Faerunners

Devastation

Callan and Setia finished loading the wagon and drove it back to camp. Tallis sat and said little during the drive. His mind was awash with terror and drowned in blood.

They pulled up next to their campsite and Callan spoke with the summer Fae. Crates were unloaded from the back of the wagon. Goods changed hands, and everyone seemed to leave happy. With their debt to Summer satisfied, they collected Phaethon and pressed on back to the cottage trees. They arrived in the middle of the night weary and beleaguered. The horses had been worked to a lather and they all seemed grateful to have their harnesses removed. Tallis walked them through the fields until they had cooled down and then collected a grooming kit from the wagon and gave each of them a good brushing. He was tired to his core but every time he blinked a fresh death flashed before his eyes.

He dared not sleep.

Valerie found him by a pond in the early hours of the morning. Tallis had nearly scrubbed himself raw but no matter what he did, he didn't feel clean. At least the stains had come out of his clothes, there must have been some kind of magic there that kept them clean.

"Tallis," said Valerie, keeping his voice low and gentle. "Have you slept yet? Have you had anything to eat?"

He shook his head. "Been too busy. Too much to do."

"Well I can relate to that, but you look like you've been all whiskey and no stew, partner."

"I wish we had some whiskey. Might help."

She held a flask out to him. "It's not good stuff. Proper gut rot, but I have little."

He took the flask and drained it. He passed it back, coughing. "That shit is awful."

"At least it's cheap." She took the flask back with a shrug and set a cloth bundle down. "We baked some oatcakes if you want them. And Aragam is awake if you want to see him."

"Be there in a second."

She left him alone with the oat cakes and he sat in the cold water, lost. He had no business being wrapped up in this. It was time to admit he was in over his head. It was time to go home. He climbed out of the pond and got dressed, taking the bundle of oat cakes with him back to the cottages.

A campfire cracked among the trees and the lingering smell of cakes and flapjacks clung to the air. Jovial snippets of conversation drifted on the morning breeze, filling Tallis a dull ache of homesickness. He missed mornings with his parents. There were a blessed few minutes of peace at the beginning of each day, a sliver of time between breakfast and the day's chores where there was just nothing. There was quiet. There was a lot of joy in those quiet moments.

Tallis pulled up a log and slipped into the group.

"Tallis," came a hoarse voice. "Good to see you made it." Aragam was seated closest to the fire with a heavy robe around his shoulders. “And glad to see you found some proper clothes, eh? You look good.”

He wished he felt as good as he supposedly looked. “I'm glad you’re up.”

“We’re made of tough stuff, yeah? The change of season helps too. The closer we get to winter the easier things get. I’m just glad I didn’t get staked in July. I’d have been done for.”

"We should be ready to move soon," said Valerie. “We just need to pack up camp.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Tallis, taking the cakes out of the bundle. It almost made it all worth it. Soon he’d be home. He’d be with his family and they would all be safe. That’s all he needed.

“What’s our plan for this wagon load of junk we’ve been saddled with?” asked Setia.

“Could sell it,” Valerie answered. “There’s a big market on in Tuath Den. There’s a guild post and a link to the other side there too. It’s as good a place as any.”