My first night, his last night

I felt that I should be exhausted, but I was not. I had been on my feet, shouting, walking, running for the entire night. The sun arose in the distance and I felt invigorated. I strolled down Trafgha Street and stepped foot into the house to find Yhako in the kitchen, preparing a bit of food for the three of us.

“Brother, here you are! Safe and healthy, I see.” He smiled at me.

“Yes, brother I have had quite a night. The streets are full of joy, of action, and I cannot wait to return tomorrow night, and every night thereafter until we have brought about the change we demand.”

Yhako looked a bit crestfallen. “Then it was pleasing to you? I suppose I cannot put you off of this danger, then?”

“I am as obstinate as Ansidrion and his Brotherhood. I have found my purpose, my way to our cause.”

“Yes, well in speaking of Ansidrion, he is not arrived yet. I expect him any minute, but between the worry the two of you cause me, perhaps I shall have to find some perilous course to give you both to fret, to make it just.”

“I am sure you will think of something.” I felt bliss, having finally found my place, and I began humming the song I had heard in the streets.

“Now come, grab your food and let us begin. I hope you are not too tired to study, having been out all night.”

“No, Yhako, I feel as rested as I ever have. In fact, I feel as though I have the energy to study for two or three men!”

“Very well then, perhaps you shall, for I am fatigued, and feel inclined to sleep.”

“Sleep? Yhako, you have not slept in a decade! You do not even have a bed in this household! Do you even remember how it is done?”

“In truth I might not. But it does not matter. I shall not sleep today, for if I have lived this long without it, there be no reason to take it up again now.”

“Indeed, brother, perhaps you do need to take up participation in a movement, for Ansidrion and I have, and we thrive now as never before.”

“No, Federan, I know these movements are not for me. I am an old man now; men like me should step aside as men like you make your way in the world.”

"But Yhako, you are but a year older than Ansidrion. You are of the age with Sirlay as he was killed in Grontinion. You have many years left in your life—”

“And I shall use them as I see fit.” He was suddenly stern, and I sensed defensiveness in him. “Federan, you have found what is right for you, and I am glad for it,” he continued, softening his tone. “But you and I are different from one another, and we must take different paths. I am content to remain here in my studies, for this is what satisfies me, and it is how I believe I best support this cause.”

“Very well. I understand.” But I did not believe it. He was defensive because he knew his life was not as purposeful as he had hoped. He had believed in awakening Hihaythea, he had believed in bringing about change. But now what did he do toward any of this?

I left for the study, as Yhako was obviously in no place for such a conversation. He came in a few minutes with some bread and cheese for me, although he only sipped from a cup of bitter root tea.

“No Ansidrion yet, then?” He asked.

“No, I suppose not. Perhaps he his meeting has gone late. I suppose there is much for them to consider, with the Consul coming soon.”

“Indeed, that seems correct.”

We studied in silence for several hours, avoiding conversation after the tension we had encountered earlier. I was looking over a few old documents as usual, but thoughts of the street protests so distracted me that I could not make much progress. In fact, I had had a difficult time studying in the last several weeks. It seemed that a real revolution had come to Ilepya—or, at least, a start. Whether it would blossom into a revolution remained to be seen.

Yhako drank loudly from his tea. “No food for you this morning?” I asked him.

“No, I have not had much of an appetite these days.”

“Plenty of appetite for that bitter root tea!”

“Yes, well it seems to give me a bit of energy in the mornings. I have grown used to it now.”

We were quite again. Then a few rays of winter sunlight peaked through the widow. “It approaches midday now, does it not?” I asked.

“I suppose it does.”

I waited for him to say more, but he was silent. So I asked: “Should we have concern for Ansidrion?”

Yhako put his papers down. Yes, perhaps we should.”