Get Creative

As the sun came up over the horizon, Kiz got another pile of wood to bring in to the fireplace.

The air was chilly and he wasn't about to let Eliana freeze. Dania's sister had yet to leave his home once she arrived, taking up residence in his spare bedroom.

At first the beautiful blonde had claimed she wanted to make sure the lizards had moved on to search elsewhere before she left, but that excuse had long dried up.

Since then Eliana discovered a problem that needed fixing and claimed she could not leave until it was solved. Then another problem and then another.

Kiz's salt shaker was uneven on the bottom. His cooking pot was beginning to rust. His back garden was growing a little too wild…

And Eliana had creative solutions for each thing she saw. Solutions so creative that by the time she finished solving them, the day was already gone.

"I'll leave tomorrow, don't you worry," she would say after helping with dinner and bidding him goodnight.

But of course, the following morning another pressing issue would require her attention and she would jump into it with both feet.

"It's been over a week," Kiz chuckled.

The congenial man had actually enjoyed the company immensely, and under other circumstances he might have even offered to build her a house next door to make them neighbors. But the looming threat of lizards larger than humans was nothing he could protect her from if they came.

"Eliana needs to find a safe place. No more excuses," Kiz mumbled to himself as he put three of the logs in the hearth and stoked the embers.

"After breakfast, I will be sure to move along." Eliana came from the spare room with a yawn and a stretch. "But first let me make us some food."

"No, no. Let me pack you some bread and dried fruit so you can be on your way." Kiz was sad to be kicking his friend out of his home, but he would feel far worse if he allowed her to come to harm.

Eliana's eyes turned a deep blue, but she nodded her head. "I suppose I have put off the inevitable long enough. Though I did notice your door handle was squeaking. I have read about a remedy that would only take me a moment to..."

"My friend, I must decline."

"What about if I just..."

"Eliana!" Kiz passed her a wrapped package of sourdough loaf and fruit. "It's time."

The woman nodded reluctantly. As much as she wanted to go back to her own home, it was not safe there. Eliana was putting her kind neighbor in danger by staying, yet the pull to wait for her sister was also very strong.

Sometimes the pull needed to be resisted.

"I will get my things." Eliana walked back into the room, a hint of tears in her eyes.

Kiz resisted comforting her, but it was no use. His regard for the woman was just too great. "I will walk with you until the next town! Maybe longer. I cannot let you go alone!"

In barely a moment, he too had packed a bag that would last him a couple of days and joined her at the door. He quickly threw a thick woolen cloak around his neck.

"You don't have to go," Eliana told him firmly.

"But you do," he answered, "You have been pushing your luck as it is."

"They have not found me yet," she argued as a last ditch effort. "They will think I have fled far away when really I am right under their nose. I can hide in plain sight because who would be crazy enough to stay where someone can find you? It might just be my most brilliant solution yet."

"This is a small town. You need to hide among many people where you are just a face in a crowd. We cannot provide that for you here." Kiz put his hand on the door and pushed it open. "We can head southward. I have an idea of a few places you might find comfortable."

Pushing on the door, Kiz allowed his intriguing friend to exit his dwelling first. She only got a step outside before freezing in place.

"Who's that?!" Eliana's startled voice brought Kiz to attention. He hurried out of the door to see what was the matter.

Over the nearest rise in the mountains, a woman was leading two, no ten, no a hundred….the longer Eliana and Kiz watched, the more people appeared making their way toward them.

Kiz furrowed his brow. "Are they here for you?"

Eliana touched her chin lightly. "They aren't lizards. And most of them are women and children. I do not think they mean to attack us."

The woman seemed curious about their presence but not concerned. Kiz relaxed slightly, trusting her instincts.

Standing in front of the house, they patiently waited for the woman at the front to come near. When she reached them, she bowed.

In a low voice, the leader of the group addressed them. "I am told that Kiz of Abeyance lives here. I seek him."

"I am he, ma'am," Kiz's mouth hung open slightly. Something was not right. Eliana nudged him with her elbow. She could sense it too. "Or is it sir? Forgive me!"

"Ah, no, forgive me!" Gandr chuckled. "Nobody panic!" He called to the crowd.

They seemed to expect whatever came next, but Kiz was fully unprepared. The woman's face morphed and changed into masculine stubble with a hard jaw line. Her hair shortened and became more unkepmt.

"An elf!" Eliana dipped her head to the newcomer.

"More or less," Gandr gave a lopsided grin.

"An elf?!" Kiz looked ready to faint. "Are you all elves?"

"No. These are refugees from Oblivion. I was supposed to bring them to you, Kiz." Raising his eyebrows, it was clear the halfling was amused.

"But…but why?" Kiz rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. This was far too confusing. Why had an entire city shown up on his doorstep?

Gandr shrugged slightly, his smile not leaving his face. "The princess hoped that you might be able to give us help locating water and food and possibly a place to rest before continuing onward."

"The princess? I don't know any princess." Kiz's mind started to race.

"Her Highness said you might be confused, so she told me to ask if you had another coin with which to compare her face." Gandr watched as the words slowly sunk in.

"A coin…" Kiz remembered the strange travelers who had come through looking for Dania. They had had some fantastical tales. But if what the elf-man was saying was true then… "THAT was THE princess?!"

His eyes grew as big as plates and he looked at Eliana. The blonde was not one bit surprised.

"Did you know?!"

"I was not given permission to discuss it," Eliana said as an apology. "And as you called her princess yourself, I assumed you knew."

Kiz opened and shut his mouth a few times.

Gandr interrupted their impending discussion. "Princess Mairwen also said you might be able to help us locate Eliana. She is apparently very good at solving problems such as these. Her guess was that the young woman might still be with you."

With a musical laugh, Eliana dipped a light curtsy. "Such a clever princess! Her Highness would fit in very well with my family."

"Then you are the woman I seek?" Gandr's words were between a statement and a question.

"I am," Eliana confirmed. She clutched her bag at her side, causing Gandr's eyes to travel to it.

"You are leaving now?" The halfling did not hide his disappointment.

"Yes!" Kiz answered emphatically.

"Not anymore," Eliana countered.

"We talked about this!" The frustrated neighbor threw his hands in the air. All the witnesses could not stop his exasperation.

"Yes, I didn't want to go and you wanted me to find a place where I could hide among a multitude of people. Well Kiz, meet the multitude."

Regarding the crowd pleading with their eyes, Kiz rubbed his forehead. "We both know this is not what I meant."

"I might also mention that Emperor Devrim would be personally grateful for your service to the crown in this matter," Gandr added.

"You see? They need us Kiz. I'm not leaving until this problem is solved." Eliana's eyes were filled with conviction.

Looking at her, Kiz knew the battle was lost. Not just because the woman was more stubborn than a mule, but because the royal family had requested their assistance. Who was he to say no?

"Fine…" he lowered his pack to the ground in resignation.

With a small hop, Eliana squealed. Solving Kiz's mundane problems had been nice, but her mind craved a real challenge.

The people standing before her needing food, water, and shelter surely qualified. Eliana pushed back her cloak behind her shoulders and rolled up the sleeves of her dress.

It was time to get creative.