Livior Origins

Chapter 5

The Journey Begins

Vahlt had already said goodbye to his parents and siblings and decided to stay the night in Liviors room with him so they could get as early a start as possible. After dinner Genia and Shriv packed the food and other supplies they would need to reach the human capital city where they would resupply. In Liviors room he and Vahlt packed and repacked their clothes and other items they thought they might need on the coming journey. Livior laid out his armor to wear over his tunic which Vahlt did the same with his own. Finally it was time for bed and Livior and Vahlt squeezed into Liviors bed which only a year or two ago seemed spacious to the two of them when Vahlt slept over but now seemed like it was made for a dwarf. After elbowing each other and pushing and shoving for about fifteen minutes they finally found comfortable positions and fell asleep.

When Livior awoke the next day well before dawn he felt Vahlts face right up against the back of his head and felt something wet drip down onto his neck. He immediately jumped and pushed Vahlt off the bed. As he ran his hand through his hair it was obvious Vahlt had drooled in his hair overnight. Vahlts initial confusion turned to anger as he yelled "What'd you do that for?!"

Livior turned around and pointed to the huge patch of wet hair and the puddle of drool on his shoulder. He said "That's why!"

Vahlt looked embarrassed and said "Oh...sorry brother I didn't know I did that."

Livior laughed and said "You've done it for years and keep forgetting. Now you know if you can remember this time!"

They both laughed and Vahlt let Livior bathe first since he had a head full of Vahlts drool in his hair. As soon as Livior was climbing out Vahlt jumped in not even waiting for Livior to get his foot out of the water. Vahlt finished bathing faster than Livior because he never took the time to clean his fingernails and scrub his skin as vigorously as Livior did. Livior was always more of a neat freak than anyone else in Cereba preferring to always look his best no matter where he was. Livior had barely gotten his pantaloons on in fact when Vahlt was already jumping out of the basin and draining it. By the time they both were fully dressed in their armor and had their weapons strapped on it was breakfast time. Livior came out with his bow and quiver across his back and a sword on each hip decked out in full battle gear. Vahlt was similar aside from the second sword. When they looked at Liviors parents they had dressed similarly, both in their armor with short swords strapped to their hip and theirs bows and quivers on their backs. Livior noticed the crest on their armor was now identical to the one he wore which made him smile.

Vahlt and Livior went and sat down at the table to eat which again were Liviors favorite pancakes with jellied blueberries. When they finished eating Shriv pulled out a cloak for each of them and fastened them around the boys' necks. Shriv said "Keep your cloaks pulled tightly closed whenever we are around other people you may not know."

Livior and Vahlt both nervously shook their heads and said "Yes father."

They all grabbed their packs which each would carry an equal amount of the food and other supplies, it was fair to distribute the weight and made sure they each carried the supplies they might need if they were separated from each other. Genia gave each of them a coin pouch which she tied around their belts with enough coins within them to be sure they could get where they were going without each other if needed as well. She drew the hood of Liviors traveling cloak over his head and said "We must keep our identities hidden as long as possible when on the road. There are all kinds of bandits and thieves on the mainland so remember to do as we say."

Livior and Vahlt said "Yes mother."

Then they all took one last look around their house knowing it would be a long time before they returned if ever and then they closed the door behind them locking it. They made their way out of the city quickly without anyone paying them much mind. They took the path that lead past Liviors birth parents old home and stopped to pay their respects one last time before continuing on. It took them three hours to reach the western edge of the southern boundary of the Ring of Fire. About two hours later they saw Troyth lying on the beach ahead of them. Livior called out "Hey Troyth!"