Journey to the Castle
The Black Void - Episode 2334
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With Arif's rise to the sultanate taking place in the morning, we'd best
not take any chances. There were a lot of guards who knew of my presence
at least, if not all the details of our plot. Perhaps they won't be so
loyal to Usman, and in fact may betray him for their own advantage, now
that Arif will be Sultan. If I'm found in the city, it could put a lot of
people in danger.
Also, Teran points out that it will be easier to travel at night at least until we're out of the desert. We head to the city outskirts, where Teran has a horse waiting. He tells me the journey should take three days or so. We pack our supplies onto the horse and set off, with me riding in front. We ride on through the night and into the morning, stopping to rest at noon, thus avoiding the hottest part of the desert day. We continue on at dusk, eventually crossing the Laralian border. In the distance, I see several groups of mounted men who might be raiders, but with the imposing Teran riding with me, they thankfully steer well clear of us. Teran, for his part, is a decent travelling companion. He enjoys telling stories about his bloody mercenary adventures, and hardly lets me get a word in edgewise. Not that I mind. I'm not in much a mood for talking. I still feel awful about not being able to stop the Sultan's killer from taking the throne. By the second day, the desert flatland begins to give way to rocky, dry grassland. We stop at a small inn for the evening, at the first Laralian town from the border. By the morning of the third day, we begin making our way into more fertile plains. Finally, at twilight of the third day of travel, we enter a valley and see the castle before us. A guard stops us as we approach. He is noticeably older than one would expect, and walks with a limp. He looks as though he can barely lift his spear. "What business do you have at Castle De Freydair?" he rasps. "He's all yours, lass." Teran says with a crooked smile. I scowl at him and dismount, approaching the guard. "I am a...friend of Sir Donad De Freydair, knight of Laraila. Is he here?"
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Xavier (edited for continuity)
6/28/2006 7:03:27 PM
Extending Enabled
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