On the Road at Last – 3A-EW

Author’s Note: This chapter isn’t new, it’s just the second part of what had been the previous chapter with no major edits, so you can skip it if you’ve already read that.

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

The sun was still high in the sky when the seven of them were let through the east gate of the city. Once they were out of the way of people coming and going through the gate, Kaylen took a moment to observe his party. For the moment they were on foot, leading their horses and ponies.

Closest to Kaylen was Lyria, her brown hair held back in a ponytail as she walked alongside Dinnae. Kaylen was struck in that moment how similar the two looked in many ways. Not quite the family resemblance he shared with his sister, but both families had dark brown hair and blue eyes, though the Gallowglass’ eyes were a brighter more vivid hue. In her armor, Kaylen’s sister was not especially stealthy, though it made less noise than he might have thought on first sight. Her great sword was sheathed across her back with a light crossbow and a dagger hanging from her belt, and her gear was mostly in her black and white stallion’s saddle bags, though she kept a few things in belt pouches.

Like the swordsman, Dinnae also wore her chainmail armor openly, with a medium sized shield slung over her shoulder and a light battle-axe at her waist. The girls had selected a weapon with a spike on the reverse of the axe head, and a spear tip on the top so that it would be versatile in combat. They’d gone with an axe over a sword due to her already having familiarity with similarly constructed tools. She also had a wicked stiletto dagger hanging from her belt in the back, hidden by her cloak. She wasn’t fully comfortable with her brown speckled pony yet, but it was a very calm creature that was doing a good job setting her at ease so far. Dinnae had the fullest figure out of Kaylen’s companions, at least as well as he was able to tell through their armor and clothes, with an above average bust and wide hips.

Just past the two brown-haired girls, Kaylen noticed that Vesili had moved slightly apart, towards the side of the road, and Alanthea seemed to be attempting to strike up a conversation with her. The priestess’s grey cloak was thrown back, showing her blue robes of office and belt of swords along with her satchel of knives. She was the tallest of the girls besides Ursa, nearly level with Kaylen’s height, though her thin frame and ethereal presence made her seem taller. Her pure white gelding was just a short distance away, and as she spoke, she gestured with both hands, her piercing blue eyes flashing and her pale hair drifting around her face in the light breeze.

Vesili was standing with her sleek black pony with her dark blue cloak pulled closed around her, the hood concealing most of her face. She was the shortest member of their team by a significant margin, and seemed to carry only a dagger with a leaf-blade and no real hand guard to speak of. Though given her demeanor, he guessed she probably had other weapons concealed somewhere within her outfit. With her hood up, a few strands of her black hair could be seen, but most of her pale grey skin and whatever figure she possessed was shrouded, including her delicately tapered ears. She didn’t have any visible bags or pouches, and her pony was packed light, so Kaylen assumed she wanted maximum speed and mobility, even on the road.

A little further on, Talindra stood by herself simply watching the other four girls. The elf’s silver hair was still coiled around her head with just a short tail emerging from the back, the hood of her green cloak was down, and through the front part one could see her black breastplate over fine chainmail that was also darkened for stealth. Her bow was slung unstrung in a pouch attached to her quiver on the opposite hip as her gracefully curved long sword, and unlike most the others she carried no pouches and didn’t have any visible pockets either, though she had filled up her grey mare’s saddle bags pretty thoroughly. Talindra was an inch taller than Kaylen’s sister, putting her only a few inches shorter than Kaylen himself, and while she was slender, her armor obscured the details of her figure except for a bit of lean muscle definition in her arms where they weren’t fully covered by her chainmail sleeves or bracers. But her grace and fair features in her face made her quiet appealing, particularly her large emerald eyes.

Finally, Ursa Cloudwalker, the half-giant, stood tall in the front looking out over the landscape ahead of them. Her shield and a heavy pack were slung over her shoulders, though it didn’t appear to weigh her down at all. She wore a few pouches on her belt and a sword scabbard on her right side, while a long heavy spear was held in her right hand, the butt end on the ground as she used it like a walking staff. As she turned back to regard the others, her black hair tied back into a tail with an equally black ribbon flowing in the light breeze.

Talindra turned towards Kaylen and met his gaze, conveying without words her desire to speak as she approached him while the others were still occupied. “I would like to have a word with you.” The silver-haired elf said once she had drawn close. “I feel like I might owe you an apology.”

“What for?” Kaylen asked, curious.

“I was… unsettled by what happened at the **** auction. Both by the magic you used and the way you used it, also by the situation created when you placed your mark on Dinnae.”

“That is understandable.” Kaylen offered, but Lynn shook her head.

“Even so, I must become more used to these things. I am still new at adventuring. This is my first mission, and you are my first party leader. If I can’t handle an impolite use of magic, I may not make it far, and I do not wish to hold you back, or let you down, so I will endeavor to be more tolerant of things that are new and unfamiliar.”

Kaylen nodded, “That is very mature of you, especially for an elf as young as you are.”

Lynn chuckled, “True, I am only one hundred two years old.” She replied in the same teasing tone then turned back towards her horse.

Kaylen stepped forward a little behind Talindra and called each of his teammates to attention. “Is anyone unclear about the route we’ll be taking to get to the forest? Now’s your chance to take a look at the map before we set out.”

Lyria moved up in front of Kaylen as Talindra turned back to face him, with Alanthea and just a little behind the silver-haired elf. Vesili stayed back, but smiled when she met Kaylen’s gaze briefly, and the brown-haired tanner stayed on her mount as Ursa stood back so as not to crowd the smaller members of their group.

Kaylen retrieved the map he’d purchased from his scroll case, along with the quest directions. “If we follow the main road to this turnoff that should allow us to get to our destination here by the end of the day.” He held up the map and traced his finger along the path he’d outlined before pointing at the dot that indicated the village that had reported the giant spider sightings. “Any questions?”

“Let me take a look.” Lyria said, taking the map for a moment. She and the elf archer examined it briefly then turned to offer the priestess a moment with it as Kaylen waited. Vesili also took a turn with it, before Ursa held it gingerly for a long moment before finally handing it back to Kaylen.

“Everyone good?” He asked, glancing at Dinnae who was the only one who hadn’t taken a look so far.

“Oh, uh. I don’t really know how to read maps.” The ****-girl admitted.

“I’m sure you could learn.” He suggested as he put the map away along with the quest papers.

“I would like that.” She smiled at his offer.

Kaylen quickly mounted his own black and brown mare, and as soon as everyone else was mounted up, he gave the order to move out.

They rode as the sun moved slowly across the sky, dipping down towards the horizon behind them. They passed by the occasional merchant caravan who always seemed eager to exchange news, and a few lone travelers who stayed on their side of the rode and didn’t speak to them.

They’d been on the road for a few hours when a shadow passed over Kaylen’s group. He looked up and spotted what appeared to be a horse with great feathered wings; Kaylen remembered it was called a pegasus. Riding the creature was an armored figure with a collection of spears and javelins, and close behind him were three more airborne adventurers, two riding on a flying carpet, and one wearing priestly robes with radiant wings of his own bearing him aloft.

They moved swiftly to the north and a little to the east of Kaylen and his companions, and it was only a moment after he’d observed them that Talindra pointed ahead of where they were flying. “Look there, a wyvern!” She called out. Straining his eyes, Kaylen could barely make out a shape in the distance over the forest that was their destination, and sure enough it appeared to be directly in the path of the flying heroes above them.

There were murmurs among his teammates as Kaylen himself closed his eyes, and spoke a careful incantation to enhance his sight. When he opened them again, he narrowed his focus to that spot in the distance, now clearly able to make out the details of a winged dragon-like creature flying above the trees, alongside about a dozen smaller creatures that resembled large birds with humanoid heads and torsos; harpies, he realized after a moment. They seemed to be circling something they could see on the ground, and then the wyvern began a dive, and the harpies followed, disappearing into the canopy.

At that point, Kaylen dismissed his spell and turned his attention to his allies’ conversation. “…at least until we have a bit more experience with such creatures.” Talindra was saying to his sister.

“We might need more ranged weapons, or at least some flying mounts of our own. What do you think, Kaylen?” Lyria turned in her saddle to address her question to her brother.

“Experience with such creatures?” Kaylen asked, “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to ask you to repeat that.”

“I asked if we might need more ranged weapons or flying mounts of our own if we wanted to be able to take down a creature like that wyvern at some point.” The brown-haired swordswoman repeated.

“We’d probably need those at minimum.” Kaylen acknowledged. “Wyverns and harpies are not easy prey, especially for inexperienced adventurers like us.”

They nodded, and as a group they turned back forward to where the four flying adventurers were rapidly disappearing.

It wasn’t much longer before they reached a poorly labeled crossroad. There was a sign that was little more than an unusually tall mile marker, though it only listed the city they’d come from and the next big city further on. The smaller road to the north had no label, even though on his map the logging village in the forested foothills it led to was called Glenvale.

Talindra pulled alongside him as he was checking his map, and between them they agreed this was the correct turnoff. So they began riding north, leaving the highway behind.

It was another hour, as the sun began to close in on the horizon to their west, that Kaylen called a halt to their journey to rest for a few minutes and eat some of their cheese and trail bread. They put their mounts on lead reins to graze while they each found a place to sit on grass or rocks.

After retrieving some food, Lyria moved to sit next to Kaylen. “I was talking a little with Danny.” She began, “It sounds like you really came through for her and her brother. I was a little apprehensive when you came back with a ****, I thought you just needed to see the reality of it for yourself. But I’m glad to hear what happened, and I wanted you to know I agree with your decision.”

“Thanks, Lyria.” Kaylen smiled at his sister. “I’m glad you approve. I felt like thing were a little dicey there for a time.”

She responded by giving him a one-armed hug, though with her armor it was not as comfortable as it might have been otherwise. “I can see how that might be, but I’m glad you trusted your instincts, and Vesili.” She assured him. “I’ve missed you, you know. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all over again.”

“I’m sure it’ll be quite the experience.” Kaylen acknowledged, and simply enjoyed the momentary embrace.

They each took a few bites of their food, but then his sister lifted her head from his shoulder as Vesili approached them with a handful of her own food. “I, uh… I was hoping I might sit with you.” She told them. “Sister Alanthea won’t leave me alone.”

“Go ahead then.” Kaylen gave the half-elf a nod.

Vesili sat cross-legged in front of Kaylen and his sister, and after a moment, pulled her hood back.

“Maybe you should ask the Sister to leave Vesili alone.” Lyria suggested.

“What is it she wants from you?” Kaylen asked.

“Dinnae must have told her I helped put the **** mark on her. She wants to know where the mark was placed.”

Kaylen sighed, “I’ll talk to her. Make sure she understands that if Dinnae doesn’t want to share the information, she can’t ask anyone else.”

Vesili smiled, “That would be appreciated.” The violet-eyed girl took a bite of her food as she glanced between Kaylen and his sister.

“Anything else we can help you with?” Lyria asked.

Vesili took a moment, but then finally nodded, her black hair bobbing. “Actually, I did want to let you know, Lyria, that I’ve been finding myself more fond of your brother more quickly than I’d expected.”

“Oh.” Lyria, blinked at the black-haired girl, and glanced at Kaylen, who blushed and shrugged. “Well, if he feels the same, I’m not going to object. But I don’t really want or need the details.”

Vesili nodded rapidly, then smiled at Kaylen, “If that’s something you want to pursue, I would welcome the attention.” He told her.

She ate her last bite of food and rose to her feet. But then she seemed to hesitate, before taking a few steps to stand directly in front of Kaylen, lean down, bracing herself on his shoulders, and placed a light kiss on his surprised lips. “That’s for being so nice, and kinda handsome.” She whispered, then turned and strolled away, pulling her hood back up at last.

Kaylen turned back to Lyria, who smirked at him, “Cute.” She said simply. She finished the last bite of her own food, and the two siblings got to their feet.

Soon they were on their way once more, and as they moved along the narrow road towards the mountains, they passed only one large cart carrying a stack of huge logs. They rode in pairs once they entered the forest, with Lyria and Talindra in the lead, and Ursa bringing up the rear on her own. Kaylen was amused to have Alanthea and Dinnae just ahead of him as he rode alongside Vesili, the priestess seemed to be quite curious about the **** girl, though she had so far seemed disinclined to strike up a conversation. The half-elf, meanwhile, kept stealing glances at Kaylen, blushing when he caught her looking, but mostly kept her face hidden with her hood.

“Kaylen.” Ursa said in a low tone after they’d been riding for a time.

Kaylen turned to look back at the half-giant. Mounted on his stallion, he was a little taller than her, but not by much. “Something on your mind?” He asked, slowing his horse just a little so he could ride beside her, and they could hold a conversation without speaking too loudly or craning their necks.

Vesili turned to regard Kaylen as he was slowing, but then faced forward again once he’d pulled alongside Ursa.

“I wanted to apologize.” Ursa began.

“What for?” Kaylen asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

“I overreacted when you brought Dinnae into the party.” The black-haired half-giant explained. “It wasn’t my place to question you, especially over something so small.”

“I don’t mind hearing your concerns.”

“It was petty. And you handled the situation well.” Ursa insisted. “I didn’t realize you could be so assertive. I’m glad to have seen that side of you.”

Kaylen smiled. “I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of it. I have a feeling we’ll be together as a party for quite some time.”

She flashed him a grin, her teeth gleaming white, “I will enjoy that, I’m sure.” She agreed.

But about that time, the horses ahead of them slowed, and Kaylen looked up to see Lyria and Talindra calling a halt and turning in their saddles to face the rest of the group as he moved his horse forward once again to hear them more easily.

“There’s something up ahead.” The elf marksman advised them. “Off the path, to the right, maybe a hundred yards.”

The group strained their senses, looking out into the trees, and sure enough there was a rustling through the underbrush that stilled almost immediately.

“Should we investigate?” Lyria asked.