The Road Begins
Kyner left the cabin of the river boat as it emerged from the river that ran through the Dagger Pine Wood and into Lake Gjoll. The lake was small and surrounded by dense, impassible pine woods. Kyner could barely make out the silhouette of Keep Noatun against the sky through the violent torrents of rain. The thick fur cloak he wore seemed inadequate protection against the brutal fall weather of Neifelorn, at the edge of the world, north of even Icewind Dale.
How will Ciara react to the sudden necessity to leave, wondered Kyner. A hard, cold wind howled from the forest of pines and snapped against the river boat, carrying the rain with it.
"It will be a hellish winter," said the captain of the river boat when he saw Kyner, "the way the clouds cover the sun you might think it was night."
"Aye," said Kyner. If nothing else I'll be happy to seek warmer climes. "What time will you be leaving?" asked Kyner.
The captain paused as a strong gust buffeted against the river boat before answering, "I plan to leave as soon as my cargo is transferred. I certainly don't intend to wait for the lake to freeze over. Probably some time this afternoon." Kyner had to remind himself that it was still morning. "My next destination will be Hreispell. Do you really intend to leave so soon?"
"Indeed," said Kyner, "I have a long road ahead of me and the time of year is not in my favor."
"You've poor timing indeed if you're only now leaving," the captain laughed.
"Some things can't be helped," Kyner replied gruffly.
"Aye," said the captain.
The river boat began to pull up along the docks and the crewmen set to mooring the vessel. There was no real town to speak of surrounding Keep Noatun, only the docks and the keep. Even the servants and the dockmaster had their quarters within the keep. The lords of Noatun were an austere lot and had chosen this location to get away from people. And I chose this location to get Ciara away from people.
The docks were nearly empty as Kyner descended the gangway, devoid of everything but crates. Lord Fredek always ensured that Noatun was adequately stocked before every winter, since no supplies would be able to get to the Keep once the river froze, as it did every year.
Only one person waited at the docks. I should have known, thought Kyner. Ciara was leaning back against one of the crates, swathed in a fur cloak thicker than Kyner's and drenched with rain. Her hood was cast forward but Kyner still could feel her keen gray eyes. Ciara ran forward and Kyner embraced her.
"I'm glad to see you again Kyner," said Ciara. Funny, thought Kyner, she never once thought I was her father. She always seemed to know.
"You knew I would be back at this time?" asked Kyner. Ciara only smiled. She noticed Kyner's shifting eyes.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked.
"We need to leave," said Kyner.
"Leave . . . the docks?"
"No," said Kyner, and the finality in his voice surprised him, "we need to leave Noatun." The rain intensifies and Kyner looks back to the river boat, as if to ensure it's still there. "And we must leave quickly. Let's get out of this rain."
Kyner had brought Ciara to her room within the keep. 'Take only what you will need,' he had said, 'the road will be long.'
Now Ciara stood alone in her room, the satchel Kyner had told her to fill lay on her bed. He seems so distant now, not quite the same man who raised me. No, just different, grim, and purposeful.
Ciara set to doing as Kyner had said. He gave the instructions as if he had done so a hundred times before, then Ciara then remembered that Kyner had been a traveler and a soldier long before he had chosen to stay at Noatun. The thought was strange. What things has he seen? Why choose to stay at this place, at the end of the world?
"You're leaving?" asked Count Fredek, lord of Keep Noatun. News just travels too damnably fast, thought Kyner.
"Yes, and I must leave this afternoon."
"But you've only just come back," protested Fredek. Kyner shrugged and continued to ready himself for the journey, packing supplies into his satchels. Fredek sighed, "does this have something to do with that girl." That got Kyner's attention but he did not answer. Fredek divined the answer anyhow.
"I knew she would be the cause of troubles!" the lord exclaimed as he threw his hands into the air.
"My troubles friend," said Kyner, imperturbably, "you need not worry over it."
Kyner turned around when he heard the soft padding of feet, Ciara stood in the doorway, the satchel Kyner had given her weighed down her shoulder, and her countenance betrayed her nervousness. She'll have to work on that too, thought Kyner.
"Am I interrupting something lords?" Ciara asked meekly.
"And you intend to take her on the roads," vented Fredek, "You are not so young as once you were and she is but a girl."
Kyner turned to the count, "I tire of this Lord Fredek, my mind is set and I will not be suaded to stay another night. That is the end of it."
The nobleman was taken aback. Fredek's mouth opened but words failed him and he made a flamboyant gesture of frustration before storming away. Ciara took a step forward into the room to get out of the angry count's way.
"So we really are leaving?" she asked when she felt Fredek was out of earshot.
"So we are," said Kyner, "let me see what you have packed." Ciara set her satchel down on Kyner's bed and he opened the bag to examine its contents. Ciara nearly protested when he pulled out nearly all of her extra clothes but stopped short when she noticed he had removed none of her warm clothing. He knows what he is doing, thought Ciara.
Kyner then opened the large chest at the end of his bed. Ciara had never seen it opened. Inside were swords, belts, pieces of armor, and numerous rings and amulets. Kyner picked a pair of rings and an amulet and gave them to Ciara, "Put these on," he said, "one ring per hand, it doesn't matter which finger."
Ciara put the amulet on first and the air about her felt charged for a moment, but the effect quickly dissipated. She slipped on each of the rings and the air about her felt compressed before returning to equilibrium.
"The necklace will negate most forms of offensive spellcraft and the rings will buffer you from physical harm," explained Kyner, "but remember, you're still mortal." Ciara nodded, wondering who the devices she now wore originally belonged to and why she would need them.
Kyner rummaged through his chest for a time before retrieving a scabbarded sword. Kyner handed the weapon to Ciara. She took it carefully. "It belonged to a friend of mine. Go on, you can take it out. " Kyner said before looking back to the chest. The leather scabbard and hilt were not extraordinary in appearance, but the craftsmanship of both were exceptional. Ciara slid the weapon out of its scabbard. It was a long sword like many of the others Kyner had made her practice with, but with a much lighter and narrower blade. When the weapon was free of its scabbard Ciara realized how much lighter. A single fuller ran down half the length of the blade, which tapered sharply at its end.
"That sword is the work of the smith Asentzio of Delthuntle, he called it Aitana. The balance is perfect and you should find the weight to your liking."
"This friend of yours who had the blade before," Ciara began, "did–"
"She was alive when she gave me the weapon, gods willing she still is."
"Who was she?" Ciara asked.
"She's part of a past long before you were in my life, and now half a world away."
Ciara was silent as Kyner armed himself in the things he had pulled from his chest. He first put on an iron breastplate and shoulder pauldrons, then girt himself with a belt much thicker than the one he had given Ciara. Next he began retrieving the weapons themselves: a great sword and its baldric, a long sword and an axe that seemed weighted for throwing. The hilt of Kyner's great sword reached above the top of his fur cloak once he put it on.
"Do any of your weapons have names?" asked Ciara.
"The great sword is called Issgar, the others have no names," Kyner then put on a second belt with pouches containing potions and pulled on his gauntlets. At last he took up his two satchels and gave Ciara her own.
Ciara was struck by how war-like Kyner had suddenly become. She was amazed he did not fall under the weight of his own gear. Instead of appearing weighed down, Kyner appeared stronger, purposeful.
"Come," said Kyner with a smile, "it's past time you saw something of the world."