After the events of the previous night, the morning sun and it's welcome warmth felt invigorating as it streamed in lazily through the window slit of the room. After waking Lucien, who groggily stumbled toward the privy, i began to dress myself and pack my belongings for the road ahead. I shrugged on my undershirt, gambeson, and mail hauberk, then donned my cloak over the armor. i strapped on my vambraces, tied my sword belt, and pushed on my folded leather boots. i counted my coins again, meager the amount was, i made a note to find work on the journey to the capital. doing some quick estimating, i figured the capital was roughly 150 leagues away, which would take around two months on foot to reach. for provisions and supplies for two men, we would need roughly two gold coins or 10 silver coins. and only 2 silver and six copper coins remaining. good paying work was hard to come by, and anything paying more than 5 silvers per job was usually a slayer's guild contract or mercenary work. not keen to returning to mercenary life, i decided to stop by the slayer's guild in Rorvik, a 5 day journey along on our route. Finished packing, i slung my satchel across my shoulder and met up with Lucien in the Inn's common room, where Hecate served us wheat porridge and drake cheese for breakfast. after eating, we left the inn and started out on our journey. As we walked, Lucien asked; "So, where do you plan to go first?" "Rorvik." i replied. "It's the nearest large town on the route to Nova-Valora, and we need to find work to fund the journey to the capital." Lucien nodded, then added; "So what sort of work are you thinking of us taking on?" I grinned mischeviously. "Are you any good with that saber of yours?" i asked. Lucien's eyes widened. "Aren't you supposed to be a priest?" I chuckled at that. "Violence is a necessity at times, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something. besides, we aren't doing merc work." "Oh." said lucien. "Then why did you ask about my saber skill?" I looked at him coyly. "Because we're going to take a slayer's contract." His eyes widened again. "That isn't much better you know. In fact i think i'd prefer fighting bandits to wild drakes." i shrugged at that. "Who knows? maybe the contract will be for a simple forest or stone drake. It's not like they're going to have an Ebondrake terrorizing the area." Lucien scowled at me. "You'd better knock on wood the first chance you get." i chuckled and punched a passing birch. "There. no Ebondrake for us."
After walking the entirety of the day, stopping only to fill our water skins at a stream and eat a few bites of salted drake meat, we arrived at the remains of a former camp site. The tents and Cart-drakes were long gone, but the ashes were still warm to the touch. they had likely left within the past 2 days. A cloth sigil still hung from a banner, forgotten in the hurry made by it's owners. I felt the hairs on my neck prickle as recognition hit me. "Lucien." I said. "This is the sigil of the Lunar inquisition." Lucien quickly turned and followed my gaze. "Well that complicates things. They went the direction of Rorvik. What should we do?" I plopped down on a log and thought for a moment. We were currently in north-eastern Aken, Somewhere in the domain of house Drakara. The only other major city in the region aside from Rorvik was Drakemont, The capital of High Lord Andor Drakara's holdings. Unfortunately, Rorvik was southwest, the direction we needed to go, While Drakemont was due east. And we did not have the funds to get to another town large enough to have guild contractors present. "Well," I stated flatly. "We can either continue to Rorvik, and try our best to avoid the inquisitors, Or we can make a very large detour and head east to Drakemont. Those are the only two towns for leagues large enough to have a guild presence. And as i said, we definitely need work." Lucien hummed thoughtfully. "Can't we just do some other jobs? pulling turnips may only yield coppers but it's better than nothing." I shook my head, and began searching my pack for biscuits. "We're in the north. Winter will be upon the land in 4 months time, and in the north it hits much sooner and much harder. It will take us two months just to reach Nova-Valora, three if we detour to drakemont. We simply don't have the time to save the money we need earning coppers." Lucien pondered my words for a moment, then added. "So there's really no other options?" I shook my head. Though the truth was, there was in fact one other option. I could return to Winter's Hearth and ask my family for aid, It was to the north and only slightly further than Drakemont. But i simply couldn't bring myself to face my Lord father. Not yet. "Well," Said Lucien. "I'd rather not risk the inquisition. Let's head to drakemont." I nodded my assent. "Drakemont it is then. If we go by following the Flint river, it should only take us a week. Two days if we hire a fisherman to take us by boat." Lucien looked at me with a pokerface. "Hiring a boat? after all the tripe about finances?" I chucked a biscuit from my pack at him, expertly impacting him between the eyes. "It's an investment." i barked. "The half-silver to hire a boat would cost less than the provisions of a week-long trip you dunce." Lucien pouted and chewed on the biscuit-missile. "Fine i get it, no need to chuck biscuits at me. these things are as hard as rocks you know?" i sighed wistfully. "True. i can't wait to have the money to stay at an inn and get some fresh meat and bread again. that roasted gryphling Hecate made was perfect. buttery and greasy, crusted with herbs and-" thunk. My greasy gryphling fantasy was rudely interrupted by a biscuit-missile, connecting squarely with the side of my head. "Ow." i said. Lucien fussed; "Stop talking about food you bastard, you're torturing me over here." i rubbed my sore head. "Wow they really are as hard as rocks. I'll buy some fresh ones when we have the funds." Lucien scoffed. "The funds you want to hire a boat with you mean." I returned fire with another biscuit-missile. "Shut the hell up and go to sleep." i chuckled.
After waking up the next morning, we made our way about 2 leagues east until we reached the small hamlet of Oakside. It was hardly even a hamlet, three houses, a fisherman's hut, and a well. We made our way to the fisherman's hut and, despite Lucien's nagging, paid the man half a silver to carry us downriver to drakemont. as it was too late in the day, we ended up staying a night in the village, being given a small wood-shed to use as a shelter by the fisherman. As i was setting down my pack and preparing for bed, a faint knock on the shed door caught our attention. "E-excuse me?" Whispered a soft voice. "Mr. priest?" I opened the door to find a little girl, who could not have been more than 6 years old. She looked up at me with sad, pleading eyes. "What is it little one?" i asked her gently. She looked to be on the verge of tears. "My mommy said a priest had come here. and that a priest could lift big brother's curse. but daddy didn't want to pay the temple so he said not to bother you. but my big brother needs help." She took out a small, rusty coin. an iron-bit from the Lycadian Empire, worth about a silver and a half in Aken. "My gramma gave this to me when she died and told me to not tell anyone. but i want to pay you to help my big brother. so please...help my big brother from his curse." She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry if its not enough." I smiled warmly and knelt down, patting her on the head. "You don't have to pay me a thing, little one. i'll gladly help your brother. where is he?" Her face lit up with joy and relief. "Really Mr. Priest!? Thank you so much! My brother is at daddy's house. its over here!" She grabbed my hand and began tugging me along. I shot a glance back at Lucien, who was already strapping on his saber belt. "Kid needs help?" He said. "Say no more. i'm with you."