Private Tales En Route to Elbion

[Kaeden Banick]

Open to an Anirian or strangers!

A Banick carriage traveled east from the Elbion Stone. Several Anirian horsemen rode by the wagon. Their duty was straight forward – protect the carriage from any danger.

Kaedan sat in the carriage. His head looked out an open window to the rolling hills of farmland. A tired look sat upon his face. This journey, in his opinion, had taken quite a while despite the use of the Portal Stone to avoid the Amol-Kalit desert.

Calling out to Captain Hambletone, who lead the Banick’s guardsmen, Kaeden asked him, “How much further to the floating city?”

“We’ll need to spend one more night on the road, My Lord,” the captain replied.

A sigh from Kaeden’s lips followed.

Though, few would be guess the turn this journey would soon take...

 

[Amos]

"You ought to have more patience." Amos chastised quietly, his hand coming up in the form of a fist almost a heartbeat later. A small cough half stifled rushing through his chest, as though punishing him for even speaking.

He shook his head, taking in a deep breath as though cleansing whatever had been stuck in his lungs.

"We could have gone by sea." Amos suggested, knowing that he had not paid for a single cent of any of this. "Though I suppose that would have taken longer."

Fascinating magics, really, the Portal Stones. He wished that he'd time to study them. Something like transportation magical, portable? Now that would be a discovery. Though everything he'd read on the subject had said research ultimately lead to...disintegration.

Not something he desired.

"Perhaps best stick to the known." Amos mused, returning his attention to the book that sat in his lap. Glad to have somehow ended up here.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“This journey already feels like forever,” Kaeden replied to Amos, “Going by sea would be literal torture to my sanity.”

Back at Vel Zaphris, Amos would have witnessed Kaeden being extremely fidgety and annoyed when left to waste away without a task. It was not odd for Kaeden to just get up and either begin work on a new task or to just walk off if he was left to idle for long enough.

Hearing Amos’s last words, Kaeden turned to his friend to ask, “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Brown eyes glanced at the book on Amos’s lap.

On the horizon, the sun began to set for the day. If this day was to end like any other, it would not be long until the carriage and escorts find a place to bunk down for the night.

 

[Amos]

Amos smiled at his old friend. "Perhaps it's time to get back to work on that airship then."

A long held project that was dear to both of their hearts, though one that had always been thrust to the side for something more important.

He wondered if he would even get to see it finished.

"I am thinking of how lucky I am." Amos said, tapping the page on his book. "To have the opportunities I do and the companions I've met."

Amos held up the book's cover for Kaeden to see, he would recognize it of course; The Tales of Quir Lerenn. Written by the man in it's title, the book was composed of short stories about various heroes who failed within their quest.

Depressing, of course, but every story had a lesson to it. "I plan not to waste either."

He said with a smile, another mild cough racking his chest. This one not serious enough to bring his hands to his lips.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“Oh, that’d be great,” Kaeden responded to Amos’s comment about finishing the airship project.

With Amos’s comments on how lucky he has been, Kaeden added, “Well, when you’re as talented as you are, you kind of make your own luck.”

Captain Hambletone rode up to the carriage window on Kaeden’s side.

“My Lord, we see an inn on the horizon. Shall we spend the night there, or camp?” the Captain asked.

After a glance toward Amos, Kaeden replied with, “The inn. A warm meal and bath would be nice.”

“By your will,” the Captain answered before heading off to inform the rest of the entourage.

Then looking to Amos once more, Kaeden asked, “Any ideas on what to do with the... merchandise, once we get it? You’ve definitely had more time to think about it since we got on the road.”

 

[Amos]

Amos let out a slight chuckle as Kaeden offered him the small complement, shaking his head but not denying his friend the upbeat stroke of the conversation. "That I have."

He said with an almost eager nod.

"We've already come far with our experiments." The two of them had been working for months on a method to 'store' magic within small crystal spheres. An experiment that had produced delightful results.

However, due to the...nature of Vel Anir's mages they had hit a wall in sourcing more magic. That was why they were traveling to Elbion in the first place.

"But I believe we must demonstrate the value of our work to those that matter." Such as Kaeden's own family and those like him. Luana's, Pirian, even Virak if they could. "I've been tinkering with something in my head, an...engine I think is what to call it."

Slowly he put his book down, reaching towards his satchel. He drew it out, flipping through the pages until he reached the one he wanted. Offering it to Kaeden seconds later. "I believe using our crystals and the magic within, this should be able to create a different kind of energy. One, that I think with some thought, we might be able to translate to all sorts of divergent inventions."

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“An engine? What kind of war machine are you thinking of?” Kaeden asked at first.

Engine was typically used to describe war machines - siege engines such as battering rams.

Taking the book, Kaeden looked over the drawing as Amos continued to explain his thought.

“I’ll probably have to see a prototype to really get where you’re going with this,” Kaeden told his friend.

“Though if it’s anything like the Mantis, this would definitely be exciting!” Kaeden exclaimed.

“Let’s see...” Kaeden muttered as he pulled out a list.

“We’ll get the high quality crystals from our lead at Elbion, meet with the Maester mage to provide the magic just like with our crystals. That’s what I got, is there anything I’m missing for this experiment?” Kaeden asked.

 

[Amos]

"No no, nothing for war my friend." They were Anirian, and whether they liked it or not, that meant sooner or later everything was for war. Amos knew that, he understood it. As much as some might have wanted to deny it.

Yet his own ambitions reached so much farther than war, battle, inventing yet another way for men to kill other men or even elves.

His legacy would be more than that. "It's...more of a driver...I don't know how to describe it. Like a...horse, without being a horse?"

Amos waved his hand dismissively. He had never much been one for words. Eloquence coming secondary to his passions.

The young man suppressed another cough in his chest, though this time he was unable to stop himself from shaking slightly as he did so. Nodding his head along with kaeden's list as he covered his mouth. "I think that's it."

He said with a nod.

"Shouldn't be too difficult now that we've managed to stabilize the Crystals." Amos mused. Early on things had been a bit more...explosive, but in the past few months they had made great strides in ensuring their work was far more safe. At least mostly.

 

[Lumen]

Perched on her horse, one of the few non-nobles in the gilded class, she'd been assigned to escort the Banick carriage to Elbion with the retinue of Anirian guards. Irony might have been if one of the nobles had been assigned to protect a noble. What a strange difference only due to the station of one's birth with magic or without.

No glimpse of who was in the carriage yet, though she brought up the rear so had no view inside from her vantage point. The guard next to her was a red-haired, freckled young man that looked not much older than her. He did little to hide the bored look on his face.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“As in... you could replace the horses for this carriage?” Kaeden asked for clarification.

Kaeden took a few moments to ponder. Horses were a great expense for all levels of society to both purchase and care.

“Oh well, I guess I’ll have to see if when you make it,” Kaeden told Amos.

When Amos mentioned the past excitement of their crystals, Kaeden winced.

“I still hear ringing in my ear,” Kaeden joked as he rubbed his left ear.

Captain Hambletone rode past Lumen to knock on the carriage window.

“We’ve arrived at the inn, My Lord,” the Captain informed Kaeden.

“Excellent. If there’s room, get beds for you and everyone else,” Kaeden ordered.

“By your will,” the Captain replied as he pulled away from the carriage.

Pointing at a red-haired, freckled young man and Lumen, Captain Hambletone told them, “With me.”

The Captain would then go into the inn to try to make arrangements for rooms. They would be met by a rough-looking man with a voice like sandpaper – the inn otherwise appearing empty and devoid of life.

Back at the carriage, Kaeden asked Amos, “You turning in early or plan to do any tinkering this evening?”

 

[Amos]

"Precisely." It was really the best way he could think of describing it. They would have to find something better by the time it actually came time to show people their results. Not that such a thing would happen any time soon.

He turned his head as a knock echoed on the door, nodding his head along absently as Kaeden spoke to the Captain.

The Journal in his hand was folded closed, pencil pressed between the pages. "I think I'll tinker a bit."

Amos mused as he slowly began to pull himself up and out of the Carriage. His chest wracked with a cough as he came into the open air, but a deep breath stifled much of it. Shaking his head Amos turned to glance back towards Kaeden.

"It will be nice to work without the constant shaking of a carriage." Something that made getting anything properly done rather difficult. At least if you wanted any amount of precision in your work.

 

[Lumen]

Freddy gave a long, suffering sigh as he rode forward with the Captain. Lumen's sandy brows ticked upward for a moment at the soldier's reaction but she followed along. A flicker of her eyes toward the carriage to see if she could snatch a peak as she rode by.

Dismounting, she joined Freddy and the Captain. With horses secured, Lumen wandered inside to overhear the conversation between the Inkeep and Captain. It sounded like they'd be bunking up. The Captain turned to her and motioned to Freddy.

"You two are on first watch. I don't need to remind you this is a Banick. Stay close to them; don't get in the way."

"Yes sir," Lumen responded.

Freddy nodded and grumbled about not being on a real mission.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“Yeah, the runes help but I wish there was some better way to stop the shaking. Something that didn’t require a Dreadlord every so often,” Kaeden complained.

Opening the door, Kaeden stepped out to be greeted by the setting sun. He yawned and stretched – shaking his legs a bit as well.

“Hopefully the food’s good,” Kaeden wished.

Meanwhile in the inn, the innkeeper and Captain had a rough conversation. The innkeeper’s language seemed abrasive for someone serving hospitality to travelers to-and-from the Portal Stone.

Showing the Captain the rooms, the innkeeper just went, “Two beds here. Three beds here. Oh, this is the nice room...”

After showing each of the rooms booked, the rough looking man told Captain Hambletone, “Dinner’s in a hour, it’ll be stew.”

A few of the Banick’s bodyguards began unloading the carriage. They made sure to put Kaeden’s and Amos’s baggage into the single-bed rooms. The Captain got the last single-bed room. Everyone else, including Lumen and Freddy, was on their own to claim a bed.

“Not a lively inn, no wonder everyone got a bed,” Kaeden would say as he finally entered the common area.

Looking to Amos, Kaeden figured to ask, “Need any help? Or are you fine tinkering alone?”

Regardless, it would not be long until dinner is served...

 

[Amos]

"This is probably the most business they've gotten in weeks." Amos pointed out quietly, frowning for a brief moment. "Which means the rooms will either be very clean...or not."

It had been a long time since he'd slept in a place infested with rats. Though he supposed the feeling was one that you never really got used to anyway. His head shook as he admonished himself, now was hardly the time to think of the past.

"Company is always appreciated, but not required." Amos said with a brief smile to his friend.

If Kaeden would rather spend the evening drinking or carousing with the local beauties then Amos wouldn't blame him. It was enough that only he never thought of anything but work. At least one of them should be able to enjoy their lives.

A cough wracked his throat as he made his way towards one of the tables. "I'll be here regardless."

Amos told his friend, sliding onto the bench seat and pulling out a small mechanical contraption from his satchel.

 

[Lumen]

Lumen would let the others claim rooms and beds first. She was used to going last. Perhaps it was the older sister in her. Freddy was already gone. Claiming the best bed and room, no doubt. And besides, she needed to keep her eyes on Kaeden and his friend. Was it Amos?

Curiosity as they entered.

A frown at the cough.

A quick conversation with the bartender. Her ability to never meet a stranger helping the burly man to relax. An fast exchange.

A moment later, her armored self was at Amos’ side. A quick glance at Kaeden. Then she held out her hand, holding a mug filled with steaming liquid to him.

“Tea? There’s honey in it to soothe the throat.”

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“Oh definitely the busiest if this is any indication...” Kaeden mused as he looked around the common area.

No local girls floated about within the inn. Not even any other guests. The innkeeper so far has been the only other person the Banick group has seen besides a similar rough-looking bartender that kept an eye on all the guests. Lumen managed to get some tea, but the guards experienced difficulty in ordering any alcohol – or at least, in getting exactly what they wanted.

“I’ll stick around as well, then,” Kaeden told Amos as he would help with setting up things for Amos – at least, as far as Amos normally allowed him.

Not too long after that, Lumen appeared with a cup of tea. Before then, Kaeden was attempting to silently decipher what the mechanical device Amos tinkered on was supposed to be.

“Look at that, when did Dreadlords come with tea service?” Kaeden jokingly asked.

Soon after that, the innkeeper would emerge from the kitchen with a tray of bowls filled to the brim with stew.

“Dinner, here,” the innkeeper said.

 

[Amos]

The small mechanical contraption unfolded. It came apart, forming from a small cube to a large metal sheet about two centimeters tall and at least fifty centimeters wide as well as long. He looked down at it, quite pleased, then glanced at Kaeden. "A housing."

He said quite pleased with himself. Though half interrupted by another cough. This one shaking the whole of him.

The fit finished, and he gestured towards the contraption in front of him. Pointing at the slots on the inside of the now unfolded sheet.

"When done it will hold the cry-" Before he finished explaining Lumen appeared besides the table. A small pleasant smile touched the young man's throat, and he nodded as he reached for the cup Lumen was holding.

"Thank you." He said, his voice now raspy. "I appreciate the thoughtfulness."

Amos continued, smiling at Kaeden. "Perhaps they make them kinder now."

He mused, slightly in jest, as the Innkeeper called for dinner.

 

[Lumen]

“Look at that, when did Dreadlords come with tea service?”

A small smile at Kaeden. No kid or child reference? He thought she was already a full dreadlord? What a refreshing reaction to the norm.

"Welcome," she said quietly to Amos, the same smile shared with him. "I'm not sure about nicer. Perhaps protection comes in many forms." She doubted he would think of her as nice if he saw her with her sword bathed in the blood of an enemy. Or if he'd seen the remains of her father's body.

"My apologies for interrupting," she said quickly and eased herself back as the Inkeeper carried the tray of stews toward them, quickly shuffling off two at their table.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“At least she’s not scowling,” Kaeden jested.

Once Lumen apologized, Kaeden turned to her and told her, “No bother, I appreciate your care and watchful eye.”

But the sound and smell of food approaching stole Kaeden’s attention.

“Great, I’m starving!” he exclaimed as he saw the tray full of stews. The Captain guided the innkeeper to serve Amos and Kaeden first.

Bowls were placed in front of Amos and Kaeden. The innkeeper seemed to be haphazard in doing so – a few splashes of the stew jumped out and threatened to hit the mechanism Amos worked on.

After that, the innkeeper would then serve bowls to all the other Banick guards.

Looking at stew, Kaeden frowned.

It was... food?

“Oh well, we’ve had worse on this trip anyway,” Kaeden shrugged as he took a spoonful bite.

Kaeden winced.

“Unique... flavor...” Kaeden squeezed out.

The rest of the guards, excluding the Captain, began to dig in as well with similar reactions.

 

[Amos]

"Ah, please." Amos said with a smile, gesturing to the table. "Join us."

As the innkeeper came over and spilled his stew half on the table, Amos shot him a smile as well. Returning his attention a second later to Lumen. If they were going to be in the midst of a Dreadlord, one who apparently had a sliver of kindness, he would take advantage of it. "Perhaps you can deliver some insights for me."

He said to the girl, turning his attention back to the strange contraption in front of him. He gently pushed it to the side, ensuring that none of the stew or other liquids got into the metal. Then he picked up one of the bowls himself.

A smirk touched his lips as Kaeden took one bite of the stew. He glanced down at his own bowl, picking up one of the pieces of meat within and considering it for a moment.

"Pig jowl." Amos noted. "This is good protein, Kaeden."

The student said, finally taking a bite of his own.

 

[Lumen]

“At least she’s not scowling,” Kaeden jested.

"Do you find yourself in the company of scowling dreadlords often?" A twitch of her lips, eyes flickering to Kaeden. After the invite from Amos, she turned her eyes to the Commander across the room. A silent questioning look. They were inside with a plethora of guards around.

And besides, she would be closest to them to offer any protection if needed.

Though, this would, perhaps, be the safest part of the night.

The Commander didn't scowl in her direction so she took that as good enough permission to proceed.

"Insights. What kind of insights?" She slid in next to Amos, eyeing how he carefully moved the strange contraption he was working on. Was it made from the same kind of metal Noel could manipulate? Spoon dipped into the stew placed in front of her.

"Compared to the Academy food, it's not that bad," she said quietly, taking another bite.

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“Hmm,” Kaeden groaned as he continued to chew the stew.

Looking at Lumen after her first question, Kaeden’s eyes wondered to the side as if in thought.

Until he answered with, “Uh, yes. Always scowling.”

Kaeden kept his mouth shut as Amos tinkered and seemed to try to get useful insights from Lumen. His ears caught the clanking of glasses as the innkeeper entered from the kitchen with several mugs of what appeared to be frothing ale.

The Captain immediately stood up to walk to the innkeeper – stopping him in his tracks. The Captain kept his voice low – too low for Kaeden to hear. But, he appeared visible irritated and grabbed one of the mugs to take a gulp of its contents.

“Hammy’s thinking everyone’s out to poison me again,” Kaeden said aloud with an amused grin.

Amos would have definitely seen Captain Hambletone obsess over the possibility of poison and drugs being slipped to Kaeden. The stew was likely taste tested in the kitchen by a junior guardsman – maybe Freddy.

 

[Amos]

"It's not often that one of the Dreadlords is willing to sit and talk." Amos said as he continued his meal, looking up at Kaeden with a smirk. "As my friend said, most of the time they prefer to just scowl."

A rather obnoxious habit when you were attempting to study magic.

His gaze turned to Lumen. "We study magics you see, and most of your fellows have been rather...uncooperative."

Hence this whole trip to Elbion in the first place.

For a second it seemed as though he were about to add something else, but then his attention was caught by Captain Hambletones over-eagerness. The former gutter-rat shook his head, a small smile touching his face before another cough racked his chest.

Bending down into his elbow, he let the episode subside before regarding his friend.

"The good Captain has been a tad more...paranoid than usual." Amos said, then added. "You haven't gotten another death threat have you?"

 

[Lumen]

As my friend said, most of the time they prefer to just scowl.

Lumen briefly thought of Edric. Of Noel. Of Henk.

She shrugged. "You're not wrong." More sips of her stew as it went down. And stayed down. Eyes flickered to the Captain, a frown tugging on her lips. But she stayed quiet.

A concerning, lingering look to Amos. "Would you like me to get you more tea?"

"And I suppose when it comes to magic Vel Anir is concerned with how to use it to defend and for war. Smart to go to Elbion. What exactly are you studying about it?"

Spoon pointed to Kaeden.

"And do you ever think about it? If you'd been born with magic you'd be sitting where I am instead."

 

[Kaeden Banick]

“Hmm?” Kaeden began with a mouthful of the stew, “Oh. Yeah, the Strands sent a kindly worded letter to me, personally, recently.”

Amos might be able to take that as a joke. The Banicks have been funding a lot of recent activities for House Strand – and when those loans come due, things may not be pretty between the two houses.

Hambletone also apparently cleared the beer after he made the innkeeper also take a swig of the beer. The innkeeper then placed three mugs full of ale on the table for Amos, Lumen, and Kaeden.

“Let’s see,” Kaeden began as he took a mug and took a sip. He frowned and shrugged after tasting the contents.

Looking to Lumen as she asked her question, Kaeden first said in a slightly low tone, “First, it’s a little rude to point like that.”

Kaeden then took another sip of the ale.

“But, to answer you, I’d still be sitting here. Graduated already, I assume? Obviously serving my own family like I am now. Just, maybe I could turn things into gold by touch!” Kaeden told Lumen, "And maybe we'd progress faster in our work."