In Two Years Time
tap tap tap
The portly halfling looked up from his tub full of suds and glanced toward the door. He saw nothing, but he had definitely heard something. He raised a burly eyebrow and dried his hands on a dishrag. If someone was tapping at this time of day, it could only mean one thing. He crossed the room and swung the door open.
“What are you doing here right now?” he whispered.
Lox looked at his brother Traps, who looked about quickly before stepping into the room.
“I thought maybe you would want to go on a bit of a quest…adventure…thing.”
Lox looked at his brother through tired eyes. The only adventure he had seen lately was the fierce assault of twin two-year-olds and a tired, angry wife.
“That is, if Sally will let you leave,” added Traps with a snicker.
“Hush,” said Lox. “I’m surprised Susie let you roam over here…or was that why you’re lurking around?”
Traps stopped snickering and sighed. He wasn’t even married yet and Susie had just as tight a grip on him as Sally had on Lox. The two brothers missed the dangers and excitement of adventuring, and were often plotting on sneaking off to find some. On a few occasions they had, but the most interesting thing they had accomplished was getting Lox’s curse removed. None of their mini-adventures had been as fulfilling and heroic as the time they spent in Rappan Athuk.
“Where’s Sally anyway?”
“She’s takin’ a nap with the little ones.”
“Good, then we can discuss the plan,” said Traps.
Just then, a cooing sound made Lox and Traps hold their breath. Lox turned around to see his son, Nuttin, tottering towards him.
“Ah, now the boy’s awake,” sighed Lox. “This will have to wait. I have to put Nuttin back to bed, or he’ll never sleep tonight.”
“But Lox, the plan!” hissed Traps in a whisper.
“Not now,” said Lox.
As Lox turned back to pick up Nuttin, little Ziona came wandering into view with a ragdoll in her arms. Nuttin, upon seeing his sister with the toy cried out.
“That’s miiiine!”.
The children began crying and fussing over the toy.
“Oh, no…” Lox moaned, rolling his eyes.
“Lox? What’s going on in there? Tend to the babies,
Lox!”
“Yes, Sally,” sighed Lox scowling at his brother.
“Sorry, Lox…I just thought this would be a good time to discuss…”
“I’ve decided nap-time isn’t a good time to discuss anything Traps,” snapped Lox. “Just go…I have to put them back to bed and finish cleaning the tub of diapers.”
Lox sighed as his brother left. He knew the sun must be shining outdoors, and he imagined the blue sky inviting him out. He thought about the days he had spent traveling and the nights he camped under that great open sky.
How he missed his friends and the adventures they had.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The open sky was something Ziona had not seen in many months. As she walked through Waterdeep, she breathed in the crisp autumn air as the warm rays of the sunfell upon her skin. She felt invigorated to be on the surface again after spending well over a year at Eilistraee’s Promenade in Skullport. The temple housed many worshipers of the Dark Lady, and Ziona felt honored to have been accepted so eagerly. Much of her time was spent in worship, singing hymns or dancing, or patrolling the temple itself. She felt it was difficult to leave, but she had missed the surface, and now that she was back, she was eager to see her friends again.
Circling the sky above her was Rossal. The pseudodragon seemed very pleased to be out in the open sky again. As they walked through Waterdeep, Ziona smiled as she passed The Misty Beard, remembering the meetings and adventures that had taken place there.
“From now on,” she thought, “we’ll have a base of operations.”
Rossal soared back down and landed on her shoulder.
“Headed to the castle, are we?” he communicated.
“Yes,” said Ziona with a smile. “I’m sure Dent has worked hard overseeing it’s completion.”
The half-drow walked with the pseudodragon on her shoulder towards Castle Xyzx, the home of The Unusual Heroes.
The Adventure Continues…