~Chapter 26~
Mae didn't mind the length of the journey, because she wasn't in a hurry to reach her destination. Hidai had proven to be a most reliable traveling companion, and wonderful listener, and the lack of mosquitoes had made sleeping outside both comfortable and relaxing. It was also quite common. What little law enforcement there was in the world, came in the form of town guards and they could have cared less about who was sleeping in a clearing just off the road on the other side of the walls. And criminals who chose to do their work in the same manner, were left to the Bounty Hunters and Mercenary Bands. Any and all other odd jobs, that was the realm of the adventurer.
While all these professions were seen as an admirable way to make a living, none came without risk. For Town Guards, it was presumably boredom, but for Bounty Hunters and Mercenary Bands, it was the second fastest way to an early grave, soldier being the number one, but that was less of a profession and more of a way of life. For an adventurer, it was the monotony of the menial tasks. Calling them adventurers was really just a fancy way of saying general labor. It required the least amount of risk, and substantially less pay, but given Mae's situation, an Adventurer's certification also came with a few perks, she fully intended on enjoying.
There was a certain freedom to be enjoyed with a certificate in one of the freelance professions, like discounts at the Adventurer Markets and approved businesses, the ability to freely cross borders even between hostile nations, and a network of reputable information one could exploit for their own gain. With only a couple of Onu and a handful of chura to her name, and desperate for some real-world experience, Mae didn't waste any time.
When they reached Sap'letor, Hidai carried her to the dockside Adventurer Market or Admark as they were more affectionately known, where her certification was supposed to have been processed and waiting for her. Arriving midday, she hopped down from Hidai and gave him a quick scratch under his chin, whispering praises in his ear, "You're the best boy in the whole world. I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Don't go wandering off."
Hidai grumbled and laid down on the ground next to the hitching post, the tip of his tail striking the ground as he sniffed at the air and looked towards the door.
"You got it. After I'm done in there, we'll go find something for dinner."
"You really should tie up a mount like that miss," a shady looking Galron with a pasty mauve skin remarked, his eyes focused at Hidai while he approached from the street. "Such a rare specimen. I've never seen such patterns and colors before. Might I inquire as to where you got him?"
There was a tone in his words that Mae didn't like, and the slimy way he stroked his chin and had his wings tucked around him like a cape, didn't help matters either. Dressed in an expensive looking set of leather armor, it was the lack of a visible weapon that made her the most concerned.
"Family heirloom," she replied, grabbing a spool of thread from the purse on her hip.
"Oh, well, that is a shame," the man replied, as she tied the end of the thread to the hitching post. "A mount like that could be worth a five thousand Onu, in the right market, but being an heirloom, I reckon you would be unwilling to accept such an offer."
"Did you hear that boy? You're worth a small fortune!" she exclaimed throwing her arms out wide, the thread unspooling as she turned about in a stupidly overdramatic way. "I could finally retire, get that little house up on the hill we always wanted," she rambled as she turned back around unwinding herself from the thread, "What do you say boy? You want to go with this chatty man?"
Hidai snarled as she placed the spool into the saddle bag and turned to the Galron.
"Seems you were right. Tying him up really was a good idea," she remarked before tipping her hat to him.
Patting Hidai's side, he calmed down and lowered his head, as she watched the Galron move up onto the sidewalk and lean against the wall of the Admark.
"I'd hardly say a piece of string qualifies, but if you come out and find he's wandered off, don't say I didn't warn you."
Mae gave the shady Galron a malicious grin as she walked past him towards the door of the market, saying, "if you don't think that strings enough, feel free to go over and untie him," before opening the door and heading inside.
Ven had warned Mae about the potential problems rare mounts, like Hidai could bring, mostly with collectors or swarms of admirers in busy city squares, but this was the first time it had happened to her. In thought, she hadn't seen it as much of a problem as she wouldn't have sold Hidai for all the money in the world, and he didn't seem too keen on being anywhere except at her side. Even if someone managed to lure him away, it didn't matter. For as long as she had his housing in her possession, she could recall him without worry or delay.
The inside of the Admark was like walking into a outdoorsmen's paradise. Everything one could have ever needed or wanted for adventuring, hunting, and camping was available to buy and, in some cases, rent. It was also the place to come for certifications, licenses, and jobs.
"Can I help you?" A slender, younger looking, Thay woman asked as Mae approached her service counter.
"I'm here to pick up my Adventurer's badge."
"Name?"
"Elahemé Foedari."
"Foedari…" she repeated to herself as she checked through the bin of envelops on the counter behind her. "Here it is." Pulling the envelope from the bin, she dropped it onto the counter. "Came in a few days ago. You are now able to select from any of the job postings over on the adventure and labor board, and if you are hoping to be picked up by a Mercenary group, you can fill out one of the name cards and stick it up next to a job you're interested in. Its unusual for them not to pick up a couple of new members for the harder jobs; if they keep you, that's a different matter. As for the bounty board, you must get a proper license in order to get paid for the job through us. Not saying there isn't other ways to get paid for the work, but it really is just so much easier on all of us, if you get the proper licensing, but you look a fair bit too young for that yet."
"Thanks for that, wasn't interested though. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing, it's already been paid for. You are good to go, rank one Foedari. Good luck."
"Yeah, thanks," she replied with a smile as she picked up the envelope. "One more thing, which way to the Taflen Inn?"
"Out the door, head west two blocks then turn north. Can't miss it. Just look for the big blue sign with the bed on it. Flash your badge to the tender and you'll get a free dinner with your stay."
"Sounds good. Thanks again," Mae replied as she turned around and headed back outside.
It bothered her that her certification had been paid for, since no one aside from Ghrifal even knew she had sent in the paperwork, and she highly doubted that he would have paid for her. But not wanting to give it too much thought, she opened the envelope and pulled out the canvas wallet, that contained a metal badge with her certificate number and name etched upon its polished, tin-looking face.
"Well, isn't this something pretty," she said with a smirk as she admired the simple square plate with curved corners and simple decorative border of small dots.
Holding the wallet in her teeth, she emptied the rest of the envelope which contained a small book and a carefully folded letter. Sliding the book into her purse, she pulled the wallet from her mouth and opened the letter which read:
'When you get to Vaughn find Baasdefen Ins'threg. Ask around at the Tears of Mandikot Inn south of the Caridon tower. Tell him your brother Ficus sent you. And next time, buy the bridal. Be safe. Ven.'
"Ghrifal sold us out to Ven," she told Hidai while folding up the letter, "And it's all your fault."
Hidai lifted and tilted his head, his ears perked up in curiosity.
"If only you didn't mind wearing all that nasty tack on your face or destroying your teeth on a useless bit," she said as she mushed his face in her hands and spoke to him in what anyone else would hear as a nonsensical childish tone.
Mae had never particularly cared one way or the other when it came to mount tack. From what she had seen, it was most common to equip mounts of all kinds with full gear, starting with properly fitted bridals, appropriate length reins, whatever bit was recommended for the breed, and finishing with saddle blanket, saddle, and pack-belt with saddle bags. Hidai, however, wasn't very fond of being fully geared, and Mae was perfectly fine with that too, since he was still willing to be equipped with a pack-belt and with that, could carry all their gear. Mae had come to prefer the tack-less way to travel though, as Hidai's mane provide more than enough cushioning for them both, and the lack of added weight and heat kept him more comfortable.
Untying the thread, she wound it back onto its spool as Hidai stood up.
"Told you I wouldn't be long," she said tucking the spool into her purse before climbing on Hidai's back. "West two blocks then turn north. You didn't happen to take note of which way that chatty Galron went, did you?"
Hidai shuddered and it sounded like he was laughing as he looked to the left before walking out into the street with a casual pace. Lifting her badge, she leaned back and began to admire its shine, paying careful attention the reflections that danced across its surface for any sign of the Galron behind them. Sure enough, it didn't take her long to spot him following at a safe distance.
"I knew we'd have problems sooner or later, but this was not what I was expecting," she said as she sat back up, putting the wallet into her purse on her hip. "It seems you're just too good of a prize to give up on Hidai." Taking a moment to stretch out, she leaned forward and placed her hands firmly against the sides of his neck. "Let's circle back to the Inn and go for a run instead."
Hidai woofed and walked at a faster pace. Had they been outside the city, he would have gone straight to a full run, but there were rules in Sap'letor they had to follow, and as a certified Adventurer, such was expected. She had just gotten started and couldn't risk losing her certification this quickly, on something as foolish as a reckless riding charge.
As they headed past the turn, she glanced down the road and spotted the sign for the Inn, making a mental note of its location. It wasn't the only Inn in the city, but it was the only one Karanosi had recommended, as it was the only one that would rent to a dragon and to Mae, such things were important. It was also directly between the Admark and the Caridon tower, making it an ideal location for the night.
"Head for the gate," she told Hidai, hoping the Galron wouldn't bother following, but having a plan in mind just in case.
Once they had passed through the gate, Hidai took off at a marathon speed; easy strides meant for long distances as was a specialty of his species.
Mae was cautious about glancing back, although when she did, it was at a low angle, and she didn't manage to see anything that concerned her.
When the gate was finally out of view, she tapped Hidai's side and he turned off the road and carried her over the thick undergrowth and into forest of pine-like trees with orange, fern shaped needles, and cones the size of footballs. Dropping from his back, they crouched down in the heavy foliage and waited to see who came out of the city behind them.
"You watch the road. I've got my eyes to the sky," she said as she stretched out next to him on the bed of old fallen needles, the sandy soil beneath making it easy to get comfortable on.
She could practically hear him complaining that she wasn't taking the situation seriously enough when he sighed, and she couldn't really argue. She was only a level three nightwalker with no practical experience, and not a single win to her name in sparing matches. Her entire plan hinged on this Galron being lazy and giving up. Worse case, he bothered to leave the city and flew up high enough to see them dodge into the woods. About a minute later, she had her answer, he was lazy, but determined. From the edge of the forest, well camouflaged from every angle, she and Hidai watched as the Galron rode by, heading further down the road with two others following behind.
"Well, that's not great," she muttered and sighed as she stood and brushed off her hands. "Hopefully that was the lot of them, but tonight you're sleeping on my floor just in case."
Hidai chuffed and held his head high as they moved further into the woods and back towards the city.
As they walked, she questioned if it wasn't just easier to camp out again but couldn't imagine what point it would serve. Chances are the Galron and his goons, wouldn't stop until they reached the next town of Chorek, a shanty mountain village of displaced Galron, between Sap'letor and the town of the valley for which she was familiar, Ferstaӓg.
When they reached the wall, she removed her backpack from Hidai before dismissing him, having him return to his stone within the safety of his housing.
Looking around, to ensure the way was clear, she put on her pack and set her fingers to the wall. Pushing forward, she spread her fingers until her palm touched the stone, a round grey portal opening before her. Stepping into the portal, she entered the Nightscape. Reaching back, she grabbed the edge of the opening, and dragged it around until it was in front of her once again. Popping her head through the opening, she took a quick look around, before climbing out of the Nightscape, and closing the portal behind her.
While she was nowhere near being a master of magic, she had grown quite proficient with moving herself in and out of the Nightscape, both physically and while sleeping. For while most found the process to a complicated task that required the ability to focus and channel Nightmare energy into a single point at the tips of their fingers, she found it to be surprisingly simple. To her it was no different than threading a needle, and this simple alteration of moving the portal before it closed, allowed her to pass through walls, and not much else. The fact that no one could sense her magic was the ultimate bonus in situations like this too; allowing her to enter a city unnoticed; a city she had just been seen leaving.
Drawing up the hood of her cloak over her hat, she swapped out her basic leather armor for the stowed, dark red robe, and casually made her way back to the main road and the Inn with the large blue sign, hoping never to see the shady Galron or his goons again.