I've been on trains before, but it was always for short trips. The last time I've been on a train for a longer trip was when I first arrived at Weser from my hometown up north. But this trip to the Aesir District is far the farthest I've strayed from home...
I looked out the window as the train started rolling down the tracks. I heard the familiar whistle as we departed the station. My mind wandered as I saw the city slowly turn into fields and suburbs.
I laughed to myself as I sat in the carriage, how quickly can one's life be turned upside down? I heard these kinds of things only in stories. But life is sometimes stranger than fiction.
I didn't linger on the absurdity of the situation. And how it caught me at the wrong time, smack dab during the semester, curing a bad hangover of all things. But I still had a feeling I was missing something, though I couldn't tell what exactly. I hoped it was just my paranoia.
I tried to remember anything from my childhood that indicated I had some relatives other than my late parents. The memory is a blur, I tried my best to push that night to the back of my mind. I tried to avoid that memory specifically, but any other memory just led straight to it...
I can't remember their faces... My mother's voice is not there. I can distinguish the words and the tone. But the voice is not there. I can see the silhouettes of armed men... The robed figure. The ears...
„Run...“
I shook my head trying in vain to push that memory back again. I focused my gaze back out the window.
The sight of paved roads and the occasional house that dotted the landscape, hills, and the distant sight of mountains to the north. Somewhere out there is my old home...
„Goddamn it...“ I said under my breath.
„Hmph?“ A middle-aged gentleman who was seated across from me said, looking up from the newspaper he was reading.
„Nothing, just talking to myself.“
The man shrugged and continued reading the paper.
I looked out of the window again.
I was tired, and the train trip lasted about a day and a half to reach the Lydas River.
I slept for some time, dozing off, and then waking up. I saw the mostly familiar sight of hills and roads, and some houses. We passed smaller towns and cities.
Then again, dozing off, waking up. This time it was a forest, sometimes there was a clearing. One or two stations in what seemed to be bubbles of civilization surrounded by wilderness.
The food on the train was mediocre, but it was filling.
Then as I arrived nearer to the Lydas River I saw as the roads turned into mud and dirt. There were more abandoned houses than those who were inhabited. We passed through villages that seemed more like ghost towns than anything.
And I started seeing more and more military wagons and soldiers the closer we came to the Lydas.
Then finally, we reached my destination.
----------------------------------------
„Sir, this is the final station.“ I heard a voice.
„Hmmm... Final? We're at the Lydas?“ I asked, still a bit groggy as I opened my eyes.
„Yes, this is the final station. I have to ask you to depart the carriage once you grab your luggage.“ The conductor said before he left the carriage. I got up and grabbed my bag and exited the carriage. Most of the passengers already left.
Surprisingly, the train station was filled with activity. Most of the people there were men of my age wearing military uniforms. Some were entering and exiting the train, some were just walking about. I paid no mind to it and walked to the nearest info booth.
I saw a man smoking a cigarette inside, looking at some papers.
„Hello, I'd like to know where the nearest crossing to the Aesir District is?“ I asked.
Without looking up, the man spoke with a cigarette in his mouth.
„What's your unit?“
„I'm not in the army...“ I replied.
The man looked up at me and put the cigarette in an ashtray.
„Civilian? Visiting a family member?“
„Yeah... I just need to know where the crossing is.“
„Alright.“ He gave me a neutral and uninterested look. „Go down the hall back there to exit the station and turn right. Keep walking straight and you'll be at the bridge.“
I thanked him and made my way to the exit. Once out of the station, I felt like I was in a military base. Almost all of the people around me were with the army. I saw most of them were armed now, having rifles slung over their shoulders.
I stuck out like a sore thumb due to my civilian clothing. But I saw everyone paid me no mind, focused on whatever else they were doing. As I walked on the dirt road I saw some civilians here and there, even some women and children. Presumably doing what the man in the booth said, visiting family.
I saw the place had a lot more infrastructure than the surrounding countryside. That was to be expected, this is one of 6 or 7 crossings at the Lydas. What I do know from history is that there used to be a lot more of them, hundreds probably. But since the previous war against the Elves, most of them were demolished and a few important crossings were fortified and secured.
Once I arrived at the bridge, I saw it was just a small outpost around it. But I saw that there was a lot of fresh construction going on around the bridge. There were a few signs that were placed around with the name of the bridge itself, the „Merk Crossing“.
The bridge itself was quite a sight, it was significantly wider than I previously imagined and quite long to boot, considering that the Lydas is quite wide itself.
I saw soldiers patrolling and standing guard at various posts. But I also saw what I was searching for as well, a line of wagons and their drivers.
I approached one of them, asking whether or not they could lead me across.
„Sorry, I just work on this side of the river... You can go over to that guy over there. He's been crossing for as long as I remember.“ The driver told me while pointing to an older man with a well-groomed mustache. He was feeding one of his two horses while having a tobacco pipe in his mouth.
I thanked the driver and approached the man with the pipe.
„Hello, sir. Do you lead people across by any chance?“ I asked.
The man turned around and looked me over.
„For the right price young man.“ He said in a raspy voice.
„How much?“ I asked.
„Depends where you're going. If you just need to cross to the town across the river, you can do that on foot. But if you're going in deeper into Aesir... Well, you have me... So where do you need to be?“ He asked me.
I opened my bag and riffled through it for a few moments before retrieving the book I borrowed from the library. Going through the pages I found the map of Aesir with the land designations.
„Right here.“ I pointed to the map.
The old man looked at the map for a few moments.
„Two hundred Gelders up front.“ He said.
That's half of my monthly stipend!
„Alright... Two hundred. We have a deal.“ I said, trying not to look surprised at the price. I had the money for it, yes. But still... That's quite expensive.
„You have the papers right? The valid reason to cross. I'm not the one to ask, I don't care... But the guards do...“ The man asked me.
Now that's why I had that feeling in the train...
I sighed in frustration of my own utter stupidity. „I don't have whatever papers I need... I do have an inheritance paper, confirming I have land across the Lydas. If that means anything?“
The man leaned on his wagon and took a whiff of his pipe.
„You have land across? Hmph...“ He took a few more whiffs of his pipe. „That might work, not every day someone west of the Lydas comes here saying they have land across, especially if you're not a native of Aesir... I can pull something off. I ain't refunding you just yet.“ The man jumped on the wagon and gestured for me to get in. I obliged, getting into the wagon with my bag.
„You can call me Owen... You are?“ He said.
„Wyatt, Wyatt Rosallyn.“ I replied. He didn't reply immediately.
„Hmph... Anyway, I'll just do my thing. I have my ways to get you past the guards. Of course, it ain't free, kid. But we'll take care of that later. We're going now.“ Owen smacked the reins and the two horses began going forward.
We slowly made our way to the bridge. We approached the first checkpoint and then stopped. I heard Owen clear his throat, I saw some of the soldiers go to the back of the wagon and stare inside with indifferent faces. I felt the tension in the air as Owen started to talk.
„My client has important and urgent business across...“ I heard him say before he started talking in a hushed tone.
I saw him nod to someone before hearing someone run to the back. Gazing out I saw a soldier go to the back near a small building. A man stood there, an officer of some kind seeing the uniform, who was smoking and talking to another soldier.
The soldier ran up to the officer and saluted him, telling him something. The officer nodded before he approached the wagon with a leisurely pace, throwing his cigarette and stepping on it mid-walk.
He stopped at the back and looked at me. After that, he went to the front to talk with Owen.
I heard a few snippets of the conversation, but nothing concrete to get the full picture.
„Yeah, I know. Thanks.“ Owen said in a normal tone now. He smacked the reins once more and we were off.
I released a sigh of relief.
„Kid, this is the first checkpoint. They'll perform a search on the second one.“ Owen told me, still looking forward.
After about half a minute we stopped again, this time right before the bridge. I saw there was a wooden gate blocking our path.
Owen nodded to the soldiers there once he stopped.
I saw a soldier get to the back, he looked at me.
„Get out, search.“ He said. I grabbed my bag and obliged, exiting the wagon.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
„Bag, please.“ Another soldier asked me, I handed him the bag.
The first one patted me down, while a third entered the wagon, presumably checking the wagon itself.
After a thorough pat down the first soldier spoke.
„You find something?“ He asked the other soldier.
„Nah, nothin'.“ The other one replied.
Just then the third one got out of the wagon, he shook his head.
„You may return to the wagon.“ The first soldier said and the second one handed me my bag back.
Once I returned back to the wagon I heard someone shout outside.
„Let 'em through!“
After that I saw the gates open, once fully ajar Owen smacked the reins once again. And we were on the bridge, finally. The duration of the trip across the bridge was spent in silence. I wondered whether or not this was all of the checkpoints. But I decided not to ask any questions just yet. I'd speak once Owen speaks.
It took us some time to cross the bridge, once we were across I saw there was another guarded gate. But this time we only needed to stop for it to open. Once inside I saw we entered what was basically a modern fort made within the old stone walls of an even older fortification.
We passed through without much hassle, going through the fort we came upon yet another gate where we stopped.
„I'm going a bit farther in today.“ I said Owen said to someone.
„Farther in? Alright, you need the gun?“ The person asked.
„Yes.“ Owen replied.
A few moments later Owen was handed a rifle with a small bag which I assume contained ammunition. The rifle looked old and worn out.
„Ah, this old breech loader...“ Owen said as he popped open the gun, loading a single bullet inside before closing it back up and slinging it across his shoulder.
„Blessed journey, keep safe out there.“ The other person said as the gates slowly opened.
„I'll try my best.“ Owen replied.
Once the gates were open we passed through onto a dirt road. I watched behind as the gates slowly closed back up.
„The mildly infuriating part is over young man... You can relax for now.“ Owen finally spoke up.
„Mildy infuriating? What do you mean by that?“ I asked Owen, he looked back for a second before returning his gaze to the road.
„You see before, crossing the river was a bit more simple. The regulations were a bit more relaxed. But in the last year, there was a spike in banditry and crime across the river, here in Aesir. I think you also saw the new construction back there. The army has a lot more authority and a larger presence than before... And I expect it to only get worse.“ Owen replied.
„I assumed it was always like this? Aesir is under our control, I would assume the army has a lot more people in the field, especially if crime and banditry are on the rise.“ I said.
„Look, young man. I see you've never been around here... People don't like going here. Outlaws are running about here, however much the papers say is under 'our control'... Frankly, it is more of a no man's land. A buffer between us and the Elves. The army doesn't go deep into the territory if they don't need to. You have both human and elven bandits prowling about... Especially where we're headed. That's why I have a rifle with me... This old piece of junk won't do much against a mage if we encounter one, or a group of armed bandits, but it's better than nothing.“ Owen told me, just how bad is the situation here?
„Why didn't they give you a newer rifle then? A bolt-action would be a lot better.“ I asked.
„It most definitely would, but the army doesn't want the newer gear to get into Elven hands. That's why they give us obsolete gear if we're going deeper into Aesir. Like it matters in the end... Where exists demand there shall be supply, and the smugglers are more than happy to create a supply.“ Owen said, lighting up his pipe again and taking a few whiffs.
„What good does a rifle do to an elven mage?“ I asked.
„A mage must train for years before he is a competent combatant. With a rifle you need at least two arms and a single functional eye and you're good to go. Elves use our weapons. The gun is the great equalizer around here, most of the time. You can deal with the younger mages who know a few tricks with a single bullet to the chest... The older ones are the issue. But we won't be seeing one, it's a rare sight.“ Owen said.
„I assume the older ones have better things to do. The younger ones seek approval and glory...“ I said.
„Precisely. Well, there are other things to factor in. But all in all yes. Just keep your eyes peeled. The journey to your destination will take us around two days, maybe three. Depends how the weather is going to act, and whether or not we'll run into trouble.“ Owen said. Just then I remembered something.
„Don't you need a map or something? I showed you where I need to go only once.“ I asked Owen.
„I was born here... Grew up, and when I finally escaped to the other side of the river something pulled me back. That being the prospect of money. I've been crossing and going through this shithole for 30 years and counting. I've been to every nook and cranny of the place, and believe me, not a single thing changed in the last 30 years...“ Owen sighed and took another whiff of his pipe. „I've passed by that place a few times over the years, so I don't need a map.“
„Alright, I trust in your navigation...“ I thought it over for a few moments, I had another question.
„What is your main customer base, if you mind me asking? Just curious.“ I asked him.
„Government, they use me as a guide to take them to where they need to be. Mostly administrators, and military personnel. Every few years I have to take some city folks to take a census of some areas, those pay well... And every once in a while comes a civilian that have some unspecified business across the river. Sometimes some young budding adventurers are trying to enact their fantasies of acquiring wealth, glory, and fortune by taming this land, and so and so forth... Most of 'em come back either traumatized or maimed... More often than not they just disappear. Swallowed up in the dense forests of Aesir by Gods know what. Now put the Elves into the mix, they ain't so different from us and them. Same shit, different package. The other just has longer ears and the ability to kill with their imagination, but hey... They're all after something. As are we.“ Owen finished his monologue, I shuddered once he finished.
Just into what I have gotten myself into... I'm not cut out for this. But I still need answers.
„You've seen Elves? Have you met any of them before? What are they like?“ I asked. For all the apprehension I felt about hearing any more of this place, I still needed to know. Not just out of curiosity, though it was a factor. I needed to know because I needed further context and information. The more I know the better I can respond if things go down south.
„I have...“ Owen put down his pipe, still looking to the road. „Most of them will leave you alone if you leave them alone. At least that's how it works with the natives of Aesir... The visitors from across the other border tend to be a bit more aggressive... They are the type to shoot first and ask questions later. They're the Elven versions of our budding adventurers. Stupid, naive, and trigger-happy... Or spell-happy for the elves, or whatever equivalent they have for that.“ He said.
"Isn't there some kind of control for Elves who come across the other border or something?" I asked.
"No, what'd I tell you before, the military isn't going deep into Aesir. If they so want to come here and cause trouble, they are free to do so... As long as they don't come too close to the Lydas or obstruct any official business here, they can do whatever they want."
"Seems..." I began.
"Unorganized, corrupt, incompetent..." Owen continued.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Because it is. When I was a young man, about your age, the situation was similar in the eastern parts of the country, leagues better than Weser, but still. Can't comment on Hym or Turin, but I would guess it was the same thing. Crime was rampant. But ever since they began building those rail lines the fabled Weserian bureaucracy with all its checks and regulations, laws... They put their tentacles around the east as well... Maybe one day it will be the same in Aesir, though I don't know if I'll live to see that day." Owen paused momentarily and took a deep breath before letting out a long sigh.
„I'm going to retire soon probably... I'm tired of all of this...“ He said.
„You've got a family?“ I asked him.
„I do, one daughter and two grandkids. I've got more than enough money to enroll the two troublemakers to a good school. Make sure they have it better than me.“ Owen said.
He didn't mention his wife... I can only assume. I won't pry any further.
„Nice... Anyway, I'll be on the lookout as well. I'll tell you if I see anything amiss.“ I said, trying to change the topic.
„No need for now, we're still in the clear. We'll be stopping and making camp at the halfway point. You just relax, enjoy the ride...“ Owen told me.
„I'll try...“ I responded in a whisper. I stared out from the back of the wagon at the disappearing fort in the distance as we slowly exited the clearing and entered into the Aesir forest. Sunlight was replaced by the shade of the tall dark trees. The only sound that accompanied us was that of the horses and the sound of the wooden wheels crushing a few small rocks here and there.
I felt the atmosphere change as we went deeper inside the forest. Owen said that I should relax, but there was some feeling in my stomach... I can't really describe it. The air had a different texture as well. As if we entered the maw of an ancient creature.
This is the land of magic after all... Of course, it's going to feel different.
----------------------------------------
We traveled for hours and we only sighted one other wagon going in the opposite direction. Owen knew the guy apparently, well no surprise there. I knew this place was not densely inhabited but I saw no evidence of civilization for who knows how long. Only the dirt roads we trudged through and the occasional clearing.
Owen did point me to an old fort in the distance at some point, but I barely saw it. It looked more like an amalgam of rocks on a hill.
Despite us being the only human beings in who knows how far I still felt as though we were being watched. I told Owen how I felt, but he said it was probably the forest critters staring at us. And they know better than to approach a wagon. Unless it is a large predator... That's another reason he has a rifle with him.
As the sun slowly set on the horizon, we finally arrived at the resting place he told me about.
It was a small clearing in the trees just off the road. There was just enough space to somehow push the wagon through into the clearing.
„Alright, we'll be spending the night here.“ He jumped off the wagon, patted one of the horses, then walked to the clearing.
„I'm just going to check it out real quick...“ He took a few steps forward, just as I got out of the wagon myself...
Owen sniffed the air a few times.
„Is everything alright?“ I asked him.
He sniffed the air a few more times, then he unslung his rifle. He opened it and checked if it was loaded again, and he closed it up again.
„Wait here.“ Owen said as he went to the clearing on foot.
After a tense minute of waiting I heard him shout for me to come over.
As I approached I smelled something... Something akin to burnt rubber, but not quite.
„See this, kid.“ Owen pointed to the ground to a patch of burnt grass.
„This was made by a mage, and they don't use fire magic that often. And this ain't the only one.“ He pointed to a few points in the clearing. I saw the same black patches in the grass as well, but of differing sizes.
„This was a site of a battle it looks like... And it wasn't all too long ago. A few hours ago, maybe...“ Owen got up, scanning the tree line.
„I guess we're not staying here?“ I asked.
„Yeah... I'll set up camp once I drop you off where you need to be. We have to be on the move. Looks like this area is not as safe as it was last week.“
„It's going to be dark, are you sure you can still navigate?“ I asked him.
„Not my first rodeo.“ He turned around and began walking back to the wagon. „We'll stop briefly by a stream not too far from here. The horses have to drink... Then we're getting out of there as well. C'mon, hop in.“ Owen jumped back into the wagon and lit up a lantern
I went back to the wagon and we began going down the road again. I felt the pace was a lot faster this time. Owen smacked the reins a few times... I felt his demeanor became a lot more serious from this point on.
As we went through the forest I could see Owen swing his head around a few times. He scanned the tree line carefully. His rifle was no longer slung on his shoulder, rather he held it in his lap.
I felt tired honestly, this was a long day. I wanted to sleep, but anxiety kept me awake through most of the trip to the stream.
Nothing much happened there, we stopped at another small clearing where the stream was. The horses drank and we had a quick bite to eat. We stayed for about 15 minutes, maybe 20. When the horses finished we hopped back on and continued.
I still felt Owen was tense, but more relaxed than before.
I decided to lie down on the bench of the wagon, using my bag as a pillow.
I closed my eyes for a few moments... Just to rest them for a bit. The sound of the hooves beating on the dirt road... The wheels crushed the small rocks and the occasional bump. It was strangely relaxing.
Before I knew it I saw light shine in my face. I opened my eyes.
I was greeted by Owen standing over me, shining a lantern right into my face.
„You fell asleep... Can I check that map you showed me again?“ Owen asked me.
„Ugh... Yeah, sure... Did you take a wrong turn or somethin'?“
„No, I'm fairly certain we're near your destination.“ He replied.
„Already?“ I asked, slightly shocked at how time flew by.
I saw it was still nighttime outside.
„How long was I asleep?“ I asked while I opened and rummaged through my bag.
„Three or four hours.“ He answered.
After rummaging for a few more moments I found the book and flipped through it to the page where the map was then handed it to Owen.
He looked at the map, lifting the lantern to light up to the page.
„It should be just down the road.“ He said.
„I thought you said it would take two or three days?“ I asked him.
„It would if we were to sleep through the night... It seems we weren't followed. But I couldn't take any chances.“
He gave me back the book and went to the front again.
„C'mere kid, have a seat here at the front. Since the place you're looking for is in the interior, there should be some road leading directly to it. Can't see all too well in the dark...“
I got up and sat in the front of the wagon with Owen. I saw that the road was overgrown and not well maintained. To be expected, but it made going through a lot more difficult and slow.
To our left was a sizeable clearing, probably a former farm or something. To our right was a dense patch of forest.
As we trudged on in the wagon for a few minutes I saw something.
„Wait, there's something there.“ I said, Owen stopped the wagon.
„Whatcha see, kid?“ Owen asked.
„It's... Some kind of sign?“ I answered. I saw a wooden board with something written on it.
Owen grabbed the lantern and hopped off, I followed quickly behind.
Once we approached the sign I saw there were only two letters written on it.
„K.R“
Kellynstir Rosallyn
There was a narrow dirt road leading deeper into the forest, I couldn't see more than a few meters inside. After that, it was pitch black.
„This is the place... I think.“ I said, unsure of it myself. But what were the chances of the K.R standing for someone, or something else? I don't know.
„My recommendation is that you wait until morning before venturing inside.“ Owen told me.
He was right, not only is it pitch black in there. It's also very dangerous. I am not familiar with the local wildlife but from what Owen told me, they aren't friendly. Not to mention bandits which might be hiding in there...
But I was impatient. And morbid curiosity borne out of my love for discovery... It overpowered my common sense.
„No, I'll go in now...“ I told Owen.
Surprisingly, Owen didn't try to convince me otherwise.
„In that case...“ Owen turned around and jumped back into the wagon. He rummaged through for a few moments before getting out. He held another unlit lantern and something else in his hand.
„Here, I ain't letting you out there without light and unarmed.“ He handed me the lantern and a hunting knife.
I didn't know how a hunting knife would help me if something attacked me... But it was better than nothing I guess.
„Thanks...“ I said to Owen.
He hopped back up onto the wagon.
„If you're not back by sunrise... I'll consider you dead. I'll be in the clearing here to the left. You'll see me once you get out. Be safe out there kid.“
I nodded, and with that, Owen smacked the reins and turned to the left off the road into the clearing.
Now I was alone, with a lantern and a knife.
Gods know how far from home, in the middle of nowhere.
I took a deep breath and stepped through the brush onto the narrow dirt road leading into the forest.