Verange

Chapter 1

Hayden was merely trying to buy enough food to last him a week or so until he could make it to the next town. At his hip hung a sword contained in a simple leather sheath. It was a dangerous time to be traveling alone and it seemed he was always falling into trouble. He had just finished his transaction and exited the store when two men sprung up and attempted to mug him. Caught by surprise and unable to draw his sword the two men quickly bested him. However a young maiden appeared from seemingly nowhere and ordered the men to drop his items. Of course, they laughed. Who would ever find a young girl threatening? Hayden certainly did. His keen eyes saw the blue sword at her hip and the bow across her shoulder. The men were fools and just turned their back to her and to Hayden, who, without his buys in hand, drew his sword. The girl shook her head at him and followed the men. He was left standing there, bewildered. He was forced to debate whether to go after the young woman, wait for her return, or give up and go looking for an Inn and buy more supplies in the morning. Just as he had given up hope on the girl and was climbing onto his brown steed, the girl reappeared with his goods in her arms, her sword red with blood. “You’d do best to keep your eyes moving around here.” She spoke to him harshly with an accent he struggled understand. How dare she speak to him like that? She was just a woman after all. Though the blood on her sword made him doubt just how dangerous she really was.

 “I would have been fine.” He retorted, his pride damaged.

She simply shook her head and walked in the opposite direction where a large black steed was waiting in the shadows. He watched her walk away carefully. She moved slowly, as if every movement would cause her pain but she moved smoothly and gracefully. As she approached the horse, it met her and she easily swung into the saddle. As she rode away, Hayden realized she never caught her name. She had been very pretty and Hayden cursed himself for not bothering with introductions. She had just saved his 7 crowns worth of goods after all. A group of soldiers passed him and he shielded his face from them as he passed them.

Hayden packed his goods into his saddle bags and rode down the street to find an Inn to stay at for the night. After nearly a month without a proper bed he was waiting anxiously for one. He was currently in a small ocean side town called Pralor.  At the end of the street he was on there was a large tavern with boarding rooms up above. He slipped inside with his bow across his back and his sword at his hip. He went up to the bar and ordered a mug of ale and asked about any empty rooms. “Aye. There’s one left. Upstairs, last door on the left. Costs 3 crowns a night.” Hayden groaned at the price but agreed to pay it. At this rate it was the nicest one he had seen so far.

After he drained his mug he climbed the stairs and claimed the room he had paid for.  He collapsed on the bed and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

When he woke up the next morning he smiled up at the roof and climbed out of his bed. After a good night’s rest for the first time in over a month he felt as though he could go on for several days without sleeping again. Which he very well might have to. The Capitol was searching for him. After he entered the town the day before and saw that no wanted posters were posted he decided to rest here for the night to restock on his supplies and rest himself and his horse. The mountains off to the left of the city would be his next destination. There were few towns and many animals for him to hunt, as well as plenty of grass for his horse. There were also rumors of an organization that was going against the Capitol based in the mountains, and, because of their great vastness, the Capitol was unable to find them. Hayden, however, was sure he could. He grew up as a farm boy on the other side of the mountains. He had crossed them numerous times during his travels and was quite certain the organization was close to his current position. It was the main reason he stopped here. To restock before crossing the mountains. Meat and greens was enough to live on but he enjoyed a bit of bread and cheese once in awhile.