On the Road at Last – 3A-DT

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, 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 next to Alayni, 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. It was curved 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.

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, Janel caught his eye, and both she and Alanthea turned his way and approached him.

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

“I think I told you not to worry about it.” Kaylen reminded her.

“Why are you obsessed with that?” Janel asked, looking up at the taller woman.

Alanthea turned and blinked down at the red-haired kitsune.

“I am merely curious.” She replied, turning back to Kaylen. “I’ve never seen a **** before.”

“You said you had no interest in seeing one when Alayni and I went to join Kaylen at the **** auction.” Janel retorted.

“I didn’t then.” Alanthea said simply. “But I find myself curious now.”

“Either way, you should leave it alone. If Dinnae wants to tell you, she will, but I won’t have you pestering her about it.”

“I have not spoken to her since our first introduction. I hoped you might simply ask her to show me her mark.”

“I don’t think she would comply if it’s not an order.” Janel said with a huff.

The priestess blinked rapidly at the kitsune, then her eyes lit up. “You know where he marked her.”

“What? I didn’t say that!” The red-head looked momentarily panicked.

“Enough!” Both women were startled. “Sister Alanthea, you have my permission to ask Dinnae once. If she says no then that is the end of it, you don’t get to ask anyone else. Janel, try not to be confrontational with your own teammates. Now was there anything else either of you needed?”

The priestess sighed, but then shook her head. “There is nothing else, except that I do not think Dinnae wants to talk to me.”

Janel also shook her head, “Nothing I wanted to bring up that can’t wait.”

Kaylen sighed, “I can inform Dinnae that you wish to speak with her, but that is all I will do.”

“Very well. I thank you for that.” Alanthea performed a subtle curtsy and turned away back towards her horse.

The others were all waiting, looking towards the three of them when Kaylen stepped forward towards the middle of the group, and judging by the embarrassed look on Dinnae’s face, she probably heard at least some of their conversation.

Kaylen 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 and Alayni moved right in front of Kaylen, with Alanthea pausing by her horse, and Janel remaining just behind him. 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 examined the map briefly before passing it to Alayni. Janel took a moment to look over it as well, but the priestess declined when it was offered to her as Kaylen simply 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 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. “…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.

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 things 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 Janel approached them with a handful of her own food.

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

“No, I don’t mind if you stay.” Janel assured them. “May I sit?”

“Go ahead.” Kaylen gestured for her to sit, and Janel knelt in front of them tucking her legs beneath her as she settled down with her own food.

“What’s on your mind?” Kaylen asked.

“When I approached you earlier, I’d wanted to mention that I don’t think your magic is quite as frightening as I first thought.”

“What magic are you referring to?” Lyria asked.

“He used a spell at the **** auction that allowed him to see into Dinnae’s mind.” The kitsune explained.

“Well, I am glad that you do not find my magic frightening.” Kaylen replied. “If anyone should be afraid of my spells it should be our enemies.”

“I agree.” Janel said, followed shortly by Lyria saying, “And I also.”

“In fact.” The red-head continued, “I find I am in agreement with Alayni.”

Kaylen glanced at his sister as her face broke into a wide grin, obviously having an idea what their infiltrator companion was getting at. “What do you agree with her about?”

“That you are very handsome, for a mage.” She said, blushing heatedly.

Kaylen smiled, “I’m happy that you feel that way. You are quite beautiful yourself.”

“Don’t lay it on too thick.” Lyria admonished, though she was clearly happy they were getting along.

They finished their food in silence, then got back to their feet, with Janel offering a shy smile before moving back towards her horse.

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 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 mare, 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.”

“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.