Chapter Two:

Sleep did not come easy that night. My mind was still trying to sort things out. In just a day I had gone from being a protector of the people of Plowman's Stand to traveling to the distant city of Gateway in search of adventure. I realized now that I had many more questions than when Sherwood had originally set me on this course. Just how far away was Gateway? Would it take days to reach, or weeks? Sherwood had given me in-depth directions that I immediately forgot. All I knew was that I had to reach the High Road and then ride east to Crossroads. That was where adventurers for Gateway were being recruited.

The following morning was very emotional. Father and I had breakfast and then I loaded my meager belongings onto my horse Thunder. Thunder was a gift for a past deed I did. He was dark brown warhorse with a slash of white on his nose. I had a bag of food for myself and one for Thunder. My armor was stored for now. I typically only wore it when I knew I was going to need it. The trip to Wrassledown shouldn't be dangerous.

My clothes were nothing impressive, mostly what I wore around the farm. I wore brown trousers over worn knee-high black leather boots. I wore an off white blouse covered by a dark green overshirt. My sword rested in its scabbard and hung from my belt. My long black hair was held back in a pony tail.

The time passed all too quickly and it was time to say goodbye. I hugged my father too long, not really wanting to let go. But finally, with his insistence, we parted and I swung up into Thunder's saddle. I waved goodbye and urged my mount forward before I could start crying.

The morning was cool and crisp as I rode along. I followed the path into Plowman's Stand and then headed along the main road to Wrassledown. The farms that dotted the countryside became fewer and fewer as I rode along. Soon I had reached a light forest and the Wrassledown Road entered it. After few hours ride, the forest thinned out once more and other farms came into view.

Wrassledown wasn't all that far from Plowman's Stand. Just a day's ride. I had been there several times before for festivals and other celebrations. It was many times larger than Plowman's Stand.

The light was beginning to fade in the sky when the town of Wrassledown came into view. The town had a wide main street, so that cattle and other livestock could be moved through the town. Much like Plowman's Stand, this was a farming town. There were pens for cattle on the way to market and warehouses for storing grain.

While not overly familiar with Wrassledown, I knew the general area of the inn we stayed at while in town. I looked at the signs and saw the words on them. Only a few of them made any sense. It was the pictures I was more interested in. Finally what I was looking for came into sight. It was the painted image of a brown cow on it, for my destination was the Brown Cow Inn.

I stabled Thunder beside the Inn and went inside. I recognized the Innkeeper and he waved when he saw me. The Inn had a few patrons enjoying their meals. A few were locals, others were travelers like me. No one looked out of place. The Innkeeper greeted me as I moved to an empty table.

"Stephanie Plowman!" he called out. Farley Brown was a short and chubby man. "Welcome to the Brown Cow Inn. Is your father with you?"

"Hi, Farley," I said in greeting. "No, I am on my own this time. I'm heading towards Crossroads... and adventure."

"Well, then let make sure you are well fed for your trip!" Farley said with gusto.

I ate a hearty meal and then retired for the evening. I was up before dawn the next morning. After tending to Thunder, I ate breakfast. After the meal, I went up to my room to prepare for the journey ahead. Since I was going into unknown territory, I would be wearing my armor. I put padded clothing on over my underclothes. Next came the chain mail tunic and then my overshirt. I left the attached hood of the chain mail to hang down my back for now. My sword belt went on last.

After that, I was on the road once more. Wrassledown was pretty active, even at this early hour. Typical behavior for farmers. Instead of taking the familiar road back to Plowman's Stand, I took the one heading southeast. Thunder trotted along at a steady, but not exhausting, pace. The road that lie ahead of me was an unfamiliar one. I had never gone this way before.

I slowed Thunder's progress and glanced back. Wrassledown was now just barely seen and distant on the horizon. Back there was my old, familiar life. Ahead was an uncertain future.

"No turning back now," I thought to myself and urged Thunder on once more.

It wasn't long after that the road I was traveling on merged with a much larger, better maintained road. It was wider and I could easily imagine that whole caravans regularly passed this way. This could only be the High Road that Sherwood had mentioned. All I had to do was continue on it to the east.

The village of Green Plains was at the intersection of the roads. It wasn't much to look at, mainly a couple of Inns and a few businesses were all I could see. There was a large corral, probably used by farmers taking cattle to market in Elcadan. The village didn't seem very lively so I just kept on riding east.

As I rode along, I became aware of movement behind me. Glancing back, I saw another rider approaching. It was a woman, more of a girl actually. She looked to be about my age, with short reddish blonde hair and green eyes. The stranger was attractive and cleanly groomed. She wore plain looking purple robes with gold trim. There was a matching purple ribbon elegantly woven into her hair. A small pack was slung over her back. The girl was riding a little bit faster than I was and caught up quickly. She didn't look dangerous, but one could never be too careful.

"Well met!" the girl called out with a smile. "I'm bound for Gateway and wouldn't mind some company to make the journey go faster."

"That is my destination as well," I called back. "We can ride together if you wish."

"Thank you so much," the girl gushed. "I've come this way a few times, but this is the first time alone. Oh, where are my manners, I am Lyra Stinson, an apprentice mage to Lady Jallarzi Sallavarian."

The name was meaningless to me.

"Stephanie Plowman," I responded. "Truth be told, I've never been this way before, so riding with someone who knows the way would be welcomed."

"That's wonderful!" Lyra said. "We both have something to gain by riding together. I hate traveling alone and these roads can be dangerous at times. Having a big strong warrior by my side will make them think twice!"

We both laughed at those words and we rode in silence for a time.

"Heading to Gateway for adventure?" Lyra eventually inquired.

"Something like that," I simply answered. "Is that why you are heading to Gateway?"

"Goodness, no," Lyra said. "My training is far from complete. I am bearing a message from my mentor to Lord Sharadin Sculley, the Archmage of Gateway."

"I thought wizards could just travel from place to place in the blink of an eye. Why send an apprentice on such a long and dangerous journey?"

"The Lady Sallavarian said it was a lesson in self-reliance," Lyra answered with a laugh. "I think she just wanted me out of her hair for a few days."

< The road moved from plains into light forest. Lyra and I chatted as we rode along about this and that. I learned that Lady Jallarzi Sallavarian was a trainer of mages who made her home in an estate north of Elcadan. In turn I shared my simple story.

"You fought off a giant wolf on your own?" Lyra said in astonishment. "That's amazing! You must be really brave!"

I decided that I liked Lyra. The miles just rolled past with the pleasant company. Up ahead, the forest got even thicker as the road wound its way east.

"We're entering the Barony of Pyris now," Lyra said as we rode along. "We should reach Timberline by nightfall."

"What's Timberline like?"

"It's a small town, about the size of Wrassledown, without as many farms," Lyra explained. "It's in a hilly forest region. Lumber is big business there."

Not long after entering the Barony of Pyris, a group of riders approached. Military from the looks of it as they all wore identical overshirts. The leader wore chain mail like I had while the others wore leather armor. The leader of the riders moved closer.

"What business brings you to Pyris?" he challenged.

"I'll handle this," Lyra said as she urged her mount closer to the man. She proceeded to talk to the rider for a few minutes. Lyra handed the man a piece of paper that he read and then returned. After that the rider and his men began to ride off.

"You may pass," the rider called out as he rejoined his men. "Enjoy your stay in Pyris."

"What was that all about?" I wondered as Lyra and I picked up our pace once more.

"Pyris is a little more secure than the eastern Elcadan lands," Lyra explained. "Caravans pass through here going to or coming from Elcadan. It's big business, so security is vital. They routinely stop unknown travelers to make sure they are not up to no good. The Lady Sallavarian provided me with a letter of passage to make the trip easier."

Nightfall wasn't far away when we reached Timberline. Unlike Wrassledown, it was a walled community. A huge wooden wall was built around the town from numerous logs. We rode through the gate without incident. I slowed my pace as I literally had no idea where to go in this unknown town.

Fortunately, Lyra led the way and we rode along the main street for a time before coming to a stop. We passed a large open area just inside the gate that Lyra said was used by caravans to camp for the night. From there more and more buildings could be seen: shops and businesses of various types that I couldn't recognize. They had signs and posts describing what the businesses were, but most of the words I couldn't recognize. Were it not for Lyra, I would be completely lost. It was a sobering thought.

Arriving before what I was told was the Timberline Inn, we dismounted and I walked Thunder to the nearby stable. Looking back I could see Lyra following, but her horse was nowhere to be seen!

"Your horse is gone!" I tried to warn Lyra. I looked about trying to find who had stolen her mount.

Lyra chuckled and then explained. "My horse was summoned by magic. I don't need him anymore, so I dispelled the magic. No fuss on my part."

Now that Lyra stood before me, I could see that she was short, even for a human. The top of her head didn't even reach my shoulders.

"Wow!" Lyra remarked noticing the same thing I had. "I knew you were tall, but I had no idea you were that big!"

I shrugged helplessly. After all, I was born this way.

"It's okay," Lyra continued. "It was a bit of a shock. You make a great bodyguard!"

"You had a magical horse?" I asked, turning the conversation back to the vanishing steed. "It looked so real."

"It was essentially real," Lyra explained. "I won't get too technical on you. It's a simple magic spell that makes travel a little easier."

I accepted her explanation and let the matter lie. I didn't have much experience with magic. I wasn't sure if it was even trustworthy or not.

Lyra led me into the Timberline Inn. We arranged for our lodging and food and drink was ordered. Conversation was sparse as we ate.

"You okay?" Lyra finally asked. "You seem a bit down."

"Oh, I just sort of realized something when we arrived in Timberline."

"What's that?"

"I didn't know where things were or what shop was what. I would have been lost if you hadn't been here."

Lyra looked confused for a moment. "All you have to do is read... Oh, that's it, isn't it? You don't know how to read?"

I shook my head "no" embarrassingly. "Never really needed to, back home. I knew what everything was and here... not so much."

"Well, then tomorrow I can teach you some words to help you get by," Lyra announced. "So that you don't feel so out of place. Besides if you can face down a giant wolf, you can learn how to read!"