What a disastrous day. Coleman stumped to his room after the evening meal. Given the current situation, disastrous wasn’t strong enough. Sari wasn’t in attendance, locked in her room despite Jolie’s best efforts to coax her out. She refused to even open her door. He assured Jolie that they would find a way to work it out, and she’d nodded bravely. But her concern was clear, the corners of her eyes were pinched, and she barely touched her food. He tried distracting her with talk of the ceremony. A horse messenger would take the announcement to his parents, leaving in the morning on the three-day journey. He knew Jolie’s parents had died when she was young, but finding that Sari’s had as well was another stab in his chest. The guilt coiled his gut; he’d compounded the friction between them. Jolie would receive her Binding tattoo immediately following the ceremony. Instead of having his ear pierced by his new mother-in-law, the Matriarch would act in that capacity.
He flopped on a chair and yanked off his boots, then peeled off his leathers. Maybe sleep would clear things up. His parents would arrive sometime next week, hopefully happy. Were they well? Could Da leave the carpentry business in an apprentice’s hands? As he slipped into bed, his Essence slipped out of his body.
Peace radiated through him like the sauna he’d experienced in Vincent’s world. This was what he needed. Sleep would be the icing on the cake. As usual, he saw himself lying peacefully in bed. Then with a nudge of his mind, he was streaking across the night sky. The speed of his travel was only limited by his ability to imagine. Within a few moments, he was at his parent’s home near the sea, though the trip would take days by horse. Seeing his home brought a flood of memories, all of them good. His parents were one of a kind.
He passed through the wall and into the living room. His mother was still reading in her chair, feet pointed at the fire. She always did stay up late. His father had undoubtedly long ago gone to bed. Gliding past her, he settled into Da’s chair. He didn’t recall her ever looking different. She always seemed so young and vibrant — though in her early fifties, she looked no older than thirty. It must have been his childhood perception. That’s what mothers were…unchanging.
A smile tugged at her mouth, apparently amused at her book, and she turned the page. ‘Aren’t you going to say hello to your mother?’
Shock tried to yank him back into his body. With effort, he stopped himself. Other than speaking to Vincent, he had never tried communicating while Traveling. He projected his thoughts, just as he had when with him. <You can see me?>
‘No, but I know where you are. You’re my son. I always know where you are, or nearly so.’ She looked over at the chair as if proving her point. ‘I knew you were outside the window the last time you visited as well.’
<But how?>
‘I will explain that someday, for now let’s just say I am perceptive. I…lost track of you for nearly a moon. Where have you been, my son?’
<Wait…hold on. You can feel where I am? How?>
‘Coleman, I told you I will explain that in its time. Come now,’ she smiled, ‘it’s not polite to leave your mother’s question unanswered.’
<I Traveled across the Shroud. Do you understand what that means?>
‘Of course I do.’ She folded her book. ‘That explains things. Were you successful?’
His ma, the one who kissed his cuts and cooked porridge just the way he liked it, knew about the Shroud. He worked to grasp just what that implied and the possibilities ran through his fingers like sand. <Mother…how much do you know?>
She smiled and remained silent.
He waited, but this was something she always prevailed at. <Yes,> he answered finally. <I was, well we, were successful.>
‘A Traveler then.’ She rubbed her thumbs together like she always did when contemplating something. ‘What brings you here tonight?’
Her last question caught him trying to puzzle how she knew about Travelers as well, and he answered without thought. <I am to be Bound soon.>
‘Oh, wonderful. When?’
<As soon as you and Da can come to the Cloister of Berdine.>
‘We will leave at dawn then and be there within the week. What is the young woman’s name?’
<Her name is Jolie.>
Her eyebrows raised the tiniest bit — Mother was a woman of subtle nuances. Ah, I caught her there. She didn’t know that tidbit. If he had a knee he would have slapped it. She wasn’t prepared for that.
‘Jolie, you say?’ Nuances and quick recoveries.
<Yes, Mother.>
‘This comes…as a surprise, but you are a rare man and it makes sense,’ she said with a thoughtful nod.
He decided not to revel in his small victory but pressed ahead. <Mother, I really do think you should explain yourself.>
‘Yes. You are right. I can see it is time. So then, when we arrive, you and I will have a chat. By the way, I assume that you are quite handy at releasing your Essence to Travel.’
<I can do it at will.>
She smiled again. ‘That’s my boy. Now then, off you go. We will see you in a few days.’
He had not felt this way since he was a child and found himself responding as one, <But Ma, I want to know how.>
She chuckled at his tone.
He had to laugh at himself as well. <I suppose your sons are always your little boys, aren’t they.>
‘In some ways, yes they are dear.’
<I love you, Mother.>
‘I love you too, my son. Be sure to tell…your betrothed that we look forward to meeting her and will come with all haste.’
<I will.> He stood and brushed her cheek with a kiss. She smiled and brought her hand to it.
‘That tickled,’ she laughed, and the sound was musical. It had always warmed his heart and did so now. ‘Oh, I nearly forgot. We will provide the Binding rings.’
<That isn’t necessary, Mother.>
She smiled and tilted her head. ‘Oh, but it is — very important.’
<Thank you, Ma. Give Da my love.>
‘I will. Travel easily and rest well my son.’
He opened his eyes, looking up into the darkness. This is going to be quite a week.