Findings

 

 

 

2.

 

Findings

Khrinn walks down the road leading to the city. It seems to be a well maintained trade road, made of cobbles, and well trodden. He feels more reassured with his surrounds now, well away from the flying reptiles with their blue-red trees. He considers his encounter, and determines that the two are linked. He wonders how though, and what they are. Lost in thought he is not aware of the horse coming from behind until it is nearly upon him. He quickly moves out of the way, as the horse snorts at him.

Khrinn looks at the horse, and realizes it is like no horse he has ever seen, it resembles a horse, but is reptilian in nature, it has no hair, and it’s ears are just nubs of hardened skin on the slope of it’s head. It’s eyes are yellow and slitted, like that of a snake, or cat. It’s feet are hard like those of a horses hoof, but are splayed into three toes, that appear flexible. He looks up and notices the rider, and older man, with graying hair, and clean shaven face, wearing traveling clothes and cloak.

The Rider reins in his mount and looks at Khrinn, gazing at him with wizened eyes, He says in a voice graveled with age, “Ye look like thou art not of this province.” Khrinn takes in the mans voice, and his archaic speech pattern and respectfully replies “No Elder, I am not.” The man squints his eyes at Khrinn, “Elder be I? Ha!” he laughs for a moment, “What be thy name, Boy?” Khrinn chuckles quietly for a moment at being called a boy, but realizes, that yes, he appears as a boy again to the eyes of many. “My name is Khrinn, Sir.” The rider flinches, and squints down at Khrinn, “There be power in that name Boy, I know not why or where it comes from, but there be great power in it.” He looks Khrinn over again, “Ye have the look of a sell sword about ye, though a bit soft, a bit green. Know ye how to use thy weapons?” Khrinn looks down to his sword and feels his bow pressing against his back, not knowing how much he should tell this stranger, but also needing to know more for himself. He looks the man over again and sighs thinking ‘What have I to lose?’ “I think I can, though I have no memory of learning to use them. I was able to cleanly dispatch some kind of flying reptile to the north and east of here on simple reaction.”

The Rider raises an eyebrow and says “A flying reptile? Did it hail from a stand of red-blue trees?” “Yes, Sir, it did.” “Hrmmm, Thou art lucky Boy, the Gener’Gar are pack creatures, thou must have found one that had not yet mated. Not that I be grieving at the loss of the creature, foul plague on the land that they be.” Khrinn nods at the man, thinking of his earlier ruminations, and says “ I‘ll remember that.” “Where art thou headed, Boy?” “At present, to the city up ahead, I really have no destination after that.” “Well then, accompany an aging man down yon road, will ye?” As he is about to reply, the man’s mount opens it’s mouth to reveal a carnivores teeth, and lunges at Khrinn. The Rider curses and pulls hard on the reins of his mount, as Khrinn pivots to the side, dropping low, and whipping his elbow into the side of the creature’s head. The Rider’s mount squeals in pain and skitters sideways away from Khrinn.

Khrinn looks up at the man and says “I’m not so sure I should travel the road with you if your mount is going to try to take hunks out of me.” “Mine apologies, I must not have given the beast enough feed before I departed for this journey. Though, thou didst the correct thing in hitting it where thee didst, it shall not bother you again.” The man gives a more appraising eye to Khrinn and says “Methinks there be more to ye than is common, Boy. Mine name is Halner.” Khrinn nods “Well met Halner.”

Halner reins his mount and begins moving down the road toward the city, keeping it at the pace of a walking man, Khrinn walks beside him. “Tell me,” Khrinn asks, “What is the name of this city?” Halner looks down and says “Thou most certainly are not of this Province, Boy!” and laughs for a moment. “The city is Jeren’Tor, the first port to the coast for the wood trade. All lumber for this province and many provinces around is made here. Though there be a bustling trade in all other things mundane, and magical.”

As they continue down the road Khrinn begins to see the body of the city, the sawmills along the river, and lumber yards where the wood is seasoned, and made ready to ship. Along the road he can see a ramshackle village before the walls of the city proper. “Are there many wars here?” Halner grins down at Khrinn “Nay, not in the last several generations. Yon wall is a relic of the Blood Wars. The Kingdom had split between two brothers, and they warred over who should rule, thus a blood feud, and it came to be known as the Blood Wars.” Khrinn nods to this, and Halner asks “Have thou some money Boy? Thou will need it for lodgings.” “I… I’m not sure.” Khrinn reaches down and finds a small pouch behind his belt, as Halner gives him a strange look, the pouch feels natural there, he pulls it free and unties it, to pour several silver and gold coins into his hand, as well as some small emeralds and diamonds.

“Thou hast gold boy! Put it away, quickly! The rest will do you well enough, but if the Consortium finds you have gold they will try you as a criminal!” “A criminal? Why? What is the Consortium?” Halner looks down at Khrinn “Methinks you art not of this world, Boy, ye know too little.” then sighs “The Wizards Consortium, They are the true power behind the government here. They proclaim that all gold is to be used only in magical works in the betterment of the Kingdom. If any gold is found, it is to be turned over to the Consortium immediately, and any new mining locations are to be reported jointly to the Miners guild and the Consortium. Now put those coins down your boots and I will try to help you find a trader that can change them for you.” Khrinn shakes his head and places his gold coins in his boots, thinking ‘Your right Halner, I’m not of this world.’

Khrinn looks up at Halner and asks “Why are you helping me? Why wouldn’t you just turn me in for the possession of gold? I’m sure there would be some kind of reward.” “Aye, Boy, There is, but I have mine disagreements with yon Consortium, and would not see someone so young put to the stocks for the possession of it, nor for not knowing it was against Royal decree.” Khrinn nods to this, “Thank you Halner.” “Think naught of it, perhaps someday thou canst return the favor” Khrinn smiles and looks around, noticing that they are approaching the outskirts of the ramshackle village, and asks “What do you do Halner?” Halner grins and replies “I, am an Independent Enchanter. I give power to inanimate objects.” Khrinn looks up at his companion again and smiles. “That’s why you know so much about the Consortium, and have your disagreements with them, they are not happy that you won’t join them.” “Astute observation my Boy, very astute, but it also makes me something of a danger to be around at times. So I give thee fair warning now, if we travel in the city, ye may be accosted, and if ye are, don’t go fighting them, they have the law on their side.” “I’ll just tell them the truth, that I was accompanying an old man to the city for some small talk and companionship.” “That’ll likely serve you well enough, methinks.”

By now they were well into the village, and Khrinn had been noticing many more people on the road, as well as hawkers of food, jewelry, small weapons, cloth, and other assorted goods. He also sees a large amount of people in the shadows between the huts and structures, making shadier dealings. Halner note Khrinn gaze and says “Gamblers most of them, trying to work out their debts or collecting on them, thou will have to be careful of footpads out here, not as much in the city proper, the guard dost not tolerate it well behind the walls.” Khrinn’s hand strays to the hilt of his sword as he replies, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As the pair approach the gate to the city, Khrinn sees several bored looking guards, casually watching the crowds entering and leaving the gates. As they approach, he sees one of the guards notice Halner, and nudge the others, while gesturing with a motion of his head. As they fan out across the entry, the senior guard steps up and says, “Well, if it isn’t Halner! It’s with a glad heart I see you approaching again! You see Halner, That enchantment you placed upon my Wife’s broom, so that is would sweep for her…” Halner looks down on the guard with disdain “Aye, the enchantment that would have the broom sweep thine floors and push the dirt right out the door.” The guard looks around at his comrades, and says, “Yes, that one, well, it doesn’t work anymore, and I want a refund.” Khrinn looks between the two and at the other guards watching for any hostility, but only see barely restrained humor. Halner replies, “ Methinks ye were out drinking and womanizing a bit too much, and thine wife broke her enchanted broom over thine head!”

At this the rest of the guards burst into great bellows of laughter, and Khrinn takes his hand away from his sword with a sigh of relief. The Senior guard splutters some unintelligible words, as his second in command howls “He got you there Phane!” Phane says “Fine! But you watch yourself Halner, the Consortiums got it in for you, you know that! Move on!” Halner stares disdainfully at Phane and continues through the gate. Khrinn following beside. “Methinks it be time to find an Inn and a tankard of mead, Boy, What think you?” Khrinn looks around and replies, “Yes, that suits me just fine.”

 

Author's Note

Think it's a bit to long for the editor, it won't let me edit the spacing without screwing up the whole chapter :p

Reviews

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"Though, thou didst the correct thing in hitting it where thou didst " I think .. Though, thou didst the correct thing in hitting it where thee did ... works better for me. I like "Independent Enchanter" " Methinks ye were out drinking and womanizing a bit too much, and thine wife broke her enchanted broom over thine head!" Oh! Priceless!! "Methinks it be time to find an Inn and a tankard of mead, Boy, What think you?" Khrinn looks around and replies, "Yes, that suits me just fine." Nice scene setting ... I am enjoying this story. Pammy

[Wolfwind Words]

I don't think its long at all! I've seen longer chapters then this.
I liked this alot. The story is evolving.
My only comment would be that the old style of speaking, though good for showing how different the main character is. It gets a to be a mouth full at times. Might want to think about softening it up just a bit.
Other then that its comming along just grand!