Sweet Tea

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The usual quiet knock on the door, and a Digs arriving not wearing his armour, but with a bulging backpack just in case.

The wait is short. The familiar, tall, horned form of Orianna opens the door, a warm smile welcoming the kobold waiting patiently on the small porch.

“Hello, Digs. Please, come in.” She steps back, opening the door wider.

“Hi,” Digs ventures as he checks behind Orianna to see, presumably, that there’s nobody else there other than Valethra, who is well back, and breathes a sigh of relief. “You doing okay?”

“I am… somewhat,” she nods, closing the door once Digs is inside. “It was an interesting few days. How are you?”

“Like… good interesting? I’m okay. I hear Calla’s doing alright and I helped Zola with some family stuff.” He pauses, “I think.”

The pause makes her smile. “I would be delighted to hear more. Calla isn’t here right now — she is doing some work at the Academy, but she will be back later. You’re welcome to stay until then.”

With a gesture, Orianna leads the way from the hall to the comfortable sitting room, the fireplace on the far wall unlit at the moment. On a low table is a large glass jug of sweetened tea. Condensation beads on the sides of the glass, picking up the light that comes through from the large windows. Valethra, who has been by Orianna’s cloven legs, runs and leaps up onto what is clearly her spot on a footstool by the unlit fireplace. Her form is almost too large for its plush top but she curls around herself, tucking both wings and tails in tight in order to fit.

“My father couldn’t help but make some food to go with the tea, but don’t feel like you need to try it if it’s not to your taste,” Orianna says.

On the table, next to the large pitcher is a flat, square piece of wood, with a round round of cheese seemingly baked with peaches, seasoned with black pepper and salt, with just a hint of jalapeño jelly, all surrounded with an assortment of smaller round, rectangle, and square crackers.


Digs picks up one of the crackers, sniffs it, and then devours it without dipping it in the cheese. “You always have the best food here,” he says as he surreptitiously slips a few of the crackers into his pockets.

“There’s always plenty to share if you wanted to come around more,” she says, pouring a tall glass of the tea and placing it in front of Digs. “You mentioned you helped Zola with her family. Have things been resolved, or..?”

“Not really, but I found her mums in a big ruby so that was something I guess. Her hatching mother blew up half the house then disappeared.” Digs shrugs. “I don’t really understand the politics part, but I think Zola got what she wanted out of it.”

She nods. “Let’s hope that is the case then.” Orianna pours her own glass of tea, glancing at Digs. “How about other things? Have you given any more thought to the things we discussed when you and Frigus were last here?”

Digs takes a gulp of the tea and stops making eye contact. “I have. Frigus came around to my place and we talked about it. I still feel like I want to say no, but I also think that that’s because I’m scared and maybe that’s making the decision for me you know?”

Orianna’s eyebrows rose up in slight surprise. “That is very self aware of you. I am glad to hear you say so.” She takes a sip of her tea. “The things that scare you, do you understand them? What makes you feel like you want to say no?”

“It’s just… everything. I’m trying to get better, but I still checked for the exits when I walked in here. I still,” he rolls his eyes and starts emptying the stolen crackers out of his pockets, “do stuff like this like I’m going to have no food tomorrow. I still don’t sleep great and I get up a bunch of times in the night and have to go check the traps and I know that’s not… normal.”

Digs sighs deeply, “This whole herald thing is big. I’ve done big things, but this is just so big. It makes me remember how I’ve always survived by making myself… small.”

“I see it, you know. I am sure others do too. The work you are doing to heal yourself, Digs… it will not happen overnight.” She glances down at the partially crumbled crackers on the table. “You do not have to change everything about yourself either. Checking for the exits in a room, for example, some would argue is smart for the safety of yourself and others in the case of a fire. ‘Always know where your closest path to safety can be.’ One of the first rules I learned in the Grand Archive in Ashkha.” Orianna smiles a little at the memory. “But I wonder… Do you find it easier to view things on a smaller scale? As in, less of a big picture kind of way and more of a smaller, case by case, or task by task kind of way?“

“Yeah I guess so? I don’t even know what the next step is with the Herald stuff, but I didn’t used to be like this. I was a hunter. I used to lead people. Can’t even imagine doing that now. Malgrys changed everything. I don’t think I’m ever going to feel safe with them still out there. I need that resolved. One way or another. That’s got to be the next step, right?”

“If that feels right for you, then yes, it would be the next step.” Her lips purse just a little as she picks up a cracker, dips it into the cheese and scoops. “Any answers to questions beyond that cannot be found until you face the biggest demon from your past. I feel, during that confrontation, some of the answers you’ve been seeking will come to you.”

Digs studies Orianna’s expression trying to gauge her opinion. “You think this is a bad idea don’t you?”

He asks the question, but realises as soon as he does he is way off the mark.

“On the contrary. Until you face Malgrys, I think you will never be able to make a truly informed decision on whether or not to become the Herald of Azharul. Amongst other things.” Orianna’s smile is a little bit mercurial, as she looks over at him. “Does my opinion surprise you?” she asks, popping the cracker with the cheese and peaches into her mouth.

“Huh. Kinda yeah. I mean, I’m talking about hunting down and killing a dragon. You don’t normally like when I do that.”

Orianna levels her gaze at him and her voice dips low. “Killing for the sake of satiating your Fear is harmful to more than just those you are seeking to end. It is harmful to you, Digs.”

Digs furrows his eyebrows, “So… what makes this different? Isn’t that what I’m doing?”

“Is it what you’re doing?” she asks, voice rising again. “Or is there more of a reason you would face him?”

“I mean, he does deserve it. He killed so many people when we rose up against him and even before that he just… ruined everything. We were doing just fine until he made us worship him like a god.” Digs begins to speak faster as he gets emotional, “Yeah I’ve killed dragons before to stop them hurting other people, but I’m not going back to save my family. Everyone left in that place bent the knee and yeah maybe they don’t want to and maybe they’re just scared, but… but… I was scared too and I still did the right thing.” Digs clenches his fists through angry tears, “I’m not doing this to save them after what they did. I want to do this because he doesn’t get to ruin my life and never even know who I am like I don’t even matter.”

“You would do this to save yourself,” Orianna says, the words coming out soft and gentle, their clarity ringing with hope and support.

Digs simmers down and sits quietly for a while. “Yeah. I guess so.”

A warm hand comes to rest on his shoulder. “Then I would help you, Digs. If you’ll have me come along.”

“Thanks.” He looks up at her and attempts a nervous smile. “I think I’m going to need it.”

She smiles. “Anything I can do to help prepare for it?” she asks, picking up another cracker and scooping into the cheese and peaches. She offers it to Digs to take. “Also, you may want to try this. I think you’ll like it.”

“Nothing that can be done here I think. Do you think you could convince some of the others to come?” He takes the cracker and chews it for a second as he looks at Orianna and his eyes widen. There’s a blue blur and he’s eating a second one.

“I could, if you would like me to,” she says smiling at his enthusiastic enjoyment. She picks up her glass of sweet tea and takes a sip. “Frigus would want to come. Do you want to speak to them?”

“Yeah I can talk to him,” Digs approximates through a mouthful of cheese and peaches. He swallows and pauses for a moment before he grabs another one. “Wait we’re actually doing this. I’m going to go… home. See my family again.”

Orianna’s head dips forward. “How long has it been since you’ve seen them?”

Digs begins counting on his fingers. “…five years? I think? Why?”

“Part curious, part- hmm, how to put it.” She looks up, head tilting to the side as if she is studying something. “They may not recognize you. You are not the same person you were then.”

Digs smiles and takes a bite of the cracker he’s holding, “Yeah I guess not.” There’s a beat, then. “You and Frigus refer to your… group as a family right? Must be nice having a family you choose.”

That makes Orianna beam. “Indeed, it is. And, as you know, Calla is part of that family. As is Elarris, who has his own history with dragons before meeting us.”

Digs watches Orianna light up. “How are they all doing?”

“Calla is…adjusting, still. But she seems to be calmer for the time being. She and I — along with a few others — helped Ilthuryn get their sight back.” At the mention of Ilthuryn the light in Orianna’s eyes dims a little. She almost looks sad.

“I haven’t met Ilthuryn. Are they a herald too?”

“They are not, no,” Orianna says. “But they are like me in that they observe and listen to the stars, and try to help people… as best as they can.”

“Oh so they’re someone you have stuff in common with — that’s good. And they couldn’t see and now they can? That’s a good thing too, right?” Digs ventures, trying to puzzle out Orianna’s expression.

“It is.”

She looks at her hands before closing her eyes, trying to hide the hurt that clearly flashes across her face.

“I did not know Ilthuryn had lost his sight. I did not know he had gotten his voice back. I did not know-… I did not know.” Orianna takes a beat to steady her breathing. “He did not tell me because… well, I don’t know why. I thought we were like binary stars, always in orbit of each other. But-… But then, I did not reach out to him either. And that made me think of you.” She looks over at him. “I did not want to make the same mistake with another important friend.”

Digs sits quietly trying to process this for a while. “I know I haven’t been a good friend back. I don’t know how to make fancy food, but I stole a bunch of pastries and Frigus liked them when he came to my place I think?” He shakes his head knowing he’s approaching a tangent, “The point is, you’ve done so much for me and you’ve even said you’d come with me to fight Malgrys… I’m not going to ever forget that if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m always going to remember how you were nice to me back before anyone else was. And if there’s anything I can ever do to help I’m always going to be there.”

His words make her smile. “Thank you, Digs. If there is ever a time you are scared to talk about something, and you don’t because you are afraid of judgement from me, or anyone else — it is probably the time when you should be talking about it.” She goes still, then nods to herself. “Definitely should be.” Her violet eyes light up with renewed light. “My door will always be open to you, and it is not contingent on you knowing how to make fancy food, or anything else like that. That is what I have always known family to be — being there for you even at the toughest of times.”

“Well my family tried to feed me to a dragon last time I saw them so maybe family isn’t what I need, but I appreciate it. Thank you Orianna.”