A Trip to London

Dreven City...

Duncan finished packing what meager belongings he would need for the trip. No cloak, no sword, as Cate had instructed him. A dagger, she had said, would be acceptable, so long as he kept it hidden from view.

He wondered what sort of place was this London -- the world of indoor plumbing, Irish Whiskey, and Thoreau. He grimaced at the thought of Thoreau -- he had not been too impressed by what little Cate had read him -- though the idea of indoor plumbing sounded intriguing enough, and he had already developed a fondness for Irish Whiskey, which he often referred to as "the good stuff".

Duncan laid a hand against the pommel of his sword, the feel of it against his palm as familiar as that of an old lover. He absently caressed the hilt with his fingertips before unbuckling the sword from his belt. Though he had packed a dagger, he felt uneasy leaving the sword behind. It was almost as if it was a part of him. Unless bathing or sleeping, he was rarely without it, and even then, it was always kept within reach. One never knew, after all, when one would need it. He had learned that lesson the hard way.

Satisfied his packing was complete -- Cate had told him all he would need was a change of clothes -- he pulled the pack closed and tossed it over a shoulder. There was one thing she had not mentioned and that was silver. He wasn't sure what kind of coin they used in London, but he had learned it was better to be prepared. Besides, like Kirin had said, portals could be unpredictable at times and he wasn't going anywhere without a small pouch of silver and a trusty dagger, whether Cate liked it or not.

Even if Cate didn't understand, he knew Kirin would. She seemed to know his heart and mind better than anyone, sometimes even better than those who'd known him for years. Shouldering the pack, he made his way down the stairs of his family's home, his thoughts drifting over the events of the last few days -- events that had led up to this trip.

His mind lingered a moment on Connor and Tristan. He'd been to Balthazor to visit his friends and bid them farewell, only to find Connor's condition unchanged and Tristan gone with his father to find whoever was responsible. He'd spent most of his time there visiting with Beth and Cait, and though they'd reassured him that everything would be fine, part of him felt guilty for abandoning his friends in their time of need. Still, there was little he could do for Connor, and he had no idea where Tristan could be found.

And then, there was Cate to think about. Duncan breathed a soft sigh as he made his way outside and started on foot for the Crosswinds Tavern, where he was to meet Cate and Kirin. What exactly what happening between them? Did he dare hope for a second chance at love? No. A third chance, he corrected himself. First, there had been Mara -- his childhood love, who had turned down his proposal of marriage, in part prompting his initial departure from Dreven. And then, there had been Esme -- not much younger than Cate when he'd lost her to some strange illness. Even after all these years, her death still haunted him and kept him aloof, too afraid to love and lose yet again.

Duncan's stormy gray eyes wandered over the road ahead. He felt oddly naked without the sword's familiar weight at his side, but he had no intentions of being ambushed yet again. It was, in fact, that particular incident that had prompted him to push for this trip. He wanted to get Cate as far away from Dreven as he could for as long as possible. He knew he'd still have to deal with the situation when they returned, but the trip would allow him some time to think and at the same time, keep her out of harm's way. He had considered that perhaps he should distance himself from her -- that it was dangerous for her to be associated with him -- but somehow he knew she wouldn't listen. Not unlike himself, she was too stubborn for her own good, at times.

He was, in fact, starting to realize there might be only one solution to his little problem with Stefan -- either he'd have to leave Dreven for good or take matters into his own hands, and he was leaning toward the latter. Fight fire with fire. He could go to the authorities but knew they'd probably do nothing, which left him little choice in the matter.

Duncan pushed the thoughts of Stefan and his thugs to the back of his mind. So long as they were in London, he didn't have to worry about that. And they didn't dare touch Mara. He'd kill them if they did.

His thoughts drifted back to Mara again and he frowned. He knew he should visit her before leaving for London. There was no doubt in his mind she'd be angry with him for not saying good-bye, but he wasn't sure he could bear her tears yet again. She had made her choice long ago, and though they would always be friends, he no longer loved her the way he once had -- the way, perhaps, that she wanted him to.

Duncan drew a deep breath of the crisp morning air. Autumn was around the corner. The nights were turning cooler and the leaves were starting to change. It was his favorite time of year, and his thoughts were once again drawn back to London. What would it be like there? Would it be anything like Dreven? Bigger, Cate had said -- a bustling city with something to keep one busy any time of day or night. He smiled at the thought of it.

He wondered if she had any idea what this trip meant to him. He had always been a wanderer, even as a child -- always exploring, looking for adventure. His travels had taken him far and wide, even out to sea, and there was a whole new world of adventure awaiting him on the other side of the portal. To have the opportunity to explore a different world was a rare treat and one Duncan wasn't about to miss, no matter what the consequences might be.