The Quest

Chapter 3

~Di~

The path made for an uncomfortable sleep. That and sleeping on Matis's legs made Di's back quite sore after a few hours. She decided to get up when the sun began to set, stretching as the cart bumped along with the stray rocks and pebbles. Only Po and Longboar slept, both somehow looking incredibly more comfortable than she felt in her own nap. The heat had mostly dissipated into a comfortable stillness.

Di looked up. The sky was a fascinating purplish-blue, the sun setting far past the hills. Some stars shone, some clouds floated past, but it was mostly clear. And vast. And far. She felt more at peace again, despite being among four men and a wretched dwarf. The moon would soon rise, and her soul would too; she could feel her pulse slow and steady and her skin ripple. Moonrise was the best part of the day, even in her sleep.

Matis rubbed her arm, sensing her calm washing over the cart. Di saw Quo turn his head from the front, and smile at her in appreciation. Anyone could feel the height of an elf's power when it came around and that night Di would be at her strongest - full moon with a clear and a steady sky. Quo pulled the reins and the horses softly pulled off the path, onto the grasses. No trees were around to hide them from robbers, but in many ways, their night would be safer this way. They all knew they were to pull watches in turn and trees usually meant any sort of Fae could be lurking, especially elves; Longboar and Po would be the first to pull watch which is why they were the first to sleep in the cart besides Di.

As the cart rolled to a stop Di began to stand up, carefully not touching anything or anyone beside Matis's guiding hand and the side of the cart. She jumped over the rail, Matis behind her, while the others got up slowly.

"Girl? You mind caring for these maidens?" Quo held out the reins to her. She smiled and silently took them. She took care to unlatch the mares and took two of the stakes from the pile in the cart where Quo had been sitting on, making her way by a gathering of bushes. Di checked the leaves, noting the utter greenness of it and deemed it safe to set the mares by. Then, she took the pack for them and began the process of setting out water and brushing them, letting the men and dwarf put the camp together. They had water for another seven days, she wondered how they'd get more.

Once finished, she joined the others about fifteen feet away. They cleared a space for a small fire, made by some of the bushes somehow, and more space to lay out their bedrolls. She sat next to her husband, leaving a hand on his arm, a familiar touch of hers.

'What're we eatin'?' Po asked, rubbing his stomach. Matis smirked. Probably remembering how it was to be a growing boy with hunger pains. Waterwell rummaged around until he found a pack with bread and dried pig, taking some for himself before passing it around. Di grabbed two pieces of the crumbly bread and two of the salted pig before handing it to Matis. She sighed. A terribly dry meal, but at least this time they remembered to add some pepper to the meat. She remembered, with a smile on her face, how she introduced the idea of other spices on their meats in their last adventure. How simple men could be.

Po seemed pleased enough, choking on the bread. Di chuckled.

"Finally! A smile from you!" Quo excitedly pointed at her. She rolled her eyes and took her hand from Matis's arm, deciding to lean on him instead. Quo smiled infectiously. He looked around, "Someone tells a story. NOT one about ourselves, an actual story!"

"Oh just let us eat in peace!" Matis waved a hand. Po sat a little straighter at the thought. Waterwell and Longboar shared a look.