FirstNight

"Alright," said Fred. "To go over what we discussed in the tower; we head due south from here to the outpost Kassini of the Three Kingdoms. We purchase horses and head through that land until we visit the City Kryse. That should take some twenty days. From Kryse we leave the Kingdoms and enter into Damen, then to Thuringia and eventually to Gala. This part of our journey could take as many as thirty days. From Gala to Gana to Palachia, and from there past the edge of the last kingdom into the wild lands. We keep a southwesterly heading, skirting the Dead Sea, and then we enter into the Desolation. That should be about ninety days total."

The two princesses had listened politely enough, but now it was their turn to speak. "First of all," said Astra. "We Aqualarians ride a great deal quicker than you think."

"And," added Thessamar. "The route you chose is not the most direct. I looked at the charts and surveyor's graphs; past Kassini we should take the Wilian Way, not the Manson March as you think."

"You follow us, Allarian man," finished Astra. "And you'll get there faster by at least twenty days."

Fred was stunned. With only four days of knowing Thessamar and two in the company of Astra he recognized his ignorance of them. The peoples of Aqualaria were a mythic subject in his land, especially since their borders were closed to Allaria. "Very well then," said Fred. "Seventy days from Here to There. We've money to spend and some goods to trade - getting supplies should not be a problem - but as the night is fast departing, let us move onward before the morning heat forces us to make camp. We must spend two nights and days in this miserable desert until Kassini comes into view."

1. Nights & Days in the desert landscape...
2. The hiking continues and in two days they reach the northernmost outpost of the Three Kingdoms...

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree