Aeramin stood outside of the large home. He had never visited his friend, Sanimir, in Silvermoon before, and had only been there briefly when helping Sanimir get home after being found at the dragonshrine. The size of the home was almost daunting to him. The front part of the house looked to be solely dedicated to Priest Lightmist’s healing practice. Another name had been added to the sign out front. Priestess Lanthiriel Lightmist, one of Sanimir’s older sisters, had recently begun to assist her father with clients, and took some of her own as well. The rest of the house was where Sanimir’s parents and four of his five older sisters lived.
Vallindra, Sanimir’s oldest sister, had told Aeramin that Sanimir was doing well and that he should return home to Dalaran soon. Aeramin decided to visit after he had finished with his book translation job for the day. He had carefully teleported himself to Silvermoon. He figured if he broke anything from teleporting to a spot too far off the ground, he’d at least be right in front of a healer’s home. He wound up only a foot or so off the ground, easily landing on his feet as he fell to the ground. He walked up to the side door, the entrance to where the family lived, and knocked.
An older woman answered the door. Aeramin remembered Sanimir’s mother only briefly from before. He started by introducing himself. “Hi, I’m Aeramin Firewind. We met the other night. Sanimir and I are friends. I was wondering if he’s doing okay and if I could see him?”
She opened the door further. “He’s in his room.” She pointed at the stairs as Aeramin came inside. “Second door on the left after the top of the stairs. He’s doing fine. He should go back to Dalaran later this week. Let’s just hope he stays in the city this time.”
Aeramin nodded. If she knew anything of the trips to the other Dragonshrines, she didn’t say anything about them now. He went up the stairs. The house was impeccably clean. He was afraid to touch anything. He hoped his shoes weren’t leaving dirt behind, although he was sure they were no more dirty than shoes would normally be.
The second door on the left was open, and his friend sat on his bed, leaning against a pile of pillows while reading a book. His right leg was in a cast and propped up on even more pillows. A tiny kitten sat on his shoulder. He looked up as Aeramin knocked on the door frame.
“Aeramin! Hi! I wasn’t expecting you. How are you?”
Aeramin smiled. “I’m okay. How does your leg feel?”
“It hasn’t hurt since my father healed it. I can’t wait to get back to Dalaran. My sisters are driving me nuts. At least in Dalaran I only have to deal with Vallindra. She went back already. Is she mad?”
“I think she might be, a little.” Aeramin knew she was mad at him. He didn’t know if she was angry with Sanimir or not. He supposed she might be.
“I figured.” Sanimir said. He reached up to pat the kitten as it stretched a paw towards his neck.
“Is that the kitten from Dalaran?”
“Yes. I named him Muffins. I conjured some muffins to eat, and he seemed interested so I gave him a bit. He actually ate some. My sisters are mad about that too. I mean about the cat, although they’re also angry that I can eat in my room. They keep fighting all the time, about me. I don’t like it.”
Aeramin nodded. He wasn’t able to say he understood though. He was an only child.
“Do you think we can go to the other dragonshrines still?” Sanimir asked.
Aeramin blinked. “Are you crazy?” He glanced back at the doorway, hoping none of Sanimir’s sisters were listening. “Vallindra will kill us both if she finds out.”
“We might have to wait a bit. I think she’ll be watching me close when I go back.”
“You think?” Aeramin wasn’t against going to the shrines himself, but Vallindra was still paying him to keep Sanimir out of trouble. He needed the money. “I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. Besides, I have a job during the day now.”
“You do? What about the library?”
Aeramin frowned. “I’ll be in the discussion room each day, but I won’t be there all day.” He needed Sanimir to stay out of trouble. The discussion room was a safe place. He paused a moment before adding, “I’ll still be in the library if you need me. My job is there.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I’m translating a book. I have a key for it and everything. It’s just time consuming. I really need the money though.” Aeramin frowned. “You wouldn’t know of any cheap places for rent in this part of the city would you?”
“Here? You’re not moving back to Silvermoon. Are you?” Sanimir blinked.
“Oh! No! No, it’s for my parents.”
“Oh, they have to move?” Sanimir asked.
“The place they’re at now really isn’t very good. Now their landlord wants me to marry his daughter. I figure that he can’t kick them out if they’re family, but I’d rather not marry someone whom I’ve never met. They’re behind on rent so it’s up to me to pay for a different place. I need to get them out of there fast too if I want to be in time to call off the wedding. She wants to get married next month.”
Sanimir stared at Aeramin, “You’re engaged?”
“I don’t want to be, but yes.” Aeramin twitched an ear.
Sanimir stared blankly at him.
Aeramin’s ear twitched again. “I wouldn’t have thought that my mother could have found anyone for me either. I’m not earning much yet, just enough to get by…”
“No. That’s not what I’m thinking.” Sanimir said while picking the kitten off his shoulder and putting it down on the blanket. He stood up, balancing carefully on his left foot. He grabbed the pair of crutches leaning against the wall, and clumsily began to make his way towards the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Just wait here.”
“Do you need help?” Aeramin asked. He started to move to follow, but Sanimir shook his head.
“Watch Muffins for me.” Sanimir said as he made his way out of view into the hallway.
Aeramin sat on the bed, and scratched behind the kitten’s ears. It started purring. He waited a bit. He could hear talking in another room, and after some time, Sanimir returned
“My father doesn’t know of any places near here where they could rent. Did your father find a job yet?”
Aeramin’s ear twitched yet again. “No.”
“My father needs some filing done. Do you think your father would be able to do that?”
Both of Aeramin’s ears twitched. “I don’t think he can.” He noted Sanimir’s questioning look. “He can’t read.”
Sanimir’s eyebrows shot up. “He can’t read?”
Aeramin sighed. “Don’t tell my mother I said this. He can’t read because he’s dead.”
“Your mother doesn’t know that your father’s dead? When did he die? What happened?”
“She knows.” Aeramin frowned. “She just doesn’t want to know. She doesn’t want to hear about it. She doesn’t want me to know either. Believe me, I’ve tried. He died during the scourge attacks on the city, about a decade ago.”
“You’ve always referred to him as though he was alive.”
“My mother doesn’t want me to acknowledge he’s gone. She’s not all there anymore. She needs help, and I’m trying.”
“Have you thought about putting her in one of those care homes?”
“They’re expensive. I have no money. I can think about it all I want, but thinking about it won’t make it happen. I can’t even keep up with the rent where she’s living now, and the landlord has found other ways of making her pay.”
“Other ways?”
Aeramin frowned and swallowed, “Other ways. Don’t make me say it.”
Sanimir used his crutches to hobble to his desk. He opened a drawer, and pulled out a coin purse. He sat on the bed and handed the coin purse to his friend. “You shouldn’t be forced into marriage just because you’re behind on paying their rent, and she shouldn’t be forced to do other things. Get her to an inn, or another apartment, or just anywhere else. You can’t let her stay there another night.”
Aeramin nodded. “Thank you.”
All the rest 