A Changed Man

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 9th August 2010

Characters: Shadux, Zelanka
Description: Shadux has some news he knows Zelanka would like
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 5

"I have news," Shadux grinned as he flopped down in the chair in front
of the Headwoman.

"Oh? I hope they are good ones," Zelanka said and put away the inventary
of food supplies she had been going through.

"There's a girl..." he said, being tantalizingly vague.

"There's a lot of girls out there," she said, realizing that he was
teasing her.

"True," he agreed. "But how many girls do you know make me smile this
big, hmmm?"

"Oh, I don't know," Zelanka admitted. "Why don't let me out of the rope
and just tell me?"

"All right. I don't know her name. I know she belongs to the Vintner
Hall, though." He proceeded to explain how he had been down at the Hall
speaking to them about some boundary issues. It was on the boat coming
back from the Hall when he had first spied her. "She was just leaning
against the rail at the bow of the boat, looking down into the water,
and I swear to you Zela, for a moment I just couldn't breathe."

"Congratulatios. You have to find out who she is and meet her," she
said, eyes twinkling merrily. She just loved romances.

After all the turns of her trying to set him up with different girls, he
knew she would be able to appreciate this story. "Anyway, I got my
breath back, and I walked up to the bow and leaned against the rail a
few steps away, pretending like I was looking off in the distance, and
said something terribly charming like, 'It's a smooth ride, don't you
think?' And she turned and looked at me, and smiled, and I felt like I
was back in harper classes again."

"Did you ask her name?" she wanted to know more.

"No, we talked for a couple minutes, and I was about to ask her, but
then her father stepped up on deck and waved her back in. I saw he had
Vintner knots, so that's how I know where she's from. But anyway, no, I
didn't catch the name. She did say she was visiting family a ways up
the river. That's why she was on the boat." He guessed she had come to
Amber Hills with the rest of the Vintner's after the quake destroyed
their home, but that some of her family was still up close to where
Amethyst Cliff once stood.

"Perhaps you should find a reason to go and check the holds in the
area," Zelanka winked her eye.

"I definitely should." He gave her a mischievous smile. "Do you have
any errands you need attending to by chance?

"I'm sure I can come up with something," the Headwoman replied to his
smile.

"I know I only talked to her for a few moments, but I can tell you she's
pretty, she's witty, she's modest... She's really something, Zela." He
hadn't been this giddy about a girl in Turns.

"Sounds like a love in first sight," Zelanka remarked with soft smile.

"I know!" he laughed, knowing just how silly he looked. "Me," Shadux
slapped his chest for emphasis. "Would you ever think _I_ would fall
for such Harper dribble? It's ridiculous, I know!"

"I think it's a high time," she snorted with amused tone.

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed. "See, I'm too over the top to even refute
that. I'm doomed. I know I am."

"Good," she grinned.

"I'll let you know what happens, I promise." Like he could keep the
details from her now. "Who knows, if all goes well, maybe you'll see me
a changed man."

"I do hope so, " the headwoman said.

Last updated on the August 13th 2010

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A Changed Man