Days of Dawn

Chapter 7: Journey Anew

Ezra awoke from perhaps the deepest sleep she had ever experienced, which was odd since it was on nothing but a musty old blanket. Droplet rested flat beneath her head like a pillow, but rippled with a purr when she stirred. There was no telling inside the Barrow what time it was, but it felt like morning. She sat up and scrubbed her eye.

Something moved behind her and she turned to see Cartash wide awake, fixing the laces on a pair of rugged-looking boots.

Ezra slowly stood as she yawned, "Good morning. Where are you off to?"

"Don't rub it in," came Cartash's stark reply.

Ezra's drowsy state cleared a bit, and she noticed his attire was less of that worn by merchants or even thieves. It was almost akin to a thick fabric armor complete with pads for his arms, chest, and shoulders. His expression was gruff, his ears were drooped, and he avoided eye contact with her. Realization came over Ezra and she grew a big smile, "You're going with me? I thought our business was done."

"I just said don't rub it in!" Cartash snapped, "Can't a guy change his mind? I was up all night fighting it, but even a master thief can have a heart. Besides, I can't get paid if Helvara gets destroyed, right? I'll take you to the camp, but don't expect any excessive heroics. Got it?"

Ezra folded her arms and approvingly nodded, "Got it. I appreciate the company. Speaking of the journey, do you have any armor I could use?"

Cartash stomped the heel of his boot against the ground to set it and looked around his Barrow. After mentally sifting through the contents of his home, he pointed to one of the chests nudged against the wall. "I think there's something in that chest over there. It's a men's leather cuirass, so it may be a little tight in some places for you."

Ezra walked to the chest and sorted through the odds and ends within. She found everything from golden teeth to a stone sculpture of a chicken, then finally picked said article from beneath the junk. It was a dusty, worn cuirass of seemingly archaic design. Ezra sighed as she held it up to her, estimating its fit. On the bright side, the many scars and scrapes meant the piece was proven in combat.

"There's some boots and arm bracers that go with it. You and I are about the same size, so you can put some of my clothes on under them." Cartash leaned back with a more sarcastic tone, "Sorry it isn't jewel-encrusted. I lent my royal set to a friend of mine."

Ezra looked back with a forced optimism, "This'll do fine. Now step outside while I change."

"You're kidding," Cartash frowned, "You can't just kick me out of my own home!"

Ezra shrugged at him, "It's either that or Droplet's covering your face. I'm still a maiden, you know."

Cartash glanced down at Droplet, who was perched on the bed looking up at him. The creature rippled a high-pitched growl with a slight hop. After a second, Cartash sighed and shuffled muttering toward the stairs. "Stick my neck out for once in my life and get kicked out of my own Barrow."

The tree trunk at the entrance opened to exiting footsteps, satisfying Ezra's demand. She sat on the bed and changed from her soiled dress into a common tunic and trousers. Indeed the fabric was a bit tight in places and loose in others, but it would suffice. The leather armor slid on more easily across her thin frame, and she tightened the straps of the shoulder pads over her smaller arms. It was heavier than she expected it to be.

Next came the bracers and boots, then she tightened a belt around her waist with a satchel looped to it. Droplet slithered into the bag while Ezra stood, moving around a bit to give herself a better fit in the new getup. She removed a lace from her old dress and pulled her bangs into a partial ponytail.