Chapter 4

It's been one week. It seems much shorter than that.

Lizzy sighed and adjusted the pack on her back, careful to avoid scratching the soft leather. It was her first purchase made from money she had earned fair and square working in Tilly's kitchen. It had been hard work, the small forest gnome was a ruthless master when it came to the meals she served, but it had left Lizzy with a sense of fulfillment that she had never felt before.

Her mother's teachings had quickly flown to the forefront of her mind. Lizzy had mixed dough, chopped apples and added spices as if it had been a mere few days instead of years since the last time she stepped foot inside a kitchen. Tilly had nearly bounced herself silly from excitement, blabbering to any who cared to listen about the new recipe the Spryhouse now had. From the way the gnome went on, one would think they had hired a famous master chef, not just some battle-scarred ex-gladiator turned newly freed slave.

A small giggle escaped her lips. No matter how hard Lizzy tried to convince Tilly otherwise, the gnome insisted on complimenting and praising her until Lizzy was sure her face would stay on fire forever.

The smile faded from her face and she turned to glance over her shoulder. The tall buildings of Resken had long faded from view, replaced by wide open land and the occasional grove of towering trees.

Her heart filled with gratitude; for the warm bed and meals, the smiles and companionship, for the chance to do something with her life other than fight and kill. Her coin pouch bulged with hard-earned wages, much more than she assumed she should have earned, and her pack had been filled to the brim with every provision imaginable.

Lizzy smiled again and resumed her trek, a newly formed bounce in her step. Settled within the outermost pocket of her pouch set her new knitting needles and balls of soft yarn; also first purchases from her first paycheck. For the first time since she could remember, Lizzy couldn't wait for the quiet evening when she could settle around a fire and begin the well-loved craft.

She had been traveling on the road for several hours, making only the occasional rest to eat and drink from her flask of water, when a loud voice drifted across the breeze. Lizzy's feet slowed, her heart beginning to pound.

A lone traveler traveled the road in front of her. A long cloak billowed behind him, but Lizzy could make out slim legs kicking the air in front of him as he skipped down the road. Drawing her long braid over her shoulder, Lizzy took a deep breath, tucked her chin against her chest, and lengthened her stride to pass the happy stranger.

Her quick gate quickly ate up the distance between her and the stranger and in a matter of seconds she pulled next to him. She hardly dared to give even the barest of nods in his direction before moving quickly past him. As soon as the stranger moved out of sight, Lizzy heard a voice call out to her.

"Hail, traveler! You look like you've seen a fight or two. Could you perchance help me with something?"

Lizzy barely slowed. "I'm sorry, but I don't fight anymore," she called over her shoulder.

"Oh no, my apologies . That's not what I meant!"

Feet pounding on the dirt road and the stranger drew abreast to her. A human, much shorter than her towering height, with what looked like numerous musical instruments strapped to the sides of his pack. His wide smile startled her and she fiddled with her ear, forgetting for a moment that the sides of her scalp were now shaved.

"My name is Benjamin and I am a humble bard, at your service."

Lizzy finally stopped when the strange man clicked his heels together and gave her a deep bow. Willing her face to not burst into flame, she held her wrapped glaive tightly against her chest like a shield.

"What…what can I possibly help you with?"

"Were you perhaps at the Goblin Festival in Resken?"

Lizzy blinked. Of course she knew about the festival. Fighters from all across the country came to prove their worth and earn their glory at the numerous fighting competitions. And of course Master Yanis forbade any of his gladiators to participate…something about them being too noticeable and bad business.

"I've heard of it, but I've never been."

The man didn't let her finish. "Wasn't Akheri just amazing? I've never seen moves like that before. Tell me, what is the name of this fighting move?"

A paper flapped in front of her face, rough drawings of some sort of fighter wielding a large warhammer.

"I'm…I'm not sure, I don't use a warhammer." She lifted her glaive slightly and gave the man what she hoped was an apologetic smile.

"Not a problem, not a problem. I just thought I would ask. If you wouldn't mind me asking–"

This fellow sure talks a lot.

"Where are you heading?"

"Oh!" Lizzy readjusted her glaive and reached into her trouser pocket for the map Kogash drew for her. "Um, a town called Arveya. Have you heard of it?"

Maybe he can tell me if I'm going in the right direction!

"Really? What a coincidence; me too! Did you know that Akheri is one of the newly appointed nobles that founded the town?"

The man began to jaunt down the path. Lizzy hurried to catch up. "You've mentioned her a few times. Is she your…wife?"

Ben sputtered and his face turned an alarming shade of red. "Oh, no! No, no! Haha, wife, should I be that lucky!"

He stuttered and blushed, and mumbled to himself. Lizzy smiled.

He's a lot younger than me, that's for sure.

"I'm just her biggest fan. I sing her praises at every tavern I come across, spreading the news of the paladin with a heart filled with pure gold and a weapon filled with the divine justice of Thor himself. Oh that was good! I need to write that down."

Ben slowed, digging in his pack for several moments until he brought out a small notebook and pen. He scribbled across the paper, mumbling to himself and occasionally asking her opinion. When he took a moment to breathe, Lizzy quickly interrupted.

"Is that Common that you're writing in?"

"What? Oh, actually this is Draconic. Akheri is dragonborn, you see, so I thought it pertinent that I learn her language as well."

"Do you…know how to write in Common?" She scratched her ear and glanced at Ben.

"Sure I do!" His eyes brightened. "Do you want me to teach you?"

Lizzy nodded, biting her lip to hold back a smile. Ben dug in his back and thrust a notebook at her.

"This will be yours! I can't believe you are giving me the honor of teaching you! Don't you worry at all…by the time we reach our new home you'll be reading all of my songs, just you wait! But before that…where did you find that Glaive of Warning? Can I write a story about it?"

Ah Ben...my mom's new character for this backup campaign. She came up with the concept of him being a "fanboy" of her main character Akheri and of course I completely supported her idea! Though I'm pretty sure our DM is being driven mad by Lizzy and Ben's interactions haha!