Chapter 11
"Get away from me, you bastards!" yelled Therion as he ran across the Cliftlands from the predators chasing him. The pink-skinned and brown-feathered Giant Condor chased after the thief with its talons ready to dig into the human. On the ground, the white-furred, black-faced and black-pawed dog-like Laughing Hyena chased after Therion as well.
The two carnivores continued their hunt for the thief, as Therion became more and more exhausted from his continual run away from the animals set to kill and eat him. Therion knew that the animals chasing him were normally scavengers that ate their prey's carcasses instead of attacking them, but the two creatures coming after him this far made Therion realize that they likely have been starving for a while and will stop at nothing to eat and survive from a human even if the human can fight back.
The condor swooped in and dug its talons into Therion's shoulders. Therion winced in pain as he tripped and fell over. As Therion collected himself on the ground, he noticed the hyena lunging towards him. He reactively put up his arm and blocked the hyena's bite towards his head with his arm, leading to Therion crying out as the hyena continued digging into his arm with its teeth while pushing itself at Therion. The hyena's claws on its paws also dug into the skin on Therion's chest, leading to Therion's cries of pain growing louder. The condor's talons swiped across Therion's face, leaving scars across his cheeks and nose.
The hyena removed its mouth from Therion's arm as it proceeded to take advantage of Therion's wounded and vulnerable state by biting into Therion's neck, while the condor flew around and then swung down and gripped its beak onto another side of Therion's neck. The thief struggled against the two predators, but found himself soon weakening and swinging back and forth slower and slower the deeper the condor and hyena dug in. Therion's consciousness started to fade as his resistance became minimal, with Therion reflecting on the miserable life of poverty and theft that defined him.
I've done nothing in my life but steal from others to survive, thought Therion, and I'll die as a nothing in this realm.
In one way, Therion felt relieved he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. On the other, he felt a bit of shame in never being able to accomplish more than he what he needed to do to keep himself alive. Though he wouldn't admit it to others, the search for the Dragonstones was his chance to find something of worth to do in his life. And now, he couldn't even accomplish that.
Perhaps it is best for me to just rot away now, than suffer more later… thought Therion as he lost consciousness while the condor and the hyena dug into him.
Before his life could be lost, Therion's body was found by two travelers who saw the attack before them and proceeded to start shooing the two scavengers away. The hyena growled while the condor cawed aggressively at the two travelers. One traveler, an apothecary, readied his axe while the other traveler, a merchant, readied her spear.
The condor and the hyena lunged at the two travelers. The apothecary dug his axe into the hyena's side before pulling it out, giving the hyena an opportunity to rethink its rechances before it proceeded to flee from the humans. The merchant, meanwhile, pushed her spear through one of the edges of the wings of the condor, injuring the condor just enough to give itself time to rethink the danger before it and then proceed to fly away from the threat that was too powerful for it to kill.
As the condor flew away and the hyena ran away from the two travelers, both of the humans turned around to examine Therion's body and help the wounded man.
"Is...is he dead, Alfyn?" asked the worried merchant.
Alfyn leaned in closer to Therion's mouth to hear his breathing, and was startled by the groaning emitted from Therion as the thief could barely move from the pain he was experiencing.
The merchant sighed in relief before Alfyn answered. "He's not dead, Tressa, but he's not in a good state either."
Alfyn proceeded to quickly look over Therion's body for all wounds on his body, and noticed the slashes on Therion's face, the piercing of his shoulder's skin, the piercing of the chest skin, the bite on his left arm, and the bites on both the left and right sides of his neck. Alfyn checked all the wounds for any fractures, before proceeding to place the injured arm on top of Therion's chest."
"Tressa, can you help me?" asked Alfyn.
Tressa nodded. "Sure, Alfyn. What is it?"
Alfyn answered. "I need you to lift and hold this man's head at an elevated level while I apply disinfectant and bandages to all the wounds."
Tressa nodded again, before completing Alfyn's request as she lifted and held Therion's head in place.
Alfyn pulled out disinfectant and bandages from his satchel, before proceeding to apply the disinfectant to all the man's wounds first before applying several bandage wraps to said wounds. The thief slightly winced at the contact of his wounds with the disinfectant, indicating to Alfyn that the man had at least a minimal level of consciousness if he could feel and react to the disinfectant.
After tending to the man's injuries, Alfyn sighed in relief as he stepped and looked through his satchel for one of his concoctions. "This brew'll help accelerate the closing of the wounds," said Alfyn to Tressa as he proceeded to open Therion's mouth and pour down the concoction he was holding in his other hand.
Therion groaned once more as he slowly opened his eyes and looked with sight fading in and out at the two travelers overlooking him.
"Who...the hell...are you?" asked a dazed Therion.
Alfyn leaned closer to the thief to reassure the man. "Don't worry. We're here to help you."
Therion chuckled at Alfyn's straightforward answer. "You sure...you want to...help me?" asked Therion before he proceeded to rest and recover his strength.
Therion snored as he rested, with Alfyn sighing again in relief as he succeeded in helping the stranger stay alive after rescuing him.
"You did a great job, Alfyn," assured Tressa.
Alfyn smiled at Tressa's positive reinforcement. "Thanks, Tress. It'll take some time to heal, but he's not dying anytime soon. At least, not unless that condor and hyena come back...We shouldn't be out here long. It's not ideal for him, but we need to move to a town. The closest town is...Quarrycrest, right?"
Tressa nodded, before Alfyn proceeded to lift and wrap Therion's arms around Alfyn's neck and then put his arms under Therion's legs as the latter hung loose in front of Alfyn's body. Therion's body leaned against Alfyn's backside as Alfyn carried the sleeping man while moving around.
"You ready to move, Tressa?" asked Alfyn while carrying Therion.
Tressa answered. "Sure am. You alright, Alfyn?"
Alfyn answered. "Don't worry about me. Let's just get into Quarrycrest and get an inn for this guy so he can rest."
The two of them nodded, before they continued to move on the path that led to Quarrycrest.
Later, in Quarrycrest…
Alfyn opened the door to his room in Quarrycrest's inn, while he carried the thief on his back. He laid the thief on the room's bed, as Tressa followed into Alfyn's room.
"He's starting to look better," said Alfyn.
"That's good," said Tressa. "Hey, Alfyn? Do you need any help? I want to check out the town, but I don't want to leave you if you still want help taking care of him."
Alfyn shook his head. "It's alright, Tressa. I'll keep an eye on him. Thanks for the help earlier. Go ahead and see what the town's like."
Tressa nodded. "Gotcha. Thanks, Alfyn."
Tressa then left through the doors of Alfyn's room and then the entrance to the inn as she proceeded to start looking around the mining town of Quarrycrest.
She pulled out her journal as she recalled the last entry she read from it. "Now where did I leave off?"
"Every journey is a vast sea of opportunities, but none are quite so precious as our encounters with others.
Sharing a connection with someone new, for however brief a time, is unforgettable.
For it is a chance to learn about others, and yourself.
I'll rest here tonight, in Quarrycrest.
Rumor has it there's gold in these hills, and many a prospector has set their eye on it.
I wonder what encounters might await me here?"
"Could there really be gold here?" wondered Tressa as she looked around the town.
"Eureka!" spoke a nearby mine laborer. "Gold! I've struck gold! Now this is something to write home about!"
Another nearby laborer spoke. "Where there's one, there's more! And I'll find them all!"
Tressa chuckled. "This may be a good place to set up shop, after all."
One of the laborers spoke. "Stay your hands! It's Mr. Morlock!"
The laborers stopped their movements as two figures approached them.
One was named "Morlock," and he wore a blue shirt and pants, along with a white cap and cape and leather boots.
The other figure, named "Omar," acted as the bodyguard to Morlock. He was a stocky man with dark hair wrapped in a ponytail, and he covered himself in armor while wielding a two-handed battle-axe.
"Good to see you all toiling so earnestly," said Morlock.
One of the laborers rushed over to Morlock. "Look, sir, real gold! How much ya reckon it's worth?"
Morlock smiled at the sight of the nugget. "I'd be happy to take it off your hands for a reasonable sum."
Omar spoke up. "I'll say it once more, so listen well! This mine and all the land surrounding it is the sole property of the esteemed Mr. Morlock! As such, any and all gold discovered here is his by right! But fortunately for you, Mr. Morlock is a generous man! He'll buy the gold off anyone who finds it! So keep digging, and you may find yourself with riches beyond measure!"
Tressa commented. "Looks like this Morlock fellow has an iron grip on this mine. I guess that means I won't be dealing in gold here. But still...My merchant senses tell me this town presents a lucrative business opportunity!"
Tressa proceeded to look at more of the town, and soon stopped near a migrant worker digging into the wall of a high rock formation.
"I dig and dig and dig and still can't find any gold," said the migrant worker. "Curse my bad luck! I thought this would be my chance to turn it all around. I was such a fool. I even borrowed money to get this far. How can I ever face my wife again?"
Tressa examined the dull and black stones that the migrant worker was holding. "What's that?" asked Tressa.
"Excuse me, sir. I'll buy these stones from you," said Tressa.
"You will?" said the migrant worker in surprise.
"Sure thing!" answered Tressa as she handed the worker 500 leaves. The worker, satisfied with the payment he just received, walked off to relish in the money he just gained.
Tressa polished the stones she bought, and then looked at them in surprise.
"Aha! I knew it! Underneath that grimy exterior was a gorgeous gem just waiting to be discovered!" said Tressa.
"You've quite the eye, young lady."
Tressa turned to regard the approaching voice. The voice came from a man with short messy black hair, green eyes, tan skin, and a red bandana with a feather strapped to the side. He sported a large backpack, a white short-sleeved undershirt, green pants, and leather shoes. In his hand were gems akin to the ones Tressa purchased.
"Hey! Those are the same stones I bought!" exclaimed Tressa.
The man with the feather spoke. "Right you are. I'm a traveling merchant. Ali's the name."
"Tressa. I'm a traveling merchant too. I've never seen stones that glow quite like these. They look just like ordinary rocks at first, but it'll take more than that to fool me!"
"You have no idea what you bought, do you?" said Ali. "These are skystones. They're rare, but you can find them if you know where to look. At first, they're perfectly unremarkable rocks. But apply some quality elbow grease, and you have yourself a gorgeous gemstone."
"I had no idea!" said Tressa.
"And still you bought all those stones? Heck of a green pea, you are," said Ali. "Well, keep up the good work. See you around, Green Pea!" Ali then walked past Tressa.
Tressa spoke in annoyance. "Hmph. Green pea? He's just a mean pea…But I don't have time for that now. I have stones that need selling!"
Meanwhile, in Quarrycrest's inn…
Therion opened his eyes as he took in his surroundings around him. He was lying on a bed, as a man with a satchel was looking out of a window set up in the bedroom that both of them were in for the moment. As Therion stood up and changed himself into a sitting position on the bed, the man with the satchel turned to regard the awoke thief.
"Good to see you're awake, friend," said Alfyn.
Therion stared at Alfyn while feeling the many bandages that were all over his body. "Who the hell are you?"
Alfyn's eyes widened in embarrassment. "Oh right, I haven't introduced myself. The name's Alfyn, and I brought you to Quarrycrest so you could rest from that nasty attack you faced. Condor and a hyena. Never expected them to be so brutal, but now I'm proven wrong. I'm just glad you're alive."
Therion noted the satchel, before speaking. "So you're some kind of apothecary? Hate to break the news to ya, Doc, but I ain't money to spare. Unless…"
Therion checked through all his pockets, and saw that the few leaves he had on him were still there.
Alfyn responded. "Oh, don't worry about the money. I just helped out someone in a bind. Simple as that."
Therion stared at Alfyn, genuinely surprised by how straightforward he sounded.
"Anyway, I don't know where you're going, but me and Tress are headed north into the Woodlands. If you're heading there, then you can join me and her. Frankly, we still have some bass we caught from the Riverlands, and we'd honestly appreciate the help we can get in finishing all that food if you're coming with us. You said you don't have any money? Well, Tressa is a merchant, so she can probably sell some goods and get us some more money for the group besides all the food and water we have for the moment."
"Tressa?" asked Therion.
"Oh, she's this merchant girl I met in Rippletide in the Coastlands. She's really perky and full of energy, and she also helped me save a couple of towns from pirates and an evil apothecary. She's a damn good friend to have," said Alfyn as he proceeded to look out the window in the bedroom again.
Alfyn expressed shock at the scene he was witnessing through the window. "What the hell?!" exclaimed Alfyn. He then proceeded to grab his axe leaning on a nearby wall and charge out of the bedroom.
Therion stood in confusion as he saw Alfyn charge out of the bedroom. He then got up and headed to the window, interested in seeing what Alfyn witnessed. He expressed surprise at the scene unfolding before him…
Meanwhile, within the center of Quarrycrest…
"Come one, come all!" shouted Tressa as she stood in front of a rug containing the green and glowing skystones she purchased earlier. "Be the first to get your hands on one of the rarest treasures in the realm!"
A customer approached Tressa. "Gold?"
Tressa shook her head as she held one of the skystones in her hand. "Nope! It's better than gold! Now feast your eyes on this: the shimmering skystone!"
"Oh my!" said the customer.
"Look how it sparkles!" said another approaching customer.
"Let me see!" said a third customer.
"Well? Quite the beauty, isn't it?" said Tressa.
"I've never seen anything like it," said one of the customers. "It's absolutely breathtaking!"
Tressa nodded. "Yes. But did you know? The skystone's radiance is surpassed only by its rarity. So if you'd like one of your own, this might be your only chance!"
The customers moved closer as they held out leaves in their hands. "I'll take one!" said one customer. "Me, too!" said another customer.
Tressa smiled. "Pleasure doing business with you!"
As Tressa sold several of her skystones and watched the satisfied customers leave, she breathed deeply after the excitement she just experienced. "Whew! Those stones practically sold themselves! This place really is good for business!"
Tressa proceeded to place more skystones to the rug she set up for her business, before speaking to more potential customers passing by. "Step right up! Be the first in line to see the rarest-"
Tressa then noticed the traveling merchant from earlier setting up his own rug with his own set of skystones right next to her. Ali yelled. "Ladies and gentlemen, gather round and prepare yourselves for a breathtaking sight! This, my friends, is the one and only sparkling, shining skystone! You can be the proud owner of these lovely gems for just a fraction of her prices!"
Tressa spoke in frustration. "What a dirty trick! Setting up shop right next to me…"
"They certainly are beautiful," said a customer approaching Ali. "But what makes your stones different from hers?"
Ali answered. "You won't find purer skystones anywhere. Just look at them! You can see all the way through. Not a single blemish or impurity to be found! Dazzling, is it not, milady? Almost as dazzling as your eyes."
The female customer blushed as she replied. "W-well, when you put it that way…"
Ali then turned to another customer as he eyed a doll the customer was carrying. "Do you have a daughter, my good sir? That doll's of Bolderfall make, no? A precious gift for a precious little girl, no doubt. Clearly, you're the type of father who wants only the best for his darling child. Do you truly believe that doll will suffice? The skystone is as pure, innocent, and beautiful as a daughter's love. And every time she sees its radiant glow, she'll remember her dear father who gave it to her. Its light will connect her to you, no matter how far you may travel. 'Dear Father, where do you roam? Dear Father, when will you come here?' Surely, you can see why this would be the best purchase you'll ever make!"
The customer nodded. "I can just see her smiling face now. What a pleasant young man. I'll take one."
Ali replied gleefully. "You're most welcome, my good sir!"
Ali then turned to the rest of Tressa's customers approaching him. "Step right up! There's not a moment to spare if you want a rare skystone to call your own!"
Tressa grumbled in anger as she saw all her customers head over to Ali and purchase his skystones. Soon, Ali's rug was devoid of any skystones, while Tressa's rug still had plenty of skystones left on it.
"Whew! Would you look at that? Business is booming! Well...maybe not for all of us," said Ali as he looked over to Tressa.
Tressa sighed in defeat. "You win this round."
Ali responded. "There's no way I'd lose to a green pea like you."
"I'll admit, I've never seen anyone make a sale like that before," said Tressa.
"Practice makes perfect," said Ali. "If you want to survive in this world, you need to learn how to tug heartstrings and loosen purse strings."
"But being a merchant is about more than just making a sale!" exclaimed Tressa. "A good merchant should understand what their customer needs and sell them what's best!"
"What I sell may not be what they need, but it is what they want. What's wrong with a little embellishment?" asked Ali. "A merchant's words are like a warrior's blade. Don't forget it, Green Pea."
Tressa growled in annoyance as she saw Ali gather up his rug and leave the square. She decided to buy some food at the town's marketplace, and proceeded to head towards that area.
Tressa spotted a familiar merchant among the purveying customers of the marketplace, with the familiar merchant then approaching Tressa.
"Well, if isn't the green pea," said Ali. "You don't know when to quit, I'll give you that...so, why'd you take up this line of work anyway?"
Tressa answered. "Both my parents are merchants, so I guess it just came naturally. And now I'm wandering the world and learning the trade as I go."
Ali responded. "You don't say. My old man's a merchant too. In the south, everyone and their uncle's heard of Maruf the merchant. He was such a smooth talker, he could sell sand in the desert. But he never once told a lie. With just a few words, my dad could get anyone to buy what he was selling and make them feel genuinely happy about their purchase. It was like magic. His words had an incredible power, one that could help people see the beauty in the things they purchased. And so I decided to follow in my old man's footsteps."
Tressa asked. "Did you take up the family business?"
Ali answered. "No, I ran away from home. I'll spare you the details. That's just how things played out."
Tressa replied. "It wasn't so different for me, you know."
Ali chuckled. "You don't say. Well, I've got another busy day ahead of me. Better luck tomorrow, eh?"
Tressa nodded. "Same to you, and may the best merchant win!"
"Well, well. You seem to be doing well for yourself, illegal though your business may be."
Tressa and Ali turned to regard the approaching voice.
The voice came from Omar, who arrived in the marketplace along with his boss Morlock.
Ali asked. "And who are you?"
Omar responded. "Watch your tone, boy. Mr. Morlock owns this establishment, as well as everything else in this town."
Ali replied. "That's great and all, but what do you mean 'illegal?' You many own all the gold, but these were just dusty old rocks until I polished them to a sheen."
"That pompous attitude will get you in trouble someday, boy," said Omar. "As landowner here, Mr. Morlock has the right to oversee any and all business transactions he so desires. As of now, that includes the trading of your little rocks."
"Does it now?" said Ali. "That seems awfully arbitrary, if you ask me. But that wouldn't be the first foul thing to happen here. Or weren't you aware, Mr. Morlock? You see, the price of gold is actually ten times what you're giving to your miners."
Tressa stood closer. "Ali, maybe this isn't the time-"
Ali interrupted Tressa. "It's exactly the time. They're deceiving honest, hard-working people just to line their pockets. On my honor as a merchant, I won't stand for it!"
Morlock spoke in anger. "Omar, teach this little desert ant what happens to pests who try to stain my good name."
Omar then walked forward to Ali and knocked out the merchant with one hard punch to the face.
Morlock spoke. "I trust you've learned your lesson, ant." He then turned to Tressa. "Looks like your wares aren't selling so well. Don't worry, I'll take them off your hands."
Morlock then walked up to Tressa and forcefully grabbed the stones from her hands and pockets. "These stones belong to me. Do you understand?"
Tressa hung her head down in shame. Her body trembled, as she found herself too frightened to defend herself and Ali from Morlock and especially Omar.
"Hey!"
Tressa turned to see Alfyn approaching her and then soon stand in front of her, with his axe ready in his hands.
He held up the axe and aimed it towards Morlock's sight, which frightened the hell out of the greedy man.
"Give back what you stole from my friend!" yelled Alfyn to Morlock.
A crowd gathered around the confrontation, quietly cheering on the apothecary to fight back against their evil owner.
Omar stood in front of Morlock, now holding his battle-axe in his hands.
"Or else what, boy?" asked Omar.
Alfyn answered. "Or else I'll take it back from you-"
Omar interrupted Alfyn's threat by swinging the battleaxe down onto Alfyn's head. Alfyn blocked the sharp end of Omar's battleaxe with the handle of his own axe. The battleaxe went through most of the handle's wood, as Omar kept pushing his axe down towards Alfyn's head.
Alfyn struggled to push the battleaxe back up and away from his head with his own axe, and found himself slowly weakening from the struggle to push back the battleaxe.
"Looks like you won't last long, you little-"
Omar felt a sharp sting in his left knee, as he looked down at a white-haired man proceeding to stab his dagger into the man's right knee. Omar keeled over, with Therion proceeding to stab both of the man's shoulders with his dagger as well leading to Omar dropping his battleaxe.
"That should keep you out of action, at least for a while," commented Therion, before he kneeled down as well after some of his wounds opened up during his stab rush. Alfyn rushed over to Therion, and set forth to replace the bandages that covered the thief's injuries.
Morlock spoke in shock. "Omar! And after all I paid you…"
Tressa spoke up. "Give up, Mr. Morlock. You've lost. Now leave this town, and never return!"
Morlock looked with fright at Alfyn, Therion, and Tressa and the rest of the townspeople looking at him. He panicked and proceeded to flee from Quarrycrest. Omar struggled to follow after him, too injured to risk fighting the entire town now that he was disabled from putting up a worthy challenge to the several people ready to attack him and Morlock.
The entire town cheered in victory, surrounding the three travelers and showing their thanks to the strangers who liberated their town from the evil Morlock and Omar.
"Aw, shucks. It was nothing," said Alfyn to the cheering townspeople next to him.
"Don't stand so close to me," said Therion to the townspeople cheering next to him.
Tressa, meanwhile, helped the now-conscious Ali stand back up on his feet after he received that blow to his head.
Ali groaned before speaking to Tressa. "I owe you one. And a merchant always pays his debts. You have my word."
Tressa chuckled. "I'll hold you to it."
Ali breathed deeply, before continuing. "My father was known by some to be a swindler. But it was a lie, spread by competitors who were jealous of his talent! And though my father was deceived by his friend, and forced to take on his debt...it doesn't diminish the things he taught me. Our words have the power to make our customers happy. So I'll follow in my father's footsteps, work hard, and go back home with enough money to pay our debts in full...Say, have you ever heard of the Merchants' Fair?"
Tressa shook her head. Ali continued. "It's the greatest auction in the realm, held each year in Grandport. The wealthiest and most influential people the world over come to feast their eyes on treasures beyond your imagination. They say there's nothing you can't buy at the Merchants' Fair."
Tressa's eyes lit up. "That sounds incredible!"
"I'm going to go there and make my dreams come true," said Ali. "If you can make it at the Fair, you can make it anywhere!"
"You really do have a way with words, Ali," said Tressa. "Guess I'll be seeing you in Grandport! We still need to have our rematch. And what better place to settle the score than the Merchants' Fair?"
"I'll bring my best treasure. If you think you stand a chance, I suggest you do the same," said Ali.
"I'll find the greatest treasure there is. You'll see!" exclaimed Tressa.
Ali nodded. "Good. Once you have it, come find me at the fair. I'll be the one drawing the largest crowd." Ali held out his hand.
"They won't stick around for long once I get here," said Tressa as she proceeded to shake Ali's hand.
Ali chuckled. "You're sounding less green already, Green Pea. See you at the Fair." Ali then left the marketplace, and soon Quarrycrest.
Meanwhile, Alfyn turned to Therion and spoke to him. "Thanks so much back there. You saved my life, and I'm waiting to hear how I can make it up to you...uh...I didn't get your name before actually."
Therion kept his eyes away from Alfyn as he talked. "You don't owe me anything. You saved my life earlier, and I saved yours now. We're even. I don't need your help anymore...And it's Therion." Therion turned towards the path out of Quarrycrest, and Alfyn quickly stood in front of the thief.
"Wait! You're not going out there by yourself, are you?" asked Alfyn.
"I told you, I don't need-" Therion stopped talking as he hissed at the sudden pain from the wounds and injuries that were still present all over his body.
"Look...Therion. I don't want to bother you, but you're clearly not in a great condition to travel. Now I'm offering to let you come with me and Tressa, and I don't think that going by yourself in the Cliftlands with all those predators out there is the smart move right now. Me and Tressa are moving up to the Woodlands, so if you're headed there then at least stay with us until you reach wherever you're staying at. Come on. Just until we get there, okay?" Alfyn then held out his open hand to Therion.
Therion sighed in annoyance. He didn't like being around other people, but the apothecary was right about his condition stopping him from moving freely. If the condor and hyena attacked him again while he was in this state, his chances at staying alive would be better if he had Alfyn and whoever Tressa was.
Plus, Therion found himself to be curious at the apothecary's kind nature. He had never met anyone so noble. Alfyn saved his life, didn't ask for any payment, and is willing to let him come along even though Therion made it clear that he doesn't like the company. Therion believed that Alfyn was a dream, something made up that could not possibly exist.
Though he wouldn't admit it to the apothecary, Therion truly was interested to be in the presence of someone so warm to Therion despite him being a thief. But did Alfyn know that Therion was a thief? He had to have seen the brace while Alfyn was tending to Therion's wounds, and yet he never brought up the brace before. Perhaps Alfyn really was gullible, and he does not know the purpose behind such a brace. But if that's the case, it makes joining with Alfyn seem like the smart move to do, as Alfyn had yet to uncover and dwell on Therion's identity as a thief.
Therion decided he could use Alfyn's offer to his advantage, at least until they're out of the Cliftlands and then in another town where Therion could recuperate before he leaves on his own path. If Alfyn was that determined for Therion's safety, then Therion didn't see the point in refusing the protection from the wild beasts out there. Maybe Alfyn had some sinister plan for Therion, and was only duping him into being lulled with a false sense of security? Maybe. But right now, the alternative with Alfyn is better than the alternative where's he facing beasts with his alone and injured self. The odds just weren't stacked in Therion's favor if he kept up the isolation act at this current moment.
Therion sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll come with you. But no handshakes, okay?"
Alfyn then moved his open hand and rubbed it behind his head as he chuckled in embarrassment. "Alright. But I gotta introduce you to Tressa."
As Tressa saw Ali off, she turned to face Alfyn and the man next to him. "Thanks for saving me back there, Alfyn." Tressa looked at the man next to Alfyn, before speaking again. "I see he's awake now. Did you get his name?"
Alfyn nodded. "Yup, it's Therion. And he's coming with us to the Woodlands for now."
Tressa nodded. "Gotcha. After all, we can't leave him alone out there, can we?"
Tressa then held out her hand to Therion. "Hello Therion, I'm Tressa!"
Alfyn then meekly spoke. "He...um...said 'no handshakes.'"
Tressa then responded to Therion in a tone of jest. "Aw, way to ruin the fun of joining us, Mr. Spoilsport!"
Therion sighed in annoyance again. "Whatever. Let's just get out of Quarrycrest and the Cliftlands, alright?"
Therion then headed for the path out of Quarrycrest, as Alfyn proceeded to catch up to Therion.
"Already? Hehe, you sure don't slack around, Therion," said Alfyn as he walked beside Therion.
"Hey Tress, you need a minute?" said Alfyn as he paused his movements and looked behind him.
Tressa finished writing in her journal, before answering Alfyn. "No, it's alright! I'm ready to go!"
Tressa then put the journal in her backpack, as she caught up with the apothecary and the thief. All three of them soon left the town of Quarrycrest behind, the citizens now free to relish in its gold and skystones abound.
As she walked, Tressa reflected on the passage she wrote in her journal.
"Sharing a connection with someone new - for however brief a time - is unforgettable.
After we met, all I wanted to do was forget Ali. But he sure knows how to make a lasting impression.
Now, I think I've found a good rival in him. Funny how things turn out, no?
And now, I know my final destination: Grandport, and the Merchants' Fair.
For now, I'll follow in the footsteps of the nameless traveler and make for Victor's Hollow, with my friend, Alfyn, and our new traveling companion, Therion.
There I'll find myself a treasure beyond my wildest dreams!"