Searching through the cheese Tazeria placed several hunks of Alterac Swiss into the bag, then turned to the pantry to remove some dried sagefish and placed that in the sack along with the other food items.

“ There- that should hold me for a day or two.” She thought with satisfaction, wiping her hands on a small kitchen rag that had been hung near the pantry. Taz stood and turned and as she did, a low POP! made her jump back a step.

“Balyon!” she startled in a shocked, harsh whisper as her young warlock friend materialized before her, his blue robe swishing the floor.

Grinning at her with wicked in his eyes, with a barely audible chuckle, he whispered,

“The eye misses nothing Tazzy..I’ve been watching you for the last 10 minutes.’ Bal chuckled again. “ Where.. exactly do you think you’re off to this early in the morning? Oh and Happy Birthday, this is for you.” He offered her a small blue ribboned box held in his hands, which she eyed carefully, then accepted.

“Thanks Bal.” she said as she shook the box next to her pointy ear.” and..(her eyes shifted to the floor) -I’m going for a walk- since it seems you must know… and,’ she continued,
“ you will most likely have that stupid eye thing following me about.’ She said indignantly as she flashed a small smile in Balyon’s direction.

Then, accusingly, Taz raised a thin eyebrow at him, “You must be a very bored stalker..” she teased with a light laugh.

“Really? Humm, well…” he eyed her suspiciously, “ people who go for walks this early in the morning don’t take so much food or their belongings.” Bal said flatly, as he pointed at the knapsack near the door.

“OOOH” He suddenly mouthed excitedly, and with realization in his voice as his eyes found her stack of mail, “ they also don’t leave a stack of letters on the counter.” He quickly snatched the pack of letters Tazeria had mistakenly set down on the countertop while she had been hunting for her food.

Taz panicked a little and felt the nerves under her skin come alert, Balyon’s face became serious and he pinned her with a glance. In a low whisper he stated “ If you don’t tell me where you’re going… I ..will… wake.. this.. house.” He shoved the letters in his robe and quickly began to roll magic within his hands. There was a deep fire in his eyes that Taz knew meant that Balyon would unquestionably, carry out his threat.

At that precise moment another voice responded to that threat, “She’s running away Bal- can’t you see?” Startled, Taz spun to see Ito standing in the cellar doorway next to the hearth, his coat on his back, his fully stuffed knapsack slung low over his shoulder. His gaze, unreadale, raked her face

“ What the blazes? Ito! Hush! I am NOT running away!” She meancingly growled in a low voice between gritted teeth. Tazeria’s face was hot with anger. Shocked to find Ito standing before her.

Then at the very instant

“NO!’ Commanded another voice, in deep low whisper, from the doorway of the thin door behind Taz, that lead to the center room, Tazeria spun around yet again, to be met by the steady gaze of none other than Swill.

He locked his eyes to the nightelf’s, and stated the plain, simple truth, sinking his eyes into hers. “No” Swill repeated, lowly and calmly taking one slow step towrd her, ” I agree with you. You’re not running away, Tazeria. You….are running TO it.”

“Where, Tazeria”

–he spoke each word slowly-

“ Where, exactly, are you planning to go?’ Swill’s piericing gaze never left Tazeria’s face.

Balyon didn’t know why that memory of that morning in the kitchen so very long ago came to his mind, just then, as he lowered his drake on the rock near the two commanders. He felt the air about him unsettle and shift, and a small, unidentifyable shiver coursed across his back.

Change was in the air, and his soul knew it, for the first time, Balyon thought he may perhaps, have to pray.