((Vambrace - The piece of armor designed to protect the arm from the elbow to the wrist.
))
Angara was so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't notice when the stables loomed in front of her. She was so used to following this path that she didn't even have to think about it anymore. She stopped walking in surprise and smiled as thoughts of finding Berran filled her head.
She quietly entered the stables, hoping to be able to catch a glimpse of Berran working and sneak up on him. She tiptoed in and carefully looked around. She didn't see Berran.
Maybe he's with one of the Unis, she thought. Angara peeked into each room. She saw some Unis sleeping, some were feeding, some were playing cards or talking about their last guard duty. However, she didn't see Berran. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped in surprise.
"Hello, Angara. Might it be a particular blue Lupe you're looking for?" a large brown skeith asked her. He watched her with a playful twinkle in his eye, proud of the reaction he received.
"Ugh, Jordal! You said you weren't going to do that anymore! You scared me out of my wits!" The yellow kougra raised a paw to feel her pounding heart. "I still don't think it's funny . . . anyway, have you seen Berran around? I've looked all through the stables, but I can't seem to find him."
Jordal chuckled. "Your sense of humor has some to be desired young Kougra." He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to his office. "Berran was here a bit ago, but you just missed him. There was an intruder in the castle and the call was sent for any available guard to assist. You know how curious that Lupe of yours is . . . " The skeith rolled his eyes and laughed again.
A look of dismay washed over Angara's face as she thought about her brief stop earlier.
Would I have caught him if I had come straight here? she wondered. She blushed slightly when Jordal spoke the phrase "that Lupe of yours". She looked down and shuffled her feet. "Do you think he'll be gone long? I have to be at the tavern this morning, so I'm not sure how long I can wait."
"He left a message for you. He wanted me to ask if you could wait for him. If you had to leave, he would understand. He seemed urgent to speak with you. If you want, you can wait here. I'm going to be around, so I'll be popping in and out, but you won't be in the way." The skeith motioned to the room with his hand. "Sit anywhere you like. I have plenty of books if you want something to read to pass your time. Make yourself comfortable."
Angara looked around and picked a chair in the corner by the bookshelf. "Thank you very much. It is very kind of you." She nodded her thanks as Jordal smiled and walked out to continue his morning business. The kougra pulled a random book from the bookshelf. She more dazed at the pages than read it, though. Her thoughts kept returning to Berran.
Please hurry Berran. I can't wait long or my father will get upset. She felt the envelope in her pouch again and smiled.
I wonder what he wanted to talk to me about that was so urgent.