>>5935240Eventually, the humans of your party awake and join the two of you. Costella, personable as always, ahs already befriended both of your drivers, and is eagerly pestering them for details of the surrounding landscape and interesting landmarks which you passed en route.
“This is the furthest I’ve ever been,” she tells them excitedly. “I feel like a real adventurer, traveling all this way with, like, wizards and lizardmen and horses and rations and TENTS. It’s like a big camping trip!”
Just listening to her talk begins to lift your spirits again, banishing whatever dregs of doldrums remain from your forgotten nightmares or the Thief’s critique. The tea which Pearce pours for each of you does the rest of the work, as does the quiet comfort of his company. Drinking with your best friend—be it ale or not—is one of your great pleasures in life, and you have missed him this last year, nearly as much as the two women who accompany you.
“Let’s get going,” Izzy suggests, the moment she’s done her own scant breakfast and has gulped down her still-scalding tea.
“What’s the rush?” Costella asks. “We should, like, slow down and enjoy it.”
Izzy looks perplexed at the notion, and says: “The Sylvan Realms will be MUCH more interesting.”
“Plus, there’s the mission,” Pearce adds with a small smirk hidden behind his cup.
“R-right,” Izzy says, blushing at being subtly called out on the real reason for her eagerness to carry on. “That’s what I meant. The mission is… What should be interesting us right now.”
When everyone has finished their repast, Izirina summons a small rain-shower, localized over the campfire, and thus douses it. The rest of you pack up your things as she does so, and you continue your journey. With your drivers taking turns and your hardy, hale horses invigorated by Logan’s spellcraft, you are able to travel all through morning, and afternoon until just before evening when you glimpse the wall silver bark and lush, velvety-green leaves which rise up like a thousand towers in a barrier to rival Hawksong’s massive, white stone walls.
“Wooooooaaaaah,” Costella exhales, eyes wide.
Izzy is silent, but she clutches at your robes, and her face has all the wonder of a child despite her seriousness and silence. It warms your heart.
“It’s alright,” Pearce sniffs.
You all look at him.
“Well, someone’s gotta’ keep a stiff upper lip, right?” he says. “We can’t ALL go bug-eyed and loopy.”
You roll your eyes, but smile. The coach-drivers slow as you approach the place where the road curves towards the forest; they, too, wish to appreciate the view. Only the Thief seems TRULY unmoved… Though perhaps, with reptilian stillness and a false face, he simply hides it better?
