Day 21: Missing

Lucas frowned, and not for the first time today, his half-full glass of beer forgotten on the table in front of him. Eldwyn was late, very late. They'd agreed to meet up here, but that was almost a bell ago. She'd been exactly on time for every one of their previous meetings. Maybe she'd forgotten? That didn't make much sense to him. She'd given no sign of rejecting the things he'd made her do so far, either. She clearly didn't enjoy the spanking he gave her, but she had accepted it. Lucas had thought it was her desire to please him that made her submit to the punishment, but now he was beginning to doubt himself. Maybe he had gone too far.

He finished his ale and left the bar. No point in lingering here like a lost puppy. He tried to reassure himself. There were other reasons why she might have missed their meeting. He turned the issue over in his mind, analyzing it like he might've done a tactical problem during a battle.

She hadn't shown up. Why? Something might've happened on the way. He didn't know where she lived, so there was no way for him to retrace her steps. Wandering aimlessly through Holm was pointless.

Alternatives? She might've been unable to leave her home, or unwilling to even try, in which case there was nothing he could do about it. Maybe she went to the wrong place? Unlikely, but possible. Task: visit the alley, the bar they met at previously, and his home. He fell into a comfortable march.

Anything else? He racked his mind, but all the possibilities he came up with were variations on the ones he'd already covered. A thousand reasons she might've stayed home, another thousand why she might not have made it to the bar.

His house was closest, so he went there first. No one. He wrote a quick note and pinned it to his door. Next, he visited the bar, but she wasn't there either, and the barmaid hadn't seen anyone of her description. He left another message, then headed to the alley, but again had no luck. Not seeing what else he could do, he decided to wait a while longer. It was unlikely she'd be /this/ late, but it was the only option he had left.

However, another bell passed and Eldwyn never showed. It was now past midnight and the streets had emptied. He did not believe she'd venture out this late. With a sigh, he gave up his vigil and returned home. The note he'd left was still there, untouched, fluttering gently in the wind.