The day had been hectic. So many had incringed on my time. Pleas for help from the helpless, requests of magics from others and warriors wishing to be teleported to some far off land or region only I could conjure. I felt like a depleted bank account- overdrawn. Every nerve ending was pulsating rest, rest, rest, hide, hide, hide. I had not been able to take any time to do that which I wanted to do - to finish a book. For once, I decided to answer my body instead of everyone else. I would rest and hide. No one would find me. I would go and do that which pleased me or at least pleased those I wished to be around. I snuck out of the Tower and ran to my home. I was glad no one had saw me. Quickly I changed out of my familiar red outfit so known by everyone I knew and dressed in the first hat, shirt, kilt and shoes I could lay my hands on. I also changed my hair color and donned a non-descript robe. Did I also state that I played Incognito? I was no longer Oni. I headed back to the Tower to see if anyone would recognize me. No one did. All rushed around me looking for Oni. I began to smirk - inside of course. The ruse had worked. Now all I had to do was find a few good friends to go spend some leisure time. Out the door I ran, or should I say the ostard ran. I had even painted Noonetrust green. He needed time away also, don't ya' think? My mind began to work. "Who could I find to leisure with? Rose, the name came quickly." Yeah," I thought. "She is always good for laughs and good times." I found her out by her favorite tree hunting for honey to use in her baking and I crept up behind her quietly. "Hey Rose," I whispered. "Are you too busy to go do some shopping?" You must know that even if Rose had a hundred orders to fill for the High Paladin herself, she would have time to shop. She stood straight up from kneeling down by a hole in the trunk, brushed away a few leaves and twigs from her apron and said, "Ready, Oni." *Makes mental note to do something next time about voice.* "Where are we going," she asked. Oh, Just going," I still whispered. "Still ready," she replied. We laughed. "We do need someplace to go, don't we." I concluded. 'Uhuh," Rose commented. Mind began to work again. "Vlar, let's go see Vlar." "Good idea, Oni. I haven't seen him in well over a month. Let us surprise him with a visit." I said the words. The portal shimmered. "Shall we Storm the Hold?" "Indeed," replied Rose. We walked through the gate to freedom - for a few moments. We ran to the door of Vlar's house and knocked. The door opened, and he stood in the opening with a somewhat blank expression on his face. "Use some company?" I asked. "Lady Oni?" "Aye, and Rose." We must have looked a sight. Me with my haphazard attire and Rose with her twigs and leaves. "Uh.. Why aaaa... Yes," He stammered. "I would love to have company. "I have had to put up with Dylan all day." Seems everyone has days of woe. "Whatca' got in mind to do," he asked. "Just to be, shall we say, untethered," I remarked. "I would like to bake some goodies just for fun," replied Rose. "Sounds, like a yummy idea," Vlar concluded with a lick of his lips. "You have any wheat or honey? asked Rose. Oni kinda hurried me into this trip." "Well, no, but we can go get them. I do have a good mill and stove upstairs needin' to be broke in." "Let's go then, cookies and pies needing to be baked," Rose exclaimed. We went to the wheat fields of Britannia. It felt good to cut the wheat and sheaf it up. Sometimes the simplest of tasks are so relieving. "Next stop, Yew and the honey direct from the bees," Vlar quipped gleefully. He had taken to the 'mission' most aggressively. 'Course he saw the end results, and where they were going. With wheat and honey, the 'brave party' headed back for the final encounter. Rose went right to work mixing and stirring. Vlar sat the wheat by the mill. Dylan showed up and began to grind the wheat into flour. He looked quite at home with the flour mill and went quickly to work I believe I could hear him whistling a happy tune above the sound of the grinding. Being one of three men living in the house, I am sure he was expectantly awaiting some tasty truffle from the hands of the Lady Rose. So too, it seemed Vlar was waiting with expectancy. He did not even mind when Rose sat a table on top of him to make the cookies. It was a rather funny looking sight.Rose was having a grand time, and so was I. It was great to just sit back and enjoy the company of a couple of very dear friends. Not to mention to be able to eat the finest pies and cookies of the Realm. Sometimes... The best things in life are the simplest of pleasures - a good book, a cookie shared with a friend, or a pie baked by Rose.
