I can not say that the wagon's interior was cozy, but it was better than I expected. I would even dare to say that it was unexpectedly nicely planned.

The concealed door between the coach seats led to a small room, about a third of the wagon in length, two meters, and the same width. If I had to note anything to dislike about this travel room, it would be the height, as it was only half the wagon's, less than one and a half meters.

"Unroll the mattresses, and you got an inn room, at least of the cheap ones." Aison noticed how I looked around and pointed me to three cloth bundles near a small barrel, the only things in this space.

"I expected it to be a single space, with all the cargo and so on." I explained myself, hoping Aison to take the cue and elaborate further on the wagon's construction.

If we considered that Weral was a merchant and traveled with merchandise, it would appear strange to anyone to have lodgings and other such wasted space (in my opinion). I should note that from what I knew, we were going with a full payload, even if a fake one.

"Mmm, I understand. But a wagon like this isn't anything rare. This space is a [Guard's Enclosure], and if you retire those two panels, it will allow you to use the side windows as arrow ports." Aison explained, even showing what panels he meant.

After that, he continued, "When the back wall opens, it will reveal the cargo hold itself, but it goes for two-thirds of the wagon only. As for this part, the lower half of this space is where the provisions are stored, and there is even this-" Aison knocked on the floor of what I will call the room, and a small, half-meter to each side opening appeared, "-an authentic [Smuggler's Hold]."

"Hmm? Are we smuggling something?" I could not help but ask after noticing a few bundles in the opening.

"Oh, these?" Aison took one of the bundles out and quickly unwrapped the cloth, revealing an undersized crossbow, even smaller than the one I had bought, "No one knows what we will meet. And, we had to fill the space with something." He shrugged as he wrapped and placed it back.

"Never saw such small crossbows. Not that I have seen much, though."

"Well, [Handbolters] aren't widespread, as their range and power leave a lot to desire. Still, we have four of them, they are small and quick to reload, so if someone surrounds the wagon, we can inflict some damage." Aison concluded his explanation, closed the hold, and reached for one of the mattresses before finishing, "Now, while you can sleep until we reach the last well before the Bald Hill, I will have to get up before, so let's call it a night."

Until today, I had supposed that calling it a night meant to sleep, but it seems I was greatly mistaken. Before turning off the magic orb that lighted up the room (and was the only magic item in the wagon, at least from what I saw), Aison asked me to pass him the barrel, opened it, and took a big gulp on its contents.

"For a better rest." He said before passing it to me.

I expected it to be alcohol, but it turned out to be an odorless herbal drink with nearly no flavor.

"What's this?"

"[Journeyman's Saviour], a mix of relaxing and healing mixtures. Servers to avoid aches and so on. Just be careful with the amount. If you are not used to it, you will fall into a deep slumber and not wake up in case of need." Aison explained in brief sentences as he lay down.

"Ready?" I heard Weral's voice coming from outside, and before anyone of us answered, I felt how the wagon started off.

"Don't ask if you will do it anyway." I mumbled a complaint as I barely managed to place the lid on the [Journeyman's Saviour] before it splashed from the sudden movement.

Afflictions: Alcohol, Drug, Partially Allowed.

Journeyman's Saviour, Sleeping Drug, Allowed.

Sepyre's Apostle [Perfect Health] is just a splendid thing. All and any effects as poisons automatically are voided (resisted), but if I think of them as desired, it actually allows them. Not only with alcohol, but even with stuff like this sleeping brew!

Sleeping on a thin cloth mattress over wooden boards, the latter part of a moving wagon, was a new experience for me. But thanks to the [Journeyman's Saviour], or to my usually heavy sleeping, I woke up feeling refreshed with no signs of aching body or else.

The wagon wasn't moving, so I supposed that we had reached the last well before the [Bald Hill], as Aison had mentioned we would be taking a rest here, meant for the horses more than for us. And indeed, as I half-stood up, conscious of the low roof, the concealed door opened.

"You're awake? Good. It's right after dawn, and we just reached the last well before the dry zone." Aison confirmed my thoughts before adding that they were about to set up a campfire, so it was time for me to wake up and start cooking.

"Got it. Signs of any trouble?"

"No, none at all." No trouble was something good, at least as I saw it, but Aison was somewhat negative when giving them. But after recalling how he spent half of the past day mystifying stuff, I decided against asking.

{If something isn't right, he will tell me only when he feels it in any case.} Mentally shrugging, I left the wagon's room, giving a start to this 2nd day of our journey.

***

While I went to draw water, started the fire, took out the utensils, and so on, Aison did not speak anymore, seemingly thinking deeply about the thing that was bothering him. As for Weral, he hovered around me, continuously chattering in the informal way he had assumed since we left the city.

Using the old and proven anti-Azar technique, asking questions that would direct the chatterboxes into speaking of something useful, I decided to learn more about dwarves, in this case, asking what a Craftmaster title meant.

Well, I could guess the meaning of the words in the title itself. Still, between listening to descriptions of beer or wine flavors and something that could be interesting, it was clear that I would choose the latter.

_______

Asking about the [Craftmaster] turned out to be surprisingly informative. I had thought it was just a manner to show that a dwarf knew how to do something. But in truth, it was both a noble title and showed one's skill. And most importantly, it was an actual education degree!

That last bit of knowledge was surprising, and I could not help but ask more about what he meant by education when I heard the word.

"Well, our race isn't like most others, noticeable in how knowledge is shared and obtained. You see, the Kingdom gathers all kinds of masters, and once a week, they hold a lecture at the schools for young dwarves. It serves them to learn different skills and select one of the myriads of different crafts to follow later."

Thanks to the explanation, it was easy to glean two things about their race. They had actual schools, and each dwarf learned at least one profession!

"A [Craftmaster] is a title given to any dwarf if their guild, workshop, or town selected and nominated them to serve as one of the teachers. Well, and if they got at least ten apprentices to reach the rank of [Craftsman] in their craft."

In short, the title meant he was one of the best in his craft and a good teacher, huh? Unexpected, considering Weral's manners. But maybe he's like that outside? Or, for their race, such conduct is the correct one?

In any case, my next question was the most logical one. Just what was Weral's craft?

"I am actually one of the non-crafting craftsmen." He suddenly laughed. And, in response to my questioning glance, added, "I'm a barrister, although I also can defend myself as a siege weapon creator."

"A barrister, huh? Never would have thought of that!" My shock was so great that I nearly cut myself with the [Cut] spell's blade. And indeed, Weral, one of the mediation and law specialists?! And one that could also build a ballista or something like that?!

_______

As our talk finished, I was done with the breakfast as well. I am unsure why, but I ended with an almost child menu. Not that either of the two would know it anyway.

A fruit salad from the apples, quince, and a couple of peach-like fruits I found among the provisions, all topped with some honey from a little pot I had not noticed yesterday.

Boiled buckwheat, salted in place of sweet as I paired it with roasted sausages. As for the child part, I actually cut them in the so-famous octopus shape. Why did I do so? I could not find any reason for it, even later.

In any case, they seemingly did not notice anything strange, even thanking me for the food. Oh, well, Weral did mention something about the breakfast being interesting but left it at that.

With food losing neither temperature nor flavor when stored in [Inventory], I decided to continue cooking and prepare enough food for at least two days. And indeed, why not? We would be resting for several hours, and I had just woken up and felt full of energy.

Weral took the chance to nap for a while, citing that he would drive next. As for Aison, he spent all the time walking around the stop. Sometimes looking up towards the hill, sometimes towards the plains that reached the horizon on both sides of the road. The only time he said anything since getting me was to ask Weral's help with the horses, walking them for a bit before tying them to the single tree nearby.

***

It was only about midday when we set off, and Aison mentioned we would be making haste to Bigradh, even if it meant exhausting the horses, that I asked him, "Aison, why the rush? As I understand, the [Rophe'Graz] aren't even around here, and with a deserted road, there should be no robbers either."

"The [Rophe'Graz] missing is actually the reason for the rush." Aison briefly explained, but as asked for clarification, he added, "Do you know that all of their race was about to declare war against the Kingdom if they weren't allowed to use [Bald Hill] this week on every year? They would never ignore their ritual, so something happened on their way here."

"And anything that stopped them from coming will be dangerous for us, even more as we are merely three and not a big group as theirs." Aison finished his explanation, and from that moment on, we started the travel onwards, as an ominous feeling took over my previously optimistic mood...