48 Sounds Of A Lilting Flute

Raven was being awfully quiet tonight. Other than his initial greeting, he just fell silent with a contemplative look on his face.

Dawn did not think too much of it. He did not seem to be upset so he probably just had nothing to actually say. She was sure he would discuss it with her if there was anything actually bothering her. He did not seem to have the same reservations she did about just speaking of how he felt.

After all, he had not hesitated to tell her when he remembered things. She was touched by how much he was willing to confide to her and it made her feel like she was actually being successful at trying to be friends with him.

Anyway, their watch passed slowly in silence. But still the two hours passed by, and soon the others were rising. She watched as Miria began making breakfast with a happy smiling expression on her face.

The woman always seemed to just naturally start cooking, and they had all just been letting her do so, even if they might offer help. It had become the priestess's domain.

Dawn lifted her head and surveyed the hills surrounding them. To the west she could see where the hills gave way to tall mountains, to the south was where they had come from, the north seemed to stretch out in hills for a long time as did the east.

They needed to head in a more easterly direction, just slightly north as well. So, across these hill lands and valleys.

As they prepared to set out, she had to acknowledge that there was something beautiful about the lands. The green grass swayed in the wind. There were the sounds of crickets and birds. And it seemed so peaceful in this place, as if time had no meaning.

But time did move and they must needs as well.

Their steeds took their time to get up the hill but as they topped it and she surveyed the lands in the morning light her breath caught in her throat.

She could see for miles. And now that she was on higher ground she could make out what was to the north and east. To the northwest she could just see the tip of some towering ruin. More immediate there were many forests and some closer ruins as well. To the east was more flat lands after the hills and some sparse wooded areas.

There were no signs of people. Not that the young queen found that surprising.

They continued on their way. And soon were heading back down into the valleys, much to Zyph's unhappiness. She did not have to be able to read an animal's body language like Raven could to know her griffon wanted to take to the skies and that he had been happy to be on higher ground.

It was on the third descent into one of the valleys that she grew aware of the sounds of a flute threading softly on the wind. She looked around trying to locate where the sound was coming from, but perhaps due to the hills blocking her view or just that the flute player was some distance away, she could not.

She put it out of her mind, it was not as if it was anything to worry about. Just someone who did not care about attracting attention. In Nix'Ryl. Okay, it was odd but the most that it meant to her was to make sure they were on their guard.

She did wonder idly what manner of person would play a flute in such an unconcerned manner and ignore their surroundings. But she was not foolish enough to investigate it. Something like this could be a trap, and most likely was.

So they continued moving and kept far away from the direction the sound of the flute was. As they crested the next of the hills though she saw this mysterious flute player.

Seated on one of the hills, not in the line they were taking but still fairly close, there was a figure sitting and playing a flute. It was impossible to get a good look but despite this Dawn got some impression from the person.

Unconcerned, the person was in a little world all of their own. Either the person was incredibly foolish and would not survive long or was strong enough to not even care anymore.

She pressed her lips together. Either way she wanted to avoid the stranger. For different reasons depending on the person's mental state. If the former foolishness could get one killed. For the second entangling with someone so powerful that they would be unconcerned was dangerous on so many levels.

Dawn knew that there were limits to what she could handle and that person was one of them no matter if it was extreme foolishness or confidence.

And so, she made sure to keep her people well away from the flute player.