The Staff

"I'll take this one," you say as you grab the staff of speaking from the bag. "An excellent choice," Alfric exclaims, as he turns and walks away, "but hurry up now Dirk, don't miss your carriage on my account." As he walks away you whisper, "speak," and point the staff at your old master's, horse. "Push," you whisper and the horse pushes Alfric back towards you, you quickly pull him towards you and wrap him in a huge hug saying, "thanks for everything," before releasing your master. Alfric, looks truly flustered for the first time since you met him two years ago, "your welcome Dirk, but you really should be going soon, "mounting his horse he begins to ride away before turning back, "one last thing," he shouts, "I heard that there are several types of new monsters that have been moving into our kingdom of Westfold, they're apparently fleeing the giant wars in the far east. If you meet any, be careful, and remember your training."

Smiling you quickly finish your packing, placing staff in your left hand because, as your master said," it doubles as a walking stick." You say your final goodbyes to your parents and brothers, and you take one long, last look at your home, before heading out to the carriage stop.

As the carriage stop slowly comes into view, you hear old Mathias the carriage driver's voice calling out, "I can't wait all day Dirk, now hustle up and get over here." Running the last few yards you just make it in time, jumping on just as old Mathias starts to pull away. "Hurry up, you youngin, your damn lucky Alfric paid me an extra copper to wait for you." Sorry, Mathias," you apologize, mentally making a note to send Alfric a thank you letter the first chance you get.

The rest of the ride is quiet and uneventful, except for the constant grumblings of old Mathias about young people and their shortcomings, and you reach the edge of Willford and the start of the forest just as the sun leaves its peak.