On the Road at Last – 3C-DT

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.

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.

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.

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, Kaylen turned to regard Janel as she approached him her robes and wraps in dark to neutral colors concealing 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. “So, your magic isn’t quite as frightening as I first thought.” She told him in a soft tone. The kitsune was the shortest member of their team next to Alayni, with her short bow 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.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Kaylen replied.

“For our party, perhaps. But being fearsome to our enemies would also be a good thing.”

“Well, you haven’t seen any of my combat spells yet.” Kaylen reminded her.

She shrugged, “I’m sure I’ll see that soon enough, but I just wanted to let you know, in case you had gotten the wrong idea from what I’d said earlier.”

“Well, thank you for that bit of information.” He said, smiling at her.

She smiled back, but then blushed. “I also wanted… um. I wanted to say I agree with Alayni.”

“About what?” Kaylen was suddenly quite curious.

“You are very handsome for a mage.” She blurted out rapidly, then turned and retreated before he could respond, though her words brought a smug smile to his face.

Kaylen took a moment to compose himself, then 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 red-head kitsune stayed next to their mounts 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. “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 Janel, who shook her head, then Alanthea, who declined, and then 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. “…of our own someday?” Janel was turned in her saddle to address her question to Kaylen.

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

“I asked if you think we could get flying mounts of our own someday.” The red-head kitsune repeated.

“It’s something we could work towards, certainly.” Kaylen assured her. “So long as we’re able to take on greater threats, such as the wyvern and harpies it appears that group is after.”

Janel looked forward again, to where the four flying adventurers were rapidly disappearing, and seemed happy with that potential in their future.

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. 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 fondly at his sister. “That means a lot to me coming from you. I hope I never give you reason to doubt me.”

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’ve missed you, you know. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all over again.”

“I feel the same.” He agreed, enjoying her momentary embrace.

They each took a few bites of their food, but then his sister lifted her head from his shoulder as Alanthea approached and knelt down in front of them, smoothing the skirts of her robe over her lap.

“What can we do for you?” Lyria asked.

“I heard Alayni speaking about the magic you used at the **** auction.” The priestess began. “I would have liked to see that.”

Kaylen glanced at his sister, not sure if Alanthea really wanted to get into some of the details in front of her. “Haven’t you had issues in the past in regards to studying magic?” He asked after a moment.

Alanthea shrugged. “I’m not at the Cathedral anymore. Surely you don’t mind me simply watching?”

“That’s true. But I suppose it doesn’t hurt for you to observe.” He agreed.

“On that note. Will you tell me where you put your **** mark on the girl?”

Lyria snorted, and Kaylen suppressed a chuckle. “It’s up to her to decide if she wants to share that.” He said simply.

“You should call her by her name.” Lyria added.

“Yes, that would be good as well.” Alanthea agreed.

“Do you not remember her name?” Kaylen asked after a moment.

“I do not.”

“It’s Dinnae Thatcher.” Lyria supplied.

“Thank you.” Alanthea then stood, curtsied, and turned away to go speak to Danny.

“There’s something a little strange about her.” Lyria muttered once the priestess was out of earshot.

“I noticed, but she was the only healer available, as I’ve mentioned.”

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, “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 Janel’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.