Here be Dragons!
Chapter 3
Rick had been impressed with the number of things they had to purchase. Granted no one shop had everything and Kate had taken them to three of them to find everything Rick was sure they and especially she was going to need.
Yes, Kate had things that were very useful in the coming trip. It was just that she hadn't traveled out of the city so she didn't have a sleeping bag. Nor winter clothing for long distance travel. She hadn't debated needing things to keep her warm. It was fall and if they had until somewhere in summer to get there, it meant traveling in winter which meant traveling in snow.
The second Kate unlocked her door and opened it she got a display of just what Rick's dog could do. Because he was really happy that Rick was back. Kate watched him blinking, as Rick called it, all over her apartment before finally staying in one place long enough to be petted.
Then Rick had taken him outside so he could do his business. It left Kate putting all her new stuff on her bed and taking stock of all the stuff she had bought.
It was while they were out that Kate learned that Rick could cast spells. He had said that his list was limited but any spell was one more spell than she could do. They went to a temple to search for scrolls they could purchase that he could read to help them.
Kate was still looking everything over when there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Rick and Dog.
"All done. Tomorrow we need to go looking for a horse and a magic saddle for you," Rick informed her.
"Why a magic saddle?" Kate queried.
"How much skill do you have in riding a horse? Getting that horse to swim across a river with you riding it? Getting it to go down a hill full of loose rocks. To have your horse run at a full gallop without falling off? What if it needs to jump over something?" Rick questioned her since she was likely going to need to do all those things.
"Oh, and a magic saddle will help me with all that?" The number of times Kate had ridden a horse could be counted on one hand.
"Until you can add some skill to your riding, yes. Not to worry, we'll find something. We can also pick up some travel rations for the start of our trip. We won't be in a town each night so we'll be doing a lot of camping. Hunting and fishing as well," Rick cautioned her.
"Don't worry. After the first few times you'll get used to it. I've had lots of practice so I won't steer you wrong." Rick tried to quell any nervousness she might have.
"We can spend our time before dinner packing our backpacks. Remember what you want will always magically be on top no matter where in the backpack you pack it. Be warned, though, you can't get something out of it that isn't already in it. So you need to pack it and know what you put in it so it will be on top when you need it." Rick picked up his backpack, began to empty it, then repack it.
"What about this thing?" Kate held it up for him to see.
"That's a potion bandolier. It goes over your head and settles on your shoulder. Then you take your potion vials that you want out of one of your bags of holding because you think you'll need them immediately and slide them into the loops. It only holds 6 and the potions will be across your chest." Rick used his hand to demonstrate where on her chest they'll be located.
"Got it." She wasn't even done packing her backpack yet and now she had to select potions she wanted immediate access to.
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Kate wasn't done, however, she saw Rick sitting on her padded bench looking like he was done but he was talking to himself and using his fingers.
"What?" Kate wanted to know what he was thinking. She knew he was worried about something but not what exactly.
"Just trying to think. You have something permanent for the elements, either hot or cold. I have potions, scrolls, and clothes. If we come across the undead we each have something that can give us what they drain from us back to us. If we reach a ridge that we can't cross you have a bridge that we can use. I have two gems that are each a single use only to create an even longer bridge.
"We have something to make fresh water so we won't die of thirst. I have traps to hunt with if I can't shoot it with a bow and arrow. I even have a real fishing pole now instead of a handmade spur of the moment one. We have a way to get one of us and our horse across and then come back for the other when we reach a wide river we don't want to risk swimming.
"We have potions we can use to fly without resorting to shifting to fly. I have fireballs if we encounter swarms. I've got a tent that blends with the environment that will keep us from freezing or baking in the heat. And the sleeping bags we both now have will also do that.
"Primary and backup weapon. Spare clothing if we need them. What am I missing?" Rick looked at Kate to see if she could think of something.
"Food for the horses and your dog?" Kate asked.
"I have some hay already but we can get another bale when we get you a horse. Dog will eat what we hunt or purchase in a town." Rick had that covered. "That includes oats from time to time for the horses. We can take turns."
"We both have healing abilities. Scrolls and potions to speed that up if necessary. Not just for us but the horses and Dog." Rick was running out of things to worry about. "We might be able to buy things along the way or find them."
"Find them?" Kate questioned him.
"We'll be getting into battles. They'll have things we might be able to use." Rick gave her a few examples. "Gold coins or potions for example. We run across a Red Dragon; he or she will have a hoard somewhere. We just have to find it."
"Oh." She hated that it sounded like she was the weak link in this. Just because she'd never left the city didn't mean she was useless.
"What's wrong, Kate?" Rick saw something and wanted to understand. If they were going to be a team he needed to understand her.
Her face flushed and she wouldn't meet his eyes. "You have all the traveling experience and I have none. I've spent most of my time in this city."
"And I've avoided cities for the most part. When we enter a town or city, trust me, you'll be in charge." Rick finally got her to smile.
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Kate had gone out to get dinner and they were eating in her room yet again.
"What do I do with my room? I'm going to be gone for months if we even come back at all," Kate muttered mostly to herself.
Rick offered some options. "Sell it tomorrow. Pay far ahead in advance. Check out and leave everything behind. It's up to you." Except they were options Kate had already thought of.
She was renting so she would just tell him she was moving out and he could have the place as is.
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This time Kate watched as Rick stripped down and got into his sleeping bag. She was going to have to get used to this. Still she couldn't believe she had such a handsome man half naked in her room.
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Kate had a saddle she was carrying along with bit and bridle and a blanket. Her saddle was indeed magic and was meant to increase her skill, that she had little of, at riding a horse. She even had one other item for her horse. Horseshoes that were also magical and would do what Rick's would do. The horse would leave behind no trail no matter what terrain they traveled through and that included snow. She'd seen other horseshoes and had been really tempted to get those instead. They would make her horse fly for a short time each day. These, however, worked all day long and this way they couldn't track them if someone was trying to follow them.
Next came getting a horse. This was where Rick became indispensable. He knew animals and he even pulled out a scroll and read it then walked around from horse to horse. Kate was pretty sure he was talking to them. She wasn't really sure as she stood there and watched but she was thinking they were actually talking back.
"This one." Rick walked the mare over to her, let the horse sniff her, and let Kate pet it.
"Why?" She saw a number of horses to choose from.
"She's a light warhorse, has been trained in combat, and isn't afraid. She's still young and very strong. She's willing to have spells cast on her and wear your shoes. And she likes you. Her name is Pippi and she loves apples. Which reminds me, we need to stop and buy a barrel of apples since Pepper likes apples, too."
Kate didn't know how to get the horse ready to ride so she had to let the hostler she was buying her from do it for her. Rick had told her he would show her later.
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Now they were at the stable where Rick's horse was located. Rick was happy that they had a barrel of apples for sale since some of their clients paid extra for the privilege.
Next she watched Rick put down this tiny piece of black cloth then open it. Kate looked inside and saw all kinds of things, including two bales of hay. What she wanted to do was ask him what this thing was since she'd never seen one. However, what it did gave her a clue since she'd heard of one, just not seen one.
Rick handed her his two bags of holding. "Hold these for me."
Kate watched him get down into the hole after taking off his backpack and making room for the barrel. Then he got back out and rolled the barrel into place with ease. Kate knew she was far stronger than she looked but this was demonstrating to her that he was equally strong. Then in went the bales of hay. After that he folded it back up and tucked it away out of sight.
With his backpack and his bags of holding back, he got his horse ready, took him outside, and got on the saddle as Kate did the same.
"Ready to get started?" Rick questioned her since she had checked out of her space this morning.
"Ready, where to?" He was the lead here. She didn't know how to get there.
"South Gate, please." Rick followed her until he was next to her. "Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" Rick was all smiles.
"Just so long as it doesn't get me killed." Kate smiled back at him.
"That's the spirit." Rick smiled wider at her.
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Getting out was easy and they were actually behind what to Kate looked like a caravan that was going somewhere. They weren't a part of it but the rear guard was willing to let them ride with him.
"Where are you going?" Kate asked him. They were maybe a little slow but she was curious.
"Scornubel," he answered.
"Caravan City." Kate had suspected as much. The two cities did a lot of trading with each other. Kate looked at Rick who shook his head. That told Kate they weren't going that way.
Kate knew the road they were on was called The Trade Way because so many caravans used it. It was also patrolled by the City Guard. It was part of their job to make sure this road was kept open at least for a few miles. The farther out you got the more you were on your own.
However, Rick didn't want to just walk their horses. "Say goodbye to your friend." Rick urged his horse into a fast trot.
"Goodbye. Have a pleasant trip." Kate kicked her horse to try and catch up. She quickly learned why she had a magical saddle. Living on a horse was going to take some getting used to.
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It was approaching darkness, meaning the sun was just about down and they hadn't stopped to eat and neither had the caravan.
Rick saw the path off the road he wanted but stayed on the road for now. Eventually they reached the River Delimbiyr just as the sun was now down and it was dark out. Then just before the bridge Rick turned off with Kate following him.
Rick was still right next to her. "Why not that way? It's a nice wide road. Pretty sure the city has patrols on this road," Kate questioned him.
"They might at that. Though where we want to go is more east than south. Besides farther south a few days out there are places called Trollbark Forest and Troll Hills. One guess what's in them. And that caravan is going to go right past both places."
"Trolls." Even Kate knew Trolls came in many forms. Some were worse and larger than the others and if there were enough of them they could be trouble.
"This way." Rick got a little farther away from the river and found a spot close to some low hills that were close to the river.
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"We camp here tonight." Rick got down off his horse and walked Pepper over to a spot he liked the looks of. The river wasn't really all that far away. Kate could throw a rock into it easily if she wished.
"How far out are we?" Kate queried as she watched him blindly reach into his backpack for something.
"About 50 miles more or less." Rick walked away from his horse, put something on the ground, and spoke a word.
Kate saw it happen and if she didn't know it was there she would miss it, which told her something since she was really good at spotting things. Then she watched Rick pull the tent flap to one side and walked his horse inside. Even from here she could see a fire inside somewhere thanks to the flicker of the flames.
She walked up, searched for the tent flap, and pulled it aside. It was actually rather large inside with a small fire right in the center. She looked up and saw the smoke go out a small gap in the tent.
To the left Rick was taking Pepper's saddle and blanket off. He dropped it in front of his horse then removed the bridle and set it aside as well. Rick reached into his backpack and pulled out something else and Kate watched him hobble his horse.
"You're next, right here." Rick motioned where he wanted her to put her horse. Then she watched him do to her horse what he did to his after she pulled out her short piece of rope to hobble her horse.
"Drop your stuff on the far side and set out your sleeping bag while I tend to the horses, please."
Kate went to the opposite side, dropped her backpack, and pulled out her sleeping bag. As she was rolling out her bag she watched Rick pull out a couple flakes of hay and put it in front of both horses. Then he pulled something out of his big square hole.
"A portable hole!" Kate had finally worked out what it was and why he'd handed her his bags of holding and took off his backpack.
"It's come in really handy lately," Rick said then reached in and took out a small crate. After that he folded the black hole back into a small square of black cloth and put it away. "We bought you one as well. Your's just happens to be empty for now."
Rick put it close to the fire. "You can cook us dinner if you'd like. You'll find what you need inside."
Rick pulled out his sleeping bag, put it right next to Kate's, then took everything off.
Kate was distracted. She wanted to see what was in the small crate but also wanted to see Rick strip.
Inside Kate found everything to cook with and even found some wrapped up bags. One held meat, one held berries, and one held ears of corn; others held other vegetables. "These are fresh!" She didn't know of a magic item that did that, but he must have found one. And he had five of them.
"Those bags were one of the first magic items I found." With his linen braes and vest still on he stepped over to her and reached into the crate. "Tell it what spice you want then shake out how much you want. Want another spice? Tell it what you want and shake out that one. It has an unlimited amount of uses." Rick handed her this small shaker that was maybe about the size of a really small cup.
"Really!" Kate liked this thing even more than the bags. "Do these things just keep it fresh?" If they replaced what was inside them they had it made.
"Unfortunately. At least when I kill something big I don't waste too much of it. And when a fruit is no longer available, mine will always be fresh. Just keep your eyes open along the way and we can fill the bags as we empty them."
Kate was soon cooking the meat and two of the vegetable while stealing an occasional blueberry and watched as Rick, dressed in his braes and tunic, sat down next to her and watched her cook. Followed by stealing a couple blueberries.
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Kate was amazed at just how comfortable her new sleeping bag was. It wasn't too cold and it wasn't too hot and it was really soft. She was asleep in seconds.
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Kate blinked her eyes open and didn't at first understand where she was until her brain woke up with the rest of her. "Tent." Kate turned her head and saw that Rick's sleeping bag was empty. Beyond his bag and the tent she saw both horses were gone. She had just sat up when Rick walked in still in his braes and tunic.
"I took the horses outside so they could do their business. Unless you enjoy the smell of horse shit and horse pee." Rick smiled at her.
"Not particularly. …Thanks." It was thoughtful of him and she hadn't even thought about that. She was already learning lessons and storing them for later.
"The sun's coming up so we should get dressed and get going." Rick stripped off his tunic to get dressed for travel.
It took Rick longer than it did Kate though she did do it with her back turned to him so he didn't see anything.
Kate was out of the tent first and ready to go. She removed the hobble from Pippi and put the hobble away. She waited patiently for Rick to show her how to put on the blanket, saddle, and bit and bridle. She needed to learn to do it herself to speed things up.
Kate watched as their nearly invisible tent vanished to a small square of cloth and into his backpack it went. Then she walked Pippi down to the river so the mare could get a drink.
Soon they were mounted and on their way again. One day down, countless more to go.
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They mostly followed the river since there really wasn't much of a road. "Is it going to be like this a lot? No real road, I mean." Kate was curious.
Rick nodded. "A lot of it, yes. We aren't going to see too many people this way though which can be both good and bad. You'll get used to it."
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Lunch turned out to be jerky while they walked their horses instead of riding them to give them a break and rest a little before riding them again.
Smoke in the distance as the sun was going to go down in about an hour told them both something was in front of them.
A small rise showed them that it was a small town and there were some fields holding crops on the outside. It was right up next to the river.
"Now what?" Kate wasn't sure just what to do. "I know it's called Secomber but that's about all. I think it's mostly human with maybe a few half-elves."
"A farming town doesn't usually have an inn or anyplace for us to sleep. I think we should back up to the down side of this little rise and set up the tent. We can maybe stop and see if they have fresh produce for sale in the morning and move on through," Rick said.
Kate followed him back down the rise a little and this time helped him set up camp.
"Dog, go hunt," Rick told him. Kate listened to him bark and suddenly he was gone in a blink of an eye. "He has excellent night vision and he can smell better than I ever will. He'll find something small, kill it, and eat it, then find his way back here and enter the tent," Rick assured her. He had no worries about him. He knew better than to attack something too big for him.
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Tonight was a repeat of last night as far as Kate could see. She knew she was going to have to get used to this. At least until they reached a big city.