Fetch awoke with a gasp. He was covered in sweat and his hands were shaky. The cleric took several moments breathing deeply to calm himself down. He had a horrible nightmare where Tyris left him to journey with Roland and Hero to battle some ancient evil. Fetch wanted to go, but they said it was too dangerous. He tried to follow, but dragons barred his path, and they cast him down into a giant pot of water. The vision that haunted him slowly left as his breathing calmed . He then looked at Tyris at his side sleeping calmly . She laid there with him, looking both beautiful and serene. Fetch marveled at her almond shaped face, her golden skin and her blonde hair . He felt better and centered knowing she was safe and at his side.
Tyris's left eye flickered open. She started at him with a piercing yellow eye. "Goto sleep, Fetch. Its just a nightmare." she said sleepily. The bard's eye followed his movements as he rested back into bed. He played a bit with her blond hair before settling back into sleep. The hair looked strange on her,but he couldn't blame her, it was his idea. He thought he must have looked pretty strange as well with blonde hair. Thankfully it wont stay that way forever. 2 or 3 months tops was what Earl told him.
Fetch followed Earls plan exactly. He told everyone back home some drunks started a fight at the inn and burned it down. Since he was out of a job, he told Tyris that he decided to look into that commission and estate to the south. If it worked out, they would stay. If it didn't they would go back. Tyris seemed amiable to the idea, she seemed to like mammoth keep but wasn't terribly attached to it. The bard had the same wanderlust as he did it seems. Earl planted a crazy story that blonde hair was the style in Grom, Tyris didn't want to but Fetch convinced her if they were going to try to make it work they should at least give it a try so they would fit in. Lastly, Fetch and Tyris told everyone they were going to leave, which was true. Except they left in cover of darkness, while Earl and his "Tyris" would leave visibly in the opposite direction in the morning.
Earl told Fetch that his "network" would also place subtle false leads in various cities to throw off any trail. Minor things, like having a woman with red hair and a flaming sword stay at an inn overnight at Turtle Island. Having a dark haired youth and a golden skinned red head walk around Valiant hold. Having a ship rented at Leeha under the name of Tyris. Fetch thanked Earl, he was appreciative of the effort he made to aid them, but still wasn't fully convinced of his intentions. He thought about assuming a pseudonym, but that would be too obvious and tip Tyris off . So he did the next best thing. They used their regular names, though Fetch left out his title of Warmaster, but at inns he would sign Fletcher and Tyra or just simply F and T. He bought several different cloaks as well, they wore them on different days. Tyris was delighted at them but had reservations of their cost , but Fetch told her they're rich, they might as well act the part. Fetch followed all Earls suggestions. They would head to Narwhal hold, book passage on a ship and head to Baltar's Port. There they will make their way to Karlston then McDunnalds. Inquire about the commission, and then make their way to Lower Lueders to his awaiting estate and new commission. Earl wrote a letter to present to General Olive. There they can hide in the crowds of the city , till Earl dispatched the cult.
It seemed pretty elaborate and more like a big vacation then an elaborate plan to hide. Fetch wondered why they couldn't just go on a flying ship, but Earl told them, they would probably be spotted. Hiding in the open is the best place to hide he chuckled.
After a restless night at the Bear Hill inn, Fetch and Tyris once again set out , they were a few days away from Narwhal hold. They were on foot, which both of them didn't mind, in fact just being on the road again gave him a new found energy . Since he left the plateau he never had a regular mount. He had a packhorse once , but it was eaten by a Taer. Another time he rode a mammoth in battle, but he was more a passenger then the rider. Despite his familiarity with riding mounts, he was never a good rider. Tyris on the other hand seemed to have a remarkable skill with animals. They were discussing the topic, and she claimed she could ride horses, cats, dogs, gorillas, bears, birds, griffons, dragons...the list went on and on. Fetch wasn't sure how much she was exaggerating, but despite being a bard she was fairly honest and tended not to brag. In fact she would normally do the opposite, she was generally quite humble about her skills.
A merchant at another table had heard them talking and interrupted as they were leaving the inn. "Hold travelers, I cant' help to overhear that you are skilled at riding all manner of mounts?". Tyris looked away but then nodded when the man wouldn't stop pestering them. "I see you have much baggage, and I can help."
Fetch and Tyris did indeed carry a lot of baggage. Fetch bought a small magical bag awhile ago to store his extra stuff, especially his armor, but they still had more gear and supplies that needed to be packed that the bag could not hold. They packed 2 large backpacks, full of the extra camping gear, food and supplies. They were heavy but Fetch and Tyris were accustomed to the encumbrance. At the start of their journey they had no thoughts of getting a mount for their trip. However after 10 days of marching ..if this man offered them to sell them a mount, Fetch was willing to listen. Fetch had heard Lord told him once, that if you ignored encumbrance then it ignores you. Fetch scoffed at that idea, but wish it were true now.
"Let me introduce myself I am Harald the honest, Its not uncommon for travelers to be armed in the north, but I can see by the quality of your scabbards and armor that you aren't mere travelers. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I was with the great host last year. Aren't you the Warmaster Fetch? ",the merchant inquired.
Fetch was surprised he saw through his disguise, but it wasn't that hard to do. He was fairly famous after the war, not Mighty Zug or Monte Nabisco famous. But people from miles around Mammoth Keep knew him. Fetch nodded and he followed the man to the stables.
There were several wagons of various sizes parked behind the inn. There were also several beasts besides horses rigged to them. Most people used plain horses or oxes for wagon pulling. But after the war, many who took arms in the crusade returned to their old professions. The exotic mount market was flooded and many merchants took advantage of it to buy cheap beasts of burden. In addition to 4 horses, There was a large lion, a "small" scout mammoth and a wingless metallic green dragon.
" My title was Sir Harald of the Badger Knights, and I served under Champion Oswald. That's how I recognized you. If either of you were alone I probably wouldn't have noticed. But I remembered you and your lady companion fighting valiantly on that mammoth in the vanguard. After the battle I took up the family business , I sold my family's tapestries and rugs to the south and returned with rare goods to the north . Its a good trade but I spend many months on the road . I bought these 3 , a few months after the great battle. They serve as adequate mounts, but my knight's heart breaks when I see them put to use in this way. I regret that decision but after seeing you two, I can rectify a bit of my problem. ", he said. The large cat looked forlorn and restless , the mammoth didn't seem to mind one way or the other, the dragon lied down despondent.
Fetch expected to play a haggle game next. Tyris despite being a bard, was too timid to really negotiate. When Frank was with them he would normally do the talking , but Fetch was fairly good at it too. "I offer the mighty Warmaster a choice of his mount. A debt repaid for leading the north to victory , ridding the mists, and allowing people like myself to live a life not dictated by the sword. I am guessing, by the way are dressed , you understand the path I seek and are on a similar road . "
Fetch was taken back by the generosity , admiration and insight of this man. Fetch examined the 3. He was a good judge of animals. The cat and the mammoth looked healthy, the dragon a bit sickly. The cat would be faster , but the mammoth would be a steadier ride. Both seemed fairly tame.
Tyris pointed to the dragon,"We'll take that one...it seems to resent being a mount the most." , Fetch would have preferred the mammoth but he sighed and agreed with Tyris. It was only going to be a few more days anyways, then they will sell it or trade it for passage on a ship. Fetch had never ridden a dragon, he heard they were rough rides on the ground, the only reason to have a dragon would be for the flying, but this one was wingless. "
"Ahh the drake. An interesting choice. The knight who sold it to me called her Molly. I can see you are more interested in redeeming the spirit of this noble steed. Its strong , but it tires easy. But I'm sure it was a superb war mount in its day. Maybe you can revive the flame in its heart once again. ", he said while patting the drakes head.
Fetch didn't know much about dragons or drakes. He just remembered that dragons were intelligent, powerful , and often knew speech and magic. Drakes on the other hand were their more bestial wingless cousins. Some of them could talk and had breath weapons, but most relied on physical might and animal cunning. The common drakes in the north was the ice drakes or winter drakes, both were powerful predators. This one was green and fairly skinny. It was probably from the south and either young or a runt.
Tyris insisted on giving Harald some gold in return, Fetch could see he didn't want to accept it, but he graciously took the money. Business isn't as well as it could be thought Fetch.
A few blankets and rope made a makeshift saddle and Harald provided the harness and reins. With a farewell and salute the pair was off again.
Tyris was concerned about the creatures health, she asked Fetch to heal it ..he tried but its condition didn't seem to improve. It was indeed strong, but it tired after only 4 hours of walking. Despite Tyris's skill at handling a dragon mount it was exhausted and the pair had to take a break and walk the rest of the day leading the drake. For a drake , Fetch thought it was small. It was about the size of a large draft horse. Upon further examination, he noticed that it might have had wings once but they were clipped , sheared or ripped off. The remainder of its wings were now just tiny stumps on its back. After the second day its endurance and happiness seem to improve and it was able to last a couple more hours. Tyris said it was probably just depressed , one day being a mighty beast of war the next day becoming a beast of burden. Fetch thought about it and thought about himself and agreed. A dragon should fight battles not do mundane tasks.
After walking 4 more days they finally reached their destination of Narwhal hold. Freed from walking with a heavy pack , Tyris sang for them as they traveled. Fetch thought her singing was vastly improved and by the way Molly reacted he suspected the drake thought so too. Others thought her singing was quite good as well, other travelers would stop and applaud them often. She sang a wide range of songs, but her favorite were elven and eladrin songs. Taught to her by Brita and Galatea.
Despite being bossy, nosy, and mostly useless. Fetch missed Galatea. It supported him when he needed her and when the chips were down she helped saved the day by sacrificing her life/existence.
Narwhal hold was a fortified wall settlement but when the war and mists ended, it experienced rapid growth. The population of towns with strategic value were shifting to those of greater economic value. Narwhal hold was no different. Outside the fortified wall, many buildings arose. There was an overworked guard post on the road, they ignored Fetch and Tyris as they approached. Fetch suspected the wall guard would be more vigilant and that the guard post was more for defense purposes against obvious foes.
Tyris sang an eladrin song about a 2 lovers who loved each other but they both knew it couldn't last. So they left in deep sorrow. It was one of Fetch's favorite. As Tyris finished one verse, a beautiful haunting feminine eladrin voice started the next. Tyris looked confused, not many people knew that song let alone speak eladrin, (besides Fetch of course..but only a little) She directed Molly to the sound of the voice. After a few blocks they narrowed it to a small open bar. It was midday , and most people were at work in the busy port city. The bar seemed deserted except a lone boy who swept last nights refuse away, and a man who looked passed out on a table.
Tyris sang another verse , hoping to see who was singing back. The return verse definitely came from the bar. The boy sensing what was happening ..pointed at the drunken man. Sure enough the beautiful femine voice came from the man. Fetch was hoping it would come from a beautiful woman eladrin . Tyris quickly dismounted, and pointed to the drake to stay, which it promptly did. She walked to the singing drunk man with the high voice.
"Frank?", she said with a poke to the drunk. The man stirred then woke up snorting and confused.
"Tyris...Fetch...Why are you here? Why am I here ? Why are you 2 blond? ",he said with squinted eyes. He yanked out a strand of his own blonde hair and examined it. "Still the same. "
"Greetings Lady Tyris, Warmaster Fetch. ", said the feminine voice. Which made Frank jump, and spin looking for its source.
"Did you guys hear that? I've been hearing it sometimes in my head ...I think I'm going nuts.", said a panicked and still confused Frank.
Fetch dismounted as well, and walked to Frank. His prayer of detection was up. He sensed a powerful magic on Franks chest. He took a closer look and saw an unusual necklace made of a jagged shard of gleaming metal. He pointed to the shard "Is that...?"
"Yes it is I ..the mighty Galatea. Slayer of Yeenoghu. ", said the shard in the clear eladrin voice.
"Whoaa...", said Frank, "It talks...I'm getting freaked out here."
"How did this happen ? ", asked Tyris.
"I'm not 100% sure, actually my consciousness drifts in and out . The last memory I had when I was still "whole" , was flying into the black knights hand and aiding him in slaying Yeenoghu. His black blood was the most potent of acids and he had over 1000 tormented souls at the time of his death. Even my finely crafted body was broken by such vileness. I remember shattering when my body pierced its skull. Then darkness. I was in the darkness for a long time, then one day I awoke I was on the neck of this ...person...and he was battling a minor demon aboard a ship. He dispatched it, and I just stayed silent and observed. He was working for his family's ship, and he was a guard of some sort. Day after day I tried to communicate with him but to no avail. I just watched him waste his life on his slack performance of his guard duties during the day ...and his drinking...and his vile and disgusting whoring at night... Finally I could take it no more and exerted my will over his. I sought a powerful mage or smith to either restore or reforge me , so I made him travel to Narwhal hold . I heard the Champion of the Narwhal is a mage of the highest caliber but at last she is away on an important errand. I was considering going further south to seek aid at the mage schools of Grom, but this host has ran out of funds. Every item I sold of his to raise funds for the journey , he promptly wasted on cheap drinks and cheaper women. It was not until I heard your song, and your lovely voice that I was inspired or awakened enough to discover my voice again. This I thank of you.", said the gleaming shard.
"Where did you get this necklace Frank?", asked Fetch solemnly. Not sure if he fully supported Galatea's ability to command those of weaker wills.
Frank was attempting to sober up and slapped himself a couple times, " After the battle most of the pieces that shattered off were melted or dissolved, but I found this piece. I kept it as a souvenir. I forgot all about it till I returned to Crab Keep, and got a jewel smith to attach it to a necklace. I've been wearing it as a good luck charm ever since... Look at me now! I'm broke again, in a strange city. I'm just brimming with luck...Every so often I awake and I have one less item but more money! So I do what I do naturally I drink it ! So what happened to you twos hair? is it contagious ? " he asked in an uneasy half drunken voice.
Tyris shook her head. " Ok lets get you sobered up" ... Fetch and her led Frank to the drake . The drake backed away from the drunk and reeking man, but Tyris spoke some soothing words to it and it calmed down.
The group passed through the inner wall with no trouble and a minor levy. There was only 3 inns, but they were all full. Luckily they met a blind knight named Arnborg who rented a small room for the group.
Arnborg was a large and handsome noble knight of the Narwhal. He saluted Fetch saying it was an honor for the Warmaster to stay at his residence, despite not being told he was the warmaster and the fact he was blind. Everyone could clearly see that he was blind, with his clear blank pupils, but he seemed to be unhindered by his handicap. His house was large and well furnished. Fetch marveled at the beauty of it. Paintings, carvings and art objects adorned his house. He had no servants but he introduced them to his wife, Rydia . Rydia wore a thick veil, and a cowled robe. Even underneath the robe, Fetch could tell she had a stunning figure, her voice was soft and musical. The pair let the companions stay in their well furnished guest room. Their only request is to not to enter the main house unless knocking first.
The guest room was as tastefully and artfully decorated as the rest of the house. There was a painting dominating the wall of what appears to be Arnborg , a bowman of the mammoth, a barbarian of the boar , a steppe nomad girl, 2 halflings , and what appeared to be Sir Hildraxel and Brita and of course a large grey horse with light blue dots. Arnborg returned with an extra cot for Frank. Then he left again attending to their steed.
Fetch was amazed at this room, hes stayed at several inns, but was amazed at how nice this place felt. He whispered to Tyris he wanted a place like this. But with different art. Maybe some pictures with lemmings playing cards. And definitely something in velvet. Perhaps a velvet knight fighting a dragon. Some statues of a few clowns or mimes would be nice too, since Fetch liked street performers . Tyris stared at him and was about to laugh then realized he was serious..she said she would considered it and told him they would discuss it later.
After they settled into their room. Fetch and Tyris told them were going to Grom. Possibly start a new life there. Galatea requested to be taken there too , she still needed to find a powerful mage or smith. 2 professions that Grom supposedly had many of. Frank thought about it and said he wanted to come too. Since he was bankrupt anyways, this was as good as time to restart his life. Besides, he already had blonde hair. He would fit right in!