Quarry location unknown.
Ancient spell weaving felt.
Tracking to Middleton.
Advise sending out the Inquisitors.
The man scrawled a message down on a piece of vellum and then lit it on fire with a snap of his fingers. Within moments a small creature appeared in a puff of smoke.
“What is thy orders master?” Asked the small imp.
"You will watch for now and report back to me."
Hours seem to have passed as Moona finally entered the Stone Forest. This place was once a beautiful forest that stretched from the base of what is now Hell’s Mouth.
Within this forest lived the tree folk who worshipped and tended the forest. Millennia ago before the Lalli Mah; the mountain, its name long forgotten to time, burst forth-liquid rock and fiery ash upon the surrounding lands. That was the birth of Hell’s Mouth and death to the forest.
The tree folk, Dryads they were called, were unwilling or unable to leave their forest home and perished with the onslaught of ash and fire that leveled the forest and petrified this outer area. The trees that remained turned to stone and many still bare the outlines of horror on the faces of the dryads living within them.
The once beautiful forest now echoes horror and fear and the creatures now living within, are not the passive folk who once greeted travelers openly.
“Well, we are here, but how far must we go before this mysterious guide meets us?” Moona asked the baby. “Now what do we call you eh little one? A strong name I should think, something that rolls off the tongue but represents the strength you are going to need.” As Moona pondered a voice called out from the shadows.
“Shuran,” Andra said walking out from beyond a grouping of felled stone trees. Moona gasped and began to open her mouth before thinking better of it. “It is ok, I am Andra and have been awaiting your arrival.”
Moona made no reply nor did she move as Andra approached and sat directly in front of her and the baby.
“Odd that Sulura never mentioned you were mute,” Andra stated with a chuckle. “The boy child was named Shuran by Sulura when last we met. The name means strength of the people,” Andra continued.
“I have a tongue stranger I simply chose not to use it until I assessed you!” Moona hissed. “You wear a cloak of the guardians I see,” she continued, more question than statement.
“Yes, you are familiar with our like?” Andra answered.
“Only enough to recognize the cloak and that members do not reveal their faces. Am I to assume you still follow that second custom?” She inquired with irritation.
“You are correct. But know also that we pledge our lives to those we have been tasked with guarding,” Andra stated.
“Ok then, that be good enough for me. Hey! Wait a second, how in the name of DAMKIANNA can you see me? No one else has,” Moona barked.
“The gem you carry will fully conceal you from vision while obscuring sound and scent but not completely, and not at all from the one who created it.”
“That is some powerful spell you did then and I thank you for its use in getting us away.”
“It is nothing really and not quite a spell. We should be leaving,” Andra said while standing up abruptly. “Drakkfoth guards approach we need to go.” Andra took Moona’s hand and in an instant they all disappeared.
“Captain, have you located the old woman?” a voice sounded from behind him.
“No, the trail has grown cold just inside the Stone Forest. It is as if she sprouted wings and took flight,” the Captain of the Drakkoth guard replied.
“Return to the city and take your post with the rest of your men. You were not here,” the man commanded.
“As you wish my lord Telalsu.” And the Captain and his men headed back to Drakkfoth leaving the cloaked man behind.
The man entered the clearing where Andra, Moona and Shuran had only just left. Telalsu stopped and placed his hands on the ground as he knelt. He looked up to the sky then stood and removed a piece of parchment from a pouch at his belt.
After scrolling a message he then blew upon the parchment and the words flew to the wind and took flight in a puff of ash. His eyes were ruby red and glowed like fire as he whispered a curse beneath his breath and headed east on the barren roads toward Middleton and on to New Draven.
Andra, Moona and Shuran materialized near a barn on the outskirts of Middleton; a simple settlement of farmers and crafters. Andra dropped to the ground breathing deeply.
“What was that?” Moona cried with surprise.
“It was a far traveling spell but poorly done, we’ve only made it to Middleton,” Andra responded breathily.
“Only to Middleton you say? That is at least a few days hard travel by steed, never mind by foot!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, but I had planned on taking us straight to Draventon where we were to plan out our course. I have little provision with us and am now too tired to attempt another working.”
“Andra, that spell was no little thing. We can trade here for more provisions and a carry satchel for Shuran. I’d like to free up the use of my hands,” Moona said pulling her pipe and lighting it with a grin.
“Provisions we can get, but it would be weeks before I could work a traveling spell again. Shuran will be hungry, I’ve goats milk in this satchel,” Andra said as he handed a large pack over to Moona.
“Good heavens I ain’ thought, some Moona I’m gonna be forgettin’ you need food!” she said to Shuran who just looked up at her quietly. “So brave you are little sprat, not a whimper this whole time.” She gently took a bottle of goat’s milk and began feeding Shuran.
He ate greedily.
“Oh my how much milk you got in this sack Guardian, cause this sprat is gonna drink all of ‘em soon at this rate. My teats is too old and dried up to try wet nursin’!” Moona chortled.
“We can trade in a few hours. After dawn has come the markets will be opening in Middleton. Until then we can rest here inside this old barn.”
The trio made their way into the old barn, which was empty beside some old hay and a few rusty old farm tools. They sat down in the hay pile and sat back to rest while Shuran continued to eat and stare at them in turn.
Just before dawn the three left the barn heading into Middleton. As they walked Shuran slept and Moona followed closely behind Andra.
“So this traveling spell, the crusty old leader of that witless cult did something like that when he arrived. He did it again soon after when he left. Why was he able to do so again so quickly?” Moona questioned.
“Either he was not traveling farther than a few hundred paces or he had a source stone to draw power from. My stone cracked from the effort of arriving in Drakkfoth directly from the Foresworn territories. This is why I have not the power to do it again so soon or for very far,” he replied.
“Biddley Diddles, All the way from the Foresworn territories!” she said.
“You have no idea where that is do you?” Andra asked.
“Well, no, but I guess it is far since I never heard of the place.”
Andra continued without stopping pace toward Middleton “It is far beyond the Great Sea. The lands where many of the persecuted fled during the Sikil Mah.”
“You said many but not all fled did they?” Moona asked.
Andra just nodded knowingly.
“Thought so! I always wondered why my kin always lived longer than we ought. Most Aurderian humans don’ live beyond seventy or eighty harvests. And I been around three times that. Suppose that’s why we always moved around; keep folks from getting nosey,” Moona rambled.
“Good thing they did move about so, otherwise you would likely have been tried and sentenced to death,” Andra said.
“ANZILLU, The trials of abomination!” Moona spat. “They ain’ had one o’ them since I was a sprat. There’s them that throw the words around oft’ enough but only out of ignorance and superstition.” Moona shivered at the thought and they continued on to town in quiet.
The Market in Middleton was already bustling with marketers and traders alike by the time they arrived into town. Stalls were setup along both sides of the streets and around the entire town square. There were farmers selling their foodstuffs and grains, town bakers, crafters, smithies, and weavers all.
“Well, if we can’t find what we need then we ain’ got our eyes open.” Moona quipped.
“Hopefully we can get what we need, I have not much to trade that would be legal in these lands and not much coin,” Andra started.
“Don’ you be worrin’ ‘bout that, Moona has more in the folds of her coverings than lard,” she grinned and pulled out a good-sized pouch. “You see as many harvests in Aurderia as me without learnin’ to save for a poor crop.”
Andra just nodded and they went about gathering supplies and goods. They gathered foods and water, garments and swaddling for Shuran.
“We can get horses and a goat for fresh milk down at the stables according to the baker,” said Moona. “I will be needing to freshen my supply of herbs as well if I can find a proper apothecary this far south.”
Andra took Shuran from Moona and said, “You get what you need and I’ll get us a goat, horse, and tack. I hope you are accustomed to sleeping in the saddle because we are likely being followed from the Stone Forest.”
Moona nodded and headed off to look for an herb seller. Both Andra and Moona agreed to attract as little attention as possible and avoid the city guard.
It did not take Moona long before she found a woman selling herbs and concoctions from a covered wagon in the square. “Good morning young woman what wares have you for health, hygiene, and relaxation?” Moona asked winking with the last inquiry.
“I have plenty of all you seek ma’am,” the Herbalist replied. “Are you of the trade?” she continued.
“I am, but not from these parts. I wonder do you have any frost moss this far south?” Moona asked.
The young herbalist looked at her sideways and replied. “Never heard of it, but I do have dried creeping vine from the stone forest. It is good for the pains of age and helps one, shall we say, relax.” The woman smiled and Moona returned a wide grin.
“Are you traveling alone then?” asked the herbalist.
Moona turned to her and pause long enough to compose herself before snapping at the girl. “No, I am traveling with friends who are already passed. I will be catching up to them on the road after I collect what I need.”
With that last inquiry Moona felt it was time to go. She had been conversing far more casually than she ought to considering the circumstances. She paid the herbalist and gathered up her purchases before heading down the street toward the stables.
The herbalist watched after her occasionally glancing at the silver moons the old woman had just paid her with.
Andra was heading toward the stables with Shuran and noticed they were attracting some attention. Andra had been walking past stall after stall. A mysterious figure in a cloak with the hood pulled up and carrying a bundle that was obviously a child; this was precisely the kind of attention that Andra did not want. Andra decided that it was time to appear less conspicuous and lower the hood on the cloak, but not before shifting.
“I only hope I have enough energy to make this last.” Andra sighed and after a brief shimmer inside the hood of Andra’s cloak it was lowered to reveal the features of a woman. Already Andra was feeling the strain of holding this appearance but noticed that the onlookers seemed more at ease with the presence of this new woman with a baby.
Andra continued down the main street toward the stables. Once at the stables Andra inquired about the purchases with the stable master who was more than eager to strike a sale since business had been slow.
“I have plenty of good stock, young woman let me show you around and see what you think,” the master started. “Do you want horses for speed or endurance, one must choose best based on how quickly or how far they have to travel,” he finished.
As Andra started to respond, the disguise began to waiver and Andra’s head lowered as a sudden feeling of strength renewed the woman’s features. As Andra wondered what had happened, a knowing look came from the sparkling green eyes of Shuran who had wrapped his tiny hand around one of Andra’s fingers. His eyes shifted colors to red then blue and nearly white. Andra suddenly realized where the power was coming from and was awe struck. Not just by the power but that the child knew what needed doing.
“Are you all right dear?” asked the stable master approaching Andra.
“Ah, yes just a bit fatigued from our travels is all,” Andra managed.
“Well, no wonder with a young ‘un to burden and by the looks only a few moons new to the world,” the Stable master observed.
It was not until just that moment that Andra noticed the growth Shuran had shown in just the short time since he was birthed. Not sure what to think about it, Andra decided to focus on the task at hand. “Perhaps one sturdy horse and a wagon might be better, along with a pack horse and goats,” Andra requested.
“Think I have just the horse and wagon, but maybe a female yack be better than goat and work both for pack carryin’ and given up milk for the young sprat there.” And with a nod from Andra the stable master accepted the gold suns as payment and set off to get all in order.