Paxon enjoyed a few more minutes of the peace before he got up and turned to Cassidy. Her arms dangling from her knees and eyes reflected the warmth of the fire in green frames, she looked completely at ease--even surrounded by all these strangers. But she moved to glance up as he stood over her. “It’s my own turn to rest now.” He said apologetically. “But be sure to see me before we part ways tomorrow. I have a few things that might make your stay in the city a little easier.”

She didn’t bother to speak. Just nodded her head as her hair came loose from its ponytail to shade her eyes. Paxon couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but he wouldn’t let it weigh on him as he headed to bed.

Cassidy watched him fade into the dark. Once he was gone, she switched her gaze to the fire. It had waned throughout their conversation but its flames still leapt into the night sky. She had hoped the caravan would give her a safe place to get a good night’s sleep, but she had too many thoughts whirling through her head. As she sat on her blanket roll the night grew dark and her lids lowered slowly. The glowing embers were the last thing she saw before she slept.

She woke with the first person who shifted from their blanket. Her back ached from sitting so long and she climbed back up to her feet, stretching hands to the sky and yawning. Her dogs shifted beside her before standing too. Her eyes ran over every sleeping figure on the ground. The man who had incidently woken her was kicking a few others awake, but other than that, the rest slept. She even saw Alera curled up across the fire.

She watched the newly woken as they stood together and talked. A few wild gestures thrown about here and there. They split up and followed the wagons in different directions. She guessed they were waggoneers and walked off in a direction they didn’t go. The road was just as dusty without its vacancy. It wasn’t long before she found a clump of guards resting up against the back of the wagon. She looked over the area and wondered where they slept.

One woman broke away from the group to address Cassidy. “You’re that Tier 1 that came in last night, yeah?” Her eyes flicking downwards but otherwise ignoring the dogs.

Cassidy regarded her. The woman had scars running across her hands and a very well used jerkin, but the bow on her back shown in the morning light like a prize. The guard took out an apple as if to show how little this conversation mattered and begun peeling it with an oversized dagger before Cassidy even had the chance to speak. “Yes. I’m headed South.”

The woman didn’t look up from her apple. “Trying your hand with the rangers then.”

“Not particularly.” Cassidy responded. She was watching the apple too. The woman had a deft hand, making very thin slices. “I’m just trying to get away from the politics in the North.”

The woman raised her eyes at that and straightened a little to see Cassidy more clearly. “You’re more likely to run into politics in the South." She paused as she made sure to meet Cassidy eyes underneath all the loose brown strands of hair that escaped in the night, standing as if they were their own forest. "My advice? Steer clear of the ranger corp., maybe try hooking up with a small trading company. Less politics that way.”

Cassidy nodded her head in appreciation. “Thanks, but now I’m hoping to try one of the smaller cities or even a town.”

The woman clicked her tongue and stopped carving. “The only place worth being is Miloyue. It's where all the small towns send their trade before reaching Alipheo, the Southern City. But I’d sharpen my Dagger Skills if I were you. Rule of law is pretty nonexistent unless you join a gang. But that would be politics, again.” She laughed a little at that.

Cassidy frowned. “Thanks for the input. I guess I’ll look into these smaller trading companies.”

“Gotta get your Tier up though. No company takes any below 2.”

Cassidy gave another nod but had used up all her gratitude. She had far too many things to consider now.

The woman lifted an eyebrow before giving Cassidy a once over. Her eyes lingered on the gauges in Cassidy’s armor. She held out her hand. “I’m Alvera, if we ever meet again.”

Cassidy followed suit before walking off to continue her journey down the line. She walked past several clumps of guards but she didn’t linger and they didn’t stop her. She was past the seventh wagon by the time her walk came to an end. Her shoulder leaned against the wagon’s polished wood as she looked out over the road she’d yet to travel. Another long day ahead, just like the others. There was nothing to see.

She didn’t stay. She’d be staring at that road all day. Her boots spun in the dirt as she twirled in place and headed back to the fire. Surely it was lit with breakfast waiting by now.

By the time she made it back she was drawn by the smell of oils and fats cooking over a hot flame. Her dogs were drooling, much to her embarrassment. That was the only complaint she ever had about them--when they drooled. She tried tossing them bits of venison but nothing stopped it. She just had to ignore it like she’d done with so many other things. Like Neridia. Next time she was back home she’d have a serious conversation with that Nymph, such as, why the hell are you on my property? It was long over due and these days of endless walking were finally giving her what she’d been lacking, the time to think about it. About a lot of stuff. She’d have to ask Paxon if he had any paper she could take. She needed to make a list. A long one. Before fogetting any of it, again. Life was too busy to remember everything when the time came.

She made it back to the fire and was about to hunt for the source of that smell when someone kicked her in the legs, it was not a friendly greeting. She spun around. “Alera?” The woman was red faced and looked like she’d been crying.

“Where did you go?!” Her raised voice drew several stares but in the end no one cared enough to listen. The mornings were busy. They had their own work to get done as they went about the wagons or piled blankets back into chest which in turn went back into wagons. It seemed this caravan had an early start too.

Cassidy grabbed Alera by the shoulders to push her back and look her up and down, checking for some injury or clue to this outrage. “I just went for a walk. I checked out the road we’d be taking and got some more information from a guard.” Like how the South is going to be another steaming pile of bullshit.

Alera looked like she wanted to slap her. “So, after selling me off to Paxon last night you just decided to disappear? Without a word!”

Cassidy was angry now. “First of all, I don’t have to tell you where I am going at all times! Secondly Selling? Who was selling who?”

“You were!” Alera pushed her back. “You kept going on and on about how I should stay with this caravan. Do you really want me gone that much? You can’t stand another four days?”

“Another four days?” Cassidy asked, incredulous. “That’s all it takes and BAM.” She claps her hands. “You’re dead.”

Alera just stared at her. “That’s what he said! You can’t really believe that or you’d be staying too.”

Cassidy backed up a step. “Oh, I believe it.” She said in all seriousness. “But I’m willing to bet my life against it. I just don’t want have to bet yours too. Especially not when you could be in a place that really appreciates your Skills and not breathing in the dust with me.”

“They’re wagons.” Alera frowned. “There’s going to be a whole lot more dust with them than with you.”

Cassidy glared. Her silence taking over the conversation.

Alera wasn’t sure what to do. Cassidy couldn’t just leave her. She had to agree to stay, right? But what’s to keep Cassidy from running off when she wasn’t looking? She’d never be able to chase her down with her Attributes or find her in the woods, if that’s where Cassidy went the hunter would just disappear. There would be no finding her. They were well past the spiders now. Cassidy might risk it.

The silence stretched long enough for Cassidy and she turned to find that breakfast, her thoughts consumed with a whole host of new problems. What if Alera didn’t want to stay? Did Cassidy have the ability or right to make Alera? She didn’t want to be responsible for this woman’s life.

She walked around the fire and found the man handing out pieces of bread covered in some sort of meat and melted cheese. She accepted hers with thanks. All that gratitude she used up flew back with the stomach rumbling goodness.

She was off to the side eating hers, Alera eating on the opposite side of the campground, when Paxon found her. He had an easygoing smile that seemed to make the hustle and bustle quieter around him. “Good morning Cassidy.”

She still remembered the decency of common manners swallowed before responding. “Good morning Paxon. I figured you had a busy morning to get things ready and didn’t think I’d see you again.” She lowered her half-eaten breakfast to her side where Sugarbear sniffed it but knew better than to touch.

Paxon let out a laugh. “Too busy to see you off you mean? I’d be a poor host if that were true. No, I have a capable staff that was more than willing to step up for me this morning.”

She smiled. He didn’t plan on leaving. Crap.

He gestured at her hand. “But by all means, please go on eating. I didn’t mean to interrupt your breakfast.”

She raised her hand again but didn’t take a bite despite the tempting smell. “You did mention last night you wanted to see us before we leave.” She took a bite.

His smiled wavered at the mention of them both leaving. He’d really been banking on her convincing Alera to stay, but there was still time for second chances. “Ah! Yes.” His hand wriggled in his pocket before he pulled out two medallions on silk necklaces. “I wanted to give you a mark of friendship. You can show these at any industries that carries this caravan’s symbol and get a good deal or have a message passed along to me.”

Her eyebrows shot into the sky. This was beyond generous for two strangers he met in the night. “Paxon we can’t accept these.”

He dangled them in front of her. “I insist. You two are remarkably talented women I’d love to see again. You’ll have to ride with another one of our caravans in the future.”

Her mouth quirked at this. A deal then, to receive special treatment in return for traveling with them in the future. She could hardly say no the way he put it. It’d be refusing his hospitality. “That’s quit the gracious gift, but Alera and I were hoping to settle down once we reached the city. We’ve had enough of travel.”

He was hardly fazed. “Ah, well. Please accept them anyway. We would love to be graced with your patronage.”

She reached out her hand with her kindest smile and dropped one over her neck before putting the other away to give Alera later. Her hands broke the rest of her meal in two for Koda and Sugarbear; they were all over it once given permission. She looked Paxon back in the eye and ducked her head a little. “I’m ashamed to ask this after so much kindness, but would you have some paper I could use and a writing utensil I could borrow?” Pens, did they have pens? Please say yes. She wasn’t sure how anyone wrote without a pen.

He blasted her with his shiny teeth. “Most certainly. It’s such a small thing; I could hardly begrudge my guest.” He turned and motioned for her to follow.

They walked past several wagons before they came across one that still had chests spilling out the back. Various pieces of paper covered them. “My office.” He spoke with a grand gesture.

Her gaze followed the chaos, trying to make sense of anything. He just walked over to a chest, seemingly at random and grabbed some paper and a pen. At least it looked like a pen. He passed them along to her and she knelt down to use one of the cluttered chests. Her list. It was finally time to write down those thoughts that were bothering her and give them some order. She started with the very first priority.

Stay Away From Ranger Corp.!

Support Alera at Taverns

Contact Shakira

Find out what ranger-y things I’m allowed to do unaffiliated

Help Alera find a home

Do whatever Shakira needs done

Find enchantments for her house and land

Find information on Masteries

Find information on Void Mastery

Get Home

Practice Void Mastery

Get to Tier 2

Get Koda and Sugarbear to Tier 2

Find a small company

Practice Dagger Skills

Her pen stilled. She looked up and froze. Since he was already being so generous… She looked back and caught him pretending not to read what she’d been writing down. She quickly folded it and put it in her pocket. It was ok if the ink smeared a little.

“I was wondering if you could warn me about the prices in The Southern City.”

He looked inquisitive. “In Alipheo? Well that depends, there are an awful lot of goods to sell. They might not be in my industry.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Kalari!” He gestured at a large man whose blonde hair was all muss. “Kalari, over here!” The man headed this way In the meantime, Paxon turned back to her. “There’s a lot that needs doing and I’d like to say my good-byes to Alera.” She tried not smile at this. She really did! Cassidy had already figured out Alera wasn’t going to back track. He didn’t seem to notice anyway. “Kalari here can help you out with prices.”

Cassidy spent the rest of the time with Kalari as Paxon went to visit Alera. It took a while, but Cassidy was happy to walk away with a pretty comprehensive list. She was careful to blow on it to make sure all the ink was dry before she slid it into her special bag. Kalari zipped away once they were done to get back to work. Looking again at the shrinking chaos one last time, Cassidy turned around to find Alera and finalize travel arrangements. After their last conversation, she was guessing she wouldn’t be travelling alone.

Sure enough Alera had turned Paxon down. Whatever happened, she wasn’t willing to share as she levelled her gaze on Cassidy and pursed her lips. Cassidy rummaged around her bag before grabbing the trading company’s marker and passing it to Alera. Alera just stared at it before pulling on something around her neck to show her own marker… in gold. Cassidy looked at her own in brass, shrugged, and put it away. Looking from Alera to the road she spoke. “I guess we should get started then.”

“Yes.” Alera said tightly. “We should.”

Without a second glance at her infuriated friend, Cassidy began walking down the wagons. She saw Alvera and the older woman gave a nod but there was no other interaction and the group of two left the caravan in silence. They had four days to go.

Most of the day was spent in tense silence. Still furious, Alera was unwilling to make the first move and a perplexed Cassidy was trying to figure out what she should do. The dogs jaunted along beside them oblivious to the complex human dynamic.

The sun was getting low and Cassidy figured it was her turn to speak. “I think we should set up camp.”

“Is that so.” Alera kept her eyes on the horizon.

Cassidy pointed. “The forest thins out there. It should be a good spot.”

Alera just moved in that direction.

Cassidy let out a sigh and ran her hand back through her hair, catching the loose strands and pulling them back into her ponytail. She hesitantly gave it a go, walking behind Alera. “Look, I know I shouldn’t have spoken for you. I shouldn’t have tried to make your decision for you.” Alera stopped and Cassidy had to rely on her Reflexes to spin around the sudden obstacle. “It was your decision and I had no right interfering.”

Alera looked over at her before moving forward. “No. You didn’t.”

Cassidy let out another sigh and gave up for the evening. It was time to set up camp and hold their watches.

Alera took the second watch and woke her in the morning with a pensive face, she'd had a lot of time to think in the night. “I guess it is partly my fault.”

“What?” Cassidy said as she got up to stretch blinking away last night’s dream.

Alera stayed sitting on the ground, looking at the dirt. “I rely on you too much and expect you to make all the decisions for me.” Cassidy looked down at her in confusion. “I shouldn’t get upset when you just do what I’ve been relying on you for this whole time.” Alera finally got up and dusted herself off. “I’ll work more to carry my own weight.”

Cassidy looked at her for moment before saying ok; she pulled out everyone’s breakfast and got ready for the road. It seemed she and Alera still had a ways to go before they understood each other.