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Description
It was close to noon before they made it to the inn, Janie riding awkwardly on the horse Hane had just bought her. She had wanted to say farewell to a few of her friends, and he wasn't about to refuse his daughter such a request. So they stopped at the sheepherder Rand's home for her to say goodbye to year old son Jace and his eight year old Jake, Janie's fellow culprits when it came to pranks. Then they stopped by Rick's to speak to his wife, Maggie; she was stern, but seemed to have a soft spot for the girl. Finally out to the town square to speak to Boro the thatcher and his ten year old son, Borro. His son was Janie's closest friend and had come that way from her pushing him off a barn roof and breaking his leg. The poor lad still had a limp. They also spoke to Merric, the twenty year old who had recently taken over his late father's job at the apple orchard and who would also slip Janie one or two apples every Trade day.
Every time they stopped they had to explain the situation. It ate up time, and Hane was worried Edjethâk would become impatient. Hane's anxiousness was not enough as to allow him to miss the fact that at every stop just before they would set off again Janie would look to Hane and become more and more disquieted. He thought she realized that she wouldn't see him for a long time and was growing home sick early, but couldn't be certain. News had spread fast; when they finally made it to the inn a small crowd had gathered. Onlookers were to be expected,it was rare the town lost a child and rarer for it to lose one in this manner. Still, Hane was surprised at how many people had heard about the decision. He spotted Claire the midwife who boasted a warm smile and lazy eye, Marie the innkeeper's overweight second daughter, The innkeeper himself, Dace, holding his newest daughter, Dara, Hane thought, Finally he saw Nate, a middle-aged sour tempered man who had his tail cut short when he was sixteen for thieving. More were to be seen, but not by Hane. Who had just spotted Edjethâk standing off by the stables, his own horse being led by reins in his hands.
Walking toward Edjethâk, Hane received polite greetings from all the onlookers save Nate. Right in line with his personality, Nate sneers as Hane passed, saying, “So you've sold your daughter for a few coppers eh, Book? That figures as much. You never did care for the niceties of people, only for the marks and figures in your books.” Ignoring Nate Hane walked to Edjethâk, saying, “ Here we are, at last.” Edjethâk laughed, and said light-hardheartedly, “Your daughter had friends to fare-thee-well no doubt. Well once I get in the saddle on my horse we'll be off. First however...” He walked up to Hane and hugged him unexpectedly. Pulling back, Edjethâk pressed something into Hane's hand. “It is no easy thing, giving up a daughter. Here, this will not make up for it, but it is a gift from me. Pray you never have to use it.”
Hane looked at the gift in amazement. It was a dirk. Seven long inches length, three of which the dudgeon hilt. Thin and eloquent, it was strong and sharp steel. Expensive. Hane shook his head, amazed. “You do a simple man too much. May your horses be swift and your journey safe.” Edjethâk smiled, “A swift horse would make no difference. The journey of knowledge is long no matter how fast you move.” He turned and mounted his horse. “Say one last fare-thee-well to your father, Janie, and we'll be off.”
Janie twisted in her saddle and looked at Hane, but as she started to speak the words seemed to catch in her throat and she started sobbing. Hane was by her almost instantly, hand on her back, murmuring, “There, there dear one. Don't cry. It may not be for a while, but you'll see me again.” Janie sobbed all the harder, sputtering through her tears, “I won't. Can't you see? I won't! I may come back here one day bu-but you won't be here!” Hane smiled assuredly, “I will. You'll see. I'm stuck in this town as tight as a boulder stuck in the ground. I'm not going anywhere. Farewell, now little one. Farewell but not goodbye. Edjethâk, it does no good for her to stay her sobbing. You need to be off.”
Edjethâk Nodded sharply and grabbed Janie's reins, then set his horse in motion. As they rode off, Janie sobbed and pointed at the ground. “Can't you see? Goodbye. Why don't you see? Goodbye.” Frowning, Hane watched them go. He watched long after they were gone, long after the crowd had dispersed, giving condolences as they went.
She had pointed at the ground, and so Hane began to look down at the hard packed dirt with blades of grass poking through here and there. For ten minutes he stared, until finally he realized what he was looking for. It filled him with waves of foreboding. How his daughter had seen it so easily, he had no clue. He prayed, however, that it wasn't the omen she thought it was.
Every blade of grass for a meter around him was twisted, the side that would normally face the sun with joy now looking away at the ground.

Description
It was close to noon before they made it to the inn, Janie riding awkwardly on the horse Hane had just bought her. She had wanted to say farewell to a few of her friends, and he wasn't about to refuse his daughter such a request. So they stopped at the sheepherder Rand's home for her to say goodbye to year old son Jace and his eight year old Jake, Janie's fellow culprits when it came to pranks. Then they stopped by Rick's to speak to his wife, Maggie; she was stern, but seemed to have a soft spot for the girl. Finally out to the town square to speak to Boro the thatcher and his ten year old son, Borro. His son was Janie's closest friend and had come that way from her pushing him off a barn roof and breaking his leg. The poor lad still had a limp. They also spoke to Merric, the twenty year old who had recently taken over his late father's job at the apple orchard and who would also slip Janie one or two apples every Trade day.
Every time they stopped they had to explain the situation. It ate up time, and Hane was worried Edjethâk would become impatient. Hane's anxiousness was not enough as to allow him to miss the fact that at every stop just before they would set off again Janie would look to Hane and become more and more disquieted. He thought she realized that she wouldn't see him for a long time and was growing home sick early, but couldn't be certain. News had spread fast; when they finally made it to the inn a small crowd had gathered. Onlookers were to be expected,it was rare the town lost a child and rarer for it to lose one in this manner. Still, Hane was surprised at how many people had heard about the decision. He spotted Claire the midwife who boasted a warm smile and lazy eye, Marie the innkeeper's overweight second daughter, The innkeeper himself, Dace, holding his newest daughter, Dara, Hane thought, Finally he saw Nate, a middle-aged sour tempered man who had his tail cut short when he was sixteen for thieving. More were to be seen, but not by Hane. Who had just spotted Edjethâk standing off by the stables, his own horse being led by reins in his hands.
Walking toward Edjethâk, Hane received polite greetings from all the onlookers save Nate. Right in line with his personality, Nate sneers as Hane passed, saying, “So you've sold your daughter for a few coppers eh, Book? That figures as much. You never did care for the niceties of people, only for the marks and figures in your books.” Ignoring Nate Hane walked to Edjethâk, saying, “ Here we are, at last.” Edjethâk laughed, and said light-hardheartedly, “Your daughter had friends to fare-thee-well no doubt. Well once I get in the saddle on my horse we'll be off. First however...” He walked up to Hane and hugged him unexpectedly. Pulling back, Edjethâk pressed something into Hane's hand. “It is no easy thing, giving up a daughter. Here, this will not make up for it, but it is a gift from me. Pray you never have to use it.”
Hane looked at the gift in amazement. It was a dirk. Seven long inches length, three of which the dudgeon hilt. Thin and eloquent, it was strong and sharp steel. Expensive. Hane shook his head, amazed. “You do a simple man too much. May your horses be swift and your journey safe.” Edjethâk smiled, “A swift horse would make no difference. The journey of knowledge is long no matter how fast you move.” He turned and mounted his horse. “Say one last fare-thee-well to your father, Janie, and we'll be off.”
Janie twisted in her saddle and looked at Hane, but as she started to speak the words seemed to catch in her throat and she started sobbing. Hane was by her almost instantly, hand on her back, murmuring, “There, there dear one. Don't cry. It may not be for a while, but you'll see me again.” Janie sobbed all the harder, sputtering through her tears, “I won't. Can't you see? I won't! I may come back here one day bu-but you won't be here!” Hane smiled assuredly, “I will. You'll see. I'm stuck in this town as tight as a boulder stuck in the ground. I'm not going anywhere. Farewell, now little one. Farewell but not goodbye. Edjethâk, it does no good for her to stay her sobbing. You need to be off.”
Edjethâk Nodded sharply and grabbed Janie's reins, then set his horse in motion. As they rode off, Janie sobbed and pointed at the ground. “Can't you see? Goodbye. Why don't you see? Goodbye.” Frowning, Hane watched them go. He watched long after they were gone, long after the crowd had dispersed, giving condolences as they went.
She had pointed at the ground, and so Hane began to look down at the hard packed dirt with blades of grass poking through here and there. For ten minutes he stared, until finally he realized what he was looking for. It filled him with waves of foreboding. How his daughter had seen it so easily, he had no clue. He prayed, however, that it wasn't the omen she thought it was.
Every blade of grass for a meter around him was twisted, the side that would normally face the sun with joy now looking away at the ground.