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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 505387" data-attributes="member: 143">Hey readers.I was reviewing what I've written on Book VII so far, and have noticed that this book focuses less on the nonstop action that is my trademark, and more on character development and scene-setting.  I'm currently a few chapters ahead and considered editing down some of this material, but couldn't find anything that didn't advance the overall plot of the story.  I am building to something, though, and promise that once the ball starts rolling, we'll have battles and dramatic surprises aplenty.  And cliffhangers, Maldur: plenty of cliffhangers.Thanks for reading. * * * * * Book VII, Part 6Benzan hesitated in front of the plain wooden door.  Behind him, the sounds of the inn’s common room carried clearly, even though the evening crowd hadn’t fully arrived as of yet.  He felt a tingle pass through him, like the anticipation he felt just before a battle, and he had to resist the urge to reach down and touch the hilt of his sword.He took a deep breath, and knocked.He heard the footsteps before the latch caught, and the door opened to reveal her.  She looked a little different, more settled, her hair somewhat longer and her features less weathered.  Her eyes widened as she saw him.“Benzan!” “Hi, Elly.”She was clearly shocked and surprised, but she recovered quickly.  “Please, come in.”The room wasn’t large, a small outer chamber that apparently opened onto an adjacent bedroom.  A small table, a pair of chairs, and a short chest of drawers were the only furnishings, but the woven carpets on the floor and the curtains on the windows gave the room a nice, homey look.  “How did you find me?” she asked.  She closed the door, but didn’t move from it, standing there with her arms folded tight against her body.  “Dana saw you, in the park.  It wasn’t that hard to find you; I had a good idea of where to ask the right questions.”“Then you know.”He nodded.  She gestured for him to sit down at the table, and he did, glancing searchingly into the adjacent bedroom as he passed the doorway.  “She’s not here.  Maiglan’s taking care of her for me today.”“Why didn’t you try to get in touch with me?  Or did you...”She looked up at him, her eyes deep with feeling.  “Benzan... I don’t regret anything that’s happened, Benzan, but we knew all along that what we had, it wasn’t permanent.  You are a traveler, not the sort to settle down in one place for long.  Would it have changed anything, if you had known?”“I would have helped.  Taken care of you and...”“Izandra.  I named her Izandra.”“That’s a pretty name.”“She’s a wonder,” Elly said, and for a moment her face seemed to take on a glow.“Motherhood suits you, Elly.”“You know, I never thought it would, but I guess you’re right.  Now that I have her, I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”“How are you... getting by?” He didn’t have to elaborate; life in Faerûn was hard enough, even if one wasn’t a single parent.  “A friend of Kael owns this inn; she lets me stay for a reduced rent, and I help out around the place.”  She saw Benzan’s face harden, and she added, “It’s not like that.  It’s nice—almost like a real family.  It’s a nice place, good neighborhood, and there are other children about for when she gets older.  And it’s not like I’m poor; I sold the magical spear that we brought back from the Isle for a good sum, and I have a few investments that are paying small, but steady, dividends.”“You always were practical, Elly.”“We get by just fine.  I don’t miss the life of the sea... well, not that much, anyway.  I certainly don’t miss the constant danger that traveling with you and your friends entailed.”“Elly...”“How are the others?”  By the way she looked up and suddenly met his gaze, it was clear which of the “others” she meant.Benzan smiled, his feelings laid bare in his eyes, a truth that Elly read clearly even before he spoke.  “The others... they are great.”“Will you... be staying in the city long?”He shook his head.  “I don’t think so.”  He almost told her about Delem, about all that had happened, but he decided not to.  “We’re headed south pretty soon, I think.”“Well, if you want to stop by before you go, you can see her...”He nodded, even though he knew it was unlikely even as he did.  Already he was nearly overwhelmed by it all; if he actually saw the child... my daughter... he wasn’t sure if he would be able to handle it.  She saw it, too, understood even as she tried to keep her feelings from showing on her face.  He rose, too quickly.  She stood as well, and the two of them stood there, facing each other over an uneasy silence.  “I’m sorry I didn’t try to contact you, Benzan.  I never wanted to do anything to hurt you, please believe me.”“Of course, Elly.  I’m not sad, or angry... it’s all just a little overwhelming.”“I understand.  It was for me too, believe me.”He reached into the pocket of his cloak, and withdrew a small bag.  “I want you to have this.  It isn’t a handout, and I know you can take care of yourself just fine, but I really want you and... Izandra to have it.”She took the bag, nodded.  “Thank you.  We’ll be all right.  And when she’s old enough, I’ll tell her about her father, I promise.”“I will be back, Elly.  And if you ever need anything...”  He left it hanging; both knew that it would be difficult at best to find him, if it came to that.  But he would stop by the local temple of Lathander on his way out; he’d passed it coming here.  He had another bag for the priests there, and some instructions as well.  For once, he wouldn’t mind leaving town with only a few coins in his purse.  He also knew that Elly would put the rubies that were in the bottom of the pouch he’d given her, under the gold and silver, to good use.  He’d intended to buy magical arrows with them, but suddenly that intent seemed like an utter waste.  For all their denials, Benzan knew that everything had changed.  He’d have to speak to Cal, too... just in case.  They embraced, holding each other tightly for a long moment.  Elly was the first to break the hug, although there was a reluctance in her face that she quickly hid before he could see it.  She followed him to the door.  She didn’t start crying until she could no longer hear his footsteps on the floorboards of the stairs outside.</blockquote>

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