Sleep and travel

Maybe you should talk to her about what just happened... but you feel exhausted; both but the recent act and also the feeling of lying on an actual bed after sleeping in bedrolls on the hard dirt of forest was heavenly in its own way. You hold Tara closer and close your eyes.

For the first time in a while... you start to dream, you start to dream out a familiar nightmare; demons, monsters and Hell. And your mother at the centre of it all... and yet... you feel no fear. In your grip you feel the hilt of a sword and the weight of its blade. You lift it up forward, Harmony began to gleam brightly like a sun shining in the darkness as the demons that tormented you once began to cower.

You match forward, your demonic mother cowering at the light as you strike her down with your blade. As you pull it out of her body you continue to look forward and call out towards another demon; with crimson skin, dark eyes and wings and scaly skin. You scream out in defiance, with a voice that was not your own.

Then you hear it, a familiar voice call out a name... you have never heard of it yet it sounded so familiar...

You open your eyes to find yourself in bed, an empty space next to you. You look around to see Tara putting on her clothes, she looks at you “Good morning.” She said smiling.

“Good morning.” You reply back rubbing your eyes.

“We should get up now, the carriages are going to be here soon.” Tara stated.

You get up from the bed, picking up your clothes from the floor and placing them on. You and Tara are both silent while you collect your belongings; trading glances, some were smiles and some just a bit anxious.

“Tara...” you break the silence.

“About last night.” She interrupts you. “Things get said in the heat of the moment.” She looks at you with a soft expression “I care about you but you’re still a king, you shouldn’t declare yourself for someone like me.” She explains as she takes your hand and rubs it slightly with her thumb “So... let’s move past this.” You’re about to say reply “Please, it’ll be better for both of us.”

You stay silent as her hand slips away from yours and opens the door to leave. You stand there for a second as you watch her leave, he sigh and walk out too. You walk into the main hall of the inn, Adel already finished eating breakfast when she spots you.

“You’re up now, hurry the caravans will be here soon.” She said urgently. “You two should have gotten up earlier.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Bronn said as he places a small bag on the counter, I’ve packed you some bread and salted meat here, eat it on your journey.”

“Thank you, Bronn.” Tara replies as she takes the bags from the counter.

“Don’t mention it.” Bronn tells her “You and you’re friends are welcome here any time.” As Tara and Adel walk toward the door, Bronn looks and you and winks again. You smilie in response and nod, he lets out a heavy laugh as you walk out of the inn.

A small rolling line of carriages arrive at the town, people began to gather. Tara hands you a hooded cloak “Here, else there might be spies.” You nod at her and put on the cloak pulling up the hood.

“I’ll try and trade some pelts and medicines for some gold, hopefully it’ll be enough to pay for a ride with one of the caravans” Tara says.

“We should still look around, I’ll ask about the prices for travel and see about the prices.” You state. “Meet back here in a couple minutes.”

You find a woman standing around an almost empty carriage, tending to the horses; she had curly red hair, wore simple clothes with leather straps and boots and a curvy figure. You walk up to her “Hello.” You get her attention “My companions and I are looking to get to Luxem, how much for a ride on the carriage?”

The woman doesn’t turn to face you “Looking to hitch a ride to Luxem, it’s about ten gold for each.” She tells you. “How many of you’s coming?”

“Three.” You tell her simply. “Don’t think we have that much money, would you be so kind as to lower?”

She chuckles and faces you; freckles dotted the cheeks of a round face, Misty green eyes looked back at him and slim lips. She looks at you, a confused expression on her face. “Hang on...” she says stepping forward, you step back a bit but she ducks her head down to get a better look at you.

Her eyes go wide and she steps back “What the hell-”

You step forward and shush her “Please don’t draw attention.” You urge.

“You’re king Donmal...” she fumbles as she bows, confused by the current events. “What the hell you doing here?”

“It’s a hard story to tell, one you wouldn’t believe but... all you need to know is I need to get to Luxem.” You explain.

She composes herself “How do I know you’re the king?” Coming to a realisation after the initial confusion.

“I don’t need to prove who am I.” You reply “Though if I was a fraud playing a king, I wouldn’t try to hide my stolen identity when I could easily use to gain privileges.”

“Make sense.” The driver replies.

“Don’t try and tell others I’m here.” You threaten in a whisper as you place your hand over the hilt of Harmony.

She backs off slightly with her hands up “Alright... won’t hear a word from me.”

You sigh “Sorry it’s just... we need to get to Luxem, I’m willing to pay you anything I can once we get there but I need to get there first.” You tell her “Gold, a royal boon, anything that is possible, name it and I swear on my honour I will fulfil it.”

“Hmmm...” she ponders.