Paul Returns to the Druids
After taking a few moment to calm down and a day to straighten out his spells, Paul picks up the pace (of the story) and almost goes on the offensive to get things done and his life back in order. The next morning, before his wife is awake, Paul 'ports with Rose to meet with Tellis, brings him up to date and asks him to help Rose find the Father of his adoptive son. He suggests Rose tell her people about Brad and that the DragonSlayers are following that lead and to be on the look out for them in the far north area. Then he quickly Teleports back to his waking wife, calmly get her and the baby ready and the three make another quick Teleport to Rivertown, leaving Gon in the hands of a handful of his train men, not knowing the dangers that is headed their way. Stopping by Wine, Women and more Wine he runs into a few old Dragonslayers and gets word to Sabrina that they need her help. Over a lovely brunch, Paul convinces his wife that she and her son will be safe here, while he takes care of some unfinished business. Paul walks away with a stern look, hopping to be able to tie up some loose ends once and for all.
-- Paul walked. Not because he had to, but because he needed the time to think. After a few hours he was there and still he did not know what to say.
"Welcome Paul" came a voice from around a tree, " Mind if I join you".
Paul looked at his traveling companion. His peaceful demeanor matched his looks, almost like a human chipmunk.
"Are you the one pulling my strings?" Paul asked directly.
"Oh Paul, I thought you were the smart one."
"Then you tell me. You were the one who said I had a new life" Paul said
"Stop putting words in my mouth, Paul. Or in this case take words out of my mouth. I said you had a new chapter to your life. A new chance at life. I never said it was a new life."
The calm voice of the Druid did not help Paul keep his calm." "THEN WHY DID YOU BRING BE BACK HERE!" Paul said shattering the tranquility.
The Druid stopped, shook his head. "Maybe you need to have your memory back." He grabbed Paul's hand and walked through the nearest tree. They exited into a beautiful glen. Soft light shining through the leaves, shimmering on a small stream and glowing on dark red chest.
The Druid took a deep breath and said quietly. So quietly as to blend in with the wind. "We brought you back to life. You brought yourself here. And the rest of your answers are in there." he said pointing to the chest.
Paul looked as if he had been hit by a Mind Blast. Stunned beyond beyond conscious thought he wandered to the chest, pulled a tube from a secret compartment in the top.
As Paul sat down and stared at the tube, the druid continued. "Your life is you own. We have helped each other in many ways. But you have always been a force of your own." The Druid sat on the grass, put his feet in the stream and watched Paul as he read."
"I do not know when you will read this, or how much you will already know. I think you deserve a brief summary. You were a powerful Female Drow, only concerned with your personal power. You decided you needed someone to watch your back, someone you could trust as much as yourself. You captured a gold dragon and bread yourself a daughter. That is when your life changed, not when you died. You began to see someone else's life as more important as your own. It did not happen overnight, you were Drow. You brought yourself here. If your plan worked the way you intended, you and Kit have a new home, far away from here. Keep her safe. I cannot write any more for you. It is best you forget me and go on with your life.
Respectfully,
You."
The Druid saw the look on Paul's face. "You have one life, with many chapters. As with any story, one chapter leads inexplicit to the next. Even if the chapter takes place in a new scene, there is the flow started from the previous. A change in tempo, to mix a metaphor, can be, by design, from the previous one."
"I get it." Paul interrupted. "To thy own self be true. I know a few more but then so do you. Is the spell book in there, pointing at the chest."
"Of course. We dare not open it, knowing who you are."
Paul put his hand on the chest, said a word in Drow and walked away, scroll in hand. The chest folded upon itself, until it was a single slat of wood.
Paul talked with a new calm. "You should destroy that, but I know you will not. Just in case Law or Good gets to powerful you my need it. But someone is still looking for that. And they will not care who or what they have to do to get it. But then again, you know I will kill them, or at least some of them, and slow them down"
"Not to repeat myself but, of course."
"I owe you nothing. If I choose to send them your way, don't blame me."
"It has been a pleasure Paul, stop by anytime." The Druid stood as Paul stepped into the stream and disappeared, only to reappear in Gon.
