Kent Dunn

Four days have come and gone, Rodrick had kept them on a firm and steady pace. Forest had given way to open pastures, fields of green surrounded the brothers. Kent began to see an occasional white stone on their path and before long the stones began to multiply. Moss-covered, cracked, ground into dust, but still enough to show the remains of the great road since forgotten. "Do you know where we are, my lord?" Rodrick asked causing Kent to frown, he hated the formality that Rodrick used with him.

"I don't believe so, brother," Kent replied, a small amount of agitation in his voice, "I know we aren't in Berin any longer, but beyond that, nothing,"

"First time out of the country?" Rodrick asked back causing Kent to nod back slowly, "Unfortunate it had to happen this way, Harren always wanted to see Yalen, see the Red College,"

"Naeria doesn't allow people with the gift, does it?" Kent murmured, remembering the stories his mother used to tell him about her homeland,

"No, they don't," Rodrick confirmed, "And don't call it the gift in this country, they know of it as the curse and will expect any mention of it to be thought of as such. Come now Kent, I'll ask again, do you know where we are? Think, you know,"

Kent frowned, he had never been out of the country, how could he know where they were? He looked around, inspecting his surroundings once more. White broken stones, open plains, and what seemed to be the overgrown wall of what once was a tower, or perhaps a large home. "I don't know..." Kent lowly said he didn't like disappointing Rodrick,

"The Great Road," Rodrick frowned, "What's left of it at least,"

"This?" Kent awed as he looked down at his feet, "This is The Great Road?"

"Built by Emperor Daman The Second some thousand years ago, once connected the entire region from shore to shore," Rodrick nodded, "This section and another in Luton are all that remain where you can still see the outline, the rest is just occasion stones,"

"Mythstall was the capital of the empire so it's obvious why The Great Road would remain in Luton but here?" Kent said with a shake of his head,

"It's not as odd as you'd think, your mother was of House Stanner, and you know Stanner is of the former Emperor's blood. When I was with the Bannerless I heard about House Stanner's pride in their bloodline, and what their family once did on this continent," Kent's brother explained, his voice firm almost with a touch of irritation in it, "Sunriseway will be just over this ridge, and proud House Stanner will welcome their family if the rumors of their house holds true."

Kent went silent once more, it hadn't resonated with him until now that he was going to see family. He had never met anyone from Naeria, and he surely had not seen any of his mother's family in Berin before. Would any minor blood relation matter to House Stanner, especially in these times, Kent thought. The fourth born of a fallen kingdom and a ruined house whose mother just so happened to be related to them, no matter how Kent thought of it, it didn't sound like a strong bond to lean on.

A few more hours came and went before Rodrick and Kent approached the gate of Sunriseway. They passed small peasant homes, farmsteads, an occasional Inn, and many stationed guardsmen. They paid them no mind, Kent thought it odd, two armed men would draw eyes in Berin, especially so close to a city. Rodrick showed no mind, however, he continued to the gate and only halted as a pair of guards approached them.

"Ah, a few more for the grand melee? You look like you could hold your own," A man said to Rodrick with a smile, resting a hand on his sword hilt, "No one fights better than a bastard with something to prove,"

"Aye, and I intend to prove it today," Rodrick nodded,

"This one won't last around," A second, pudgy, guardsmen said while thumbing over to Kent,

"The lads tougher than he looks," Rodrick chuckled, "He has as good of a chance as I do,"

"Heh, being quick and spry doesn't account for a great warrior, but all the same best of luck today. If you're so inclined you can pay your respects to Daman and Nera, the wedding ceremony should be starting within the hour," The first guard replied as he stepped aside,

"Aye, we shall, it would be bad luck to fight without paying the hosts their due," Rodrick nodded as he and Keny stepped into Sunriseway, feeling just a touch of security as they passed through the walls.