The Tempering Chapter 1: The Road Goes Ever On

Chapter 1

The Road goes ever on….

Laith had awoken that morning Lady Killer was forged and saw Feryl sleeping and as he watched her he thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. That night, he knew she would overcome the darkness in her, but it was his own cowardice that made him leave. When she laid there, she seemed so delicate and fragile, he closed his eyes and saw her laying there in death, and he nearly stopped breathing. His heart would not be able to stand that loss, so he gently rose from the bed, packed his things, and left.

Laith wandered in the woods for some time, not really having a sense of where he wanted to go. The dryads searched him out and approached him several times, but while he enjoyed their time together, his mind was too full to succumb to their charms. He thought about going back to Taylia’s but the memory of her fading life caused him too much pain as well. He knew where he needed to go, but like many important things in his life, Laith could not find the courage to do so.

Laith thought often of his sister, and his baby niece whom he had kissed before leaving his home forever. He thought of his Father’s disappointed gaze, and his Mother’s care worn smile. He missed the sympathetic way that an elf could attune themselves to the emotions of their fellows. In the woods, Laith felt alone as he never had before, and not a day passed when he didn’t think of Feryl.

Feryl, while happy with her news friends and family, knew that she was just not made for a comfortable life. Her spirit longed to be free, and to roam the worlds in search of adventure. She enjoyed too much the feeling of danger, of living on the edge, and to ask her to be other than what she was, would be the same as caging a eagle. Plus there was the matter of putting her new sword to the test.

It had been nearly a year since the incident at Lithear. Grenwyn had enjoyed his time back in Devil’s Deep, but his heart longed for the outside world that he was so accustomed to now. Grenwyn headed back to his little shop with Ambre, Morwyth, and Morwyth’s wife Sterling in tow. Morwyth’s son Drogul stayed behind to run that ed of the family business. They were going to set up a trade route between Devil’s Deep and the surrounding towns. Mynix came along too, and she brought Rockhead with her. Grenwyn was going to help them set up a market for their potions, but though they did not tell him, their hearts were set on adventure.

Feryl had followed Grenwyn and company as far as the ruins of Sparrows Haven, but there, she parted ways, promising to return to visit soon. Feryl had a new enemy now, and this time she set her sights much higher than a pathetic pig such as Dastrius. Her new enemy was the Dark Lady herself, and armed with Lady Killer, her boneblade, she was specially suited to fight the undead and other enemies of darkness.

Feryl camped in the last standing corner of what was once Sparrow’s Haven, her home. As she sat staring into the fire, she remembered her life there, how comfortable it seemed, and how very long ago as well. Though only about 2 years, it seemed a lifetime away. She started to fall asleep and as she stared into the fire, a black mist began to coalesce into vaguely human forms. She could count three of them that she could see. They seemed to fear the fire, but they leered at her and hissed words in a sibilant tongue. They moved closer, and Feryl unsheathed Lady Killer. The spirits hissed and whined. An unnatural breeze sprang up and put out her fire. The spirits moved on her at once. There were the 3 she had seen and 2 more had moved up on her from behind.

Since she was encircled, her first priority was to change her position. As two of the creatures soared towards her, she dove into a roll beneath them and placed them behind her, along with the other three haunts. The first one made its move and Feryl arched her sword in a diagonal swipe from over her left shoulder down towards her right knee, when Lady Killer hit the spirit, it flashed a bright light, and the spirit was gone. Feryl grinned and moved towards the other four spirits menacingly. They all rushed her at once. Anyone observing from a distance would have seen 4 bright flashes of light in under a minute, and may have heard a satisfied snoring for the rest of the night.

Back in Harpsail, business was booming for Grenwyn and company. After Feryl had fled the city, the notorious Black Cloaks had left as well and the city felt itself again, only harder and stronger for the lesson. Everyone now kept ready blades and it was all he and Morwyth could do to keep up with demand. Not only were the high quality items from Devil’s Deep in hot demand, but Rockhead and Mynix’s potions were selling like hotcakes. Grenwyn was glad for the addition of Sterling as she was a good cook and a clean house keeper, and an even better book keeper. She delivered a lot of scoldings, but to be fair, they were all well deserved.

Ambre on the other hand felt very out of place. She didn’t enjoy doing the housework or cooking, and she didn’t like the hot sweaty work of the forge. She had settled for acting as a scout for the troops of dwarves that brought goods to and from the city. Ambre knew she wanted more, but she had no idea what that was, so she continued doing what she was doing. Aside from that, she felt like she couldn’t leave her Father after being so recently reunited with him. Like her Father, Ambre was restless.