Paliborn had stayed up late, unable to shake off the grip of a strange nightmare, and awaited Lena's arrival at dawn. When the soot-covered woman finally arrived, Paliborn couldn't help but notice her right hand wrapped tightly around her palm. Without uttering a word, he fell asleep. Despite his injury from the day before, Paliborn felt much better when he awoke. His first order of business was to stretch his limbs and cleanse his face outside the tent. Allendra and Lena were already awake, their matresses and some rag bags were tied and packed.
"Good morning, Pal," Allendra greeted from afar, struggling to bear the heavy bucket. The halfling rushed to assist her.
"What's this, Eli?" he asked groggily.
"Goat's milk for breakfast and our journey," she replied.
"Setting off on a journey?" Paliborn inquired, attempting to grasp the situation.
"Yes, Pal. We depart from this town today. You're coming with us, aren't you?"
Paliborn shrugged noncommittally, his gaze scanning the crowd for Lena. The witch woman, with a bandaged hand and a bundle on her back, emerged from the gathering throng of the fair. The halfling grinned and waved at her.
"Are you departing, my lady?" he inquired steadfastly.
The witch woman sneered, as was her wont. Paliborn was accustomed to this sort of disdainful glance, so he merely smiled in response.
"Yes, it's time for us to leave this town. I have decided to head towards another settlement via the southern route." she said.
"May I join you? At least until we reach a crossroads. My ultimate destination is the Quartry," Paliborn proposed.
Bbefore the woman could respond, Allendra quickly interjected, "That would be marvelous, Pal. You promised to teach me how to distinguish different mushrooms. We could practice on the road."
The woman scowled, about to reprimand the young girl, but then thought better of it and relented.
"Fine. We depart in an hour," Lena declared.
"That's wonderful, my lady. My pony horse and some of my possessions are lodged at the inn. I shall rendezvous with you at the town's entrance," Paliborn replied ecstatically.
The halfling hurried towards the Red Wing Inn, his steps quickening as he drew closer. Once inside, he was met with the suspicious gazes of the innkeeper and the other townsfolk. They regarded him with questioning eyes, their suspicion palpable. Seeking to understand their unwelcoming behavior, he lingered for a brief moment and surreptitiously eavesdropped on their conversations.
"They say Arvid may have met his end," one murmured.
"He was already half in the grave with drink," another interjected. "Perhaps he choked on his own vomit like the fool he was."
"Didn't he follow that cursed witch last night?" a third voice chimed in.
"Yes, I seem to recall something of that nature," the first speaker agreed. "I worry that she may have had a hand in it."
"Nonsense," the second speaker scoffed. "She's naught but another drunken whore."
Disgusted by their callous words, the halfling decided he had heard enough. He ascended the stairs to his room, gathered his belongings, and retrieved his pony from the barn. But as he stepped out into the daylight, two town guards blocked his path.
"Halt, halfling. Where do you think you're off to?" one demanded.
"I am departing this fine town, good sirs. My destination lies in Quartry. Is there a problem?" Pailborn inquired.
"Last night, one of the town's drunkards met his untimely end," the guard continued, ignoring the hobbit's query. "He was last seen at this very inn. We have been instructed to question its patrons. Where were you last night? The innkeeper did not recall seeing you."
"But surely you remember me, Master Watchman Angor," the halfling replied smoothly. "I encountered you while I was hunting a rabbit last night. I even had Widow Black's niece in my company."
"Aye, I remember thee. The famous rabbit-slayer."
"Indeed. And then I was their guest for the remainder of the night."
"And was the Widow Black of Harova in thy company as well?"
"Why do you ask, Master Angor?"
"She is also among the suspects."
"Verily, she was with us. She arrived at our camp just before midnight, having stayed at the inn for an hour or two."
"I see."
The other guard interjected, "Be that as it may, let us forgo this inquiry, Angor. It is likely that Arvid met his end through his own foolishness. Proceed on thy journey, halfling. Do not burden us with thy affairs."
"Thank you, good sirs. May the light of Orion shine upon thee," Paliborn bid them farewell before continuing on his journey.
Paliborn was filled with unease at the thought of lying to protect the woman who had fled town in a hurry. Though he had only defended Lena to avoid getting stuck in the town for interrogation, he couldn't help feeling guilty for deceiving the guards. As he gathered the clues that Lena had left behind, he couldn't shake off the feeling that her sudden departure was suspicious.
"Ah, if only I had more time to investigate," he sighed, but decided against meddling further.
When he reached the main gate of the town, Paliborn searched for the woman and the girl but they were nowhere in sight. So he stationed himself at a vantage point and scanned the roads that snaked through the fields below, watching for any sign of them. He spotted a horse and a mule trotting southeast, following the prescribed course. That was a good sign, Paliborn thought. He spurred his pony horse and set off in pursuit. In less than an hour, he caught up with them on a path winding through the cornfields.
"Good day, Eli. Would you care to meet my trusty steed?"
Allendra, riding behind her aunt, turned to look and beamed when she saw the halfling and the beautiful pony with a lustrous coat of milk-brown and a mane that gleamed like spikes of gold. Lena didn't even spare a glance back, and Paliborn could almost sense her displeasure.
"Wow, this is a splendid pony. What is its name?"
"Monu Monu."
"Monu Monu? Does it have a meaning?"
"Aye, it means 'brighter than the shine of the sun'. The Speaker of the Galanadel Elves gifted her to me."
"Is that so? Have you really been to the Galanadel Woods?" asked the little girl incredulously, her eyes shining with wonder.
"Indeed, I have. Though I was a bit of an intruder at first. They didn't welcome me with open arms, but over time, we grew accustomed to each other's ways. The Galanadel Elves are not as haughty as some might think. They are beautiful and wise, and their songs and poems are enchanting. I listened to them, and they listened to my tales of the road. In the end, we came to understand each other."
"You must tell me all about it on our journey," said Allendra, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Agreed. And Monu Monu here is no mere pony. She is a rare breed, half horse and half pony, with special gifts just like us." Paliborn winked.
Allendra giggled, and her cheeks flushed pink.
"Well, where are we headed, my lady? Shall we cross the Galanadel River and venture towards Dareson Pass or Quarter Wood? So long as we avoid traversing Quarter Wood at night, all will be well," Paliborn inquired, attempting to initiate a discussion with Lena.
However, the woman remained silent, fully aware that the question was directed towards her. Paliborn heaved a deep sigh, choosing not to dwell on it and letting matters be.
The road continued to meander mainly downhill through the vast fields for several hours. With Pal's guidance, they easily crossed the Galanadel River at a shallow point where the flow rate had decreased considerably. The seemingly endless fields spread around them on either side, mostly consisting of cornfields with occasional pumpkin and beet fields. Southern Galantry was known for its vast farmlands, where workers from nearby villages toiled under the orders of a few landlords. Although it wasn't harvest season yet, the fields were mostly empty.
As they came to a lonely crossroads atop a small hill, Lena finally spoke up. "We'll take a break here," she announced. It was the first time she had spoken during the journey.
The southern afternoon was a tumultuous one, with the sun battling against the clouds and the wind. Upon reaching the apex of a low hill, they sought refuge in the cool shade of an ancient willow tree. Despite it being early spring, the heat was unforgiving. Occasionally, a strong gust would blow in from the north, causing the clouds to clump together in a foreboding manner.
Paliborn withdrew a leather canteen, took a sip, and offered it to Allendra.
"What is this?" asked the little girl, her surprise evident as she watched the halfling's lips turn red from the liquid.
"Beet juice," Paliborn replied with a grin.
"I do not want any," Allendra grimaced.
"Fear not, my dear. I am not a vampire, and this is not blood," the halfling reassured her.
The little girl chuckled as Paliborn mimicked a vampire, trying to lighten the mood. "A halfling vampire could not scare anyone," she jested.
"Vegetables are crucial for your growth, Eli," Paliborn intoned, his voice morphing into a half-creepy, half-funny tone.
"You sound just like my aunt," Allendra giggled, her laughter infectious.
Paliborn continued to entertain the little girl with his jokes, while also keeping a watchful eye on the enigmatic witch-woman.