The Journey Begins

Ushug awoke, feeling refreshed from the previous day and ready to continue on her journey. She rose from her chair and began to stretch her long toned arms, before dropping to the ground and starting a set of push ups. She completed a set of twenty before jumping back to her feet with a loud thud. Konrad awoke suddenly and looked around, thinking he was in trouble. Ushug saw him glance over to her before turning back around to get some sleep.

'Get up' she said. In reply, he simply yawned and said, 'No, need a few more hours'. 'Okay' replied Ushug, leaving him to fall back asleep, continuing with her exercises.

After a couple more sets she began to strap her armour on and but her sword back into its sheath. She went to look outside to find the weather had cleared up, though the air was tainted by the smell of rotting Goblin flesh. Over by the inns stables, were a few horses, who had belonged to the Goblins who attacked the night before, and the survivors who fled abandoned.

She made her way over and brought two to the front of the inn, and went back inside to collect her satchel of supplies and her cloak. She looked over to Konrad, who was still asleep, she took a moment to look at him properly, having been either too enraged or tired to pay attention the night before. He had soft round features, with a flawless complexion, and short wavy blonde hair. He was of quite small stature, physically unimpressive and was barely average height, he was the polar opposite of her. In spite of this, she found him to be quite pleasing on the eye. But she soon shook those thoughts to the back of her head, and continued to collect her supplies. She left him some from the storeroom, and loaded hers onto one of the horses waiting outside. She then mounted it and set off, heading down the road and continued her journey.

Ushug had been traveling for a good few miles before seeing anything of interest, that being a few animals which roamed the country, and the odd corpse that hung from a tree on the side of the road. She was used to seeing ****, she had grown up in a harsh land, and little phased her. The war had brought ruin to what was once a prosperous land, the Empire had sought to bring the realms of men under their control, and as a result had perished and many more suffered, and many more would continue to.

After a few more empty miles, she began to hear something coming from behind, it sounded almost like galloping. She turned around, and saw another horse and rider race to her. And she heard then shouting out to her, and as they got closer, she let out a long sigh as she realized who it was.

'Wait!' shouted Konrad, as he galloped towards her. She thought she'd never see him again, having no desire to, but clearly he had other ideas. Soon he had caught up with her and slowed down to meet her pace. 'Why'd you leave me?' he said under heavy breath.

'Why'd you follow me?' she retorted. 'You cant expect me to travel on my own, it be dead if not for you' 'Look, i only helped you as you were i need, i don't know you nor do i have any business with you, so as far as i'm concerned, were done.' She turned away from him and continued on, but clearly, he wasn't through.

'But i need your help!, please' he pleaded. Ushug didn't respond, merely breaking into a faster pace to get away from him.

'Wait! Wait!, if you get me back to my father he'll pay you' Ushug stopped, he caught her interest.

'How much?' she asked.

'Alot, you'll be paid tenfold what you normally are'

'No simple lord could afford that, stop wasting my time and fuck off!' Ushug then set off again, her patience had started to run thin and was ready to lash out if Konrad uttered another word. 'My father is no simple lord, he's the Emperor!'.

Ushug then stopped again, she suddenly realized that he had been wearing the the imperial attire, and that he was likely telling the truth. She paused for a moment, considering whether escorting him would be worth it. After a pondering his offer for a couple more moments, she turned round and made her way slowly back towards him, she then stopped beside his horse and turned to face him.

'Tenfold, you say?'

'Yes, tenfold. Just get me to Similgrad and he'll pay you'.

Similgrad had been a major city in the north, and was recently conquered by the Empire and used as a base of operations. It was far, but with what he was offering, it just might be worth it.

'Deal' she said.

'Thank you, now lets get going'. Konrad then began to set off, Ushug didn't follow and watched as he continued on. Soon he'd realized she was not following him, and look back and called to her.

'Come on then!'

'The road to Similgrad is back this way'

Konrad paused for a moment, almost looking as if he started to blush. He then began to make his way back towards Ushug, and the two began to make their way towards Similgrad.