laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Early Sunday morning the Sunlight glistens through the window of a small room were knight of Arhus sits behind a desk in the middle the room, looking over some documents. “Father, do I have to have an escort every were I go?” as Ehlana enters.

“Yes you do. Many of my enemies are still around and would enjoy hurting you to get to me.” Allaster answers.

“But father I can best most of the young knights of Arhus and all the young nobles.”

“That may be Ehlana; but, the ones I’m protecting you from are far more dangerous than the people in the city. Your mother and I could not bear losing you.”

“I have your skill with the sword and mother’s skill with magic; I have the best of both worlds. All I want is to see the world, all those places you saw, to makes friends with the elves and dwarves. What is wrong with that? All I ever get to do is parade around town with my body guards, what fun is that?”

“How many times do we have to have this discussion?”

“As many times as it takes to convince you that I can take care of myself.” Ehlana responds.

“For now my decision stands young lady, now get ready for church.

“Yes father”, Ehlana answers with disappointment.

As Ehlana leaves the room her mother, Lady Lina, enters. “Having another argument about her escorts?”

“I'm afraid so. She has become more and more like me when I was her age. I wanted to do more than just farm my father’s land.” Allaster saddle replies.

“She is young, and has your heart for adventure; can you blame her for that?”

“No, I can not; my father did not have enemies like I do, but I just want to make sure she is safe.”

“I know, she is at that age, were she wants to make her own decisions, make her own mistakes. Even thou we may disapprove of allowing her to…” there is a long pause before lady Lina continues “well I do want her to be safe also, but it is time for her to decide.” Lina responds as she moves around the desk. “As much as you disapprove, you will have to let her do that”

“I know, as a knight of Arhus I must allow her to make those choices, but as her father I want to keep her safe from my enemies”

Giving her husband a hug, “Ah, my noble knight of Arhus, protector of all that is good,” Lina states as she runs her fingers through Allaster's hair, “How may I help you bear this weight that burdens your mind? Arhus will protect her, the daughter of one of his chosen ones. As much as I want to keep her locked up safe; we must allow her freedom.”

Kissing her on the cheek, “We will continue this later, my love. I do not want to be late for mass.”

*****

After the sermon at the church of Arhus, Father Duncan talks to Sir Allaster “Sir Allaster may I burden you for a Favor?”

“A course Father Duncan, it is no burden.”

“I need a letter delivered to a colleague of mine in Thomson, Father Jeremy, would you mine finding some one you trust to deliver it?”

“I would be happy to take care of it”

“Thank you; and Arhus be with you.”

“Arhus be with you Father Duncan”

*****

Later that afternoon, while enjoying the afternoon, taking their horses for a ride “Father Duncan asked me to find some one I could trust to take a letter to a colleague of his in Thomson, I was thinking of letting Ehlana deliver it.”

“Are you going to have her be escorted?” Lina asks

“My thoughts on that ….” A long pause before Allaster continues, “No, I want to hear your thoughts on the idea.” Allaster answers quietly

Lina is quiet for a moment “It is odd that this brings up old feeling, ones that I hoped I would never have again. I feel terrified, helpless, the way I did when you and your friends were on that quest so many years ago. I was afraid that you would never return, but Arhus always brought you home.” She pauses for a second, “I agree, no escorts, I have to trust Arhus will bring her home.”

*********

Early the next morning out in the pasture, Allaster is pulling hay from a cart, feeding his horse as Ehlana walks up “Mom tells me that you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yes, I believe you are old enough to have a horse, so pick one” with a smile, as he points towards the horses he has been raising.

“Really?” Ehlana answers with a question look on her face.

“Unless you want to walk to Thomson by your self.”

“Why are we going to Thomson, and wouldn’t we take the carriage?”

“Well, we are not going you are going to deliver a letter to Father Jeremy. Father Duncan asked me to find some one I could trust to deliver this letter and my fist thought was you, if you want to go. Your mother and I decided that you will not have any escort.”

There is a long pause before Ehlana gives her father a big hug, “Thank you!”.

“So are you willing to do this for the church?”

“Yes, Oh Yes, I would be glad to deliver the letter!”

“Then hurry up and pick your horse.” Alaster calmly smiles as his daughter goes into the pasture to pick her horse.

Ehlana walks among the ten horses her father has been raising, watching their moves and expression. Within moments, one of them comes up to her from behind and follows her staying a few feet behind her as she looks over the rest. Ehlana turns around saying “Father I can’t decide . . .” Seeing the one standing there “This one father, I choose this one and I’ll name him Eragon”

“From my point of view, I think he chose you.” Allaster replied with a smile on his face. “He has a lot of spirit, and I think you two will do well together. . . .Well go get your stuff while I saddle him up for you.”

Ehlana hugs the hose and dashes off to the house “Mom. . .Mother guess where father letting go.”
As she enters the house, her Mother hands her a backpack “I packed your things dear, this is my pack that I used when I was young, it has all the basic things you will need while you are out.”