“That will no doubt help, but so will this,” Alysand said as he passed out some smoked bear meat. I took a bite and was pleased with the buff it applied, comparing it with the one from the carrying stone.
Status Effect: Smokey the Bear Meat
Smokey the Bear Meat: This travel ration carries the blessing of the gods. +20% movement speed while traveling, +5 Stamina, +10% Health Regeneration, +20% XP gained. Duration: 4 hours.
Status Effect: Kuthwala Fire Edge
Kuthwala Fire Edge: The Kuthwala has imbued your weapon with the power of the Reichi Pepper, adding the power of the fire affinity to all attacks. 15% of normal weapon damage added in the form of Fire Damage. Duration: 48 hours.
“Wow, that’s great, but shouldn’t we save the jerky?” I asked, addressing the obvious question. Buffs like that seemed best used when fighting mobs, especially considering the XP gain.
Alysand shook his head. “We have enough to last us a week even if we ate nothing else. The increase in travel speed will be worthwhile. Eat your fill, then let’s get started.” The man’s usual merriment and verbosity were absent, leaving little but resolve and pragmatism behind. This was the gunman, the bullet bard, that so many seemed to know and respect. I was glad he was on our side.
We were about to depart when the thunder of hooves came from the road leading to Garren’s farm. Alysand threw open one of his lapels, allowing his hand to rest on a pistol. I readied myself and watched Madi unbuttoning the clasp on her great axe, though neither of us drew our weapons.
After a few short moments, a figure came into view. They were hunched low over a horse, cloak billowing behind. For a moment, I thought the person would run us over, but they soon sat up and reared the horse, coming to a stop just in front of us. In one swift motion, a man dismounted and bounced to his feet, reaching a hand out to take Alysand’s.
“Ah, if it isn’t my good friend Liam,” the gunsinger said as he shook the man’s hand. “How does the road treat you, my friend? Well, I hope.”
Liam replied, “Well indeed. I have no time to lose, and I am grateful to have met you here. A convocation is being held, and you all are invited.” He was as tall and powerful as Corell, the hunter from Taelman’s Pond, but his face was far more handsome. Dark hair and eyes shone in the fading light, and his smile was bright.
“This is Liam of the Sirrushi Doondane, a close friend,” Alysand said and Madi and I took turns shaking his hand as well. “We were about to part, and I am afraid we haven’t much time to treat with you properly. I am very sorry.”
“No worries,” Liam said. “I cannot stay myself. I have a few more places to visit this night before I can rest.”
“Where is the convocation being held?” Alysand asked, his face solemn.
“Carnen’s Rock.” He leapt on his steed again. “I’ll see you two nights from now. It is urgent. Until then, my friend.”
“Alright. And perhaps we shall have the time to renew our acquaintance then. Godspeed, Liam.” Even before Alysand’s words had faded, the ranger was barreling down the road again, intent on some unknown objective.
Madi jabbed me with an elbow. “If I fancied men more, that one wouldn’t be such a bad trophy.”
I blanched and sputtered out a nonverbal response. He had been handsome, but the idea had not crossed my mind. When Alysand turned back to us and asked us if we were ready to depart, I was grateful.
The trail that led up into the hills was wide and hard-packed. It would have been easy enough to follow even without my elven eyes. The light of the moon illuminated the powdered gravel path and gentle slope. After perhaps an hour of travel, though, the trail veered up sharply and began to skirt around the hills we were traveling through. The side of the path fell away steeply. It was soon apparent that if any of us fell, we would not fare well.
I bit my tongue as I heard Madi, just like I had predicted, occasionally catching the toe of her boot on an up-thrust rock or sudden dip. No longer flat and easy to follow, the trail began to disintegrate, barely discernible to my eyes. In many places, I simply walked forward in a straight line, hoping to find some remnants of the trail ahead.
The night ground away at us, slowly digesting our spirits. After some hours, we stopped and ate more of the jerky, grateful for the strength of its buff filling our tired limbs. Still, it was hard to resist exhaustion. Only Alysand looked unchanged.
We grudgingly resumed our hike.
Madi taught me several new cuss words as she stumbled along behind me. Pachi and Tejón ambled easily behind, their animal instincts serving them well.
The warrior is not graceful, Pachi complained in my head. She bumbles about like a boar drunk on acorn mead.
I stifled a laugh and calmed her. You will need to show me both a drunken boar and acorn mead when we have the time. But leave Madi alone. You won’t complain about her size when she is helping us kill enemies.
Pachi seemed to huff in my mind, a strange sensation to experience, but she didn’t raise any other concerns.
When I thought the trail had begun to ease up, we came to a howling cliff face. The path was a foot wide, composed of a sheer wall on one side, a cliff on the other. To make matters worse, the canyon funneled the wind and sent it barreling up the cliff face. Rather than facing the ravine, which howled below like an endless maw, I turned to the wall and sidestepped my way across. It wasn’t hard, though
