Adam had the fire going strong. The wild hare was slowly getting charred on a stick. Adam had gutted and skinned the animal before he had started to cook it. The guts were in a pile just beyond the edge of the clearing collecting flies already. Dustin returned with the horses and found a fallen tree to tie them to.
“You might a well get some more wood for the fire” Adam said. “We are going leave the clearing at first sun tomorrow.”
“That will give me a chance to get some practise in with my new sword” Dustin said. “Although this new armour his heavier than what I’m used to.”
“You’ll get used to it” Adam said. “For now we need some more firewood. We only have a little bit here, mind the entrails in the bushes over there you’ll be able to see them by the masses of flies drawn to them.”
Dustin walked over to the edge of the clearing and began gathering some wood. He could see where the entrails were left; the swarm of insects was becoming large. He made an effort to avoid the swarm and continued to gather some wood. Dustin gathered a large armful and brought them closer to the fire.
“Excellent” Adam said. “Now we have some time before our meal is finished cooking, let’s see how you handle your sword.”
Dustin pulled his sword out of the sheath on his back. He had considered changing the placement of it but was accustomed to drawing his axe from that position. He took a clumsy swing at the air and Adam fell over laughing.
“If you find my form so amusing” Dustin said rather embarrassed and angered. “Show me how I’m supposed to do it!”
“Draven must not have taught you very much” Adam said through laughter. He pulled himself off the ground and drew his own sword. “Your stance is all wrong to begin with, you’re not going to chop any trees down with your sword.”
Adam began to tutor Dustin with neither of them wearing any armour. Dustin was catching on quickly, some of the techniques Draven had taught him were completely wrong for a two handed sword. Adam quickly corrected him when he slipped up.
“Good” Adam said. “Now put on your armour. You will have to get used to wearing it while swinging your club.” He said with a smirk.
Dustin put his armour on. He got ready to spar with Adam. Out of the corner of his eye he caught some movement down the road where they had came from. He held up his hand towards Adam with one finger pointing upwards as if to say hold on a minute. He turned his head towards the path they had traveled to get to the clearing.
In the middle of the road was a cloaked figure walking towards them. Both Adam and Dustin brought their swords to their sides, most people traveling alone on these roads were harmless, but none the less they remained on their guard. The figure looked to be a man roughly the same age as Dustin. He walked with a large staff; the possibility of the figure being a wizard was suggested by the metallic end of the staff. He clearly was not a pike man.
As the figure drew closer they could make out more of his features. He appeared to be the same height as Galen; dark hair with a very skinny face. He almost looked as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Not uncommon considering if you did not have anything to barter with albeit gold or possessions finding food would be difficult.
“Hello there” the mysterious figure shouted as soon as he got close enough to be heard.
Dustin and Adam walked a little closer to the man so they wouldn’t have to shout.
“Hello there traveller” Adam replied.
“I was just on my way to Rosh” the man said. “I was surprised to run into you gentlemen. My name is Corcoran” he said lowering his head slightly.
“I am Adam and this is Dustin. Why might you be traveling with out the aid of a messenger or an apprentice?”
“I have travelled this road many times” Corcoran said. “I’ve never needed the help of a messenger before.”
“These are dangerous times” Dustin said. “Have you not heard about the bandits that roam this area looking to prey on people like yourself?”
“Bandits” Corcoran started. “What would a bandit hope to gain from a poor man like me? This staff and my clothes are the only possessions I have, would they really attack me for these few possessions?”
“Well that is a mighty fine looking staff you have there” Adam said. “That metal work at the top looks very delicate, reminds me of a wizard I once knew. He carried a staff just like it.”
“Are you accusing me of stealing this staff?” Corcoran asked.
“No” Adam said. “I was merely pointing out that it looked familiar. You look like you haven’t eaten in a few days; our hare is just about cooked. We will share some of it with you.”
“You might a well get some more wood for the fire” Adam said. “We are going leave the clearing at first sun tomorrow.”
“That will give me a chance to get some practise in with my new sword” Dustin said. “Although this new armour his heavier than what I’m used to.”
“You’ll get used to it” Adam said. “For now we need some more firewood. We only have a little bit here, mind the entrails in the bushes over there you’ll be able to see them by the masses of flies drawn to them.”
Dustin walked over to the edge of the clearing and began gathering some wood. He could see where the entrails were left; the swarm of insects was becoming large. He made an effort to avoid the swarm and continued to gather some wood. Dustin gathered a large armful and brought them closer to the fire.
“Excellent” Adam said. “Now we have some time before our meal is finished cooking, let’s see how you handle your sword.”
Dustin pulled his sword out of the sheath on his back. He had considered changing the placement of it but was accustomed to drawing his axe from that position. He took a clumsy swing at the air and Adam fell over laughing.
“If you find my form so amusing” Dustin said rather embarrassed and angered. “Show me how I’m supposed to do it!”
“Draven must not have taught you very much” Adam said through laughter. He pulled himself off the ground and drew his own sword. “Your stance is all wrong to begin with, you’re not going to chop any trees down with your sword.”
Adam began to tutor Dustin with neither of them wearing any armour. Dustin was catching on quickly, some of the techniques Draven had taught him were completely wrong for a two handed sword. Adam quickly corrected him when he slipped up.
“Good” Adam said. “Now put on your armour. You will have to get used to wearing it while swinging your club.” He said with a smirk.
Dustin put his armour on. He got ready to spar with Adam. Out of the corner of his eye he caught some movement down the road where they had came from. He held up his hand towards Adam with one finger pointing upwards as if to say hold on a minute. He turned his head towards the path they had traveled to get to the clearing.
In the middle of the road was a cloaked figure walking towards them. Both Adam and Dustin brought their swords to their sides, most people traveling alone on these roads were harmless, but none the less they remained on their guard. The figure looked to be a man roughly the same age as Dustin. He walked with a large staff; the possibility of the figure being a wizard was suggested by the metallic end of the staff. He clearly was not a pike man.
As the figure drew closer they could make out more of his features. He appeared to be the same height as Galen; dark hair with a very skinny face. He almost looked as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Not uncommon considering if you did not have anything to barter with albeit gold or possessions finding food would be difficult.
“Hello there” the mysterious figure shouted as soon as he got close enough to be heard.
Dustin and Adam walked a little closer to the man so they wouldn’t have to shout.
“Hello there traveller” Adam replied.
“I was just on my way to Rosh” the man said. “I was surprised to run into you gentlemen. My name is Corcoran” he said lowering his head slightly.
“I am Adam and this is Dustin. Why might you be traveling with out the aid of a messenger or an apprentice?”
“I have travelled this road many times” Corcoran said. “I’ve never needed the help of a messenger before.”
“These are dangerous times” Dustin said. “Have you not heard about the bandits that roam this area looking to prey on people like yourself?”
“Bandits” Corcoran started. “What would a bandit hope to gain from a poor man like me? This staff and my clothes are the only possessions I have, would they really attack me for these few possessions?”
“Well that is a mighty fine looking staff you have there” Adam said. “That metal work at the top looks very delicate, reminds me of a wizard I once knew. He carried a staff just like it.”
“Are you accusing me of stealing this staff?” Corcoran asked.
“No” Adam said. “I was merely pointing out that it looked familiar. You look like you haven’t eaten in a few days; our hare is just about cooked. We will share some of it with you.”
Part 3 Begins 07/17/08
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