
it all the time; they would have to hire a few more men.  And buy some dogs.
That is, IF Luthor and Serene weren't afraid of animals nearly as large as
they were.  But then again, they were the ones who invited the Minotaur and
the Troll to the party!

As the Captain approached the door, he reallized it wasn't as cold this time
as before; the fog had followed him back to the house.  As he entered the
door, the small fog patch broke away headed for Serene's window.  All
of the patch, that is, except for the small wisp left in Mista's hand.
She was now asleep.  Quietly he too headed for Serene's room and left the
sleeping child in her cradle.

Back in the hall, he stifled a yawn.  He was tired, but there were still
things to attend to.  Like Trina.