“For the Gods sake man, are you ready yet?” Haemish yelled at Taler Rant the second member of the travel party and a Junior Alchemist.
“Sir, Mr Haemish…sir. Nearly there!” Taler stammered his usual apology. Struggling with the final bulging pack on his Griffin, everyone could tell this was Taler’s first trip out of the city. He was….unaccustomed to this method of travel and so they all stood around waiting for him to be done.
The third member of the crew was Rion Calder, accomplished Alchemist and bodyguard to Fenwin Zarge, a strange fellow - Haemish wasn’t sure if he meant Fenwin or Rion with that thought, both, in all likelihood - who was an Element Mage, whatever that is. Rion had his signature half-moon axe in place through a leather loop on his belt where his hand rested on it. The weapon was wicked sharp and the colour of twilight. It was made from a metal known as Nightshade, extremely dense and unyielding with some…questionable properties. Rion knew his way around materials and combinations so it was likely that he had made the already deadly weapon even worse, or better I suppose… through experimentation.
Finally, Marteen McCray was both Blacksmith and Alchemist. A strange but useful combination, Marteen would be able to keep their weapons and armour in some semblance of good repair while they were on the move. He stood ramrod straight with a double-ended spear in one hand one point in the ground and the other aimed directly at the single cloud overhead. Marteen had family in Flue Village so they would be able to get some information on any interesting sightings for the foraging trip.
Haemish had purposely chosen the village near his cottage in the forest to check on how repairs were coming along. He hadn’t been back since the incident months ago. It was high time he checked in. Surveying his crew; the latter two seemed quite capable. Taler though overly eager and inexperienced in the field, had a wealth of knowledge at his fingertips. All in all, Haemish was satisfied. Not that I would ever tell them. They will just end up big-headed, like a certain Medic I know… Haemish allowed himself a moment to recall their last encounter.
“So, you plan to visit your home in Pluetr Forest as well as the surrounding area, yes?” she had said, liaison between himself and the King.
“Yes, that’s right, I will require appropriate funds for the journey, travel rations and such.” He had replied, summarising his requirements.
“I shall arrange what you require; you needn’t worry about those small details. I have also been instructed to offer you and your companions each a Griffin as well, to make your expedition faster. I will have your rations and such prepared for you as you leave. When do you plan to go?”
“Well, that is unexpected, I intended to go in a week, it was going to take as long to prepare everything. I was told that I needed to arrange everything and that it should be handled separately. Perhaps the King feels it is in his interest to expedite the process? If you are preparing everything on that end for me then three days will be enough.”
“Very well, it will be done. As to the King’s involvement, I cannot say, you know that. However, I will say that you are not to discuss this with anyone.” She had quirked an eyebrow at him. “Remember the Kings orders Haemish. You will use Roxie, I have ridden her a few times and she is very reliable, perhaps more so than someone else I know…” Another eyebrow quirk followed by an exasperated huff. Then she had tried to seem off-handed, “we’re all relying on you to find a solution for this, problem.” Mentioning it as if was an afterthought, but Haemish could see that this single sentence meant more to her than everything else she had said. Marasa was urging him forward with her words, with the tiny furrowing of her delicate brow, the pursing of her full, dark lips.
“I understand and I shall not fail.” Haemish had replied gravely, truly understanding the gravity of the situation and intent on giving it his best, he had given her a slight bow as he left.
A smile graced Haemish’s face without his bidding then he once again firmed his resolve. She really does care for the boy, well; we have that in common then. All the more reason not to fail, it will be hard to face her if I come back empty-handed. That was an understatement, Haemish knew. He would not be able to face her if this mission was not successful, but even a small win was a win, and this was just a first visit.
Taler had finally finished strapping his bow to his saddle and made to climb on, inelegantly as usual. Everything about the man was inelegant. Thin and scrawny with a mop of dark brown hair that partially covered his eyes. He was constantly pushing it out of his face. Why does he just get it cut? Insufferable… Haemish found himself shaking his head slightly as he looked on impatiently.
“Enough, Taler. We have waited enough. We need to get a move on! Would you like to catch up with us?” You know the way, yes? Straight down The Great Road, run parallel to the Flue River, yes? Hmph! We don’t have any more time to spare! We are wasting daylight. As it stands we will not make it to Pleutr Forest before nightfall!”
Clicking his tongue and squeezing his thighs Haemish got Roxie moving, named after the Elemental of Air she was white with a grey streak along her left side and just like her namesake she could move with grace and speed both in the air and on the ground. Flipping a coin without looking at it to the stable hand - Haemish had not bothered to learn the boy’s name - he headed out and onto the road. The palace stables were off to the side and not part of the main palace complex opened onto the river’s edge, connecting directly to the main road out of the city. Haemish loved the capital, it was clear from the smiling faces and laughter that the people loved the city as well and by extension the King’s rule.
The sun beamed down on the cobbled main thoroughfare, hawkers yelling their wears and shop fronts displaying tasty morsels that had Haemish’s mouth-watering from the mixture of fragrances that chased up his nostrils. He contemplated pausing for a nibble or two then shook his head and continued. These were the things he had missed in his self imposed seclusion. A small part of him wished that he had chosen to live here.
“Here! Come and get your grilled River Crab! Freshly caught! You won’t taste better.” A middle-aged man a little rounder than Haemish and balding on top yelled directly at them as they passed by Haemish inclined his head at the man as they passed but did not stop their four-man procession. It seemed the incessant man took that as a signal and rushed forward brandishing a piece of crab meat like a rapier! Haemish jerked back with a gasp wondering what kind of damage he could expect from the grilled meat. “Here you are, sirs! The freshest stock in town caught it just this morning!”
“No, thank you, good man! I am quite alright sir. Thank you…it does indeed look fresh though…” Somehow, Haemish rode away with four portions of grilled River Crab. He found it hard to regret the decision though as the succulent meat crunched deliciously in his mouth and the warmth spread through his being with each swallow. The rest displayed varying sizes of dopey food-filled grins of satisfaction. Taler although eating like the rest was gradually growing greener, it somehow did not stop him from continuing to shovel food into his maw.
Haemish grimaced and looked away from the man. I will never be able to get the sight out of my head. Without looking around again Haemish said. Perhaps we should stop for a while? Taler, what do you think? Just long enough for you to finish eating, and maybe we can teach you how to ride while we’re at it?”
As they approached the edge of town, the remnants of the walls and battlements that had surrounded the city during the Mad King’s reign can into view now buried in the sea of humanity that splashed against it. A few final cries followed them onto the Great Darf Road and then they were away from the hustle and bustle and onto the blessedly quiet part of the journey.
It had not always been so cheerful, the Mad King had seen to that. And although it had been before Haemish’s time, thank goodness, it had left its mark. Even centuries later, the people had long lives and even longer memories. The shadows of the past lurked under the surface of the eldest of the citizens here, and though King Borowyn had done much to alleviate the lingering memories, many of the people had lost too much to be able to forget. A broken body could be fixed but a broken mind was a different story.
“Taler, you’re goin’ to be sore if you keep ridin’ like that all the way to Flue, man!” Rion boomed, guffawing at the spindly man. He sat upright and comfortable on his stead, legs tucked into the space between neck and wing joints as they all trotted along. “How’re you going to manage when we start flying? Haha!”
Taler‘s sickly visage looked stricken at that. “W..ha..t? F..f..f..lying? We…are…fly..ing…on th…ese th..ings?” His voice jarring each time he came down from a bounce. He is going to be sick if he doesn’t settle down. Shouldn’t have given him the River Crab but I didn’t tell him he had to scarf it down! And he is going to have unbelievable saddle sores. How is he bouncing so damn much? Is he trying to bounce harder? Or maybe Bucktooth is bouncing him… Haemish looked sceptically at the man and his Griffin, then sighed and kept the group moving.
A mile outside of the city was Taler’s limit. Right there, while he was still sitting on Bucktooth he decided this was a good time to empty the contents of his stomach onto the ground. This in turn prompted the Griffin to remind them all how it had gained the name. Taler fell off the side of the road, rolled a couple of times all the while spewing his guts all over the grass by the roadside. Miraculously, he missed his clothes; the grass around him was not spared though. What a mess….
Rion, Marteen and Haemish stared at his mishap silently for a shocked moment and exchanged glances before laughing uproariously once they saw that the wretched-looking man was alright if a bit dazed. Rion and Marteen quickly got down and helped him up, very carefully avoid all the collateral damage.
“Why wouldn’t you stop eating if it was making you sick?” Haemish was incredulous. It seemed an obvious option to him.
“But…it was so good!” Taler said between spasms. The rest looked away.
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“Stop talking with your mouth full….” Haemish grumbled Marteen and Rion retched from the sound and smell.
“Don’t worry man, you’ll get used to it,” Marteen growled still not looking at the other man, speaking for the first time since they had left the stable. His voice was gritty and deep with the clear sound of Flue on his tongue. “It’s a full day ride to my family’s farm you know, you are not going to make it if you keep up the bouncing. And Bucktooth is not going to like it.”
Marteen swapped with Taler, on his more docile mount the novice seemed to have an easier time of it. The Blacksmith also used his bulk to guide the skinny man’s Griffin a little to aid him as well. They had been working together for a long time before Haemish had arrived and were familiar with each other’s style. Haemish left them to it.
Rion came up to ride beside Haemish, creating some distance between the two pairs. “Sir, are you sure it’s a good idea to take him? I mean…” Rion shrugged and indicated behind him with a slight inclining of his head. On the huge man, it was a comical move.
“Trust me, when we get there and he is not riding it will be worth it. In the meantime, we just hope that Marteen can do something to help him.” Sceptical he might be but he would also put the success of the mission first and their best chance was with Taler, not without.
After a rocky start, the rest of the journey was rather uneventful. Taler getting the hang of riding but still bounced most of the day. Predictably sore by the time they rode into Flue, Taler was more than ready to stop for the night. He made straight for the inn, the only two-storey building off the village green. Before he went too far Haemish called out to him.
“Hold on Taler. We are not going there yet. We are meeting Marteen’s family first. It has been a while hasn’t it?” Haemish turned to Marteen. He simply nodded in response.
Taler groaned, “Sir, would it be alright if I stayed at the inn and slept. I am not feeling right…I think I might be ill.” Taler looked even worse than when they had left Brewyn. Battered, bruised and done with riding Taler made to come off the Griffin, just a little more gracefully than he had got on. That amounted to falling off a little better than when he had been bucked off. Once again the three men exchanged glances and guffawed as they worked to right the other man. Shakily standing, he kept his legs well apart, as if holing a boulder there. He looked about in as much pain.
Haemish, staring at his stance knew exactly what was going on. “Are you quite alright Taler? Having some difficulty there lad?”
Sir Haemish,…sir…” Taler managed to croak out through his ragged throat. “Would it be alright if I rested in the inn?”
“Very well Taler, go on. We will be there shortly.” Haemish dismissed him and continued moving behind Marteen as he let them to his family farm.
“Thank the gods…” Taler murmured under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, nothing sir!” Taler
Taler hastily got off and guided Bucktooth to the stables at the back of the inn, they had not been designed for Griffin but being close to the capital the village had seen some strange mounts. Taler turned to wave to the rest but they were already on their way. He sighed in relief as the stable boy led the Griffin into a stall next to a brown and white gelding that belonged to the innkeeper herself.
Meanwhile, Haemish and Rion, following Marteen made theirs to the McCray farm which was just a few minutes ride from the inn. Not having been able to use the animal’s ability due to Taler’s company. They were eager to let loose even the usually contained Rion was struggling to maintain decorum under the circumstances.
Thank god Taler stayed behind! Now we can take these Griffins for a true ride! Haemish thought, and with a look at the other two men he took off!
With two great flaps of her wings, Roxie left the ground behind. The wind combined with a touch of air magic propelled her into the sky. Haemish loved this feeling, he had had precious few chances to enjoy a flight on a Griffin. Horses were far more commonplace. The wind pushed at his skin and blew back his cheeks. Haemish’s rotund belly created some resistance but Griffins were made for this, their intuitive control and affinity for air magic made it effortless. Rion and Marteen came up right behind, though more experienced the view took their breaths away as well.
This was where it was clear the Griffins excelled. While there did well enough on the ground and were happy to continue plodding along they came into their own in the sky. Able to move far faster in the air than on the ground they would have been able to make the journey in half the time had they flown. But we do need Taler on this expedition. Haemish reminded himself again. He needed to be here. Not only for the experience but his knowledge as well.
High above the ground, Haemish was given a panoramic view of the valley that contained much of Darf. He had not been privileged enough to have experienced this breathtaking view before. The Great Green Carpet was aptly named and set off by a crystal clear blue ribbon that flowed through the middle of it. Off in the distant West were the Vashir Mountains and beyond them, out of sight was Karuler, home to the Kashvian desert wasteland.
Darf was not a large kingdom made clearer from this vantage. Haemish was able to see the riches it contained. The Pleutr Forest covered over half the country. Its many hills and valleys contained the majority of the flora and fauna of Darf. Dakir lay to the East past the edge of the Pleutr Forest in that direction further than he could see. To the north past Brewyn and the end of the valley was Yesril the land to the north. A constant storm seemed to swirl around in cycles in Yesril. None had understood the reason or inception of the storm but all knew of its effects. Luckily it was confined to the country. Darf did not have to deal with it. Finally to the south and beyond the border of Pravwell was Darthral. Pravwell had had some dealings with the nation as had Borowyn for the initial alliance but other than that not much was know, some trade was done to and fro but nothing more and Borowyn himself had never been to the land or so Haemish understood. These were the four nations that were a part of the pact with Darf for trade, Borowyn had masterfully persuaded them to join in an alliance so that the whole of the Fryst continent was united, against the perceived greater threat of the other continent.
Up and up they went, getting a greater and greater view of the land. Marteen’s home was close by and so it was not necessary to go this high but… by Roc, but this is exhilarating! Haemish couldn’t get enough. Now Haemish was able to see far enough in the forest that in the distance he could make out his cottage. It was not close enough that he was able to see the details or even if it was fully constructed or not but he was happy to see it. With the wind rushing through his hair and against his skin he was able to look down on his small cottage in the forest. Where, for many years, he had conducted his research and collected samples. I can’t believe how much I missed it. Haemish brushed a tear that had formed on the corner of his eye at the sight, definitely from the wind…definitely! He thought.
“Quite the sight, Master Haemish!” Marteen’s gruff tones were buffeted by the wind and just made it to Haemish’s ears.
“Indeed, Marteen! Seeing it like this is incredible! I haven’t had the chance before!” Haemish bellowed back against the elements. Rion and Marteen had come up to flank him so there were within shouting distance.
“Master Haemish! It is getting colder…higher…go, also…have…early…tomorrow. I…enjoying…as you both…but…should meet… family…glean…useful!” Half of Rion’s bass rumble was garbled in transit but Haemish got the gist of what he was saying and nodded to the man, thumb extended from his hand he pointed to the ground. Rion simply nodded.
They all reined in and guided their steeds back towards the ground and all three eased closer to the ground and in the direction of the McCray farm. Another fifteen minutes later there were feeling windswept but safely back to the ground landing gracefully in front of a large building made of wooden planks and wooden beams and trusses. It was a quintessential farmhouse.
“Welcome home son, I have quite the story to tell, I’m not sure I believe it! Haha!” A grizzled old man with greying hair and a strong and angular face stepped from the doorway entrance to greet them. Behind him, a shorter woman with a warm smile and kind eyes stood waiting for them to approach, and behind her, half concealed by shadow, was a youth that looked like a skinny version of Karlin and Marteen.