Instead of directly doing a runner they went home and Nic got cleaned up as well as he could and changed his clothes. The robe itself would probably just be thrown away, even if he could clean it that would take too long. And time was of essence now. So after cleaning they checked in with the librarian who took his parchment, gave him his pay and didn't ask too many questions, thank small mercies.
After that they parted ways for a moment, as Ivan just had some stuff he did still need and Nic had to pack himself anyway. Finally back in the hut he got a fire going with a bit of help from the Flame Sprite. Sighing he threw together his meager belongings. Everything he owned was fitting in a bag and a few small pouches on his belt he always had with him. A few things for bandaging wounds, a small knife, a few herbs to call the Flame Sprite and for healing, that was about all.
Despite knowing better he cleaned his robe as best as he could. He had never gotten around to getting a spare one and it was about the last present his uncle had given him, so well. He patched it up at the shoulder, having had to learn that young as the rest of the village besides a few was very much of the opinion he should not bother them more than he absolutely had to. So he had picked up a variety of skills, as the teaching was done in a way that he either learned fast or was left to fend for himself. Blasted sentimentality. Blasted idiots. Smallminded fools, the lot of them.
Sighing his hand ran through his hair. He had no clear idea where to go or how to plan further from here. Sure, he had known he would be leaving this place somewhen in the future but not like this. In his imagination he had been a few years older and had saved up a bit more money, for once. On the other hand, he had expected to have a more accurate map by then as well. Grimacing he took out an old parchment that had seen better days. The ink on it was faded, but still readable.
It was a map he had borrowed from the library – for an indefinite period of time, of course. Not that anyone would miss it anytime soon. The thing was old, an heirloom from the old geezer's grandfather or great-grandfather even. Maybe a hundred years or something like that, so it would not be all that accurate to begin with. At least he had a rough direction though one was out from the start and that was that path north into the mountains. There had been a street once but as it had not been maintained it fell into disrepair and if there was any sign of it left it was a path, if at all. Even goat herder did not venture there much anymore, the risks had grown too big. Wind and weather had destroyed much of the original thing and then there had been a few rockslides over the years.
There may have been a city across the mountains but if he wanted to learn magic it would be of no great interest to him. It was part of a theocracy and well, besides holy magic they weren't big fans of other kinds, be it elemental or others.
So, either to the east and then south, following the coastline, which lead to an archipelago of some kind or to the west where there was supposed to be a small settlement of magicians. At least there had been a note of that in the map.
South was out as well, according to some travelers months ago it had turned into a recruitment ground for the kingdom and anybody younger than twenty who could hold a sword at the right end was taken to the guards and enticed into joining. The village itself was just too small to be of interest to them and well, if you were honest there weren't that many young people around here anyway.
"Oh well, I'm sure we'll end up somewhere useful."
With that he finished up packing. His robe hung near the fire, the heat should help it dry. As Ivan still wasn't there he just lay down to relax a bit. Heck, no few days passed and another near death experience under his belt. Those he could really do without. Closing his eyes he was lulled to a light slumber to the crackling in the background without even noticing.
After a while he was roused in a very rude way, if not to say in a very brutal one. It consisted of him getting roused to landing on the floor with an audible thunk as Ivan usually threw him out of his bed. In a very literal way. No, really, his friend had taken to picking him up and just letting go, what led to what he by now called umph-moments. If he was loudly complaining about it, he didn't have to worry about neighbors much. His hut was a bit on the off side of the village and well, nobody was near enough to hear him complain.
Disoriented he sat up, seeing stars for a moment. The same as usual. How usual? Well, let's phrase it like that – Nic was about unrousable the normal way, so he usually had that waking moment accompanied by beforementioned umph and gasped for air with his back tingling. Though this time something was different.
"What the heck Ivan?! It's dark and I can't see a thing!"
"I am aware," Ivan noted dryly. "But I think we should be gone very soon or be ready to be lynched in flames."
"That's called going down in –" paling Nic stopped himself. "Wait, wait, lynching?! Why?!"
"Oh right, you can't have heard. That thing with the wolves, well someone saw us and well... Let's just say my father gave me this bag filled with coins and recommended me we should avoid that storm in the mug."
Disbelieving Nic stared. There was a whole lot of information Ivan was leaving out. "And why we both, if you please?"
"Oh that. Well, clearly you're a demon incarnate about to go on a rampage, but as I have always been nice to you I have shown my true colors as your loyal little minion who has always been in the know and now we'll rain hell on this place if left alive. All the while feasting on their pitiful souls and blood."
Ivan recanted the story in such a cheerful way that Nic was doubting his sanity. And he wasn't even sure whether he meant his friend's or his own. His friend seemed to be awfully amused as if it was all a big joke even with his own head in the noose alongside Nic's. But well, nothing to it then. Grumbling he got up, taking his still slightly soggy robe and put it on. Hopefully he didn't end up with a cold on top of it, that would just be the timing for it.
"So we are leaving now, because..."
He motioned his hand in a rolling way, hoping Ivan would get the hint.
"Well, so that we are gone when the others return."
Nic groaned. He suspected that this thing would end in one of two ways and he wasn't sure he really wanted to ask. But as it involved Ivan and his hairbrained schemes he was better off being prepared. That had been a hard learned lesson over the years.
"What did you do now?" he implored with growing dread.
"Well, the angry mob is on his way to the east, being led by my father."
Right, the first part was fine. Though the problem that followed now would be the one which would one day give him a stomach ulcer, he just knew it.
"But," see, that was the thing, "sadly another part of it broke off and blocked the way south because the may have heard something."
Great. He had intended originally to just leave south and turn to the west after a day or two. As heading directly to the west led right though the hunting grounds of not only a few packs of wolves and other dangerous predators, but also was leading through a moor and had a bit of a longer travel time before even reaching the next paved paths. About a week, if they were even there anymore to begin with that is. His original plan would have led through the southern territory which was easier to travel in and less dangerous. And that week took into account that you had horses, not even mentioning passing there by foot. Plus, Nic couldn't even ride. Sure, put him on the four-legged nightmares, him hanging on in terror while someone else led the thing was about all he was able to.
"But I was able to get two horses!" was not what Nic wanted to hear.
The darkness was lurking and staring. Yes, there he was, the new master.
The new protégé.
There was much he would have to learn. There have been better.
But many, many worse as well.
Broadly grinning razor-sharp canines glinted in wavering black. There was no light, whatever for. Three glowing eyes gazed out of it, soft metallic giggling could be heard. A moment of surprise followed by light whispering.
He has forgotten it.
Within the blink of an eye flowing darkness engulfed the blade that had been unnoticed until now. A soundless poof and every sign of it was gone.
I'll bring it to him.
More brassy screeching. Soon, soon, soon. It wouldn't be long now.
Now Nic had about enough. His ass was numb and hurt at the same time, his arms were cramping and he didn't know how, but the effing nag was trying to eat his hair again! And still they had five days of travel before themselves before reaching any kind of settlement, if there even was one. The last one they had to make a huge detour around as Nic's horse had bolted because a fox cup had suddenly appeared yipping. Until they had gotten the stupid thing to calm down and gotten back some idiots from the village had already arrived there, so hence the detour. And yes, it had been a long one.
On top of that the map proved about as useful as Nic had feared. Where there should be villages or towns were ruins where strange fog was blocking even sight of the ruins and which also didn't leave with the sun shining on it. They stopped for a break a bit further away but had to cut that short when Ivan had to slay a blasted skeleton which was more stumbling than walking in their direction. The sounds coming from those ruins were foreboding and creepy, so someone else was free to explore the why behind it.
At least they had found a little settlement of a few houses that consisted of pile dwellings that were also separately fenced. They could even rest up in a barn with the horses for paying a small obolus. Though the extra fences and strange way around them was a bit curious to Nic, but there probably was a reason for that. On top of that he was much too tired to really wonder what was up with that and just wanted to sleep.
If he had known what was lurking in the blasted moor he'd have taken the extra time and gone around the blasted thing in the first place. But well, as it was they had been in a hurry and well, he was to blame as well as he had left the decision in that moment to Ivan. Which in hindsight hadn't been that much of a smart move but it was done by now anyway.