“You should go back home to Lita,” Numa said. “You have a big day tomorrow.” She relaxed in her seat at the inn her family ran. She always felt safe and at home there.
“She is still doing her weekly component shopping, I think,” Jace said. “It takes forever and she knows how boring it is so she does it with her wizard friends.” He held out the bottle of Deneirian whiskey that he had been drinking from, offering a drink to Numa.
She pushed the bottle away gently and then thought better and took the bottle and set it back down out of Jace’s reach. “I’ll remind you that I’m on duty here and I can’t drink with you,” she said. “Besides, it’s unseemly enough that you are hanging out with a human. I can imagine the talk if you are seen drinking with one.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Jace said that, waving the question away with his hand. “Elves and humans are allowed to talk to one another. Besides, you’re my friend. Your family gave us shelter when the blink dogs came.”
“I remember,” Numa said with a shudder. “That guard shoved you and you and Lita through the door but that other girl didn’t make it.”
“Miza,” Jace said with a shudder. Even five years later it still felt bad saying her name. He was grateful that he had not looked back in the chaos and seen her shredded by the blink dog. It was bad enough hearing it. “The worst day ever.” As soon as he said it, it felt like an understatement.
“The silver lining is that it was the day you met Lita, right?” Numa asked.
“Of course,” Jace said. “It’s also the day that I first swung a weapon and hit an enemy.”
“Which led you to where you will be tomorrow,” Numa said. “The Grand Festival of Battle.”
“Yes,” Jace said. “Tomorrow. The Placements of the Tau. The final step toward my future. In front of the Lord of Tau himself and also everybody I have ever known.”
“You’ll do fine. Where do you think you will be assigned?” Numa asked with a smile. “Hopefully not the border.”
“I have no idea,” Jace said. “I just want to serve. I’ve always wanted to serve. The incursions have started to get worse again.”
“Do you think you might get tapped to investigate those?” Numa asked.
“I’m sure that won’t happen,” he said. “The incursions must be magical in nature and I have no aptitude for magic. I would definitely not mind protecting the city from the invaders.”
“You would be good at it,” she said. “and it would be good to stay close to Lita’s shop.”
“Those are basically the reasons I have for wanting that post,” Jace said with a laugh. “You’ve summed it up nicely.”
“The gift of speech is one of my best skills,” Numa said. “Oh! By the way, I might be able to watch some of your matches.”
“How are you going to manage that?” Jace asked with some surprise. “No offense.” The last was added in quickly.
“No,” Numa said. “I understand what you meant. My family was selected to help with the food for the event so we’re closing down our kitchen for the day.”
“Nice,” Jace said. “I will look for you in the crowd. You can stand with Lita.”
“I’d love to,” Numa said. “I so rarely see her these days since we are both so busy. But you need to go home, Jace. Sleep before your big day. Besides, we need to close for the night soon.”
“I have received your message loud and clear,” Jace said as he stood up. “I will try and spot you tomorrow.”
Numa walked him to the door with a smile. “Tomorrow,” she said. “Your destiny and my snacks.” Which earned her a laugh from Jace before she shut the door on him.
Jace walked down the street, briefly walking along a line of stones to test how drunk he was. He concluded that he was probably fine and he walked home through the cold air. He opened the door of what doubled as he and Lita’s home and her enchanting shop. He paused and sniffed and he could quickly tell that the shop was closed for the day. All he could smell were stale reagents and parchment. As he climbed the stairs to their small apartment, he could hear that Lita was home. He stepped through their front door and closed the door firmly behind himself.
“My husband,” Lita said, coming from the kitchen area. “Welcome home.”
“My wife,” Jace said with a smile. “How was your shopping?”
She shrugged. “It was routine,” she said. “It will be delivered the day after tomorrow. I’m in no hurry since I will have the shop closed tomorrow. I stopped by Marian’s to consult about an upcoming project.”
“And how did that work out?” Jace asked. He slipped his jacket off and hung it up.
“Do you really want to hear about mundane issues about my job instead of talking about your big day tomorrow?” She asked with a sly smile which drew a smile out of him. “Are you that nervous?”
“Yes,” Jace said. “I know how hard I’ve trained but I don’t know what I will face tomorrow and what I face determines much of the rest of my life.”
“Oh husband,” Lita said. “Whatever happens tomorrow, you will find a way to protect people. That is the fate you’ve chosen. And no matter what happens tomorrow, I will love you and I am proud of you.” She moved over to him and kissed him deeply. He kissed her back happily and pulled her close. When they had both had enough, at least for the time being, they broke the kiss and held hands. He looked down at his wife’s ink-stained hands and smiled. She was so smart and they had grown together so close.
“I love you, Lita,” he said with a smile.
“I love you too, Jace,” she said. “I am happy to spend eternity with you.”
“And I’m happy to spend it with you,” Jace said. “Shall we go to bed?”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Lita said. “Tomorrow is going to be a full day.”
Tags: d&d, Elorian Campaign, Fantasy, Fiction, History Check, Jace, Lita, Numa, Shield of Tau, Tabletop RPG, Tau, The Bremid Empire
Wolf of Words 
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