The group somehow managed to walk past the two bears as Kelpie held them at bay with his body language and mubbles. Davnos spoke softly to his sister as he helped her pass, "We are helping Bex get much need supplies to her people in the Test-bridge place." He took the horse reins, "Come quickly and quietly." Reidun nodded slowly. "Bex...Test bridge." She followed. "How much has he had to drink," she thought to herself.
Nathan and the cart were pulled by the goat as they made it past, next is Thorbeck, followed by Bex, Davnos and his sister. Soon they all stood in the yard of the Inn and looked at each other in a little confusion. Thorbeck went to check on his Goat, patting his head, the animal did well. Bexly looked around at her friends and then to Kelpie she said, "How did? We pass?" He looked speechless for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders as he said, "I'm good with animals?" Thorbeck glanced to Bex while he petted his Goat and said, "He be descended from Northmen. They have a close way with animals, ain't nothin’ more to it." Kelpie gives a grateful nod towards Thorbeck and then smiled warmly towards Bex. Bexly smiled back at him, "That was amazing, I..." She was still a little in shock.
Davnos turned to look at Reidun, "What in the name of all things holy are you doing way out here by yourself?" Reidun had her hands on her hips and looked up at her brother as if she wasn’t nearly a foot shorter. "You left Bree, without a word! I thought you were in trouble again, or something!" Davnos shook his head, "I am helping out this time, doing good." Reidun rolled her eyes. "You say that...all the time." She glanced at the woman she assumes was "Bex" and said, "She's pretty." She turned her gaze slowly toward her brother again. "Ohhhh, I see..." Davnos quickly shouldered his sword and said, 'No don't even say it sis." He looks to the group and said," Let’s go inside out the rain." Kelpie agreed and said, "Aye, I be curious about this inn Egfor always be talking about." Thorbeck nodded at Kelpie and smiled to his Goat "No killin’ today for ye! Stay out here and eat." The group started inside and Nathan said that he wanted to stay outside with the cart.
Once in the foyer of the Inn Reidun smirked and walked over to Bexly to introduce herself. "Hi, I'm Reidun, Davnos's sister." Bexly turned and came over to the woman, "Well hello, nice to meet ya, all way out here! I am Bex, Bexly Bell of Trestlebridge, but just call me Bex." Reidun nodded and offered her hand as she said, "Had to chase the clumsy ox down." She gestured over her shoulder. "Pleasure to meet you, Bex." Davnos sighed.
Kelpie looked around curiously. "Guess it be a little modest with... decoration for now." Reidun sniffed, looking around the first room. "A man decorated this," she muttered. Reidun then said, "Now...what exactly was that on the road? How are you lot not dead?" Bexly shrugged and answered with, "Good question, let’s get a drink and relax!" Everyone was clearly ready to as Thorbeck added in, "Oi! We drinkin or what!" and Kelpie again agreed, "Aye!" Reidun shrugged, then glanced behind her and gestured toward the other room with her head, before she walked into it.
The main room of the Inn was large and warm with a full bar and tables stocked full of food. The party was not disappointed by the spread and they all got drinks and found their way to a table. Introductions were done and the group met Davnos’s sister Reidun. She teased him, much like a younger sister might as they all enjoyed their food and drinks in the warm safety of the Inn. It made Bex think of the song she wrote. Bexly smiled and said, "Maybe I should share a song or two." She looked to Kelpie knowing how much he seemed to enjoy her playing and singing. Valtorn said, 'I love songs, aye.' He smiled sheepishly towards Bexly as he sipped his mead and said, "Was actually about to ask you." Bexly gave Kelpie a pat on the shoulder, "I know, I am always happy to play them when you are around." Kelpie grinned with a chuckle after the pat and smiled towards Bexly as she stood, he perked up somewhat in his seat.
Bex took a long drink, trying to almost drain her glass, before she picked the lute up, "Seems like as good a time as any." Bexly looked to the others, "You all up for a tune?" Reidun leaned over and whispered something to Davnos before she took a tentative sip of her tea while she nodded eagerly at Bex. "I've not heard a good song in a long time!"
Bexly smiled and said, "Well let's start with something fun." She strummed the strings a few more times before she started into an upbeat song. The group spent the rest the night singing songs and telling tales until each one slowly wondered off to find a cozy place to sleep for the night.
First morning light came and the moment it filled the great hall Bexly was awake. She quickly made her way outside to check on Nathan and the supplies. There he was, sitting on the chart with his cheeky grin, wondering why she was so slow. He joked and harassed her a little about not being very fast in the mornings while she twisted her lips and gave him a joking scowl, “Alright, I don’t be seeing any one else out here yet!” Her words were followed by Kelpie coming from inside the Inn with Thorbeck, and Davnos joined them from the path back to Bree, seems he sent his sister back.
The group agreed that Nathan would scout out in front to make sure the path stayed clear, while Throbeck would lead his goat and the cart, and Bexly, Davnos and Kelpie would make sure all goes as planned. Nathan started out at a good pace in front of them while the rest of the group traveled rather slowly down the road. Kelpie and Bexly joked with Davnos about his nick name as they walked along.
Bexly smiled to Danos and asks, "Did you get your sister set up and head back to Bree? Seems a fun lass." Davnos responded to her, "Aye yes, don’t know what she was thinking riding all the way out here." Bexly looked back at Kelpie and winked at him as she joked, "What Nickname do you think Nathan will give her?" Davnos started to look nervous as he said, "Oh gods no please." Kelpie snorted out. "I ain't sure, he takes a little while usually." as he walked along side the chart and Bexly. Bex giggled as she looked between them and Thorbeck just kept the chart moving along. Davnos again not to pleased said, "She must never know my nickname." Valtorn looked over to him and said, "It be okay, Carp. I will be sure to tell her."
The trio joked on about the fish and how tasty they would be and that lead them back to thinking about the upcoming fishing trip. Bexly walked on next to the cart as the sun rose higher in the sky. She smiled and giggled before she said, "Let's hurry so we can go plan that trip! Sitting by a fire, smelling them fish cook...mmmmm. While playin' you all songs under the stars " Kelpie was eager for the trip too and said, 'Aye, fishing! That be sounding cozy.” He beamed a grin as he said, “Aye more songs!” Davnos chimed in and said, "With some good wine." They all agreed and kept walking and talking about fishing and playing songs.
It was a nice sunny day and the trip was going very well so far. Nathan had not circled back around to find them again yet and Bexly was starting to wonder about him. Just as she was about to say something she stopped and said to Thorbeck, "Hold up." Kelpie was next to her and he looked down and said that it looked as if there were markings, directing them to stray off the road. They were getting very close to Bexly’s home and Kelpie said to her, “'Guess you be a pathfinder, Bex? Do you know if it be a good way if we head left?'
Bexly looked left where the marking seemed to guide them and it looked like there was a small path clear of rocks that they could take the cart down, next to the road, but not on it. Bexly went first, while Thorbeck lead the goat and cart, and Kelpie and Davnos stayed behind it. Bex looked over to Kelpie, Davnos and Thorbeck and said, "Was that from Nathan? I wonder if he found signs of bandits ahead. The path looks rocky, you think the cart will be ok. Should we go on and see if there are signs to head back to the road up here?" Kelpie answered her, "I guess... but what if the marks were from bandits, then again... don't bandits rob you on the roads?" Davnos spoke up, "If you want, I can go?" Kelpie looked somewhat amused, he smiled and said, "That be sweet." Bexly looked to them both as she said, “Split up more?" Kelpie then agreed and said, 'I guess we can all go?"
They all agreed once more to stay together as they made their way down the small path. Davnos kept hold of his sword and made sure to be on the lookout for anything. Soon Kelpie seemed to spot something and said to the group, "There be a good path over there, no rocks and enough room for the cart! Even seems to lead back to the road." Kelpie lead them down the path and all the rocks seemed to be moved to the side, just enough room for the cart to pass by. Bex smiled as she said, “Woodsmen indeed, I think we have our friend Nathan to thank for helping us to avoid some terrible mishap on the road.”
It did not take long before the group was back on the road and at the gates of Trestlebridge. Before Bex had a chance to look around, Nathan was next her, once again joking about her being slow. The guardsmen greeted them all, happy to see the cart of supplies, and escorted them inside. The rest of the night was spent enjoying the company of friends, drinks and songs.
