“So River Hill, then Water Ford, and then East Port?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jurot confirmed.

“Any other outposts on the way?” Adam asked.

“There may be military units which patrol the area, and we will be expected to pay thirty gold at least each time we meet them,” Jurot said.

“Damnit…” Adam muttered. “Well, we have enough in the party fund for now, and worst case scenario I can pay for it out of pocket.”

“We will assist in paying,” Jurot assured.

“Yeah, thanks. If I do have to borrow money from you, I’ll be sure to repay you from the party fund.”

“It is no matter, Adam.”

“It is a matter,” Adam replied. “Don’t worry about it. The party fund is still healthy, and I’ll be the one to stress about it. It’s here to make sure no one else worries about it.”

Adam wondered how long they should stay in Hill Grave. They were at the Adventurer’s Guild, which was built similarly as those within Red Oak and Deadwood, but it was set atop it’s own hill, with half walls around it.

“So how long will it take us to get to River Hill?”

“Five days, though we can move swiftly to make it within four. If we are to take a ship, we can arrive within a day.”

“A ship?”

“We could head out a half day to the fort and take a ship, following along the river,” Jurot explained. “If we take a ship from River Hill to Water Ford, it will also take a single day. Then Water Ford to East Port, another day on ship.”

“How much will it cost to travel on the ship?” Adam asked.

“At least a gold for each person, but we can expect to pay two or three gold, or five if they wish,” Jurot said. “It would depend on the captain.”

“Hmmm. I mean, we could probably afford it…”

“We should travel on foot,” Jurot said. “The road to East Port will be full of danger.”

“Right,” Adam replied, rubbing his face. “Alright. Let’s spend a little coin here, and then we can make our way.”

Omen: 9, 17

The group only spent the night in Hill Grave, leaving early in the next morning. Adam made sure to visit the bank so the party fund didn’t seem so empty, and after buying a few trinkets, they made their way out, heading southward along the road.

‘Maybe we should have explored Hill Grave a little, but I’m sure we’ll enjoy East Port more…’

Upon arriving at the outpost that evening, Adam frowned. ‘Nevermind. We’ve spent way too much coin just travelling around Hill Grave. What a greedy bunch!’

As they left the outpost, no longer did hills greet the party, opening to the plains of Central Aldland. Adam thanked the Divines on behalf of his calves as they continued their travels.

Omen: 9, 20

“So, it’ll be more dangerous now?” Adam asked as they travelled along the King’s Road. Adam noted how well it had been built, reminding him of the ancient roads from his own world.

“Yes. Deadwood understood the dangers of coming to face us, but we will come across the roaming beasts.” Jurot had confirmed the matter within Hill Grave during his rounds.

“Alright, cool,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Well, I’ve got a crit in my back pocket, so we should be alright.”

Adam tilted his head, feeling as though he had missed something. He glanced back towards the giant elk which had joined them. It had been summoned some time in Deadwood, but Adam was sure that the elk didn’t have saddlebags before. ‘Did Jonn pay for it himself? What do you think the party fund is for, damn it. I’ll let it slide this time, Jonn.’

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“What are you thinking?” Jurot asked.

“Something stupid.”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, in a tone which implied that he already knew that much.

Adam furrowed his brows at his brother, but he couldn’t be mad at the truth.

Later that day, a screech pierced the air, as a giant beast flew above them. With three heads, each made of a different creature. The heads of a Dragon, a bird, and a goat screeched wickedly as it flew towards them.

Jurot, Kitool, and Jaygak all prepared themselves for battle, while the others shuffled into a defensive rectangle, with the Priests and Sorcerer within the centre. Brittany held her deadwood bow, readying to knock an arrow.

“A chimera!” Zishan called, his fingers crackling with magic, ready to fire.

Adam stared up at the creature, wondering what he had said that day to invite such trouble. ‘Did I mention something about a crit in my back pocket, or something?’

The creature circled around them as the casters prepared themselves, ready to chant their spells, but it remained above the group, eyeing them up.

‘Should I take it down?’ Adam thought, wondering if his bread and butter technique would work. ‘No. If it drops from this high it’d crush everyone under it.’

Zishan let out a bolt of magical fire, which struck against its side. It let out a blood curdling screech, before it darted away from them. An arrow arched over it, struck by its feathery wing, falling to the ground.

“Should we have let it go?” Adam asked.

“It is fine,” Jurot said. “It would not have been a good kill.”

“Perhaps not for an Iyrman,” Zishan said, his lips pulled taut.

“I suppose we should make it a rule that if we attack a creature, we make sure to try our best,” Adam said. “I usually just follow Jurot’s lead, or he follows mine.”

“Would you not follow our lead?” Rose asked.

“If you had shouted something, we probably would have struck it, but at the same time, killing it while it was so high up, directly above us might I add…” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Seemed like a bad idea.”

Rose bowed her head.

“Was my spell not enough to spur you into action?” Zishan asked, wearing his annoyance on his face, like the fine robes he wore.

“A trick was not enough to spur me into action, no,” Adam replied. “If you had cast a spell, First Gate or Second Gate, I would have probably acted. I held back against killing it in mid air since it could have harmed many of our companions.”

“It may have been a trick, but these powers are not to be underestimated.”

“I don’t underestimate them, in the same way I don’t underestimate Brittany with her bow, or Nobby with his axe. You struck it and it fled. You should take great pride in that. You, alone, managed to strike and force back a chimera.”

Zishan admitted that Adam’s words sounded good, but he was still annoyed that no one acted upon his magic.

“Let’s keep on keeping on,” Adam said, leading the large group once more. ‘I gotta be careful with these spellcasters. Which spellcaster doesn’t have a chip on their shoulder? Well, other than Dunes and Sir Vonda. It is a little weird that Sir Vonda doesn’t really act like a prick. Hmm.’

“What are you thinking about?” Jurot asked.

Adam leaned in to whisper. “You know,” Adam began, before switching to the Iyr’s tongue. “Isn’t it weird Vonda isn’t, you know?”

“What?” Jurot asked, wondering what he was trying to say. Though they were speaking the same language, the Iyrman’s tongue was not used this way.

“A huge, raging prick,” Adam said.

“A prick?”

“Oh, sorry. I mean, you know. She’s not a…” Adam thought about how to describe his feelings using words that Jurot might understand, but he couldn’t think of a typical way of describing it to his brother. “Sir Vonda is good, you know?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that weird? She’s a noble and a member of an Order. I just expected her to be more prideful and all that.”

Jurot nodded. “It is our fortune to fight alongside Sir Vonda.”

“Dunes is cool too, but I expected that, considering his background. Sir Vonda, though? She’s nice.”

“She is.”

“You think she’s hiding some kind of secret?”

“I do not know.”

“Maybe she’s really evil.”

“I do not know.”

“She can’t be this good, Jurot.” Adam narrowed his eyes. “I bet she didn’t think my kids were cute at one point.”

“Cutest In The Whole World,” Jurot stated.

“Right?”

Jurot realised Adam was thinking such nonsense because he was suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Jurot’s mind then went to his grandfather, wondering if he was the same. The thought quickly dropped for there was no need to think of such matters.

“Do you think they’re walking around and talking already?” Adam asked, speaking in the Aldish tongue.

“I do not know.”

“I bet they miss me. Jurot, why don’t I head back to check on them?”

“It would be dangerous.”

“That’s right. It’s dangerous to leave them alone. How can I do something like that?” Adam asked.

“Are you okay, Adam?”

“I think so?” Adam replied, wondering if his jokes were from something deeper. “I’m just a little scatterbrained, maybe?”

“Okay.”

Evening approached the group, and they began to set up camp. They kept the same watches they always had, with Hades, Zeus, and Elk supporting the group since they required no sleep.

“Adam,” Jurot called as Adam finished summoning the two towers.

Adam stepped out to see several figures in the distance. They totalled five, each heavily armoured. Three rode on their own warhorses, while a pair rode together.

“They dangerous?” Adam asked, placing a hand on his axe. ‘Could be soldiers trying to take more gold from us too.’

“No,” Jurot replied.

“How’d you guess?”

“They are Watchers.”