Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 9
Having slept soundly Box woke sharply, and very early. Just as the Sun was beginning to come up. Even in the soft light of dawn Lake Fryjia looked much clearer and more impressive through the bedroom window than it did the night before. Its size stretching so far into the horizon that it looked more like a calm inlet of an ocean than an inland body of water.
Goola, who rose, sleepy-eyed, not long after, got washed and dressed at a more dawdling pace. As Box headed out the door to rush downstairs for breakfast, she was still dreamily combing her hair in front of the round mirror on the dresser table. Then, all of a sudden, a senseless flash of fear overcame her. Panicking, just for the briefest of moments, that she somehow might get left alone in this strange location, so far from home. She instantly told herself how silly this thought was, and relaxed a little, but, nevertheless, she still picked up the pace to catch her sister.
When she caught up she found Box and Julen sat at the same table they'd all sat at the night before. Only this time the place was almost wholly empty. The morning calm settling Goola's needless nerves somewhat. With a touch of hurry they ate breakfast. Then ordered some more snacks to take on the road, and headed out to the stables. Box in particular was disappointed that they wouldn't be using the same horses they'd used the previous day, which by now they'd all become a little attached to. Even so, the two new ones were fresh and eager, and equally inspiring of fondness. Having hitched them to the cart, loaded with their few belonging, they all then began the next leg of their journey. This time Julen starting out at the reins.
The terrain was near identical to the terrain of the previous day. Lots and lots of fields, the odd copse of trees. The occasional little wooden bridge, crossing over a little twisty stream or beck. The roads, as usual in this part of the Eastern Kingdom, smooth and well maintained. So apart from the occasional switch of driver - first to Box, then to Goola, then back to Julen, then back to Box again - there was very little to do other than watch the passing landscape. Goola, who now held possession of the doodled map, kept pulling it out from her jacket pocket in boredom, to double-check the general direction, not that it was needed. The way forward being little but a straight line; the occasional road signs clear and helpful.
It had also been surprisingly quiet on the roads. Perhaps in part due to how early they'd set out. This meant that they could gallop along at quite a pace. Both Julen and Box were racing the little horses so quickly on their turns at the helm that it was becoming clear they'd be needing another pit stop soon. As Box suggested this, they heard another horse galloping in the distance. Julen, turning round, could see a horse and rider quickly gaining ground on them, on the outstretched road behind.
"Who's that?" he exclaimed, overdramatically, moving his hand to his sword in readiness. Goola, in turn, crumpled her map, and shoved it untidily back into her pocket. Agitated by Julen's overly-concerned reaction. Box kept the horses steady, unsure as to whether to speed up or slow down. Either way, the quick pace of the rider meant that he was going to catch them soon anyway. Meaning there was little point in fretting. As the figure got closer he looked vaguely familiar though.
He slowed his pace down as he approached and called out loudly, in a tone suggestive of a familiar old friend, rather than that of a stranger - or even a vague acquaintance.
Goola, who rose, sleepy-eyed, not long after, got washed and dressed at a more dawdling pace. As Box headed out the door to rush downstairs for breakfast, she was still dreamily combing her hair in front of the round mirror on the dresser table. Then, all of a sudden, a senseless flash of fear overcame her. Panicking, just for the briefest of moments, that she somehow might get left alone in this strange location, so far from home. She instantly told herself how silly this thought was, and relaxed a little, but, nevertheless, she still picked up the pace to catch her sister.
When she caught up she found Box and Julen sat at the same table they'd all sat at the night before. Only this time the place was almost wholly empty. The morning calm settling Goola's needless nerves somewhat. With a touch of hurry they ate breakfast. Then ordered some more snacks to take on the road, and headed out to the stables. Box in particular was disappointed that they wouldn't be using the same horses they'd used the previous day, which by now they'd all become a little attached to. Even so, the two new ones were fresh and eager, and equally inspiring of fondness. Having hitched them to the cart, loaded with their few belonging, they all then began the next leg of their journey. This time Julen starting out at the reins.
The terrain was near identical to the terrain of the previous day. Lots and lots of fields, the odd copse of trees. The occasional little wooden bridge, crossing over a little twisty stream or beck. The roads, as usual in this part of the Eastern Kingdom, smooth and well maintained. So apart from the occasional switch of driver - first to Box, then to Goola, then back to Julen, then back to Box again - there was very little to do other than watch the passing landscape. Goola, who now held possession of the doodled map, kept pulling it out from her jacket pocket in boredom, to double-check the general direction, not that it was needed. The way forward being little but a straight line; the occasional road signs clear and helpful.
It had also been surprisingly quiet on the roads. Perhaps in part due to how early they'd set out. This meant that they could gallop along at quite a pace. Both Julen and Box were racing the little horses so quickly on their turns at the helm that it was becoming clear they'd be needing another pit stop soon. As Box suggested this, they heard another horse galloping in the distance. Julen, turning round, could see a horse and rider quickly gaining ground on them, on the outstretched road behind.
"Who's that?" he exclaimed, overdramatically, moving his hand to his sword in readiness. Goola, in turn, crumpled her map, and shoved it untidily back into her pocket. Agitated by Julen's overly-concerned reaction. Box kept the horses steady, unsure as to whether to speed up or slow down. Either way, the quick pace of the rider meant that he was going to catch them soon anyway. Meaning there was little point in fretting. As the figure got closer he looked vaguely familiar though.
He slowed his pace down as he approached and called out loudly, in a tone suggestive of a familiar old friend, rather than that of a stranger - or even a vague acquaintance.
"We're travelling the same way are we?"
It was the loud gentlemen from the tavern the night before. As he got closer his portly figure was unmistakable. His unfortunate, but impressive-looking horse arched under the weight.
"We're heading to Patina. To then catch a ship to Maiden's Tower," shouted back Julen.
"Me too," shouted the loud gentleman. "Me too."
It became instantly clear to all three that they now had a companion tagging along, who would be difficult to shake off.
"What's your name then, sir?" questioned Julen, the gentleman's horse now at a level pace with the cart.
It was the loud gentlemen from the tavern the night before. As he got closer his portly figure was unmistakable. His unfortunate, but impressive-looking horse arched under the weight.
"We're heading to Patina. To then catch a ship to Maiden's Tower," shouted back Julen.
"Me too," shouted the loud gentleman. "Me too."
It became instantly clear to all three that they now had a companion tagging along, who would be difficult to shake off.
"What's your name then, sir?" questioned Julen, the gentleman's horse now at a level pace with the cart.
"Elds-kee.. err, Major Eldskeep."
"I thought you were a logger? Working in the Nic," countered Julen, quickly.
"I do many things." shot back the loud gentleman, "Many things, ..and I now have some very serious business to attend to in the Maiden Lands. Big business."
"Dangerous business?" shouted Box, hoping for another tall story of some description.
"Dangerous business?" shouted Box, hoping for another tall story of some description.
"Could be. Hopefully not too dangerous though. Certainly nothing beyond the usual for me."
As he said all this he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Giving the impression that he was well versed in handling it. It was a rapier style sword, with a very ornate, sweeping cord-like guard around the grip. Julen, leaned over the side of the cart to get a better look, and was instantly impressed. "That's a nice piece of metal, sir!"
"So it should be. I had it crafted in the Three Deserts. Specifically designed for my hand, and my hand alone. Perfectly weighted. It's been a great companion to me these years." He then tapped the hilt of the sword again.
Box was eager to hand the reins over to Goola, so she too could drop back and get a closer look. As she tugged at the reins to turn back she remembered that the poor horses needed rest and water though.
"There's a very nice tavern just over half a mile ahead, if I recall correctly," pitched their loud new acquaintance, "We should stop there, before we head on further." It was a timely plan. So, with the little burst of pace that naturally comes with knowing you're nearing a destination, they rattled along towards their respite.
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