The two traveled for nearly thirty-six hours straight, trading their horses for others at the third town they arrived in. Derse was a vast kingdom and they had only managed to make it a third of the way to the border in the time they spent traveling. Stopping in Seibiant when they could not travel any farther, their feet ached from walking to relieve their horses until they could make it to the next town, shoulders sagged, exhaustion evident on their faces. Thankfully they had been careful and moved quickly. Eridan had only just taken over and not yet been able to mobilize his military force. Their window of opportunity wouldn't last long though, they couldn't relax yet, not until they were in the kingdom of Prospit.
Their arrival in the town proved peaceful enough, apparently there was a celebration going on, one of trollian origin. Children ran around in colored cloth, seeming to reenact a moment drilled into them since birth. A troll child dress in red had their hands bound in rusted cuffs that looked as though they would soon fall apart. Those dressed in purple, blue, violet and fuschia stared them down. "Heretic" they called out, "Rebel!" "Vile scum!" Soon rotten tomatoes and other over-ripe fruit were thrown at the red adorned kid, as they simply stood there, saying some sort of rehearsed sermon. The blondes couldn't hear the speech over the screams of the other children. A young troll girl dressed in lime green seemed to play the part of mourner.
"It is the festival of the Signless." Dirk jumped as a human women with red hair appeared next to him. "Oh! 'M sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Just seemed confused."
"The Signless?" Dirk asked, voice raspy from dryness and fatigue.
"Yes, a very 'mportant part in tha culture, it is the one festival humans are not allowed to participate in. We don' e'en know the full reason of the tradition, it's a well-guarded secret. We try to be 'spectful and honor their 'quests."
"I see."
"Y'all look tired. Where you from?"
"Rhywle, near the outskirts of Canolog."
"My, you've traveled far. Our humble village must seem borin' 'pared to the bustlin' near the castle. C'mon, I've got a bed and bowl of soup with yer names on it."
"We have to find a place to house our horses for the night, it's been a bit chilly, I wouldn't want them to become ill."
"Aw, don't ya worry darlin', my husband will get them sitiated." She then waved at a big burly man, the type of man that could snap you in half with his finger tips. He came over with a big smile and kindly took the horses reins.
"Nah don you worry, I'll take good care of them." His voicing booming and deep, Dirk had never heard someone so loud, though he liked the man's character.
"Now you boys come wit me."Dirk gave her a greatful, worn smile and followed the woman into the nearby two-story inn, Dave not far behind.
The woman motioned for the two to take a seat at one of the many tables and they were happy to a sit and let their aching feet rest. The table was a solid cedar, the room warm and inviting with a crackling of the fire place, the night still chilly this time of the year. Their seats weren't more than stools, the grog was more water than anything else, but the two were greatful for it all the same. The dining area was mostly empty, a few burly men at the bar, looking like they've had a bit to much to drink, only three other people sat at tables. An old trollian elder was sitting at the table next to them and caught their gaze. The old troll stared at them intensely with his red eyes, "...you the prince? I saw him in the celebration of Traditsye and you look just like him."
Dirk laughed "I wish, no, I'm afraid I'm just a tanner's apprentice. He's sending me to Cyrchfan, to his brother's farm, for some cow's hide. There was an unfortunate illness in the herd and he has more material than he knows what to do with."
The elder just stared him down, inclined his head and whispered "You aren' very 'vincing sir." Dirk's eyes grew wide and the elder chuckled. "Talk too fancy for your own good." His laughter devolving into a coughing fit. "I heard rumors that the Ampora clan was staging a raid, I take it, it was 'cessful." Both males refused to answer, Dave moved to another chair, placing himself between Dirk and the troll. The elder laughed again. "Relax." The troll pulled out a long deadly looking blade from under the shoulder of his leather shirt. "If I wanted the prince dead, he'd 'ave bled out as soon as you two walked in the door. I never much liked the Amporas, arrogant bastards. Their rule does me no good, they're blood purests, their rule could mean my death and that of my grandchild."
The woman reappeared with soup and a large hunk of bread for the two. "Sorry fer the wait, I had a small sitiation with some blacksmiths outback."
"Tryin' to get ye t' ditch your husband again?" Asked the red-eyed troll.
The woman giggled. "No, not that. They just want'd more grog when they're already three sheets t' the wind." A crash could be heard from the kitchen. "I told that chil' not t' stack dishes that high!" she said as she hurried off and out of sight.
"So, where y'all headed to regroup."
"Prospit." Dirk said after a moment of hesitation. Dave gave him a worried and slightly angry look. Dirk just shrugged his shoulds which in their weird intuitive language mean't he clearly knows about us, what difference does it make? Besides I think we can trust him. Dave continued to eye him with judgement, but turned to look at the troll when he began to speak.
"I reckon I should start heading there myself. Won't be safe here fer long. Name's Teskar, by the way. I take it that your father is no longer with us? I'm mighty sorry prince."
"-Dirk, please, call me Dirk."
"Ah, right right. Very well Dirk, I hope you can reclaim the kingdom someday. Your father did a lot for those of my blood line, I won't forget it."
Dirk smiled and shook Teskar's hand, "And I won't –ferget what ...y'all arr doin fer me."
Dave cringed as Teskar chuckled "Better Dirk, but try not to sound like you're hurting yourself."
The prince blushed a little and nodded his head.
The two finished their food and headed up the stairs to their shared bedroom. Security overode privacy in these situations.
"Si- Dirk, I really don't think it's necessary for someone of your lineage to speak like a common farmer."
"I have to blend in Dave. My lineage is the very thing putting us in danger. Appearances are useless if my head no longer rests on my shoulders."
"I guess."
"Now get some rest, we leave at dawn."
"Right sire."
Dirk slept soundly through the night, confident that they had earned enough headway to earn at least one good night's sleep. Dave on the other hand, wasn't quite so convinced. He slept intermittently often waking with a start, weary of phantom glows, expecting the torches of Eridan's army coming to kill them.
The night went by without incident. Dirk was well rested, Dave was not, but both were ready to continue.
They suited up, tattered commoners clothes clung to them, dirty with sweat and dust from their adventures the previous day. They paid their bill with what mooney they had. The woman and her husband, Ida and Henry, offered them a change of clothes in exchange for one of the cheap swords they carried, for their young boy, an aspiring knight. Dave looked fondly at the lad hiding behind his parents, reminesicing of times long past. He met the boy's gaze and uttered three words that were given to him, by Dirk's father when he announced his desire to protect the son of the realm. "Footwork is key." And they left.
Upon reaching the edge of the town they were greated with Teskar and a smaller troll, "Thank you...friend fer yer 'dvice."
The younger troll laughed, "You talk weird." Apprently he hadn't quite gotten the hang of commoner dialect.
Teskar approached the two and handed them a cloth package. "M' daughter fled Derse thrity years ago, durin' the King Amporas final red cleansin'. I demanded we stay and fight, she couldn' live her life in fear. I've never had the means to vis't her or my two grandsons, but I've gotten letters, one of them is a knight to King Jonanathan. Could I ask you to please give this him?"
Dirk smiled warmly. "Yes, I will."
Old eyes crinkled with joy. "Thank you."
Notes: As always, constructive criticism is welcome and encouraged!