For weeks, they’d been walking a zigzagged path, crossing the old Imperial highway a few times a day and following it south. It was not the most efficient way to travel, but the sky felt all too open now that the Tirashan was far behind them. Avishan carried a basket, picking spring nettles and wild garlic as they went. Taking the first four to six leaves and snapping the stems between his gloved fingers. The Tirashan had provided better fare than this.
This place, he had no name for. The lake they rarely caught sight of in the hills would be Lake Celestine. This road would eventually bring them to a place called Val Firmin – at least he knew those names, though literally nothing else about them. Beyond that, the Dales.
They’d be walking forever. But that was alright as long as their gear held up. He had better check both sets of boots again. Avi whistled sharply, calling the wolves in.
“Ru – we ought to find a place to camp before it gets dark.” They’d need a fire to do anything with these nettles; you had to boil the sting out of them. He tromped off the path and into the brush, heading toward the trees. Lirulin’s new powers meant they would never lack for drinking water, yet he hoped for something more for their soup pot tonight.
He’d never thought he’d miss ovens and grain almost as much as his own mother. Daydreaming of bread, he mostly followed Kay, flashes of out of place red among all the spring growth. Eventually, they settled on a sheltered grove, distant enough from the road to hide a fire. Avishan immediately set about the business of building one, setting down his things. His gaze drifted to Ru again and again, concerned and disguising it very poorly.
She was never as tired as he expected her to be after a full day of marching. It had to be the power that had come upon her. His sister had never been a complainer – but prior to this she’d never been more than a day or two away from their home. It was unnerving.
“What kind of magic do you think you can do with these, Liru?” He passed over the basket of greens as well as the gloves.
This place, he had no name for. The lake they rarely caught sight of in the hills would be Lake Celestine. This road would eventually bring them to a place called Val Firmin – at least he knew those names, though literally nothing else about them. Beyond that, the Dales.
They’d be walking forever. But that was alright as long as their gear held up. He had better check both sets of boots again. Avi whistled sharply, calling the wolves in.
“Ru – we ought to find a place to camp before it gets dark.” They’d need a fire to do anything with these nettles; you had to boil the sting out of them. He tromped off the path and into the brush, heading toward the trees. Lirulin’s new powers meant they would never lack for drinking water, yet he hoped for something more for their soup pot tonight.
He’d never thought he’d miss ovens and grain almost as much as his own mother. Daydreaming of bread, he mostly followed Kay, flashes of out of place red among all the spring growth. Eventually, they settled on a sheltered grove, distant enough from the road to hide a fire. Avishan immediately set about the business of building one, setting down his things. His gaze drifted to Ru again and again, concerned and disguising it very poorly.
She was never as tired as he expected her to be after a full day of marching. It had to be the power that had come upon her. His sister had never been a complainer – but prior to this she’d never been more than a day or two away from their home. It was unnerving.
“What kind of magic do you think you can do with these, Liru?” He passed over the basket of greens as well as the gloves.
05-24-2024, 10:28 PM
