Chapter 13 #3
“I didn’t know I could,” is the excuse I go with. It’s not at all that I just didn’t want to think about leaving. “Is it a lot?”
“It is a fairly tidy sum. You could afford to buy yourself an entirely new set of armor, a new weapon, and still have plenty left over.” I’m not really used to having money like that.
“I probably need to get some new traveling clothes, too.” The things I have, at least what still fits, isn’t really suitable for a long time on the road. “Would you...help me pick some stuff out?”
“I would be happy to.” Khazak’s tusks shine in the moonlight as he grins, hopefully remembering the last time we went clothes shopping. Which is what I was going for. “We can go tomorrow after we retrieve your equipment if you would like. We can stop by the armorer, too.”
“That would be great, Sir.” It’s gonna be weird not calling someone “Sir” for a while after this. And maybe calling anyone else that at all.
“So, tell me, now that we are away from my family’s prying ears, what are some of the places you would like to travel to?
” He sees my grimace at his question, the same one I didn’t have a good answer to before.
“I remember how much you loved Ayla’s stories.
Surely there must be some destination you have thought about.
If you did not have to consider your friends, where would you want to go?
Or what were your original plans before you came here? ”
“We really didn’t think that far ahead.” I scratch my head, recalling our complete lack of planning. “We were kinda hoping that finding whatever we thought was in the ruins would lead us to the next thing.”
We were pretty desperate at that point, so we took the info and ran with it.
I try to think back to some of the stories I had heard about Nova before we settled on it as our destination and got on the boat.
Traveling, seeing the world, that actually was something I wanted to do.
Not counting V’rok’sh Tah’lj, I had hoped to see a lot more than just a few human settlements by now.
“Well, I read once that if you go far enough south, you can see a second moon in the sky.” That one wouldn’t require going to any place specific either.
“I also heard that there is an island off the coast in the north that’s ruled by werewolves.
And that desert your sister told me about with the crystals sounded pretty cool, too.
Maybe I’ll go to one of those.” Except the werewolf island, probably.
“It is true. If you were to travel south, eventually you would be able to see the second moon in the sky. Only during the day, however, as it is pitch black. The island you are talking about is called Beovin, and the entire ruling family are werewolves. I am told it is a very beautiful country.” Alright, maybe I will visit werewolf island.
“And I trust my sister’s judgement when it comes to traveling.
If she said that you would enjoy the desert, then I think you can expect just that. ”
“What about you? Do you ever want to travel?” I change the subject, not wanting to hear him talk about me leaving again.
“I did a long time ago, yes. When Ayla and I were still young, younger than you even, we traveled north together. It was a first for the both of us.” I remember him telling me about how his sister’s first trip quickly turned into a second, and third, and then she was never really home again.
“The city we visited is called Manamequohi.”
“It’s called what?” That’s even harder to pronounce than this place.
“Most people refer to it as Maname or simply Mana.” He chuckles at my response. “It is an island that was originally settled by pukwudgies and then later humans.”
“Pukwudgies?” Oh no, more names.
“Gnomes,” he explains in words I already know.
“I do not believe they were overly fond of the humans encroaching on their land at first, but after enough time and cooperation, it has become a very bustling port city. They specialize in magical and enchanted items. That is where I purchased my satchel.”
“Wow, really? Do they still make them?” Maybe that’s where we go first. I wouldn’t mind getting one of those bags myself.
“I have to imagine so, given how useful they are. I am still using mine over ten years later.” He shrugs.
“However, they are very expensive. When Ayla and I both purchased one each, we had to tell ourselves it was an investment. After that, we did not have much money left, so we turned around and headed back home. I had already been considering applying to the rangers at that point, but Ayla wanted to keep traveling. Two weeks later, she was gone, and I was in training. I am sure she has gotten much more use out of hers than I have.”
“So, do you ever want to go traveling again?” He didn’t really answer that.
“I have thought about it at times,” he admits. “Maybe one day, but between my career and my family, I simply do not have the time right now. Perhaps when I retire.”
“You’re gonna wait that long to go anywhere again?” Spending that much of my life in Northlake would have driven me insane. “You don’t ever want to just take a vacation somewhere?”
“I have not really given it much thought.” He shrugs again. “Truthfully, before your arrival, I had not thought about the outside world much at all.”
“Well, you should. Turns out there’s a whole lot of interesting people out there who can teach you a lot of things you never knew before.” Not that I’m talking about anyone in particular. “Just, you know, try not to end up getting thrown in jail.”
“Thank you for the advice, pup.” He chuckles. “I hope that regardless of your next destination, the rest of your journey goes much smoother than your time here.”
I want to correct him, tell him that my time here has been great, but I’m not sure how to do that without also telling him a bunch of other things I’m feeling that I frankly don’t want to hear myself.
So, I settle for a quiet walk home, and once we get the leftovers put away, I am more than happy to spend the rest of the night on the couch with Sir as he reads, the sound of his voice lulling me to sleep.