(Written in collaboration by the players of Waelden and Yllfa )
Prologue: Setting Out
We rode out from our home as the first light of the late autumn sun touched the horizon. A long ride lay ahead of us for, if possible, that night would be spent at Faldham. Our horses seemed eager to be away, with Ealfin all but nudging Waelden to get a move on. Wynn seemed a little more flighty than her usual self, but an apple and a soothing word in her ear seemed to put all to right.
Plans made over the past few days saw our horses fit and ready, and ourselves carrying furs and equipment that would see us through winter weather, should our goal of Wildermore already have snow. Whatever the conditions in Forlaw, we would be prepared.
Having spent a little time in that town over twenty years past, I was not totally sure what to expect. This time of year could often be mild, but equally there could be snowfall, particularly up in the mountains, and in the Elder Wood. Under normal circumstances horses weathered the cold well, but we had thick wool blankets for each of ours just in case, as we had fur cloaks loaned from Northgyth for ourselves.
Waelden brought Ealfin alongside Wynn, so they walked at a steady pace, talking to each other in their own way. Wynn whinnied a few times and tossed her head, which was not totally strange for her, but made me think I must keep a close eye on her. Reaching over, Waelden took my hand, linking fingers. “Don’t look back,” he said. “She will be fine.”
I had looked in on the just waking Ethel before we left. Ymma was sleeping in the guest room, sparse with furnishings though it was. I had no fear there. Ethel had yawned and hugged me one. “See you later, mama” she had said, that same ‘see you later’ she and her papa had exchanged the night before. None of them were much for lengthy farewells, nor worrying too much over what may come tomorrow. The day is now, and that’s where we all should live.
As if sharing my thoughts, Waelden squeezed my fingers slightly. “We will all see each other later. You will get used to it, as Ethel and I have.” His voice was steady, reassuring and comforting, all at once.
“Aye,” I thought. “We will see each other again in this life, or the next.” But that was not something to dwell on. I did understand that prolonging a departure did not help anyone. So I pushed myself to move on in thought from Ethel.
Northgyth was at her door on her way to feed her animals, a shawl wrapped about her shoulders, as we passed by. We both hailed her, and she waved in turn.
“We will see each other later.” I told myself. There was still much I wanted to know about that dear friend to my family. There was so much we owed her, though she was not the sort to ever remind us of that. We would repay her kindness with more, in due time.
The path moved away from the direction of the houses circling the Mead Hall, down past the Garrison, to the main gate. Two archers stood on post in the wooden watch tower along the road, their vigilance a comforting thought as the days kept growing shorter in this late season.
“This is your journey, dear. You take the lead. I have never been to Wildermore, so I won’t have much of a clue where I am going past Cliving,” Waelden said to me, letting loose my hand. “But I will be keeping my eyes open as usual for any threat, and not much passes Ealfin’s notice.”
I trusted them, man and horse, but this journey was about all four of us learning to work as well together as possible. Aye, even Wynn! I nodded, feeling reasonably confident. “I will do my very best, Greybeard.”
Then we approached the gate. “We are likely to be away for a few weeks,” I informed the guards, less they thought us missing and sent out a patrol. “Our daughter will be with Ymma. She has no reason to leave Bancross.”
Both nodded to me, and returned Waelden’s ‘hail’, though we were not that familiar to them yet.
And away… we rode at a canter north, towards Entwade. I had much hope for our journey, for our future. But I was not fool enough to think anywhere was safe in times like these. Every road is dangerous, and every stone turned could hide a surprise underneath. With some luck, they’d not be bad ones. And for those that were, we could handle it… together.
