Journey to the North
Chapter III
Kaelis' horse pulled impatiently at the reins, tossing its head with a disgruntled snort . It was that hour just before dawn, when the air is clear and crisp and smells of newly-washed earth, and the last thing the horse wanted to do was sit still and wait.
Kaelis murmured gently to the fretful animal, then released the reins with one hand to soothingly stroke the animal's neck. She was as restless as her mount, but there was value in patience, and Kaelis forced herself to take a deep breath and relax. Her eyes did not leave the immense northern gate of Athkatla, however. After a long moment, she became vaguely away of another horse approaching quietly from somewhere behind her.
Jaheira's eyes, too, were fixed on the city gates as she pulled her horse forward. Kaeli's small group had been waiting for nearly an hour. They had checked and rechecked each pack and each weapon as they waited for the sun to rise and announce the start of their journey.
"Sir Ryan is late."
Kaelis shook her head and smiled faintly, taking a deep breath of the clean morning air. "Sir Ryan said that we ride at dawn." She sighed softly and turned her eyes to Jaheira. "The sun has yet to rise."
Jaheira laughed under her breath, making a wry face. "So Imoen has told me. Several times. For one so eager to begin our journey, she certainly did not want to leave the comfort of her bed." Jaheira followed Kaelis' example and took a deep breath of the fresh air. She let it out a moment later in a barely perceptible sigh.
Kaelis returned her gaze to the city gate. The silence was thick, but comfortable, and it was a few minutes before Jaheira spoke again.
"This was Khalid's favorite time of day."
Kaelis glanced quickly at Jaheira, startled by the mention of the druid's dead husband. Jaheira rarely spoke of him, and Kaelis could not remember ever hearing such softness in her friend's voice. It was not unpleasant, just strange. It surprised her. Jaheira did not seem to notice, and continued quietly.
"Nature is quiet, the air clean…." Her voice trailed off, and she smiled, her eyes taking on a faraway look. "He would rise before the sun to watch it climb over the mountains. No matter where we traveled, he would always wake to greet the sun. I… loved that in him."
The druid broke off abruptly and looked down, as though suddenly ashamed of her emotions. She cleared her throat quickly and returned her gaze to the gate. She said nothing more.
Kaelis began gently, "Jaheira, I…."
Jaheira made an impatient gesture and her voice regained its note of sharpness. "I have seen the pain in your eyes, child. You have hidden it well from those who do not know you, but you cannot hide it from me." Jaheira's eyes remained stubbornly on the gate, but they seemed to glisten softly in the rising light.
Kaelis watched her friend for a moment more. She said nothing, and soon turned her eyes to the gate, as well. A few lights had begun to flicker in the dark silhouettes of close-sitting houses, and she could smell on the breeze the faint scent of smoke. Cooking fires. Morning was beginning again in Athkatla.
After what seemed an eternity, Jaheira turned to look at her companion, her voice almost gentle. "We will find him, Kaelis."
Kaelis' eyes did not move, but she smiled faintly. "I know." She paused for a moment, then glanced over at Jaheira and smiled. "Thank you."
Jaheira gave an almost imperceptible nod. A moment of silence, and then Kaelis heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats.
Jaheira straightened her slender shoulder. "Sir Ryan comes, child. Be ready." Before Kaelis could say a word, the druid turned her horse and rode away.
- - -
Imoen watched impatiently as Jaheira's horse approached. It took only a moment, but it felt like forever. Imoen's horse was nearly as restless as Imoen herself, but not quite. The horse pulled at the reins and pawed at the ground. Imoen was ready to jump from the saddle and run toward the Silver Mountains on foot, Order or no Order. The waiting was simply driving her crazy. She had never had much patience to begin with, but this was ridiculous.
As Jaheira drew near, Imoen moved her horse forward a few steps and asked quickly, "Are they here?"
Jaheira nodded silently. Imoen let out a little cheer. "It's about time. We've got places to go. We've got people to see. We've got…."
"Butts to kick !" Minsc's voice rose in an enthusiastic crescendo. His deep, rumbling bass echoed in the morning air.
Jaheira and Imoen both turned quickly to face Minsc. Imoen was trying not laugh and failing miserably. Jaheira simply rolled her eyes. Minsc sat tall in his saddle, throwing an enormous shadow over Imoen and Jaheira. Imoen giggled at the look of sheer joy on the ranger's face at the prospect of a new evil in need of a good, solid thrashing.
This was going to be fun.
- - -
Kaelis could hear the others speaking behind her, but the majority of her attention was focused on the small group of approaching soldiers. She recognized Sir Ryan at the head, but the other men were knights whose faces she could barely recall, and whose names she could not remember.
Sir Ryan held up a hand as the knights drew near to Kaelis' horse. The other knights slowed and stopped behind him. He continued on, however, and in a moment, he had drawn near enough that Kaelis could see the smile on his face. He bowed over his saddle in greeting, and she nodded slightly in response.
"Good morning, Sir Ryan."
"Good morning, My Lady."
Kaelis smiled, slender hands steadying her horse as it tried to take another step forward. "My friends and I were beginning to wonder if you were coming after all, Sir Ryan, or if we would be saving the world alone."
Sir Ryan laughed, the sound echoing pleasantly in the morning air. "Again, you mean?"
Kaelis joined in his laughter, the color rushing to her cheeks. "Perhaps."
Sir Ryan looked toward the mountains in the east. Kaelis followed his gaze, noting with no little satisfaction that the light was growing brighter, throwing the mountains into sharp silhouette.
Sir Ryan nodded. "The sun rises, the dawn has come, and we are ready to ride." He met Kaelis' eyes and smiled into them. "As promised."
Sir Ryan turned to the Jaheira and the others and bowed over his saddle. Jaheira returned his greeting with a quiet nod. Imoen waved a single tiny hand, grinning widely. Minsc, who had no use for formality, beamed joyously at the paladin and raised his enormous arms in a gesture of triumph. The huge ranger was fairly quivering with anticipation in his saddle, and Kaelis had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
Sir Ryan smiled and looked back at Kaelis. "I supposed that inquiring after your readiness is unnecessary?"
Kaelis laughed softly. "Fairly unnecessary, Sir Ryan."
He nodded, chuckling. "I thought as much. Very well, then. We travel northeast through the Cloudpeak mountains to Nashkel, then north on the coast road until we reach the Friendly Arm Inn south of Baldur's Gate."
Sir Ryan shifted in his saddle, saying quietly, "We would prefer, of course, to avoid the city of Baldur's Gate itself, if at all possible. Relations between that city and the nation of Amn are still rather…" he considered his words for a moment. "Strained."
Kaelis nodded her understanding, and Sir Ryan continued. "All of this is subject to change, of course, and as you are certainly more familiar with the northern part of the Sword Coast than are we, I would greatly value any suggestions you may have."
Kaelis shook her head. "It sounds like a good plan. It will be a tenday's ride, perhaps, a fortnight if we run into bad weather. Jaheira is more familiar with than I am with the area around Baldur's Gate, and could perhaps find a quicker route through the forests, but that will not need to be decided until we reach Nashkel."
Sir Ryan smiled, surveying Kaelis' small group of friends and the gathered knights. A sliver of brilliant sunlight peeked over the mountains. Dawn had come.
Sir Ryan looked at Kaelis. "Then we are indeed ready, my Lady. The Order's forces wait on the northern edge of the city, waiting only for the order to depart."
Kaelis shifted her hold on the reins. Her horse snorted impatiently and tossed its head.
"Then give it, Sir Ryan. Time runs short."
Saying nothing more, Kaelis turned her horse and gently kicked at its sides. The animal leapt forward, and within seconds Kaelis had reached the northern gate of the city and flown through, headed toward the northeast and her lost lover. In the space of a breath, her friends were close behind.
Minsc raised a joyful shout. Imoen laughed and lifted her face to the wind. Jaheira cried an oath to Silvanus. Sir Ryan shouted encouragement to his soldiers, and the soldiers' voices rose into a shout of triumph. Even that great noise was quickly lost in the rumble of thundering hooves and beat of sword on shield.
The journey had begun.
