Chapter 4

Lisia was standing in the main hall gawking as Edva brought in his bags.

"So this is you home?" he gasped, turning to Cobweb.

Smiling slightly, Cobweb nodded and gestured for them to walk up the staircase to the second floor. "Since shortly before Swift was conceived, yes, this has been my home. It is part of me."

Half-way up the stairs Lisia was still swiveling his head to take it all in. "It's amazing. I used to imagine houses like this but I didn't really have a very good idea. It's so big and--"

"Empty," Cobweb finished for him as they reached the top landing. "Compared to what you're used to, I'm afraid it might seem a little quiet here. Although perhaps that would be a welcome change?"

Lisia laughed softly and nodded. "Yes, perhaps. Although despite everything, I've been missing home ever since I left it."

They were now standing at the entrance to the bedroom. Cobweb took the bags from Edva and thanked him. "Shall we?"

Lisia immediately gravitated toward the bed. "Thank you for your hospitality. My goodness..." His voice trailed off as he eyed his luxuriant surroundings -- the full red velvet drapes, the dark, carved furniture, the rich coverlet and plump pillows. "This is just incredible. I'm almost embarrassed to stay here!"

"Nonsense!" Cobweb scoffed, setting down the bags by the dressing table. "You of all hara deserve to stay here. And besides, that's a very comfortable bed. I assume the travel took something out of you?"

Lisia allowed himself to sag theatrically. "Yes, a bit!" he laughed. "Can I sit down?"

"Certainly, feel free." Cobweb took a chair as Lisia hopped up on the bed. Just as he'd reported in his letter, the erstwhile hostling was indeed appearing much healthier than at their prior meeting. His flesh had filled out and his body had lost the sharp angularity and boniness that had come from several months' malnutrition and near starving. Cobweb also noted the numerous pieces of jewelry on Lisia's ears, neck and wrists; clearly the hostling had regained some pride in his appearance and had taken to dressing in the manner he'd always been accustomed.

"It was a hard trip," Lisia sighed. "When they took me through those 'lanes' -- I thought I was going to die, I swear!"

"It is a bit overwhelming," Cobweb agreed.

"A bit? No, it was really overwhelming for me. All the harlings are going to want me to tell them about it, like it's a magic story or something!" Lisia smiled thoughtfully, his gaze shifting inward as his mind apparently returned to Harling Gardens, with which he was understandably preoccupied. "Afterward we had to cover a couple hundred miles on regular horses through all sorts of places like I'd never seen before."

"Forests? Towns? Rivers and lakes?" Cobweb found it fascinating, though sad, that this was the first time Lisia had ever left the grounds of the facility.

"Yes, all of those, and I think the towns were the most amazing part. I guess I hadn't expected for there to be so many different kinds of hara."

"Oh, yes, there are all kinds," Cobweb commented. Just then he heard a noise coming from downstairs. "Ah, Tyson and Azriel have just returned. I'm sure they'll be up in a moment."

Lisia smiled as true to Cobweb's word, the harlings immediately scampered up the stairs and burst into the bedroom. Tyson's hair was spiked wildly in all directions as he gawked in the doorway, not expecting a visitor. Azriel, meanwhile, quietly slipped onto Cobweb's lap.

"Hello, Tyson. This is Lisia, our guest." Lisia dipped his head in acknowledgement.

"Oh, I didn't know when he was coming. Az and I were down in town with Byrony at the special carnival they're having and had such a good time with all the other harlings in town, so many of them, more than I'd ever seen!" Tyson enthused.

"That's lovely, dear. I'm so pleased you enjoyed yourself." He gestured for Tyson to come forward. "Now I'd like you and Az to go have a bath and clean up. In a couple hours it will be dinnertime." He rubbed his grand-harling's head with affection. "OK, Az? You'll have a nice bath?"

The harling popped down to the floor and was immediately out the door, while Tyson lingered a moment longer. "It was nice to be around all those other harlings," he remarked. "I hope we can do that more often."

"I'm sure you will," replied Cobweb sincerely. Tyson had increasingly been expressing a desire to break out the isolation in which he'd initially been raised, now wanting to spend more time with other harlings. "It's good for you, Ty, and it's good you enjoy it. Now hurry along to make sure Az doesn't overflow the tub again!" Cobweb winked and with that Tyson was out the door.

Lisia meanwhile was still sitting on the bed, his expression amused and after following the interaction. "So nice to see your harlings after hearing about them. Is Azriel always so quiet?"

Cobweb laughed. "Oh, no, it's just that you're new. Probably also he's tired out. Sometimes Tyson doesn't realize how hard it is for Az to keep up, although I'd think Byrony would have kept an eye on th--"

"I tried!" Byrony cut in, poking her head in the door, then stepping in fully to straighten herself out for the guest. "They were just awfully rambunctious today. On the way home we went by a mud puddle from yesterday's storm and it was a miracle I kept them out of it."

"Thank you, Byrony." Cobweb was glad the housekeeper had been able to step in and take what normally would have been his place, with Swift and Seel already occupied and him needing to stay at the house to meet Lisia. "Byrony, this is Tiahaar Lisia, of Harling Gardens."

"Ah, wonderful," Byrony said, stepping forward and offering her hand to the strikingly soume har. "I'm the housekeeper. Swift and Cobweb have told us all so much about you. Tonight Yarrow has made an special dinner for you, saying it's time you got a taste of some good home cooking!"

"I appreciate it. I hope I won't be too much of a burden on the household."

"Oh, no, no, we have guests on a regular basis. Just make yourself at home. I've got to go make sure those two get their bath." With that Byrony offered a nod and backed out the door down the hall.

Just as Cobweb had expected it would, Lisia's expression was one of puzzlement. Cobweb raised a questioning eyebrow. "You must have told me this before, but I think I forgot," Lisia began. "Byrony is your housekeeper and--"

"She's human." Cobweb finished.

"Yes." Lisia's mind was obviously turning the matter over. "On the way here, in the various towns, I didn't really see any humans. The guides explained they'd all 'gone' -- and yes, I know what that means. Anyway, I think I might have seen a few in town just now but not close up. They don't look quite as I expected."

Cobweb shifted in his seat. "Oh? Well, true, your head was probably full of all sorts of fantastical ideas. Really though there aren't many big differences, certainly not between men and hara -- not physically. I was once a man. Women have more differences, as you saw with Byrony."

"Yes." Lisia shook his head as if clearing his thoughts. "It's just strange. But I supposed I'll have to get used to strange. It's certainly better than being sheltered the way I have been. I want to know what the world is like!"