[Valan Quinn]

It had seemed like only moments that Valan had rested his head on the pillow, that he was being pestered once again. “Come on, you have been asleep for four candlemarks.”, said a soft, but persistent voice. He could feel someone shaking him.

“Eh… go away…” he mumbled, attempting to burrow his own head into the pillow like a rodent.

“So, get up.” the voice commanded. Valan grunted, and then sloppily complied as his torso rose slowly to an upward position in a way that was reminiscent of Frankenstein’s monster. His pitch black hair was sticking out on end. The young man turned to look at Elmaryia, if you could call it looking. It seemed as though his eyes were barely open.

Valan lifted his left wrist to his mouth, wiping away the drying saliva from the corner with his shirt sleeve. Even in half-consciousness, he had the energy to move pucker his lips in annoyance and say, “Yes, Elmaryia. What do you need right now, that can’t wait?” He rested his right hand gently upon her head in a very sibling-like manner. He didn’t seem to care what she though about it.