Wayfarer (Wanderlust 2)

Chapter Ten

Jale got her tasks done fairly quickly, and joined them at the table as they were working their way through second plates of food. She waved at the innkeeper while unravelling her scarf and shrugged out of her jacket. As soon as her food arrived, she ate it as quickly as possible, updating them between mouthfuls.

"The kyloe are settled. I traded off all of the furs and bought us some more vegetables, potatoes, corn, some dried berries, dried meat. Do you two want anything to drink?"

"Yes." Tanden replied, without consulting Soren.

Jale swallowed her mouthful of food and called over to the innkeeper again. Then she cut another bite off of her meat. "Do you have your map?"

Tanden had to rummage through his jacket for it, but once he found it, he lay it out on the table. Jale gestured with the back of her fork. "I asked around. The Emperor has already moved to Tier." She tapped a spot in the north, among the mountains. "I don't think it's worth your time to go there, honestly. It'll take us months, and we won't make it before the worst of the snow. Tier essentially shuts down in the winter."

She paused as a beautiful barmaid arrived to hand them three mugs of something clear. Jale picked hers up and drank. "So—"

"Wait, what is this?" Tanden interrupted.

"Irdka. It's made of potatoes," she replied dismissively. "So I think we should head for Tigo's capital, here." She poked the map again. "Depending on the weather we might be able to push through to Tiya, but I heard an interesting rumour about Esler Tigo—the capital. Apparently, a prophet of Tier has been found and she's travelling, spreading Tier's good will before winter truly begins."

"And she'll be in Esler Tigo when we get there?"

"So they say," Jale said. "And if we end up staying there through the winter, the Emperor will leave Tier for his palace in Till."

Tanden nodded slowly, his eyes roaming the map. "I was hoping to go to Tiya, but I won't force it if you think it will be too risky. Meeting this prophet would be wonderful, though."

"Good. So there's our plan. Have you tried the irdka?"

"Oh." Tanden had actually already forgotten about the drink, lost in their plans. Now he picked up his mug and took a sip. The alcohol was strong. He felt it burn all the way down his throat. But he liked it. "This is pretty good."

Jale laughed. "It's all right. Nothing beats Morcean kalay. I once bought a whole crate here to sell, and I have been Morie Caro's favourite visitor ever since."

Tanden laughed with her. "I can believe that." Then he stopped laughing, and really looked at her. Like all Tallenese, she had tanned skin darker than his, thin, slightly slanted eyes, and dark hair. He could see the ends of her hair, poking out haphazardly from under her knitted hat. She was actually quite striking, when she was relaxed and happy. "You're from Till, right?"

She nodded. "I was born in Till, but I've travelled over all of Tallen Tiya. That's what it means to be a ranger. Till is a wonderful province," she added. "But it isn't as Tallenese as the others. It's been changed by years of interacting with other countries, especially Morcea. There are probably as many Morceans as Tallenese living in the port. When you get into Tigo, or further, you see the real Tallenese people and culture."

"That's why we wanted to travel inland," Soren spoke up from across the table. "Port cities are always... tainted, for lack of a better word."

Jale nodded. "Till is, for sure. Not to say I don't love the constant bustle and the people coming and going. But I also love Morie Caro, and all of the other villages like it. I love the forests, and the cities. I'm really impressed by your dedication to seeing more of the empire. Now, if you'll excuse me..." She got up and walked over to the bar.