Journeys with a halfling
The long summer loomed. Alone, she must guard the halfling. The cabin must be defended. Joy must be hunted, and exhaustion evaded. She must learn a new way to live, not in partnership, but in happily shouldering all loads herself. She hoped that when it ended, she'd be enduring, fast and strong.
Better and worse, six journeys loomed through the mist. She looked through her pack, and removed those burdens that could be set aside. The set of frying pans were dropped completely. Sewing needles and mops and mirrors went flying. Small monsters of weather and rot were allowed to live for now, though their nibbling on the cabin was worrying at the edges of her mind. She set a course for the park, and plunged into the strange pursuits of the halfling.
One rot monster grew too large, and managed to eat half through the fence protecting the unwary from the watery embrace of a nixie. She summoned help and rose to battle. It took hours of work, three allies and two loads of wood to slow it down.
She planned the first journey in stages, some with family. When the first journey was half done, she rested. Only then, a summons to the final journey was announced, and its shadow loomed large. One must take flight three times, pass through a guarded border, enter a land where strange illnesses rose and fell and clerics were uncommon, and bring special equipment to breathe, all to get a chance to see the rare water gardens. Quests were required to prepare. Buoyed by early success, she agreed.
The expenses of the quests looked small, but soon turned to days and then weeks of wages.
First, a passport was needed. It took a special letter, and two afternoons of expeditions. It seemed lost, and then suddenly arrived by messenger bird.
Equipment for the undersea explorations was unearthed from the basement, and seemed intact, but needed to be inspected closely. Salt water and age had taken a harsh toll on tiny parts, and it was well that much time had been allowed for repairs.
Last, a healer announced a new quest, to find a special medicine, with misleading hints. With the aid of the google fairy, a clever directions demon, some lucky guesses, and finally the help of a passing stranger, she found the way. A school of nurses had a nearby maze, and within it could be found a sage one with the medicine. The nurse proved herself wise and practical. She delivered not only the medicine, but almost an hour of warnings and advice on deceptive foods to avoid, ways to avoid insects and illnesses, and warnings mild, but dire in nature. Then, showing her practicality, she requested her fair price be paid immediately, in gold.
The summer opened to them. Many parks and museums were explored. The halfling smiled and thought much more than he wept, and learned to climb and tell tales, and sing, and pretend, and be brave, and declare his love. She traded her clay plates for leaves, and cleaned when chances came. Her patience grew, and perhaps the halfling's patience grew as well. She called old friends, and slowly, they came. She learned to avoid and resent relaxation. She learned to accept the company of exhaustion, for that old friend carried sleep in his pocket, and even a pinch of sleep would revive patience. The journeys came each fortnight, and with them experience. Bags were packed and unpacked, packed and unpacked. Potions of alertness were imbibed, and reached their limits, and the demon of sleep battled with bold songs. They flew, and flew again. Far Boston was sung of many a time, and finally explored. She rose before dawn many times, and struggled with it mightily. She made it through the summer of the survivor alone. Suddenly, it ended, the mage was home, the unpacking ensuing, and the packing overdue. Just one day to make ready...
