Chapter 45: Rocky Travels

Nathan: “Thanks for giving us a ride.”

Jacob: “Absolutely no problem, you did pay me after all.”

Nathan: “That I did.”

After leaving Ream earlier the night, he came across a wagon, the old man who had given him information earlier was pulling it. He gave the man a hand full of coins for a ride, apparently way too much, from the surprise on the man’s face. He had come to learn his name, Jacob, Jay for short. They had converse, while Iris and Anais did their own things. Anais took to taking a nap, it was pretty late. While Iris, excitedly fluttered around the horse’s head, happy to finally be up close to one. It like they had completely forgotten they were being chase. In the back of the wagon was an assortment of produce, some he recognizes, some he didn’t.

Nathan: “You grew these?”

Jacob: “Sure did, best produce in these parts.”

Nathan: “Really, the best?”

Jacob: “The hell if I know, but my blood sweat, and tears went into everyone, I’ll say there the best, until the day I die.”

Nathan: “You make these trips often, to Loegrey?

Jacob: At least twice a week, or sometimes Borice, but I rather go to Loegrey.”

Nathan: “Oh?”

Jacob: “Borice, it doesn’t look bad on the surface, it’s still a cradle for unsavory types if you catch my drift.”

Nathan: “(Borice, that probably where Beatrice was headed. They should have all gone to bed by now. The fact that they think I’m clueless to what they were going to do, they should have put down there guard.)”

Nathan took a look back, as he did every so often. Nathan sighed with relief, when he saw no one coming.

Jacob: “You expecting someone?”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Jacob: You keep looking, like you expect someone to come up from behind.

Nathan: “Hope not.”

Jacob: “Miss, are you in some kind of trouble?”.”

Nathan: “Don’t worry about it. If anything happens, you can leave me behind.”

Jacob: “I maybe old, but it will be a cold day in hell, before I leave a woman behind to fend for herself.

Nathan: “That’s very chivalrous of you, but I’m not a girl I’m not worried about getting hurt.”

Jacob: “What?”

Jacob looked Nathan up in down, he couldn’t see his face because of the wrap, but he could tell he was a beauty.

Jacob: “Gender confusion?”

Nathan: “You know, I am not opposed to striking old men.”

Jacob looked like he was having a hard time believing Nathan and it was completely warranted. Nathan looked back, Anais had woken up from her nap

Jacob: “Still, at least let me try to help.”

Nathan: “Its fine.”

Jacob pointed over to blanket

Jacob: Damn it young’un, I’m gonna help rather you like it or not.”

Nathan: “But-”

Jacob: “PIPE DOWN!”

Nathan continued trying dissuading Jacob from doing anything unnecessary. Nathan wasn’t sure that Beatrice would find him, soon or later they are going to come down this road. When that happens, it will be up to Nathan rather Jacob got involved or not. But, if he learned from the elderly in his world, was that they were all stubborn.

Jacob: “Besides, all that money you gave, me it’s the least I could do.”

Nathan: “I knew I gave you too much.”

Jacob: “Hahahhahahah, I wouldn’t expect a runaway to think this was too much money.”

Nathan: “A what?”

Jacob: “No need to play the game with me.”

Nathan looked at the Jacob in confusion, but Jacob just huffed.

Jacob: “You handed me eight hundred renny like it was nothing, your hiding your face, trying to keep a low profile, which by the way isn’t working.”

Nathan: “It’s not?”

Jacob: “Wrapping your face is just going to draw more attention, I’m pretty sure everyone you walked by, thought you were a runaway.”

Nathan: “No, no, no.”

Jacob: “Come on, your obviously, a runaway, don’t worry I won’t get anything from turning you in.”

Nathan: “Listen I don’t what you’re talking about, but, well, I’ll just show you.”

Iris and Anais eyes went wide with surprised, as Nathan removed his wraps allowing Jacob to see his face.

Jacob: “Well aint that something, a Dark skinned Lycanian, I thought you all were extinct.”

Nathan: “So I’ve been told, but your reaction, you’re not that surprised.”

Jacob: “Damn if I aint, just too old to be startling myself, notion for early grave, but go ahead and put that back on.

Nathan looked up ahead and quickly rewrapped his face, as a wagon and some travelers, pass by.

Jacob: “I might not be the be judgmental, but most aren’t like me.”

Nathan: “I’m surprised that anyone would recognize an extinct species.”

Jacob: “When that race is the same as the Demon Lord, it’s not something you grow up not knowing.”

Nathan: “I suppose, but five thousand years is a long time, you think it would have fell into legend.

Jacob: “You’ve been living under a rock sonny?”

Nathan: “No, it was a tree.”

Jacob: “What?”

Nathan use the excuse Elise came up with, a sleeping curse was way more convenient, then anything else.

Jacob: “Sheesh, who’d the hell did you piss off, a sleeping curse is just pure and utter spite. Well, anyway, the Demon Lord nearly destroyed the world. Do think even for a second they would let something like that fade to legend?”

Nathan couldn’t refute that, back in his world, there been crazy dictators, terror attacks, wars for freedom, all happening hundreds of years prior to his birth. These occurrences were still told to him in his youth days, multiple times in fact.

Nathan: “Okay, I’ll give you that.”

Jacob: “But even if you weren’t a Lycanian, the fact that you’re a rouge, would be surprising enough.

Nathan: “What does that mean?

Jacob: “It means, in Loegrey, you’re going to attract way more attention, rather you got that thing on or not.”

Nathan: “*Mumbling*That might actually help.”

Jacob: “What was that?”

Nathan: “Nothing, you mind if I rest in the back?”

Jacob: “Sure, don’t let me stop you, we got about an hour or two before the sun comes up, get some sleep.”

Nathan climbed into the back of the wagon, he couldn’t sleep, but stretching out felt good. Nathan could see the light of dawn starting to light up the sky. It would be morning soon and that meant it was almost time for them to get up.

Nathan: “Here we go.”

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Shane: “FUCK!!!”

Shane screamed at the top of his lungs, drawing the attention of the people standing around him. He didn’t care, there stares were inconsequential compared to the problem he was in right now. Running through the streets, looking in every direction, interrogating everyone he met, no signs of Nathan. Shane cursed himself for not going in her room last night, he blamed Elise, but kept it to himself. He didn’t have the time or luxury to vent. Running back to the inn, he found Beatrice and Elise finishing getting Quincy. Tin Man and Cerin had returned as well.

Shane: “Did you find anything?”

Tin Man: “No.”

Cerin shook his head no, they were coming up short all around and the more they stood around the further Nathan got from them.

Beatrice: “Our friends and Borice said they didn’t see anything suspicious on the road north. But I put out a reward for any information.”

Shane: “Dammit, why did she suddenly run away?”

Tin Man: “Could she have figured out what we were up to?”

Beatrice: “That could explain some suspicious behavior.”

Elise: “But how could she have known, I’m sure we never said anything, that would draw suspicion?”

Tin Man: “No we did all the time when she wasn’t around. I remember reading, that Lycanian had rather good hearing. It’s possible that she over herd our conversations.”

Beatrice: “Then it would explain why she disappeared a times.”

Shane: “None of this matter, rather she knew or not, we still have to find her. Someone had to have seen her, we need to find that someone.”

Youth: “Hey, you the ones with the reward for the information?”

They all turned to find a child had called out to them.

Shane: “What do you want kid?”

Youth: “Like I said, you the ones looking for information and given out a reward.”

Shane: “What, you have it?”

Youth: “If you got the reward, you get the information.”

Shane: “This aint no charity kid, buzz off.”

Youth: “Suit yourselves, I’ll just keep my information about the dark-skinned woman.”

Everyone looked surprise, though they told everyone to look for something suspicious, they never said any specific details, especially not that they were looking for a Dark-skinned woman.

Beatrice: “Wait, what do you know?”

Youth: “Unh-unh, lol first.”

Shane: “You little shit.”

Beatrice reach in her pouch and presented the boy with a hand full of silver coins. The boys eye lit up as each coin fell into his palm, like he had never seen that much money in life.

Beatrice: “Okay, tell us what you know.”

Youth: “Yes, me in my dad were heading back from Loegrey early last night, when we saw another carriage coming the other way. There was a passenger who hid their face as we went by. She was extremely beautiful, my father thought so as well, but he said it was too bad she was dark skinned.”

Tin Man: “Beatrice, if what this boy says is true-”

Beatrice: “If she gets to Loegrey, it will be impossible to snatch her.”

Shane: “Then what are we standing around here for, we gotta go.”

For once, everyone agreed with Shane, they didn’t have any time to waste. If Nathan got to Loegrey, with how heavily guard it is now, it would be nearly impossible to catch her. Jumping in the carriage, Beatrice patted Quincy’s head.

Beatrice: Quincy, as fast as you can go, please.”

Quincy cried out, then with a huge burst of speed, took off, leaving the boy standing in the street with a palm full money.

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Nathan: ………….Shit.”

Jacob: “You awake youngster, what’s wrong?”

Nathan Jumped up and looked back, in the distance he could see someone coming up from behind. They were moving really fast.

Jacob: “Wow, must be an Aveon.”

Nathan: “Aveon?”

Jacob: “Yeah, it the only thing I can think that could be moving that fast.”

Nathan: “…….Then this is where I get off.”

Jacob: “What, hold on there, are they the ones your running from?”

Nathan: “Don’t worry, thanks for the ride, I’ll take it from here.”

Jacob: “Dammit you, what part of I’m gonna help you did you not understand.”

Nathan: “There’s nothing you could do.”

Jacob: “ Shut the help up and move them vegetables there.”

Nathan reluctantly pushed the produce aside.

Nathan: “This?”

Jacob: “Still think I’m no help.”

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*Neigh*

Jacob: “Watch it ya idiot, I can’t stop this thing right away.”

Shane: “Sorry about that old timer, I wanted to ask you a question.”

Jacob: “Look more like you had a death wish, get out the way.”

Jacob tried to move his cart on by, but was prevented, Tin Man stepping in the way.

Elise: “I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience, we were just wondering if you had anyone pass you on the road?”

Jacob: “Plenty of people travel this road little miss, I don’t keep track of everyone who passes by.”

Elise: “Dark skinned, wearing a wrap around their face.”

Tin Man: “If no wraps, then someone extraordinarily beautiful.”

Jacob: “A beauty you say, I can honestly say I haven’t seen any woman going down this path. Especially, any extraordinarily beautiful woman, you don’t come by those every day. Now, could you tell your friend to get off my wagon?”

Cerin was surprised to find that Jacob had notice him. He stopped looking through Jacobs things and backed away from his cart. Shaking his head, signaling that he didn’t find anything.

Jacob: “Are we done here?”

Elise: “Yes, sorry we stopped you.”

*Neigh*

Elise stroke the horse mane and offered it an apple, which it quickly scarfed down.

Jacob: “Yeah, me too.”

Jacob pulled the rein, edging the horse to move on.

Beatrice: ………..Wait.”

Jacob: “What?”

Beatrice stepped up to the front.”

Beatrice: “We never say it was a woman.”

Cold sweat ran down Jacob back, but he kept his composure. Looking Beatrice right in the eye, no showing the slightest bit of doubt.

Jacob: “Taking things outta context, I doubt your giant friend would be calling a man extraordinarily beautiful……… unless of course he prefers-”

Tin Man: “I don’t.”

Jacob: “Aheheheheeheheh, quick answer, just messing with ya, a little payback after you stopped me for no reason. Well, if there’s nothing else.”

Beatrice: “Yes, sorry for the trouble.”

Jacob grabbed the reins and off he went again, leaving the group of hunters behind. Glimpsing backwards he saw them take off in the other direction. It didn’t take long for the group to disappear back down the road. Sure that the close was clear, Jacob knock several times on the wagon.

*open*

Nathan: “It’s hot in there.”

Nathan pop up out of a secret door on the bottom of the wagon, glistening from sweat.

Jacob: “Everything alright?”

Nathan: “Besides needing a shower, I’m fine. Real convenient you have a hidden compartment installed.”

Jacob: “Comes in handy when you got something important, you don’t want stolen.”

Nathan: “Well, thanks for that, for second there I was getting ready to jump out.”

Jacob: “No problem young’un, to be honest, I almost lost it there, that woman, she was scary.”

Nathan: “Yeah she is.”

Jacob: “Still, what the hell did you do to them, was they the ones you stole that money from>”

Nathan: “No, they gave me this money, but my problem with them, I met them.”

Jacob: “What do you mean?”

*neigh*Neigh*

Jacob: “Whoa, what’s wrong girl?”

Jacobs horse begin to jump all around, bucking and pulling the wagon around. As she jumped around, produce was sent flying each in every way.

Nathan: “HEY, WHAT THE MATTER WITH YOUR HORSE!?

Jacob: “I DON’T KNOW, DALIA CALM DOWN!”

Jacob tried his best to calm her, but she wasn’t having any of it. She dragged them around and as quickly as it begun, the horse drop to the ground.

Nathan: “Hollee crap, does your horse do that often?”

Jacob: “Never, that the first I’ve ever seen that, what the hell happened?”

Jacob jumped down to see what was wrong. She had tried herself out and was now out of breath. He couldn’t tell what was wrong with her, until saliva dripped out her mouth.

Nathan: “Green saliva, is that normal?”

Jacob: “Don’t daft, of course not.

Jason got down close to the stuff, giving it a big whiff.

Jacob: “*Sniff* Where the hell did that come from?”

Nathan: “What?”

Jacob: “Somehow, she got her hands on some “Viim”.”

Nathan: “Viim”?

Jacob: A drink, good for an extra burst of energy. I drank some when I need to keep that pep in my step. Problem is when it where off, your fill shit tired.

Nathan: “It’s for horses too?”

Jacob: “Hell no, the effect on animals is too strong and abrupt, it’s basically poison to them. It’ll give them the energy, but well you see what happens, the get bat shit crazy. It could last all day or just a few seconds, looks like it’s the latter. The bigger problem is the after effects, they just collapse. We’ll be stuck here until it works it way through her system.”

Nathan: “So how do you get this Viim?”

Jacob: “You could get it anywhere, but I didn’t have any and there no way I would let her drink any.”

Nathan: “Well, if it’s just poison, then I have a solution.”

Jacob watched as Nathan stuck his hand to Dalia’s head.

Nathan: “Therapy!”

A white aura covered Dalia and as encompassed her, her breathing slowly return to normal.

Jacob: “What in the world?”

Soon Dalia was back on her feet, back to her original condition.

Nathan: “That worked faster than I thought it would, I also fixed that pain she had in her leg, she should be better than before.”

Jacob stared in awe, he had never in his life witness such a spell.

Jacob: “………..Who are you?”

Nathan: “The horse is up, we can leave right?”

Jacob: “Y-Yeah?”

Jacob made sure that everything was fine with his horse and then climbed back on to the wagon, with Nathan climbing on back. Giving the reins a tug, and they were off again.

Jacob: “You’re not going to tell me are you?”

Nathan: “Probably for the best.”

Jacob: “………….Probably.”

Nathan: “Hey, but, this Viim, can you put it in food?”

Jacob: “I don’t see why not, it will still have the same effect, but, I wouldn’t give her anything like that.”

Nathan: “How fast is the reaction?”

Jacob: “Almost immediate, I’m not sure for animals, but probably the same.

Nathan: “Then it could have been what she ate.”

Jacob: “Sonny, when been traveling for hours, I haven’t feed her since last night, when we met, what could she have possibly…………..no wait.”

Jacob face looked as if every light in his head went on, his horse did just eat something recently.”

Jacob: “That girl.”

Nathan: “Yup, she gave your horse a poison apple.”