”Throm, they are having some problems with the blueprints for the foyer.”
The man nervously stammered from outside the bathroom of room three at the Healing Wound Inn. Silence, permeated only by the sound of running water followed for a split minute before the water itself was silenced. The young man outside the door shifted uncomfortably. The bathroom door cracked open and a hand peeked it’s way outside.
”Towel please...”
The young man quickly grabbed a towel from atop the bed and gingerly placed it upon the palm of the waiting hand which withdrew back into the bathroom. A moment later the door swung open and Throm emerged, towel wrapped around his waist, tying back his showered wet black hair. Quickly surveying the man before him he spoke carefully.
”Darius, when have I ever given you reason to fear me?
”Never.”
”And when have I ever displayed doubt in your ability to oversee my projects?”
”Never.”
Throm nodded as if to finalize the conversation. Fact of the matter was; Darius was Darius. The young man possessed an incredible knack for efficiency but lacked self confidence in every sense. Westbridge had been his largest undertaking thus far. Not taking kindly to the term ‘settling down’, Throm had made the decision to at least build a place in which to call home every now and then. Many had whispered dark words at the thought of building a manor which served partly to house those without homes. Skeptical though some were, objections had been ignored and construction still continued near flawlessly. Why build a large house only to live in it alone? Pulling his clothes from the dresser, he returned to the bathroom, his voice slightly muffled.
”Where is my brother?”
Again the sound of uncomfortable shifting as audible even through the door. Throm smiled slightly to himself, shaking his head as he dressed.
”Mavin hasn’t been seen nor heard of for well over a day. We checked the estate as well as the Bastion but still no sign of him. Would you like me to request searchers?”
Throm was not worried in the least about his brother. Such was the way of his kind. Gods knew that if a search party were formed every time Throm himself decided to go off on his own he would have been ran out of town by now. Mavin would return within a day or two, his wanderlust satiated, and pick up where he left off again.
Truth be told, Throm had more pressing business than overseeing construction of uth Bannon Estates. Rumors had arisen of dark tidings in the far west, and though they were all but rumors now, it surly merited investigation. Throm would travel where he usually traveled for such situations. The one place on the planet where knowledge was cumulated daily, and the goal of exploration rang constantly true.
”Darius I will be leaving tomorrow for Candlekeep, should Mavin return before me, he can send word to me there. I leave the project in your capable hands. Have the Bastion fueled for the trip, everything else should be in order during my absence.”
Throm emerged fully dressed from the bathroom, and placed a hand on the young man’s shoulders. His eyes bore into those of Darius, seemingly drilling through to the very core of his being. Inside he sensed an unusual chaos, a turmoil which the young man hid quite well under the guise of nervousness. Or perhaps this was the cause of the chaos itself. Speaking in deep though soft tones Throm set out to put Darius at ease.
”You don’t give yourself the freedom in which you deserve. For one so young, great responsibilities you manage. In time you will give yourself the recognition as seen through the eyes of others. With that will come the confidence you need to walk your path of choice.”
Throm withdrew his arm, hoisting his small pack onto his shoulders. Ensuring that nothing was left in the room, he followed Darius outside locking the door behind him. Tonight he would stay aboard his ship, and tomorrow he would set out for the eastern part of the world. Matters here would be entrusted well upon Darius until Mavin returned from his wanderings.