Surrounded by the obsidian sheet of all black, nothingness hugs tightly. Those low guttural tones are the only source of comfort. Echoing what feels as if through time itself, it is endless.
Runespeak.
Garrick shoots awake, throwing his body forward violently, eyes darting at the bushes and trees that encase the camp. Sword in one hand and shield in the other. He stands up, rustling heard all around, but unable to see anyone. Then, he spots small humanoid figures scuttling away further into the forest.
"What is that?" Garrick continues looking but can't make out just what the creatures are, friendly or not so friendly.
He sits by the fire that has gone out and relights it with two rocks and spare kindling. Once relit, he sits beside it to get warmth back in his bones, overseeing the forest carefully. All is quiet except for Meetlemire snoring loudly.
Hours pass by as the sun slowly rises over the forest. The snoring halted as Meetlemire stumbles out of his tent in a sleepy daze. Hair is messy; he stretches his arms up high and yawns. He notices Garrick is already awake.
"Oh, you're already awake. Very eager to get going, I see." Expresses Meetlemire.
"The sooner I can get a proper bed to comfortably rest in, the better; I might even get more than a couple hours of sleep if I'm lucky." Garrick replies.
Energised by his long sleep, Meetlemire springs to action, tidying up the camp. He folds down the tent, packing it into the carriage and attaching the reigns to the horses as he pulls himself into the driver position. Garrick decides to join him in the front instead of the more relaxed place in the back, lying down.
Some time passes in their journey, the sun high in the sky now, the roads quiet and peaceful, but Garrick can't help but feel uneasy. The occasional rustle of a bush or scatter of birds from trees is usual, but it brings a sour taste to his mouth. Something is wrong. Meetlemire, however, not paying attention to Garrick speaks up.
"So, that writing on your body. I saw it when wrapping you up in bandages; it's fascinating. What does it do?" Meetlemire intrigued.
"It's meant to help with magic; like I said, I haven't been very good with it." Responding Garrick dismally.
Meetlemire, realising he may have touched on a sore spot, frantically speaks up.
"I am sorry if I offended you, my friend; I was only curious. Volmyr does have a rather extensive library though for studying magic; every school for practising, I am told."
"Don't worry, no harm done. It sounds good to learn to stop hurting myself with my spells, though. Probably a first for a mage." Garrick Says in a joking manner.
Realising Garrick is laughing at this puts him at ease, realising he may have overstepped but not by much.
"You have a good sense of humour, Garrick. It is precious these days."
They both chuckle as they continue to enjoy their travels together. The journey continues for some time, carefully but peacefully. They manage to make it past the thick of the forest, where the landscape changes slightly. Large spaces void of trees, with workers toiling away and digging up the ground to plant seeds for the village. The village of Darow comes into view from the distance.
"I think that may be Darow over there in the distance." Meetlemire pointing. "And with some sunlight left, too." he adds.
"Made it with good time, well done, Meetlemire." Garrick pats Meetlemire on the shoulder with a smile on his face. "Time for well-earned rest for both of us!"
As they move closer, they spot a logging camp outside the village. A large open wooden building, with a light bouncing off it, most likely the sun catching the saw inside. Workers are seen moving freshly cut trees and sticking them in a neat pile, ready for transportation to whoever purchased them.
"I wonder how much longer Redwood Forest will last; we lose more of it every year." Meetlemire says, saddened.
Garrick didn't hear him. Not due to ignorance, but his mind is focused on other matters, yearning for answers to all his questions.
They approach the small village, maybe forty or fifty houses at most, well-made houses. Redwood Forest lumber makes excellent building materials. The carriage gets slowed down in the mud as they enter the village, the wheels sliding rather than turning as the powerful horses slowly pull it forward. Wooden boards are seen laid out as a makeshift walkway to ease travel for the inhabitants. Guards take notice of the guests, and the same with the villagers.
"Looks nice enough in here. A little muddy, perhaps." Meetlemire pokes his head over the edge, looking at the wheels struggling to turn.
"If there's a bed and food, it's more than enough for me." A sharp, to-the-point response by Garrick.
Meetlemire waves down a nearby villager as they slog through the mud to the carriage: simple-looking human, dirty face, and clothes with blonde hair streaked with dirt.
"Hello there, friend. We are new here, just staying a couple of days. I wondered where we can get some food, sleep, and stables for the horses." Meetlemire pulls out a copper coin and gives it to the villager.
"Just follow the path through the village; we got an inn called the Ivory Duchess that has beds and food, pretty good price for booze too, I'd say. Stables on the other end of the village up near the town hall, there's a metal fence you go through, and it's in there. Good enough stables for the horses."
"That'll do very nicely; thank you again, my friend." A smile, and away they slog through the mud again.
"Wait." Garrick almost shouts out. "Sorry, where is the guild envoy for the Order of the Legion?"
"Ahh, guildees. Up near the stables, at the town hall." The man turns back around and trudges through the mud again.
The sun gradually dipped lower and lower in the sky, the light fading, torches and lights popping up throughout the village houses. A two-storey building is spotted, standing out from the normal one-storey around it. A metal sign unreadable from their angle swinging in the breeze.
"I think that may be the inn; it's the biggest building we've encountered. Looks like a lot of moving going on inside, too." As Meetlemire squints. "Let's get the horses to the stables while we got some light left."
They reach the metal fence, which sits on a stone wall about six feet tall. Stables lay on the left, and a stable boy is seen moving hay around. A sizeable two-story building lays in front, presumably the town hall; care went into crafting this building, and even some intricacies and etchings coat the building.
"This is where we part." Garrick jumps off the carriage, his boots sinking into the mud.
"I'll rent a room for you at the inn, Garrick. If I don't manage to see you again, then goodbye and good luck!" A cheery farewell. It warms Garrick's heart to find a being with the happiness Meetlemire has.
A nod from Garrick and a wave, and he is away. Meetlemire pulls the reigns as the horses turn left to the stables.
"Hello, stable boy, my friend!"
A slight smirk from Garrick as he closes in on the town hall, Meetlemire's voice fading away. Solid and heavy, two large doors made from reinforced wood and metal block his way from entering the town hall. He leans into the doors to give them the push they need to open.
End Chapter