531. Strangers On The Road VI

531. Strangers On The Road VI

“Swifter than any river. Sturdier than any hill.” Pual held the woman’s helmet, staring into her eyes through her visor as he half sang the words.

“Iggritte,” the woman said. “Iggritte.”

“Taller than the skies! Mightier than the mountains!”

“Iggritte,” the woman repeated. “Iggritte.”

“Nobby,” Adam called, causing the boy to turn to face him.

“Yes, mister boss?”

“If you win, I’ll send the gold to your family,” Adam said.

“Okay,” the boy replied, donning his shield.”

“Ten gold on my Iggritte!” Pual whipped around, pointing towards the sky. “Bregor would never forgive me if I bet any less.”

“Ten gold it is,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Your girl got any magical items or such?”

“No,” Pual replied. “Your boy?”

“Don’t believe so,” Adam said, eyeing him up. “I don’t think his axe is at least. Sir Vonda, mind checking for us?”

“As you wish,” Vonda replied, holding onto her shield as she began to pray, beginning the ritual to cast her spell. She did not have free access to the spell, but as a ritual, as long as she had the time to cast the spell, she would not need to expend much of her magical might.

The guards watched from the walls, having forced them out of the town so as to not distract the others around them.

“What do you think?” Bobby asked.

“I’m betting on the boy,” James said.

“I’ll bet on the girl. A copper?”

“A copper it is.”

“Why the boy?”

“Look at him. He’s big. He’s tough. He’s also got no armour, and carries with him an axe and shield. Who else is unarmoured and carries an axe and shield?”

“Damn it,” Bobby grumbled, eyeing up Jurot.

The other guards had also bet on their favourites, evenly split between the young man and woman.

Sir Vonda bowed her head, confirming that neither of them were using magical weapons.

“How can I believe you?” Pual asked.

“She’s Sir Vonda, of Life’s Rose,” Adam said.

“The Order?” Pual asked.

“Yes,” Sir Vonda confirmed.

Pual took off his hat, placing it against his chest before he bowed his head. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Sir Vonda.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Sir Vonda replied, returning a gentle bow of her head.

Adam handed Jurot his ten gold. “Will you hand your gold to the Iyrman.”

“I’ll keep it for now,” Pual replied. “It’s easier just to collect yours.”

Adam chuckled lightly from under his helmet. “Suit yourself.”

Iggritte and Nobby stood opposite one another, greatsword, and shield and axe in hand. The pair remained still, while Pual brought out a small flute.

“May I?” Pual asked.

“You may.”

“Once I blow my flute, you may begin,” Pual said, before he inhaled deeply, and he played a small ditty. He was acutely aware of the spell which still permeated the air from the Priest.

Nobby’s entire body unwound like a pouncing tiger, his axe meeting the young woman’s greatsword, the sound of steel striking steel sang in the air. His entire body had turned red with rage, his veins throbbing, his eyes almost purely white as they glared at the woman.

Iggritt’s muscles burned with effort as she managed to defend against Nobby’s blow, but she brought her blade down to strike against the young man, striking his shield, denting it.

They made their way into Water Ford to rest up for the night. Adam paid the gate fee, including the gate fee for the new pair.

“Don’t worry about it,” Adam said.

“That’s awfully kind of you,” Pual replied, tipping his hat.

“Why’s it awful when I do it?” Adam asked, before chuckling to himself. “Man, it feels so nice making jokes when they won’t get me killed. Gods, I missed it so much.”

“Who threatened to kill you for jokes?” Pual asked.

“Everyone, basically,” Adam replied. “I felt like I’d die in the Iyr if I joked around too much.” ‘Though, considering Elder Story is gone, that makes sense.’ “Nobles too, but they mostly want to kill me for another reason.”

“Is it because you’re a...” Pual asked.

“Yeah,” Adam replied, nodding his head. “It is.”

Pual nodded, and let the matter end there. He and Iggritte made their way to a different inn, though promised to meet up in the morning.

The group made their way to the guild to settle themselves. This guild was built similar to every other guild, though was built beside the river. Jurot, Jaygak, and Kitool exchanged a look once they had settled within the guild, making their way out.

Omen: 7, 13

Without much bother, they headed out the next morning. They didn’t spend much time exploring any of the towns, with Adam too focused on heading to East Port.

Near the late afternoon, the Half Elf stopped, causing everyone else to stop. Adam turned back to look to the horizon, unable to see the town behind him.

‘God damn it!’ Adam thought. “Jurot?”

“Yes?”

“I’m an idiot.”

“Yes?”

“Why didn’t we ask around for Amira in the previous towns?”

Jurot blinked. “It would be best to ask in East Port.”

“Even so...” Adam sighed, rubbing his eyes. “Alright. Once we’re in East Port we’re going to quest like there’s no tomorrow. We’re going to make a bunch of money to fill up the party fund and we’re going to put hundreds of gold into finding Dunes’ girl.”

“She’s not my girl,” Dunes replied back.

“Yeah, yeah, and I’m not an idiot,” Adam replied.

“You are not an idiot,” Vonda confirmed.

“Don’t you start, Sir Vonda,” Adam grumbled, before he marched forward. “Where the hell is all the trouble? I want some XP!”

“Who in the seven underworlds is Ecks?” Pual asked.

Jaygak coughed into laughter. “Now that was funny!”

“Be careful, Jaygak,” Adam said. “You’ve only got the one magical weapon, and whose to say it won’t find its way back to me.”

“You’d take away your gift to me?” Jaygak gasped, grabbing her blade.

“Only if I’m bullying you.”

Jaygak remained silent as they continued along their way, following the King’s Road to East Port, which was only a few days away.

As the days passed, they found themselves finding a stranger on the road.

There he stood. It was a man who stood taller than any other man Adam had ever seen, save one. He came like a mountain, adorned in heavy plate mail from head to toe, with a sword as big as he strapped to his back.

“Hey, Jurot,” Adam muttered, motioning his head to the large figure up ahead. “Isn’t that...”

“Sir Robert, the Mountain,” Jurot confirmed.

“There are only two things I know about Sir Robert. He’s stronger than Vice Master Paul, he’s from Rock Hill, and the last time we met, the only time we met, he wanted to kill me.”

I made the joke in the comments and didn't realise I also wrote it in this chapter.

Adam's joking has gotten worse, but so has his chances to die.

Nice.