Post by Akshoon on Apr 19, 2022 7:23:39 GMT
The Tale of Morden was an old song, a story of tragic love between a mortal man and a nymph that ended in the bittersweet reunion when the latter was in his elderly years and came to thank the nymph for his companionship. It was a tale of loss and enduring when one's loved ones pass away leaving those still alive behind. Despite it all, however, it was one of Lillian's favorite songs to sing and tonight she and her companion Akshoon finally had good reason to rest.
Days of travel by themselves had been difficult, but, over the last week, the pair had linked up with a caravan of travelers. Exchanging service for protection, Lillian and Akshoon were allowed to join the caravan on its route to Vynne. Akshoon was a Druid and used his skills of healing and survival in the wilderness to aid the injured and help the caravan forage to supplement their food stocks. Meanwhile, Lillian served as an entertainer and helped with camp chores. Akshoon was also tapped to help on night watch, but, on this final day of the journey, he was granted a reprieve from the duty.
Now at dusk, the camp was set up and the day's chores had ended. Thus, retiring to their site, Akshoon began to make dinner over the fire while Lillian sang her songs. It was a common thing for them now ever since they had joined the caravan and Lillian was thankful for the time to practice, she needed to be at her best when she gave her audition in Elderherst. She had offered her gratitude to the Orc many times, but Akshoon merely nodded, going about his cooking in relative silence as was his habit.
As she sang the final words of the Tale of Morden, Lillian could feel Akshoon standing nearby, waiting for her to be done. Thus, Lillian turned offering the Orc a smile as he held out a bowl filled with a stew.
"Eat," Akshoon said, "Rabbit Stew."
"Meat?" Lillian asked, a bit surprised, "I thought you said the caravan would have spooked the game."
"Some of our traps proved bountiful enough this morning," Akshoon replied, "The trappers felt it would be a nice surprise. One night without porridge. I've heard Hersham is also going to break open some of his stock soon. To celebrate being close to the end of the route, but... dinner first. The day has been long."
Lillian nodded. It wouldn't be smart to go to Hersham's wagon to test his brews on an empty stomach anyway. They hadn't had a proper meal since breakfast.
"How far are we from Vynne?" Lillian asked.
"Less than a day," Akshoon answered, settling down next to her, "Adelbard's hoping we get moving before dawn tomorrow. That'll put us in the city by mid-morning. He thinks we'll be there early enough for you to book passage on a ship leaving that day."
"Think you'll stick with them?" Lillian asked, nodding to the caravan.
Akshoon looked, his eyes resting on the carvan's guards, vendors, and staff, slowly mulling over his thoughts for some moments, but, ultimately, shook his head.
"No, my Walk is not over yet, I feel there is still more to see before I decide on my place," he answered, "If I do decide to do this though, I will look for Adelbard again. His people are good and have a certain love for freedom. I would be at peace with that."
As the sky darkened above, Akshoon and Lillian would join the caravaneers to celebrate the last stretch of the route. The night was long and filled with music, games, and drinking. Lillian even stole a few glances towards the Orc, finding him smiling and laughing with those who had come to see him as a friend.
The following morning, Akshoon nudged Lillian awake and the pair joined the caravan for breakfast, broke down camp, and moved to finish the route to the City of the Sea.
As predicted, they saw the city by mid-morning and, as he helped the caravan set up their camp, Lillian approached Akshoon.
"I'm headed to the docks, if you want to tag along?" she asked, her tone hopeful.
Akshoon looked to Adelbard, who nodded him off, "Just be sure to stop by before you take off yourself, 'shoon," the caravan master offered, "Still gotta settle some accounts between us, given the work you did."
With that Akshoon looked to Lillian and nodded. "I will go."
The Orc followed Lillian as she made her stops, stopping first at a general store for new strings for her lute and then to a silversmith for a gift for the bard that would be overseeing her audition. Finally they arrived at the docks with Lillian getting the ticket she needed and the pair were in front of the vessel that was to bear her to Elderherst.
"Fun couple of weeks, huh?" Lillian asked, "I, uh, I'd like to settle things. I offered to pay you for your help-"
"Keep your coin, Lillie," Akshoon said, "You might need it for lodging."
"I still think I should give you something," Lillian said.
"You already have. I had never heard of the Tale of Morden, the Song of Ilariel, or any of the other stories you offered," Akshoon offered, "For me that is enough."
"Those are just songs, Akshoon," Lillian said.
"And gold is just gold. It measures far less where I am from," Akshoon mused, "Gold can be spent and lost, but memories and experiences cannot. It is not up to you to determine the value of your voice to others. For me, yours measures high."
The compliment took Lillian off guard. Akshoon was neither sentimental nor overly emotional, at least as far as Lillian had observed in the weeks she had known him. He had offered this compliment bluntly. It was honest.
Thus, Lillian granted the Orc a hug and a squeeze, which, to her surprise, the gruff outlander reciprocated, even briefly lifting her off the ground before returning her to the earth.
"Good luck on your Walk, Akshoon," Lillian said, "Maybe one day we'll meet again."
"Maybe we will, Lillian," Akshoon offered, "Until then. May the wind be at your back."
With that Lillian ascended into her ship, which departed some minutes thereafter. Akshoon would remain on the docks, watching as the ship shrunk from view. When he could no longer make it out easily, the Orc finally returned to the caravan.
Adelbard would make use of Akshoon for the next week, offering him some gold for his trouble as his caravan began to plot a new route elsewhere. The Orc, however, was not yet done with Vynne and, with Adelbard's advice of where he could camp outside of the city's borders, Akshoon said his goodbyes and left to pitch camp elsewhere.
Days of travel by themselves had been difficult, but, over the last week, the pair had linked up with a caravan of travelers. Exchanging service for protection, Lillian and Akshoon were allowed to join the caravan on its route to Vynne. Akshoon was a Druid and used his skills of healing and survival in the wilderness to aid the injured and help the caravan forage to supplement their food stocks. Meanwhile, Lillian served as an entertainer and helped with camp chores. Akshoon was also tapped to help on night watch, but, on this final day of the journey, he was granted a reprieve from the duty.
Now at dusk, the camp was set up and the day's chores had ended. Thus, retiring to their site, Akshoon began to make dinner over the fire while Lillian sang her songs. It was a common thing for them now ever since they had joined the caravan and Lillian was thankful for the time to practice, she needed to be at her best when she gave her audition in Elderherst. She had offered her gratitude to the Orc many times, but Akshoon merely nodded, going about his cooking in relative silence as was his habit.
As she sang the final words of the Tale of Morden, Lillian could feel Akshoon standing nearby, waiting for her to be done. Thus, Lillian turned offering the Orc a smile as he held out a bowl filled with a stew.
"Eat," Akshoon said, "Rabbit Stew."
"Meat?" Lillian asked, a bit surprised, "I thought you said the caravan would have spooked the game."
"Some of our traps proved bountiful enough this morning," Akshoon replied, "The trappers felt it would be a nice surprise. One night without porridge. I've heard Hersham is also going to break open some of his stock soon. To celebrate being close to the end of the route, but... dinner first. The day has been long."
Lillian nodded. It wouldn't be smart to go to Hersham's wagon to test his brews on an empty stomach anyway. They hadn't had a proper meal since breakfast.
"How far are we from Vynne?" Lillian asked.
"Less than a day," Akshoon answered, settling down next to her, "Adelbard's hoping we get moving before dawn tomorrow. That'll put us in the city by mid-morning. He thinks we'll be there early enough for you to book passage on a ship leaving that day."
"Think you'll stick with them?" Lillian asked, nodding to the caravan.
Akshoon looked, his eyes resting on the carvan's guards, vendors, and staff, slowly mulling over his thoughts for some moments, but, ultimately, shook his head.
"No, my Walk is not over yet, I feel there is still more to see before I decide on my place," he answered, "If I do decide to do this though, I will look for Adelbard again. His people are good and have a certain love for freedom. I would be at peace with that."
As the sky darkened above, Akshoon and Lillian would join the caravaneers to celebrate the last stretch of the route. The night was long and filled with music, games, and drinking. Lillian even stole a few glances towards the Orc, finding him smiling and laughing with those who had come to see him as a friend.
The following morning, Akshoon nudged Lillian awake and the pair joined the caravan for breakfast, broke down camp, and moved to finish the route to the City of the Sea.
As predicted, they saw the city by mid-morning and, as he helped the caravan set up their camp, Lillian approached Akshoon.
"I'm headed to the docks, if you want to tag along?" she asked, her tone hopeful.
Akshoon looked to Adelbard, who nodded him off, "Just be sure to stop by before you take off yourself, 'shoon," the caravan master offered, "Still gotta settle some accounts between us, given the work you did."
With that Akshoon looked to Lillian and nodded. "I will go."
The Orc followed Lillian as she made her stops, stopping first at a general store for new strings for her lute and then to a silversmith for a gift for the bard that would be overseeing her audition. Finally they arrived at the docks with Lillian getting the ticket she needed and the pair were in front of the vessel that was to bear her to Elderherst.
"Fun couple of weeks, huh?" Lillian asked, "I, uh, I'd like to settle things. I offered to pay you for your help-"
"Keep your coin, Lillie," Akshoon said, "You might need it for lodging."
"I still think I should give you something," Lillian said.
"You already have. I had never heard of the Tale of Morden, the Song of Ilariel, or any of the other stories you offered," Akshoon offered, "For me that is enough."
"Those are just songs, Akshoon," Lillian said.
"And gold is just gold. It measures far less where I am from," Akshoon mused, "Gold can be spent and lost, but memories and experiences cannot. It is not up to you to determine the value of your voice to others. For me, yours measures high."
The compliment took Lillian off guard. Akshoon was neither sentimental nor overly emotional, at least as far as Lillian had observed in the weeks she had known him. He had offered this compliment bluntly. It was honest.
Thus, Lillian granted the Orc a hug and a squeeze, which, to her surprise, the gruff outlander reciprocated, even briefly lifting her off the ground before returning her to the earth.
"Good luck on your Walk, Akshoon," Lillian said, "Maybe one day we'll meet again."
"Maybe we will, Lillian," Akshoon offered, "Until then. May the wind be at your back."
With that Lillian ascended into her ship, which departed some minutes thereafter. Akshoon would remain on the docks, watching as the ship shrunk from view. When he could no longer make it out easily, the Orc finally returned to the caravan.
Adelbard would make use of Akshoon for the next week, offering him some gold for his trouble as his caravan began to plot a new route elsewhere. The Orc, however, was not yet done with Vynne and, with Adelbard's advice of where he could camp outside of the city's borders, Akshoon said his goodbyes and left to pitch camp elsewhere.