The road we travel is called the King's Road. its the most popular and convenient path to get from any South area of the Kingdom to the North of the Kingdom. There are several villages here to Dueling Rivers, with the only noteworthy towns being Dueling Rivers, East Haven, and Scraver's Coast. The villages are small and unmanaged for the most part, so you could say they are 'locally governed.'
Most nobles weren't fortunate enough to have land that was easy to settle. Hence the lack of towns. Even the Realm, our Southern neighbors of the desert have only two noteworthy towns. Winter's Halt and Ymir's Town. Ymir's Town is where Vincent was born to our birth father. As well as where my birth mother is located. She's mad with rage. Sometime I shall need to go and try again to reach her. I just need to be stronger first.
As I said, we travel the King's Road heading North to Dueling Rivers. The initial few hours are quiet travel with the half-orc talking quietly to his stuffed otter. His 'brother'.
I ask Fred about the time, out of curiosity. Its lunch time for sure. Oh my. This is when my parents will receive their letters. I grin and ask the old grouch if he's hungry. He grouches at me to sit back and shut up. Until he see's the sweet bread I've taken from my pack and held out next to him. He coughs and accepts the bread.
I giggle and sit back and look at the motley crew that's in the cart with me. Lana and Ash seem to have begun bickering. I ignore it. No sense in getting involved.
I take out some more bread and some jerky, and I note the half-orc, Fish, is looking at me intently. "What?" I ask, frowning at him.
"Oh. Nothing." He looks towards the front.
I noticed then that he doesn't have a bag. I frowned. He's got a club, a dirty loincloth, stinks, and has a dead stuffed animal for a companion.
Deciding that skipping lunch won't be the end of me, I place my bread and jerky on his knee. "Chew well." I advise.
I look around again at the group. Lana, Ash, the half-orc named Fish, an sour looking half-elf, a dark haired human, and a triton are all present.
"That stuff any good?" the Triton asked Fish as he gnawed the jerky. What a strange accent.
Fish nodded and said "Yup. Fish likes it." His mouth still had food in it as he answered. Gross.
I calculate in my head briefly, and decide I wasn't giving out more jerky. So I simply looked at the human next to me. I noted how he did his best to make sure he wasn't touching me or the triton next to him.
I decided not to bother him and leaned back to watch the sky instead. After around an hour my stomach rumbled. I don't normally skip meals, as Mother is quite the stickler about how important meals are. Trying to ignore it, I sit up and take out my lyre.
The human boy heard. He chuckles softly and comments, "You may want to feed your stomach. It's asking ever so nicely."
I look at him for a moment. Fish then speaks, "Do you gotta poop? My tummy does that when Fish got to poop."
I said, "Ah. And here I was thinking that we didn't mention such things in polite company."
"Haha! Rich girl has to poop!" Ash and Lana say in a sing songy manner.
I shoot a glare at the initial person who brought up my stomachs noise. Then I address the group, altogether, "This topic is done. My bodily functions aren't up for mockery or discussion. Keep it up and I shall retaliate."
Fish, I realize, is too stupid to understand what he did. "Fish should join a party with Lana and Ash. Fish would be great company for them." I tell him.
"You're all idiots." The half-elf states.
"Are all you surface dwellers like this?" the triton asks.
"I don't know, he's pretty smelly." Ash says.
Lana shrugs and said "We can teach him to use soap."
Fish tilts his head, "What's soap?"
I clench my teeth staring at them all with a great deal of disdain. I then turn my attention to my lyre as Lana and Ash talk to Fish.
I tune them out. The human boy looks a little regretful. Very well. My personal policy is to not write someone off permanently immediately. Mistakes are allowed. He'd meant no harm, or he'd have continued. And I shall not pity Fish again.
I start playing my instrument, a lovely tune to go with my merrily violent feelings. And so I sang about breaking things and putting holes in walls recklessly.
Lana perks at my melody and she takes out her own instrument, pan flutes, and she starts trying to play along with me.
I smirk coldly and continue my song. Her skills show as clearly lacking in comparison to me. My mom is a bard, after all.
When I finish my song, Lana says "So you're a bard, too? Ooh we could be a band!" She looks so excited.
I simply start a different song. "If you were as good as me, perhaps I could have overlooked your transgressions. However, I will not be getting on with you. Adventurers are not required to join groups of any sort and I do not need cannon fodder."
Lana frowned. "We can be a band Lana," Ash says, "We won't need her."
"Do not ask the sun to dim just so the stars might shine." I tell them.
"Hah!" Fred gives a loud cough-laugh, then clears his throat. "Quiet down back there. Your bickering will give me a headache."
"You were born a headache, Fred." I retort.
"And you were born a pain." he grouched.
I laugh, still playing my lyre. Soon I turned it into a gruesome melody that I sang to about dismemberment being sweet.
A few passing groups, mostly merchants, weren't sure if they should applaud or be terrified. With a few just enjoying my voice.
My songs lost their darkness as I went and when I felt better I let out a relieved sigh and put up my lyre. It's getting close to when Fred will stop for the night.
"Deer, boar, bear, hm? I'll share with you." I ask turning and leaning up next to Fred again.
"Deer, if you can manage," Fred said, "now sit back."
I look towards the quiet boy. He notes my gaze and started to look anxious. "Want to hunt with me when we stop for the night? I won't hurt you."
"Ah.. Sure, yes.. I'll hunt with you." He says.
"What was your name?" I ask. "I'm Sarial."
"My name is Plight.." he answered.
"Very well, Plight. I've recognized that you didn't mean to pull negative attention towards me earlier. You aren't responsible for others' actions, after all." I tell him in a friendly manner, watching him. If I'm hunting with him, I might as well try and know him. With this line of thought I ask him, "Do you have anything to hunt with?"
"I am sorry about my involvement.. in that.. yes, I do have things to hunt with." He said.
"What do you use?" I ask.
He takes out a tinker's hammer and shows me.
"You hunt with that..?" I stare at him, a little bewildered. I then look over his appearance, much like how I'd analyzed Fish.
He's as painfully pale as I am, if not a little more so. His black hair hangs about his shoulders, except the parts that are tied up, he has pale green eyes, not unlike a cats, which I appreciate. He's thin enough Mom'd pity him. If I brought him home as a friend, I'd wager she'd feed him twice as much. His clothes don't fit him well, even for a robe. He does have a pack. It all looks.. miserably secondhand. Just like the many pickpockets in the slums. Just like the kids who I would've been if not for my dad.
Seeing my eyes survey him, he shifts his weight uncomfortably. "Don't judge me, it works." he says.
"What's your success rate?" I ask, ignoring his statement.
"N-nine out of ten hunts go successfully." he nods as he says this.
I blink in surprise and said "That's amazing. I wouldn't have expected it." I reach over to him and place my hand over his and said "Huh, nope. Same shade." I took my hand back and looked towards the front.
Confusion showed on his face as he looked at me, his brows pinched together. "What do you mean by that?"
"Hm? Ah, well, I'm surprised that your success rate is so high, and I was also curious if we have the same skin tone or not. I thought you might be more pale, but as it is, you're the same tone as me. We have the same hair color, too." I explain to him as I turn back and take in his confused expression. "I'm not particularly good about personal space."
He shrugged and said "I-it's fine."
I give him a smile and say "When I'm home I corner my family members and cuddle them, whether they like it or not. Well, not Jasper anymore. He's big enough to fight me, but wise enough to choose not to because he doesn't wish to hurt me in the process. Haah. I miss when they were all small." I give a small pout and continue, "Jasper's always been about my size, the brat. I'm older, he's been my height or bigger ever since I met him."
I noticed the others in the cart listening to my prattling and I let it trail off. I could talk endlessly about my siblings, I love them so much. Plus, Fred is pulling over for the night.
I take my bow out and pull the string from my coin purse, where I keep it stored, and string my bow. It's an intimidating size for some, being that its half my height, but it's lightweight and remains supple.
Once Fred's adequately pulled over, he tells us all to unload. "Good luck with the hunt, Missy Sarial." He says as I hop over the side, instead of waiting for the others to shuffle off.
"Don't think I'll need it with Mr. Master of Hunt Plight and his tinky hammer." I grin at Plight as he waits his turn to unload.
Once he has, I wave for him to follow and start off into the woods. After walking for a bit with the tree's spaced and underbrush thick, I spot a small clearing with a large buck and some does. I look at Plight, noting that he see's them, too.
I step close to him and whisper, "Do we want just one, or two?" He hold's up 2 fingers. I nod and murmur, "I'll take the big buck."
With that I slip away from him and between some trees, light steps, just as Mom taught us. once adequately spaced from Plight, I nock an arrow and take aim. Steadying my breath, I loose the arrow. It slams into the bucks side, just behind its left front leg. The buck drops, instantly, and the doe scatter.
A second later I hear a heavy thud, as Plight land's a hit with his hammer. As I look in that direction I see the doe hit the ground, the head busted in. With our prey downed I give him a smile, "Great job, Plight. Do you have a knife to field dress it? Skin and butcher, that is. I can handle it if not, you'll just need to bring yours over here.. Do you have a preference for how it's prepared or cooked?" I asked.
"I-I can field dress my kills but I eat alone." Shaking his head and waving his hands, "N-No offense meant its j-just easier for me."
"That sounds lonely, but suit yourself. I've known plenty of people who do not eat with others. One mistress I used to speak to, on her off time, gets very ill if someone looks at her when she eats. The poor lady." I turned and started taking care of my kill. I then decided to offer a bit of advice, "If you do well, and keep the hide, you can sell the hide at Dueling Rivers. It can be valuable."
He thanked me for the advise and started tending his kill.
As simple field dressing doesn't take long, I then start on processing it. I use the skin to wrap up the meat I intend to bring back. I also unstring my bow. Once I finish I ensure I have the antlers, and I tell him I'm heading back, shout if you need help, and be careful on his way back. I then start to lug my skin sack back to camp.
On my way back to camp, I spot some wild root vegetables. Its good that Mother taught us how to identify these things. I also saw a few herbs that would be nice with the meat, and so I gathered them as I went, keeping an eye out for anything else useful.
The woods lush nature offered a variety of views. Including these adorable tiny spiders that have smiles on their abdomen. They jump everywhere.
Once I reach camp, I see someone has started a fire, but no one's tending it. There are two tents set up and I see Lana, Ash, and Fish down by the river. How irresponsible.
I simply start setting up what I need to begin cooking. I then take my root veggies and herbs down to the river and begin rinsing them. Upstream from where they are. I then note that the triton is in the water. Fitting, I suppose.
After rinsing, I return to the fire. Taking out my cooking kit, I start making a sort of deer stew, as well as some deer spits. The stew will be a great breakfast.
Fred, smelling the venison, stuck his head out of his tent, "So you were successful. Call me when it's ready." He's practically drooling.
I laugh and tell him I will, and he pulls his head back into his tent. I then notice the half-elf watching me. "You're welcome to have some, too." I tell him.
"Hmm. How will I know it's not poisoned?" He glared at me as he spoke.
"Because you've watched me cook it." I replied.
"Didn't see you kill it." He said.
"Then simply, don't eat. Or do. Doesn't matter." I state, turning back to my task. The girls and Fish, along with the triton, return about halfway through the cooking process.
Fish and the triton are staring blatantly, Lana and Ash are trying to not look.
"You're all welcome to eat, as soon as it's ready." I tell them without even looking at them. I'll share. I've never had a problem with that.
Just when the food is nearly ready, Plight comes back from between the trees. I give him additional tips on how to further increase the value of his collected pelt, telling him he can follow along with my actions when I start working on it.
Once cooked, I plated out the food to everyone, aside from Plight, who'd ate on his own.
I felt much better after having ate. The gnawing empty feeling of my stomach replaced with a warm satisfaction. With renewed energy, I began to tend the deerskin to the best of my ability.
To be honest, Plight probably knows the things I'm telling him already. Bout the skins. But he listens earnestly, and I continue to tell him in detail every step to take, and why. I don't think he knows how comforting he's being. I'm very used to being with my family and I'm already growing homesick.
After tending the skin and rolling it up for storing, I turn to the remainder of the meat and start chopping it into 9 lbs. increments and setting up a make shift smoker, I season the meat with wild herbs and arranged it to smoke overnight. They'd be ready by morning, at this rate, along with the stew.
Next, I take my pack and head towards the water. Walking along it a ways I take my cloak and set it up as an makeshift privacy wall. I then strip, take some soap, enter the water, and start washing myself.
I don't take long, exiting the water and drying off, then dressing in a nightdress. I take my cloak down and inspect it, to see if it needs a washing. It seems fine, so I head back to camp.
It's gotten dark now, and Plight volunteers to take the first watch, which is fine by me, I tell him to wake me for my turn, adding that I'll need to check on the meat in at least 6 hours.
After ensuring the meat is cooking, I double checked how the pelt is doing, then I take out my hammock and string it between two trees to catch some sleep. Not that I've ever enjoyed sleeping.
Soon the entire camp was quiet and everyone but Plight and I had fallen asleep. And the truly sad thing is, I was having trouble going to sleep. I always, every night, talk to my Dad before going to bed. I feel cold, lonely and miserable. The feelings overwhelm me, and I feel tears begin to fall from my eyes.
In this moment, I regret my decision that placed me here, so far from home. I miss my family, I miss our cuddles, I miss chatting to them, and I miss being home. I'm so lonely in this moment that its painful.
My silent tears turned into quiet sniffles as I cried.
At some point I had fallen asleep to Plight's soft melodic humming, because a hand was gently shaking me awake now. I open my puffy eyes and look and see Plight waking me.
"It'd been 6 hours, already?" I asked, sitting up groggily. "I need to check on the food then."
I swing my legs over the edge of the hammock and look towards the fire. The stew smells good, but I have little motivation to move forward. I blink rapidly to lessen the feeling of tears welling up. My homesickness is still present, I see.
Taking a deep breath, I give myself a solid slap to the face and get up. My day is starting now, ready or not. I check the stew first, its beautifully ready, and my mouth waters with the delightful aroma. I give it a brief stir then check the meat I'd left smoking. It looks good, and would probably be fine to be pulled off, but longer won't hurt it, I decide.
Instead, since I have an abundance of supplies now, I take a slice of the sweet bread from my bag and munch it. Something sweet helps when you're feeling down. As I munch it, I take down my hammock and start putting up what supplies I can.
Not that I'd left much out. This task completed, I put my cloak on. Then, I notice Plight's still up. Did he do the watch by himself? Why? Would no one else do it?
I give him a smile, not in the mood to chat with him at present. To occupy my time, I lean against a tree and open my senses. I can't really see, but my hearing is pretty good.
Not that it mattered. Sunlight began to pour in around an hour and half later. I again felt a pang at the fact I wouldn't be having breakfast with my family. I'm such a baby. Jasper would be laughing at me, for sure.
When the sun is up enough for it to be near 7 am, I start waking people. Plenty of grumbles. The half-elf attempted to strike me when I woke him. My response was to pull him, by his arm, all the way to the river and fling him in.
This action was cheered by Ash and Fish. Which made me feel regretful. "If you lash out when someone wakes you, you'd best learn to wake on your own. Or be left behind. Fred doesn't wait." I tell him coldly.
As he glared daggers at me, I strode back to camp and began serving the camp bowls of the stew for breakfast. I then wrapped up the smoked meats, placing them in my bag.
Fred seemed a bit less agitated despite it being first thing in the morning. He tended his horse, ate, and put up his tent. All without grouching. Breakfast can be miraculous, you know?
The half-elf did not thank my efforts for breakfast. In fact, he didn't have any, citing once more that I may have poisoned it. 'Of course, I poisoned it. Then ate it. Because life is just that terrible.' I'd snapped.
"She's a Hearthry," Fred spoke up, "If all she's done is toss you in the water you've gotten off lightly. They also ain't big into poisons."
"Not all Hearthry's are quick to anger, but all Hearthry's are quick to get even." I say.
"All Hearthry's are quick to solve problems," Fred corrects, "a trait I have thanked your father for many times. Not everyone wants to pay up for their ride in the cart, after all. Hell, I've never seen or heard from that one fella who stole my cart. It was returned in short order."
"As expected." I smile a little at him. I don't feel the need to continue the conversation, and the half-elf also seems like he's dropping it.
He ate trail rations. That's fine. Fred wanted the rest anyhow.
When it was time to load up, I hopped up first after checking all my things were cleaned up and put away. I sat in the same place I'd been before. It seemed everyone sat in the same place as yesterday. Except the half-elf now sat where Ash had been. And she where he had.
He was glaring at me still, too. "Hey, what's your name?" Ash asked him. "I'm Ash."
He eyed her for a moment and then said, "Ione."
"You own what?" Ash asked.
"It's Ione. My name is Ione." he said.
"Oh. Ok Ione. What about you, blue guy?" She said.
"I'm Jack. Mighty fine to make your acquaintance." the triton said.
With that I tuned them out staring ahead in the direction we were traveling. Once it got close to lunchtime, I gave Fred some sweet bread and a pouch of the smoked meat. The Fred was most pleased with the offering.
I munched some jerky and sweet bread still remaining quiet, sullen even.
The day passed this way. Plight and I quiet. Ione glaring, Ash, Lana, Fish and now Jack chatting.
Soon it was time to stop again. I set on a stone, two bundles of meat and said "Divvy it up as you please." I then handed another to Fred, though, he had plenty still.
I walked slightly into the trees and climbed one, setting up my hammock among some strong branches. I then tied a rope to one of the branches and looped it around the bottom of the hammock and over a branch above the hammock. This'll make it rock me when i pull the rope.
I looked down at the group below. And saw they were setting up, and sharing. Plight looked out of sorts. So I decided to Mind Link with him.
*Are you alright, Plight? I cannot read your thoughts, but if you intend for me to hear you in return, I will. It's Sarial, by the way. I know it doesn't sound like me.*
*
*It's an alarming sound isn't it? My mental voice that is. Are you hungry? I can give you your own meat. Or we could hunt, if you'd like.*
**
With that I severed the link and climbed down. Leaving my pack in the hammock, but taking my sword and bow.
I gave him a small smile and said, "What are you hungry for, then? I'm always willing to hunt."
"I'll stick to deer for now." he replies.
I nod and start for the woods. About 5 minutes from camp, into the trees the feeling of the woods changed. It felt suddenly feral.
With this thought, I strung my bow and nocked an arrow. I was going to be ready for anything. I took note of Plight, he'd stopped and seems to be taking note of every sound of the forest around us. I give him a small smile, trying to reassure him, no matter what, we'll be safe.
Then we hear Lana shout from camp. Plight starts to react, however, I was close enough to fling my body against him, which staggered him enough to get us both put of the way of the claws of an owlbear. I then pulled him with me just in time to avoid a beak attack.
I attacked, stepping back and shooting the owlbear. It stalked towards me in its rage, Plight's attempt to hit it with a hammer ignored. It attempted to peck me, I dodged out of the way, only to meet its claws. The bitch. My answer to its claws was my sword to its body. Didn't bug it much.
Plight managed to hit it with his hammer this time, which seemed to further enrage it. Its eyes narrow on me and it screeches it rage as its claws catch me. My world went dark in that moment..
Light enveloped me, as i faintly heard Plight's hummed melody again. Then I opened my eyes to see Plight get pecked as he clobbered it again.
Very well. I got up and quickly slid my sword into Plight's free hand as he starts to heal me, Cure Wounds this time, then I stepped back nocking another arrow and letting it fly. Flying true, it pierced the owlbear solidly. Plight managed to slash it with my sword, it rakes him with its claws, I miss a shot, Plight fells it with another slash.
He starts to immediately go to camp, but I hold him back for a moment, slapping some medicinal herbs I'd spotted onto his claw wounds and my own. "Let's hurry." I tell him.
We ran back just in time to witness Lana sprint up a tree, Ash hit the ground unconscious, Fish on the ground, Jack and Ione heavily wounded, and the two additional owlbears very dead.
"Fred!" I shout, worried for the old man, "Fred?!" I hurry towards his tent.
Fred pokes his head out, "All taken care of? Phew."
Sighing with relief, I turn back towards everyone, seeing Plight heal Ash. I look up towards my pack and decide to just do what I can with the things available on the ground. So I went and picked the appropriate herbs and brought them along with me to nurse those who are injured. Including myself and Plight, though Plight didn't wish to be further seen to until everyone else was.
"Thank you," Plight says as he offers me back my sword, "I need to find a better weapon. This is an eye opening experience to the ... limitations of my hammer."
"Mm-mm. Thank you, for the healing." I reply while accepting my sword and sheathing it. With a smile, I add, "And I agree, we can get you a proper weapon when we get to Dueling Rivers, that is, if you'd like to adventure with me for a while. I think we're a good team. If I'm not being too forward, that is. Its not a bribe..."
"I would enjoy the company. And we do make a good team." He gave a small smile back, that didn't fully reach his eyes.
"There're Warhammers, a pick on one side and blunt on the other. It's good for getting past armors. There are also ones that are blunt on both sides. Or maces. Unless you're just using a hammer because it's what you have. Nothing wrong with that. I happen to favor swords, like my parents and uncle. Uncle's swords are huge! He can basically wield a claymore as one may use a belt knife." I grin at him widely, forgetting that many consider my enthusiasm to be too much at times.
"Your family sounds very interesting." Plight tell me.
"If you ever meet them, just don't say 'Kitty'," I tell him, "Even I can't dissuade Uncle when someone does that."
"Why is ..the word.. kitty.. forbidden?" Plight asks, a befuddled expression on his face.
"They're Leonin. Lion people." I answer.
"Oh... would that be considered.. disrespectful or a.. challenge.. of some sort? I'm not sure, I've never met a Leonin, I've just heard things." He says, a look of surprise and then hesitant curiosity crossing his face.
"Hmm. All the above. Plus, Mom always thought it was a sexual thing." I inform him.
That may have been a bit too much info. He sounded anxious as he said "I will certainly keep these things in mind."
"Too much?" I ask him.
"No, it was very informative, and good to know." He tell me.
I smile at him again. "If I overwhelm you, please tell me. I tend to get carried away when speaking to people. I also lecture, as i have four little siblings, though, again, Jasper is taller than me. He's only 13, too."
"I.. I certainly don't mind the conversations.. at all. For a long time I.. had no one to talk to.. so, if you want to let lose go right ahead." He smiled in a reassuring manner.
I look around at the two owlbears and remember about the owlbear Plight and I killed. I also remember Plight was hungry, and thats why we were originally going to hunt.
"The meat of an owlbear is quite nice, let's take the meat of it. I can also remove the claws and feathers. We can share the profit from the feathers and claws. The organs are also good for potions and apothecaries. "
He agreed and we went to tend to our kill. Jack had already begun butchering the other two, though I wouldn't say he's done well. He appeared to be taking the beaks as well.
Once we'd gotten back to our kill I extracted the parts of it that would turn a profit, taking care to not damage them.
"I'll handle preserving them at camp, so you can eat alone." I patted him lightly on his shoulder and started back towards my hammock and pack.
Once back at the tree, I climb it and settle into my hammock. I then take out an herbalists kit and place the organs in a large jar. The feathers and claws I wrap seperately from eachother ensuring the claws won't injure the feathers. I packed them away when I was done.
It was getting dark when Plight returned. I watched him from above for a moment then took out my lyre. Playing a light song on it. I then decided to Mind Link to him.
*Are you planning on staying up all night again? You can make one of the others do watch.*
*
*I understand. I can leave the link for now, if you want. Again, I can't read your thoughts.*
*
I stopped playing the melody and put away my lyre and laid back in my hammock. I grabbed the rope and pulled on it, rocking myself. My hope is to soothe myself.
After a few minutes, I start showing Plight a memory of when I was a child of playing with Jasper.
I was 6 and he was 3, just before the twins were born. We were wrestling and he'd managed to toss me. It'd surprised him and he'd shouted my name and ran to me. This caught Uncle's attention so he'd came over and checked on us. I'd twisted my ankle but that was about it. We were fine. I'd told them I was ok. Uncle had decided to teach us to wrestle properly, and what to do if we're tossed. Which turned into a game. He'd put his bed in the training area in his rooms, we'd run at him, he'd toss us, one by one, onto the bed. We kept going for hours it seemed like until we both fell asleep. He'd gone back to training.
The memory made me lonely, but I also fell asleep in the midst of it. As I slept this night, Vakri, my Quori, must have shown me my birth mother again. I figure that's the case because I awoke as the sun rose with rage in my heart.
Shaking it off I'd undone the rope, packed my things, and climbed down the tree. Everyone was getting up as well by now. We had breakfast and set off on our way once more.
It continued for the rest of the trip in this manner, eat on the road, stop at night, have dinner, hunting for Plight, Plight watching over us while we sleep, breakfast and more travel.
The only change being my staunch defense of Plight when Lana and Ash tried to push him about his eating habit and how he stays up all night. And the conversations the two of us had, which mainly covered what creatures we can expect around Dueling Rivers and the plant life. I also bathed anytime we were close to the river, I even let Plight use my soap to bathe himself. Another annoying thing they did was try to say Plight and I were sleeping together. I didn't bother entertaining that nonsense, though Plight had told them it was incredibly disrespectful, and he'd appreciate them not saying such things.
The seventh day, we'd finally reached Dueling Rivers.