On the Road at Last – 3A-QO

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, Alanthea and Janel were having a conversation too quietly for Kaylen to overhear. 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.

The kitsune was the shortest member of their team, though not by a huge amount, and her robes and wraps in dark to neutral colors concealed not only her presence when she was being sneaky, but also much of her figure, including of course most of her bright red hair and matching fox ears. It occurred to Kaylen that Dinnae probably didn’t know what Janel was, and he wondered what she’d make of her greatest advocate among the team once she learned that bit of information. Janel’s short bow was slung loosely over one shoulder still strung, while tucked through the sash at her waist was a sword of foreign design, curved like Talindra’s, but shorter with no pummel and a small disc guard. She had a few pockets that Kaylen had seen, but they were inside her robes, rather than carried on her belt, and her mottled brown pony was packed similarly light to maintain speed and mobility.

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 Janel just a little behind the silver-haired elf. The brown-haired tanner stayed on her mount and 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 and their kitsune companion a moment with it as Kaylen waited. Ursa also 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. “…of our own someday?” Janel was turned in her saddle to address her question to Kaylen.

“Our own?” Kaylen asked, “I’m going to have to ask you to repeat that.”

“I asked if you think we could get flying mounts of our own someday.” The red-head kitsune repeated.

“I doubt it’s something we could get soon, but someday, sure.” He replied. “We’d need to in order to take on something like that wyvern or those harpies, which certainly are not easy prey, especially for inexperienced adventurers like us.”

Janel nodded, and looked forward again, 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 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.

They each took a few bites of their food, but then his sister lifted her head from his shoulder as Talindra approached them with a handful of her own food. “Kaylen, I wondered if I might sit and speak with you.” She told them.

“Do you need me to give you two some space?” Lyria asked.

“My apologies, but I would prefer to keep this private.” The silver-haired elf said with a nod.

“Very well, I’ll go chat with Sister Alanthea, she seems like she’s getting ready to harass Danny.” Lyria got to her feet with her remaining food and went off toward the pale priestess as Talindra took her place, gracefully crossing legs under her as she took a seat with her own food.

“What’s on your mind?” Kaylen asked.

“Since apologizing to you I’ve been thinking,” She began. “I… I must admit I see most humans as children. I am older than all but the most advanced of your people. But you made me realize that age is not the same as wisdom, or even experience.”

Kaylen nodded, “I can understand that, though I’m not sure why that would be.”

“Perhaps we can discover that answer together, but… well, I’ve decided I would like to not simply be a member of your party. I would very much like to be a partner and confidant. I feel I could learn much from you, and I want to get to know you on a deeper level.” For a moment, she kept her gaze on her own lap, but then she met his gaze, her emerald eyes entreating him to take her request seriously.

Kaylen did not answer right away. Internally, he wondered if his efforts could be paying off so quickly. But he also knew she deserved an honest answer. “Are you asking me for a romantic relationship?” He asked for a bit of clarification.

“Possibly. It might be too soon for that. But I am certainly asking for us to both open ourselves to some amount of intimacy. It is likely that some level of romance could grow from that, if we let it.”

“Then give me your hand, Talindra.” He said, holding his hand out to her.

She hesitated, but then placed his palm on his, returning her striking eyes back to his face.

“I would be honored, to accept you as a partner, and a confidant. And maybe more, in time.” He raised her hand and placed a kiss just above her delicate knuckles.

She blushed a pretty pink color then said, “That is uh, an interesting human gesture. Here is one we use among elves.” She pulled his hand back, while reaching out with her other hand to place her palm against his chest while pressing his own palm to hers right in the middle of her breastplate.

Kaylen smiled, wondering if she could feel his heartbeat through his chainmail tunic and layers of cloth. He could not feel hers through her breastplate but then he wouldn’t have expected to. Finally she released him and he did the same.

“Thank you for speaking with me privately like this.” She said, while getting back to her feet.

“You are welcome.” He said, and then let his gaze linger on her lithe frame as she walked away.

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 Janel, 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.

Janel glanced back at them briefly, but then turned forward as Ursa replied, “I wanted to apologize.”

“You too?” Kaylen raised an eyebrow at her.

She chuckled, “I overreacted when you brought Dinnae into the party. 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.”

It was Kaylen’s turn to chuckle. “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.