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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wicht" data-source="post: 410910" data-attributes="member: 221">Chapter 15 - Xaarum    Alairic woke with a start.  He had been dreaming, but the dream had felt more like a vision than a true illusion of the mind.  As he sat in bed, Alairic considered.  Then he smiled and quickly got out of bed.  With determination, he dressed himself and then left the Citadel of Truth.  Before the sun had risen in the sky he was out of the city.      He had been discussing horses with Niccolo and Tilliana the day before.  A shipment of warhorses was expected in from Zoa and they had considered buying some.  But Tilliana and the half-elf would have to go horse shopping without him.  He had seen a horse in his dream and he thought he knew where to find it.    After walking for thirty minutes or so he found himself in a field.  The sun was rising over the horizon and it was just as he had pictured it in his sleep.  With a simple smile he sat on the dewy grass of the field to wait for the horse he was certain would soon be there.  He pulled his copy of  “To Serve” out of his backpack and began to read.  It was a perfect spot to study, meditate upon the words and pray.      The horse showed up about an hour later.  It was a pure white stallion, unharnessed and unshod.      “Hi,” said Alairic to the horse.  It seemed natural to do so.  The horse snorted a greeting and trotting to Alairic it nosed his cheek and then looked at the open book.      “Just studying,” said Alairic, “Did Naemae send you?  You look like a beautiful horse.”    The horse blew firmly and took a step back.    “Handsome then,” said Alairic with a laugh, closing the book and standing up, “But what shall we call you?  I saw you in a vision.  Vision,…? Dream,…?”    “You don’t like those?  Don’t worry, I will think of something?”    “This is Trance,” said Alairic to Tilliana and Niccolo later when he caught up with them in Xaarum.  They had also obtained horses, though in a more conventional manner.  They had each bought a trained highland dancer, graceful horses from Svimohzia.  Tilliana’s, a soft white mare with light brown spots on its rear legs, was named Prancer.  She was an energetic animal, who, the dealer had said, had a fondness for apples.  Niccolo had named his Spirit.  It was an ash colored horse with a bit of a stubborn streak.  Tilliana had also bought an older warhorse to use as a pack animal.  Her name was Firebolt and she walked with a limp.  But she also was built tall and solid and could doubtlessly carry a heavy load.   The next few days were spent preparing to leave Xaarum.  Deochoo had accepted Tilliana’s decision to head to the area north of Geanavue and had explained to her exactly what was expected.      “There has not been a located priest of Naemae in that area since your father was killed.  I fear it has again become a lawless and evil place, but you will soon know for certain.  Your job is threefold.  First you are to find the site of your father’s old temple.  You are secondly to rebuild the faith of the Swift Sword in the area through actions of chilvary and bravery.  Finally, if possible, establish a foothold for the faith in Geanavue.  It is shameful that there is no temple to the Evil Slayer in such a noble city.  They are beset by peril on nearly every hand, an island of peace in a hostile world.”    Deochoo had also decided to send Alairic with Tilliana.  When Niccolo had approached Deochoo about being allowed to go with the other two, Deochoo had smiled and answered, “I had assumed as much already.”    “Good,” said Niccolo, “It would seem a shame to break up a winning team.”    Niccolo was little seen in the three days following this meeting.  He went out of the city each morning to roam the Forest.  The first day he returned with a wolf.  People in Xaarum looked at it somewhat askance but it did not attack anyone and followed Niccolo almost like a dog.  It had white forepaws and a dark brown coat and Niccolo named it Two-Socks.  The next evening he returned with an eagle and they day after that with another eagle.  He named them Hunter and Feather Grace.      It was Tilliana who first broached the subject of Alairic’s family with him.  She and Niccolo had both read the last letter from Alairic’s mother and knew that Alairic had wanted to send the money to buy their freedom.  But he had not done so.    “Where you going to send money to Zoa?” she asked him at dinner one evening.    “Not right away,” said Alairic.    “Why not?”    “I am going to do it later,” protested the paladin.    Niccolo, listening in, got perturbed.  “But this is your family.  Surely there is no reason to wait.  You have the money,  buy their freedom.”    “I have to wait.  I don’t have quite enough anymore.” Said Alairic sulkily.    “Oh, well I was planning on helping you anyway,” said Tilliana understanding.  They had each had about 1500 golden coins in treasure when they had returned from Dragon Isle.  Much to Deochoo’s delight, they had also contributed 500 gold pieces apiece to the Citadel as soon as they had returned.  Added to this, Alairic had bought new armor and, as had Tilliana and Niccolo, paid an armorer, in advance, to make some barding for his horse.  Alairic no longer had 1000 gold coins, which was the sum his father had calculated as necessary to buy the entire families freedom.    “I was going to help as well,” said Niccolo.  They each gave Alairic 200 gold pieces and in turn Alairic made arrangements with Deochoo to send the money to the temple in Zoa for the purposes of buying his family out of slavery.    It was the 4th of Mustering before the armor for the three horses was finished.  That day they made their final preparations to leave Xaarum.  Their plan was to head north to Foorun and see if they could find a ship sailing to Loona.  Kinshag showed up that day.  He had been busily spending his money.  He too had bought a horse, a great brute from the north.  He had also bought new armor, a new ax and expensive equipment for his horse.  He was, he claimed, planning on going with them.  They couldn’t think of a good reason for him not to come and so their party was at four once more.    The next morning it was cold and cloudy as they left the Citadel of Truth and headed for the northern gate of Xaarum.  Deochoo walked with them to the gate, as did Tilliana’s mother.    “Do you have any questions?” Deochoo asked Tilliana one last time.    “No, I think I got it,” said the priestess.    “Good.”    At the gate, Zailoo gave her daughter one last hug and handed her a small package.  It contained a note and an amulet.    “Read the note later,” said Zailoo with a smile, “good luck and be careful.”</blockquote>

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