A knock at the Pointy-Ears Door. (Log and continuation)

Rodry had been meaning to visit the elves. He had been meaning to ever since he had spoken with the stand in cook who was watching over the kitchen with Armandeus out of commission! With that memory in mind, Rodry had himself moving slowly down the hall, headed for their door. One hand was holding onto his cane, as was his norm, the other was holding the handle of a small iron box. A small iron box that Armandeus had seen before, but Elessar had not. The old fellow was dressed in his normal attire, slacks and a long sleeve dress shirt, even if it was made of silk and in a garish shade of royal purple. The teal tie he wore stood out well against the fabric, while the ash gray suit jacket helped make him seem a little more tame. The cane was tossed up and caught just below the head, that large sapphire topper thumped heavily against their door. Rodry was feeling much approved, both in mind and body. A surprising fact, considering that the last time he had seen Elessar he had been rather ill. In fact, it had been more than six months since he had last seen either of the elves!(D)

-What in the bloody blue blazes was that thumping at the door? Elessar looked from where he'd been writing in his old, worn journal to simply stare at the door rather than make any move towards it. Aside from those first few days following the surgery the elves hadn't had many visitors to their door beyond Cocina, Ar's young apprentice, so this sudden thumping was quite unexpected! Frowning, the elf turned in his seat to look around at the bed behind him where Armandeus slept on obviously. Ever since the surgery the other male had drifted in and out of wakefulness although he remained sleeping far more than waking. Still, it would be nice to have someone to talk too and that decided it. Snapping the journal closed he stood, and headed towards the door. "Who is there?"-

Leave it to Rodry to come thumping in the middle of the night. At his age, sleep came and went here and there, he didn't really have a set schedule! Rodry leaned faintly upon his cane, needing it far less at this time than he had before, something that was apparent in the way that he walked and handled himself. Far more comfortable and confident. Luckily, it seemed that he hadn't disturbed Ar, otherwise he might have been in for more than a 'who's there'. An apt question, one that had the old man thinking, considering the answer he would give before settling on an easy one. "A friend, so unless you want me thumping and stumping around here all night, it would be wise to open up!" Unfortunately, Rodry had been ... absent at the time of Ar's accident. He hadn't heard about it until he had gone to get a little something from the kitchen to find Ar was missing and that some girl had replaced him. A protege, but not Ar. Rodry still felt bad for the scare that he had given the other elf and knowing that he was unwell and by extension, Elessar, he had come to see if he could perhaps help. Though he offered no magic, no newfangled medicine. Simply that contents of that Iron Case!(D)

If it had been perhaps anyone else they would have gotten a far different reply in the not so subtle form of "Go away!" for coming thumping and bumping in the middle of the night but Rodry's voice was so unexpected to hear that Elessar found himself opening the door instead of giving in to annoyance. "Rodry Pol. What a surprise this is!" What a surprise it was- unlike the last time they had met Elessar looked tired and worn, and far paler than his fair complex should have been. Whatever he'd been doing during the time he was holed up alone with Armandeus it was clearly taking a toll on him. "How did you come to be at my door?" It was a fair question considering the state of the man the last the elf had laid eyes on him! Speaking of, now that the door was open Elessar was certainly eyeing the old man over!-

Oh if Elessar had hollered for Rodry to go away, the old man would have just had to have found some other way to gain access. It was for their own good, truly! Rodry had been missing, MIA for months, not a soul but one had known where he had ended up and she wasn't the type to spread the word around. "Elessar, it is good to see you. Though I must say ... your looking a bit worse for the wear." His head cocked ever so faintly. Sapphire eyes sweeping the elf carefully, just as Elessar was doing to him, even if it was for entirely different reasons. "Well, in all honesty, I meant to come and visit sooner. I had a Young Lady mention to me that something happened while I was ... gone. That the two of you were not well." Said with a certain trepidation. Though, it seemed that Rodry was set on his intentions. Since the tall old man was placing his cane rather pointedly at Elessar's side, stepping past him into their chamber. Nostrils flaring ever so faintly, while his tongue moistened his lips. "I brought some of my tea. I thought it would make the two of you feel better." It always helped him a good deal. Of course, the secret ingredient was responsible ... a secret ingredient that Armandeus had spotted him 'acquiring' in the shady part of the market one day. "How are you feeling?" Asked in a carefully neutral tone.(D)

Elessar would have liked to seen Rodry try to gain entry by other means for one of the first things Elessar had seen to after he was able to be mobile was to put the protective wards up around the room to keep 'unwanted' guests out. "You are looking much improved from the last we met." As to his own appearance, well he was ignoring from commenting at the moment! "You spoke with Cocina." The elf nodded, not wholly surprised. Very few people knew the full truth of what had happened that night and the young elf apprentice had been one of those few told. "I had not expected to see you return." Spoken with the same amount of trepidation even as he was moving aside so Rodry wouldn't have to push past him to come into the room! "Armandeus is sleeping." Stating the obvious since there was hardly anyway to miss the other elf upon the bed considering the shared room was smaller than most! "I am 'fine'." Sure he was, if 'fine' meant the faint trembling he was doing just standing there!-

"I am feeling much improved. Six months of relaxation and sleep will do that to a man." Coming a tad closer to the truth than he had with most who had inquired about his disappearance. Though the old human male couldn't help but notice that pointed evasion. Giving a faint nod in response. He hadn't caught the girls name, unfortunately, but from Elessar's tone he must have picked up on who he meant. While she had been vague, he hadn't pressed. Had figured to just speak with them face to face about it. Even if it seemed that Armandeus was still asleep at the moment. Something that left Rodry giving a quiet grunt. "Aye, a few felt that way I believe. I haven't checked out yet. Trust me, I am sure you would know if I had." Rodry wasn't exactly going to go quietly into that particular goodnight! Once inside, Rodry was headed for the nearest table, to set down that heavy case. Glancing about. The layout of their room was different from his own. While some men might have let the answer slide, Rodry knew better. He had been with his fair share of women and then some and he was a father of a headstrong daughter. He knew that 'fine' meant that the shit was about to hit the fan. "Of course you are Lad. Come, sit down. You already make me feel bad for bothering you to get up to let me in." Besides, Rodry owed him. Elessar had been kind enough to bring him breakfast, least he could do was make him some tea and let him relax. Rodry directed Elessar to the couch at the table where he had set that iron box, bustling off to see if he could find a kettle and some way to heat up some water.(D)

Six months of relaxation and sleep sounded insanely wonderful to Elessar although he didn't care to voice that opinion as he carefully shut the door and turned to watch Rodry with that case. "It has been a long few months. I was not sure if someone had simply forgotten to mention your departure." While Elessar was almost fairly certain Epiphany would have told him if anything had happened to Rodry he hadn't yet seen the girl to tell her of what had happened to Armandeus! Compared to Rodry's room the Elves was quite small! It was actually only one large room filled with one normal bed and one tucked in bedside it on the floor between the wall. A side table, dresser with a TV set, and the desk and the chair made up the rest of the room along with a smattering of shelves filled with different elvish weapons aside from the adjoining bathroom. Despite it's size however, the room was very neat and clean apart from the rumbled bedclothes of the bed on the floor that had to be Elessar's. "I have never seen tea come from such a heavy case before." Elssar couldn't help but comment with eyebrows raised although he was compliant towards heading for one of the few chairs to sit down. "Tell me, is tea a natural healing tool in this realm?"-

Something told him that poor Elessar would likely find that the six months would lose it's appeal after about a week or two. Of course, Rodry couldn't really know for sure. From the look of the elf he looked like he hadn't slept well in a few weeks! "Oh no, I don't plan on moving out anytime soon. At my age an upheaval of that sort is something I would like to avoid at pretty much any cost." Shuddering at the thought. Perhaps now it wouldn't be such an issue, with him feeling as well as he had since waking back up, but that was besides the point. Rodry found that he genuinely enjoyed being around people once again after his long self imposed exile from the world at large. The room was cozy, though from what he knew Armandeus spent more time in the kitchens than in his room, though that was a thing of the past. At least at the moment. Seeing the elf, laying in bed like that sent shivers down the old mans spine. "The ingredients for my tea are ... delicate. Can be quite volatile if not handled properly." Now there was a word people usually didn't want to hear when being told they would be expected to consume something! "I hope I didn't wake you." Nodding towards the unmade bed while he bustled, searching for a kettle. Assuming he could find one he would get some water and place the kettle near the fire so that the water could heat properly. "Naturally, no. well I mean there are some that can help you feel a bit better at times, but my brew has been part of what kept me from wasting away to nothing over the past few years." With Rodry's appearance, it would likely make the tea sound like a wonderful cure all. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure how it will effect you are Armandeus. While Elves are magical beings, I am unsure of how it will effect you. It helps me a great deal though." Rodry was fiddling with that case now. His fingers lightly drumming upon the surface with his gloved left hand. "Let me prepare a bit and we will see how you feel." Flashing a wide smile, before taking the case over by the fire. Placing himself conspicuously between it and Elessar as he slowly popped the clasps and folded back the two part hinged lid.(D)

Considering everything Elessar had been through lately he really wouldn't mind sleeping for a long extended period of time! Elessar was glad to hear the man wouldn't be leaving any time soon even if it seemed they were talking about two different forms of moving! "Do you want me to try and wake him?" The look Rodry had given Armandeus had not gone unnoticed from where Elessar sat slumped down in the chair with his arms lightly crossed. While the sleeping elf was covered to his chin by the blankets he appeared to be at peace and looked to be fairing better than Elessar himself! If Rodry was attuned to such things he would be able to detect the faint tinge of magic coming from the room. "...Volatile?" Elessar perked up at the word, looking faintly concerned. "Just what form of tea is this? And you didn't wake me. I was writing when you came knocking." A kettle could be found on the desk along with a tray of assorted dirty dishes that had obviously sat there for a while. "I am not as magical as perhaps you think.." This was true for Elessar didn't have a drop of magical blood in him! "I ask for I have seen De'Ryanna bring tea to Armandeus when he has.. been ill.." Carefully avoiding the word 'vision' even as he was trying to see around Rodry's form to the case!-

"No no, let him rest. I will leave a bit of the brewed tea here so you can try to get him to sip at it when next he wakes." Indeed. While Rodry was not exactly fearful of death, he found the topic depressing and certainly didn't want to bring up such a discussion when they had someone who was unwell nearby. It wasn't the fact the was sleeping, it was that look upon his features. The last time he had seen such a look in one so still he had been glancing into a casket. Rodry had noticed the magic, it was something he had long ago learned to taste. It was familiar and assuring to him. Elessar's almost hesitant questioning tone had Rodry glancing his way, giving his best attempt at a smile of assurance. "Quite harmless, truly." Maybe volatile hadn't been the right word. It had come easily enough. "It's tea, what do you mean what form? I mean it's hot, as opposed to iced tea. Penning a novel?" Asked casually enough, a deflection, but still. He really was sort of curious. The old fellow had made sure the kettle was clean before filling it and placing it near the fire. Unlike most, Rodry brewed the tea over the fire, rather than placing ingredients in the cups and pouring the boiling water over them. It was very important in his particular tea that the ingredients stew for a while. "I am not sure of the elves from where you two hail from, but most I have met are like many of the other mythical races, your sprites and fae, demons, dragons." Giving a short list while waving his free hand. "Though that does make me wonder how the tea will work." Rodry didn't share his tea. As a rule of his own. These circumstances were special though! "Well, perhaps De'Ryanna uses a mystic recipe for her own. I meant for common ailments like sore throats and the like ... herbs and spices can have a profound effect on people. Your memory associates them with different things." Something Ar would likely understand. Like the smell of pumpkin spice bringing to mind the fall. Elessar could catch the glint of firelight off of metal inside the box, as well as glass, though unless his vision was a damn sight keener than a humans he might not see much else! Rodry was reaching down into the case, sliding aside some small inlaid platforms within to fetch the secret ingredient. His low voice rolling into a soft hum, an old marching tune he had once known.
As much because it made the work take on it's rhythm as the fact that he used it to drown out other noises. There was a higher pitch beneath the humming, as if Rodry's nose was whistling from the cold. He was kneeling in front of the case, idly pulling free a small knife that he used to scrape small symbols into this particular ingredient, which brought that high pitched tone coming more quickly. "Armandeus found my tea case curious too. Spotted me in the market getting it from the one I buy my ingredients from. A rough fellow, dwarf, but nice enough." As long as you didn't mind the Neidar. Rodry plucked the lid off of the kettle, bringing clenched hand up to it and stuffing the contents through the opening. A faint glint caught on an almost insectile looking wing though it might have been imagined. The lid went back on, while Rodry dug through the herbs in the case. Selecting a few. Marjoram, cinnamon, mint and clove. Strong flavors that would help make the tea palatable. "You like orange don't you? I believe you enjoyed one at breakfast that one day." It had been a grapefruit, but Rodry's memory wasn't quite as sharp as it had once been. A little orange zest soon joined the little pile he had placed in one hand. Giving the tea time to brew, while he slowly closed the case back up. Replacing the clasps and sliding it to one side. "So, Ar's replacement in the kitchen was a bit vague on details, said that he had come down ill." Which of course seemed to be begging for an explanation.(D)

Well, who knew how Armandeus would react if he woke up to find Rodry lurking in their room? After all, the last time Ar had seen the old man, they had been twenty feet up in that tree that Armandeus had sought out for the natural protection from an aged human. Needless to say, Rodry had sacrificed far more of his vital energy than he had wanted to in order to get to the elf. Then further compounded that mistake by using what little remained to disguise the contents of the very iron case that the old fellow was currently collecting ingredients from in order to prepare some of his special tea for the two of them.

Rodry could certainly agree on the disconcerting nature of Armandeus' face. While he was at peace, it was not the peace that came from those who were part of themselves. He couldn't help the image of that composed, peaceful face surrounded by the caskets grim confines, the image simply hung in his mind with the tenacity of a cornered badger.

Thankfully other things were there to distract him. The careful preparations of that tea that had for so long sustained him, Elessar's presence. That questioning and almost suspicious tone had one of those sapphire eyes seen when the old fellow turned his head. The long iron gray braid that hung three quarters of the way down his back sliding to dangle at his side. Short cut bangs partially obscuring his face.

"It is quite harmless, when handled properly. Anything can be dangerous if not dealt with in the right way. Don't you think?"

A faint nod given towards the bookshelves filled with old elven weaponry. The collection had surprised him more than a bit. When Elessar and he had spoken last, they had talked on the elves homeland. His tone had made it sound like an attempt to return would be met by violence. Elessars natural aversion had quite obviously left the old fellow thinking him and Armandeus were of a more pacifistic sort.

Yet it seemed that he had made either a grossly incorrect assumption, or the two truly only cared to collect such pieces rather than use them.

"Writing your memoirs then."

It was an intriguing idea. He himself had attempted to do such when the illness had first begun to manifest. The old man simply had found that his reflection on such joyous and vivid memories when he had felt as if the reapers chill touch was so teasingly close had only made him feel bitter and driven him to abandon that project. To simply do what he had always enjoyed doing in his better years, to forget and settle among his material possessions. Yet even they had quickly lost their appeal.

Memory had sucked Rodry's attention away. Leaving him only picking up the second portion of his commentary on mythic races.It had his lips parting faintly, a knowing grin. Rhy'Din had not always been a peaceful place, hell it still wasn't. Yet this was something that of course came with the territory.

"I think it is more a matter of all the others realizing that if they wish to live rather than merely survive, that some of their baser urges needed to be ... controlled. I still find myself surprised each time I walk through New Haven. Races that I had known to be enemies for decades walking side by side, working, making friends."

While he couldn't attest to the potency of his tea when it came to suppressing visions, who knew how it would effect the elves. It was part of why Rodry had never shared it with another, the effects could be quite variable. The longing look that Elessar laid upon Armandeus left him nodding faintly, turning to the tea while he glanced into the fire. Letting it's dance and it's warmth soothe his troubled thoughts.

"Hopefully mine will help as well."

Rodry hadn't really gotten to learn too much from Armandeus, other than the fact that the fellow was the inn's cook and apparently quite the jumpy sort. The culinary elf had been quite difficult to chase down when Rodry had spooked him in the market place. The old fellow listened carefully to the kettle, turning partway, letting his rump settle to the edge of the hearthstones while he looked to Elessar at the almost suspicious reaction.

"Perhaps it slipped his mind, this was some time ago, maybe a week before I went on my little ... retreat."

If one could call confusing an old friend for the Grim Reaper and being in such a state as to think that they were leading you to the next life, rather than someplace where it would be safe for him to recover and to renew his spirits.

"Well, a Neidar technically. Dark Dwarf. While he might not be the most trustworthy of people, he gets what ingredients I need in a steady supply and is punctual about it. They tend to stick to their underground cities. Very few care for the world at large."

The dwarf also didn't ask many questions, which was an even bigger plus. He did as he was paid for without comment or complaint.

The old fellow couldn't say for sure just how much the tea would help the elves. Their physiology was vastly different from his own, despite the fact that the elves didn't look all that different from Rodry on the outside. Rodry only gave a sage nod and lifted the lid of the kettle to add his little palmful of additional herbs and spices. Replacing the lid and now turning fully towards Elessar.

"I think that it should help. As I said, it always helped me greatly, I can only hope that the two of you will reap the same benefits."

He had meant to come to prepare tea simply for Armandeus, however after seeing Elessar he couldn't help but consider it would do him a great deal of good as well. As long as the elf could stomach it. Rodry leaned forward slowly, letting his legs cross into a comfortable position, drawing his cane across his lap and allowing fingers to stroke lovingly over the wood. While the replacement cook had been vague, Elessar seemed truly reluctant to tell him what exactly had happened. Though it only sounded more curious, when he asserted that it was an accident.

"An accident? He didn't try cooking one of Epiphany's recipes did he?"

He could rather clearly remember the disaster that he had found in the kitchen one day when Epiphany had been cooking ....

Well, it wasn't so much that the ingredient was dangerous in itself, it was simply troublesome. Someone who was not as ... practiced ... as Rodry was might certainly find themselves making a mistake and turning their tea into something truly foul rather than a restorative. Luckily, the old man could practically brew the stuff in his sleep, a helpful trick. Considering he had been so ill before as to make thinking in itself almost painful.

Rodry's keen eyes had studied the weapons, while he had only forged one weapon that had ever seen use by him, he could still admire the craft that went into creating the replicas. The thought had his hand tightening faintly upon the cane which was balanced across his lap while he admired the pieces. As if to assure his precious walking stick that he wasn't about to replace it.

"You two have quite a collection. Just enjoy the collecting or do the two of you know how to use these things as well?"

Now if Rodry had known that Elessar had a battleaxe, an infamous one at that, he would have been damned surprised! Many elves he knew, or had known, shunned axes. Of course he had to keep reminding himself that Elessar was not a 'terrestrial' elf. Those intense sapphire eyes studied the bows as well, though with much less interest. Not because they weren't beautiful pieces, while Rodry could use a bow, shooting simply wasn't his forte. When he had been trained in using bows he had never taken to it as easily as others.

"They are fine pieces. Though I hardly consider myself a connoisseur of bow-craft, fletching isn't it?."

If they were genuine, Rodry imagined that they would be fully functional as long as they were strung and inspected. It was amusing to imagine Elessar with a bow, mainly because the fellows personality and demeanor had always struck Rodry as someone who had grown up with a sheltered life. Despite Elessar's age, the old man had a hard time thinking of him as 'old'. Especially considering the elf didn't appear as if he were suffering the ravages of age, at least when the old man had last seen him.

This thought had his gaze returning to Elessar, finally leaving the weapons to study the elf again. While he could smell that the tea was working it's magic, the scent of it tickled his nostrils being so close, the scent of the spices and herbs did well to cover that integral ingredient. He was honestly surprised at himself, that he felt such a powerful urge to help these two. While Rodry had always been the friendly sort, it was rare when he went out of his way to assist, especially volunteering something he had so carefully horded to himself for so long.

Maybe age was mellowing him out as well.

"Well, it is supposed to be the story of ones life told through written words. Recounting events, memories, stories anything that one might like to leave behind to let others remember and learn from."

It might have been an odd name, but the goal was noble enough. Explaining it to another had Rodry introspectively considering what it meant. Looking at it from the point of view of his children, rather than the bitter outlook that had plagued him at his home when they had mentioned it.

"Children learn to grow and forgive some of the most painful mistakes, while they may not forget them, they can move past them."

At least in Rodry's experience, which was hardly typical. After a moment the old man removed the kettle from it's hook, to bring it back over to where he had found it, digging about for a few cups. Carefully pouring them full before returning to where Elessar sat, offering him his cup while the old fellow returned the kettle to it's hook then took up a seat in one of the other chairs. He had left the case by the hearth and now found himself listening carefully to Elessar. While he normally would have commented further on Epiphany, since he knew that the elf enjoyed talking about her, he didn't want to give him something to be distracted by. While that hot tea would offer him a distraction if he wanted it, even Rodry was hesitating to sip it's steaming heat.

Their cups had been generously filled, the tea was a deep hue, a faint redness that tinged the liquids hue coming from the mixture of ingredients. Luckily for Elessar, Rodry had chosen a specific cluster of additives to cover the main ingredient, aromatic and flavorful herbs. One of the first things that Elessar would likely notice was that the tea seemed a little ... thick. It didn't shift in the cup as easily as a purely herbal tea should.

The old mans tea was forgotten at what Elessar had to say, more precisely, what Elessar said Armandeus had said! While Rodry had never in his life been in such dire straights that he considered the possibility of ending his life prematurely ... he couldn't help but wonder what had possessed the elf to do such a thing. He had seemed jumpy, to the old fellow, not suicidal! After a moment he glanced back towards the sleeping elf, lips resting in a grim line. Looking as stern as ever.

"Does he have a ... history? Doing things like that I mean? I don't mean to pry, just trying to understand."

It was one of the few things that he couldn't fathom. Over his long life, he had never felt such an urge, to hurt himself or anything like that, so it was honestly impossible for the old man to relate!

Now that truly surprised Rodry. While he didn't know enough about Elessar and Armandeous' particular culture and sub-species of elf to be aware of the significance of Elessar's braids, he had always thought the both of them to be peaceful sorts. It was as if Elessar and Armandeus both had been living a secret double life. It just left Rodry feeling a little crass for assuming that the both of them were your typical 'tree-hugging pointy-ear'. Those brilliant sapphire eyes of his once more scanned the room. Taking in the plethora of death dealing tools once more with a new understanding.

"Your room looks as if the two of you are ready for war."

Considering the previous conversation that Elessar and Rodry had shared, about their thoughts of possibly returning to Genesis, it wasn't that far fetched to believe that the two of them truly were planning some sort of assault on the place. Oddly enough, Rodry still remembered that their only true hunger for meat was from variety of fish that lived there. Funny what an old mind chose to remember.

Rodry could well understand the difficulties of their plight. Immortality could indeed be a curse, especially when one's health was not at all well, like the old mans. His own brand of sickness had even struck low the once mighty man he had once been and robbed him of what he had thought of as his life. It was damned lucky for those around him of similarly long lived races, that his illness wasn't contagious.

"I have been known to lose a few arrows in my younger years, it has been a good long while since I last used a bow. I always favored heavier weapons when I did fight."

Mostly that heavy claymore of his, but no need to bring up such details. Especially when Elessar didn't ask for them. Rodry's mystique was part of what made him so very interesting to others at times!

Similarly, it seemed that the mysterious nature of Elessar's own illness was hardly one that could be simply explained, especially since that link between the two elves wasn't well defined to Rodry's experience. The older fellow took his time in assessing his pointy-eared companion, who appeared as if he were honestly just exhausted, if not just getting over some minor sickness. It was why Rodry had come to bring Armandeus his unique blend of tea, if he had known Elessar wasn't well as well, he would have brought enough to make more than just one kettle.

The strongly scented blend of herbs that he had added were meant to cover the tea's unusual ingredient. Depending upon it's quality however, the need for additional flavoring could be more or less needed. Rodry watched keenly, while Elessar took in a lungful of the fragrant mist that rose from the surface of the tea. A part of him left hoping the Elessar's nose wasn't sensitive enough to pick up on the subtle odor that less instinctual beings typically missed.

"Family is important Elessar, but you must remember that each person is their own being. It may take time, but I am sure that he will find that his need for his Father may outweigh any thought of mistreatment. It is just a matter of being supportive, making sure that you do all in your power to make his importance to you clear as well."

Thankfully Elessar didn't bring up any questions about it, otherwise Rodry would be forced to spin a yarn in order to get the elf to feel comfortable drinking it! Hopefully the distraction would be enough for the elf to forget, however briefly, about his misgivings about the appearance of the tea.

While Rodry was a predator at heart, he was harmless to Elessar and Armandeus. He was no more dangerous to them than they were to their selves. Of course in Armandeus' case ...

A heavy sigh left Rodry's shoulders drooping after a brief lift at Elessar's words. It was another ancient plight of the long lived. That they saw the world without being a part of it as much as those who had less time. As such, they tended to have fewer attachments, at least in Rodry's experiences.

"The why is something that only Armandeus could answer for you. While your bodies may still have hundreds of years left to them, it is the mind that can sometimes grow old and tired of this life that we live. While I have never experienced anything like what Armandeus is going through ... I can say that it is sometimes hard for the old at heart to see reason to remain. Hopefully your companion has something worth living and fighting for that is stronger than whatever drove him to his ... slip of the hand ... in the first place."

Rodry had found it difficult to put a word to what had happened. While it may have been the truth, Rodry didn't want to say that Armandeus had tried to kill himself. At least in such ... final and harsh words. He took his own cup, sipping it's contents carefully. Letting the scalding liquid run over his tongue and down his throat. Breathing slowly, after his sip. Feeling it's familiar effects washing over him. Leaving him filled with that familiar wash of life, of being renewed. It had always been downright addictive to the old fellow since he had started his use of it.