First Among Fools
By Renae
Chapter 2 – After a Time
Time had
literally caught me napping, as when I glanced back again in the direction of
the fire, there was a small group huddling about the Ston’Kinder. I counted
several humans and N’relv about six in number, though occasionally one would
wander off out of view. Him, I was worried about, as he seemed to be looking
for tracks and more than once he walked in my direction only to turn back to
the fire.
Each time he
started walking in my direction I will admit that I was more than a bit
worried. As I figured him to be the tracker of the party, if I was fortunate he
was merely a good hunter, if I was unlucky he would be a B’radian. Either way I
made sure to close my eyes so that the light from the fire would not be
reflected in them. The absolute last thing I needed him for him was to assume I
was a dangerous beast, as I did not care to test his nighttime archery skills.
It was with
some annoyance that I noted that they were settling in for the night around the
fire. Silently I railed at the mischance that set them there. Truly I was not
furious at Fate herself, but at my own failure to stay awake. I should have
been away at their arrival, though I did take care to quietly ease deeper into
the shadows of the underbrush. Life was assuredly handing me sufficient
memories to regale my children with, should I live that long.
It was some
time before I felt that I had moved sufficiently out of sight to risk standing
and walking for that matter; as getting out of earshot was unlikely if the
N’relv was a B’radian. If I was fortunate he was merely a hunter, but given my
current run of luck I was not counting on it. As such I was using the two
moon’s light to pick out the least cluttered of paths, which if you have spent
time in a heavily forested region, you know this to be nigh impossible.
I cannot say
that I was as graceful or as quiet as I would have liked. However I didn’t seem
to attract any extra followers, aside from blood seekers. I made a note for my
next adventure to add a small pot of bug balm to my non-existent equipment of
the moment. I spent a few moments in futile scratching and then continued
onward.
----------
Dawn’s light
found me at the edge of the Color Campus, and once more hidden from sight by
the ring. I was hoping with luck to skirt the whole of the Campus without much
risk or delay. With luck mind you, though I will say my more pressing needs of
nature forced me to risk the use of an empty washhouse. It would surely be rude
to leave some poor sot a smelly mess would it not?
I reflected on
that bit of humor for a small moment, as such I had to bite my tongue to keep
from laughing. Yes I was that tired; I am sure you are familiar with the point
of being so tired that anything is humorous. It was no with small amount of
wonder that I escaped the washhouse without bestirring a ruckus. Emboldened,
perhaps stupidly so or inspired if you will; I worked my way though the busy
campus until I returned to the map table. I glanced around then spent a few
moments reflecting upon the marker for a temple that would be approximately at
the point where my next ring should be. A Temple of the Moons; I shook off the feeling of
being a puppet and focused on the task of eluding my seekers.
For some
moments I pondered the risks of stealing the supplies I needed, then chose
against it. Fate was fickle enough to drop me on the Ston’Kinder, the next time
she might choose to drop me from a cliff. Not one to overly temp her wroth, I
worked back out of the campus and back on the prior day’s trail. A day’s
passage had not helped the dusty condition of the road, so I wandered to the
opposite side from yesterday’s travels. With luck, if a hound were to be used
to find me, the hound would follow my old path. That would wind them an extra
day or so to my hind trail, of which was no small thing, yet I felt burdened by
the extra miles.
----------
A few hours
later I found myself circling around the same encampment from the night prior.
With luck, I noted to myself, there would be no need to flee headlong in the
wrong direction today. I did note more troops settling in and a rough palisade
being built, which told me that they were planning to be there for some time.
Silently I cursed my need for stealth, and worked into the deeper woods.
Deeper woods,
more brambles and less speed, if this were a trek based solely upon the merit
of speed; surely I was losing. If it were any indicator of my prowess of a
woodsman much less as what few B’radian skills I had, I should remain in the
city for the span of my years ahead. Yes, I will admit to being of a sour
disposition, and sore of foot. I made a rough estimation of my past days
travels and reflected that eight or more leagues in the dark of night and in
the height of fear; was not too bad for most people.
Perhaps I am
overly hard upon myself; in many ways I felt the burden of haste, and need.
Need drove me ever onward, and haste chewed upon my mind. A horse would speed
my travels and yet be more of a clarion call to my presence; it would be hardly
helpful in avoiding the eye of every man. As much as the ring would hide me, an
invisible man or woman on a horse would surely draw as much attention as if I
were naked astride it.
Which is what I
told my self over the leagues I had managed to cross before night settled upon
the land. I was not entirely displeased, as morning should but place me a scant
league or so from my destination, if I read the ring correctly. Surely Fate was
not leading me in wider circles for her own amusement? Was she? With those
troubling thoughts I tucked myself under some brush to sleep.
----------
Morning’s light
found me wet with dew and of no small amount hunger. I had foraged some as I
traveled through the woods the prior day, so I was not going to starve. Though
I could not tell my stomach that. It was sure that I was a dire moment from
starvation and had no qualms about stating so. It was then that I made a note
to strangle the next bard I saw. For surely it was their fault for singing
tales of great journeys that did not come close to the real thing.
Perhaps too
much of our history has been romanticized, our great hero’s marginalized by the
ages. Or does the bardic editing of a hero’s plight allow folks to simply
presume that they did not hunger or thirst, much less defecate? Surely one
could not cross the breadth and table of the land and not need to eat? But then
where would such tales be if they annotated every meal, every sip of wine. Far
be it for the bards to focus on the truth for an entire tale than for a few
stolen moments.
It was on these
thoughts that I reflected upon as I worked my way towards my goal. No I was
still yet a ways from the temple, if the small river I stood before was any
indication. I should be happy for finding it as it meant I was in truth heading
in more or less the right direction. It also promised of a bath, food and
drink. In truth though I was slightly annoyed, as the ford to cross it was
nowhere in sight. Which either meant I was up or down stream of it. In either
case wishing for it to suddenly appear was pointless.
So I took the
time and chance to make the best of it. I skinned out of my clothing and left
them to rest on the bank. Once past the initial chill of the water, I spent a
few long moments in the shear joy of swimming, trying to just forget about how
odd things had turned. Occasionally I glimpsed the odd fish, so dinner was at
least assured in that regard. Spirits buoyed by the promise of food and my
slight thirst washed away, I returned to the bank to wash my clothes and
myself.
I had left the
leather jerkin and boots safely on my borrowed tarp along with my other goods.
I really didn’t want to show up at a temple smelling of sweat and fear from the
days prior events. In some ways I must be a spoiled brat or at least one to
crave an easier life, I preferred to be clean, to wear fine clothes to enjoy a
heated bath. Not to mention I was never fond of doing my own laundry, I guess I
was a bit spoiled in that regard. It was with those thoughts rolling
through my mind that I became a pair of eyes upon me.
Ok, so I was
not the most alert of persons, I might blame that on being slightly fatigued.
Or not as my observer was more than likely a B’radian, at least that is what
his attire suggested. Though in my annoyance of being discovered I lost track
of my sleeveless yellow shirt that I was washing. Needless to say it did not
help my disposition.
“Fair be the
morning.” I translated by nature of seeing him as a N’relv, forcing my mind to
think in that tongue, and looked to where he greeted me from the shore of the
bank as I moved to slightly deeper water to cover my nakedness.
“It may be,
indeed,” I scowled slightly as I realized my weapons were far from my hands.
I studied him
as he watched me, he was not unattractive, a long braid of ebony hair was
looped lazily across one shoulder of his mottled green and black tabard, and
his shoulders were covered partially by a mailed shirt and a gray tunic. He
wore a pair slate black trews and a pair of much battered brown calf high
boots. For weapons I could see a short sword and the usual longbow and quiver
that were common to B’radians.
Since neither
was ready for action I relaxed slightly, although the stare he was giving me
was slightly disconcerting. “So cousin,” I called to him, “are you dallying for
lack of purpose or merely at a loss for words?”
I heard him
laugh it was deep and rich in its tone, and sent a hint of aliveness into my
body. “No cousin, I must confess it was your beauty that caused my silence,” he
smiled and took a moment to sit.
I felt myself
flush slightly. The people were never one to ignore such things and while they
were oft to go naked in their own homes. I was not used to such words much less
a frank gaze of admiration. “So, what brings you to my idle moment?”
“Chance and a
empty water skin.” Of which he tossed to me, “If you would be so kind, I don’t
wish to muddy the waters.”
I shrugged and
took a few moments to fill it, and to breathe a sigh of relief, as he was not
apparently looking for me. “Tis not a problem, if you would toss my skin to me,
I need to do the same.”
“Surely cousin,
do you have a name?” he asked as he arose to do so.
“Jonne,” I
offered.
“A human name
for a N’relv?” he asked in a puzzled tone.
“It’s my use name,
my own name is for my kin and hearth.”
“You would be a
mage then?” he asked then tossed the mostly empty skin to me.
“Perhaps or
perhaps I just prefer my privacy.” I spent a few moments emptying the skin and
refilling it before making my way to the shore.
“Ah, so where
is your hearth then?”
“A ways away,”
I gave a rough wave to indicate a direction away from the Capital. I handed him
his skin with a slight cough to draw his attention from my chest to it.
“Thanks, I am
called Laeolin
Mistriver.” He took a half step
back and bowed slightly from the waist, when he rose up I saw that his eyes
were predominantly a bright green, though the tricolor iris hinted at some blue
as well. For an instant his eyes alighted on my navel then he took a step back,
“So sorry cousin, I didn’t not wish to seem impolite.”
I glanced down
to my anti-fertility charm where the red jewel winked at me. In a timeless
moment I felt the odd sensation of someone toying with my world. It should have
been crystal clear, as I was hardly a virgin in either of my guises. “Ah, no
cause for distress cousin,” I shyly commented. “I have been apart from people
for a time, so your presence was not unwelcome.” Ok so I lied somewhat.
“You would be on
your Journey then?” He frowned, “Forgive my intrusion cousin, I did not know.”
The Journey was
the N’relv version of an adolescent’s rite of passage, much similar to own
Season of Colors. Though sometimes they did both, if only to gain an education
in our customs or to ensure placement in our forces. Some of the cousins
enjoyed the military service as it afforded them a practical amount of
additional training different from their home ranges. That I might be on
Journey also hinted that I was far from an age where I might dally.
I shrugged
allowing his presumption to speak volumes in my stead. “Nothing to fret over, I
am not seeking your aid am I?” I asked with a conspiring tone of voice.
He winked, “No
cousin it seems you are doing fairly well by yourself. Am I free to ask your
destination?”
“I am going to
visit a Temple of the Moons, though I will admit some loss
of direction.”
“A N’relv lost
in the woods, for shame,” he chided me.
I went to where
my clothing was drying on a bush and started to dress, “Well any one might
become confused when they run with the Wild.”
“Ach, this is
true, well if it of no intrusion, you might head upstream. If it suits your
need.” He glanced at my weapons and went to examine them closely.
“It suites me
neatly, so are you patrolling or just wandering the woods?”
He indicated my
rapier, “May I?”
“If you like.”
He drew it and
made a few experimental lunges, “In truth I am doing a bit of both. A fine
blade, though it seems a bit out of place with your attire and location.”
“My father
thought I should have a good blade, and I wished for one that was at least
pretty if not plain of function.”
He
nodded, “It is both, though I prefer my bow. Of which I would have expected you
to have one.”
“In my haste to
flee the area I broke camp with but a scant few things, my bow, was alas lost
in my flight.” Inwardly I cringed upon my embellishment of the truth.
“If you have
need I can part with mine.” He offered, and I was fairly honored by it.
“I should be fine,
I can make a Rushes Bow and likely will.” For a moment I reflected that a
Rushes Bow was made from a small bundle of the thin river willows, primitive,
yet effective and any N’relv child can and would have made them at one point or
another. It was a skill I picked up and recalled as a part of a survival course
my father insisted upon. “I did retain a few points and cord, fortunately.”
“A true
woodsman then?”
“In some ways,
my father was insistent that I learn more than baking bread.” Somewhere the
truth was dying fast and I was its slayer.
He chuckled,
“You don’t favor a life among the wilds?”
“Yes and no, in
some ways it would be a freer life.” Much freer, no courtly duties, no worries
of subtle machinations and the ever-constant worry of succession.
“Well we don’t
always get what we want cousin, sometimes just what we need.” He sheathed my
rapier and handed it to me once I had fastened my weapons belt around me.
“True, well as
much as I welcome your presence, I must be on my way.” I motioned upstream, “My
journey took an odd turn and I need to get back a-track of it.”
“Running is oft
preferred to dying.” He noted with a smile, “Still the Wild does seem to agree
with you or perhaps if I might be so bold, you beauty only enhances the Lands.”
I blushed
fiercely at that pronouncement. “Not overly bold, though you fair do the Land
injustice.” In some ways I was glad to be once more in the jerkin, if only to
hide my complete embarrassment. I took a moment to gather up my belongings and
to redo the tarp into a roll and retie it anew. Once it was draped for easy
travel over my shoulder I gave him a slight bow, “Fair travels Laeolin, may
gentle weather find you well.”
“I wish the same to you, stay ever safe from harm,”
he said with a return bow. “I would be fair devastated if the land was bereft
of your beauty.”
“I
think you have been to long among the trees if a mere youth of the people can
turn your head so easily.” I smiled and yet I could feel a hint of heat in my
cheeks.
He
chuckled, “You do yourself a disservice, but you are not far from the truth, it
has been a time since I was home.”
I smiled at
that agreement, “Then go home and chase the ladies there.”
“Perhaps in
time,” he said with a smile and overly extravagant bow.
I nodded and
gave him an easy wave and then I turned to walk upstream. For a moment I almost
hoped he would follow, and yet I heard the soft movement of the trees and knew
him to be gone.
For a time I
walked somewhat bemused from his attention, as I was mostly sure that I was not
the great beauty that he painted me to be. And yet part of me hoped his words
were not vainglory or of an idle moments banter. With that hope I stopped to
glance at my own refection. I blinked a few times as the face that greeted my
own was not one I was used to seeing.
Surely I knew
it as my own, yet it seemed more N’relv in visage and form. Right down to the
tri-coloured irises.
I dropped to my knees and looked again, yes my eyes were truly of the N’relv,
and my skin colour was a deeper bronze. I shook my head then reached to the
anti-fertility charm, remembering the change of the stones colouration. It’s
warm metal greeted my fingertips from the gap the buttons on the jerkin
afforded them. “Goddess what have you wrought upon me?” I asked the sky with a
shiver of worry.
I
tugged at the ring of changes and it came off freely, though without changing
me back to being male. I fell backwards and rolled onto my side as my guts
clenched in shock and some dismay. I closed my eyes and I could feel tears
form, it seemed so unfair to have that choice stolen from me. In many
ways I felt a bit betrayed and disheartened by it, I was doing what was asked
of me, did I need another onus to make my travels harder?
After a time of crying for things lost, a bit selfishly I
suppose, I arose from the bank of the river and moved to the shade of a tree. I
dumped my few belongings to the ground, and sighed as my stomach reminded me it
was empty. Feeling a tad bit numb I went about locating the thorns I had pulled
from the Ston’Kinder. If I was lucky, the toxin in them would be enough to stun
any fish that was downstream of them.
I
took the ball of cord and fastened them to one end, then removed my boots. Once
that was done, I walked into the river and I dropped the be-thorned end of the
cord into the water. For a time it seemed as if nothing was happening so I
moved it into a calmer pool and waited. A few moments later I was greeted by
the sight a few fish floating to the surface. With a few easy swipes I sent
them to the bank where they flopped for a bit then lay motionless.
Making
the fire took a bit of work, but in the long and short of it I had a
respectable campfire. A few branches provided me with skewers for the fish and
some time later I was wolfing them down. In some ways it made me feel better
for having a full stomach, though in other ways I was still in a sullen funk.
Being a woman,
even a beautiful one wasn’t so much the cause of my funk, as was the loss of choice
it represented. Admittedly I enjoyed my times as a woman, though I had not
really surrendered fully to it in my mind. There were times when being a
male was rewarding in its own way, though the same could be said of being
female. Part of me was screaming to run home and or seek another Ring of
Change. The part that fretted me the most was the need to finish what I had
started.
I removed my
circlet and tapped it once to return it to visibility, I glanced at the jewel
that promised me to be free of magic, and then I froze in abject horror. My
world felt like it took a sudden lurch as I fell sideways. I shook my head in
denial as the jewels were glowing, brightly announcing impossibility, as by its
glow it proclaimed me to be Mage Gifted.
I rolled onto
my back and beat my hands against the earth in sheer denial of what lay a few
feet from me. “It can’t be. I can’t be a mage, how can I inherit from my father
now?” I numbly asked the forest around me. Unfortunately no answer was forth
coming from the forest or from the Goddess. I could cope with being a woman, it
happened often enough, due to the left over magick’s of the Mage Wars. Often
enough there was the need for such, that the rings were made, and available for
those who felt uncomfortable with their current gender.
I pulled the
circlet to my chest and held it tightly, mourning the loss that the glowing
gems represented. I knew my father and mother would love me regardless of the
Gift, though I was sure he would be as shaken as I felt. For a time I lay there
mutely staring at the tree above me. I laughed bitterly at the joke Fate had
played upon me, making my lies of the few hours prior, into truth. After a time
the laugher returned to tears.
I
morosely reflected upon the laws that protected the people from the Mages. And
the irony in by the same measures that protected them, denied me my birthright.
In many ways I wanted to chuck the circlet into the forest and let the elements
claim it for the eons to follow. Yet I did not, instead I returned it to its
invisible state and returned it to my head, as it was the one of the few ties
to my family I possessed at the moment. I scarely remember dousing the fire
with water before I let the soul weary grief for my losses pull me into
sleep.
-----------
I awoke some
time later to the complaints of my bladder. Reluctantly I wandered a few paces
into the forest to tend to that business, and was once more reminded of my
change in more that one way. I think it was a combination of events that
annoyed me the most, maybe I was spoiled by my upbringing. Surely I had
cause to be angry or at least from my point of view I thought I had
cause.
I returned to
my belongings and gathered them up again. In some ways I was hoping the temple
would be a dead end, so that I could go home. In others ways I doubted it would
be, for surely events hinted that I was being aimed in that direction. It was
with that slightly hopeful thought that I turned my feet to head upstream once
more.
Idle of thought
and foul of mood, I wandered slowly until I was jarred from my musings by a
command. “Halt,” a stern voice from the edge of the bridge greeted my ears.
I stopped
mutely and a tad bit warily as I was approached by a handful of men and sole
N’relv. With some resignation I stood there as they fanned slightly about me.
“What is this?” I asked the sole N’relv in that language.
“None of that
you, speak the language of the common peoples or be silent,” said a solider to
my left.
I drew up short
at that rude comment. “I shall speak as I will.” I gave a foul look to the
N’relv, “What manner of rudeness that you would accost someone on Journey?” I
felt the foul color of the day rise up to lend my words heat. “Am I given to
think the peoples soldiers of the kingdom are given to rudeness in this day?”
The N’relv
colored darkly at the implied insult with a worried look he glanced to their
leader. “Sir it would be best if we left her to her travels.”
“I will be the
judge of that,” he grunted and a hint of soured wine made itself known to my
nose.
I put one hand
on my hip and pointed the other at him accusingly, “Drinking on duty?”
“Uppity elf
bitch I am the one asking the questions here.” He gripped at his sword as if to
reassure himself that he was in fact, in charge.
I watched as
the N’relv stiffened in anger then he took a half step towards the man he
addressed as sir. “There is no need for hostility,” I quickly commented as the
men dropped away from their commander.
The N’relv
stopped with a frown as I took a pace towards his commander. “If you have issue
with me then speak or get out of my way.” I pointed at him, “By the laws and
customs of your land, you are not to accost people at random. So speak man
or speak not and get out of the way.”
I watched as
his face burned with a ruddy heat, “Be silent.” He fair but shouted at me,
filling the air again with the scent of wine.
I glanced to
the N’relv, “If he is overly drunk you should assume command and report him
later.”
“Who are you to
suggest mutiny to a soldier of my command?” asked the man as he half drew his
sword in anger.
“If that sword
comes an inch further from your scabbard you will regret it,” that was the flat
voice of the N’relv. “Thomas, I like you, don’t force me to hurt you.”
Thomas cast a
worried look to the N’relv and slowly eased the sword back into its scabbard.
“What is with you Viit?”
“Look at her
Thomas, use your eyes.” He pointed at me, “She’s highborn you dolt.”
“Aye she is
pretty, an what of it? We have a duty here you know.”
He shook his
head, “Thomas would you draw steel on a member of your own High Families
without good cause? Much less one of ours?”
I watched with
some amusement as Thomas frowned as he thought things through then he shook his
head.
“I beg your
pardon lady, while we do have a duty here there was no need for his rudeness,”
said Viit.
I smiled
tiredly, “I may have not have been in the best of moods myself,” I admitted
with a sigh.
“Journey is not
an easy road.” He motioned to his commander, “Thomas is not a bad man, though
the past few days have been a trial.”
I rolled my
eyes at that pronouncement, “I wish I could say otherwise myself.”
That elicited a
chuckle from the soldiers, “Indeed.”
“So what manner
of chaos drags you out into the wilds?” I asked.
“Ah it seems
some damned fool boy by the name of Ari ran off from the Trial Grounds and the
Proctor is of the mind that he’s slightly off in the head.”
I shook my
head, “Do I look male?”
“Well the crux
of the problem miss, is that the boy evidently uses a Ring of Change at whim, I
suppose he’s confused sexually.” That pronouncement brought a rough chuckle
from the few men there and a frown to my face.
“I don’t see
the humor of it Thomas.” I addressed him removing the Ring of Change
from my finger and tossing it at him.
He fumbled
about as he tried to catch it, after a moment he picked it up from the ground,
“What’s this?”
“Put it on and
see, as I had no problem wearing it,” I commented at his wary look.
Inwardly I was
smiling as the N’relv gave him a shrug. With a dubious expression he slipped it
onto his finger. I watched with some amusement as his face contorted oddly and
his body shifted to a female form. I watched as comprehension dawned and she
looked down. I watched Viit smirk slightly as Thomas turned pale, he openly
grinned as ‘Thomas’ clutched at her chest and squeaked. “I’ve got tits!”
“Why yes you
do, pity it’s only a temporary thing,” I cooed at him.
As she quickly
removed the ring and reversed the change I could see the rest of his men
turning to look studiously at the trees. I shook my head as Viit rolled about
on the road lost in his mirth. “So as you can see I am evidently female, even
with a Ring of Change.” I held my hand out for the ring as Thomas eyed me
thoughtfully.
“Aye, sorry
miss.” He dropped the ring into my outstretched hand and watched as I put it on
with no change occurring. “That is the damnedest thing.”
“Yes, it is,” I
said with a hint of bitterness.
“How can you
wear a Ring of Change without it affecting you?” asked Viit with a hint of
disbelief as he sat up.
“I wish I knew.
As you can see it has absolutely no effect on me.”
“I am not sure
that is such a bad thing lady, at least from my purview,” commented one of the
men.
“Thanks, I
think,” I commented dryly.
“Might I ask
your name?” asked Viit.
For a moment I
debated on rudeness then sighed, “I am called Jonne.”
“Ah,” he looked
at me with a hint of worry on his face. “Mage gifted?”
“Yes,” I
reluctantly admitted.
He turned to
look at Thomas, “I think you should be very thankful she isn’t vengeful.”
Thomas looked
at me and ducked his head in shame, “My apologies miss, I didn’t think.”
“True, but I
trust you will in the future, yes?”
“Aye, long and
hard miss, long and hard.” He frowned at Viit, “An you, you…”
“May I go now?
I have a ways to go before nightfall.” I asked with a hint of impatience
coloring my voice. “I am on Journey after all.”
“Aye
miss you can go,” said Thomas.
“Wait,”
said Viit, “Do you need anything? After all we did interfere…” He looked at the
ground, “Custom be hung, is there anything you need?”
I
paused for a moment and thought, “If you have a spare bow and a hand full of
arrows?”
He
glanced at me and nodded, “You are a bit ill equipped for Journey.”
“I
was forced to break camp abruptly when the forest ran wild. When the forest
runs…” I shrugged tiredly.
“You
run with it or die, aye.” The men nodded grimly, and Viit glanced at them, “I
think we can find a few things for you miss, if only to make amends.” He was
looking pointedly at Thomas.
“An if only to
say how thankful I am you didn’t leave me female.” He shook his head looking
slightly dazed, “I have a few things I can spare.”
Some time later
I was a few pounds heavier, thanks to the contents of the pack that was now on
my back. For a time I let the odd turn of events run though my head. Either
Fate was trying to make up for her rude surprises or I was getting more help
from above. In many ways I was beginning to wonder if having the favor of the
Gods was a blessing or a curse. Part of me suspected it was a bit of both.
As day faded
into night I was heartened to see the temple was in fact there. Though I
had expected it to be in better shape, instead it was a ruin. With a tired sigh
I let the pack settle on the ground and surveyed the ruins in the fading light.
I took a few
steps into the interior of the temple and shook my head in resignation; there
was no way I was going to find anything in the darkness. I turned around and
forced myself to relax, I rubbed my shoulder for a moment trying to work some
of the tenseness away. “It’s only a few hundred year old ruin, no living souls
around to ask for guidance, what more could I ask for?”
I actually
waited a moment for an answer, if that tells you of my frame of mind. No I had
not gone around the bend, though if you ask me the world was certainly ‘bent’
oddly as of late. I retrieved my pack and carried it into the shelter of the
ruins. While lacking a roof it at least had a pool of water in the basin or was
it a viewing pool? I tried to remember the lay out of the few moon temples I
had been to, and tried to place the various pool locations in my mind. After a
time I shook my head and decided it could wait for a fire’s light to guide me
by.
With the pack
and my newly acquired bow inside the temple ruins I ranged out in the quickly
darkening night to find some wood for a fire. I had foregone the comfort of
fire earlier, but the idea of spending a night in an empty ruin alone, bothered
me. So I opted to build up a fire to chase the shadows away and for the sheer
comfort it would provide. With luck the smoke might also keep the bugs at bay
or so I hoped.
With the fire
built up to a decent height, I took a brand from it and walked out into the
center of the ruin. For a time I stood there and simply let the weight of it’s
years fill me. I tried to picture it in its former glory, trying to form an
image of what it was like. The fallen stone cylinders could only have been the
supports for a vast roof, the slow rise of soil that flowed down to my feet
could cover the many steps that lead to a dais and perhaps further on would be
the Dedicants Chamber and the rooms for the Dream Seekers.
I looked down
to my ring and tried to remember the bits of lore or paths the Dream Seekers
followed. The only symbols from the ring left to unravel were those in its
center. Two images of people kneeling, hands level with a cup were all that
remained to be deciphered. I suppose my deliberate avoidance of all things
overly religious was coming back to haunt me. What could I say; I would rather
spend my hours in drinking than sitting around waiting from a visit from the
Gods or a vision.
Drink. That
resonated with my current trail of thought, what was it the Dream Seekers drank
or drank from, before being lead into the Seekers Chambers? I had this odd
notion about a flower crushed and boiled, not quite a narcotic, as the sole non
religious use for it was medicinal, to ease pain from severe wounds. Too much
of the raw plant itself and you might dream forever, but boiled or steeped for
a year or so in wine, a few sips would cause you to possibly see things. I
lifted the torch higher so I could see the walls; something almost white
covered one wall so I went to look closer.
White trumpet-like
flowers fair but covered the wall, dark green leaves and thick vines supported
the over abundance of flowers. I leaned forwards to smell the faint musky scent
of a flower, for a time I stood with my nose awash in its fragrance. In my mind
I could picture the priestess’ and priests waving a censer about them that
smelled similar. Heartened I plucked a few blossoms with a small prayer of
thanksgiving to the spirit of the plant.
I returned the
brand to the fire and searched in my new pack for the small tin pot that was
there. My hand brushed a small flask of brandy and I pulled it free of the pack
and set it to one side. My second foray into the pack produced the pot and I
set it aside as well. I then moved things closer to the fire. The question I had
to concern myself was how much would be safe? I looked at the small pile and
thought for a long moment, I was in good health so that was surely a plus in my
favor. Still I was a long distance from any Sage, much less a healer should
things go awry.
“Fortune favors
the bold, yet frowns upon the foolhardy and all things come in threes
for good or ill.” Or so went the old adage, I lifted three of the flowers up
and dropped them into the pot. After that I poured a goodly measure of the
brandy into it and set it to quickly boil. I looked down at the three blossoms
that remained and I dropped them into the flask before resealing it. It could
not hurt to have a tincture to kill pain handy I told myself with the hopes I
would not need anything that strong.
Slowly I became
aware of the rising moons, and as fortune would have it they were full and
radiant against the night. As the pot heated up, I returned the flask to the
pack and pulled out the coarse wool blanket. If I was going to wander the paths
of night, it could not hurt to have a blanket wrapped around me. When the pot
was boiling I removed it with my dagger as to not burn my fingers, I sat it
aside then took a fresh brand and set it to blaze in the fire.
I wandered
about the ruin for a time, letting the flowers steep in the hot brandy and to
cool. Faint traceries of gold flickered in its light. I was slightly bemused
that the gold yet remained, though not even the fool hardy or most agnostic
would tempt the hand of the Gods by stealing from a temple. I faintly
remembered the horrifying accounts that were passed down as examples of what
would happen to those who did.
By mild
contrast the fellows whom I sentenced would have lived far easier lives, had
they not expired. I remembered one tale where a murder had sought safety in a
temple, only to kill a priestess who confronted him. As the story went he was
slowly and painfully transformed into a large bull, over the span of a year. At
the end of his transformation he was lead to an altar and sacrificed alive and
bellowing fear, into a deep pit of coals… The morale of that story was quite
clear, and to this date the unburned horns of that bull still grace the center
post of that temple as a reminder to it. You do not kill your fellow man or
woman in a temple, plain and simple, much less commit other crimes therein.
It was with
this morbid train of thought that I wandered from half fallen room to half
fallen room. Looking for a suitable place to ‘quest’ from. After a time I gave
up on that thought, surely the intent was all that was needed, for the
rubble-strewn rooms with the over growth of brambles and brush did not seem
inviting. As I returned the fire the moons were barely cresting the remains of
the walls to shine into the temple.
I made my bed for
the night a safe distance from the fire and added a few more thick limbs of
wood to keep it going for however I would be gone. If things worked correctly.
In many ways I was not expecting it to do anything as the few times that I had
tried it, I had not seen anything other than old deluded fools capering on in
odd ways. Yes I was slightly cynical in that department or perhaps you might
say I really had my doubts to the intent of those men.
So it was with
some uncertainty that I lifted the cool pot to my lips and drank it hurriedly.
Some of the alcohol had cooked off, yet not enough that drinking it was a joy.
If you count the astringent flavor the flowers added, personally I thought it
was hardly palatable. So after I coughed and gasped and even wheezed a few
times, I spat the flowers into the fire and saluted the temple with the cup,
“To your health.” I motioned the cup the moons, “To your loves,” I motioned the
cup to the fire, “To those gone before me.” I swallowed the last few sips with
a sigh and said the last, “To my family and the peoples of the land.” I set the
pot to one side, “Gods and Goddesses keep them and me safe this night.”
I lay back on
my bed, such as it was for the night and pulled the blanket up to my chin. For
a time I lay there merely watching the moons rise and fill the ruin with light.
Slowly as their light washed across me I felt a sense of detachment and it
seemed that the very stones of the temple were humming a soft yet deep tone. I
felt all a tingle, as the hairs on my body seemed to move and twitch to some
shift in temperature or odd emotion. I drifted for a time in that moon lit haze
then for a time it was dark.
“Ari child,
wake up,” a soft voice called to me and I sat up abruptly.
“Who’s there?”
I glanced around in bewilderment, as the temple seemed to have shifted from
rubble into what might have been its former glory.
“Ari, Ari, Ari.
Who were you expecting?” asked a male voice from behind me.
“I am not sure,
in all truth,” I said as I turned to see a handsome man and a beautiful lady
sitting on a small couch.
She smiled and
studied me for a moment, in all fairness words could not do her justice and I
sighed. “Am I not what you expected?” she asked and my heart trembled in tempo
to her words.
“No my Lady, I
am truly at a loss for words.”
“Such flattery,
but fairer words are not often spoken of my love.” He paused to kiss her,
“Venne my love, if the needs of the Land and people so great I would be tempted
to claim this one for our service.”
“Ah Vonne, but
the needs of the Land do come first, for a time,” she said and paused to kiss
him for a few moments, for a time the simply held each other and studied me.
I
watched them for a moment and I bowed my head in shame, as in a great many ways
I was suddenly envious of them.
“Do
not fret so Ari,” she said and arose to walk to me, for a timeless moment she
looked deep into my eyes and then wrapped me in a hug. “We watch you sleep, we
hold you in the darkest of our nights, and at times we watch over you in the
day.” I felt a second set of arms enfold me from behind and a soft kiss was
placed upon my neck.
“All
women and all men are held in our embrace, such as it was before time, will it
be until times end,” Vonne whispered into my ear. Then they both kissed me upon
my cheeks, “Dream well beloved, for we hold you this night and no harm can
befall you in this place.” Their voice echoed in unison and I felt myself drift
off into sleep in their embrace.
For
a time I was lost in dreams that seemed to bear no relation to my quest. Kids
playing in fountains, lovers trailing their feet and fingers along the lazy
flow of a river. As the night washed over me I seemed to awaken to the same
temple as it was before, a lone human female was peering at me from the opposite
side of a pool. I watched her drink from a cup not too dissimilar from my own,
and then she lay down to watch me from the opposite side.
I
stood up and walked to the pool that she lay beside, for a time I was lost in
her face and she smiled shyly at me and pointed to the pool. I knelt and looked
down into it. For a time she was mute then her soft voice filled my ears from
behind me. I looked up to see her peering over my shoulder.
“Cousin
of mine, look deep.” she pointed into the pool, then I heard her sigh, “Tis a
terrible burden placed on one so young, yet you should bear it well.” I watched
as she held a ring before me with her fingers, and then she dropped it into the
water of the pool, sending ripples out and then they washed back. “Such it is
with time, no event is unremarked, no cause without an effect.”
“But
why me?” I asked her.
She
shrugged with a faint smile on her face, “Ask Fate if you see her, though you
likely know the answer already.” She pointed to the pool, “When you awaken take
the ring from the pool.”
“But
there is no guide post here, where shall I go next?”
She smiled and
pointed to a corner of the temple, where the flowers bloomed. “The flower asks
not where it shall grow, but you should seek behind them to see where you
should go.” She smiled and placed a kiss on my forehead, “Fair thee well
cousin.”
“Fair thee
well, cousin.” I glanced down to the pool and tried to remember the location
the ring fell for later.
“Oh my time may
be past, but then the future may yet see me walk the Land again. As it was, it
will be again, till the stars stop and the world ends.” She placed a last kiss
on my lips before everything faded into darkness. “Until then, dearest cousin:
walk swiftly, act boldly and fear not.” I dimly heard her voice as I fell into
true sleep.
----------
I awoke,
regrettably, as my head felt as if I had ventured out upon a three daylong
pub-crawl. My head pounded and my stomach, well let’s just say that after the
few minutes of anointing a bush with it contents, it liked me again. Though I
had invented a few oaths along the way in the process.
It wasn’t quite
true dawn, though the morning’s sun was close to the horizon. I sighed and
worked at rebuilding the fire to push away the chill that arose from the past
few minutes. A few minutes work presented me with a small yet warm fire, though
I think the impact of it was more felt in my mind than on my body. I suppose
there is some primitive part of me that welcomed the small fire with open arms.
Heartened by
the fire, I dug in the pack until I turned up the small bundle of dried jerky
they had gifted me the day prior. Not exactly the breakfast of princes or
princesses, for that matter, though it might constitute the breakfast of some
of my heroes. I chuckled for a moment at that, my life was certainly taking the
odd twist, so why not my breakfast as well? While I ate I mulled over that past
nights dreams or visions.
I looked across
the fire to the ruins of the temple, then I frowned, as there was no sign of
where the pool from the dream last night. The basin was the only feature that
seemed constant in dream and reality. I stood up and walked to it, trying to
remember to place the reflecting pools location in relation to it. The few
hundred years of dirt, plants and debris was turning this into a real
challenge.
I glanced at
the dirt-covered floor, if this were snow it’d be so much easier to find a pit,
I’d just have to use a sturdy pole to sound it out. On that thought I fetched
my rapier from my pallet and dropped the scabbard to the ground beside it. I
walked back to the basin and press the point of the rapier into the dirt
carefully; when it met the stone floor I eased back, and pulled it out to
repeat the process, over and over again.
Much as I wish
I could say the process would have been fast but it wasn’t, as by the time I
located the pool and marked it’s edges, it was fully into morning. I sighed
with some resignation, if by some chance I didn’t have to excavate the entire
pool I would be amazed. I returned to the pack and dug around round inside of
it until I turned up a wooden bowl, it was not a shovel but I expected it would
have to do.
Scoop, sift,
and scoop again. Such was my world for the better part of the morning.
Excavating the pool turned up a number of coins, a few gems and some fancy
rings. Admittedly it was not exactly unsurprising as it was a common way to
anonymously donate to a temple, yet they were not the ring that I was looking
for. With each bit of dross I was at first elated and then annoyed. So when I
finally found the ring it was a distinct anti-climax, though I was greatly
relieved to finally have it.
My next problem
was what to leave behind in it place, as I could only take something away from
the temple by leaving something of equal value behind in its place. I reached
up to tap the circlet bringing it into view before removing it. I sighed as I
watched the gems glow brightly and dim repeatedly. It didn’t seem all that fair
of a trade, the mage gift and a different body in exchange for my birthright.
Much less a royal circlet in exchange for a ring that might or might not give
me the chance to save the land.
Maybe it was
a fair trade, an end of a birthright for the endurance of the Land. Though in
my heart of hearts I was far from happy about it. I dropped the circlet into
the fairly large hole I dug and considered the small pile of gems and such.
Surely that trade, my life as it would have been, would more than cover that
paltry pile?
After
a moments debate I pushed the whole pile into the hole as well, as I was hardly
sure what was fair anymore; much less should I temp Fate herself, only to be
proved wrong at some later time? Considering she fair but danced through my
life with frequency of late. As fickle a lover as she might be to men and woman
alike, I could scarcely afford her scorn.
In
a moments ill humour
I regarded the grave-like qualities of my labours. “Here lies Ari the Prince,
but never to be the Queen,” I
shook my head and tried to shake the maudlin mood from my mind. I slipped the
ring onto the third finger of my right hand, next to the first ring. In some
ways I was not surprised when the ring fit perfectly, in others I could not
feel but feel distinctly odd.
I
studied the ring during the time I ate and repacked my camp. On the ring were a
circle, a square, a triangle, and what I took to be a sun with three rays
descending from it. I frowned, as I supposed that just telling me what to do
and where to go was against the ‘rules’. I turned it right and then left, but
it seemed to have no effect on my person, unlike the other rings gift of
invisibility. Once packed, I left things to lie after checking the ashes to
make certain my fire was dead.
I
then went to the wall that was covered the vines, after some brief moments
thought, I apologized to the flowers for my next act. Custom, superstition, I
don’t know exactly when I picked that habit up from, though I am fairly sure I
got it from my N’relv cousins. It was not a bad thing, respecting nature that is,
though I got more than few odd stares from my human cousins. ‘Oh it’s just
weird Ari…’ had graced my ears from time to time. I wondered what they would
make of me now. I snorted, as I supposed it would scarcely matter now,
considering I looked entirely N’relv now.
After
some scant minutes of work I had uncovered the corner of the wall and acquired
a few pricked fingers as the vines defended themselves. As I sucked the blood
from one yet dripping puncture I noted a stone that was different from the
others. I walked closer and blew the dust from it, revealing a name and a city.
I sighed and tried to think how far I might be from that city.
It
was not uncommon for people who donated huge sums to the construction of a
temple; to have a name stone with their city of origin on it. I myself had a
few that my parents had set in my name upon my birth. The stone of its self was
unremarkable, as was the city name of Anwerk. The name of the person oddly
enough was N’relv, considering the city itself was largely human. Fennik Astairah,
read the name in its common parlance then I translated the name into its N’relv
components: Knowledge Guides.
“But
where does it guide from or to?” I asked the ruins. Though I didn’t expect an
answer at this time. I walked back to my pack and pulled the map case and
compass from it. In some ways the small troop of soldiers went beyond what they
should have surrendered. A compass was not a usual part of a soldier’s kit, so
it had to have come from their commander. I made a point to remember to return
it or get him a better one when I could. The map was of it’s own right a
blessing as one of the cities marked upon it was the city of Anwerk.
I
found the bridge I had crossed the night before on the map and then the city,
trying to get a feel for the distance. ‘Walk swiftly’ indeed, for several long
days it seemed. I made a rough stab at guessing the distance I had to travel to
get there. It was a hand-copied map, so I had no guarantee the distance but it
looked to be about twenty six leagues, perhaps about a hundred twenty or so
miles. A few days easy ride by horse, yet I could possibly cover the same
distance a foot in seven or less if I was lucky.
I
carefully returned the map to its case and put it back into the pack. I spent a
few awkward moments arranging the quiver and the pack. The long bow was not the
best, though I did not doubt it would function well. I doubted Viit would have
given me his bow, as he was likely their Archer First, well for that squad
anyways. I shrugged a few times to settle the pack and walked out of the
temple.
The
sun was past its highest point, so I had a good six hours of light to go before
I had to worry about nightfall and making camp. With that in mind I looked down
at the compass and aimed for northwest as best I could. I figured with luck I
would be out of the forest in a few hours and on a road shortly there after. I
hoped the road to be safe now that every one was looking for Ari, and I was now
‘known’ to be Jonne, so with luck no one would know the wiser.
-------
Once dusk had
barely fallen, I gratefully found myself at the edge of the forest, either the
map was poorly drawn or I was a poorer woodsman. Though I expected the truth
was a bit closer to the former, as I seemed to have little trouble in the
woods. Which meant I could tack on a few more days of walking, wonderful.
Though I should count myself fortunate for good weather, as my father had
recounted a march to chase down bandits in the mud and rain.
“Had
the bandits not been in the same weather they would have left us far behind
them.” He later told me the harried march in the rain had exhausted the bandits
to the point where they could not fight effectively. “Nature is a cruel general
to fight against, so learn to use her to your best advantage when picking a
fight,” he advised me when I asked of his time in the army.
As
night fell, I wasn’t dead tired nor really feeling the miles yet, so I planned
to walk until the need to sleep claimed me. As I crested a small hill I could
see the lights of small town or village in the distance. It didn’t seem overly
far away and with luck I could get a meal and a bed for the night. I did have a
decent purse, probably too decent for my current attire.
At
that thought I stopped and spent some time lightening my purse and secreting
coins in my pack. The last thing I needed was the local lord to suspect my
intentions or for thieves to decide I was a target. My thin story of who I was
would not hold up to the light of a Clerics will. Truth Tellers are handy if
you wanted to learn the truth, not so much if you needed to hide it.
With the pack
once more upon my back, I thought longingly of a hot meal and perhaps a bath.
Though the meal was held up as my first priority, followed quickly by a solid
night of restful sleep. As my dreams, if you will, of the night prior hardly
seemed restful in the light of day. Of which it was night and as twin moons
set their course from the horizon, they cast a dual shadow off to my left on
the road.
It was with a
hint of dismay that I found myself growing tired, the town’s light seemed
closer so I pressed on. Putting one foot in front of the other, until I fell
into a daze where the only thing in my mind was the image of those lights
growing closer. Step, breath and step, was my quiet mantra for what seemed like
an hour. And then I was abruptly startled into wakefulness by the hint of smoke
in the air. I was in the lee of a hill so I walked quickly off the side of the
road and up the hill.
In my foggy
state I realized I was less than mile from the town, and that a portion of it
was burning. I was dismayed in that it hinted of my plans for a meal were going
away. The next concern I had was what should I do, evidently I had to go past
the town, yet if it was bandits, and dare I risk helping the town? Did I dare
not help the town if it was merely a bad blaze?
I sighed and
twisted my ring to send me into invisibility and then I started jogging towards
the town. A scant hundred yards from the town I stopped and dropped my pack by
a lone tree. As I barely caught my breath, I could hear fighting in the town,
which quickly banished this as being a mere blaze. With some trepidation
I limbered up the bow and set an arrow to nock.
I
did my best to keep to the shadows as I was uncertain how to aim an invisible
bow. At close quarters aiming was not so much a factor as I only had to hold
the bow level and shoot instinctively. Which meant being entirely to close to
them for my own peace of mind. As I walked into town I could see that I only
faced about ten men.
As
far as towns go it was not that big, it likely only sported a handful of men
capable of fighting effectively. So with luck they had bundled themselves in to
a stockade or what served as their local temple. This vain hope of mine was
quickly dashed as I saw a woman being drug from her house into the street. I
ducked into a shadow and poked the arrow I was holding into the ground point
first. I added a few more from the quiver then turned my ring so that I was
visible.
As
a few more men joined the man holding the woman in the street, I line up my
shot. While I can’t say I would ever place high in any serious
competition, my anger served to sharpen my aim. Once, twice, three times I
fired from the shadows, then with a twist of the ring I returned to being
unseen, picking up my fourth arrow as I did so. While my shots were hardly
instant kills, as much as I could wish, I was simply not that familiar with
this bow.
A
part of me did not care as the woman fled screaming yet mostly healthy into the
night. The cries of pain from the wounded men served to sow fear and
uncertainty in rest of the bandits. For some reason I rather enjoyed the
suddenly ensuing chaos among them, I watched for a moment as their leader tried
to rally them into some sort of organization. I stepped out into the open about
ten feet from the man, I sighed and tried to ignore the armor he wore. I
doubted the arrow would pass though the chain mail, but I aimed and fired
anyways.
It
was a bit stunning both for me, and the men he commanded, as the leader slowly
pitched over backwards clutching at his throat. Part of me was amused at the
amount of fear and worry they suddenly developed. Evidently they didn’t think
if fair that an unseen attacker picked them off. ‘Too bad,’ I thought as I
moved half a dozen steps off to the left and counted arrows, I had three left
and twice that many men to kill.
I
took another arrow from the quiver and spent a few nervous moments nocking the
arrow. I guess I was not as detached emotionally from the act of killing as I
could hope. Maybe that was a good thing, but at the moment it was troubling. I
picked out another man who seemed entirely too calm for the events, I could not
tell what he was chanting but I figured it was a bad thing. I sent a quick
prayer to the Goddess as I drew and fired. Either I rushed the shot or just
aimed poorly, for instead of hitting him squarely, it lodged in his upper arm.
It
stopped his chanting, which made me slightly happier, but I could not allow him
to recover and start anew. I took a few steps closer and drew my throwing
dagger, and with a quick solid throw I planted it in his gut. I doubted he
would be able to chant with that distraction, either way I took off with
a quick jog to get behind the circling men.
‘No sense fighting fair is there?’ I asked myself as
I drew my last arrow. I wanted it to count, so I spent a few breaths trying to
steady my aim. I picked out the largest of the men left; if it came down to a
sword fight I didn’t want a brute to occupy my time. With a hopeful prayer I
aimed as best I could, then I loosed it at him.
For
a time I was almost certain that I had missed him as he seemed to just stand
there unmoving. So it was with a shout of elation that I rejoiced when he
collapsed bonelessly. Surprised at my luck and the shriek I had released, I
darted into the shadows, holding one hand to my lips to stifle a bizarre laugh
that wanted to escape. For a few long moments I knelt holding it in, then I surrendered
to the urge.
My
weird unseen laughter must have seemed eerie to the men, as they all but
dropped their weapons in haste to flee in the direction I presumed their horses
were. I didn’t much care at that time; I was too busy puking my guts out. Some
hero I was, no injury, total success and yet I felt miserable. I waited for the
shakes to pass, and then I went out to finish the job.
I
can’t say I had any pity for the men that I finished off, though I didn’t enjoy
their wild looks or panicked screams as I drove my rapier unseen into their
hearts. Yes it was necessary, and yes I could have let someone else do the
task. However, part of the burden of action was to follow through. I
technically didn’t need a court of law, as I was Heir, and if they had lived
long enough for a court; I was sure they would be hung. I think the driving
need to see it through though, was for the sake of the lady they were nigh
close to raping before I intervened.
I
was developing a strong dislike for rape as of late, as it seemed to be
foreshadowing every combat that I engaged in recently. I sighed and walked the
well that resided in the center of the town. With a careless push I dropped the
bucket into the well, then spent a few moments drawing it up. I slung the bow
onto my back and used my hands to drink from the bucket. I then turned the ring
so I was visible, and then shouted, “It’s over people, get those fires out!”
It
took a few moments for a few heads to peek out of their doors, then the few
turned into a flood. When folks seemed to be more interested in me that the
fires, I stuck my fingers in my mouth and whistled shrilly. “Ok folks, you can
talk with me when the fires are out.” I fairly yelled into the sudden silence.
I pointed to a man who looked to be slightly better dressed than the others,
“You there, what’s your name?”
“Rolph
miss,” he stuttered out.
“Fine
Rolph, you are in charge, get the fires out, if you can.”
I
moved away from the well, watching as he processed that command I was tempted
to enforce it with the point of my rapier, but I needed to retrieve my dagger.
So I left the people to get organized, feeling the rush of blood fade from me,
and a deep tiredness sink into my bones. I walked to the possible mage and
studied him in the fires light.
He
was a dark almost dusky black, which marked him as a definite outlander. As his
hair was black and close cropped it ruled him out as coming from the plains
people, they had a religious qualm about shearing their hair. It wasn’t curly,
so that marked him as being as possibly from the Desert Kingdoms. His clothes
were not uncommon, though the contents of a small satchel he had on him, were.
I
didn’t know what to make of the various small bundles of herbs, yet one I knew
for certain was a euphoric drug. Some of the elderly smoked it to chase pain
away that was caused by the gnarling of their joints. I suppose it was cheaper
than an effective healer, though most temples would do something. Even
if it wasn’t a lot, admittedly they could only heal so many people in one day,
but time was largely on the side of the people, if they would wait.
I
dropped that to one side and flipped through the small but thick book. I didn’t
recognize the language it was written in, which only confirmed him as being an
outlander. I sighed and tucked everything back into the satchel. I gave his
body a quick but thorough search turning up a small pouch of coins and a dagger
that made me queasy just holding it.
I
slid that back into the leather sheath where I found it, then cut his
belt so that I could add it to the small satchel. Surely someone would know
what to do with it and its contents, as it was I had the grizzly job of
searching the other bodies, and to recover a few arrows if I was lucky.
Frankly, I didn’t much care to recover them, but I didn’t know when I could
replenish them either.
When
I was done with that task, I was three arrows richer, and sick yet again. Some
hero I was turning out to be, the only thing to my favor was that I hadn’t peed
myself. I sat for a time in the shadows, shaken and uncaring, just letting the
past hours events wash out of my system with the tears. What was wrong with me?
I didn’t break down into tears after I had killed the man at the trial. Yes my
stomach had rebelled slightly, but I did not empty it on the field of that
battle such as it was then.
It
could be I was simply over tired and overwhelmed by events. I looked to the
people who seemed to gain the upper hand in dealing with the blaze. They didn’t
need my help, and well I was not in much shape to help them, if anything I had
done enough for the night. So it was with some absence of thought I spent a few
moments gathering my wits, then I walked out to where I had dropped my pack.
Once
there I set the satchel and the few pouches I found off to one side, then
unbelted my rapier, allowing it and the dagger to drop to the ground. Tiredly I
unwove my hair from around the other thin dagger and combed though my hair with
my fingers. I did spare a moment to fetch my blanket from the pack, and then I
used the pack as a pillow and allowed sleep to claim me.
----------
I wish my night
had been untroubled by nightmares, yet I cannot say I was entirely too
surprised that I jolted awake and clutching at my dagger a few times. I am not
sure how deeply I slept, though when I finally did awake, the sun was a good
few hours in the sky. I remembered the state I was in last night, and the fact
I had not really cleaned my sword, aside from a few quick brushes on the
corpses. I groaned at painfully taught lessons and took the time to clean it.
That done I checked my throwing dagger, it was clean, yet of which I cannot
remember doing that.
My pack felt so
much heavier than the prior day, though that was likely just from being sore, I
had walked a fair distance the day prior. Not to mention the distance I jogged
in my rush to the town. Oddly enough I felt emotionally better, even slightly
relaxed, though I was a bit uncertain of things when I stopped at the well to
fill my water skin.
In the short time
it took to fill my skin a few people had gathered around the square. I sighed
noting the soot marked faces and a hint of fear in their eyes. I glanced around
and my eyes finally came to rest upon Rolph. I offered him a slight smile,
which seemed to embolden him.
“Miss, we don’t
have much to offer…” He stopped when I raised my hand.
“If you can
send someone with a horse,” I interrupted him briskly, ”there is a squad of
soldiers half a days travel, back by the bridge that ways.” I pointed in the
general direction I had traveled. “I don’t need anything, myself.” I eased the
small satchel from my side and over my neck. “But you might give this to them
when they get here, do not toy with the contents, as I am sure the blade inside
is unpleasant if not unholy, and the spell book. Well, lets just say some
things are best left well enough alone.”
I
held it out to him and I was entirely too happy to let the soldiers chase after
the remaining bandits. Once he took it I smiled and spared a moment to finger
my mostly empty quiver, “If you have a Fletcher, I could certainly use a few
arrows, as most of mine were well spent last night.”
“We
don’t have a Fletcher miss, my grandson who does a fair job of it is off with
the herd. But he may not be back for a day or so yet,” announced an elderly
woman with some pride.
I
looked around, as there were not many children or young men around, “So most of
your men folk and such are off with the beasts?”
“Yes
miss,” confirmed Rolph, “I run the tavern and inn, it’s nothing fancy mind you,
but it suits me.”
I
smiled and nodded politely, “Well I must needs be off, I have many leagues to
travel. Do send someone for the soldiers, they may not find the others though
if anything their presence will discourage others.”
Rolph
laughed, “I doubt they slowed much last night miss, you put a serious fear into
them I think.”
“We
can hope.” I smiled grimly. “Anyhow, Goddess and Gods keep you all safely.”
“Miss,
before you run off, would you share your name with us so we can at least tell
the soldiers who did their work for them?”
I
sighed, “I’m called Jonne, and I was only doing what was needed.”
“Aye
miss, and not many would do that for strangers,” said a lady that I dimly
recognized from the night prior.
“With
in accordance to the Goddesses gifts, we all serve. In one fashion or another,”
I nodded to Rolph and started walking out of town.
“Wait
miss,” he hurried to walk besides me, “if you won’t take anything from us,
would you at least take one of the bandits horses?”
I
stopped and considered that, true it would speed my pace, but caring for it
might be a problem. Not to mention the issue of who owned it if it were stolen.
And I was not sure if where I was heading a horse would be practical or not. “I
am not sure if I should, they might be stolen and well I don’t need that sort
of trouble.”
“Ah,
true I had not thought of that.” He sighed and looked around, “I do had a large
side of smoked ham, surely you could do with some meat, as skinny as you are
miss.”
“Only
if it will not cause you hardship Rolph, it’s not in my nature to cause folks
an undue burden.”
He
chuckled, “My boy is out with the swineherd, so I think I can spare it.” He
pointed off to his left, “The smoke house is off that way, come and I’ll cut
you a fair portion.” He laughed, “It’s not like you could carry the whole pig
away as it were.”
I
felt a smile form, “True, I can bare but carry myself some days.”
“I’ve
been that way myself a time or too, after harvest especially.”
“Drink
overly much then?”