"Be my guest, Filia," Tabby replied with a smile and nod. Her hair bounced around her face and into her eyes and she brushed it back. "The more people the merrier," she laughed. However, she thought to herself how odd it was now that she surrounded herself with everyone. Usually she would've already broken away from the group and headed off on her own with perhaps only Valgaav at her side, if even him. She looked at him now and saw him resting semi-comfortably in the inn table's chair.
He had his eyes closed and his head inclined slightly forward as he listened to everyone around him. It didn't look like he was, but Tabby knew. When the others talked his mouth would quirk into little smiles or frowns to what each of them said. Sometimes he even looked up. This he did now, when he felt her eyes on him. Smiling gently, he shook his head at Tabby. She still couldn't get over how strange a smile looked on his face, even though she'd seen it many more times than anyone else had. For a few moments, she contemplated moving so that she could speak to him more directly rather than over everyone else, but before she could make her move Amelia had grabbed her arm.
"I know this might sound like a useless question, Miss Tabby," she began, her eyes as wide and innocent as possible, "but what exactly do you plan on using the Sword of Ruin for? I wouldn't ask, but it has such an awful name."
Tabby thought she smelled a justice speech coming on, but thankfully Amelia stayed quiet long enough for her to answer. "I don't know, Amelia, but I know it won't be for unjust means."
"Oh no, Miss Tabby! I wasn't suggesting that you would use it for evil!" Impossibly enough her eyes grew wider until they were like large blue saucers. She shook her head vigorously and slunk back in her chair. "It just doesn't sound like a very nice weapon."
"I know it doesn't, Amelia, but that's not what I'm going to use it for. Ruin, I mean." Turning to Zelgadis then, Tabby asked, "How much longer do you think it is from here to Rorfinia?"
"From here a matter of two weeks," he replied, sipping at his ever-present cup of coffee. "We'll pass through two or three more towns on the way, if my memory serves me correctly."
"It's three," Valgaav confirmed, suddenly speaking from his long silence. Everyone looked at him as if they'd been startled into realizing he was actually there. However, it seemed as if they were becoming used to him and didn't look as angry with him every time he spoke. Zelgadis even seemed comfortable around him. Tabby found this very satisfactory. At least the journey might seem less cramped without everyone else trying their best to exclude her friend.
"Well, then I propose we only spend one more night here," Tabby said thoughtfully.
Lina, who was busily munching away on a few sandwiches she'd bought, nodded. "One more night is almost too long to stay if this Rorfinia place is that far away. We'll have to leave early in the morning. So, we'd better eat up now while we've got the chance!" With that she snapped her fingers to grab the attention of the nearby waiter. One look at the group sitting at the table and it seemed he'd died and gone both to heaven and hell.
Clearing his throat, yet still speaking with a tremble to his voice, he asked, "May I take your orders?"
Early the next morning, Tabby Inverse found herself alone with her thoughts. She even strayed away from Valgaav's side closer to where the edge of the path met the beginnings of a dense forest. Velbeakin was a mile or so behind them now, but they all knew that a rest stop would not come for some time. At least, not until the sun was high in the sky. As a consolation the morning was certainly a sight for sore eyes. The last of the magenta and tangerine hues had faded into a brilliant baby blue color, streaked with fluffy white clouds and pale sunshine. In the sunlight Lina and Tabby's hair truly did look fiery orange and both seemed to enjoy it.
Lina was busy explaining to Gourry once again where Rorfinia was and why they were going to it; Zelgadis walked on ahead of everyone, flanked by Amelia and Filia. Valgaav brought up the very end of the group, only a few steps behind Tabby. He too was quiet and looked contemplative. Tabby thought once or twice about interrupting him, but never really got around to it while she pondered what would happen when they reached the Lady of Faith. Would the Lady give her the location? Would she have to pass a test for it? Or would she get thrown out and receive nothing, only to try and find another lead some other day?
She sighed softly and earned an, "Are you all right, Miss Tabby?" from a worried Amelia looking back at her.
"Yes, Amelia, thank you." Tabby smiled reassuringly at the princess of Saillune. She made a mental note not to let her thoughts seep through to her physical actions.
And as they trudged on and the day passed, turning into midday and eventually night, they continued walking only stopping a few times here and there to eat or rest. Tabby and her fellow travelers only rested when the moon hung high and the earth was eerily still, in another almost conveniently placed clearing in the forest.
The afternoon of the next day brought them to one of those towns Zelgadis had mentioned. It was smaller than any Tabby had ever seen in all of her travels, perhaps that's why she'd been by it twice and never really noticed it. They entered because food stocks were getting low and it was cheaper to have their own than to eat in an inn every time they dropped by a town. Once again Tabby and Valgaav went their own way into the town, Tabby claiming she wanted to look around and Valgaav silently following her. Zelgadis went with them also, while Filia stayed with Lina and the others.
By nightfall they were on their way again, hoping that they could make it to morning light and rest then rather than settling down in the colder, darker regions of the forest again. This time Tabby tried to walk ahead, it was her expedition after all and it wasn't fit for Zelgadis to continue leading it. She drew the rest of the information out of him, since he truly hadn't explained everything in the beginning. Tabby was happy with everything she knew and she tried to strike up a leadership position from then on, hoping that it might work. However, she knew she'd have to consider the fact that she was traveling with her cousin of all people and that against her hardly anyone could be the leader they wanted to be.
The days passed so quickly as they traveled, day turning into night turning into morning and eventually evening again. The two weeks that Zelgadis had prophesied came and went in nearly no time at all. Finally Tabby found herself standing on the outskirts of the place they'd been heading to. A large, mahogany wood sign proclaimed "Welcome to Rorfinia! The finest port in Ralteague!" And from their vantage point it looked like a fine port city. The harbor was right near the edge and though it wasn't filled with ships it was bustling with people and animals and other such creatures that were able to conduct business. A smile wider than anyone had ever seen was stretched across Tabby's face. She could hardly believe that she was no so close to the Sword of Ruin. After seeking it for more years than she cared to remember, she was in the vicinity of the one woman who could tell her where it was located and how to get it. No matter if she wouldn't, or made Tabby suffer through some sort of test before she would confide in Tabby the information she so desired.
"We're here!" Tabby gave a little jump of joy and clutched her hands to her chest to feel her heart racing madly. She turned to the others who looked equally as joyed, having sacrificed a month out of their own time to help her. "I can't believe it, but we're here! Now all we have to do is find the Lady of Faith!"
"And that shouldn't be too hard, right?" Gourry asked. He looked around at his fellow travelers and noticed them all glaring at him, or more correctly, the statement he'd just made. "What?"
