It didn't take Teva long to finish moving the redstone for Mister Brathen and before the sun had set everything they owned was packed into a pack just large enough to fit it all. It was a long night as Teva couldn't bring themself to sleep, not right away at least. They'd never been to the city and had heard so many exciting things about it. They'd also heard about the dangers of the trail. There'd been plenty of bandit activity along the trail for years and years but what was more frightful was the increasing spottings of goblins and their kind all along the trail recently as well. Teva had never seen a goblin before but had heard plenty of stories. Most of their knowledge came from the stories told by others. Teva had never told stories of their own even though they certainly did have stories that others would find intriguing. Still, silence among other people had been their way ever since... Well it had been their way for a long time and it would take something truly significant to break that silence.

The night passed slowly and Teva's eyes grew heavy. The last few weeks they had been sleeping in the hayloft of the Alderburrow's barn. Faline, Trout's mother and the halfling farmer who owned the farm and orchard near to town, had been very grateful when Teva rescued Trout from a wild boar that the foolish young halfling had been goading a few weeks back. It really hadn't taken much for Teva to convince the beast to turn away and head back to its family but Trout had spun a tale of daring and life threatening danger which might have been the case had Teva not been nearby at the time. Honestly they had headed that way to stop Trout from hurting the beast but since Trout was the one to tell the tale and since he had been happy to embellish it had all turned out in Teva's favor regardless. With a new place to stay for a few weeks free of any charge or labor. Faline had insisted they stay in their home but Teva had insisted, without words, that they preferred the outdoors and a hayloft was truly a blessed place to stay, protected from the elements but still open to the starry night sky. Teva counted those stars as they had learned to do when they couldn't sleep right away and soon had drifted off to sleep dreaming of the adventurous days ahead.

When morning came and the sun with it, Teva was already up, the loft abandoned. They waited by the trail leading out of the town holding their pack tight and looking for Brodgren to come along any minute now. It was a bit of a wait but not one long enough to discourage Teva. That smile that had appeared on their face in the inn the day before was still plastered across it when Brodgren eventually walked out of Brathen's Supplies & Provisions. Teva hadn't thought anything of the pony and the horse that had been hitched outside the store until Brodgren unhitched them and walked them both toward where Teva was. They quirked an eyebrow in question toward Brodgren who chuckled.

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"Did you really think we'd be walking all that way kid? I admire your gusto but these here beauties will get us there much quicker. This one here is mine and this one here is for a friend of mine once we get to the city but I think she'll be best under your care until we arrive."

Teva's face brightened even more if such a thing was possible and they reached into their pocket to pull forth a lump of sugar hidden there offering it to the horse. Brodgren laughed a deep belly laugh.

"Of course you've sugar for the horses."

The horse lipped the sugar from Teva's offered hand and whinnied a soft sound of approval, hiding Teva for some petting. They obliged.

"Her name is Topaz." Brodgren told them.

Teva smiled.

~No it's not.~

Teva thought

~That is just what someone decided to call her. Just like someone decided to call me Teva.~

Teva looked at Brodgren and debated internally if they wanted to speak to the horses now here in front of him or if they would wait til they could do so alone. Brodgren had been willing to share a great secret with them, perhaps they could return the deed. But not today. Teva decided to wait. They helped Brodgren to mount the pony and quickly and carefully climbed into the saddle on Topaz' back. They nuzzled against the soft mane there before setting upright

~I will learn your name soon and we will talk about all the things you love and hate in this world and we will both be happy~

Brodgren interrupted Teva's thought,

"Well if you're ready then we should head out, it's several days ride from here to the city and the most treacherous part of the trail can be bypassed in the first day if we hurry. Shall we Teva?"

Teva nodded and they both urged their mounts forward. They had set out on the trail at last and Teva could not be more excited. And scared. There was a deep apprehension that was trying to crawl its way to the surface of Teva's mind but for now the excitement and the joy of riding such a beautiful steed as Topaz were enough to keep it at bay.