A/N: Some readers (there are a few of you) may recognize the elf's name from earlier stories. You will have to wait a few chapters to find out what Daelynn has been up to and why she is now a Herald.

This chapter is not just chit-chat. Ok, well yes. Mostly it is. But it does show more of our travelling companion's personalities/experience, and tells the reader a little more of where they are and what is happening in the area. Can't 'show' everything, sometimes need to 'tell' a bit.

Chapter 5 – On The Road.

A bright, late autumn sun roused the travellers. Crisp, cold air greeted them as they climbed out of their sleeping furs.

The dwarf looked over at the elf and snorted in disgust. "Sleeping, Herald? I though you had last watch?"

"Mmm? Oh, no concern Master Dwarf. Pick is an excellent watch-horse", the elf replied, pointing to her mount, which appeared to be dozing on its feet in the middle of the meadow.

Garlt rumbled something in Dwarvish, stretched, spat and ambled off towards the trees for his morning relief.

Daelynn followed, angling to the left. She idly wondered if the dwarf knew what poison ivy looked like. There as a fair bit of it growing around the meadow's edge.

By the time the dwarf and elf returned, Stefane had already added fuel to the banked fire and was tending a pot of porridge. The hot breakfast was a welcome change for Daelynn and Garlt, who had been prepared to start their day chewing on hardtack and jerky.

After eating, Daelynn cleaned up the around the campsite by tossing bits of trash into the fire, then packed her gear. Garlt wandered over to the well and inspected the pump, ensuring himself that the repairs had held. Satisfied, he helped douse the fire then called his pony over to him.

After repeated calls, the dwarf's shaggy mount sauntered over to its master.

"When I says 'come', I means 'come" you stupid, lazy beast", he whispered in Dwarvish to the equine. "Yer embarrassing me in front of strangers."

"New mount", asked Daelynn?

"Aye. Got 'im jest a week or so ago as I entered the kingdom. Had to leave me old girl. She couldna' keep up the pace I needed anymore."

As Garlt spoke, Stefane walked over and inspected the pony.

"Western Plains breed", he stated, running his hand over the beast's withers. "They're stubborn, but hardy. Don't do too well on boggy ground, so make sure you lighten his load for that terrain."

The dwarf regarded the man with raised eyebrows.

"Um, I've an uncle who's a farrier", Stefane offered. "I worked a season for him. Learned a bit about horses…"

Daelynn let out a sharp whistle. Her mount tossed its head and obediently trotted over to her.

"What can you tell me about my horse", the elf asked of Stefane?

"She sports a royal brand, so… provided to you by the Council for your work as Herald? She's a Hunter-type. Probably handles field and woods well."

"Very good. You have an eye for horses, young man."

The elf regarded Stefane's drab, boney looking mount. "Borrowed from your uncle, the farrier?"

"Yes. This horse was held in lieu of payment against a customer's bill. Uncle has had him for several weeks."

Regarding the sad excuse for a horse, the young mage shook his head. "I doubt anyone is going to pay good silver to reclaim this sorry beast".

Dwarf, elf and human mounted their animals, departed the meadow and headed north, together. It was a pleasant autumn day - cool air, warm sun and a fair road beneath their mount's hooves.

After a few hours of riding, the dwarf was the first to break the companionable silence.

"Herald. We've met scarce a half dozen others on the road, all travellin' south. Is it usually so quiet in these parts?"

"The main north-south road between Capitol and Silver Tree lies west of here. It runs through the Central Baronies, Net and such. This road, called the Borsa Road for it leads to the mines on the Borsa Peninsula, is less travelled. It is not a poor road but a traveller can make better time on the Northern Road", the elf answered.

"Hmm. So why take this path to Silver Tree? I'd expect yer Council'd want its business carried out with all haste. No?"

The elf nodded her head in agreement. "Usually yes, Master Gemfinder. But part of a Herald's duty is to travel the kingdom and learn what is happening. 'Observe. Listen. Report' is an unofficial motto of my Service."

"What about you, Master Dwarf", continued the elf. "Do you head for Silver Tree or Borsa? If the former then the main road would have suited you better."

"Fewer people suites me fine, lass. An' Borsa has a small Dwarven settlement near it. I cannot go there. No, me travels take me by way of Silver Tree."

"Why?" Asked Stefane.

"Why what, lad?"

"Why Silver Tree?"

"Why not? I've a century to spend on the road. Have to go somewhere", replied the dwarf.

"You said 'by way of Silver Tree'", observed Daelynn. "So, Silver Tree is not your final destination?"

"Ye ask a lot o' questions, elf", snarled the dwarf.

"It is my job."

Garlt slowed his pony, allowing the elf to draw ahead of him, signalling that the conversation was over.

Stefane made a few attempts at small talk but neither elf nor dwarf seemed interested in further conversation, the elf responding to his enquiries with terse answers and the dwarf with silence.

Garlt noticed that throughout the day the Herald made a point of speaking with all travellers they passed. Usually, it was only a few quick words but sometimes she signalled to her travelling companions that they should ride ahead. She always caught up to them within an hour.

In the late afternoon they met a small merchant caravan consisting of four wagons with a dozen well armed and armoured men-at-arms riding alongside.

Stefane and the dwarf watched as Daelynn, with hand raised, approached the lead wagon. Three riders quickly rode ahead of the wagon and blocked her path. Reining her horse in, Daelynn addressed the grim looking men, pointing to the bronze emblem she wore.

The riders' attitude immediately changed. Two of them moved aside and the third turned his mount, escorting Daelynn to the first wagon, where a large robed and hatted man sat.

"The guards seem tense", observed Stefane.

"Ye think so?" Was the dwarf's reply. "Come'n, lad. If we're unlucky, she'll catch up."

A quarter hour or so later, the two men heard hoofbeats behind them. Turning, they saw the Herald riding at a fast pace towards them.

"Glad I caught you before you passed the turnoff", she exclaimed, reining her mount in beside the two men. "According to Merchant Villicent, there is a nice little field nearby with a good water supply. Oh, and he was kind enough to provide us some venison!"

She patted a package she now carried tied to her saddle horn.

"Everythin', all right", asked the dwarf? "Them boyos seemed a bit nervous. An' there were about twice the number o' guards a caravan that size'd usually have."

"According to the good merchant, the bandits in the Northern Territory are getting quite bold. And they seem to be extending their predations south. Merchants are paying gold, not silver, for caravan guards."

A short while later the trio spied the turn-off the merchant had mentioned. As the shadows were getting long, they agreed to set camp for the night.

A hundred yards or so off the road they found the meadow. It was about sixty yards across and the grasses covering it were still mostly green. In the center of the field was a firepit, well stocked with wood. A modest sized creek ran along the eastern end of the meadow. Long ago, someone had dammed it, creating a deep pool. The water sparkled in the warm, late day sun.

To Daelynn, it looked inviting after the dusty ride.

Camp was quickly set up, the dwarf using flint and steel to get a fire started. Stefane and Garlt unsaddled their mounts, hobbling them so they stayed close. Daelynn let her horse have the run of the meadow, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility that she could wander off.

"It will take a while before we have coals to cook over", said Daelynn. "I am going to jump into that pool, cool off, and wash some of his road away. Elves have fewer taboos about nudity than humans or dwarves. You may join me or wait your turn."

Daelynn grabbed a wash rag and some cleaner pieces of clothing from her gear and headed to the creek.

"I'll join you for a swim shorty, Master Dwarf. I have some soap in here somewhere…" said Stefane, rummaging in a bag.

"Ha! Little chance o' thet, youngster. I hates deep, cold water. I'll use me bucket an' wash on the bank!"

The dwarf trundled off, setting up his wash station several yards downstream of the pool in which the elf swam, naked.

"Ooh, thet's cold", complained Garlt. "How do ye stand it?"

"It is refreshing, Master Dwarf", answered the elf. "But my toes are numbing, so I am done."

Daelynn gracefully exited the stream, pulling some long grasses off the bank and using them to dry herself.

The dwarf eyed her critically. Long and lean, her blue-skinned body sported several tattoos. On her right shoulder she had what appeared to be a fish tattoo. It sparkled in the sun, reflecting a variety of colours. On her left shoulder was a large, solid black, five-pointed star. There were a few other tattoos on her arms, but he could not make out what they were.

Daelynn threw a robe over her head and put on a pair of soft, doe-skin shoes. That felt so much better! Her feet would smile, if they could.

Stefane sauntered over to the creek carrying a bag with him. Dropping it on the ground near the stream edge, he started to undress.

"I set up a spit for the venison", he told them. "And I have some leftover pound cake that should be eaten."

'Good", replied Daelynn, fussing with the robe's belt. Turning to Stefane, she said, "I have a bit of honey that will make that cake tastier, and… Oh, my!"

The dwarf looked up from his shoreline ablutions, wondering what had startled the elf.

Stefane looked ridiculous standing by the creek with his breeches around his ankles and struggling to pull his shirt over his head. The elf was staring at the human, entranced.

Catching her breath, Daelynn shook her head and turned her gaze away from the near-naked human male.

'Goddess', she swore under her breath. Dressed and going about his day's business, Stefane looked, to the elf, like an average, non-descript human. Young, tall, brown hair and eyes, plain featured, with a pleasant enough smile. But naked? 'Beautiful' and 'Flawless' best described his body. It was as if a marble statue of some demi-god had come to life in front of her.

Looking away, the elf picked up her clothes and belongings from the grass, and smiled to herself. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! She heard splashing behind her and cast a quick look over her shoulder. The man was calf-deep in the stream, naked, facing the opposite shore. Now that, she thought to herself, was a really nice a… She stumbled over a clump of grass.

Focussing on where she was walking, Daelynn strode back to the firepit.