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

A warmth in the air told the town and mountains around them that onebro was coming, it's welcome to a new birth of not only animals but, plants and trees as well. Snow now stacked in corners of the bailey, between the blacksmith's shop and wall near the gatehouse held on as long as it could until the sun itself beamed onto it and took it from the world forever. Kailee watched as Allaster, Lina and their children and grandchildren loaded into the carriage and climbed into saddles. This was the day that she always dreaded, the end of the gathering drew to a close the comraderie they had when everyone went back to their separate lives.

"We'll see them again," Tess assured as golden eyes watched the elderly couple slowly find their seats within the covered, wooden wagon.

"No, we won't," she replied quietly.

"What do you mean," Lericanin's deep voice asked from her left, gaining her attention and Kailee suddenly regretted saying anything.

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"What are you not telling us," he demanded respectfully, squaring to her as Nyrellia also studied her apprehensively.

"They're not in any danger," she stated, hoping to avoid this conversation before Allaster and his family had a chance to leave peacefully. "Don't worry."

"Okay," strong hands went to his hips, showing his determination to find the end to this puzzle. "So, then you're not telling us something about you then."

"No," she sighed heavily. "He's sick," she finally revealed as the noble's train rumbled through the gate and across the drawbridge. Stealing one last glance to the rear of the wagon, she noticed Lina wave goodbye to Selyria and many others as they rolled passed.

Lericanin's eyes softened. "Oh," he shrugged. "He's strong, don't worry about him."

"You needn't worry so much about us, Kailee," Nyrellia smiled warmly. "You have enough to tend to. They're both too ornery," she glanced to her husband of over forty years, "No idea who he gets that from."

Kailee chuckled as Lericanin eyed his beautiful wife in mocking displeasure. "He was that way before I met him."

Nyrellia nodded, "Right". She laughed and they hugged one another.

* * *

For the next three weeks, Kailee busied herself with expanding their territory, planting crops and clearing mountainous terrain for a new highway which would lead from Wroclaw to their elven neighbors to the west. A project requiring magic to clear tunnels as well as level areas gaining scenic views alongside mountains and into verdant valleys and distant peaks which seemed to go for miles.

Kailee sat at the long, mahogany table as she reviewed Baithen's annual financial reports. "As you can see, Your Highness, we will have enough to finish the project and even perhaps build the dock on the Oka Straits that had been previously mentioned. Although, I'm not sure where our proposed vessels would be sailing."

"Hopefully, soon we'll have the kingdom of Lamar to the south as allies and be able to trade with them as well."

Orange eyes stared for a long moment as she glanced up to him. "Your Highness has some lofty dreams, if it's not too bold to say."

She grinned. "No. But as you've said, the day we'd sit across from representatives from Kevelaer had never entered anyone's mind either."

He nodded respectfully. "Yes, ma'am."

"Our stockpiles of metals will benefit us also, as well as other crafted items. Wroclaw's tradesmen will become renowned for their skill." She thankfully let him go about his daily business and sat back, finally getting a chance to relax. Hopefully, her dreams would come to fruition soon. Many accomplishments had already been made, to the credit of the dark elves themselves.