On the Road at Last – 3A-HH

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 painted pony yet, but it was a very healthy creature that looked like it would serve her well when she got used to it. Dinnae had a full figure when compared with most 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, though proportionally she wasn’t quite as curvy as Alayni.

The halfling in question had just approached and interjected herself into the conversation between Kaylen’s sister and his new ****, taking hold of the painted pony’s bridle and calming the creature so that Dinnae could mount up. The brown-eyed woman’s curly hair was worn in a tight topknot to keep it out of her face, she had thrown a traveling cloak on over her steel breastplate and leather jerkin, with matching steel bracers on her forearms. Her sling was tucked into her belt next to a set of knife sheathes, and opposite her bullet pouch. She briefly met Kaylen’s gaze and flashed her dimples at him when she saw him watching her. He nodded and smiled back.

Just past the three 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 next to Alayni, 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.

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.

As Kaylen finished his appraisal, Lyria excused herself from speaking with Dinnae and Alayni and approached Kaylen by his stallion.

“Something on your mind, sister?” Kaylen asked as she drew close.

“Yeah, I wanted to ask, did something happen with Alayni while you were at the **** auction?” She spoke softly so as not to be overheard by the halfling in question.

Kaylen thought about it a moment, and then said, “She did seem a little unsettled by a spell I cast. But I’m not sure why it would have affected her that strongly.”

“Was it a dangerous spell?”

“I don’t think so. But it was a bit rude.”

Lyria blinked, “Rude? Rude how?”

Kaylen was sheepish as he considered his answer, “I should have asked permission, but the situation was getting a bit tense. It was a spell that allowed me to see into Dinnae’s mind, to get answers to a potential point of contention.”

“Did it affect Alayni?”

“Not directly, but I did end up putting a bit more into it than I had intended, and it was giving me more information than I had initially intended.”

“Well then she must think you gained some knowledge from her mind that she didn’t want you to see.” Lyria surmised. “You should talk to her, and clear things up if you can.”

“I’ll do that.” He agreed.

The two of them turned, and Kaylen stepped forward alongside his sister 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.”

Alayni moved in front of Kaylen, while Alanthea stayed by her horse, and 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 examined the map briefly before passing it to Alayni. The halfling offered Alanthea a moment with the map and then Vesili took a turn with it as well while Kaylen waited. Ursa then held the map 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 Alayni called out, “Hey, I think they’re going after that dragon thing over the forest. Or is it a wyvern?” She pointed ahead, and after straining his eyes, Kaylen could barely make out a shape ahead of the flying adventurers, and sure enough it appeared to be some massive winged creature over the forest.

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. “…dragon or a wyvern?” Vesili had turned in her saddle, addressing her question to the group at large, though her gaze landed on Kaylen when she noticed him looking her way.

“What about dragons or wyverns?” Kaylen asked.

“Oh, I was just wondering if anyone had thoughts what it would take for us to take on different quests, such as a dragon or wyvern.” The violet-eyed half-elf repeated.

“From my understanding, dragons would be a lot tougher to face than wyverns.” Alayni interjected before Kaylen could answer. “Both would probably require some magic, and I don’t know if Kaylen has the kind of magic we’d need.”

“Alayni’s right, they are quite different threats.” Kaylen agreed. “I think so long as we took some time strategizing, planning, and preparing before even entering the fight we’d stand a chance. I don’t know which of my spells would be most useful, which is why I’d want to prepare accordingly.”

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.

Kaylen spent a moment checking his map before Alayni and Lyria both rode up to him. He conferred with them briefly, and they quickly agreed this was the correct turnoff. So as a group 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 Janel.” 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.

Lyria then got to her feet, “I’m going to get Alayni so you can talk to her.”

“Alright.” Kaylen nodded, and watched his sister pause briefly to speak with Vesili before moving on to where the halfling was sitting.

The half-elf gave Kaylen a subtle smile before turning away herself.

A few moments later, the curly haired halfling walked up to where Kaylen was sitting and sat down cross-legged in front of him. “Your sister said you wanted to talk?”

Kaylen nodded, “We need to clear the air. I know I upset you with the spell I cast at the slaver auction.”

Alayni sighed, meeting Kaylen’s gaze, then looking down at the her hands in her lap, and the unfinished food she held. “I’m sorry for deceiving you.” She muttered.

“Deceiving me?” Kaylen blinked, “I don’t know what you think happened, but I didn’t perceive any of your thoughts outside of a few you were projecting unusually loudly, something about a card game called kapaaz?”

“Oh…” She blushed. “Yeah, that’s a technique an old partner taught me to resist mind control. Just play kepaaz in my head.”

“I can’t say how effective it would be against other forms of magic, but as I said, it was the only thing I got from you and even that only because it was loud. I was attempting not to listen in. With that said, do you want to explain what you may have deceived me about?”

With a huff, Alayni frowned. “It’s nothing serious.” She insisted. “Just that a lot of this…” She gestured to herself and wiggled her torso a bit. “Is just bravado. My flirtation, my… experience. I exaggerated it a bit.”

“Well, I won’t hold that against you. And if you like, I’ll continue to play along even though I now know the truth.”

She gave him a grateful smile. “I’d appreciate that. I do want to get to know you better, but the idea also makes me rather nervous, especially after seeing your magic in action. It really did unsettle me. I don’t… I really dislike the idea of you seeing into my head.”

“Well I promise I’ll try not to pry magically without permission.” He assured her.

“Thanks.” She got to her feet, glanced at the rest of the group, then said, “I’m going to hug you, and not just for the sake of appearances.” She advised before leaning over and putting action to words.

Kaylen wrapped his arms around her briefly, patting her on the back of her armor, then released her when she pulled back and started back toward her pony, popping the last of her food into her mouth as she went.

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 Alayni 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.

“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?” He 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.

They rode in silence for another minute before the sound of something rustling in the underbrush came to their attention, and both Lyria and Alayni were drawing weapons as they looked off the road towards the source of the noise, though it stilled almost immediately.

“Something’s there.” Alayni said, turning in her saddle to address Kaylen. “About fifty yards off the path, to the right.”

“Should we investigate?” Lyria asked.