Anxious and impatience, the paladin leaves her companion at the gate. Yet before that, Ashalain gave a piece of her clothes, for divination purposes. Subsequently, she then rushes towards the wagon where Natalak was.
Her appearance was a half wood elf. Earthly eyes and dark chocolate hair. The armor she wears was covered in illusion, that from plate armor to rather more fighter-like armor. A mix of padded leather and chainmail. Except for her weapons and shield.
Alone they were— once the wagon had far walked, that the capital was no more to be seen. Gently she realizes.
"Seriously just what am I doing?! Leaving my companions behind. Ugh, Sir. Garrick might forgive me this time." The paladin checks her surroundings.
"Is this man for real?" Ashalain's eyebrow raised in disregard, observing Natalak's serein slumber as if danger isn't his dictionary.
Back at Ravalind near the front gate, Mishel stands there waiting for Garrick to report Ashalain's recklessness. A few hours later, Garrick appears.
"Where's Ashalain?" Garrick's eyes were scouting for any sign of her.
"She went first, because she doesn't want to lose track of him. But more importantly what took you so long to get here?" Mishel intently eyes Garrick, as she can tell, there's a stewed concern from Garrick's eyes.
"I'm sorry, I was just finished delivering some letters and words, when the king's royal ones needed to meet me." Replies Garrick fixing his shoulder.
"So, what did they need?"
"It seems that we have some major problem on our neighboring kingdom." Garrick answered with an uneasiness eye facing towards the north.
"And what would that be?" she sobers.
At the caravan— watching Natalak asleep, Ashalain starts to recall her reason from chasing the thief. She tries to look for the bag but Natalak was too good at hiding it. She can tell he tucked the bag from his shirt.
Question fills her, recollecting how his bag swallowed her sword whole. Many thoughts gush her mind, contemplating, judging who or what on earth Natalak is. All that because of the sack he carries.
"What are you?" Ashalain's eyes were glued from the man slumbering.
A flick of her hand creates a gust of white mist, quick and undetectable only her she can see. Ashalain tries sensing his magical energy, but she couldn't detect any drop. He was no more but a simple peasant. Yet strangely—
"Veilmage?"
Her head tilts slightly. "So why didn't you cast any spell. Strange…"
Minutes of scrutiny, the paladin had enough and changer her sight towards the two old couple.
"Um, can I trouble you for a minute, but where are you two heading?" A soft voice she utters.
"Oh… we're going to Aghraim, are you an acquaintance with that man?" Pointing at Natalak.
"Not in a million years." Shaking her head in disregard.
"No, he's a stranger to me. If perhaps I can be an assistance to you. It's the least I can do for allowing me to ride." Ashalain then reveals her Adventurers' Guild crest, a crest made of gold.
"Ah, Shar's be praised, I thank you lady adventurer."
In the warmth of the day, it was also the best of times were bandits, thieves and monsters to take their raids, especially for wagon full of goods. Keeping her senses active, Ashalain glimpsed through their goods. She can tell the box was holding meats from the gleaming blue ice. It wasn't a simple ice, for her, she already knows where it was originated.
"Ah, Norreveil." The paladin smiles.
An hour later Natalak finally awakes from his sleep, yet tired as hell. Furthermore, dusk was approaching and the couple plumping to continue their course or find a place to stay.
"Are you still going to travel at night?" Ashalain implores.
"Well, we sometimes travel at night when the day and the path is good—"
"I think we should all stay at some inn for tonight. We don't want to endanger the youngsters because of us." Blurts his partner.
"Alright then, we should reach some inn before nightfall. There's a nearby tavern that I know." Her husband said, before hurtling up the wagon.
"I appreciate what you're doing to us." Ashalain nods in respect.
"Don't worry about that dear." Says the old woman.
Passing hours, for Natalak— slowly he realizes the female adventurer is suspiciously observing his action, like a hungry wolf.
"What are you looking at?" Natalak avert his sight towards the paladin in disguised.
As the night takes its turn, they were able to reach the inn. Where his bad luck all begun— stealing the sword from Ashalain.
Entering the inn, yet same as always, the place was riled up by adventurers, travelers and petty merchants. Drinking, whispering plans, eyes swinging for suspiciousness.
Straight to the innkeeper. "Gooday sir, how's the inn going?" Natalak said.
"Welcome again young lad, how's Ravalind." A heart full of welcome, Garry replies.
"Well, it's quite a bright city like you just said. I did deliver the letters to your brother and he's one good blacksmith. Do tell, do you have some room for today."
"Well, all the room is full for today, the only rooms left cost thirty coppers."
"Thirty fucking coppers?! I don't have any more money if I pay that cost!" Natalak's tongue froze.
He looks through the window, and saw there's some light. It would take another two hours before the sun's light engulfs by night cold darkness.
"I like to order some dinner." Natalak utters.
Placing sole coppers at the taverner, he looks for single table to fill his hunger, and to consider his next journey.
The dinner was slow, as his fingernails scratch the table's edge. Even through the raucousness of the inn, his mind was on a deep thought. So much so that the loudness of room isn't ringing his ears.
"What have I gotten myself into." Natalak ponders, slurping the stew and stirring using the bread. "Should I sleep outside or pay the thirty coppers. Fuck! I only have a few pennies left, shiiit! I do have the armor and my sword. Should I wear it and sleep outside? I do have my cloak… yeah, I think sleeping outside should do."
Resolved— the traveler can finally eat untroubled. Though his stomach was thirsty for meat and a simple porridge won't be enough for the cold coming night.
"A beer should suffice the cold."
Then he hears a drunken folks voicing some powerful people and different kingdoms and lands that he never heard.
"I heard the lady of Mavigrid is preparing to sail across the southern sea."
"Well, she must be daring to cross that border. They say the demon of the sea lives in there."
"The thieves' guild really had a hard time with Ariendal de Shilvia's treasure."
"Pfff… good for them, hope for their heads cut off. Their scheming should be eradicated by those adventurers." The man scoffs.
Immersive eavesdropping the people, something snaps out of his mind.
"I should ask some information regarding that temple that Garry last talk about. But should it be tomorrow or this nighttime?" Natalak again scratches the table.
While in the midst of his thoughts and dinner. A voice came, Natalak looks and saw it was the half-elf adventurer, Ashalain. Looking at her plate, Natalak's bowl of porridge would squirm in embarrassment— compared to Ashalain's platter full of meat and lavish dish. Moreover, her order was good enough for three or five people.
"Would you mind sharing a table?" Her voice was soft, opposite to her appearance.
"Yes-yes-yes, you can take a seat." Natalak then hasten his swallow, so much so that it took only a second for him to finish. He was too embarrassed to face such opulent people.
Even the paladin was shock from witnessing such act. She couldn't even take a single bite, when Natalak already varnishes the porridge, and hurriedly stuffs the hard bread from his mouth.
Once the bowl was completely clean, Natalak quickly stood and nod at Ashalain. He cannot speak for the hard bread plug his mouth. A quick nod of three, and the traveler races towards the innkeeper.
To the lady paladin, she felt a tad of insult from Natalak's action. But when he reaches the counter, his mind halts his tongue. Seeing the place full of people, full of deceit and eyes filled with ears of thievery and murder, secrecy and information— the traveler keeps to his instinct.
"I best ask for tomorrow morning."
Placing the bowl at the counter and ordering three ales. Natalak then quickly went for the exit.
Lurking around the large tavern, scouting for any good hiding spot. There he found a worn-down shade, even the walls were collapsing. And few were hays, and compact straws piled the refuge.
Cladding his armor, and putting on his cloak little did he know, hiding in the corners of the shadow— Ashalain was secretly watching his every movement, his every muttering. A quick gulp of two bottles of ale gave Natalak enough hammer, pulling him to sleep in mere minutes.
Once the traveler collapsed to his sleep— Ashalain exits her hiding. Like a predator watching a helpless prey, she wonders what truly is this person. Then something came to her mind.
Deliberately she unsheathes her sword, and in a quick swing did she stop at a mere inch before the blade could decapitate Natalak's head. Her eyes turn serious and again test the man, this time was a thrust near his throat. The sword pierced the straw, but there weren't any magic that distort her attack. And Natalak was in a deep slumber to sense her presence nor her actions.
Accidentally when she pulls the sword, the blade gave a slight injury at his throat. Not much of a fatal wound, but enough to drips a blood. Ashalain however didn't notice— jaded and lost interest, she quickly returns to finished her food.
Dawn lands— when the light slowly cradles through the traveler and the barn animals rattles their noise. Natalak awaken followed by a burning sting from his throat, the wounds Ashalain gave.
"The heck? How in the hell did I have this kind of injuries?"
No friendly healers to know or to pay, he sacrifices one of his clothes and used it as a bandage. The pain still lingers but given time it will heal. Alas, poor as a peasant, Natalak meticulously counts his remaining coin. All in all, there's still two silver coin and seven coppers left.
Then he remembers the coin he plucked before he arrives to this world. Yet somehow, the three coins were missing rather disappear. Hands scrapping the pockets, checking every nick but there was none to be seen nor touched.
Entering the tavern for a breakfast, Natalak saw the half-elf lingering on an isolated table sipping a morning coffee. Three coppers for a mittful meal, a dish of steak and some kind of grilled potato.
Keen eyes, Garry saw the hays and straws stuck on Natalak's cloak.
"Young man, did you perchance sleep outside the tavern? I could see some hays stuck on your clothes."
"Ye-yeah? Is-is there a problem?" Natalak gazes at the taverner full of sympathy.
"No-no, it's just that, that lady half-elf over there paid a room for you."
"Me?" Natalak points his fingers to himself as he swallows the food.
"Yes, do you know each other?"
"I don't know, is there something that I should be concerned?"
"I—" Garry paused for another costumer was needing his presence.
"A half-elf? What does it got to do with me?"
Halfway through his meal, Natalak initiates another different conversation upon sensing the few souls, lingering the area.
"About that temple you've mention last time— care to tell me more about that?" Natalak implores, ordering an ale.
"Did you become an adventurer after a visit at Ravalind?" Garry answered.
"Well, I'm just curious." Natalak reply.
"That was an abandoned temple, an ancient building. In order to reach the inner temple, you must first cross that underground tunnel. Truth to be told it ain't safe anymore since it was occupied by many kinds of abominations and monsters from the veil. But if I'm not mistaken—" The taverner replied, as he pores some drinks towards the guest. "There is even more to that than just some clattering creatures. Perhaps it might be its link with the dwarven tunnels."
"Hmm, so what's interesting about that place?"
"I should warn you there are some unknown things lurking in that temple that I once investigated. I thank the Gods; I'd manage to make it out alive."
"Say mister Garry, got any maps regarding that place."
"Are you planning on going alone to that place?"
"What can I say… when there's an opportunity, there is stupidity."
Garry sigh, "Fine, I give you the map, but don't blame me when things aren't on Shar's fortune. And the maps might not be as accurate as you hope."
Just as Garry laid the map—
"Sorry for troubling you but I happen to hear your conversation about some corrupted temple." Ashalain announced, as she reveals her adventurers' crest.
A single look of the taverner already convince Garry from his decision. Turning at Natalak, he then asks for his own guild crest.
"I see…" Garry nods, "Sorry young lad but rules are rules, I have to comply with the guilds regulations. That I cannot give you a dangerous mission, for someone who isn't a member of the guild. This tavern is in partnership with the guild."
Afore he could give the maps and details to the half-elf. He perceived the paladin's disguised— Garry's eyes sway left and right, between Natalak and Ashalain. There he finally understood, the moment he connects the dots—
"Though, I suggest it's best to take this man with you, lady adventurer. Entering that place alone adds more danger." Garry smile.
Ashalain nods. "I'll see what I can do. Though, it's up to him to choose. And I cannot guarantee his safety."
For Natalak— frozen in shock, he was left with a choice to either follow the lady or quietly retreat.