058 – Dinner Guests

Over the next two days, a bunch of little nothings happened that began to set all moods on edge. Rox was foot sore. Steven wrecked two batches of bread. Caspian’s mood went as fowl as the weather as it rained, thundered and lightninged continually. Even the mules were more ornery than normal, though they soon stopped alerting to every flash or thunder clap. The road was passable, but very muddy as they climbed and descended a mountain pass from the upper valleys toward the coastal ones.

The weather broke as they came out of the pass into well logged forest. The trees here were a checkerboard mix of very old, medium age, and saplings. They figured the easiest way to measure the age was how high the lowest branches were. The oldest, largest branches and trees showed visible fire scarring; a few areas had open avenues where a tree had been felled and taken some of its neighbor’s branches with. To Rox’s surprise, there did not appear to be any dead-falls on the ground, or evidence of trees that lay on the ground for long. From one vista, the forest looked like a patchwork as it stretched across the valley they were in, with easily demarcated patches of similar aged trees. Three patches were on fire as they looked.

That evening they made a soggy camp within a clump of bushes in some young trees. Caspian showed Rox how to blow a gust of wind through the bush to blow most of the water off it. This allowed them to spread much of their larger cloth equipment out to dry.

Everyone’s moods were still frayed, and edgy, but they began to settle, as the clear sky overhead darkened. At first with a bit of embarrassment, then that put aside, they stripped off their coats cloaks and other wet outer clothing and lay these out on drying lines or over the large bushes that surrounded the area. The mules were tethered to a large tree, with enough line to not get into trouble. Cyrril was out hunting his own dinner.

Caspian surprised Rox by taking the large bush knife from his belt and slotted it into a socket on the top of his staff, then turned the staff over and planted it blade first into the ground. Then he hung his hooded coat from it. The usual spells that Caspian cast to guard the camp area from bugs and varmints were shortly emanating from and centered on the staff. Then picking up the heat from the fire, a slow swirl of air began to move about the area, drying and warming everything.

With the warmth going the Caplan’s were both down to their comparative underwear, and Caspian was a bit away, to give them space. For himself, Caspian was also down to his breaches, both his trousers hung out to dry, with all the rest of his clothes. Then he sensed them, and got angry for not sensing them before.

The bandits had hoped for an easy nicking of some unwary travelers. Instead they got Steven, Rox, and Caspian who were on edge over enough various things to be spoiling for a fight. Dinner was done and they were about to settle in for the evenings sleep. The bandits entered the clearing as the fire had settled to coals, and Rox and Steven were in their tent getting ready for sleep.

Caspian gave a shout, and threw a pair of spells, one at the fire to stir it up, and one at a bandit. Suddenly the Caplan’s were out, responding to the robbers. Rox had her staff and was beating, banging, and bashing her way around. Steven had his sword flashing, sending other weapons flying and occasional body parts, mostly arms. They both were still averse to wantonly killing, but that was hardly a hindrance here. For his part Caspian bashed a few shins and heads with a chunk of firewood. Then he used magic to toss the brigands out of camp. And then the fight was done.

Caspian quickly surveyed the area,

Aside from the three of them and their two pack animals, there was nothing of their own out of place. Cyrril was nearby returning from his hunt. The fleeing brigands were of no further concern. However Rox and Steven had worked up a bit of energy; Caspian could tell that a discrete exit was in order. She had hopped up in just her spandex. To Caspian’s magic senses she now glowed with energy, as did her sweaty skin and hair. She exuded sensual femininity. Steven had just his shorts on, and also glowed with sweaty exertion, the image of masculinity. Fortunately neither had any wounds.

They wrapped around each other, the fight forgotten as fast as it had started. They stepped over to the tent without breaking their embrace and ducked back inside.

Caspian smiled in good humor, caught up the one dead bandit and several body parts and weapons with magic, and walked a short ways off. The energy put off by those two was still palpable, but not as distracting as their noise at close distance.

Caspian set about inspecting the equipment and dead body. Steven had run him through and probably not even noticed. Caspian found no magic on this one, so he shifted to inspection of gear and such. From the six knives off the ground and three carried by the brigand, Caspian only considered one worth keeping. The rest he left with the body. The only other thing worth keeping was the man’s cloak. Wash the blood out, and it was perfectly serviceable. For now Caspian just draped it over himself.

Caspian then opened the ground, deposited the one body, the assorted body parts, and the discarded stuff in the hole, and then released the ground to close. He sensed the energy, and found that Rox and Steven were still at it. So Caspian began a ward to channel the excess energy, and to dampen any excessive noise. The rut would be a bit early here for the wildlife, but that was better than attracting more attention. He completed his circuit and set the ward, then as Steven and Rox showed no sign of letting up, Caspian settled in to rest against a tree trunk.

As he drifted off thoughts of his own parents drifted in. Caspian’s father was a wizard, his mother a mage. She had cast a spell on him, but not with magic. When Caspian was conceived there was a strong influence of magic, just like now with Rox and Steven. As Caspian fell completely asleep, he was amused by the thought of the supreme unlikelihood of Rox and Steven having a third child.

Roxanne woke Caspian up to give him breakfast. He was about 100 yards out of camp, having left to allow privacy. He sat against a tree, a warding barrier just beyond. Cyrril was curled around Caspian’s neck. The small dragon roused first, and Caspian shortly followed. As the day wore on, the afterglow of the night’s activities around Rox and Steve greatly amused Caspian.

They followed the road to a way point where a large bend in the river had been harnessed into a public bath. The three travelers used the bath and were on their way by lunch.

Caspian and Rox walked together, as he instructed her on focusing her mind to sense and channel energy and make it do as she desired. Essentially using magic without any tools. Caspian figured this was the best way, partially as he figured that Rox did not have the time to learn what all the alchemy of reagents was for and about, and because to the best of his knowledge, elves rarely used them anyway.

The pace the three set and kept was faster than the average wagon train, so they passed four or five way points or local hub-villages and many ripening farms every three days. These were theoretically placed for a train to go from one to the next between meal times. Most of the time the three simply kept moving until dusk than stopped. If there was a convenient shelter, they would use it, but their usual pace left them in the comparative wilds. They also passed plenty of locals, but no trains. Caspian figured it was simply people saving up to be ready for the fall fares, the Caplan’s simply did not give it any thought.

That evening as they again sat around with dinner cooking, the number around the fire doubled. However, unlike the party of brigands, this party was not hostile, overtly.

Cyrril sensed them first. Rox and Caspian both sensed the magic flux and turned to look across the forest to where three tall slim figures were walking toward them. Their hair stood in a tall white blaze of a mohawk, their trousers and shirts were of a silk or similar cloth, with boots suited to a city. The one on the left wore an ‘s’-curved two-hand sword at its waist. They approached to the edge of Caspian’s camp spells and stopped.

”To the Mage, the Lost Daughter of our Clan, and to her Paramour, we bring greetings.”

Rox sized them up as the three of them stood to face the three newcomers. These were unlike every one of the locals that had been encountered up to this point. Each as broad as Steven was, Rox figured the shortest of the three was a good foot and a half taller than her husband. The flanking two looked around, taking everything in. They had a poise that broadcast that they were at ease, at home, and in charge wherever they were.

“Mage, may we breach your boundary, in order to present our message?” The center one was the spokesman.

It took Caspian a moment to realize, but this was the same elf that had come to his farm near half a year ago to summon him to do the bidding of the Nidear clan. He answered the elf.

“You may cross, Elves of Shalaia.”

The elves stepped closer into the clearing and stopped facing the Caplan’s and Caspian across the fire.

The central elf looked at Roxanne. She wore her tunic, trousers, girdle and boots. Her mohawk stood little more than a hand span from her scalp with three braids down either side, this in comparison to their clean shaven sides. She held his gaze, not flinching. After a moment, he looked briefly over Steven, and then turned his attention to Caspian.

“Mage. We are tasked with bringing you summons to Shalaia, and bid you to bring our Lost Daughter as swiftly as possible to her clan leaders.”

Rox noticed as she looked, that Steven had a look of puzzlement, but Caspian spoke before she could address her husband.

“Very well. Is there a time limit, this time?”

“No.”

Caspian nodded. “And retrieving their children?”

“That will be addressed upon your counseling with the Clan Leaders.” The elf spoke with a fluidity and tone that Rox had heard the few times she had been in the throne room with the Sorceress. It said to Rox, without saying anything, ‘I may or may not know more, but this is all I will tell you.’ Roxanne also realized that the elf and Caspian were not speaking the local language, so Steven probably could not understand what was being said. She wondered briefly how she did.

Caspian nodded. “By evening three days hence we will reach the next city. There we will make arrangements to come in your direction. Unless you want to take us now, or carry with you something I can use as a target.”

The elf nodded. “We are messengers. We will inform our Clan Leader of your general schedule.”

The elves turned without acknowledging Caspian’s last statement, intent on departing. Roxanne spoke, getting their attention.

“Elf. Who told you where to find us?” She said this in the local language.

The elf paused, considering. He appeared briefly amused by Roxanne. Then he spoke in his own language without turning to her. “We were advised by The Councilor to the King of this land. She sent a missive telling us of your progress, and intended course. Last light you generated such unguarded energy with your paramour that it simply became a matter of getting close enough when you would be willing to receive us.”

The three elves turned and strode back the way they had come and disappeared into the night. Once they crossed the edge of Caspian’s spells, Caspian relaxed and sat back down. Rox and Steven followed suit.

Rox started, sensing that Steven needed to be filled in. “Where is Shalaia that we are supposed to change course to get to it? Why is it more important than continuing after out children? And what clan is this that presumes they can order us around? And why not be any more help, such as taking us with, or as you asked, taking a target?”

Caspian looked at Roxanne, some worry crossing his face. “You understood them?”

Rox’s tone cooled. “I comprehended the language. You tell me the meaning.”

Steven interrupted, sensing that if he didn’t he might have to break up a fight. “I didn’t understand a thing they said. Or what you said back to them, Caspian. Who were they and what do they want?”

Rox waited a beat for Caspian to start answering, and then started in as Caspian still waited on her. “I understood their language. Caspian addressed them as Elves from Shalaia. From context they are sent by some clan that is interested in me. Presumably the elves that sent Caspian to begin with. They brought a summons to us to go to Shalaia, and present me to the clan leaders, as soon as possible. Retrieving our children will then be addressed. Caspian said it would be done, and that we would get to the next city in about three days, and there change where we are going to head to this Shalaia.”

Steven turned to Caspian. “Meaning what?”

Caspian tried to withstand the gaze of both of them. “Roxanne is right. That language was the language of the elves that the Nidear clan is part of. The Nidear are the clan Roxanne is descended from. They did send me after you. They appear to have little concern for the when of retrieving you children. Shalaia is their city off to the south east of our current location by some weeks of travel. I have mentioned it previously. If we do not go in their direction, they may bother us or eventually force us to comply with their desires. They are not inclined to actually help without a good reason of their own. I figure on a cursory idea that we may be able to get horses in the next city, and ride these to Shalaia.”

Steven was not satisfied. “And our children?”

Caspian had to flinch at this. “I do not believe they are in any harm. What I comprehend of the motivations of Krogg, they want your children alive. That means we can retrieve them any time. But like you, I would rather it be sooner than later. On the other hand, these elves can be pushy. And when they are, they are not very helpful about it.”

059 – Changing Course, Taking The Left Hand Turn Off

The next day the city appeared on the western horizon as they crossed the tallest hill, at the south end of a coastal mountain range. The road they traveled went down the hills, and along the south edge of these mountains toward the city, the river was further off to their south as they went.

“Take a good look. Judging by the terrain, this is the last chance to see the whole city.” Caspian gestured to the blur across part of the horizon to their left. In the farthest distance, the curve of the planet dropped away.

Rox gestured, as Steven got his binoculars out and looked around.

“What is out beyond it? The sea,” Rox asked.

“Yes. I do not remember specifically if this is a port, or just in land from one, but, that does not matter now.” Caspian was already starting down the hill.

Steven handed Rox his binoculars as he got his SLR camera out, mounted his wide-angle lens, knelt down to remove all wobble, and snapped a picture.

As soon as the Caplan’s caught up to him, Caspian had a question for them.

“Steven, Roxanne; can either of you ride horses?”

They looked at each other. Then Steven answered. “I have ridden some. Roxanne’s grandmother has a friend who has some and when we take the kids there for summer vacation, we all ride. So we do know how to stay in a saddle.”

Caspian was ambivalently pleased at this. “Good, then we will get some horses; hopefully that fit you. We can go faster that way than on foot. It will be about three weeks ride to get to where these elves are; about twice that by foot. But it will cost more than walking. I think that through them we will find a way to get to where your children are, more quickly.”

Steven had been bothered by this line of thought. “And why are we bothering with this, instead of just taking ship and heading after our kids?”

Caspian responded more forcefully than Steven expected. “Because those damn elves will just pluck us off the ship and to where they want us to be. They will continue to harass and direct and exercise such power and authority over you as they can, until such time as you acquiesce. Or they will simply go after your kids, raise them themselves, and not let you have any access to them. In short: they are as tyrannical in their own way as those who have already kidnapped your kids.”

Rox jumped to the point faster than Steven. “In other words, they get their way whether we help or not. If we do not work with them, then they will go around us and cut us out. The easiest way to deal with them is to roll with them, and do what can be done to keep them at arms length, or further.”

“I can begin to see why your great grand left, it they were that way then.” Steven muttered.

“It is entirely possible, given the life spans of these elves that the same elf is still in charge, even with how long ago she left. Not that I really know your families history, but from those I have met, and what I have pieced together of the story, it is likely that the leadership has not changed significantly.” Cyrril had stood up and was fanning from Caspian’s shoulder as Caspian spoke.

Seeing Cyrril, and listening to Caspian, Steven realized that Caspian was no more willing to abide these elves any farther than Steven expressed. But that it was easier to go along and get along at this time, than to fight them overtly.

For her part, Rox stepped back in her mind to all the stories of her family history that she could remember, trying to find anything about where Great Grandma came from, and why.

They passed into the rolling grass lands of the coastal plane. Caspian continued instructing Rox on some theory or practice of magic. He had her practicing lesser spells and sensing him doing the same. A few times he pointed out when the backwash of some larger spell swept past. On some of these, he was able to point out to her the pieces of the source spell. On further interrogation from Steven, Caspian admitted that he was not sure of the specific spell being used, or why, but that it was coming from the south, and to produce that much ripple a lot of power had to be in play.

At lunch time, Caspian stopped for a few moments of personal prayer and worship. Steven and Rox stood near by, letting the mules browse. Once he got back up and going Caspian briefly explained that until reaching Veradale, he had not had any real clue what day of the week it was. Now that he knew, he was going to try to give at least cursory respect to the Sabbath each week.

In the afternoon, as a storm rolled in from the sea, Caspian had Rox practice casting a spell to keep things dry. Rox wanted to try keeping the whole party dry. Caspian convinced her to scale back to keeping her cloak dry. On her second cast, she got the spell to partially work. In his own example, Caspian’s spell had the drizzle running off his cloak, without it absorbing any water. Rox was able to get hers to do the same, until her concentration broke when a sheet-lightening flash startled her.

That evening they stopped in a way-station. This was right by a bend in the river that created a natural corral. The station also had an indoor bath house. With hot water. Everyone was appreciative of this.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 60

These have been some long days on the road; two days of grass lands and farms, all going down hill. The villages and towns are no longer remarkable. Maybe the longest walk I have had with Rox since marrying her.

It has been interesting watching her learn to use an inborn talent that she cannot use at home. I gather that Diana and Alex should also have some kind of similar ability.

We have met some ‘elves’ who claim some control of our schedule, and Caspian is obliging them. He says that on one hand they are stuffy, annoying, and arrogant. On the other, they may make up for this by being more help than we can guess at right now.

Late in the afternoon, they finally approached the city. The local farms extended right up to the city fortifications, with irrigation canals demarcating property lines more than fences or walls. The city fortifications were staggered earth-worked walls ringing the city in three ranks each spaced enough to provide a long bare field between them, and appeared to go all the way around. Where the walls crossed the road stone-work guard towers stood with attached barracks.

In his curiosity, Steven inspected the wall with his binoculars. The stone works were only at the road. But at intervals beyond, Steven identified fortified artillery stations, alternating with passages for infantry or cavalry. Each stone tower had an array of colored banners hanging or flying. Rox identified one as that of the Baron, who administered the city; one for the Duke, who administered the four other baronies including and around the city; one for the Kingdom, and three different ones for the units within the city guard. Also a smaller set of flags was set to the back of the towers, which looked like semaphore flags.

The three and their mules passed the first ring of defense with the rest of the traffic, with little more than a visual inspection and otherwise such lack of interest as to not warrant stopping. The armor over red tunic of the city guards on duty was the same as from Veradale, but the specific unit insignia was different.

Once past, Steven looked at the back side of the closest artillery fortifications, and identified trebuchet’s, catapults, ballista’s, and sufficient fresh supplies that the only things missing were the crewmen to man the post.

The second ring of defense was similar to the first. Steven had put his binoculars away so as not to attract undo attention. Again the guards at the towers simply gave them a visual inspection, without any attempt to stop them.

The third ring had a post across the road, stopping all traffic for inspection in both directions. They dutifully lined up and took their turn, and paid the fee to enter the city. As they were questioned they also asked where the best yards to buy riding horses was to be found.

It was past local dinner time as they passed the final stonework gate and city wall into the city proper. Following their instructions they went to the main north-south road of the city and turned south. As they went Caspian noted the breezes, and commented that this could not be the actual sea-port. It did not smell of the sea. The sun was shining down the east-west streets as they came to the stock district.

Caspian suggested they find a place for the night, and start from there in the morning.

The next morning, after some searching, they found the horse paddocks. Up to now, the Caplan’s had felt a bit of good humored superiority for their height advantage. Now it was turned against them as they tried to find first some saddle-broken horses tall enough to carry them, then some tack sufficiently large, and at a good price. By the end of the day they had accomplished their task, at almost the expected level of expense. Before taking their mounts on the road, they first proved them in a ring near the paddocks, both to test the animal’s actual health, and the fit and usability of the tack.

Rox and Steven were used to what they understood as American Western type saddles. The local saddles were closer to but not fully like English type as they understood, but not quite. These had a bit of swell on front, but no horn; there was generous padding under the seat, and enough surface and laces to attach saddle bags and gear front and back of the rider; the metal stirrups were of the expected shape, and open. They both needed new stirrup straps, and to learn how to handle their horses. It still looked amusingly like riding low-riders, for Steven and Rox.

With the two mules still in tow, they headed out. Steven was the worst at riding, but with a few days continuous practice was soon adequate. On the other hand, Caspian was the most saddle sore.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 64

We crossed national boarders. The ponies do move faster than we did on foot. I understand that this kingdom is friendly to the one we just left. It is the next one south that is the belligerent.

Caspian is saying we need to go one city south, and there pick up an east bound highway. From there, work our way south and east, and up past the coastal ranges and back onto the high plains. Then up onto a certain mountain range and the city, Shalaia. The few we have talked to say that is about two weeks or longer to the inland mountains, depending on what roads we can take.

Here’s hoping it’s uneventful.

060 – Getting New Bearings

The roads being well traveled, the Kingdoms being in a state of gearing up for war, and low intensity skirmishes already taking place among the Baronies to their south, Caspian suggested they go as quickly as they could. The mules were a bit put out over this, but came along as they were urged. The daily magic lessons continued as best Caspian and Rox could manage.

They turned left at the city, changing from the north-south highway to the east bound one. The terrain quickly took them past the first coastal range, and into the upper valleys.

At one way stop they over heard conversation that many of the usual bandits had fled their usual haunts, flushed out as martial discipline was put into place, as a step to martial law and full war.

As they sat around their own camp before retiring, they discussed this. Rox was able to contribute some of what she had learned while in the palace. Their conclusion was to be as nondescript as they could, and get out of the way as quick as they could.

Another conversation at a subsequent way station reported that the war between these two kingdoms was threatening to draw surrounding communities into it. Some of the Dukes and Barons in the southern of the two kingdoms were anxious to throw off their King, whether by monarchical removal and succession, or by leaving the kingdom and forming up a new kingdom under a new monarch. One of the Dukes was campaigning to become King, and shift the existing territorial lines.

They crossed into highlands. As they rode along, Steven was lost in his own musings, and Caspian looking entirely the wrong way when Rox quietly pulled her bow off her quiver and strung it. Then she pulled three arrows from her quiver and slipped off her horse without it breaking stride. Notching an arrow, she slipped into the brush off the side of the road.

Caspian turned and stopped his horse, then caught the reins of hers as it went past stopping it, and the mule tied behind it. Steven also pulled his up.

Steven looked around trying to spot his wife, and whatever had caused her to disappear. He noticed Caspian looking intently off the right side where Rox had disappeared, but otherwise being as still as he could. The horses simply took the moment to rest, putting all four feet under themselves and settling their weight. Cyrril stalked partway off of Caspian’s shoulder, looking in the same direction as Caspian. Steven looked at Cyrril, then in the direction both the dragon and mage were looking.

Steven could see scrub and brush, and a large stand of local trees. Then suddenly his perception and focus shifted and nine of the local deer came into sharp relief standing among all the vegetation. He could also see a handful of the local squirrels and other birds, but the deer stood out. All nine stood at alert, looking toward the horses on the road, about forty yards from the closest. After a moment, the farthest one away and then like dominoes the rest from far to near turned away from the horses and started toward the trees.

The one at the farthest to Steven’s right suddenly lurched and tried to lung, but an arrow in its side hindered it. Caspian paused a moment, then turned to Steven.

“You want to go help her, or shall I?”

Steven thought a moment. “You’re better at slaughter and render, I can hold the horses here.”

Steven rode his horse up next to Caspian’s as Caspian dismounted. Caspian handed two sets of reins to Steven, and then stalked into the brush. Cyrril leaped from Caspian’s shoulder to the top of the pack load on the mule Rox led.

Rox reappeared at the side of her downed kill and shortly she and Caspian were working the animal over harvesting the usable meat. The scents disturbed the horses slightly, and Steven noticed that most of the local game was likewise agitated, stirred but not shaken.

As they worked, Caspian took the moment to quiz Rox.

“Do you know what you have just done?”

“I harvested some fresh meet. I trust it will be palatable and healthy to eat.”

Caspian took this in, but it was not his lesson. “That is not my point. Were you aware of using magic?”

Rox paused, as he continued working. “No,” she said tentatively. “It’s been some time since I have hunted. I spotted these as we came along, and thought to try myself. I slipped off Dace, and crept as quietly as I could. I did feel myself slip into a hunting mindset, and did my best to move as quietly and invisibly as I could.”

“You shrouded yourself with magic, camouflaging yourself so nothing could see or hear you, and you did it without actually casting anything.” Caspian interjected this as she thought.

Rox looked back at the path she had evidently taken to get here, rehearsing her actions in her mind. She then looked back to Caspian working on separating the usable from the unusable.

“Wow. I didn’t even think about it.” Rox was surprised with herself. Then pleased.

As Caspian’s signal, Steven brought the horses over and the meat they were taking with them was wrapped and loaded. Steven noted that a bit under half of the animal by weight was left behind. Remembering his experiences with Abey, this was not a surprise. They did not try to take the hide, mainly as they had no means or desire to deal with it.

Caspian and Rox rinsed themselves off in a stream nearby, and they were on their way, leaving the remaining carcass for scavengers to finish off.

Caspian and Rox talked shop the rest of the afternoon, with Rox practicing various spells, following Caspian’s lead. As The Sorceress had been discovering, Rox was not inclined to the formalities of casting, moving directly into the actual projection of organized energy. The theory Caspian developed as to why this was, was manifold; one, as being of elf stock, mana was as ready to her use as water to a fish; two, with her academic background in building things, Rox had an instinctive and well trained grasp of understanding how and why things worked; three, with her martial arts training Rox had a well disciplined mind, and so could keep her focus and attention where it needed to be. The result was that magic was coming to her naturally, limited to her imagination. But the danger to this was that she might try to handle too much and get herself, or someone else hurt by it.

At the boarder of the kingdoms the next morning, both sets of guards at the crossing stations tried to press the horses into service. Roxanne talked the guards down with some fresh meat, and got the trio on their way partly by getting the guards into a bidding war for the horses, and the trio slipping out as they argued.

The highlands gave way to high plains and easier travel. But all the locals were still on edge at news of the neighboring kingdoms gearing up to fight. As they went east passing ranches and farms, a forbidding range of mountains spread across the horizon.

The road turned south for a ways, before coming to a large town that sat beside a crossroads. A fair appeared to be happening, though as they got closer it turned out to actually be two different caravans encamped. One was a heavy freight train, loaded with minerals and ore, coming from the east highway. The other was a company of The Black Wolf Traders, carrying textiles, from east over the mountains.

Caspian insisted on stopping, before turning east. Rox and Steven humored Caspian, put the horses and mules to pasture, paid for lunch, and sat down to a community table.

As they talked at the lunch table inquiry was made of the highway east and further. The heavy-freighters could only report on things up to their mines in the mountains that bordered these high-plains, on the east horizon. The Wolves reported that things were under stricter control and patrol related to the war drums to the west. In the further east kingdoms, the bandits had gone to ground for the same reason. As it sat, the two trains had decided to join up before heading out to the south west, and were taking a day to sort things out and get everyone rested.

Lunch finished, Steven and Rox gathered up Caspian and their horses, wanting to head east. After some discussion, Caspian convinced them to rest for the afternoon. The animals could use the time off, and they could use more supplies; here was a good place to get more. So they shopped. Within a few hours, they were able to barter off most of the game meet that Rox had harvested previously.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 71

A high mountain rendezvous? We are at a larger way-stop, with two wagon trains.

We have been a week and a half on the road, and a week into someone else’s travel plans, but I don’t have any real way to judge how far we have come. Horse speed over time, but I don’t know the speed, beyond 'faster than walking', particularly with the elevation changing we have done. We have crossed one kingdom and gone nearly as far across a second one. A tall mountain range stands before us.

This all better be worth it, I would rather be heading directly after my kids. At least we seem to be south of the primary storm track, for now.

The foothills were quickly traversed, as the road intersected with and paralleled a river. It followed the river into the mountains, and around the first two peaks, before the river’s path became impassable. The road then took a generally southeast track as it climbed up the mountains. The change in elevation was quickly showing in the effort of the animals, and to spare them, they walked for the afternoon. Evening found them in a high valley, with peaks on every side. Just by the elevation it was cold that night, and Caspian consented to using his tent.

Steven was able to set up a panorama shot of several mountain peaks and the stars behind them.

The next day they stopped in a mountain village. Caspian went to worship and the Caplan’s turned the animals out to pasture. The Caplan’s then went for a hike on a trail one of the local children pointed out, that climbed the nearest peak. At the top, the vista was both new and old, as The Caplan’s had regularly summited other mountains near their home in Nevada.

To the west, they could see the coastal ranges they had already crossed. To the north and south were approximately parallel ranges. To the east, after several more ranks of this range was a large plain, with another set of ranges peaking over the far horizon.

Descending out of this range, they again saw the plains that stretched to the horizon. Caspian was singularly unimpressed.

“These are only the northern western plains. There are three large expanses like this and several smaller ones as you go across the continent at this latitude, along with the usual lakes and water ways. Most of the major rivers run north. We will cross one that runs south before it turns west. The mountain range we are heading to is part of the group on the horizon, and a bit to the south.”

Steven took this in. “So what is the plan?”

“Head east, on this highway and turn south at or for the Kimid Mountains. From there we head to the Shalalerin Mountains”

061 – Bridges, Barges, and Local Politics

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 80

This has been some vacation. Hike across the continent in one direction, only to reverse course once we get to the first stop. In the meantime the people with the real prize are running in a third direction. I have been doing some math - give or take, Caspian and I are in excess of 1500 miles since we started, and maybe more than that.

The last week has been nothing but rolling prairie. Open range for large herds, a few areas of fenced or walled farmlands, occasional stands of trees around pools on the streams that give shape to the land. A few towns here and there, though mostly little bigger than villages, where people congregate punctuated by irrigation and sanitation canals and pools. Most of the houses and barns are like those I saw in the Jemed Highlands – dug-out structures with sod or thatched roofs sticking out of the side of the tallest local hill. Caspian says that there are three such large expanses across the north half of this continent.

On one hand the boredom has given Rox and Caspian more time to practice her magic. Some things she is apparently very good at – others she is not. I have been practicing my sword as I could. Being astride is not conducive to that much, though.

We encountered some of the local racism: one town completely shunned Rox, and us for our affiliation with her. They would not even explain why.

The village we left this morning said we have two more days before we get to the mountains on the horizon. All the streams we cross flow increasingly to the east, and south. Caspian said there is a large river to cross before those mountains

The traffic brought them to their turn at the city gate after seeing it on the horizon for an hour. The way the hills rolled, the hill the road climbed after the gate was the only thing at their level that they could see beyond the gate. Little more than a couple of thatched dug-outs with uncut stone columns flanking the road; the gate was guarded by a handful of armed clerks.

At the top of the hill, the city beyond spread across the flood plane that flanked the side of a river that Steven judged to be comparable to the Missouri or any other large continental river.

Rox agreed, as she urged her horse forward, taking the lead.

The river valley itself was several miles wide. The river worked its way south in a leisurely pace, though not always in uniform fashion. The city was mostly wood framed structures, with some masonry here and there; cobbles lined the streets, boardwalks the sides. The hill they descended into the valley looked to Steven like a military creation, to defend the city from direct attack from the plains. Said hill stretched north and south, while the lay of the land was more flowing. The city spread north and south along the flood plane of the river as well with identifiable streets and districts. There were no bridges across the river, the cross traffic appearing to be all boats. Traffic was also plying up and down the length of the river.

On the far side the city appeared to be equal counterpart to this side.

Rox turned to Caspian as they came to the outer ranks of structures.

“Why are there no bridges across the river? It does not look to be more than several hundred yards across at some of the narrow points.”

Caspian shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you for sure. I can think of three reasons, outside of ‘politics.’ First, they lack the funds, materials and skills to build the bridges. Second, the ground is not able to support a stable bridge, which can be built for reasonable cost. Third, they cannot build a bridge sufficient for the larger boats to cross under.”

Rox nodded. “For politics, I guess the most quickly available answer is the shore workers raising a fuss about being put out of work.”

Steven tossed his two cents into the conversation. “Or any other group raising a fuss about costs. Or there has never been a military need for a bridge here.”

The main road quickly passed through the residential outskirts into the markets, warehouses, and dockyards. Here they were directly taken aboard a ferry barge. The traffic was such that they did not wait long before the barge cast off and started across the river. Pole men and oar men propelled the barge across the river.

Once unloaded, Caspian turned them aside from the main road on this side and into a market. “As we discussed, it is time to resupply.”

Rox looked at Steven. “It seems that all we are doing so far is traveling, and buying more supplies.”

Steven looked around. “Would you rather get in a fight? Or have some lovable street urchin make off with all your money? How about find a cave to crawl around in and find some mad creature with a magic ring?” As he said this, Steven remembered how an unguarded moment in a prior village had resulted in loosing a bit of money.

“On the other hand, neither of us knows exactly where we are going, or speaks any language that we can trust to get us all the way there. Already the people we are among are speaking a different language that what we were among two weeks ago.”

Rox had noticed. Caspian had slipped into a language that the Caplan’s had heard among the caravaner's they had mixed with. She meant to bring it up to Caspian, but had not got around to it, yet. It was time to do so.

They caught up to where Caspian was dismounted and bargaining to temporarily leave the horses and mules. He turned to them.

“We can leave the animals here, and go get the food we need, and be on our way in no time.” Caspian handed his reins to a woman at the paddock, and stood aside, waiting.

Steven dismounted and pulled the lead from the back of his saddle, and with the reins for his horse gave both animals to a young man. Rox followed suit, as Steven turned to her mule and pulled the bag with the money from it.

One of the first instances of advanced magic Caspian had shown Rox was disguising the bag. It did not clink; it looked like it was stuffed with clothes from the outside, and weighed as much as a laundry bag.

Rox stepped to Steven’s side, with the bag between them, and they followed Caspian into the market. Unlike some of the people on the plains, these took little notice of the Caplan’s. Then they saw them: about half a dozen very tall figures. These all had dark hair that hung down, were head and shoulders taller than Steven, nearly twice as tall as the shorter locals, and had darker skin tones. As the groups plied the market, they noticed and appraised Rox and Steven, but passed on without any making any kind of issue.

Steven noticed and called something to Rox’s attention later. Their cloaks looked to have nylon inner linings, and they wore webbing belts instead of leather. Two wore swords, one a single, the other a pair of long and short. The swords had a subtle ‘s’-curve to them that reminded Steven of Japanese swords, but with the handle curved against the direction of the blade. The group moved on and was not seen again, but as Steven spared the attention to watch, he noticed that the locals treated the tall figures as no more remarkable than each other.

Rox stopped a wandering minstrel and tried to communicate. Unfortunately the language barrier prevented anything useful. Caspian stepped in using the Traders Cant and translated Rox’s question about the commonality of elves in the city. The minstrel replied that tall elves were unusual, but common enough. The shorter underground elves were truly rare, but not unheard of, particularly around the slaver’s section.

With their shopping finished, they returned to the paddock where they had left their animals, loaded their supplies onto the mules, checked everything else back over, and with everything ready saddled up and headed out. Caspian rode to the back of the column, to watch that nothing was removed as they rode out. Nothing happened, though there was one attempt at steeling a bag of vegetables. Caspian smacked the hands with his staff, probably breaking a bone or two, and then dropped a few coins onto the boy’s arms as he clutched at his hurt hand.

They climbed the east side of the river valley and up onto the flats between the river and the foot hills. Leaving the city gates behind, the road headed south east across the foot hills. The next day they followed it up a river canyon into the mountains.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 84

Two days of climbing canyons, back into the high valleys.

On other subjects, Caspian has been teaching us the Merchant’s Cant, by magic and otherwise.

Rox took her turn making dinner in the pot, as the men put the rest of the camp together. Once camp was set, they turned to slaughtering another deer. This time Caspian watched, instructing as needed, as Steven worked his way through the process. A handful of the meat was given to Rox for the evening meal. The hide was set out for stretching and tanning, as the rest was sorted and put in a pit for burial, or wrapped for travel.

The dinner conversation turned to how much farther. Rox asked the direct question to Caspian. 

Caspian looked at the sky; Rox felt him cast a spell of some kind. Steven and Rox both continued eating. Then the spell came back, and Caspian returned to them.

“I sense we are a little over half way, straight line. Most of our travel now is going to be working our way through this and the connected mountain ranges into elf-country. We are done with the plains.”

Steven picked up his journal and paged through it, counting days. “We are some thirty days along. About 25 miles as an average, gives us about . . . “

Rox answered first. “750 plus miles. I would say about 650 of those moving away from the coast. And you say that we are about half way there?  So, another month of mountain travel. You once said Shalaia is a mountain city. I suppose this will help up to get acclimated to the altitude.”

Steven put his journal aside. “This time on top of the two months of time to get to Veradale. This is some summer vacation for the kids. Is there any way we can go faster?”

Caspian looked at the couple looking at him. He sighed.

“Yes, I can teleport, as I have previously said. But I cannot do so safely to the elf city, without a target to land on. I neglected to consider that I would want one when I was last there. I do not have the detailed scanning abilities that The Sorceress in Veradale has. Also the general area and the city we are going to in particular have protective spells that prevent me from finding anything in the area that I could use as a target. I could scan the area between here and there and try a few jumps, but that is dangerous to do, and I am not willing to risk your lives, let alone these animals with wild jumps. Therefore, without help from their end, we are left with getting there the traditional way.”

Rox deadpanned the end of the conversation. “I am guessing that is deliberate on their part. And that means another month on the road. There is a bug in your food.”

Steven and Caspian both checked their plates, and Steven flicked a chunk of vegetable out of his food into the fire.

Caspian put in the last word. “At least it’s summer time. Last time I was in the general area, it was still snow packed.”

062 – Melee And Magic

They marched along a high mountain valley, rolling hills to either side, craggy peaks beyond several of the rolls. Leafy trees mixed with pines in alternating stands. The road they traveled was above the usual flood level of the stream that carved this valley. They had been seeing one long valley like this after another, as the road wended its way across the mountain range. Generally they worked their way east, but the road went in all directions depending on which part they were on. It even regularly climbed up and over the hills as the terrain changed from drainage zone to zone.

They had passed some smaller bodies of water and two large lakes in their time. They stopped at one lake for baths and to wash their clothes. Rox and Steven swam across the comparatively narrow part of the lake and back. Caspian gave them respectful distance as they were stripped to their skins. The time in the water left the Caplan’s in a better mood than they had been previously. Caspian found the water to be too cool for his liking. Rox said it was warmer than Tahoe in May.

Steven and Rox had been taking turns hunting each week harvesting a medium sized animal; Steven with his crossbow, Rox with her bow. They used what they wanted of it and traded the rest off to others they encountered. Local traders and bards passed them on the road every so often; loggers, miners, quarrymen, and herders were in nearly equal distribution among the rest of their trading partners. The camps of men and women were at irregular intervals harvesting their specific resource. Twice they spent the evening with circuit riding ministers who graciously shared their fire. The hides were traded off, as neither the Caplan’s nor Caspian had any real skill in prepping and tanning.

One thing that was increasingly apparent among the locals was the underlying feeling of two camps about elves; one was neutral to vaguely positive, the other was openly hostile without being belligerent. One of the bards explained it as that the elves were condescendingly politely inconsiderate on the average, with the few hostile ones making up for the many benign ones. Caspian echoed this from his experience. There are enough benign ones that you could get along with for the most part, but when you found a hostile one, it made up for the rest.

Generally this left Rox doing her best to always be polite and gracious and Steven putting on his best good mood, and taking off his hat, to show his rounded ears.

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 90

The mountains are getting a lot taller and craggier. The hills around them likewise taller, and less ‘rolling hills’ and more sharp angles. Likewise the trees of the forest are changing, fewer leaves, more evergreens.

I am a little surprised at how well the road appears to be maintained.

They spent one night at a camp that housed both a logging crew and quarry crew. It was soon apparent to the travelers that they were at the end of the week. As the evening went on, drink was passed around and a spirited debate between the two crews began. One side made a convincing presentation of their case followed by an equally spirited rebuttal, and counter argument. Rox found herself the target of enthusiastic participants willing to share their point of view with whoever could be seen, and she quickly disassembled the foundation of the arguments. Steven likewise was gathered into the spirit of things, and found himself defending his position from all comers. Caspian mainly found the loggers pressing their point of view on him, but was also able to hold his own against all arguments.

The debate wound down as the participants decided that their points had been proven, or were forgotten, the field littered with casualties from all sides. The women of the camp, those who had not been involved to this point, moved in and sorted the bodies attending to such wounds as needed, and sending the participants to their beds.

The next day was worship services, with many attending sporting assorted bruises and other minor wounds. Caspian joined the congregation, as Steven and Rox stood by at the back and listened to the message without comprehending a word of the language. Steven found he actually relaxed at the meeting; he appreciated that the audience participated by giving honest attention rather than calling out and adding to the noise. Rox was amused and pleased that her husband was actually having a good time at a worship service, though she found the speaker a bit long winded.

Services done and lunch being cleaned by the locals, the travelers took their leave and continued on their way.

At breakfast and as camp was broken the following morning, Rox mentioned to Caspian that she had sensed him using magic in the brawl, but had not had time to examine just what and how. As they walked Caspian talked about using personal body shields to counter various forms of attack.

Steven joined the conversation citing Caspian’s available spell assortment during the battle at Veradale. Specifically he mentioned Caspian’s saying he could brawl or do major property damage, so was reluctant to toss much magic around in the city.

As the discussion and lesson continued, the Caplan’s challenged Caspian to a sparring contest.

Caspian looked at them. “You are serious?”

Steven answered. “Yeah. You have seen how we can fight, but we have not really seen how you do. We clashed once, but I have not ever really seen you fight. I would kind of like to see that.”

“Also, I have not had a chance to really spar magically. I would like to do that,” Rox chimed in.

“You have a point. You want to joust, or put the animals aside and where they won’t be spooked?” Caspian looked around.

Rox answered. “Put them aside would be better, I think.”

Caspian nodded.

They soon passed into a meadow on the saddle of a hill and Caspian reined his mount in. He looked around and signaled to the Caplan’s that this would do.

“I think we can tie the horses here at the edge, then walk over there onto the point, and have our drill.” Caspian dismounted, and motioned for the Caplan’s to precede him. “It will be best for you to have the point to your backs, so I don’t inadvertently throw magic into the horses or whatever.”

They secured the horses at the edge of the meadow, and then Caspian cast a spell around them, and Cyrril perched on a branch above them. Rox sensed the result as a bubble of energy around the animals that was in motion and drawing energy from the world around it to maintain itself.

Caspian turned away from the horses to follow the Caplan’s “That should keep them from startling at any of our noise.”

They walked across to the far end of the point, trees coming up off the hills on all sides of them. Rox walked to Steven’s left and they spread out, giving each other room. Steven left his crossbow behind, Rox her bow, as they wanted to initially test melee fighting.

Caspian did not even give them the chance.

Steven did not get to begin to clear leather on his sword, Rox did not get to try anything with her staff, before everything around them went black. Steven felt the air around him solidify, holding him motionless. Rox felt a solid force shove her off her feet. A jet-blast of hot shot past Steven. A thunder crack deafened them from their left sides. Then nothing.

After a few more moments, to contemplate what was going on, light returned. The solid air vanished and Steven could move. A tree was on fire ahead of Steven, and off to their left two more had scorch marks, and some broken limbs were working their way down in the breeze that moved through the area.

Caspian spoke. “That demonstrated how I might start against a competitor in magic. Had I wanted to, Steven would have been hit by a flame blast and Roxanne by lightening.”

Caspian cast a short spell, and the fire on the tree died quickly.

Steven recalled the pit fight and tussle on the road, and turned drawing his sword and swinging through Caspian. Caspian blocked with his staff, and then moved into Steven with the two of them testing each other.

Roxanne watched, sensing that Caspian had some magic enveloping him. She applied to these senses and to all her prior experience to puzzle it out, and quickly saw that Caspian had a shield around him that redirected the kinetic energy from Steven’s strikes. She also watched as Steven practiced his own attacks from below, above, off hand and back hand, the intervening diagonals and straight ahead. He moved his left hand to the sword's blade griping it at its approximate middle, keeping his right at its normal place, and used it as a short staff, surprising Caspian. Steven used the crossbar to snag Caspian’s arm and then to yank his staff from his grip. Steven then closed in and tripped Caspian and put the flat of his sword to Caspian’s neck.

“I yield,” the mage said.

Both men were breathing heavier than normal, but not fully winded.

“You have been practicing, Steven. Also, that two hand stuff, very unorthodox to my experience. I think I should practice more against it.” Caspian critiqued, as he stepped to where his staff lay.

Steven smiled. “Thank you. The two hand stuff is partly a variation on staff techniques. You are using some kind of magic shield, at least on your arms, and torso.”

“Yeah; full body shield, redirecting your impacts. You could still push me directly on axis, but not from any other angle. Also it kept your cutting edge from connecting.” Caspian had his staff, brushing the scrub bits from it.

Steven sheathed his sword, and turned to his wife. “Your turn, Rox. Take him apart.”

Roxanne had her staff in loose ready, watching and listening to the men. The shorter one with the staff taller than her turned to her, fully warm and ready. Rox had come to understand that in a mana rich environment she could perceive the aura, or energy that a living thing put off. A healthy person was a swirl of reds and oranges normally, with injuries or other issues showing as a brighter intensity of color. Caspian normally had purples to blues in his aura as well, but at this moment, his arms and sides where Steven had managed to make contact now had brighter reds and oranges in the mix. Then Caspian reactivated his magic shields, and he took a blue tint, especially around his head.

As she looked him over she settled to a ready stance. Her hands found the outer carved spots and her staff extended its magic field, lengthening three fold. Caspian’s staff was enveloped in energy for its length, and the two stepped into each other.

They struck twice, one end then the other, and Rox was about to go for a third, when Caspian stepped off the proverbial mat.

“What was that?” he asked.

Rox looked back and realized that the magic enhancement around Caspian’s staff was gone, and for all intents at this moment it was just a tall stick. Her own staff was unchanged.

“I’m not sure. I struck with the one magic end, then the other. The Sorceress never gave me much instruction on this staff, insofar as actual hands on. She told me of its extending. And of its splitting,” Rox twisted the inner spots and the staff was now two sticks in her hands.

She put the ends back together. “Beyond that, she said it did not have any spells invested in it.”

Caspian looked his staff over. The first end she had hit was the carved end. That had been an intersection of energy fields. The second hit was at the butt end. There was a new slight dent in the wood, where the field of her staff had hit.

“Your first hit aligned all the energy I had invested around my staff. The second hit released all the energy back to mana, and hit the wood itself. That is why I backed off.”

Caspian stood for a moment, thinking, looking at and through her. Rox took the staff, and turned the length back on, and swung through a few bushes. These exploded in twigs and leaves as she went through them. Caspian tossed some magic fire into the bushes around her. The magic fire burned without consuming the plant. Rox’s staff passed through the bush. The fire was scooped out and tossed away, but the scrub exploded. The same result on several more scrubs, until a half dozen magical fires were merrily consuming energy around the area.

Caspian suggested at the same time Rox thought of it. “Hit the same one with both ends.”

Rox jabbed a fire with one end of her staff, then the other. It went out, both magic users sensing the organizing energy disrupted and dissipated. She tried it again on each of the remaining ones; no matter which end was used first, once both ends hit the second hit dispelled the spell. A single hit just moved the spell about, as magnets push each other about.

Caspian nodded. “That is what canceled all the magic around my staff. Useful indeed. I would need to look it over in more detail, but I suspect that is part of its intrinsic enchantments. So it won’t get in the way of putting other spells into it. So, now that we now that, I believe we were about here.”