Those Who Had Lost Their Way
If someone had told him, half a dozen moons ago, that he'd be travelling with Olberic and his merry gang of misfits back to Hornburg to put those ghosts of theirs to rest, Erhardt would've laughed in their face.
Yet here he was, following the group along at the dancer's behest.
It was a fascinating thing, to follow after these eight companions. According to Olberic, they'd be traveling together for many months now, helping each other on their search for this book, or that person, or just to fulfil a rite of passage such as going on a journey. They'd each found what they were searching for within the last two moons, and yet they travelled on together, enjoying each other's company too much to say goodbye or wanting to make sure all the loose ends were tied together before they did.
In truth, Erhardt was envious that he could only experience this companionship from the periphery, frustrated that he had once been one of the reasons they set out together in the first place. He knew how much Olberic valued the presence of other people, and yet, how unwillingly he gave his trust to others. To see him now with such a large group of people he could trust and rely on, Erhardt once again included, it was like everything they'd struggled over this last decade just melted away.
It was an amazing feeling, this sense of belonging, one he'd missed ever so much. One he hadn't felt since he was a part of the mercenary group the last time he was in this part of the Dark Woods. In fact, as he looked around, Erhardt realised they were closing in on Victors Hollow – a place he'd not visited since his mercenary days.
Apparently they were making a few stops along the way to thank some people before making their way to former Hornburg, and one of those stops was here in Victors Hollow. Apparently Olberic was the most recent champion of the warrior's contest they held here, something that amused Erhardt no end, not that he'd ever explain the real reason why.
It was interesting though… Here, in this little group of misfits, was the hunter's prentice and the Captain's protégée, as well as Olberic himself. If the three of them ever found out what transpired in this town so many years ago, well, there'd be no end of asking for the story.
And yet, Erhardt smiled to himself as they started up the stairs into the town, his hand on the saber Leon had gifted him all those years ago. What he wouldn't give to see the two of them again, to hear first-hand what they'd been up to all these years…
"What's with the smile, your Lordship?" The apothecary – Alfyn – asked him.
"Nothing you'd understand, lad." He answered before turning his attention to the dancer who guided him, Lady Primrose Azelhart. "Would you mind awfully if I left you for a few hours, m'lady?"
"Why ever would you want to?" She batted her eyelashes at him. She was apparently under the impression that he followed her for her promiscuous dancing – he didn't really have the heart to tell her that he was following only to keep an eye on Olberic.
"I visited this town a great many years ago and would like to see how it's changed. I'll be back at the inn by nightfall, you have my word." Erhardt said simply, looking around the town square with wondering eyes – it was far quieter now than it'd been when he first came – remembering how Z'aanta and his wolf had cheered for him winning a duel here, how Leon had cut a good deal for them there…
"Very well." Said Primrose, seeming to see more than he would like. "There'll consequences if I don't see you in the inn tonight."
"You have my word." Erhardt reiterated, already making his way down to the tavern, a quick wave over his shoulder as he went.
The tavern was emptier now than it was when he'd first visited; not a soul but the barkeeper in sight. Reminiscing as he looked around the tavern – much the same as any other the world over, but so much more significant to him – Erhardt remembered that night as vividly as the last. 'Twas the first night that he felt he deserved a second chance, after all.
"A glass of your finest red." Erhardt ordered from the keeper, a few leaves exchanging hands. Back then, his purse had been lean; now it was practically as full as it had been when he left. Time had been kind to him, he could only hope it had been so for the others too.
Taking the glass presented to him with as much apprehension as he had back then, he still regretted that he'd never had a finer wine than that he'd drank with Olberic and the King in Hornburg.
"Hold, friend." A voice froze the glass at his lips. "'Tis no fun to drink alone, now is it?"
Erhardt smiled into his glass, it appeared the Gods had finally forgiven him after all. He turned on his stool. "Well now, there's a voice I thought I'd never hear again."
"And there's a face I ne'er thought I'd see smiling." Captain Leon Bastralle took the stool next to him, two lackies hovering around him. He turned to them, "Mikk, Makk, make yourselves scarce, you hear?"
"But Cap'n-!" The taller of the two started to say.
"Go drink over there, if you must." He pointed to the corner of the tavern. Erhardt noticed that, while his manner and voice were much more refined than they once were, he still slipped into his curt sea tongue when the occasion arised.
"Yes, Cap'n!" The other one saluted, taking his friend over to the corner and leaving their captain in peace.
"My newest recruits." Leon said by way of explanation before ordering himself a flagon. "What brings you to this part of the world again, Sir Erhardt? Or are you currently Master Hardt?"
"Simply Erhardt shall suffice, Captain Bastralle, I think we are past the time for formality."
"And yet you insist on calling me Captain Bastralle?" Leon smiled.
"My apologies, Leon." Erhardt found himself incapable of not smiling in return. "How has life treated you, friend?"
"Very well," Leon admitted. "Fortune continues to favour me for my changed ways. And you?"
"…She appears to have forgiven me recently as well."
"'Tis good to hear. Through my recent travels I had the occasion to meet your former comrade in arms once or twice. Hearing him speak, I honestly thought he'd kill you before we got the chance to meet again."
"That makes two of us." Erhardt laughed. "He recently beat me in a duel and I truly thought that was the end."
"Yet you still live to tell the tale?"
"…Only in exchange for a drink." Erhardt winked. "I'll even share how I taught your protegee to fence while I do."
"You know the young lass too?" Leon's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing in confusion. "'Tis strange that she didn't mention you last we met…"
"'Twas because we hadn't yet. She told me all about you when I first spoke to her."
"Aye?"
"Aye." Erhardt nodded, looking at his emptying glass obviously. "I followed them into town today, Olberic's little group of misfits. Z'aanta's prentice is with them too."
"Aye, I thought her such when I first met her." Leon nodded. "Apparently her master was in a bind, hence why she journeyed."
"Truly? Last she told me he was safe and back to his old ways."
"Aye?" Leon looked confused. "Perhaps I'm remembering wrong…"
"Age catching up to you, old friend?" Erhardt teased.
Leon laughed. "No more than it is to you! Is that grey I see at your temples?"
"I would not be surprised." Erhardt laughed with him. Truly, he hadn't felt this happy since, well, the last time Leon and he had meet.
"Barkeep, another round for me and my friend. … And a pitcher for the two in the corner." Leon pointed at his lackies who were playing cards in the far corner of the tavern before shrugging to Erhardt. "It keeps them honest."
"Thank ye, Cap'n!" They both shouted over at Leon as the barkeep put a pitcher of beer on their table.
"That it does." Erhardt raised his glass as Leon raised his flagon. "To old friends."
"To old friends." Leon said in return as they clinked rims.
"Thou hast some nerven to toasth friendship without me!" An archaic voice boomed from the doorway. Both men turned to see Z'aanta coming towards them, Hägen by his side. Apparently he was known well enough in the Dark Wood now that Hägen was allowed to follow him into public spaces.
"Master Z'aanta!" Leon exclaimed as Erhardt ordered him a flagon. "'Tis good to see you alive and well, friend. Last I heard you were turned to stone."
"Oh aye?" Erhardt asked in surprise as he handed the flagon to the hunter. "I never heard such a thing."
"Truly, Sir Erhardt? 'Tis how I spenth the last year!"
Erhardt shook his head. "My apologises, apparently that news missed me. It is good to see you now though, Master Z'aanta."
"And thou, Sir Erhardt." Z'aanta laughed. "Whenst I saw my H'aanit travelling with thou olden companion Olberic, I truly feared the worst hadst befallen thee."
"That makes two of us, Master Z'aanta." Leon admitted. "Apparently he travels with them now."
"Truly?" Z'aanta exclaimed in surprise. "Dost that meanen my H'aanit ist in towne?"
"Indeed," Erhardt nodded. "Her and those traveling with her also. I believe they are booking lodging in the inn as we speak."
"Well. It hast been nicen seeing thee again, lads." Z'aanta drank his flagon down in one flick of the wrist. "But I believeth Hägen and I sholdst ben on our way. Comest, Hägen."
The wolf simply wagged his tail, ignoring his master as he looked towards the door, something seeming to excite him.
"Comest, friend! Don not forsaken me!" Z'aanta begged his wolf as Leon and Erhardt watched in amusement.
Within moments, the door to the tavern opened, giving sight to the travellers as it did. Hägen yipped to see H'aanit and Linde, rushing over to them as his master cowered.
"Hägen! What art thou doing here?" H'aanit exclaimed, scratching the wolf's ears as he sniffed Linde. She looked up to see her master cowering between Leon and Erhardt. "Master. What haveth I told thee about drinken spirits?"
"I knowen…" Z'aanta said dejectedly. After all these years, Leon and Erhardt were seeing the fabled chastisement of master by prentice. "Not until I am recovere'd in full."
Leon leant in to whisper to Erhardt. "I am beginning to see why he was so careful all those years ago."
"Indeed." Erhardt whispered back. "I expect this is rather low on the chastise scale."
"Erhardt?" Olberic said as he noticed the man sat at the bar. "Is this where you were all this time?"
"And Mr Leon!" The merchant, Tressa, shouted at the captain. "How do you know Sir Erhardt?"
"From a long time ago, lass." Leon said simply. From that one statement it was clear to Erhardt how much he respected the girl. Hells, he might've well called her his merchant prentice there and then.
"Shame on you, Sir Erhardt, for not telling me sooner!"
"How is-" Erhardt started in confusion only to be interrupted by Olberic.
"Indeed, Erhardt. If not Tressa, you should have at least told me that you knew Captain Bastralle."
"How is this-?" Erhardt started again only to cut himself short by clearing his throat. "My apologies. It never occurred to me to explain my relation to Leon since no one ever asked."
"How do you know the Captain, your Lordship?" Alfyn asked.
"We met here in town a long time ago, lad." Leon answered instead, still calm while Erhardt was starting to get a little hot under the collar. "He helped Master Z'aanta and I out of a financial bind by winning the contest held here in town."
"You won the same contest as Olberic did?" The cleric – Ophilia – asked in surprise.
"And thou losten many leaves to ill wagers heren again, Master?" H'aanit asked her master with distaste.
"'Twas many moons ago, Mistress H'aanit." Erhardt said, sparing Z'aanta the explanation. "We all pooled our leaves together to bet on Master Hardt – a new comer – to win and made a small fortune."
"Master Hardt?" Olberic asked with a scoff. "Could you not come up with any better name, Erhardt?"
"Right you are, Olberic," Erhardt snapped. "Or was it Sir Berg, the hedgeknight?"
He ground his teeth.
"Regardless, after my winning performance, we split our money and Master Z'aanta returned to S'warkii." Erhardt continued.
"And you, Sir Erhardt?" Primrose asked in curiosity.
"He stayed and helped me, lass." Leon answered. "With the money we'd won, we were able to buy the necessary supplies to repair Baltazar's ship. It was hard work made all the easier by a second pair of hands."
"And thou didst not stayen to helpth, Master?"
"I cannot winen with thee, H'aanit!" Z'aanta exclaimed, immediately laughing to show he meant it with no malice.
"And once you were finished, you gave Erhardt the sword he now carries." Therion pointed at the sword at the knight's belt. "Thought I recognised it from somewhere."
"Aye, lad." Leon nodded as he looked at the saber, reminiscence in his eyes. "I could think of no better man to carry Baltazar's saber."
"…This was Baltazar's?" Erhardt asked, a little surprised.
"Aye. …Did you not know that, Erhardt?" Leon asked, also surprised.
"Nay…" Erhardt unsheathed the saber, looking at it closely. "I saw only a beautiful blade that had once meant a lot to a warrior of a man. A blade who would find no master on a ship like yours. So I took her and polished her up, kept her ever by my side. You can rest easy knowing she has been well looked after, friend."
"As I knew she would be when I left her with you." Leon gently ran his fingertips over the blade. "Baltazar would be happy to know she was being used by a knight such as yourself."
There was a pause as everyone took in the exchange between the two men.
"Sentimentalists." Therion coughed only to be punched in the arm by the scholar – Professor Cyrus Albright, Erhardt believed was his name.
"What Therion means to say," he gave the thief a hard look. "Is that we would be interested in hearing more about how the three of you came to know each other. Would that be possible?"
The three men exchanged glances before shrugging. "Whichen one of thee ist buying?" Z'aanta asked.
"Master, no!" H'aanit exclaimed at the same time as Olberic pulled up his purse. "I will."
He took the stool next to Erhardt. "A round of mead for us all, and three non-alcoholics."
"And a second pitcher for the gentlemen in the corner, on me, my good man." Leon added, pointing to the already drunk pair in the far corner.
"Thank ye, Cap'n!" They shouted as the drinks were distributed, Z'aanta looking at his non-alcoholic in vague disgust.
"Mead, Olberic?" Erhardt asked in surprise as they took their flagons.
"The wine around here does not hold a candle to those brewed in the Highlands." Olberic answered simply as he took a swig from his flagon, face mildly disgusted. "Better to drink something disappointing than be disappointed by a good drink."
Erhardt laughed and clinked rims with his partner. "You might be right, old friend."
Looking around at the group of misfit travellers before him, Erhardt realised that his best days might be yet to come if they continued to let him travel with them. Perhaps he could convince Ophilia to ask Leon to join them – if he did not ask, he was sure the young merchant would…
Erhardt smiled as he looked down at the flagon in his hand and back up at the people before him. "And where would you like me to start, Professor?"
AN:
I realised during the week that there are a few time-based inconsistencies in this story since Leon was already steering Baltazar's ship before the fall of Hornburg, so we're going to pretend those inconsistencies don't exist for the sake of this story. I took a few 'creative liberties' with it, if you will... Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this because I loved writing it!
Anyway, more shameless self promotion incoming: Travel On will be starting this time next week as a collection of oneshots about the travellers and those they have met or travelled with in the past. If you liked this story or if you're interested in any way, shape or form, I ask you to come check it out since I've really enjoyed writing the few stories I already have for it.
Also, during this coming week, I'll be posting another Octopath story, this time about Ogen. This was also meant to be a part of Travel On, but it came out at over 6000 words so I've decided to post it as a stand alone. If you're interested, I loved writing this too and ask you to check it out.
So, shameless promotion of upcoming projects over, I just want to thank everyone who has read this story. I hope you've enjoyed it and also hope to see you soon on my other Octopath projects!
~WWQ