The Long Road Ahead
“Huh, what library?” Horace looked inward at the scroll, trying to read it
“Apparently there used to be a library in a small swamp to the northeast of here near the coast. It says that the library housed decades of collected information, some of which is on our order. We are to go to the library’s ruins and bring back as many pieces of literature on the order as we can. We’re given two horses, a covered wagon, and 20 days worth of food for us and the horses, as well as sunrods, a hatchet, bedrolls a me-
“So we get standard travel fare is what you’re saying” Horace finally interrupts.
“uh… yeah.” Astarael replied sheepishly
“Well then, we head out after the feast… which we will have to hold today… I have to go” With that, Horace dashed off towards the central pavilion, nearly knocking over a portly monk carrying a stack of papers.
“Oh Horace, will you ever learn?”
A deep, voice sounded behind Astarael “I see you have awakened, this is rather unexpected”
“Good morning, High Zealot Mezro” Astarel’s voice had taken on an almost mournful tone, as it always did around those not close to him. He turned around to face the zealot, remembering to stare only at his chest, as was custom.
“You are lucky to have nearly stood in the face of the queen’s power, Astarael, I would think you would be happy at this, even if you never smile to anyone but your mother and Horace any other time.”
“I should have been able to look her in the eye; I’m inferior.”
“To me; yes. To everyone else for the past 6 and a half years; no. Astarael, you need not dwell on such things, especially when they are not failures. Now, are you prepared to take our knowledge back?”
“I stand ready sir.” Astarael’s monotonous voice was barely audible to the old zealot
“Good. Dismissed.”
Astarael walked back to his room, face an ivory mask, his awakened senses picking out snippets of conversations about himself.
“… amazing he’s awake today…”
“… I still think Mezro made astarael, kid’s an automaton around everybody…”
“… Leave him alone, he never met his dad that’d mess you up too…”
He found it odd, but not by too much, that so many spoke of him, after all, he had recently learned that to stand during awakening was a tremendous feat after all.
After a day of preparation, Astarael was sitting in the back of a covered wagon, barrels of supplies around him as well as the padded steel strongbox which held his gear. Horace sit in front, ready to direct the horses, his armor on and his sword in a special slot nearby, so as to provide quick access. He called back to Astarael.
“You ready back there?”
“Nice and cozy.”
“Good, then let’s go. HYAH!” Horace cracked the reins and they were off.
They set out along a winding passage that led down the slope of the cold mountain where Astarael had stayed since being born. Astarael gave his home one last look before turning his eyes toward the road ahead, his spirits high and his heart ready.
After a day of travel, the mountain was out of sight. The pair had set up camp in the shade of a large pine tree, using the wagon as a tent and fallen branches for the firewood.
“It must be good to be back outside, eh Horace?”
“Yeah, feels… right… and warm for a change”
“Heh, got that right, you never really get used to the cold do you?”
“Nah, especially once you start going out more, this one time, your father and I were sent way down south, to look into rumors of yuan-ti cultist activity. That place was so hot, my armor began to warp and bend! But man, when I found that stream was I glad. Best damn bath of my life!”
“Humph, you’ll have to take me there someday.”
“I doubt I will, we found the temple, it had been there for years, looked to be built by Yuan-Ti. They’re probably still there, the bastards.”
“You didn’t kill them?”
“Couldn’t, there had to be over a hundred of ‘em, and that’s just the ones we could see. Nah, that place was entrenched deep. We did ward the place though. Every time they left the area, we knew what was happening and we warned the people involved, they stopped trying after awhile. Until they found our ward. Remind me to ask if we can send some guys that way later.”
“Why don’t we go if we’re ever in the area?”
Horace’s brow furrowed into a scolding glare “Because I don’t want to carry your poisoned body back to your mom, that’s why”
“Oh… well, maybe someday, when I’m better.”
“Yeah… Maybe.”
Astarael hears the faint sound of rustling leaves nearby, then a hushed voice
“Horace.” He says, not taking his eyes off the fire “There’s someone behind you, in the bushes. Where’s your sword?”
“It’s in the wagon, by my bedroll.”
“damn, so’s mine”
Horace almost shouted “Hey Astarael, why don’t you go fetch me some jam?” he then winked
“Horace why are…” Astarael’s puzzled expression vanished, and a wry grin spread across his face “Sure thing.”
Astarael took no more than two steps before he heard a shout from behind him “Take another step and you’ll see what it feels like to be a pincushion!”
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