Another Difficult Decision

 Bodies laid strewn across the road. A gentle wind caused a mage’s robes and veil to rustle about her. The sound caught a warrior’s attention. She raised her dark gaze toward Lyonesse and Trystan, who had lowered their weapons once they learned that the veteran combatant did well enough to dispose of the bandits without their aid. Still, the platinum blond woman wasn’t aware of that. “I-I didn-” she started, only to silence herself when the wayfarer raised his hand in peace. “We know. We saw,” he stated with a solemn nod. “We shouldn’t leave these bodies to fester,” he then suggested. “Of course not,” the warrior agreed.

While they looted and buried the bodies, they learned each other’s names and talked about their travels. Gyneth explained that she was traveling to Golnir to figure out a way of earning a knighthood from one of the baronies. Admittedly, she had been driven by the tales of valor and honor that felt absent from the armies and militia of Sokara. Trystan explained that Lyonesse wanted to experience the world, and in turn they were escorting each other to the Isle of Druids so he could complete a task that had been asked of him. “Afterward, we’ll be heading back to Marlock City to pick up a couple of other companions who stayed behind for training in the priesthood,” Lyonesse said as they finished packing down the dirt over the bandits’ bodies.

“You travel with priests?” Gyneth asked, finding the notion a little confusing. “Just one,” Trystan interjected before Lyonesse could fully explain the situation. “She’s been by my side ever since I first arrived in Marlock City. We completed a job that no other traveling priests had been able to accomplish, so the high priests offered to expand on her training. Before we met Lyonesse here, we rescued a fellow from slavery. He’s been rather helpful.” The ranger wouldn’t say how just yet. The mage next to him pressed her lips together but didn’t elaborate further either. The talk of valor and honor gave them both the impression that the warrior woman before them would likely not take too kindly to rogues. Not yet, at least.

“I overheard a bit of the conversation you had with Yanryt,” Lyonesse said once they started down the road again, away from the buried bodies. By then, the sun was setting, and they would not be making it to Yellowport before the gates closed for the evening. Still, they didn’t want to set up camp too close to the graves, either. “About the Black Dragon Knight?” Gyneth asked to confirm, which the mage did with a slow nod. “Who’s the Black Dragon Knight?” Trystan asked, as his companion’s hearing was far keener than his. He hadn’t heard nearly as much. “Yanryt described him as being a greatly evil man,” their new traveling companion began to explain.

“I need to defeat him, and bring Yanryt his shield as proof of his demise,” she said with a sigh. “He just didn’t tell me where to find him,” Gyneth then pouted and huffed, her expression turning a bit dour. Lyonesse giggled some at the sound, even though she couldn’t see the other woman’s face. “He gave you a quest, like any deity and demigod would rightly expect of us mortals,” the mage expressed in a kind, uplifting tone. “If you like, we can help you find him,” she offered, giving Trystan a reason to object. “Surely Gyneth here wouldn’t want to waste her time traveling with us," his tone didn’t betray any kind of negative feeling toward the other woman, but she still took offense to the statement.

“What are you saying?” Gyneth asked with a furrow of her brow and a distinctive frown of her lips. Her tone sent a chill down Lyonesse’s spine, which was enough to clue her in that the trained sword-wielder was upset with the ranger. Trystan grunted to clear his voice, allowing him a moment to best consider how to clarify what he meant. “I explored the Isle of Druids after I washed ashore. There are only two settlements there. The druids deep in the forest, and a newly established trading post on the bay. I doubt you’ll find a knight of any kind on the island.” He glanced over at Gyneth, whose glare had not lightened in the least bit. “All I’m saying is that you would have a better chance of finding him here on the mainland.” Even Lyonesse couldn’t refute that logic, as seen by a sympathetic smile. “He makes a good point,” she said before suggesting, “Come with us to Yellowport. Maybe someone there will be able to give you an idea as to where to look.”

Gyneth looked ahead of them, further down the road. The city they were walking toward wasn’t anywhere in sight, not yet at least. “You’re probably right,” she said with another sigh, adjusting the straps to her traveling gear so the weight didn’t cause even more discomfort. Yet, she couldn’t openly admit that she hated traveling alone. It made sleeping on the road difficult, as she wasn’t sure if she’d wake quickly enough to defend herself. However, Lyonesse considered some of the stories that Ysolt and Trystan had shared during their stay with her mentor.

“Still, Trystan. You had picked up your original jobs well over a month ago,” the mage said, prompting him to say, “More like two to three months ago.” When one really thought about it. “Ysolt is taking time to train and strengthen her bond with the goddess Maka, which was her reward for saving Elnir’s son,” Lyonesse then continued, only to be interrupted by the shocked Gyneth, “You’ve met and rescued a son of another god?” The thought of which astonished her, considering who gave her the quest to slay the evil Black Dragon Knight. Trystan’s ruddy skin grew dark as he side-glanced toward the mage. “Ysolt specifically. Hector and I were witnesses to the event,” he clarified.

“That has to mean something!” Gyneth wouldn’t let up; her deep voice sounded both excited and hopeful. “The Three Fortunes surely must have ordained us to meet, as kindred spirits blessed to meet the gods and their kin!” Trystan refrained from groaning upon hearing such rubbish. Lyonesse simply grinned, finding such notions amusing and sensing how the wayfarer must be admonishing such thoughts in his head. “The sun is getting low, and the smell of death does not follow us,” the mage declared. “Now would be a good time to start looking for a place to set up camp,” she said with a clap of her hands.

They reached Yellowport the afternoon of the next day, though the acutely sensed mage could smell the noxious aroma of sulfur long before her companions could. “Was it this bad at the fishing town of Cadmium at the Lake of the Sea Dragon?” Lyonesse asked as they passed through the yellow-stained gates into the major port. “Yes. Possibly worse,” Trystan responded. “Though Hector might disagree, considering how he was in the actual lair of the dragon.”

“Incredible,” Gyneth coughed, partially choking from the smell while being completely astonished at the adventures and people Trystan made mention of. “It’s like you’re living out the tales the bards sing about,” she couldn’t help but mention wistfully. “Those stories don’t entirely detail the long nights spent outdoors and the extent of the terrible weather,” he pointed out as they made their way to the harbor master. After stopping for directions on more than one occasion, the telltale signs of seagulls and waves confirmed they were near the docks. Just as Lyonesse made mention of these sounds, the wayfarer stopped both women before venturing further.

“Are you sure you both wish to continue forward with me?” Trystan asked, his expression stern with concern. “The druids of the City of Trees are private people. They have very limited interactions with the trading port on the island. Mostly to keep them from expanding too deeply into the forest. If they reward me with more training to hone my skills, you both may not have much to do in the meantime,” he explained, hoping they would realize that the trip might not be to their benefit. Especially to Gyneth, who had her own quest to pursue.

“You can’t expect us to wait here,” the female warrior countered bitterly, as she was having a difficult time getting used to the aroma of the port. Even the open areas away from the condensed buildings didn’t alleviate the smell by much. The mage listened and slowly nodded, her head shifting to the left and right as each of her companions made their case. She reached out and tenderly gripped Trystan's arm. “You’re worried about imposing too much on the druids’ hospitality. You had done so unintentionally when the Willow Druid invited you to stay in her home,” she said, remembering a few of the details when they shared the story with Lyonesse and Oliphard. She then turned her head and reached out to grip Gyneth’s arm, as the pauldrons of her armor made it difficult to give a firm yet poignant squeeze. “You’re worried that parting ways with another who received a mission from a deity will force you to lose a significant key in your quest,” Lyonesse then said, shocking the militarily trained fighter. The blind mage was far more insightful than the taller woman would have ever expected. “But what you must remember is this: it was Ysolt who initially received and completed the rescue mission. Trystan was simply there to witness the event. You and I could head to Marlock City, if you wished to discuss the matter with the priestess of Maka.”

It was only a suggestion, one that caused the dark hues of the young warrior to dart back and forth between the mage and the wayfarer. Would traveling with those who interacted with the gods improve her chances of finding the Black Dragon Knight?

Before she could respond, Trystan unbuckled the scroll case of the map the druids gave him. “Here,” he said as he handed it over to Gyneth. “Take this map with you. I can find my way without it. You’ll have a better use of it as you ask for rumors and advice from the citizens who know the region better,” he said, as if already making the decision for both her and Lyonesse. He looked to the mage who sensed his gaze and raised her face to meet it. “Protect each other, and return to Marlock City before the end of the season. I swore to Ysolt we would continue traveling together again.” His head then shifted to meet Gyneth’s gaze. “If you haven’t found your knight by the appointed time, we’ll do what we can to find him. Together,” he promised. Both women nodded in agreement, but only the mage had an encouraging smile. Gyneth continued to be apprehensive about the decision, but didn’t see a point in arguing over it anymore.