Alayne Ducard, master bard, sprinted along the road.

His legs were aching.

His breathing was harsh.

But he kept pushing forward, NOT looking at the...thing, in the tiniest corner of his eye, there was nothing there anyway.

He clicked his fingers and colourful petals and sparks cascaded down over him as if he'd run through a waterfall and all the while the dull thud continued in his side.

Whilst his hair was being painfully pulled behind him he clicked again and the wind changed direction as a gust hit him from the right, and then from the left, before relenting.

One final click and the sound of a hundred horses galloping behind him filled the previously quiet afternoon air, as his wide brimmed hat was hammered from above.

Finally as he reached a natural and sharp bend in the road; he stopped, and as he did, so did the sights and sounds that had followed him, all except that feeling of someone watching.

He took a long moment to catch his breath and survey the countryside scenery rolling out seemingly endlessly in front of him, but the pain in his sides continued, the pulling of his hair continued and the beating of his hat continued.

Don't look.

As a bard he knew many boring tales of parents who begged unhearing gods for the briefest of moments, one no longer than the time it takes a single spec of sand to drop down the hourglass, to be without their children. To return to a time when they could do what they wanted, when they wanted without a care for those that depended on them.

Alayne was a parent by choice unlike so many unfortunate folks living in misery across the lands, but that didn't mean he didn't share the sentiment at times.

This was one of those times, or better yet, one of those days.

The little green heels of Alayne Junior, apprentice bard, dug into Alayne's chest as he sat on his shoulders and threw his lanky legs up past Alayne's chin and back down with that now familiar dull thud. He could feel his long claws grasping and tangling in his hair in one hand and patting his hat with the other.

The moment of peace was gone before it had even begun, his chance to enjoy the serenity of midday bird song that echoed all around them. All around them except that one spot just outside his vision, only silence there.

Don't look

"What?" he sighed.

Several guttural grunts came from above.

"I'm well aware we've stopped thank you and as I'm the one doing the walking, can a man not stop for a second and appreciate a perfect moment of nature? If you have a problem with my pace then maybe I should go on your shoulders for a bit?"

Of course this was all a bit of fun to help the child pass the time on the long walks between towns and villages.

It certainly wasn't too quiet the voices in his head screaming he was being watched again.

It obviously wasn't to distract himself from that figure in the shadows that was never quite there.

It was just for the boy of course.

His mind began to wander and he almost turned around to look where he knew instinctively he shouldn't when a few quiet grunts came from above that he couldn't quite make out. It was when the long gangly green legs started tapping into his chest once more with a quick rhythm to them that he was dragged from his own paranoid thoughts.

"Are...Are you trying to spur me on? I am the Alayne Ducard, Master bard, and I will not be spurred on like a broken down mule. You ungrateful little git; After everything I have done and continue to do, I take you under my wing and show you the beauty of the above ground world and you thank me by kicking me off as if I am nothing more than a poorly tamed horse"

More grunts, louder and Alayne could hear the laughter in his voice as he tapped his heels again, whilst starting to use Alayne's long dark hair as reigns to further attempt to get him moving.

Begrudgingly he got himself back in motion; though only at a steady walk this time, the legs were flung wide as, he imagined, the arms were as well in show of victory, there was no arguing with the boy, he wasn't sure if stubbornness was a goblin trait but it was most certainly a bardic one, he would do well...eventually.

He smiled a forced smile, not that AJ would be able to see it was forced but it was more for himself anyway as he noticed the patch of unnatural silence had moved, as if to keep pace with him.

It's all in your head, just let your mind wander. He thought to himself.

Alayne revelled in his own history, the only thing that could truly hold his attention and force the fear away was thoughts of himself. With AJ spurring him on from above he recounted their time together.

He was approaching his 30th year, or he'd passed it, he wasn't sure and had stopped keeping track, it all became a bit pointless once you hit double digits in age. But he'd been in Rha'vander, this tiny land, for 3 years now trying a fresh start, although not by choice but that was a story for another time, he hadn't been here long before he'd crossed passed with the Goblins, a race he thought long extinct, and adopted his little green apprentice.

They'd spend a long period of time trying to learn each other's language, and then Alayne had moved onto the more important thing of trying to teach a goblin child, the equivalent of a human boy not yet 10, how to play a lute or a flute.

It's moved again

Stop it! He commanded himself, continuing his own inner dialogue.

It had been hard, Alayne could speak the language of the hollow as well as understand it after only a little bit of back and forth but the boy could only understand the common tongue of the 'sun touched' as AJ called them.

It was difficult making the complex sounds of their tongue when he was used to only basic grunts and barks instead. As for the instruments, well they'd had to settle on a tambourine for now, Alayne had hopes for the boy, well some, but he had the musical ability of a deaf rabbit and he didn't want to mention how clumsy and destruction prone he was; he'd gnawed the end off Alaynes' prize flute trying to blow into it and severed 4 sets of harp strings with his long yellow claws and even the tambourine that Alayne hoped would be safe in his hands was looking worse for wear already.

Another tap on the head followed by several grunts.

"For the love of me, AJ, can I not finish one perfectly poetic thought or reminisce on our time together without you interrupting me. We are heading where we are always heading. To the next story. To find tales worth telling and adoring audiences who will pay to hear them" more knocks on the head, and they were knocks, no longer taps.

"Fine you impatient litt- There..."and he pointed straight ahead, over more wooded area and behind some hills where if you squinted just hard enough and got lucky you may have been able to see some smoke rising from chimneys, which Alayne couldn't and didn't care to at this point.

"That's where we are heading, happy now?"

He was kicked in the chest several more times as the boy got more excited now having a goal and an end in, almost, sight.

AJ didn't seem too bothered by his tone as the bard was covering his fear up with frustration and he hoped that it came across as more jovial than it sounded to his own ears.

Alayne knew roughly where the town of Burtyne was and hopefully what kind of tale he would be gathering there. He'd already got a title 'The Renegade Raven Stoneoath' now he just needed the content, but that was always the easy part, they wrote themselves usually, he just observed. His self given role was to go out into the world and collect the stories of would be heroes and failing villains and carry them out to unwashed masses for all to hear, ensuring everlasting fame or infamy for those who earned it or sometimes those who haven't earned it but maybe deserved it.

This was to be his defining work in this land, it had to be, so little else happened here.

Apart from the thing in the shadows

It was a lovely place to retire and wait for the slow creep of death to end your boredom, but it was no place for a bard who needed action and adventure. He'd had one trip to the Hollows and no one wanted to hear songs about Goblins, but other than that; nothing.

Apart fr-NO stop it. He almost shouted out loud to himself

The last interesting thing to happen here was the battle of the toothed beach, and Alayne had only missed that by roundabout 30 years.

Raven had to be a story worth telling, he had to be, Stoneoaths swear no fealty to any lords or nobles, answering only to their own oaths and protecting the people from any wrongdoings, vowing to work alone at all time. One stoneoath per holding, that was the rule and yet this one had taken in an entire squad, started calling themselves 'The Flock' because their leader was named after a bird, which was just ridiculous because Alayne knew, well he knew after he'd asked around, that a flock of ravens was known as an unkindness, although this wouldn't do them any favours in getting the locals on their side.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Alayne chuckled softly to himself and AJ grunted from above

"Nothing" he said without thinking, he doubted it would translate for the boy, every bird was just flying food, individual names were meaningless to him.

Despite strange names and breaking conventions the Flock had been very effective by the account he'd heard: they routed out bandits, dispersed mercenaries and other do-gooder type actions, it wasn't anything too amazing but Alayne just needed to see a spark from them, something he could grasp and twist into a story the land would revel in.

But that was likely tomorrow's task.

Looking at the way the road curved and the direction they needed to take, Alayne guessed that they'd be making the city just before sundown, another few hours of walking yet.

He really didn't want to be out of the walls at night. He used to love it, staring at the stars with only crickets and owls in the distance to be heard. But recently it was a period of endless shadows filled with unseen eyes, watching and waiting. He had no idea when it had started, or even how he noticed it. It was as if he just knew, he was used to being watched so maybe he just instinctively knew when there was an audience.

It's all in your head. You've told too many stories. He laughed at himself and decided he needed further distractions for the final spell of their travel.

Just enough time for some practice.

He brought his simple lute slung across his back into his hands and started playing a slow playful tune, one long note at a time.

"Chop chop, tambourine out AJ, match me if you can"

If I live to write a 1000 songs that get sung for all eternity my greatest achievement will always be making AJ a bard, it will happen even if I have to slice my wrists and drip feed him my own talent first.

"Nope, out of tune, start again"

Alayne took his own lead and played the same soft notes again, he could see no way in which these next few hours could drag on.

He sighed.

They travelled for the final hours of the day, playing and walking, walking and playing. The birds cleared from the trees and from the ground; squirrels and rabbits fled as they approached, the sound of AJ trying to sing whilst playing a badly beaten tambourine out of rhythm was causing a mass migration from the area.

Apart from those in the shadows

Ignoring you

Alayne couldn't blame them, he sang his masters songs in his own guttural tongue, but he couldn't blame the language of the hollow for the environmental damage his apprentice was doing, it would have sounded just as bad in common tongue, the aggressive Taurosi speech or even the almost musical tones of the almost lost elven languages.

By his own standards Alayne was still young and AJ was a child, if they were lucky they had a long time to work together and figure out AJ's strengths, assuming and hoping he had some. Alayne Ducard was a master, he'd picked things up without being taught when he was barely old enough to speak, it was hard to teach something you weren't taught yourself, but there were other ways to be successful in the life of an entertainer.

As they rounded a fresh curve in the road the grey stone walls of Burtyne finally appeared.

He untensed muscles he didn't realise he'd been holding tight, his whole body began to ache at once.

Alaynes mind wandered and thought of Magee the travelling bard, a truly terrible performer unable to hit any note in key, no skill with instruments and couldn't remember a story to save their lives, but they were pretty and that was enough to make a living with the common folk half the time. Alayne pictured the boy sat on his shoulders, all 3 feet of the green skinned creature with his gangly legs and a face that mothers would drown in the sea. He was all teeth and nose with beady little black eyes hidden in sunken hollows and he knew his apprentice would have no such luck in that area.

Maybe he could have success as a novelty act or puppetry?

Alayne was hoping he could impart some of his strange gifts onto his ward as well, no one else could conjure illusions like Alayne Ducard could, if he could impart that on his protégé then maybe AJ could make it.

Best be quick before the shadows catch you

Why was he been so mean to himself? Didn't he know he was amazing?

The issue with Alayne and his powers was he had no idea how they worked or where they came from. Sometimes he could do what he wanted and create harmless illusions that wowed a crowd, sometimes it went a bit wrong and someone was blinded for a day or two, and sometimes his fingers made their own magic and he enjoyed the show like the rest of his audience and he'd spend trying to figure out what he did to conjure whatever miracle he had wowed his audience with.

But he was still young, wisdom comes with age, he'd figure it out eventually, he had time.

Practice slowed as they met a crossroads as the path went slightly downhill, there was no sign as Alayne crossed the empty paths but he knew; left towards the West coast and Lord Sildaris' small domain and right to Clarepoint ruled by some fat useless sack of aristocracy. The lords and ladies of this land were so petty and arrogant, all holding such little power on this tiny rock. They'd be free from invasion for too long thanks to the nature of the island. Out in the empire even a minor noble would hold an entire island or cities larger than this land's capital. These people barely have a small village to themselves and yet they expect to be treat like kings. He no longer played for nobles, not for years, if they wanted to see the greatest bard alive then they would have to rub shoulders with the common folk they all secretly detested.

They were within a stones throw of the town now, the sun was casting dark orange light into the sky and braziers where been lit atop the large square watchtowers that sat either side of the town gate, it was fairly impressive, they weren't as high as the capital or any major city but you wouldn't expect any kind of tower normally in a town this size.

"Ok, so here's the plan, we go in, we get a room, have a nice evening, and the tomorrow we start work and please let me do the talking I know you are impressed you finally managed to say a word in common but a goblin screaming 'dog' at people over and over didn't really make the best first impression in Culsack did it?"

They'd ran into the night when Alayne had noticed the tell-tale sign of a mob forming, complete with cliched torches and pitchforks, no imagination some folk.

More tapping on the head and grunting, angrier in tone.

"Pack it in, I'm not mad I'm just weary we need to stay here for awhile and I make a much grander first impression than you, most people don't even believe your kind exists."

He got a thump on the head for that.

"I know you exist you fool but not everyone does, and it's not my fault your people were driven underground for centuries for being savages, if you wanted to not be forced underground maybe your ancestors should have stopped eating people, but what do I know? I'm just a guy that's never eaten anybody and managed to remain fairly well liked."

That upset him further, as Alayne knew it would, he was quieter when he was angry which he needed now.

He wasn't even sure it was true, goblins had been in myth in Rha'vander for centuries, stories of eating lost children where just fables passed down and the goblins that he'd heard of in the empire had been as civilised as any other people before their extinction.

They walked in a very enjoyable silence on a road that had recently turned from dirt to cobbles as they approached the large wooden double gated entrance with a rather burly looking guard standing watch.

After a few shouts from the guards on the battlements the burly looking began a slow walk to meet them

"It be late in the evening for lonesome travellers to approach the gates, what can our fine city do for you?"

A city? Alayne had called it a town and even that was generous, Alayne almost laughed but instead turned it into his most disarming smile, clicking his fingers to add a literal twinkle to his eye.

Was that too much? Surely not, people normally loved that.

"My friend, I can only just find it in my heart to forgive you for not knowing me as, whilst the hour is late the shadows are not yet grown, I stand before you as clear as crystal...Alayne Ducard, Master Bard"

Pause for applause.

None came, bit rude but Alayne pushed ahead.

"I of course accept your apology and your coming adulation and will be making my way to the nearest Inn to sample its finest, or cheapest, ales in preparation for a life altering performance for your dear towns folk"

And he gave a deep bow, one hand on his chest the other flung out wide as AJ clung to his throat for dear life. He rose and started to walk forward before the guard could get his thoughts back in order.

He had almost made it past when he heard the familiar sound of a sword leaving it's sheath.

"Wh-What is that thing on your back?"

He spoke whilst turning, he didn't need to see where the guard was looking.

"This is my apprentice, Alayne Ducard Junior, AJ for short, take a bow young sir."

AJ stood on Alaynes shoulders and he winced as his clawed toes dug through his cloak into his flesh, his long green nose came into view over Alaynes hat as AJ copied his master's deep bow.

The guard took a step back, shaking sword still pointed at the scrawny figure perched on Alaynes' now aching, and likely bleeding, shoulders.

"Nah not names, what is it? Some afflicted child? Some tamed beast? What!?"

"He, is a goblin my dear fellow? What else would he be?"

He tried this often, trying to make it the most obvious thing in the world so they'd seem stupid by not knowing that, they would then change their tune and pretend it was obvious themselves and ask no more questions.

"Goblins ain't real. Now tell me straight, what is it?" He shook the sword at Alayne.

It had never worked as he intended it but next time was the charm, Alayne was sure, he just needed the right person, a husband in front of his wife or a noble in front of his servants, the easily manipulated and weak of ego.

Alayne raised a single finger decorated with a plain silver band and kept raising it until it passed his shoulder and poked it deep into AJ's belly. The boy let out a wild laugh like any child would.

"Feels pretty real to me."

This did not diffuse the situation, and this also had been tried before and never worked, although he had hope that one day it would work and it would make a much better story then his dozen failures.

"My friend please, look at me" and he drew the man's gaze to his "we are neither one of us armed, unless of course you count my charm, my wit, my perfect voice, my silver tongue, dashing smile and overall natural good looks and if you do please arrest me now...Otherwise we offer no danger to your town I assure you. You have my word that we will cause no trouble and he will be under my watchful eye at all times. He is just a child who wants to see the world."

The guard did not move, he seemed frozen, most of the people of this land thought magic impossible and humans the only creatures; such ignorance, they'd been isolated from the empire for so long their world had shrunk.

He walked away, turning his back on the guard and making for the gates, he reached backwards and flicked a random string on his lute and as he walked through the town gates he spoke through hands cupped around his mouth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, anyone with ears, treat yourself to tales of fame and fortune, songs of loss and gain, and poems of love and hate from the marvellous modern mastery of the bardic arts...ALAYNE DUCARD, THE MASTER BARD... He will be playing at your finest inn tonight for all to see. I expect to see you all there, songs on me, drinks on you."

As he spoke in his normal tone the words echoed out around him, seeming to come from everywhere at once, it was a fairly simple trick he'd learnt to distract merchants when he was a boy and now it worked just as well for advertising himself without having to walk around and pander to prospective audiences, well it worked sometimes. It had on very very very rare occasion, caused mass panics and some simpler folk to think the end was coming and a god was talking to them.

That almost never happened though and could he really be blamed when it did? He said his name, how much clearer could he be?

There were a couple of screams as his voice echoed away, but as he listened carefully, there weren't too many.

A good sign if ever there was one.

He smiled as he crossed the threshold of the city, completely forgetting the shadows that had watched him, until this thought reminded him and he cursed under his breath.