Yspaddaden - Chapter 23

 Ynwfn, Unad.

Nia walked through the streets of Unad, smirking at all around him. He would never classify himself as a vain person, but one of the things he loved most about himself was the fact that no one around him could ever tell what he was. His rounded ears threw everyone off, as they looked at him and merely thought him to be a tallish human. It was such a simple trick, and yet it worked well. It wasn't an original idea, most of his kind tended to do so to avoid scrutiny, but he prided himself on the surgery he had done on his ears. Most looked at him and saw normal, black hair, and dismissed him instantly, glancing over him with no more then a curious thought as to why he was so tall. He grinned. It was exactly what he wanted.

The giant and his whore companion were at least a months travel ahead of him, but he did not worry. It was necessary he stop off in this town, to gather information and supplies. And perhaps transportation that would give him the geographical advantage he needed. When the scout from Marus's troop had returned and reported as to the whereabouts of Yspaddaden, Nia had known he could take the time he needed to prepare for the journey to the country of Finngal. As soon as the giant exited the Dinas Preservation he would enter the wild lands, a stretch of desert south of the Preservation that the locals called the Stone Tent. The desert went for miles, at least a seven day journey across, seemingly an endless stretch of rock and stoney ground, with nary a plant or patch of water. One must plan a journey across the Tent very carefully, for if you were to run out of supplies too early you could starve. If you traveled too slowly, you could become stuck in the middle. There were patches of rock that were not rock, appearing as such but when traveled across could crackle and decay quickly, revealing large caverns underneath that people fell into which appeared bottomless. There were also rumours of large poisonous birds that roamed the land, and many other terrible creatures that haunted the stories of old men and the dreams of little children. It was a very dangerous journey, and the army that Dastra would lead to Finngal would circumvent the Tent, traveling even more southward to the city of Vong and onward. It would take them close to a year. But if you were in a hurry, as Nia would be, and did not listen to the caution of others, as Nia tended not to, you would be one who took up with a troop of nomads that regularly traversed the Stone Tent, heading straight across in a more direct route toward Finngal. It was one such troop that he searched for now.

He entered a farriers shop and inquired of the owner as to where he might find such people that made the journey. The people living in this city were a hardy folk, living farther away from civilization than most. Nia enjoyed the upright citizenry of the capitol better, but he had to admit to feeling quite comfortable among people who did not harbor as much fear as those. These people lived on the outskirts of the most wild land the East Quadrant had, save the tidal pools of Connal Bay. They saw danger every day and made the treacherous journey across the Tent on a regular basis. These were the people he would travel with to Finngal.

The shop owner pointed him in the right direction and Nia gave him thanks. It pained him to be so polite to regular people. He longed for the underbelly of the capitol that he was so comfortable with. But this journey was worth the pain. When Dastra had left him those few days ago, tempting him with the tale she had woven about the Aszkastone, he had researched the stone himself, trying to learn more about it. What intrigued him so much about it was that he could not find out anything about it. There was one reference, in a children's book written by a man named Drem, speaking of a stone called the Star of Aszka. He became curious and when he could find no other reference whatsoever of the stone, he finally decided to embark on the journey he now traveled on. But two things must happen first. He needed transportation.

Nia kept walking, searching for the place the farrier had spoken of. He passed all types of places, blacksmiths, coopers, bakeries, whorehouses, post offices, theaters and finally the place he looked for. The stables. He heard the shouting before he ever entered the doorway.

"I don't give a good sar'ram how long it will take, I'm not traversing the bloody Tent without good solid wheels on my wagons! Now ya roll these things over to the wheelwright and get them repaired ya child of a vuzhong!"

Nia stepped aside as a large wooden wheel came barreling out from the door of the large building, followed closely by a small, smiling girl, pushing the wheel as fast as it could go. She winked at Nia as she sped past, laughing as she did so. The owner inside must have heard the laugh, for he followed her out, but at a much slower pace.

"Snap that trap! Yore lucky I even put food in that rutting mouth of yor'n, all the good it does me smiling and laughing all the day!"

The man stopped and sputtered a few more vile words her way, before finally noticing Nia standing by the side, staring at him. The stableman grunted and spat, blowing a chunk of whatever it was he had been chewing to the ground. The lump splat solidly, mixing with the mud in the street. He glanced up at Nia and pointed at him.

"Ya gonna stand there all day gawking at me boy or ya got some kind of business ya needs done with me? I see how ya stare at my leg, no need for that. Ya got something to say ya say it, or git before I blow ya another one. And I wont miss this time."

Nia smiled on the inside, but was careful not to show it. He liked this man. He had noticed the leg, or lack thereof, but had made a point not to stare overmuch. This man did not hold back his words and that was something Nia enjoyed in a person. He stepped forward and stuck out his hand, proffering it in the traditional human manner.

"You stick me with one of those missiles and I may just have to take the other leg in payment. I don't take kindly to people ruining my clothes and these are pure fresh, just washed this morning. I got business, but only if you're willing to hear it."

The stableman seemed about to explode, his face turned very red with anger. But he seemed to decide against it and blew his breath out, void of any spit filled air, and took Nia's hand. He gave one hearty pump and dropped it abruptly, spinning on his one good leg and stomping back into the stable.

"Come on. Name's Gunter. Tell me yor'n if ya wish, I don't care. I gots work to do so ya can either talk fast or join me, either way. What's yore business with me mate? I only got one trade. If yore interested in anything else, best git on yore way. Don't waste my time."

Nia followed him into the stable and struggled not to clamp his nose shut from the smell. The stench seemed to be contained inside the building, which stretched far enough to house at least fifty horses on either side, not to mention the loft that held feed enough for all. He glanced downward and watched his step as he spoke.

"My name is Nia. I wish to barter for transport to Vong."

Gunter planted his peg and spun around to face Nia. He squinted his eyes and spat again to the side. He studied Nia's face, taking in all the details. The elf suddenly felt very self conscious and involuntarily scratched at one of his ears. After a second Gunter spoke.

"Curious. Human with a elf name? Ya don't get too many of that around here. From what I hear, ya don't get much of that anywhere. Care to 'splain?"

Nia was impressed.

"I didn't take you to be very educated. You know the origins of my name?"

The man grimaced and spat again, closer this time to Nia's boot. He stepped forward, looking up into Nia's face.

"I ain't schooled, but I ain't dumb. Ya got a problem with that I can't help ya on yore trip none. Yeah, I know a little elf talk. I can't go into all the whyfores and meanings those folk give every letter of the alphabet, but I can pick it out when I hear it. It's just curious yore mammy and pappy named ya like that. They didn't hold to no good, strong human name?"

Nia smiled at the man.

"I guess not. Who can guess as to the whims of the old ones? My name means Fate in Salayka. Your's means Strong One in old Shepho. Do you consider yourself strong Gunter?"

The man looked at Nia for a second, mouth open a tad. He finally grunted and spun again, heading deep into the darker interior of the stable. His voice echoed back to Nia.

"Now ya just be showing off."

Nia smiled. He had gotten to the man, at least on some level. That was good enough for now. He followed the man into the dimness.

"I need to reach Finngal by the end of the year. Rumour has it that you're one of the best guides across the Tent. Any chance that you will be heading in that direction soon?"

Gunter grabbed a large saddle and entered a stall that housed a huge gelding. He slung the saddle up on the beast and began strapping it down as he answered the question.

"Mayhaps. It's not an easy road, the journey that way. Terrible dangers. Ya remember all those horror stories yore older brother told ya when ya were young, things like flying snakes that could bite yore head off and dogs the size of bears? Not saying every rumour be true, but ya know the key to every good story don't ya?" Nia shook his head. "There be a bit o' truth to it. Just trying to give ya proper knowledge of of what ya be facing in that thar place. The going aint easy, and it aint cheap. Ya got gold to pay?"

Nia reached into his pocket and produced a single gold vat, tossing it up in the air toward Gunter. The stableman caught it greedily and brought it up to his mouth, biting down hard to test the validity of the gold. He nodded and grunted in satisfaction.

"That's only taste. There's plenty more where it came from. Now, do we have a deal?"

"Not so fast Mr. Nia! I didn't say gold was the only currency I took. As I said, the way be rough. Ya expect me to mind ya the whole way, coddling ya all the way across, cooking and cleaning up after ya? I don't think so. Anything else ya bring to the table? Ya got gold, what else? Can ya hunt? Cook? At the very least ya can clean. Can ya saddle a horse? Don't ya be looking to me to git yore ride all nice and prettified for ya each morning. As ya already pointed out, I only got but the one leg. I can lead a caravan across the Tent no problem, but I aint yore mammy. Now tell me. What else ya willing to contribute?"

Nia could tell the man was shrewd. He knew what he needed and he seemed to be one who most times got it. When a cast of people set out on a journey like this one, it was imperative that they all get along, and work together. Otherwise, the entire venture could fail. Nia thought about it for a moment, then leaned in close to Gunter. The old man eyed him curiously.

"Gunter, back in Anaij, I worked as an assassin. When people needed someone particularly unsavory out of the way, it was I they came to. Do you know what the other races in other parts of the world say when they talk of our country? They call it the land of opportunity. A place where anyone can come and live and be safe. I'm one of those that make that dream possible. Without people like me, you could never rest easy, always looking over your shoulder for an unwelcome knife. I do not claim to be a good man, though I wish people like me were not needed. You ask me what sort of skill I bring to the table? I bring peace. You may not need anyone, 'put out', on this trip, but I can assure you, if you ever have need of a well placed warning, I'll be there. I can bring gold, that's for sure. But I bring so much more. You won't be able to keep your eyes trained on all on this trip. I can help you with that. I can help you keep them, honest. And trustworthy. Understood?"

Gunter's eyes had widened quite a bit throughout the speech, and as Nia wrapped up and leaned back to see what sort of response Gunter would give, he let out a puff of air. Gunter stared at Nia, in shock, and maybe a little awe. After a few beats, the old stablemaster grunted and laid a hand on the horse. The horse snickered a bit as Gunter talked.

"I pegged ya for quite an interesting man when I saws ya walking toward me Mr. Nia. I shore didn't know just how interesting. Ya got spunk, that be good. Ya got balls, that be good too. Maybe ya didn't make the best decisions in life, but think ya be honest at least. And no matter how good or bad a man get, it's always the honest ones ya can trust the most." He stuck out his hand. "Mr. Nia, I be proud to have ya join us on our next journey across the Tent. Cost be ten jul. We leave in a month."

With that the man spun on his peg leg and stomped out of the stall, disappearing into the darkness of the building. Nia grinned and reached out to the horse, scratching him underneath the chin. Good. That was good. It was time to go to Finngal.

And bring back the Aszkastone.