I asked Tal about if we should keep watch and all he said is the dead wyverns will ward against everything. It’s been a hectic few days and I haven't scried Maria in a while. I Lay down with my back on my pack and I picture her the last time I was with her. “Scry Maria.”
An image of her laying on our couch looking at the Tv with a smile on her face. Lisa is at the other end of the couch also smiling towards the Tv under the same blanket as Maria. Another of Maria’s friends are there. Julia was sleeping in “My” chair. Lisa’s two kids are passed out on the floor. It’s nice to see her smile again. I stare at that smile until I too pass out.
The light of the dawn hit me in the face, waking me up. My first thoughts were of scry and how it worked. It seemed if I imagined images that's what I got but if I imagined movement what I got was more like a video. Opening my eyes and taking in a deep breath I almost gag. The smell of death, decay and what I assume is the wyvern venom is so potent. Well I can scratch sleeping in a battlefield off my bucket list. Oh that's an idea, New World bucket list. Physically shaking my head free of these useless thoughts and sitting up I see Pem talking with three others.
As I head over to join them I notice the three newcomers are elves. One had green and white armor and was female and the other two had just green armor and were male. “Hero Tom, a pleasure to meet you.” The one in green and white said as the three bowed. “Pem, what did you tell them?” She just smiled. Continuing Lax’s joke I guess. “What's the plan for today?” The one in green and white armor spoke again, her voice soft yet stern. “Sir, we have boats prepared for the survivors and the dragon. They will take us to Port Glimo where we all will rest. Once the trade union affairs are in order we will go by carriage to Frintilandituril, where you will meet with the Empress.” “how long until we are in Frint?” “We should be in Port Glimo tonight then once the trade union has paid us it should only take three days by carriage to Frintilandituril.”
“Are we ready?” I ask while looking at Pem. with her head still down she replied “I am…Tal is taking uncle down.” “Lax is in good hands.” I said as I put a hand on her shoulder. I retrieved all my gear and started down to the river.
The trek was very steep and at some points sheer drops of up to a few hundred feet. Luckily the elves who had met us had a route made that we followed. We saw many wyverns on our way down. We were more than halfway down when I made a detour and chopped the tail off of the one that killed Lax. A single ballista bolt still in its chest. I wrapped the tail up then headed back to the group. Surprisingly no one asked me any questions. They just waited for me.
With about a half a mile left we stopped for a break at an alcove. Looking down I saw many boats surrounding the dragon, trying to get the dragon onto a barge looking boat. It was like a huge semi truck with a trailer covered in scales with a tail and wings but bigger. I noticed I could make out details even at this distance. Pink raw flesh around the bolts where fish must have nibbled at the dragon. The Great River seemed smaller and more swift as well.
“What will happen with all those lost?” I asked the female elf in charge. “They will be returned home. Then the Trade Union will attempt to pay the families what they made in the battle.” “Attempt?” “They do not try hard at that.” “Can you tell me more about the Trade Union?” “Of course. It is a neutral multi-kingdom conglomerate that hires mercenaries, soldiers, and adventurers for all kinds of jobs. From babysitting kids at home to babysitting nobles on their grand adventure. Though it is mostly defending trade routes and caravans or solving something too big for the locals and too small for the kingdom's armies.” “Are there other uh entities like the Trade Union?” “The only other one I can think of is the Explorers Guild. They well, explore. It is mostly run by humans so I do not know much about it sorry sir.” “Thank you for all the information?” I ask, implying I wanted a name. After a moment she understood. “Oh my name…Humans have called me Bren.” “Thank you Bren.”
After our break ended we finished the trek down the mountain side and hopped on rowboats to the larger boats then headed north down stream to Port Glimo.
It was almost midnight when we arrived at the massive dwarven built city of Port Glimo. Like Girroc most things were made of stone. Even the first bridge I have seen over the Great River was a large stone bridge. It was beautifully carved in insane details and had statues of dwarves inlaid throughout. The center of the bridge rose well over one hundred feet above the water. It must have been nearly a mile long and around thirty feet wide. It had arches on arches and it seemed to me like a technical marvel. It was also lit up somehow showing off all this beauty even though it was midnight.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
When I was a kid I traveled to the west coast with my grandparents and I will never forget the smell of the ocean that just hit me. A few minutes later we docked at a large port. In the water a ways out I could see the outline of a few massive ships. Many larger wooden ferry type boats like the one I was on were docked with some barge looking ones scattered throughout them. Bren came up to Pem and I. “Princess.” she bowed “Sir, if you two would please follow us to the inn.”
The streets were rowdy and busy with many drunks and partiers. “Is this common around here?” I asked. “Common, yes. It is never this busy though. Many are here from Girroc. After being delayed and full of worry they want some release I assume.” There were many guards around who were mostly dwarves in full heavy dark armor who were keeping the peace. Tal joined us as we walked into the inn and stood there as the entire inn went silent with all eyes on us. “We already made preparations for you here. We will take our leave and take care of the prince.” The three elven soldiers bowed to us and walked out and the rowdiness started up again.
We sat at the only empty table and I noticed we were getting lots of looks then I realized they were looking at Tal. He's over seven feet tall and covered in deep blue scales and white armor. He looks like a dragon and now knowing the sad history of the Dratoric I understood. He noticed that I noticed. “Used to it.” “You look badass.” I say without thinking. He almost looked offended “Badass?” With his deep voice raised an octave. “Oh right. Like heroic or inspiring. It's hard to explain, sorry...” “What can I get you?” a feminine voice asked. I turn to see the most perfect woman. Big flowy red/brown hair. Petite yet curvy. Perfect skin and face. Speechless Tal and Pem ordered fish and ale. “And you dear?” she asked me. “Uh I'll take any meat that isn't fish and do you have that sweet Murichi drink?” “Fraid not dear but I have heard it’s wonderful.” “it was. The Murichi were very gracious hosts, an ale then.” “I’ll get your drinks now, then the food when it is ready.” As she left I smiled to myself thinking, nailed it. Nailed what? Not fumbling my words to a beautiful woman? “Are you well Tom?” Pem is looking at me. “The truth? Human hormones.” She gave an understanding nod “Her?” she asked as the Innkeeper walked up to the table and set our drinks down. “Me?” the Innkeeper said. “Yes. The hero Tom here finds you very beautiful.” Pem pointed at me. “Oh my, I, the food will be just a few minutes.” She turned and hurried away. “Pem, what was that about?” “You like her.” “She is beautiful but I am married and also subtlety is a thing.” “Right you humans make a game out of everything including romance. My apologies.” She said with a bit of sarcasm I didn't expect from what I’ve seen from elves. “So you are married?” “Yes, her name is Maria and we have been married eight years but have known each other for much longer.”
“What is she like?” Pem asked, sounding genuinely curious. “ She's beautiful, smart, and very bubbly or at least she was. She is a teacher and her biggest dream is to have a bunch of little Tom’s and Maria’s running around the house. She is nearly eight months pregnant right now.” Pem interrupted me “I thought humans were pregnant for seven months?” “If I remember correctly it's around two hundred and eighty days so a bit over nine months.” “Two hundred and eighty days is seven months.” “What?” “Three hundred and sixty days a year forty days a month is nine months. There are also nine days in a week and there are forty of them a year. Oneday, fiveday, and nineday are common rest days. We also…our food is coming.”
The innkeeper stopped at our table with a large platter of dishes. “Pocuchinna for you two and Chalgrun for you, Tom.” She smiled at me. “Thank you. It smells wonderful.” I smiled back and after a few moments she left.
“So Tom, tell me more about Maria and you.” “Our parents were best friends so we knew each other from a very young age. When my parents died in a car accident her parents took me in.” “Car accident?” Pem interrupted me again. “Hmm. We will take a carriage soon right?” She nodded. “A car is like a carriage that moves really fast. Well a car accident is when the car crashes typically, accidently. Anyway her parents are amazing people and took me in as their own when I was fifteen and Maria and I slowly fell in love. By the time we were eighteen we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We were our first and only everythings to each other. Like kissing, dating, and you know uh sleeping...” “Sex, yes?” She said, completely unfazed by this conversation. “Yes, exactly. We had a plan to own our own home and get settled before bringing a kid into the world and the time was right…” My voice started breaking all of a sudden. “Tom?” “Sorry. I’m not her one and only anymore and it just occurred to me. It’s why I left without her and why I am here.” “If that is the case, is there a reason you do not entertain the innkeeper?” “A popular saying from where I'm from is that two wrongs don't make a right. Also I would be doing it purposely which isn't the same as a mistake.” She nodded as I talked. “Now I understand completely why uncle liked you.” She sighed and seemed sad. “An entire world of knowledge to learn about.”
As we were finishing our food a fight broke between four men. They were swinging and dodging and kicking. Watching carefully I noticed they seemed slow or sluggish but then I realized I haven't actually seen normal people fight in this world. We got up and headed to our rooms just as the dwarven guards showed up to stop the fighting.
The room had real beds and were quite comfy for me but Tal was a bit too tall. Pem had her own room. After taking my armor off and lying down I thought about scrying Maria but it was already early morning and who knows what tomorrow will bring so I forced myself to close my eyes and let sleep take me.