Chapter 4
Shrimp had never used a map before, but she knew how to use the shapes nature made to not get lost in the forest. Maps seemed much the same.
There's this hill, follow this road, I just passed that bridge. She enjoyed the maps and was lucky they were written in the trading tongue all intelligent species were taught from infancy. From time to time she'd mark her map with her charcoal sticks noting her progression or an interesting feature no one else had bothered to record.
She was wary because of Feather Head's warnings and traveled just off the road. It made her progress even slower, but she wasn't on a schedule. Her first big decision was coming soon though. Continue the way she was going, down less traveled roads that wound through mostly wilderness, or brave the more direct route with lots of villages and towns. The wilderness path would be less traveled, and save her money. Sleeping in a tree was easy for someone her size, comfortable, and free. She was used to living off the land so food and water wouldn't be an issue. From her discussions with Raylon she knew the quick road would have more travelers, mayhap even bandits, and it wasn't safe to sleep out of doors in towns, nor usually allowed. It would cost to sleep and also to eat. No wilderness meant all the food growing was owned by someone. Shrimp thought that odd. Both the Trendil and Elvine communities shared food when they had excess and it was fine and safe to sleep were you pleased.
Except, of course, on mama's flowers. As strange as these new places seemed, that way was adventure and new people and stories. New foods to try and new experiences.
So the safe slow path or the exciting quick road?
Before she could make up her mind she heard arguing voices coming around the bend. She tried to run off the path and back into the woods but stumbled over a root that she swore hadn't been there before. The voices, one male, one female were close now. Shrimp lay in the dirt not moving in an attempt to not draw attention to herself and hoping they'd just walk by. They seemed like they were going to and then…
"What in the realms of hell is that?" the female said. Shrimp assumed she must be the subject of the question, but stayed still just in case.
"You there, child, are you hurt." It was the male's voice. "Mirri, go assist the child."
"Fine, but I'm doing it for the poor mite, not because you say so. You'll learn what comes of bossin me someday Scales"
"You will address me by my name and behave yourself."
No luck at not being spotted then.
Stupid root. Shrimp was in the process of getting up when she was lifted off the ground and set gently on her feet now facing the two travelers. The woman was young looking, an adult, but just. She had muscle but still thin, lithe. Her hair was blonde, and based on her somewhat pointed ears and sunset colored eyes, she was most certainly some mix of Elvine and something else. A mix breed. There were a few in the Elvine village, so she wasn't too shocked. The Man was a mixed breed too she noted, though not one she had ever seen before. Shrimp stared in wonder.
A part dragon? They were said to be rare. He looked like a human, but was taller. Everywhere not covered by his clothes had small golden scales. His eyes where reptilian and his head was bare but for a row of short horns. His face was human like but the nose was a bit flattened. When he spoke again she could see his teeth were all sharp.
"Are you hurt child? Where are your parents?"
"Shush Scales, you're scaring the wee lass. Bet she's never seen a monster like you in all her days. Let me talks to her." Shrimp was a bit afraid but more curious than anything.
If his much smaller Elvine companion could argue with him, he must not be cruel. Besides his eyes only showed concern.
"Mirri, I have a name"
"So, you've said, and I've ignored it multiple times per day and will continue to do so." Shrimp liked the feisty part elf.
"Sorry to cause you alarm. I'm not a child though, just a Trendil. I was trying to head off the road and tripped." Shrimp took a second to glare at the traitorous root.
Damnable old woods and the weirdness in them.
"A Trendil, truly? Are you full grown then, not a child I mean? Where is your party?", the dragon man asked.
"I'm an adult." Shrimp straightened to her full height. Just under a meter tall and she was indeed as tall as she could hope to be at twenty four years. Trendil were long lived like the Elvine but were considered adults at twenty. She had no more growing to do and was still a head shorter than most females her age. "It's just me. Speaking of, I need to be on my way." Shrimp turned back to the woods. She stopped short when the part elf grabbed her arm.
"Now that's not right. Are you very dangerous? You must be to be traveling alone, a wee thing like you. You're bound for trouble, more like, I thinks. Scales we can't be leavin her out here. Aren't you supposed to be teachin me to be the charitable type?"
"You are correct. A young lady shouldn't be traveling alone. You should join us. The more in our group, the less likely we are to be accosted."
Mirri released her arm. "So what can you do squirt? You fight? You steal?" She said the last bit with a wink.
"I can hunt and forage, I never get lost in the woods, and I….you really don't want to travel with me. I'll only bring you trouble."
"Why would you say that. Is someone trying to hurt you?" The dragon man's hand went to the hilt of his very large sword as he looked around for danger.
"No, I'm Fae Touched. I'll just be going on my way now." Shrimp sighed as she waited for their repulsed reactions, however the two travelers just looked confused.
"Is that some type of sick? You contagious?", Mirri asked.
"You don't know, really?" Shrimp was beyond confused. Everyone knew what it meant to be Fae Touched, at least she had thought everyone did. Traveling and meeting new people and races was getting interesting already, and she'd only been on the road for five days. "No, I'm not sick."
"Please tell us why you think we would leave a young woman to travel these roads alone. What could be so upsetting to you?" The golden man had a kind voice.
"Maybe you have another name for it. I have magic that isn't natural, it flares and does things I don't want it to. Like when I'm scared or angry. I've gone my whole life with very little natural magic and a few days ago...I don't know what happened. I have much more now, and I don't know how to control it really." As Shrimp explained they nodded like they understood but Mirri smiled when she had finished.
"A Mage? Well that's a bit o' luck for us.", Mirri said with a grin.
"Luck has nothing to do with it. Surly the Goddess of Mercy and Justice has guided us to her. She's possesses just the skills we lack."
"You're gonna have to get used to his blathering or learn to ignore 'im. He fights and goes on about his Goddess all the day long, I steal and pick locks and such."
"You do nothing of the sort. Not anymore at any rate. She's a criminal and has been given into my care for rehabilitation by way of serving others."
"And I'm doin a fine job makin sure this slip of a thing doesn't get gutted wandrin the roads alone. Come on lass. Where you headin?"
"What is a Mage?" Shrimp had never heard this term before and thought maybe they didn't understand what she was trying to say. She wanted no chance that they'd discover the truth later and be angry. She wasn't going to trick anyone by claiming she was something she wasn't
"You don't know, really?", Mirri replied clearly mocking her reaction to their confusion earlier.
When Shrimp crossed her arms in frustration Mirri continued. "Well a Mage has powers see, magics that most of us don't. Not the little bits everyone has, but big magics. I have a cousin what is one. From what I know their big magics can come to them at anytime. Usually if somethin tries to hurt them. They have schools and such to teach Mages. Plenty don't go though. My cuz didn't. He's still just fine. Doesn't know anything too fancy but that's one not to rob, you know? Why'd ya think we'd care if you were a Mage, or Faed, or whatever.?"
"Are people not afraid of Mages? We Trendil are very afraid of the Fae Touched. They aren't allowed to live in the village after they become an adult. Most go to live with the nearby Elvine. Everyone knows their power can get out of hand and blow up the village."
"Some people are frightened of those with strong magic, but an incident that devastating is extremely rare. Over all most people won't think to much of it. If you do damage to someone or their property with no cause you'll be expected to make amends. You're not a trained Mage, so we might expect a small issue here or there. Most people will respect you and want to do you a favor or two, hoping to get free spells in return. Mages are very sought after and demand a high price for their services. It is good luck, truly, to have a Mage travel with us, trained or no. We'll have to pick you up a Mage sash the first chance we get. We'll be even less likely to be harassed on the streets then.", the dragon man replied over Mirri's shoulder.
Shrimp wasn't sure she had much choice in the matter, they seemed convinced the right thing to do was not let her go alone.
The Elvine would probably decide tripping on the root was fate or something. Having traveling companions wasn't a bad idea. She had taken and instant liking to the woman. Maybe it was her way of talking and her familiar Elvine features. The dragon man was a bit frightening at first, but seemed a gentleman. It could be a trap, she supposed, but what was the point. Mirri could have easily hurt her when she had grabbed her earlier.
If they were going to rob her they probably would have done so by now.
"Well, if you're sure you're ok traveling with me, I was headed to Dellmore, and yourselves?"
"Doesn't matter. We travel till this one learns her lessons and is a changed soul. Dellmore is as good a place as any."
The sun had started getting low while their exchange had taken place. Shrimp led them off the road and found them a good place to camp. Her new companions set up their tent and started a fire. Shrimp offered to forage and maybe catch something to eat. She returned some time later with two pheasants, some nuts, and a handful of leafy greens. As the birds cooked Shrimp decided to get her curiosity taken care of.
"So…. whats your story? Scales said you are a criminal?", Shrimp asked the part Elvine woman.
"Please refrain from using that horrid name she calls me. My name is Torrin." The scaled man scowled in their direction.
Shrimp turned to the man. "Is that the name your parent's gave you, or is it a use-name?"
"What's a use-name?", he replied.
"Well, we Trendil have a lot of rules about names. I know the Elvine don't have the same rules, so wasn't sure if other races did or not. We have a birth-name, that's a name your mama gives you when you're born. No one but your mama and you know it. Names have power. If someone gets your birth-name they can do horrible things to you, or sell your name to the Fae. You only ever call your dearest loves by their birth-name or give them yours. So we have use-names for people in general to call us, and friend-names our friends give us and use. Shrimp is kind of both in my case. It was a friend-name that stuck as a use-name."
"See we's gots to call you Scales now. You don't want to be offending the lass. Just so's you know, Mirri isn't the name my mother gave me. It's just a nick-name. Elvine language is real tricky like and not many can pronounce my true name. So Mirri will do fine for yas."
Torrin thew his hands up in disgust and walked off to attend the fire. Shrimp could tell the fire was doing just fine and didn't truly need his proddings, but didn't comment.
"He's not lying, about me being a crook.", Mirri went back to their earlier conversation, "I done told you I'm a sneaky sneak. Got caught pickin his pockets is all. Wasn't the first time I've been caught niether. They was like to string me up this time. Scales here told the guard he was a priest of Revna and wanted to get me to change my ways. They didn't want to argue with a man what talks to the Goddess of Mercy n' Justice n' all that. Not in their line of work. So's we're off to find "good deeds" for me to do."
Shrimp leaned in close to whisper. "Why don't you just run off while he sleeps?"
"I tried that already, I did. He's had me ensorcelled so I can't go very far from him. Bout twenty or so big strides and that's it."
In the morning they decided the faster route would be the best way to take. Torrin was from a wealthy family and had coin enough that Shrimp didn't have to worry about costs. The reptilian man was convinced that the extra coin was worth the increased opportunities for good that Mirri would come across in the more inhabited spaces. Until meeting up with Shrimp he had actually been avoiding having to share a room at night in a tavern with Mirri. What would become of her reputation he had said. Mirri had rolled her eyes at that. Shrimp supposed having food and rooms for free was more then an adequate payment for acting as a full time chaperon.
"Isn't him sharing a room with two women at once a bigger scandal then just boarding with one?" Shrimp had asked when Torrin was out of earshot.
They walked into the only tavern in the first hamlet on Shrimp's map. Their trip was going to go slower than Shrimp had first thought. Instead of traveling through multiple towns a day Torrin wanted to stop at each one to see if anyone was in need of help. It was fine by Shrimp since she had no reason to believe she had a time limit on reaching Dellmore. Since Torrin insisted on paying he arranged to have dinner brought out. He was a very fast eater. "From my days in the Temple, twenty children training to be priests and only so much food to go around." Since he finished early Torrin walked back to the owner to secure them a room.
"How much for a night's stay here? More importantly do you have any openings tonight?", Shrimp hear Torrin ask. It was a small tavern and she couldn't help it.
"We've two of our four rooms free. It'll run you seven silver for the both of them, or if your daughter bunks with you and your lady, four silver for the one."
Apparently Mirri couldn't help but over hear them as well because she laughed into her ale and choked as the liquid went down the wrong spout. Shrimp's cheeks reddened as she looked down at her plate to avoid Mirri's gaze. Shrimp had forgotten that her race wouldn't be known to most and at a glance she did resemble a small Elvine mixed girl. Trendil did have ears that pointed.
He must have thought her strange coloration was due to dragon blood. Her traveling clothes were loose and comfortable and she supposed her obviously not-a-child body was hidden.
Fine then, let them think what they wanted. Torrin didn't correct the man, most likely to avoid embarrassing her further. Deciding to be good humored about the whole ordeal, Shrimp took to calling Torrin "da" the entirety of the night until it was time to retire. Mostly because it made Mirri Laugh. She had a nice laugh that reminded Shrimp of the friends she'd had as a child.
It had been a long time since she'd had friends to laugh with. Ever since the Elvine delivered the letter with her doom written on it. Her father had left and gotten sotted with drink that night. He told one and all her shame. After that no one would let their children interact with her. Most of them hadn't made a point to try though. The Fae Touched were considered ill luck and even if they didn't lose control of their magics and get you killed that way, being near them attracted the notice of the Fae.
It was starting to get late and Torrin was already asleep on his bedroll on the floor. Mirri was tossing and turning in the bed Shrimp was sharing with her. Shrimp's mind was reeling from all she'd seen and learned that day and couldn't sleep either.
"Shrimp," came Mirri's voice after a bit, "I understand bein a bit afraid of Mages. What's the Fae to do with anything though? Why they call Mages Fae Touched and worry bout the Fae getting their names?"
"My people think the Fae are evil. You know though, thinking on it not one of the stories ever said what it was the Fae would do to you. Just that they would "get" you. Feather Head, that's my Elvine soul-brother, has told me some of the Elvine beliefs. That they can be deadly but so can any race and that they created us, the Trendil and the Elvine. That's the most I know about them really."
"Oooo, Elvine stories. I know some about it! Let's see, I'll do my best but some of the details might be wiggly. So ya, the Fae created some of the races. They made the Elvine, the Trendil, and the Groden. The Fae were lonely n' bored so's they made the big strong Groden first, to free them from work they didn't wish to do n' to give them entertainment and companionship. Eventually the Groden rose up against them and left the magic Fae lands. The Fae searched far n' wide but couldn't find 'em. They didn't know that their was slits in the magic to get to the land were humans and dragons and the rest lived. They had been made by different gods.
Then the Fae made the Elvine. They wanted to be more fair, see, so they gived the Elvine magic to do their tasks. They treated the Elvine much better but they eventually decided they was no one's slaves, no matter how nice they was treated. When the Elvine found the secret way what that the Groden had followed n' asked to leave. The Fae saw how unhappy their creations were and let 'em go. The Fae closed the tears between the realms so's no one could find 'em again.
Then they made the Trendil. They made 'em with magic but with less then the Elvine. They decided they wanted a race of eternal children cuz it was rare for 'rm to have there own. So they made 'em small and kept 'em from knowin' of anythin' existin' outside the Fae realm. They were like the Fae and didn't age. They was all happy together, or so the Fae thought but then some of the Elvine returned. They had found a way to break through the veils with their magics. A war between the gods of this realm was ragin' somethin' fierce and the Elvin needed help. Somethin' happened then, but the Elvine don't know what it was. The Trendil must have been mighty angry 'bout being treated as wee ones when the Elvine were treated as adults when they returned. The Trendil dissapeared without sauin' nothin' and went through the veil into this realm. The Trendil started to grow old when they came here but are still long lived. The Fae kept the openin's in the veil cuz they be hopin' that some of their play toys will come home.
If'n that's what really happened, then I don't know what you all have to worry 'bout."
"We have no stories that the Fea made us. We're told that our god Ferroe did. About all we're told besides that the Fae might get us or become interested in us, it that the Fae and Ferroe hate each other. They say the Fae hurt us to hurt Ferroe. Why would we lie to our children about who made us? Mayhap we're scared of being kept as pets again?"
"I don't rightly know Shrimp. I've never had much thoughts on the ways of gods n' such myself, who knows if they're even real?"
Shrimp thought of the letter sitting in her pack. "I don't know if they are evil like my folk think, or gods of some kind, like your folk think, but I do know they're real."
