Chapter the First Part One
The merchant wagon rolled down the road slowly, the wagon driver glancing around nervously at the woods.
A small armored figure on a war dog trots up “No need to worry so sir, my companion and I are watching the woods. You will get your goods to Glen with no problem” The mentioned companion trots up on a horse nodding his agreement
“Oh Aye, I may have you two with me but these bandits have been getting bolder and bolder” he reaches around and taps one of the many kegs he has “Those dwarves may not like human brewed ale but the bandits most certainly do”
The companion looks to the armored figure “I don’t think our companion will be happy until we reach Glen, Octavia.” With that he let his horse fall back slightly behind the wagon. Octavia checked the straps holding her lance and moved ahead of the wagon
A few miles down the road another road cut in and joined. As they approached Octavia slowed slightly as she saw two people walking on the other road in the same direction, she could see they would meet at the intersection at the same time. “Mescel” she called back “eyes right my friend and be ready” Mescel road forward and slightly to the right of the wagon, the wagon driver looking to the pair was visibly nervous.
The pair of interest were fairly tall and had long hair one white and flowing the other bright red and tied back. As they got closer to the merge the redhead turned and saw the wagon, not taking too much interest she nudged her companion once and nodded her head to the wagon. The one with white hair turned and as she did so the wagon master erupted into screams.
“Drow! A damned drow!” He yelled at Octavia “I told you the black demons are getting bold”
The two in question turned onto the road but did not touch their weapons as Octavia and Mescel walked up, ready but not threatening.
The redhead spoke first “Greetings! “ She looks to the yelling merchant “Please do not be alarmed my friend here is unlike other drow” The drow nods and speaks “I am a servant of Shevarash and I live in Cormanthor with the elves there you do not have to fear me, although fear of drow in general is a good thing”
Octavia looks to Mescal and then over her shoulder to the merchant and waves a pleading hand to him to be quiet. “You don’t seem to be a threat at the moment.” She eyes the drow cautiously and as if making a decision she I am Lady Octavia Allessandra Boomthistle my companion is Mescal “
The redhead nods in greeting “I am Jennavieve of the Clovenhearth it is a pleasure to meet you”
The drow stepped forward “Dendrow is my name. I am used to “ she indicates the merchant who is calming slightly when a battle did not start “his reaction. It is a well-earned curse of my kind even if I am not like my kind. We are heading to Glenn I have heard of Drow raids in Mistledale and do not like the idea of drow raiding in Cormanthor.”
“Well we are heading that way as well, may as well share the road and you can tell me more about yourself.” replied Octavia.
“What! I don’t want a drow traveling with us!” yelled the merchant, his worry ignited once again
Octavia raised a hand to him “I do not sense any evil in her, you have my word that she means no harm” she looks at Dendrow with a knowing look, probably indicating what it would mean if she did happen to fool Octavia.
“I swear by Shevarash that I mean you no harm” replied the drow, her companion nodded and added, “As a cleric of Gwaeron Windstrom I speak for Dendrow as well. She is not like other drow”
The merchant sat down on the wagon in a foul mood and pointed his team whip at Octavia “I hold you personally responsible if anything goes wrong!” with that he cracked the whip and set the wagon to moving.
After a half days travel they came into Glenn, the merchant pulls his wagon up at the duty warehouse to check in with his cargo. Turning to Octavia he tossed her a leather pouch “Here is payment for your troubles as well as a writ for the Frothing Mug, you can stay there on my tab for one night.” there was an obvious undertone that they were to be frugal in their stay “If you wish to share the money with those two then…well it is your money” with that he jumped down from the wagon and went into the small warehouse.
Octavia shrugged once and turned to the group “His thanks would have been payment enough but I will not turn a blind eye to a gift for services. Shall we go to the Frothing Mug then?”
“I think we may have something else to deal with first. “ replied Mescal as he pointed.
The group turned and saw a small contingent of dwarves armed with spears and hammers walking to them, the group walked towards them as the dwarves circled the group and stopped them.
The leader of the group large by dwarven standards, looked them over and growled “Because I see you are a follower of a good deity,” he points at Octavia’s holy symbol “ I will give you till my patience run out to explain the drow. Make it good”
More to Come!
