[quote=@Smystar99]A sigh left her lips to relieve tension as she waited for him to awaken from his slumber.[/quote]

Osric was in the scriptorium, pen in hand, working steadily on a new copy of [i]The Sins of Lady Gisela.[/i] This was odd because, as far as he knew, the Monastery didn't make copies of books like that. It was erotic smut masquerading as a religious polemic; he had read it once out of curiosity, but ended up returning it to the shelf red-faced, only having made it a quarter of the way through its lurid story. So why was he copying it now? Wouldn't Brother Alaric be angry at such a flagrant waste of good parchment?

Before he could question his own actions further he heard someone breathing behind him, as if they stood just over his shoulder. He turned with such violent suddenness to see who it was that he spilled ink all over the page, blotting out a whole paragraph's worth of depraved acts. What he saw frightened him far more than Brother Alaric's stern countenance ever could have: It was a demon, ten feel tall and monstrously-formed, leaning down to look him squarely in the face.

Fortunately for Osric, he was only dreaming.

Consciousness came like a thunderbolt. His right arm tightened around the precious case he carried, and his left fumbled vainly for the walking stick he had dropped on the grass. His eyes shot open and he nearly shouted in surprise: There was a woman – a young one, perhaps of an age with himself – right next to him! His mind was still foggy with sleep, but within a brief moment he began to understand the situation.

This woman was armed, after all, but had neither drawn a weapon nor attempted to rob him. They were both at the very spot he had chosen for the meeting place, and upon the appointed day. Of course! This woman must be the anonymous volunteer, the author of the mysterious note in his pocket. His tense, defensive bearing relaxed at once, and he smiled sheepishly at her.

“I am terribly sorry,” he said, bringing up one hand to rub the weariness from his eyes, “I must have fallen...”

[i]Wait.[/i]

Osric trailed off, his earlier line of thought returning to mind: The anonymous volunteer was most likely a former novice of the Order of Holy Wisdom. And did she not look familiar? The red hair, the face, that look of consternation. Yes, it all reminded him of someone. But Sage was just a little girl; this was a grown woman. Of course, he hadn't seen her in years. Could she really have changed so much?

No, he was quite certain of it now. This woman was Sage. The realization struck him like a blow to the head. He had no idea how to feel about this turn of events, and, even worse, he had no idea what to say to her. Rather, he had no idea how to say any of the [i]many[/i] things he would have liked to say at that moment. If only he had pieced it all together before opening his mouth in the first place. He could have pretended he was still asleep. That would have bought him some time to think, at least.

Osric knew he was staring slack-jawed. The fading memory of his dream was beginning to make him uncomfortable, juxtaposed as it was against the presence of a a childhood friend. So he closed his mouth and bowed his head in what he hoped would be taken as a polite greeting. Politeness was all his addled mind could manage, at the moment.

“Well, this is certainly a pleasant surprise,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady, “I hope you have been well. I – I have often prayed for that.”