Fantasy Farewell to Kings: Elide’s Tale

[Jodyguru]

Bart yawned and looked up at her. “Morning beautiful.” He said and started stretching. He groaned a little and then farted loudly.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Gross!" She squealed, gently slapping him on the arm with a laugh.

 

[Jodyguru]

He laughed and got up, fanning the gas away from her. He popped out of the tent in his underwear and looked around. Fred was gone, along with his things and mule.
“I guess Fred didn’t like my snoring.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Yeah- nothing else..." She laughed, joining him outside the tent, dressed in her now heavily wrinkled nightgown. "If I'm being honest, I forgot he had been here"

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart shrugged. He didn’t really care much anyway. He decided to throw some clothes on and take down their tent.

 

[A Play On Words]

She had changed into something that wouldn't immediately get her flagged down as a gypsy. Eli helped gather their things, before taking a moment to feed the horses. "God, I need a bath." She laughed.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart nodded. “Hey, maybe we should bandage your eye? They’re going to want to see your face, and the bandage will make them think we’re here to seek healing.” It wasn’t a bad plan. Bart took what little bandage wrapping they had left and put it around her head to cover her eye.
“Good. Now a kiss for the doctor?” He puckered his lips.

 

[A Play On Words]

She rolled her eyes and kissed him, laughing at the odd expression he had on his face. "Fine but that's the last one" Eli teased, smirking.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart let out a small gasp, then followed behind her. He grabbed her hips and lifted her into the air. “I bet I can get one more kiss out of you, maybe if I hold you upside down one will fall out?” He laughed.

 

[A Play On Words]

She giggled and put on a fake angry face. "Nope. Not a single one." Her frown, breaking at the edges into a smile.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart shrugged and did as he said he would, flipping her upside down for a moment while they were both giggling. “I don’t believe it!”

 

[A Play On Words]

She yelped and held onto her shirt, laughing loudly. "Well you better!"

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart put her back down on her feet. “Ok. Enough horseplay... I’ll make sure our girls eat good. I’m going to brush Ladybug and Aza too.” He looked at her frizzy hair, thinking she needed a brush as well.

 

[A Play On Words]

She laughed and gently kissed him before heading back towards her belongings, taking the hint she needed to brush her hair as well

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart told the horses they were good girls with pretty coats. Soon they’d have nice hay beds to lay on.

It took them until high noon to reach the walls of Dominion. The only people living outside the wall were military personnel, who had access to the balloons used to carry people over the wall.

They brought the horses to a stable hand who promised to take good care of them, but said they’d need to return in two weeks to check back in. They also had to leave their weapons behind. This meant the possessed sword would not come with her.

Elide presented the ticket to the manager, a man dressed in brass studded armor and a blue cap.

“Tess Holiday... sign the back of the ticket please.” He handed her a pen. Bart stood behind her.
“Is he your plus one? The balloon will only hold three.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Yep," she smiled, quickly signing where the man had indicated, doing her best to make her signature more like Tess'.
Elide wrapped her fingers around Bart's giving his hand a gentle squeeze, trying to calm herself down. Truth be told, she was terrified.

 

[Jodyguru]

The travel manager looked them over before stamping the ticket.
“Eye injuries are serious. I would find the Healing Maidens as soon as possible. Today is Tuesday so they must be in the southern church.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Thank you sir, that's why we're traveling there," She smiled brightly

 

[Jodyguru]

The man eyed her with a serious look on his face. She seemed too happy for someone with an eye injury like that. However, his paranoia got him in trouble with superiors recently, so he simply showed them the way to a large basket with a massive red balloon attached to it. Bart entered the balloon and helped Elide inside.
“These things freak me out a bit. How can fire make us fly?” Bart asked. The manager ignored them and assumed the controls. The fire grew, and the balloon started to lift.

 

[A Play On Words]

Elide stared in amazement as the ground grew farther from them. She had never been on something like this before, so it was very exciting.

 

[Jodyguru]

Higher and higher they floated. Bart grabbed Elide’s hand and held it firm. He wasn’t a fan of heights like this. The balloon reached the height where they could see over the wall.

Brass towers hosted soldiers in gleaming armor. The city looked peaceful from this distance. The balloon tilted by the manager’s control. They began to float into the city.
Among the buildings were many white buildings with glass windows depicting the rising sun. People were gathered around one church. All of them had faces looking up at the sky. Bart waved at them.
“Hey e-Tess, that looks like where you want to go. Can this balloon drop us off there?”
The manager shook his head. The landing platform was in the middle of the city. They floated past the church, and over a group of men wearing fancy white coats and carrying tall staves.
“Whose that?” Bart asked the manager.
“Ah, the High Priests are going to meet at the capital building today. Once a week they gather in secrecy, to discuss all matters of public health, safety, security, and defense.”
“I see.“

 

[A Play On Words]

Her eyes were fixated on the large castle, the place where she knew her father would be seated. She let out a slow sigh as the balloon took its place firmly on the ground. Elide quickly exited the odd vehicle and thanked the manager.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart followed her down the platform stairs and down onto the city walkway. A carriage passed by carrying stacks of wood. They were finally in Dominion.

“okay, so what should we do first?” He asked. They could visit the south church, then there was the capital building, the castle, or they could find a place to rest and enjoy themselves. Bart was looking to get drunk with some monks later tonight.

 

[A Play On Words]

"I have no idea- I'm just looking to explore right now. This is just all so new," She giggled, jogging down the long streets lined with shops. New smells enticed her, and yet despite the feeling a great deal of anxiety was still looming overhead.

 

[Jodyguru]

There was a delicious aroma of stuffed turkey coming from one shop. A big sign read “Paladin Day sale! Soldiers eat free!”
Bart looked around for a shop that sold weapons and armor, but none were visible in the store district. There was a gift shop though, with artifacts to dress up people’s homes. They also sold medallions and symbols of Mitra.

“Liddy, we should probably get some holy symbols. We’ll blend in better that way.”