Chapter Nine

Off The Beaten Path

When the companions set out from Dyvers on the western road, the city’s elaborate public clocks, crafted by the supremely gifted gnomish engineers of the Lortmil Mountains, showed the time to be an hour before noon. Their first destination was the town of Calatran, west of Dyvers. From Calatran, they would turn south on the High Road into the Gnarley Forest. They would continue along the High Road, passing through the towns of Sobanwych and the infamous Nulb until they reached the village of Hommlet. From Hommlet, they would turn west into the Kron Hills, where they would reach Copper Crossing.

Airk was calm as the companions journeyed, much to his friends’ relief. His expression was determined and grim, but lacking the anger it previously had. He even gave a mocking smile when he saw Amyalla leading the battered and bruised Weimar to join the group before they left Dyvers.

The companions’ journey through Calatran was uneventful, as was the first day of their journey through the Gnarley Forest. The month of Reaping was drawing to a close, and the Gnarley Forest was alive with the sounds and colors of high summer. The companions enjoyed the sounds of birdsong and chattering animals and the sight of the beautiful greenery and rivers as they rode through the woods.

The companions were careful not to let their guard down, though. Relatively civilized areas like the Plains of Greyhawk or the main roads between Keoland and the vassal realms of the Sheldomar Valley were constantly threatened by bandits, orcs and even worse monsters. Wilder areas like the Gnarley Forest were all the more dangerous.

On their second day of traveling through the Gnarley Forest, the companions came upon a lone wagon parked at the side of the road. The companions were surprised and suspicious, sharing knowing glances with one another. Bandits frequently used wagons like this to lure in unwary travelers, attacking from the trees when their targets came up to investigate.

Airk and Weimar advanced on the wagon on foot, their weapons and shields in hand. They were surprised not to see any bandits emerging from the forest around them. Instead, they saw a middle-aged man sitting in the wagon’s front seat, and a woman of similar age sitting in the back, filling a sack with leftover food. The wagon was filled with dismantled furniture, cooking materials and other homesteading supplies, the mark of people who had not only moved but taken their entire lives with them.

“Greetings, fellow travelers!” the man said, smiling a greeting to Airk and Weimar as they came up to the wagon. “A pleasure to find company on the road! What brings you here on this fine afternoon?” he continued, as the woman finished tying the sack and climbed over to join the man at the front of the wagon.

“A journey, and nothing more,” Weimar said, as the rest of the companions came up to join him and Airk. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that his friends were still looking around warily, unsure if these two were what they seemed, or if they were something more sinister. “And now let me ask in turn-what brings you to these lands?”

“Careful about telling us who you are, eh?” the man said with a smile, as the woman sitting next to him chuckled. “Well, caution’s wisdom in this part of the world, so I’ll start. I’m Bretten, and this is my wife Nusanne. We’re off to make a new life in Etterboek, just south of Verbobonc.” 

 “That accent,” Revafour said once Bretten had finished. “You’re not from Urnst, by any chance?”

“The County used to be our home,” Nusanne said with a nod, “but the harvests on our old land were bad. There wasn’t much reason for us to stay, with two of our sons moved on in the world and our dear Willianak dying of the fever this past spring.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Luna said. “And I take it now you’re making a new life in Verbobonc?”

“Not much call for farming,” Bretten said, shaking his head. “Etterboek’s more in need of carpenters. Did some woodworking whenever I could spare the time for my neighbors, so I think I can play my part. And who might you all be? A collection of those freebooting heroes that the bards sing rollicking tales about to taverngoers?” he finished with a smile.

“Indeed we are,” Amyalla said, certain that Bretten and Nusanne were harmless. “Explorers of dungeons, slayers of monsters, protectors of the innocent! All this and more we have done in the short time we have been together, always striving for new horizons, eager to see what is over the next hill!”

“Then perhaps, you could grant a humble request?” Bretten asked. “A request to protect those ill-equipped to defend themselves, particularly when there are many dangers about?”

Airk considered Bretten’s request, frowning. Etterboek was considerably to the north of Hommlet. Bretten and Nusanne were likely planning to take the western branch of the High Road where it forked, and cross the ford over the Imredys Run. From there, they could reach the city of Penwick and continue west to Etterboek. The companions had been planning to continue along the south branch of the High Road. They could travel south from Etterboek to Hommlet once they’d escorted Bretten and Nusanne, but it was a delay.   

Airk didn’t like the idea of being diverted from his path. Worse, he knew that Kalrek might get word that the companions were after him. Kalrek might cover his tracks, or-more likely-strike at Airk and his friends. Luna and Seline might be able to find Kalrek if they had to, and the companions could defend themselves if Kalrek attacked, but Airk preferred not to take the risk. Bretten and Nusanne could be killed in battle if Kalrek attacked while they were still traveling with the companions. 

I don’t see as how we have a choice, though, Airk thought with a sigh. The others will want to see these folks along as far as needed. Bretten and Nusanne might not typically be worth the effort to rob or kill, but if any bandit or monster is desperate enough…