The Writers' Circle

Yet another first draft so please point out any mistakes as I've not had time to check it yet. I'm trying to make sure that my installments aren't too short or too long so if anyone has any opinions on that please let me know.

Enjoy.

JD

* * * * *

	That night Tam lay alone wrapped in blankets and feeling more homesick than ever before. It had only been a day since he had left Jelosano but, with all that had happened in that time, it had felt to him to be a lot longer. When they had eventually called to set up camp he had helped as much as he could before curling up for the night, refusing all offers of food, despite Allegra's best attempts to convince him otherwise.
	Firelight flickered on his features as he peered forlornly through the trees from his prone position, watching as ale was drunk and wincing as raucous laughter assailed his ears. Allegra and Lulu were drinking with the best of them and Tam realised for the first time what his friend had meant when she'd told him that even the women were men on the road.
	He thought of Suki. She'd be heading off to Mekanikus soon with the rest of the young mages, seeing all of the wondrous sights that were said to exist in that far-off place. He wagered that she wouldn't be lying on some cold forest floor feeling all alone and miserable.
	Jealousy turned to sorrow and sorrow to despair as he descended into the relatively welcome embrace of his dreams.

* * * * *

	Birds tweeted in the trees, celebrating the coming of the dawn. It was a dawn that bathed the scene in a cold light and it was this dreary sight that greeted Tam's eyes as he awoke the following morning.
	At first he was unsure of where he was but after a few moments the sounds of the gypsies being productive nearby filtered through to him over the still air. He sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes, the blankets he had slept so deeply under falling away from his befuddled form. The glimmer of a fire was just visible through the trees and arlan that crowded it and the scent of cooking wafted over to greet Tam's nostrils. His stomach reminded him in no uncertain terms of his refusal of food the night before in the depths of misery.
	He wouldn't make that mistake again.
	With muscles that ached from the unaccustomed night spent sleeping on the floor he pushed himself painstakingly to his feet and stumbled, still half asleep, towards the rest of the camp.
	"Hey, Tam," Allegra called over as she spotted the young tulai, who looked up at her call and smiled at the friendly face.
	He began to walk over to the spot that Allegra had saved for him, noting as he did so the sudden lull in conversations that marked his progress.
	"They're staring," he whispered as he eased himself into the space.
	"Just ignore them," she said. "You sleep well?"
	"Here you go, lad."
	Tam looked up into the kindly eyes of Gilly and took the proffered bowl. He looked down into the beige mush and his brain rebelled before his gurgling stomach interjected with a rumble that made its case clear.
	"Thanks," he managed, and the dwarf tipped him a wink and a smile before moving on.
	Tam turned back to Allegra.
	"Daryan hates me, doesn't he?" he said.
	"What makes you say that?"
	Tam glanced nervously in the arlan's direction.
	"Because he keeps glaring at me."
	Allegra kept her eye on Daryan as she feigned interest in her food and noticed the menacing looks that were directed towards their position. She sighed inwardly. The big arlan was always the one to cause trouble.
	"As I said, just ignore him," she said. "You wont have to put up with him for much longer."
	Tam caught the edge to her voice.
	"Really?" he asked excitedly.
	"If we make good progress we should be there by nightfall."
	Tam's face lit up with relief. He had thought that the journey would have been much longer.
	"So do you think you can put up with him until then?" she asked.
	Tam nodded enthusiastically and Allegra smiled.
	"Eat up then."
	As she watched him consume his porridge with gusto the arlan reflected on how easy it was, even though the young tulai clearly missed his friends greatly, for death to give anyone a new perspective on life.