NIGHTFALL DAY TWO

  “Uncle Rhys that was delicious, I can see why Penny married you.” Claire taunts.

  Rhys, wearing a slightly wounded expression, responds, “I assumed it was because of my rugged looks.”

  The girls, including Bree, all chime in with variations of no or defiantly not, with lots of giggles and laughter.

  Tanner stands and with a stretch announces, “I need to take a walk, I won’t go far.” Tanner walks away into the darkness. Claire and Connie glance at each other as Tanner walks away. Connie nods her head in the direction Tanner is walking and makes a shooing motion. Claire nods back and follows him.

  Bree, studying the others. “Now is the time to discuss today’s almost disaster.”

  “We said we will not do something like that again.” Jackson quickly speaks up. Milly, nodding her head, quickly agrees. “Please don’t disband the party.”

  “Is that what he told you?” Bree asks her.

  Upon hearing it for the first time, Mick and the rest appear shocked and dismayed. Milly, nodding her head almost in tears, quotes, ‘Please don’t let something like this happen again. There is a time and place for jokes and playing around. While our lives are in jeopardy is never the time and never the place. I don’t care if it is a monster we out level by 100 levels. This will not happen again. I will disband the party.’

  Jackson, in a muted voice, “The tone of his voice was chilling, I thought he was going to leave us right then.”

  “The look in his eyes gave me shivers. It was completely dead.” Milly says.

  With a deep sigh, Bree asks. “How much do you know about Tanner?”

  Jackson speaks. “I know he was an orphaned, street rat. Don’t look at me like that those are his words, not mine.”

  Rhys, smiling slightly, says, “Yes he does refer to himself that way. Do any of you know how he was orphaned?”

  “The only thing he has told us was, he was young, he does not remember much about them. Oh, and that they were Delvers.” Iris says.

  Bree looks over the small group, then inclines her head. “All correct as far as that information goes. He was two summers old. His mother was in the Volks Harbor Dungeon when it Split. His Father was waiting outside, he led the defenders against the overflow, also dying. When they died, his Grandmother raised him until he was four, then she passed. Because of circumstances that we will not go into, he went into an orphanage, instead of where he should have."

  Rhys taking up the narrative. “He has not had the best of luck. At age eleven he gave up his bed in the orphanage for a little girl. He slept on the streets for a time. At twelve, he witnessed a beating and gang rape. He hid and watched, then followed when the girl was taken. He got the city watch, and the girl was rescued, along with several others.”

  Bree gently explains. “These are the highlights of what we know about his life. Claire and Connie may know more.” She says with a small smile. “If they do, neither has broken his confidence. I know he also talks with Eunice too. You will not let him know we had this conversation. You will not pressure him or the other two for more details. If he brings it up and wants to talk, that is fine. Just know that Tanner has a very protective side, and takes delving and his role as Party Lead very seriously. He will break the party if he feels that will keep the rest of you safe.”

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  Rhys breaking the thoughtful silence, “Why don’t you all get some rest. You all will hit Level 10 tomorrow or the day after. Class day, means big decisions ahead. So get some sleep, I’ll keep watch tonight.”

  After the younger party goes to bed. Bree, looking off into the night after Tanner sighs. “Not eavesdropping on them is hard, I know they are okay, but I love him like he is a son of my body.”

  “I know,” Rhys answers in a low tone. “You know how seriously I take my healer job. I’ve been listening they are talking about today and he is opening up for her. Just because I heal the body does not mean I ignore the mind. I will recommend he talk to a Church Councilor. Although I think he has been talking to Eunice frequently.” Rhys gives a sigh. “I care about him, too. Penny loves him like a little brother, I think she sees Mathew in him. I think if you had not gotten him first, we would have adopted him. Get some sleep, Healer's orders.”

  Claire follows Tanner a short distance from camp. “Hey, wait up, please?” Tanner stops as the princess catches up to him. She smiles at him and takes his hand. “Do you want to talk?” Claire asks him.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Company on your walk then?”

  “I think I’ll always welcome your company.” He answers quietly, starting forward again.

  Claire giggles, “You are dangerous.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes I am afraid my virtue is in jeopardy when you say things like that.”

  Tanner, smiling for the first time since the failed joke earlier in the day. “Your virtue is safe from me.” He pauses, “For now.”

  The couple continue their walk, Claire hugging tighter to his arm. “Oh this is pretty.” She looks around, surprised. Following the river, the couple comes upon a small pool with a clearing around it. The full moonlight glinting off the smooth mirror surface of the still water, the light reflection turning the green of the grass and trees into a soft low white glow. With the tree trunks and branches adding their silver highlights, the area emits magic and peace. Standing still for a few moments, absorbing the feelings brought on by the view. Tanner’s muscles relax, easing the tension he never realized he had. With a smile for his friend, Tanner finds a dry spot by the pond’s bank. He takes a blanket out of his storage bracelet. Spreading it on the ground with another smile for Claire. He pats the blanket. “I’ve found a seat just for you.”

  Claire, smiling, walks forward and takes Tanner’s hand. Tanner helps her sit down, then sits beside her. Claire leans into Tanner while he puts his arm around her. The couple sit in silence for a few minutes. “Care to talk? If not I’ll just sit with you.” Claire whispers, not wanting to break the stillness of the moment.

  Tanner letting go of Claire’s shoulders lays back. Claire turns slightly to keep him in view. “They scared me, all that I could think about was my parents and grandmother leaving me. Now I have to watch them leave me too.”

  Claire takes a deep breath, then lays down and snuggles in close between Tanner’s arm and his body. Claire laying on her side and puts her head on his shoulder. Tanner wraps his arm around her, holding her close. “I know they didn’t choose to leave me. I know they died, I know they didn’t want to. But sometimes … Oh hells, I don’t know…”

  Claire snuggles in closer and strokes his hand. “Have you seen anybody to talk with about this?” Claire gently asks.

  “I probably should, I’ve been talking to Eunice a little about seeing someone, maybe it’s time.” He murmurers.

  “Tanner it is pastime. You need to.” Claire says firmly. “When we get out. I’ll go with you, and wait outside, if you want. But you need to go, please.”

  “Okay, I will. Thanks, stupid feelings anyway.” He says, smiling with the relief of a hard decision made.

  Claire, levering her self higher, kisses his cheek. “Not all feelings are stupid I’ll have you know.”

  Tanner turning his head towards her. “I can accept that.” After a few more minutes of quiet solitude, Tanner breaks the silence, “We should head back.” Tanner says somewhat regretfully.

  “Okay” Claire says, standing up. She grabs the blankets and pulls them out from under Tanner playfully.

  Tanner jumps to his feet, “Rude.”

  Claire, laughing, hands the folded blankets back to Tanner. Tanner, ignoring the blankets, folds Claire in his arms tightly, kissing her lips for the first time. He pulls his head back and quietly thanks her.

  Claire, eyes wide, tells him. “Not fair. I did not get to kiss you back.” Diving into his lips, kissing him. After a few moments enjoying the kiss, she steps back and says, “We really need to get back.”

  “Your right. There is a time and a place for this. Sorry.”

  “No Tanner this was the right time and the right place for this.” She smirks, walking away. Stunned, Tanner stares after her for a few moments.