A Long Journey Ahead

"I'm hoping that city folk will be wealthier than those in the villages that I've been touring. They might be able to afford to pay a bard a sum that is more in proportion to his talent."

Out of kindness, Sarah forbore to say what she thought, which was that if Amergin was paid in proportion to his talent then he would be very poor indeed. Instead, she said: "So what are you going to do for supplies? Will you hunt for game, or something?"

Amergin made a face. "No, I've no skill at that. But there should be villages at intervals, where I hope that I can restock my pack in exchange for my singing and harp playing."

Sarah wondered whether the villagers perhaps gave him supplies to encourage him to move on, so they wouldn't need to listen to his music any more. Then she noticed something that seemed to be at odds with his claim not to be a hunter. "You have a long knife stuck in your belt," she pointed out.

"Not for hunting but for self-defence, in case I run into anything nasty. Not that I'm any good with it, but hopefully a potential attacker won't know that and will be scared off.... Anyway, what do you want to do? Be taken back to the next village?"

"I'd rather come with you. It seems more likely to be interesting, rather than being stuck in some dump of a village."

"Good! I'll be glad to have your company."

After a couple of hours walking through the woods, they came to a stream that crossed their path. Sarah saw her reflection in the still water.

1. Apart from the pointed ears, she looked the same as she had always dome.
2. Though recognisably herself, she had somehow been "improved". Her face was prettier, beautiful even. Her body looked both fitter and more shapely. And there was now no sign of the wound on her face from the child's bite.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree