Chapter Eight

We eventually moved from that spot. I don't remember how long it was until I finally stopped noticing Cantrol shadowing me, though I'm sure that there wasn't any specific moment. I just know that finally I thought about it and realized that it really didn't bother me to have Cantrol around. Sure, he was annoy with all his morals and ethics, but he sure was useful for getting out of trouble. I'll admit I got caught once in a while, but it was no big deal because Cantrol decided that it was part of his duty to pull me out of the trouble. It didn't always go easy for him. He got beat up quite a bit but all that did was force him to get stronger.

I learned a lot about Cantrol those first months. I found that, when you stripped him of his honor, he ended up being very quiet and very sober. I suppose that's how most people are, but I guess I saw it the most in Cantrol. The truth is that once he was put in charge of my care, he had no problem doing all the things that Mr. Lotusiat had said he would have to do. It was as if he didn't even think of them, they simply came naturally, or so it seemed. He didn't say anything more to me than 'uh-huh' and 'hmm' for the first few weeks, I suppose he was still stunned by Mr. Lotusiat's ultimatum, but he eventually became more talkative.

I also found out from some of the men around the compound, as it was called by most, that Cantrol rarely ever fought like he had when I had first seen him "spar" the man. I didn't quite know how to digest that piece of information. Was he concerned for me? Or was he simply blowing off steam? If he was concerned, was it because of the mandate that Goombuckle had placed upon him? Or did he possibly, in some small way, actually care about me? If he did he didn't show any signs of it.

Well, after a few months I grew bored of the compound. It was rather repetitive there, which made it easy for the lure of adventure to take me. The temple portion had a few visitors every day. I'd spend most of my time there and talk to the travelers who passed by. It was in one of these meetings that the spark finally caught the lumber.

I had been talking to a man named Dogan Brownthumb. He was a druid who was had been searching the continent for the perfect grove to settle into. Two months traveling and it seemed to me that he had already seen more adventure than I had in my whole life. He had practically been across the whole continent already. He told me that from the compound, which I had found out was located in Pobrax, he was going to head up to the Great Northern Forest. I came close to jumping on top of him and begging to be brought with. I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of that! No one had ever entered the Great Northern Forest yet! I could be one of the first! Sure, that still didn't compare with Goombuckle's adventure, but it was a start.

I didn't though. I didn't even hint that I wanted to go. I was too busy thinking of whether Mr. Lotusiat would let me and whether I could get out of Cantrol's sight long enough to get away and how long it would be until Goombuckle returned and what he would do if I wasn't there. So, before I could change my indecisiveness, Dogan was gone and so was my chance at a big, dangerous adventure. I chided myself on that for a long time, but eventually I found out more about the Great Northern Forest. After that I decided that it had been for the best that I had missed my chance.

However, while I was pouting about it I came to the conclusion that I should get away from the place. Everyone there had been really nice and everything was free for me, but it just wasn't "open" enough for me. I felt like I was entangled in a net the whole time; I couldn't move very much and if I did everyone in the compound would know. I always had to be afraid of Mr. Lotusiat finally confronting me about my… hobbies as well.

After much internal debate, I chose the freedom of the open road over the comforts of having an unquestionable supply of food, clean clothes, and a roof. It took quite some talking to get Mr. Lotusiat to allow me to go though. Even after a month of bothering him he still made me tell him exactly where I was planning to go and forced me to let Cantrol follow me. Mr. Lotusiat also refused to allow me to go to the Great Northern Forest and gave Cantrol permission to drag me back if I started heading that way. So instead I settled for going to Nomen, Goombuckle and my original destination.

As we were walking down the building lined road that led out of the compound I looked up. It was just in time to see a volley of arrows fly by, twenty feet above my head, and thud into a line of targets set up on the arch that went from one side of the entrance to the other. That was one thing that I wouldn't miss. While all the men at the compound were steel minded and solemn, they did have their oddities. This was only one of them. The entrance road was one hundred and twenty feet long and about twenty feet wide. As I said, on top of the entrance arch there were targets set up with a four foot diameter. Opposite these, one hundred and twenty feet, or so, away, standing on top of the temple, stood a group of archers carrying longbows. There were actually three groups of archers up there throughout the day, all ranging from five to six members. They would practice their archery up there at least once a day; one group from sun up to midday, another from midday to sun down, and the third practiced from then until midnight. They would alternate times, but no matter when, there was always the threat of being hit by an arrow if one of them misjudged it. According to Mr. Lotusiat, who had established the routine, it was to supposedly force the archers to focus more; for a miss could result in a death. Though it went unsaid, it was also a test of faith for any followers of Larethian who decided to enter the gate.

Cantrol didn't bring his horse with us; I don't know whether that was because he didn't want to pay to have it stabled or if he just didn't feel like riding. The first two day's travel was boring and non-eventful. We passed the time in an unbroken silence. Mr. Lotusiat had given us some money for our little venture, so I felt no need for more. Towards the beginning of the third day, we came across a small temple on the road side and decided to stop.

The ragged sign on the beaten post read, "Temple of Fharlanghn", then under that in smaller type, "Dweller on the Horizon and King of all Destinations". Intrigued, I stepped into the small establishment and looked around. It had several windows on three of the four sides which allowed for an ample amount of lighting. There were a few benches around the room and a silver offerings plate. My eyes were drawn directly to this and I slowly slinked towards it. The only other person in the room was Cantrol and he would be unable to see past my cloak. It was almost too easy.

"What are you doing, Chris?" Cantrol asked in a suspicious tone after he was done looking around in disgust at the poorness of the temple.

"Nothing," I chirped innocently.

"Chris."

"What! I'm just looking at this stuff here."

"Can I help you young lady?"

I jerked my head up in surprise and did my best on the spur of the moment to look innocent. To my left, a somewhat older man stood in a now open door way that led to the second half of the temple. I figured that I had been too absorbed in the plate to have notice him open it up.

"Oh, hello sir," I greeted quickly, "I was just putting some copper into your plate here."

"Oh!" the man exclaimed, "Why thank you, miss. Are you, by chance, a follower of Fharlanghn?"

I took a moment to think about how to respond to that. "I," I hesitated and waved my hand in the air slightly, hoping to distract his gaze from my other hand, which had been slowly rising from my coin pouch to the plate, "I do not serve any gods and I have never really wished to. However, after seeing your sign out front I became intrigued. I happen to be a… sort of traveler. Sort of like an adventurer, I suppose."

The man's eyes widened in surprise, "Truly? At such an age? That's no good," he sighed and shook his head. "May I ask why someone so young would be homeless?" His eyes shone with a strong light of sympathy.

I put on my sad mask and took a troubled breath. "Well, sir, my parents…" I sniffed a couple times and started blinking like I was trying not to cry. After taking a shaky breath I continued the act, "th-they died…"

I squeezed my eyes and managed to get a tear to come out. The old man's shoulders drooped and he let his head weigh itself down. I took a handful of my cloak and brought it up to wipe the tear away. I took the opportunity to glance discretely at Cantrol. He acted like he wasn't paying attention, but I could tell that I had struck a sensitive cord in him.

I felt a weak hand come to rest on my shoulder. I quickly looked up and into the old man's face. I could see that he was truly grieving for me. His eyes were wide and soft with sorrow.

"Wasn't there anyone else?" he asked softly. "An Uncle or Aunt? A grandparent perhaps?"

I shook my head. "No, my grandparents were all long dead and my parents had no siblings." The old man's eyes glossed over. I knew that I couldn't leave Goombuckle out because Cantrol was there, so I quickly added, "There was one other, though." The old man's head jerked up in surprise.

"Really, then… where is he? Why aren't you with him?"

I turned my face away from his and looked sadly off to my left. "He left me. It wasn't that he wanted to, I'm sure he would have preferred to stay with me. However, he had no real choice. I'm not exactly sure of what he is doing right now; I have received very little information on it. I just know that it has something to do with a duty he has to a friend, or perhaps the country."

"The country?" the old man pulled slightly back in shock. He eyed me carefully and I now knew that he was suddenly going to evaluate everything that I was about to say. "Was he a knight of some sort?" he questioned slowly.

"I suppose that you could say that. He was one of the explores of this land for The Republic."

The old man had slowly backed up so that he could see my whole body. Now he seemed a bit irritated, or disgusted, with me."Miss, how is it, exactly, that you would expect me to believe such a thing. Those men, they are legendary. It would strike me as slightly odd that he would not live in Palané where he could enjoy the many guerdons that The Republic would have presented him for his works."

I didn't know how to answer that but I didn't need to.

"Good sir! I tell you that this young lady speaks the truth!"

I turned, trying to hide my surprise, and saw that Cantrol was the only other one in the room.

"And who exactly are you that I should believe what it is you say?" the priest demanded.

"Sir," Cantrol's voice boomed. I was thunderstruck to find out that he was not only defending me, but that he had such a commanding and powerful voice in him. "My name is Cantrol Porlan, son of Calver Porlan, Grand Tempest of Remador."

"And those are only words. What proof do you have to such a claim?"

Cantrol reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a ring. "This is the Ring of Aradama!"

The ring was amazing. It had close to shinning red band and it almost looked like the top of it was glass and underneath it was a sort of black and red, twisting cloud. But I couldn't tell if I was just seeing things or if that was true, so I dismissed it as simply an illusion made by the light.

The old man gasped and staggered backwards and leaned against the wall. After a moment of staring in terror, a change came over his face. He folded his arms across his chest and looked at the ring skeptically.

"I have heard of this ring, it is a popular legend." The old man smirked. "So popular that it would be easy for a simple commoner to learn of it and use people's fear of the ring as a way to intimidate them. An easy way to make money, perhaps?"

Cantrol stared the old man down for what felt like a few minutes. Finally, he gave the old man a smirk of his own that seemed to make the man nearly wet his pants. "Come now sir, if you know the legend then you obviously know what the ring does. Is that not true?" He paused and waited for the priest's response but the old man didn't budge. "So, if this is the real thing, would you like to see it work? Do you think that I'm joking about this?" The old man still didn't say anything. In response, Cantrol put on the ring. "Ibara-"

As he spoke the word the center piece of the ring began to glow and now it seemed certain to me that it contained some kind of vapor inside, though that could simply be how it looked when the magic was activated.

"Wait! Stop!" the priest cut him off. "I believe you!"

Cantrol stopped speaking and the light died immediately. He took the ring off and put it back in the pouch. He tried to keep a serious face but I could tell that he was pleased with himself.

The man leaned against the wall and let out a labored sigh. "What are you, insane?" he exclaimed. "Magic is not something that you simply mess around with. Especially not that kind of magic!" He continued to mutter to himself for a bit after.

After a moment of silence, during which I sent a condescending look at Cantrol that made him look down in shame, I walked meekly over to the man.

"I apologize sir," I began, "My companion truly should not have gone to such lengths. You were right to say all the things you did. Magic is not a toy and rogues are common." The old man glared up at me and I gave him the best 'so sorry I'm about to cry' look I could muster. His expression loosened a little and he shook his head. He stood up and sighed.

"I apologize as well, for being so paranoid that is." He paused. "So, where were we before all that? Oh yes! You were saying that the path of Fharlanghn intrigued you," he was getting excited now. "Well, while you are currently wandering and homeless, would you mind if I accompanied you. I'm sure that you would be much safer if I came along. And along the way I can teach you about Fharlanghn. Perhaps, if you wanted to, you could become a priestess for him."

"I don't know about that just yet," I said slowly. "However, I don't suppose it would hurt to have you along, sir. But what about your temple?"

"Bah," the old man waved. "Let it be a home for them goblins for all I care. One of the key principals of Fharlanghn is that the journey is never over, that home is the road. I was a fool for stopping at this place for so long. That is not what the followers of The Dweller on the Horizon should be doing! They should be on the roads spreading the principals to all adventurers!"

I smiled at him. I guess in a way he almost reminded me of Goombuckle. Or perhaps I just missed Goombuckle so much that I was starting to see him in everyone. The truth is that I had turned around when Cantrol spoke because his voice had sounded like Goombuckle's to me.

"If that is how you feel, then I see no problem in allowing you to follow us."

"Thank you milady." He started to bow and stopped abruptly. He placed his hand on his back and a pained look appeared on his face. He lifted himself back up and gave a weak smile. "I suppose that these wasted years have not done anything to preserve my body."

Wexler, that was the cleric's name, quickly packed his pack and we were soon under way. I was surprised at how easily, eagerly even, he left his home. I didn't think that anyone who actually owned a home would ever be willing to just pick up and leave. But Wexler was.

Our little band wasn't quite as quiet as it had been when it consisted of only Cantrol and me. Wexler was constantly talking to me about Fharlanghn that day. I found most of the things that he said to be interesting, but towards the close of the day his little anecdotes were starting to border on annoying. Another thing was his attitude towards strangers. Should he see someone coming towards us on the road, he'd instantly sprout a smile that engulfed his face. He'd make a bee line for them and when they were within ten feet he would shout something along the lines of "Hail Fharlanghn" or "May Fharlanghn bless your journey". If I had to choose one thing that had embarrassed me the most, that was it.

Tensions were also growing a bit tight. I didn't quite understand it, but Wexler and Cantrol seemed to be at odds still. After every one of Wexler's greetings Cantrol would mutter something I couldn't catch. Apparently Wexler caught one of them and I saw him shoot a look at Cantrol who returned the glare.

At long last we made it to Nomen. It was just about dark and the outermost homes already had lanterns lit. We paused at a distance and took the sight in. It didn't look like it was going to be a terribly large town. If anything its main point, as it seemed from the map that Mr. Lotusiat had given us, was to harvest lumber from Little Foot Forest and catch fish in Little Heel Lake. Through pure deduction I would say that the fishing was purely to feed the inhabitants of the town because Kotano was already a major sea food exporter so it and Estella would not need fish. Pobrax, though farther away from Jein than Nomen, would most likely get its fish from Jein because the Grand Road would be safer.

Nomen's other value redeemed it though. It was its aesthetic value. It was hard to tell at that time of day that it was so beautiful. But at the dawn and at the dusk, those times were amazing. I loved to watch the sun come up over the plains, painting the summer grass a tinted amber, always telling me of the miles that spanned between here and the first arrival. And the backdrop of purple mountains rising up before the setting, golden sphere evoked in me an involuntarily thought of all the adventures that were yet to be had. The houses were well built and picturesque during the day. At night they lit up like a bundle of stars in the oppressing darkness that the world had been enveloped by.

"So, do we waste money the first night on an inn," Cantrol asked as he weighed his money pouch in his hand, "or do we camp out again and enter the town first thing tomorrow?"

"What?" Wexler cried out. "Are you crazy? Don't you know how dangerous that would be? With all the goblins running around these days? Foolish child!"

Cantrol's face flushed, "Hey! Old man! Last time I checked I didn't live down here! Alright? I didn't know about any goblins running around!"

"Well maybe you should have been paying attention when I mentioned it to Chris! You young, half-witted, big mouthed-"

At this point all of the 9 Hells broke loose. The two were shouting all sorts of incoherent words and making threatening gestures. The truth is that I didn't recall Wexler saying anything about goblins. But none of that really mattered to me. I didn't mind spending a little bit of the money I got for free from Mr. Lotusiat. Not only that, but I was confident I could easily refill it should I run out.

So I walked away. The two didn't even notice that I was gone and they didn't come after me while I was walking to the inn. Nor did I hear them enter the inn after I had already paid for my room, gone up to it, and gotten into bed.

Suffice it to say, I don't think that they got done arguing until just before sun up. Or at least that's how it appeared when I saw the two, completely worn out and quietly sipping coffee in the common room, when I came down the next morning.