A Trip to the Country

[Aura Thesin]

Spring, 122PW

Aura awoke early to the smell of baking bread. She had spent the day before in anticipation of her trip to the cabin near Shim. Normally it was something she would do, and it was a nice break from the suspicion-laden streets of Marn. This time, she would be going with a friend.

She dressed quickly after taking a few moments to wash up, making sure she put on her good hiking shoes. She rushed down the stairs, narrowly avoiding one of the morning waitresses. The girl danced back to avoid a collision, murmuring under her breath. Aura pushed open the kitchen door, beaming at Marie as the older woman waved to her.

"Yer all set ta go, dear," Marie said, smiling broadly. "Ya've got two sandwiches each for lunch, n' a small roasted hen for dinner. Cooked potatoes, some carrots, some onions, and a few eggs for ya ta cook up tomorra mornin'. There's some other food for ya to cook up over the next day or so. I s'pose I won' see ya for a coupla days?"

Aura walked her fingers over the packaged food, creating a mental checklist before answering Marie. "It really depends on Breda. She's pregnant, so we'll have to see how much walking she can do, and when she has to get back to her job."

Marie nodded and turned away, talking to one of the bakers, arguing over a recipe they were trying out. Aura turned back to the pile of food, slipping most of it into a large backpack she used for travelling. She went back to her room with the back pack, adding another pair of pants, a shirt, and her underthings into one of the side pockets, then tying a blanket to the other side. She normally wouldn't have brought the blanket as there was a single big bed at the cabin, but she brought the spare just in case either she or Breda weren't able to sleep on the same bed. It was always good to be prepared.

Aura pulled the backpack on, which weighed nearly twice what she was used to. It would be a good day for exercise today. She grinned as she took a small knife from the drawer in her nightstand and absently strapped it to her thigh. She wasn't really thinking of the knife when she grinned, but the prospect of going to the cabin with company, instead of alone. The knife got only an errant thought that made her grin slip only a little; a thought about how she could sometimes prevent having to fight just by baring a little steel.

Leaving her room, Aura stopped to lock the door behind her. She doubted anyone would go into her room, and the only other person with a key was Marie, but it never hurt to be sure. She took the stairs slower this time, then chose a seat next to the door to wait for Breda.

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda had never been a morning person. For most of her life it hadn’t been a problem; either it hadn’t mattered when she lived her life, or her activities had been heavily night oriented. Now she was suddenly living the life of a civilized citizen, and forced to wake up with the sun. Not something she was entirely happy about.

It wasn’t getting any easier, either. The waking up part itself was not a problem, these days her bladder woke her up in a more regular and effective fashion than any rooster could have. It was the “getting up and getting out” phase that seemed to take more and more time every day.

This morning was no different. Having slept on her right side, she woke up with her right leg completely numb, and her back stiff as a plank. Groaning and swearing under her breath, she turned on her back and waited until the feeling returned. She got arduously to her feet and limped to the wardrobe to gather her clothes.

It took some groaning and some acrobatics to get the trousers and shoes on, but after she was fully dressed, she started to feel a bit more human - or rather, dwarf - again. She hastened out of the room, down the stairs and to the outhouse in the backyard.

She bought a bowl of porridge and a couple of sandwiches from the kitchen, ate the former and brought the latter up to her room. Aura had promised to provide food, but she felt safer to bring some of her own as well. She was fairly certain she would get hungry more often than the other woman.

Determined to keep up with her taller, fitter and less pregnant companion, she packed light. The sandwiches were accompanied by a set of underwear, a spare shirt and trousers, and a bottle of water. On her belt she fastened a small dagger, and a leather bag containing some thread, a few needles, some dressings, and a few other small items that might come handy along the way. She pulled the backpack on her back, wrapped a thick woolen cloak around herself and headed out.

Walking in the fresh morning air relaxed her back and made her feel almost like herself again. By the time she arrived to "The Three Lions", she felt energetic and ready to face the road. She stepped in and searched for Aura with her eyes.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura had only been sitting for a short time when Breda's short form entered the Lions. She smiled at the dwarf as she stood, slipping her arms through the loops on her backpack and pulling it on. She adjusted it a couple times to make sure it was comfortable, shifting balled bits of her clothing out from underneath it.

Turning towards the door, she pushed through and held it open for Breda. "Shall we begin our journey?" She grinned, excited to get out of the city, a place she was still mostly uncomfortable in. Aura's enthusiasm for the trip to the country was clear as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

They began slowly, moving through the morning crowd, filled with people going to work, out shopping, or just out for a walk through the city. She saw a group of elves, disdaining looking around at anything as they spoke with each other, clustered into a knot at the entrance to one of the shops. The crowd was mostly human, but there were other races dotted throughout.

Two children darted directly in front of the pair, giggling and laughing as they chased each other. Over the hum of the crowd, a woman's voice was heard calling for the pair of children. Aura smiled again, turning down another street and beginning to make her way towards the Ofriyu Mar.

The noise of the crowd made conversation hard, but Aura leaned down towards the smaller woman. "Are you going to be alright walking for such a long period of time? I didn't ask how far along your pregnancy is."

[Breda Dreaughan]

Aura's enthusiasm was contagious, and Breda couldn't help but join in. Breda herself was a city dwarf to the bone, and actually found wildlife slightly intimidating, but admittedly it was nice to get some variation to the daily routines. Also, Aura had already proven to be a person in whose company something interesting was practically bound to happen.

There were a few familiar faces along the way, and the dwarf exchanged nods with old customers and other acquaintances. To her, the small gestures were yet another sign of how drastically her life had changed in just a few months. Back in the day, acknowledging a customer on the streets would have been a certain way to fall out of business.

She walked a few steps on tiptoe when Aura leaned down to talk to her. "Around six months. But don't worry about me, I come of a robust race." She could only hope she was telling the truth. She still worked full days at the smithy, but she had never really tested how much she could walk. And every day seemed to be different.

As they reached the bank of Ofriyu Mar and joined the few others queuing for the ferry, she turned to the other woman again. "How far are we going? Is your place on this side of Shim, or the other?"

[Aura Thesin]

Aura nodded as she shifted her feet, impatient to be on her way. The line was unusually long, but it was nearly the weekend, so it was likely only a temporary line.

"It's a couple of hours walking, but it is this side of Shim. There's a small path that's mostly hidden off to one side of the road, and it leads almost another hour into the bushes before we'll reach the house."

She popped up onto her toes, letting her eyes roam over the line in front of her, and seeing where the ferry was in relation to the banks of the Ofriyu Mar. It was on it's way back, laden with more passengers, and would be taking passengers within the next fifteen minutes. Aura settled her pack into a more comfortable spot on her shoulders and back, then turned to Breda.

"Thanks again for coming with me. It's really nice to have some companionship on the road. It's a long, boring walk for the most part, and it'll be nice to have some conversation." She grinned and winked at the dwarf, taking a significant glance at her belly. "Of course, if you still have breath enough to talk after the first hour."

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda folded her arms defiantly across her chest. "Breath enough, eh? I'll have you know the women of my people are known to work the smithies until their day of delivery. We shall see who runs out of breath first."

Granted, those women usually bear full-blooded babies, and don't look ready to deliver at six months. You're boasting, woman, and that only leads to trouble.

"I must admit I'm curious to see the place," she continued in a lighter tone, trying to indicate that she wasn't truly offended. "Especially after everything you've told me." She glanced briefly towards the other would-be passengers. A more detailed discussion about that particular topic would have to wait until the two reached a less crowded place.

She turned her attention back to the ferry, which was approaching the pier, rocking on the waves. "Might be a bit rough ride," she noted. "You don't get seasick, do you?"

[Aura Thesin]

Aura coughed into her hand, hiding a grin behind her hand. She looked down at Breda, thinking how good it felt to be able to joke and laugh with someone, instead of fearing that everyone around her was either going to condemn her for being a magic-user, or kill her to take her money. She didn't much like Marn, but it was where she was able to make a living. She doubted she would make much money in Shim, and Keledin Manor made her nervous.

The line began to shuffle forward when the boat landed, people jostling mildly as the anticipation to get wherever they were going rose. Aura moved forward, feeling people press behind her, an accidentally rough push on her shoulder. She moved with the motion, remaining standing, letting her body flow forward, never losing her balance. In truth, she hardly noticed the push as she began speaking to Breda.

"Well, it's a cozy little place, and has everything that's needed, other than being in the middle of the woods. There's even a little vegetable garden out back that I take care of as well." She smiled in remembrance, then glanced out over the ferry and the river.

"Water's never made me overly sick. I used to sail on a lake near ... near my home, when I was younger." Again her smile was for the memory, but it was tinged with a bit of sadness. It wasn't that she missed her parents, but instead missed the life she thought she could have had there.

But then, anything would be better than what I've had here so far. She shook her head, looking down at Breda.

"What about you? From what I hear, dwarves have never been overly fond of water crafts."

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda noticed the flash of sadness, and looked discreetly downwards. Decades ago, she had left her own family behind willingly. It was difficult to imagine having a home you actually appreciated, and then being suddenly torn away from it.

“Water is not exactly our element,” she admitted. “Though I’ve met a couple of dwarf sailors. I’ve been across this river a few times without problems. I don’t know how I would feel about a journey across the sea.”

The pushing, shoving crowd gathered to the pier. Breda hung back willingly, letting the hastier travellers past first. Much less agile than her companion, she didn’t want to risk being pushed into the river.

The arriving passengers climbed up the ladder to the pier and squeezed past the waiting crowd to the dry land. Breda couldn’t help noticing that some of them looked slightly pale, and staggered as they walked. Looks like it’s going to be a nice way to start the trip. Here’s to hoping we won’t keel over.

Eventually even the last ones waiting made it to the ladder. Breda climbed down rather awkwardly, face forward. Down on the deck, the passengers were gathering in their own groups, trying to ignore the presence of strangers in the crowded space. Breda turned to Aura and smiled. “Well then. Let’s see how wet we’ll get.”

[Aura Thesin]

Aura climbed aboard, making sure the dwarf went down the ladder before her. Mildly preoccupied with memories of her family and thoughts of the trip to the little cottage, she didn't notice the paleness of some of the disembarking passengers.

Instead, she guided Breda to the opposite side of the ferry from the river current. The long, strong chains the ferry used to make sure it didn't drift downriver loomed large overhead. From Aura's experience, this side of the river had less spray when the wind picked up.

After several minutes of milling about, the passengers settled down, finding places on benches. Aura found a single seat open on a bench near the sidewall of the ship, offering it to Breda. She looked back just as the ferry pushed off, lurching into the river current, and she was able to watch the shore drift sideways for the brief moments it took until the ship lurched again as the chains kept it from drifting further. Banks of oars were slipped out small holes in either side of the ship, twenty to a side, and began to pull the ship across the river like one of the small, many legged bugs she saw on the small pond near the cottage.

Looking down at Breda, she smiled. "We're on our way. I can't wait until I can show you the cottage." Her eyes shone with life, enjoying the small moments, the mild, refreshing breeze down the river as it washed over her face. She looked back up towards the far shore, approaching rapidly now that the oars where biting deep into the water.

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda smiled and nodded in response. She was curious herself, and growing more and more enthusiastic. She sat sideways on the bench, glancing down at the oars. Their rhythm reminded her of the rhythm of the smithy, the beat of the hammer against the anvil and the movement of the bellows.

The rhythm of the strength of man. Or woman. Seems to be universal.

Watching the oars move started to make her feel slightly nauseous, and she turned her eyes towards the far shore. The ferry was rocking enough to make her grasp the edge of the bench, but she didn’t feel too uncomfortable yet. She glanced at Aura, concerned that the other woman might lose her balance. “Are you okay? Let me know if you want to sit.” She was fairly certain Aura would refuse, but it didn’t hurt to be polite.

Breda glanced around at the crowded deck. At the bow, a small group of gnomes seemed to be arguing. She couldn’t hear them over the sound of waves beating at the side of the boat, but she could see the frantic waving of the arms. Then she saw the exasperated expression of a young elf squeezed next to the vivacious group, and couldn’t help but giggle.

The boat lurched violently, and Breda grimaced as her stomach tightened. Come on, Dreaughan, Keep yourself together! It’s one bloody river.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura grinned down at Breda, watching her features tighten as the boat lurched. "I'm fine, thank you." Her attention had also been on the gnome argument at the front of the boat.

After several long minutes, the boat finally nudged up against the docks of the opposite side of the river. The front dropped down, allowing the gnomes and others at the front out first, followed by a slow milling as the rest of the passengers tried to form a line which ended up simply being a crowd.

Aura moved easily among the other passengers, pausing now and again to make sure Breda was still close. After a few moments, they joined the milling passengers, moving forward in spurts. As it became their turn to exit the boat, the front narrowed, the passengers cramming closer together, jostling to be first out. Aura turned and reached back, grasping Breda's hand.

Speaking to be heard above the low roar of the crowd, she said, "I hope this is okay. It will be easier to stay close together this way." Before she could get Breda's answer, the crowd jostled forward, pushing and pulling the two women through the front of the boat and down the ramp to the dock, propelled like champagne from behind a popped cork.

Deposited on the docks, Aura kept walking, moving quickly, but slow enough for Breda to keep up with her with little trouble. She tightened her grip on Breda's hand, and felt an answering squeeze. She smiled to herself, but continued to look forward and guide them through the crowd.

They reached the road, Aura pausing to straighten her shirt and loose trousers as she let Breda rest a moment. "It's often like that. One of the reasons I usually take the bridge." She shrugged offhandedly. "Either way, we're here, and the boat does save us a half hour of walking."

Aura grinned over at Breda. "You ready?"

[Breda Dreaughan]

The hand came as bit of a surprise, but as Breda was feeling slightly faint after the rocky second half of the crossing, she accepted it with slightly embarrassed gratitude. After that, she had no choice but to follow the pushing and shoving crowd, hoping that the taller woman would be able to find them a way through.

When they finally reached the road, Breda sat on a milepost while Aura adjusted her clothing. She didn’t comment to the other woman’s statement. The dwarf’s own few previous crossings had been somewhat more peaceful, but then again she, or rather her companions, had deliberately chosen crossing times that were less popular.

By the time Aura was ready, the ground had stopped swaying beneath Breda’s feet, and she had regained her breath. She returned the other woman’s grin. “Ready as I can be.”

So they took to the road. At first, they were accompanied by most of the ferry passenger, as they were making their way towards Shim. Aura and Breda hung back, in order to both keep their distance to the still arguing group of gnomes, and to be able to slip off from the crowd once they reached the right path.

The crowd proceeded with a leisurely pace, and Breda felt sorry for her anxious companion. Finally, they reached the point where a narrow, seldom trodden path diverged to the right. The two women exchanged a glance and silently disappeared between the trees.

[Talofen]

The woods had a dark cast to them, but whether that was in light of his own circumstances, or just how it was Talofen had no notion to tell. He'd only recently fled the city under the cover of the night, and hadn't slept since, his mind still racing with possibilities. How had they found him so soon? Beyond all hope, he'd thought he would at least have a few more days to spare to look through the city, and find a proper place to hide, but instead he found men from his old outfit, inquiring about his passing to every commoner that walked their way. It did not bode well for sure. Could it be that the wizard had laid an enchantment on him? If so there would be no way he could no, or remove it so he quickly shook his head and stopped fretting for it would do him no good.

Examining the woods before him he could see the tall saplings begin to give way and become less thick, and through the gaps he saw a path and figures moving just ahead. Hoping that the figures where no enemy of his, he jogged the rest of the way through a breach between some trees and took a few steps forth, holding his hands up in a sign of peace.

"Might I trouble you for a bit of water? I've been lost for a few days, and ran my own waterskin dry"

[Aura Thesin]

Aura and Breda turned down the path leading to the cottage. They had been in the forest for nearly a mile before the path appeared, and were much closer to Shim now than Marn. The trees loomed large on either side, and the path, though appearing little used, was hard enough to prevent most vegetation from growing. It was wide enough for the two women to walk down with plenty of room to spare.

The two talked amiably as they walked, discussing generally mundane, everyday things. They talked a little of each of their pasts, though each could tell the other held back much. It was just nice to talk about life in the here and now, without the darkened connotations of any type of baggage either of them might have.

With the talking, the two women didn't hear the noise of someone coming through the dense bush until he came onto the path before them. Aura's reaction was instant, one arm out to stop Breda while moving in front of the pregnant woman. She was on the balls of her feet, ready to move, but otherwise seemed to be mostly relaxed. Her gaze traveled up the man in front of her. Her eyes paused on the sheathed sword, then rose to his face. Suspicion touched her gaze, as well as her voice.

"Not that I mean to cause trouble, good sir, but I can't help but wonder why you have been wandering through forests none but the occasional ruffian frequents."

She smiled slightly, though the smile never touched her eyes, and one hand went to her waist and a waterskin strapped to her belt. A deft pull with her fingers, and the skin dropped into her hand. She tossed it to the man, hoping he would keep his distance for now.

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda, in her current condition, didn't object to being shielded. The man was obviously armed, yet there was a look about him that said "hunted" rather than "hunter". Not that it made him necessarily any less dangerous. But if he really had been lost for several days, where was he coming from? Surely not from Marn or Shim?

"Easy now," she murmured to Aura, remembering how eager to fight the woman had been the other day, when interrogated by the guard. "Let's not do anything too hasty."

She glanced around, towards the direction the man had appeared from. Ambushes like this weren't unheard of, one bandit appearing to ask for help while others lined up to attack from the shadows. On the other hand, if the man was actually being chased by someone or something, there might have been pursuers coming for him.

Yet the woods were silent. Painfully aware of her aching back, breathlessness and general uselessness, Breda turned her eyes back on the man, waiting to see what he would do next. Please don't do anything stupid. It's not going to end well for any of us.