The Dragon Rune

[Morigan]

"Of course I did!" She gloated a bit, as she dismounted. "Though I think we should walk the horses to cool them down after running them so hard." She held the reins of her horse loosely and began to continue along the road. "Even with a bit of time walking we should make it to Greendale by tonight, or the early morning at the latest. From there we'll head north, towards the mountains." She paused, considering the approaching winter. "We'll probably need to get some warmer clothes for the mountains when get into town. And more supplies of course..." Tala trailed off as she began compiling a mental list of everything they would need.

 

[Kurokat]

Keal nodded. It was probably a good idea to let the horses have a rest, and he was also quite sore from being in the sadle all day. He dismounted and flipped the reins so he could lead the horse. He stroked the panting animal's neck, this truly was a beautiful and fast horse. He probably wouldn't have the money for it anyway.


"That's good to know. And in terms of supplies we barely have anything. I can't wait to see the mountains! I heard they are beautiful..." He starred off in the distance daydreaming about the mountains as they walked.

 

[Morigan]

Tala noticed Keal's motions, petting the horse's neck. "Perhaps we can not afford it now," she began consolingly, "but when we finish this job, you can afford 50...no- 100 horses! All dappled gray like this one, if you want." She offered him a small smile. They had often had to go without, but soon that would be over. Soon her little brother would be able to have everything he wanted, and she wouldn't have to worry quite so much.


She realized he was talking about the mountains and she hadn't quite been paying attention. "The Gray Ridge is not to be taken lightly you know, many people die from carelessness trying to traverse them, and even more deadly are the Gray Peaks, beyond the Ridge, where this rune stone supposedly is. Though I'm sure they are very lovely to look at." Tala hoped they would not spend too many weeks scouring countless mountain caves and end up stuck in the mountains during winter.

 

[Kurokat]

Keal smiled as his sister rambled on. He also did really like horses. There was just something about animals that calmed him. Unlike people they were always reasonable, and they just made nice company. He would definitely invest in some horses after the quest.


Again his sister talked about how dangerous everything was. They were just mountains they weren't going to attack them. "Maker! I'm not a kid anymore Tala! I know that things could be dangerous and I have gone on quests before. I know how to survive."

 

[Morigan]

Tala growled under her breath at Keal's outburst, but held her tongue. She continued walking in silence and watched as the sun slowly began to sink towards the horizon once more. It was hard to believe that the day had passed so quickly, but sure enough in the distance the faint glow of the town could just barely be seen.


"I think we will reach the town at nightfall." She said neutrally, trying to avoid any more outbursts.

 

[Kurokat]

Keal kept trailing behind his sister. He hadn't ment to hurt her feelings. He knew she simply cared about him, but he had wanted to prove he was grown up. He had never been the most manly in appearance, and being so short never helped either.


When the town was in sight Keal sighed in relief. The awkward tension had made time fly by. "Look Tala I'm sorry I took it out on you.. I just sometimes feel that people still think I'm a little kid.."

 

[Morigan]

"Keal, you could be 90 years old with hordes of a personal guard surrounding you at all times and you will still be my little brother and I will always love you...which means I will always worry," she sighed and rubbed the space between her eyes. "But I will try to remember that you're a grown man and trust you to take care of yourself, deal?"

 

[Kurokat]

"I know.. Thank you.. I do appreciate your care.. And yes I am a grown man. The manliest of them all! I'm thinking about growing a beard actually.." He smiled at his sister as they continued to inch closer and closer to the town.

 

[Morigan]

"Oh?" she said with mild curiosity. She was about to tease him some more when they arrived at the town's outskirts just as the last light of day vanished.


"Decent timing," Tala said as she looked about for an inn for them tonight. Spotting one a little ways ahead of them she turned to Keal. "Why don't you go get us rooms, I'll see if any merchants are still open for supplies for the mountains."

 

[Kurokat]

Keal nodded. "Ok got it." He replied looking around for a tavern usually there where one or two per town this size. He settled on the first one he saw which was a fairly decent looking building named the fallen oak.


He walked into the tavern which was fairly well stocked with people, but still not nearly as rowdy as the last tavern. He booked two rooms from the clerk and ordered a drink, taking a seat at the bar.

 

[Morigan]

Tala ventured on ahead and looked for some vendors who hadn't packed up for the night yet; she was lucky to find a few still lingering in the town square. Tala haggled and argued and managed to get everything she and Keal would need for a decent price. Satisfied that they would have everything they needed, she headed back to the tavern which she had last seem her brother heading towards.


Once inside she found him at the bar and joined him, ordering a drink for herself as well. "We're all set, we can leave first thing in the morning. From here it's two days walk to the foothills of the Ridge."

 

[Kurokat]

Keal sat there sipping his drink until he saw his sister enter the tavern. He waved at her in attempt to flag her down. "Great! I guess we can head off in the morning. It will take longer to get anywhere now that we have to walk the whole way." He frowned thinking about the horse he had to let go.

 

[Morigan]

Tala nodded and took another sip of her drink. "That is true, but horses wouldn't have made it far past the Ridge anyway...and certainly not up the Grey Peaks. But when we come back you can track down whoever ends up buying that horse and offer them double what it's worth if you want to get it back that bad," she said gently.


She flagged the barkeep down and ordered dinner for herself and Keal, which was quickly delivered to them on large steaming plates. "Eat up," Tala warned him. "This is the last full, warm meal until we reach Traveler's Rest in the foothills of the Ridge."

 

[Kurokat]

Keal frowned. His sister was right. Horses don't usually last to long in the mountains. Especially since it was almost the cold season. He would definitely buy that horse on their way back thought.


He smiled and thanked the bartender before devouring the plate put in front of him. He had not had a lot of food that day and he knew that what his sister said about it being his last hot meal for a few days was true.


As they were enjoying their meal a large man walked in and sat next to Tala. He too ordered a large meal. As soon as the bartender put it down the man viciously attacked the plate.

 

[Morigan]

Tala was savoring the last few bites of bread from her meal when the large man sat down next to them and began eating as if he was starving to death. Tala watched him for a moment before she realized she was staring and quickly looked back at her own plate, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

 

[Kurokat]

The man quickly finished his plate. He had just gotten back from taking some travelers up to the mountains and he was famished. He smiled at the woman staring at him. "Sorry you had to witness that I could have been more polite."

 

[Morigan]

Tala flushed a deeper shade of red when the man noticed her staring and addressed her. "I..um, that is...sorry...I mean- it's fine." She stumbled over her words, which never happened, and fidgeted in her sit. She took a steadying breath and tried to regain control of her tongue. "What I meant is, I'm sorry for staring. I just have never seen someone who ate faster than my brother," she pointed next to her, indicating Keal.

 

[Kurokat]

The man gave a low chuckle, and looked over to Keal who was eating as fast as he could. "No it's fine I did make quite a character of myself. Let me introduce myself. I'm Oxon Marbury. I just got back from a long trip guiding some people through the mountains."

 

[Morigan]

"I am Talara Felan, this is my brother Keal." Tala signaled the bartender to bring all three of them another round of drinks. "We are just heading north ourselves, actually," she said.

 

[Kurokat]

Keal waved at the man and continued eating. He wasn't happy that he managed to beat him in eating.


Oxon smiled. "Oh really? Be careful it's pretty icy on the peaks. If you need a guide I'd be more than willing to accompany you."

 

[Morigan]

"Thank you for the warning," Tala said with another smile. "And as much as a local guide might speed us through the difficult areas, I'm afraid we can not afford to hire you, or anyone for that matter." Tala glanced over to see her brother still eating, with a slightly disgruntled look on his face and she laughed a bit, before returning to her own meal, which she was eating at a normal pace- unlike the two men on either side of her.

 

[Kurokat]

Keal was staring the man down he was obviously flirting with his sister. He sat there watching them and sipping his beverage. Eh this guy wasn't too bad. Could be worse. At least he was good looking. Keal hadn't told his sister he was into men yet. He didn't think that she would like it with her being so protective. But he knew she would understand.


Oxon frowned. "Oh really... Well I can't let you two go alone. It's dangerous if you don't have a guide. I have plenty of money... It wouldn't be that much of a bother to take you through. "

 

[Morigan]

"Oh, well we couldn't possibly accept, I mean...you barely know us." She averted her eyes, staring into her mug of ale. This man was so...different than most people. So open and blunt, he didn't seem to play the games and manipulations that Tala was used to from people. "Of course, if you were heading that direction anyway..." she trailed off and looked over at her brother again. He seemed to have been watching them this whole time silently.

 

[Kurokat]

Oxon smiled charmingly. "Well I'll probably have to bring my last customers back so it wouldn't be a trouble. Besides its not everyday I meet someone like you."


Keal still was watching the man. He was making a move for sure.

 

[Morigan]

"Oh...well," Tala was sure her face was going to be permanently red from her constant blushing. "It's alright with me, I mean, us. Right Keal?" She asked over her shoulder, though she kept stealing sidelong glances at the handsome stranger.