On the Road at Last – 3B-HH

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 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, Sister Alanthea was standing next to her pure white gelding just a short distance from where Lyria was helping Danny into her pony’s saddle, her piercing blue eyes regarding the pair intently. 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.

A little further on, Vesili was standing on her own next to 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, with both of them standing more than a foot shorter than Kaylen himself. She seemingly carried 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, Alanthea turned his way, and approached him.

“I’m curious about your girl, Master.” The priestess began. “Will you tell me where you put your **** mark on her?”

Kaylen raised an eyebrow at the pale-haired girl. “I don’t think you need to be worried about that, Sister.” He said simply.

“I am merely curious.” She replied, regarding Kaylen coolly. “I’ve never seen a **** before.”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” He suggested.

Her brows drew together. “I do not think she wants to talk to me. Maybe you could express my interest to her?” She pleaded.

“I’m not going to order her to tell you. You are welcome to ask her if she is willing to tell you the location of the mark, but you must abide by her answer, whatever it may be. Is that understood?”

The priestess sighed, but then nodded. “I understand.” She started to turn away, but then turned back, “Thank you for hearing me out, Master.”

“You are welcome.” He responded, resisting the urge to sigh himself.

This time, when she turned away, Kaylen stepped forward just behind her, calling each of his teammates to attention. “Does anyone want to take a quick look at the map before we set out? The more eyes we have on it, the less likely there is to be any confusion over the route we’ll be taking.”

Lyria and Alayni moved up in front of Kaylen as Alanthea turned back to face him. The brown-haired tanner and black-haired half-elf stayed on their mounts 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. “The village that reported the sightings we’ll be looking into should be right here.” He held up the map and pointed to a small spot some distance away from the city they’d just left.

“We can take the main road part way there, so long as we don’t miss the turnoff for this smaller road that leads north into the forest. If we make good speed, I think we should be able to make it to the logging village before nightfall. Any questions?”

He handed the map to his sister to examine before she passed it to Alayni. Vesili looked at it briefly, but the priestess declined when it was offered to her. Ursa held the map gingerly for a long moment when it was handed to her, but then looked to Kaylen and to his new **** girl, sitting astride her pony.

“Oh, I don’t really know how to read maps.” She admitted before the parchment could be offered to her.

“Perhaps I could teach you at some point.” Kaylen suggested.

“I would like that.” She agreed, nodding.

When Kaylen got the map back, he put it away along with the quest papers, and then vaulted into the saddle of his own black and brown mare. Then 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.

“The difference between a dragon and a wyvern?” Kaylen asked, “I know dragons typically breathe fire or another dangerous element and have inherent magic, while wyverns are venomous.”

“Oh no. My question was if anyone had thoughts on what it would take for us to take on different quests, such as a dragon or wyvern.” The violet-eyed half-elf explained.

“I’m sorry, I was using a bit of magic and didn’t hear the first part.” Kaylen said.

“Well, from my understanding, dragons would be a lot tougher to face than wyverns.” Alayni interjected. “Both would probably require some magic, and I don’t know if Kaylen has the kind of magic we’d need?” She made it a question.

“Alayni’s right, they are quite different threats.” Kaylen agreed. “In either case, I think we’d want to take some time strategizing, planning, and preparing before even entering the fight. I have some spells that might be useful, but I’d want to study the matter and plan my magical strategy 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.”

She trailed off as Alayni approached before she’d finished her thought, carrying a bundle of her own food. “Mind if I sit?” She asked, standing in front of them.

“Go ahead.” Kaylen’s sister offered, glancing at Kaylen.

Kaylen looked at Lyria to be sure she wouldn’t mind, before turning back to the curly-haired halfing, “You’re welcome to join us.” He said, gesturing to a spot just in front of him and his sister.

“I meant specifically sit there.” She said, pointing at Kaylen, and he realized more specifically at his lap.

Kaylen once more looked at Lyria, who blushed, but then rolled her eyes and shrugged. “If that’s what you want, you can sit here.” He told Alayni. Then he shifted to a more comfortable position as the short dimpled woman climbed onto his lap facing away from him, and settled herself before munching on her food.

“Wasting no time, I see.” Lyria said with a chuckle.

“You said I could.” Alayni responded.

“I also said I didn’t want to know about it.”

“No, you said you don’t want me to tell you about it in public. I’m not telling you anything.” Alayni insisted.

Kaylen loosely wrapped one arm around the pleasantly curvy woman’s midsection. “Are you going to let me in on exactly what’s going on here?” He asked, looking at his sister since the halfling on his lap was facing away from him.

Lyria drew in a breath and let out a long sigh, “When you were at the Cathedral, the other girls all had a bit of a discussion about you, and the fact that you picked entirely women for most of your team. All of your team at this point. A few agreed that you were handsome and wouldn’t mind persuing a relationship with you. Alayni is just making her move first. That’s all I’m saying on the matter, if you want more details you can ask them individually yourself.”

Kaylen blinked, then blushed, then looked down at the halfling on his lap, and sensing his movement, she glanced up at him over her shoulder. “It’s true.” She said simply, flashing her dimples once more.

Unable to resist, Kaylen allowed his hand on the girl’s midsection to move subtly, his fingers tracing little patterns on her stomach through the padding just under her breastplate.

Lyria didn’t appear to notice his hand motions, but she did notice the halfling taking a shuddering breath, blushing heatedly, and ducking her head. “What’re you…?”

“Not telling.” The brown-eyed girl interjected.

“Right…” Lyria narrowed her eyes suspiciously at them.

“Weren’t you saying something about Dinnae?” Kaylen prompted.

His sister glanced between the two of them, but eventually nodded, “I was. I wanted to say, that while I was a little apprehensive when you came back with a ****, I’m still glad to hear what happened, and I wanted you to know I agree with your decision.”

“Thanks.” Kaylen smiled fondly at his sister while continuing to distract the curly-haired girl on his lap with very subtle movements of his fingers. “That means a lot to me coming from you. I hope I never give you reason to doubt me.”

She returned his smile, though she glanced at Alayni who was pretending to focus intently on her food while pretty blatantly listening to them.

“I’ve missed you, you know.” Lyria said after a quiet moment. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all over again.”

“I feel the same.” He agreed.

The three of them seemed to share a moment, then sat in silence finishing the last of their meal.

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 found himself just behind his sister alongside Alanthea, who would occasionally watch him from the corner of her eye, but didn’t seem inclined to strike up a conversation.

“Did you want to talk about the whole ‘Master’ situation now?” He asked, after they’d been in the forest for some time.

“I do not believe so.” She replied, glancing his way again.

“Didn’t you say you would resist the temptation to call me that?”

“I did. I’m not doing a very good job at it.” She explained. “Is it terribly bothersome for you?”

Kaylen sighed, “No, but it…” He trailed off, uncertain exactly how to explain what the issue was. “It doesn’t bother me personally, but I’m worried other people will get the wrong idea. People will think I… have an unsavory relationship with you.”

She blinked at him, “Oh.” She looked ahead, then down, then back to him, “I didn’t realize. I suppose… I don’t mind having a relationship with you, but it shouldn’t be unsavory.”

“You do know what that means, right?”

“Unsavory? It means morally sinful.”

“Yes, though, I mostly meant that people would see it as distasteful or disagreeable. Like I was manipulating you and taking advantage of you.”

“Or I could be manipulating you.” She suggested.

Kaylen chuckled, “I suppose we will find out.”

She offered him a smile, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Kaylen wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but after considering his next words for a few minutes, the sound of something rustling in the underbrush came to their attention, and both Lyria and Alayni drew their 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.