The Journey Begins
Ichorlin sat within the coach as it exited the gates of Quimperpund. Overnight a storm had raged, leaving its wet tail behind. Rain poured over the edges of the small postal carriage, and Ichorlin closed the flap of a window for protection. A small pool had collected in the middle of the soft leather roof, and now hung dangerously close to tearing. Ichorlin pushed up making the water flow across the sides of the carriage and onto the road beneath.
She was destined for Young Yoon, where she would then catch a ship to Brandenbrass, and finally a chromster to Andover, where she would begin her journey by foot along the Felix to find the band of brigands. The horses whickered nervously in front, barely seeing through the gloom of early morning, but fortunately no threat loomed.
Reaching down she pulled a map from her case, and looked carefully where she was going. She was looking at about a two week trip over land and water. Today's coach would drive almost all day, and each boat trip would be roughly a week. She read a few names of towns; remembering them for future reference and returned the map to its home. She sighed, leant back against the hard seats of the postal coach, and closed her eyes.
A few hours later she was woken by the sudden silence that had followed the ceasing of the rain. Smiling she opened her window and breathed in the crisp wet air, the fresh clean smell lingering in her nostrils. She peered into the gloom, and spotted a mean looking nicker following downwind of the carriage far in the distant West. Sighing she hoped it wouldn't bother them, but opted to alert the driver.
She pulled the partition between her and the driver down and looked at the rain soaked man. He immediately noticed and turned around smiling widely. Ichorlin shook her head in wonder at the conditions that these postal men went through, then smiled briefly in greeting.
"I believe we have a bit of a nasty nicker on our trail." She explained lightly. "I've spotted something a few times in the distance, and I'm sure it's a monster." The postal man tipped his hat gently.
"Thank you kindly young lass. I'll heed your vision wisely and hurry us up. We've still got a long way to get us to The Younger of Yoons yet." He grinned. Ichorlin nodded with a smiled and thanked the driver before closing the partition once more. The driver suddenly cracked his whip and the horses flew into a strong gallop.
They stayed at the pace for a good ten minutes before the horses were eased into a canter so as not to tire them too soon. Having watched the monster on and off the whole time Ichorlin was glad to have seen it finally lose interest and run off. A while later the driver pulled the horses into a trot, which they stayed at for a few hours before they pulled up for a rest.
Ichorlin gratefully went outside to stretch her legs and arms; the driver following her notion. As a steady drizzle started, Ichorlin re-entered the carriage and pulled out a cold pie she had bought before leaving and began to eat it. The driver did a quick inspection of the carriage before pulling a handful of carrots from the front of the carriage which he shared with the horses; taking a bit from each and then giving the remainder to the large beasts. Ichorlin quickly finished her delicacy and the driver finished his carrots before they were off again at a steady trot.
The rest of the day passed quickly, and eventually Young Yoon was in sights. Ichorlin, peeping her head from the window, eyed the town enviously. She sighed and sat back, pleased. The horses, having seen their destination broke into a canter, drawing the town closer at a faster rate. Within minutes, with the sun peeping through the clouds low in the west, they were rolling through the gates and into the postal office. Ichorlin clambered from the vehicle, and thanked the driver respectfully, tipping him for his work. He eyed the unexpected money with glee and tipped his hat in thanks before entering his office.
After a quick stretch, Ichorlin went immediately to the docks where she looked for a ship to carry her to Brandenbrass. For nearly an hour, she searched the ships, asking all the brave sailors for passage to Brandenbrass, but all rejected her, even after attempted bribery.
"Me baint goin' nowhere North young'un. Not for all the money in this ere' world. The storms up there'd kill a bloke this time o' year. Bah! You must be jokin' me hat off!" One had stated loudly to Ichorlin's dismay. But all had said nearly the same. There was a horrible storm all through the North from Useless to Wörms, making water travel near impossible and land travel extremely difficult. Worse still, it was predicted to stay for at least a week or more.
Ichorlin was stuck, unless she wanted to walk inland, which, she added most definitely to herself, she did not. She now sat upon the stairs leading to the dock with a heavy heart. She did not want to delay her mission, considering it was such a large one, but if she could not get there, what choice did she have but to wait it out?
Just as another heavy shower of rain started a young man approached Ichorlin with a wave.
"Ahee thee!" He cried, by which she assumed he meant 'ahoy, you.' Ichorlin paused in the rain as the man ran towards her. He paused, puffing and panting and smiled a large toothey grin.
"Hallo. You called?" Ichorlin murmured. The man nodded exuberantly.
"Me heed ye be wintin treevil te Breendnin' Briss?" He asked and Ichorlin looked at him in confusion.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked, rain dripping off her nose. The man scratched his head thinking, and tried again.
"Ye." He started, pointing to Ichorlin, "Getting te Breendnin' Briss?" He asked again. Ichorlin squinted.
"I want to go to Brandenbrass?" She confirmed with the man. His eyes lit up and he nodded.
"Yees! Yees! Thee min of temirri!" He bumbled exitedly. Once again Ichorlin was stumped, and the man noticed regretfully. He cleared his throat. "Leeve temoo row moonin'" He tried again and smiled expectantly. This time Ichorlin nodded.
"Tomorrow morning?" She asked. The man nodded again. Ichorlin laughed. "How much do I pay?" She asked gently. The man's eyes widened and he waved his hands dramatically.
"Nay! Nay! Nay Payee fir ye! All Freee!" He explained. Ichorlin smiled.
"No pay?" She asked and the man nodded. "So where do I meet you?" The man pointed to the ground.
"Here. Beefir Sunip." Ichorlin, having caught on with the man's speech nodded.
"Okay. Thank you very much. I will meet you here before sun up." She said. The man smiled and saluted once before leaving. Ichorlin, now drenched to the bone, shook her head with amusement and went looking for a place to sleep.
I hope your enjoying the story so far. I don't want to be horribly annoying, but could some of you review? I'd just like some words on how you think I'm going, or any parts that would make the story even more half-continent-like. Share some ideas? Tell me what you like so far? I'd just like to know that someone likes my story!!