On the Road at Last – 3C-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, and he couldn’t help but smile back.

Kaylen noticed that Vesili had moved slightly apart, towards the side of the road, 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 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.

Sister Alanthea was standing next to her pure white gelding a little apart from where Lyria and Alayni were talking to Danny as she sat on her pony’s saddle. The priestess was watching everyone with her piercing blue eyes, her grey cloak 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.

Finally, Ursa Cloudwalker, the half-giant, turned towards Kaylen, having stood in the front looking out over the landscape ahead of him. 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, she tapped the butt end on the ground as she approached, using it like a walking staff.

“I owe you and Dinnae an apology.” She said once she was close enough, her black hair tied back into a tail with an equally black ribbon flowing in the light breeze.

“You had valid concerns.” He replied.

“Maybe, but I shouldn’t have questioned you so fiercely, and certainly not in front of the others like I did.”

“I don’t mind open discussion, so long as you respect my final decision.”

Ursa nodded, “That is fair, I will endeavor to be less confrontational in the future.”

“I think that will be good. Thank you, Ursa.”

She nodded and moved away back towards the other side of the group, at which point Kaylen stepped forward and called each of his teammates to attention. “We should all take a quick look at the map before we set out, so there’s no confusion over the route we’ll be taking.”

Lyria and Alayni moved right in front of Kaylen, with Dinnae just a little behind them on her pony. Alanthea and the black-haired half-elf stayed next to their mounts and Ursa moved out of the way 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. “This is the village that reported the sightings we’ll be looking into.” He held up the map and pointed to a small spot some distance away from the city they’d just left.

“The main road will take us part way there, but we’ll need to make sure we don’t miss this smaller road that branches off to the north into the forest. I’m not sure what kind of speed we’ll make, but we should be able to make it to the logging village before nightfall if everything goes well. Does anyone have any questions?”

He allowed his sister and halfling companion to examine the map until they were satisfied. Then he offered the map to Vesili, who took it briefly then passed it towards Alanthea, who declined, and then Kaylen retrieved it and offered it to Ursa, who held it gingerly for a long moment before handing it back. “Would you like to take a look as well?” Kyalen asked of his **** girl, sitting astride her pony.

“Sure, but I don’t really know how to read maps.” She admitted.

The blue-eyed girl leaned close as Kaylen explained what the lines and symbols on the map meant, but soon everyone but him was mounted up and ready to go, so he put his map and sheaf of quest papers away and vaulted into the saddle of his black and brown mare. “Alright everyone, let’s 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.

“I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I was looking ahead with magic.” Kaylen replied.

“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. “In either case, I think we’d want to take some time strategizing, planning, and preparing before even entering the fight. Though maybe when we’re experienced enough we could handle such threats more spontaneously.”

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.

He took a moment to confer with his comrades to make certain they all agreed this was the correct turnoff, and then 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.

“You’re welcome to join us.” Kaylen agreed, but the halfling didn’t take a seat right away.

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

“Oh, um…” Kaylen looked at his sister to gauge her reaction, and she blushed but rolled her eyes, offering no objection. So he turned back to the curly-haired girl in front of him, and nodded, “Alright, you can sit here.” 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 had loosely wrapped one arm around the pleasantly curvy woman’s midsection, and was a bit baffled by the banter between the two women. “Nothing’s happening, yet.” Kaylen assured his sister. And it was true. Having Alayni on his lap was pleasant, but he wasn’t getting aroused. “Weren’t you saying something about Dinnae?”

His sister sighed, but 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. “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 simply focused 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. Then he looked down at Alayni, and sensing his movement, she glanced up at him over her shoulder. “Was there something in particular that you wanted?”

“Or were you just staking your claim?” Lyria asked with a teasing tone.

“I just wanted Kaylen to know how much I appreciate everything he’s been doing. Particularly when it came to the slavers.” She replied, winking at Kaylen before turning back to her food.

Kaylen shrugged, and Lyria shook her head, and the three of them 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 Dinnae, who seemed content to occasionally watch him from the corner of her eye, but would look ahead when he turned towards her.

“There isn’t something on my face, is there?” He asked, after catching her looking for at least the fourth time.

“No, nothing.” She said simply. Kaylen sighed, and turned his own gaze forward. But then after a moment, the **** girl added, “Master Mage…”

“Adept, if you please. Or at least use my name, Kaylen Gallowglass.”

“Um, yes, master Gallowglass. I… I know this could have gone a lot worse for me if it had been someone else. I feel like I really dodged an arrow back there.”

“For what it’s worth, I never imagined I would own a ****, indentured or otherwise. It was only because of Vesili’s urging that I decided to try to step in, hoping to be a better master to your brother than he might have otherwise found himself serving.”

The brown-haired girl nodded, but then looked down. “So um, when I first barged in, and tried to convince you to take me over Gregory…”

“I didn’t buy you because you offered your body. As far as I’m concerned, you are not bound to that in any way.” Kaylen assured her, guessing what she was getting at.

She blushed even deeper, and smiled at him, “Thank you. I mean, I would have gone through with it, because I was serious when I made the offer. But I’m grateful to you just the same. Maybe, we can revisit the idea at a later date?” She suggested.

“If you wish, we can discuss the matter again, once we’ve come to know each other better.” Kaylen returned her smile.

It was 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.