The sun is high as we leave the village. The path gradually changing from the cobbled path in the village to gravel, eventually to a dirt path. Beams of light weave through foliage as we walk, the warmth hitting my shoulders.
The quiet hum of the village slowly drowns out into the rustle of leaves, chirps of unseen birds and the flow of the river. This path should lead us to the main trade route. Eventually directly to Esmourne.
Aric was walking a pace or two ahead of me, mindlessly whistling some tune he clearly didn't remember fully.
After some time walking the road opened up slightly as the surrounding trees cleared
A wooden post adorned a sign, pointing northeast.
Esmourne - 1 Days' Walk Northeast
Aric: "Looks like it's a straight shot from here."
Kareth: "Seems so. That map was accurate after all."
We step onto the large open path. More like a street. It's made of bricks and rocks, much more solid than any road we've been on before. Clearly designed to let carriages ride upon it easily.
We didn't make it far on the path before the stillness broke. A man emerged from the trees to our left, his clothes torn, face red with exertion. His hair was dishevelled in places and matted in others. His right arm hung limpy to his side, seemingly dislocated.
He looked us up and down, before jabbing his finger at us aggressively
Disheveled man: "You two! Have you seen her!?"
Aric looks at me, puzzled, before turning back to the man
Aric: "Her?"
The man's lips curled in anger.
Disheveled man: "A spear wielding woman. She only has one arm but moves faster than the wind and strikes like lightning itself. She was taller than most men I've met, let alone women. Muscular — like someone forged, not born. Scars everywhere… burns, cuts, marks like lightning itself had tried to tear her apart."
She seems like a colourful character. I wouldn't say im excited but definitely intrigued
He spits to his side on the road before continuing
Disheveled man: "She humiliated me. Cut me down before I even lifted my blade. Those blue eyes were the last thing I saw before getting knocked out. That and a crash that sounded like thunder."
I chose to say nothing. I didn't want to agitate him further.
Aric: "Where is she now? Do you know which way she went?"
Disheveled man: "She'll be off for Esmourne no doubt. If you see her tell her then Grent won't forget. I'll make her regret what she did."
Aric: "Why were you fighting anyway?"
Seriously? As oblivious as ever.
Grent seemed taken aback by the question, and maybe a bit hesitant to answer it.
Aric looks puzzled
Grent: "I- uh… I challenged her to a duel. B- because… nevermind."
Aric blinks a few times before threatening to let out a laugh, which I quickly stifle with a jab to the side.
Kareth: "If we see her we'll remind her that you won't forget about it ok?"
Grent mumbles something neither of us can make out before stalking away.
Aric and I stood in silence for a moment, processing what just happened.
Aric: "Friendly."
Kareth: "Friendly?"
Aric sighed before letting out a small chuckle, ushering me to continue walking.
Aric: "A one armed spearwoman. Sounds interesting right?"
Kareth: "Based on that crazy man's description of her being faster than wind with strikes like thunder she definitely sounds interesting."
I can see the gears turning in Aric's head. Clearly trying to picture a tall and buff woman with only one arm and a large spear.
Aric: "Think we will run into her?"
Kareth: "Apparently she was headed to Esmourne as well. So we might run into her."
Aric smirks, clearly amused by the idea.
Aric: "Well. If she's truly as scary as he said, maybe it would be best to either avoid her or be on her good side."
Kareth: "You? Hoping to avoid trouble? That's a first."
Aric rolled his eyes and kept walking, his hands tucked into the straps of his pack.
Our conversation continued aimlessly, eventually settling into silence.
The clouds shifted lazily, casting the beginning of the sunset on everything we knew. Aric turns to me, smiling
Aric: "If we keep walking through the night we should end up at Esmourne in the morning."
Kareth: "Sounds like a plan."
Each step carried us closer to something truly unknown. Further from the life we'd left behind, fading like a dream we could never return to.