A Drow's Dilemma Ep. 30: Unwinding

She was exhausted, but Selene still couldn't manage to fall asleep as fast as the others. Her mind was too full of the people in her life, new and old. Eventually, though, she shut her eyes. When she next opened them, it was considerably lighter in the room. She immediately closed her eyes again. The world was too bright. Always too bright.

Caleldir awoke soon after Selene did, although he reacted far better to the light. Gently he pried himself away from the two women and lightly left the bed. He conjured a robe around himself before going to the window to look out over the awakening city. "When you two are awake," He said in a low tone. "Shall we head for breakfast? We have another long journey ahead of us today."

Ashyr flopped over with a yawn. She had been awake, but, like her cousin, she didn't much like the idea of facing that blasted sunlight just yet. It was almost enough to make her wish that it was winter or the weather was bad. At least then the sun would be covered by the clouds. But then rain would hamper their journey...

Selene curled up against Ashyr in the absence of Caleldir. They only stayed that way for a couple moments. Caleldir was right. They needed to get moving. Staying in bed all day was not an option. Both drow wished they could. The flip-flop of sleeping schedules was difficult to get used to. Not that either of them were going to complain. Traveling during the night was vastly superior to day travel, even if it meant the necessity of changing back and forth when in the more heavily populated lands.

They dressed in what passed as every-day attire and followed Caleldir downstairs to break their fast. Selene was a bit more fancy than necessary, and Ashyr a bit less. Bard, who had been sleeping quietly in the corner ever since the night before before the party went to the baths, leapt up and also followed them down. He stayed close to Ashyr, and as quiet as possible as he was directed by his mistress.

Downstairs, the innkeeper was already awake, and looked exactly the same as last night. He greeted the travelers with a smile. "Good morning, heroes! I suppose that you will want breakfast? We serve coffee here and, if you have the money, a rare delicacy from tropical lands! Shipped at great expense halfway around the world! Of course, we also serve all your breakfast essentials: bread, eggs, bacon, mushrooms, cinnamon rolls, and haggis."

Ashyr didn't forget about the copper-haired man from the night before. Even though she hadn't seen him the second time they passed through the common room, she still kept an eye out for him that morning. But, If the copper haired man was still at the inn, he either had not risen yet, or was hiding. Either way, he was not visible.

"I will have... all of those, I suppose." Caleldir replied. He turned to the drow. "As long as we are in Clachleom, we do not need to worry about supplies for the road, so we can leave immediately following breakfast. Once we get to Coillgaeta, that is when we need to really stock up."

The innkeeper's ears perked up when Caleldir mentioned that the group was going to Coillgaeta. "All the way across, eh? Well, would you want to rent a carriage then? Fastest way to travel in comfort. I know a man who can get you a superb deal on cross-country travel. Here to Coillgaeta: very cheap!"

"If it is fast enough, I think our drow friends would appreciate not having to ride." Althaia said, emerging from another room. Dressed in a simple white shift that could have been either a ballgown or a nightgown, she looked as radiant as ever. The same could not be said for Cieraela, who followed the nymph in looking rather disheveled and sheepish. Althaia seemed rather satisfied with herself. "I suppose that we can sell the horses," she looked at the innkeeper, "for a really low price!" she turned back to Caleldir and the drow. "I am still holding out on a learning how to summon a celestial paladin horse, maybe a pegasus. I tried to lure a unicorn to be my mount, but apparently I did not meet the qualifications." Caleldir snorted with laughter at that. Althaia feigned looking hurt.

"So... can I come along?" Cieraela asked eagerly.

The innkeeper frowned. He looked over the adventurers. "Cieraela, I would rather you not run off adventuring. It is dangerous."

"And profitable." Cieraela quickly added. "Why, look at what these four earned from just one day of fighting! With companions like these-"

"Not possible." Caleldir cut her off. "I would take you along were we going anywhere else, but our journey is quite possibly suicidally dangerous. An untrained human - no matter how dexterous - will not be able to make it. Perhaps once you have learned some actual combat ability, you can seek us out again."

The girl looked pleadingly towards the nymph, as the drow seemed to not care in the slightest. Althaia just shrugged and looked apologetic. Cieraela looked incredibly chastened, and slunk off.

Caleldir looked rather guilty at this, but the food had arrived in the interim, so he just sighed and set to eating. "So... are we getting a carriage, then?"

"Yes." Selene said almost too quickly and emphatically; it sounded like an amazing idea to her. Finally, at least a small amount of time where she got to feel like a proper noble again!

Ashyr smirked at her cousin. "I suppose we can afford the luxury. It'll make Selene happy." She reached over to pat the other drow on the leg.

The innkeeper rubbed his hands together. "Then I will make arrangements for you to get a carriage. Cieraela!" he called. His daughter, eyes not quite red, appeared. "Go over to Olavzin's and tell him to arrange for his fastest carriage to Coillgaeta. Four passengers." Cieraela nodded once, and scurried off. The innkeeper turned back towards the group, looking expectant.

Caleldir sighed. He gave the innkeeper another gold piece in addition to everything else they owed. "Thank you for your invaluable assistance." He said.

The innkeeper rubbed the coin, then put it in his till along with the rest. He smiled broadly. "Anything for wealthy heroes such as yourselves. Why, I was half inclined to sell you my daughter. She will be useless around the inn now that she has got this new 'adventurer' nonsense in her head. But if you do not want her, well, I suppose I will just keep training her to inherit the Golden Loch." It was hard to tell if he was joking. Probably not.

Selene scoffed. Like she would actually purchase the innkeeper's daughter. Judging by the look on her face when she was turned down, the drow half expected her to hide away in their luggage. Even if they had a fair amount of coin now, there was no way that the younger drow was going to use it on something she could get for free. Couldn't blame a guy for thinking about it, she supposed.

Ashyr just rolled her eyes at the man. "If you had let your daughter train a little in combat, we might have taken you up on your offer. Could be charged quite a bit of gold to have someone as pretty as her be able to accompany us, guide us through your homeland, and not get captured by the first kobold who takes a fancy to her. Oh well." Crimson eyes sparkled in amusement at this. He was lucky to get away with light teasing. The last businessman who annoyed her was now no longer in possession of his livelihood. He seemed to have lost his life in the process as well. Clumsy shopkeepers.

The younger drow snickered at the older.

The innkeeper shrugged. "I let her train with a knife, and we all train with spears and bows, but until recently she was not interested in fighting. Not until now. I have not really seen her this obsessed with anything before. But eh, I would assume that any pay would mostly go to her anyway."

--

Cieraela hurried towards the carriage house, determined to show that she could be useful, when she rounded a corner and nearly ran into a man with copper-colored hair. "Good day, Ssiaraela." He said to her in a pleasant tone. "Sso, you wissh to be an adventurer, but they will not have you becausse of inexperiensse? They have ssome thingss that I want ass well. Let uss talk."

--

"Guess we'd better go outside and wait for our carriage." Ashyr announced.

"I will wait outside for the carriage as well." He had not gotten a 'sexist' vibe from the innkeeper as much as just a money-grubbing one. But that was pretty standard for his culture, so Caleldir could not really hold it against him. He followed Ashyr and Selene outside, as did Althaia.

About fifteen minutes later, a large, understated but undoubtedly luxurious carriage made of thick Darkwood and edged with artfully dulled mithral pulled up. The thing was clearly at once very light and nearly unbreakable. Like most everything else around here, it appeared to be centuries old, but subtly enchanted to grow stronger with age, and therefore even better than new. Clachleom seemed to have a general tendency to never get new anything if the old ones would still do.

The coach was driven by two individuals, one a tall, slender man with auburn hair, small spectacles, and a trimmed mustache. He looked thoroughly unintimidating and forgettable. The other figure sitting up next to the driver's seat was a beaming Cieraela. "Father!" She called excitedly to the innkeeper, who had just stepped outside. "Olavzin agreed to hire me on as a driver!"

The innkeeper narrowed his eyes. "How much did he offer to pay?"

"Twenty-five Wolves daily, plus expenses." the girl replied.

The innkeeper smiled. "Ooh! That is quite reasonable. Enjoy your new job!"

Selene gave their new mode of travel a very satisfied smirk. Yes. This would do quite nicely. The carriage looked at least as good as some of the Duskhaven vehicles. For the first time in a long time, the younger drow looked forward to traveling in this sort of style. She already looked forward to leaning back, closing her eyes, and imagining the far away place and time that she missed so dearly. She twitched slightly when she felt Ashyr's arm reach around her and pull her in close. The older drow looked at her with eyes of understanding. Selene relaxed into her grip after only a moment of rigidness.

As she stood hugging Selene, Ashyr grinned at Althaia and Caleldir. "I guess she's coming with us after all." She told them with an amused tone. "Don't get too attached with staying with us forever, girl." Ashyr continued, looking up at the human seriously. "We ditch you and the cart as soon as we get out of these lands. I'll image you will have had quite enough adventuring by then."

Then the older drow guided the younger onto the carriage and helped her on with a chivalrously offered hand of support and a playful smile. It looked very much like something Caleldir would do, save for the almost ever-present sexual undertones of her expression. Selene looked back at her with a dramatic haughty smile before she settled down onto the seat. Ashyr slid in immediately after and sat next to her cousin.

"Oh, I understand." Cieraela said promptly. "I think that the life of a caravaner is enough adventure for me for now. Do not worry about me trying to follow you."

Caleldir frowned, giving the girl an intense look. She smiled innocently. Caleldir decided to let it go for the moment. "Well then, we will be with you until Coillgaeta." He looked towards the mustachioed driver. "So... what do we owe your boss?"

The man named the price, half upon starting, the other half upon arrival. It was expensive, but reasonable. After paying, Caleldir entered the carriage, mimicking Ashyr in a chivalric gesture of assisting Althaia to enter. The nymph smiled broadly, winking at Cieraela before entering the vehicle.

Now, all four of the party where inside the comfortable carriage. One of the enchantments on it apparently regulated the temperature, so it was quite cool, and the shades kept the sun from blaring on the inhabitants. Caleldir settled down into the plush cushions. "Ah! This is a great way to travel." He looked around at the four. "So... anyone have any good stories?"

Ashyr did know a good story. One about herself, in fact. There was love, fire, blood, danger, humor, heartbreak, adventure: all the things that came in a good story. It was the tale of the near-taking of the city of Port Afon by a hoard of horrible orcs and mercenaries, and the rescue (led by the two most beautiful ladies in the land) of a handsome fool who'd got himself caught in the aftermath. Caleldir had heard and (sort of) lived most of it, of course. Selene and Althaia, however, had not heard it. There was also quite a bit from her perspective that Caleldir had likely never heard. When she spoke of Celeste there was a certain sadness in her voice, especially at the end. There was anger, too, when she mentioned Lord Faust. She ended the story by promising one day to go back, to finish what the orcs started - at least when it came to the overthrow of an overzealous lord of the land.

The rest of the day - including a brief stop at a small inn around midday for luncheon - passed largely without incident. The two drivers kept to themselves, although Cieraela cast blushing looks at the two nymph-kin, and the laconic man could sometimes be spotted analyzing the three women. Ashyr noticed that he seemed particularly interested in their hands. But Cieraela said little, and her friend nothing at all, only giving his name as 'Hugh', and leaving things at that. He seemed mostly interested in doing his job.

Nightfall saw the group, having traveled nearly fifty miles, entering another walled city by the name of Tseanbhean, and staying at an inn similar to the first one, this one called The Ancient Maiden. The city and inn were slightly smaller, but no less comfortable. Althaia, after having chatted amiably with the group all day, disappeared once they stopped.

"You think you're going to give the girl what she wants eventually?" Ashyr asked Caleldir quietly as they exited their vehicle for the night and walked into the inn. She made sure to speak low enough to stay out of the girl's hearing range. "Probably won't stop giving you those looks. I say you might as well enjoy it. Or just be uncomfortable." She shrugged. "Do what you want, just let me in on the fun as well."

Selene hopped off the carriage after them. "Ugh. Just leave me out of it." She responded, apparently able to hear her cousin's words.

Caleldir looked horrified. "Absolutely not!" He whispered back with almost too much force. He calmed down. "I already told you: once I start screwing every pretty girl that bats her eyes at me, there would be no end to it!" He looked around to make sure that Selene was no longer within hearing distance, then continued. "No, I am going to remain as faithful to you and Selene - and Althaia, I suppose... - as I can." He laughed without humor. "Huh. I suppose that my new rule is, instead of the old one where I was just chaste, apparently is that I only voluntarily sleep with female party members. Not the mark of high morality." He seemed suddenly rather sullen and angry, almost certainly at himself.

"You sure have a good opinion of yourself." Ashyr murmured to him with a soft laugh when he'd said that there would be no end to it if he slept with everyone who batted an eye at him. "Sounds like you expect droves of women in your bed." Which might end up being true in the grand scheme of things if he ended up as ancient as his father. She let it go, however. After all, she didn't particularly want to sleep with the girl either, as attractive as she was. Perhaps she would press the issue if that wasn't the case.

"I have obtained a room and food for you four... err, three." The mustachioed man emerged from the inn. He corrected himself after noticing that Althaia was not present. "The package you paid for included lodging for the duration of the trip. We contact people who deal with my employer to provide a good bargain." With that he turned to Cieraela, who had been dreamily staring at Caleldir from on top of the carriage. "Girl!" He said shortly. "You know what we need to do."

Cieraela started. "Of course, sir." She drove the carriage in the direction of the stables.

Caleldir turned to Ashyr. "Huh. Our guide seems to be as interested in ogling you three as Cieraela is in ogling me. What a pair they make. Have you noticed that he never uses words that have an 's' in them? Giving how many words have an 's' sound, that is quite an accomplishment." He shook his head. "We still have a lot of time left before we need to go to bed. They have several arms yards here. Shall we resume my weapon training?"

"We're going training, Selene. Would you like to come with or go to the room?" Ashyr asked her cousin.

"I'll just go up to the room. But I'll take your wolf with me just in case. Come on Bard." Selene said before turning and walking into the inn. She looked ready to obliterate anyone who so much as touched her. Ashyr trusted her to be alone for a little bit. Selene wasn't the chaotic, murderous type. If she were in any true distress, Bard would pick up on it and Ashyr would know soon after. The wolf followed after the younger drow obediently. He looked slightly fatigued from the journey, which was understandable considering how he'd refused to stay in the carriage for any extended length of time.

"She seems paranoid." The older drow said with an amused smirk as she turned and walked toward one of the arms yards they'd passed on the way in. "Speaking of paranoid." She said when they were distanced enough from the others. She still spoke softly to prevent any casual listeners. "I also noticed the guy staring at me and the others. Which is not usually a problem - I mean, you've seen us; we're gorgeous. But... I think he was staring at our hands harder than more conventional areas. And he's the second guy to do this. Do you think men here have, I don't know, a hand thing? Some like asses, others like breasts, but hands?"

Caleldir furrowed his brow. "Er... Hands?" He thought for a moment. "Not that I am aware of. That seems like an awfully specific kink. Are you sure it is not the same guy?" He grinned, before looking thoughtful. "Or maybe it is a common thing around here: looking at hands to search for rings or something. That would be a good way of gauging wealth. Perhaps he is wondering if we have anything to steal. I would worry, but we are just about the least robbable people in the country. Anyone powerful enough to mug the four of us has better things to do with their time."

"Unless you guys have shape changers up here, I'm pretty sure they were different people. You're probably right, though. I'd kind of like to see someone try to rob us, actually. It'd be nice to fight something other than a goblin." A sadistic smile reminiscent of an expression Selene might have spread across Ashyr's face.

There were several different small courtyards which had facilities set up for practicing fighting. The innkeeper directed the two to one of them, and Caleldir pulled out his runic weapons. This time, he had a staff in one hand, and a sword in the other. "I saw an archmage who fought using this style once." He said. "I wanted to give it a try." So the session started. Caleldir was definitely getting better, and something with his very unorthodox sword and staff style had clicked with him, allowing him to use the strange combination of weapons with stunning effectiveness. Of course, he was not anywhere close to Ashyr's equal yet.

During a break, Caleldir was sitting against the wall, breathing rather heavily, when his ears perked up. He looked over to Ashyr to see if she had heard the same thing. Ashyr was leaning against the wall next to Caleldir. Her breath wasn't quite as heavy, but she did have a light sheen of sweat across her body from the effort. She caught his eye and tilted her head slightly to catch the barely heard words in the space next to them.