The Little Shaman

Chapter 9 - So That's Decided

The bouncing of the wagon was starting to get to Tibby. Leaning over the side, he closed his eyes and tried to get a hold of himself. His stomach twisting in knots, he was on the verge of throwing up when Deemo landed on his shoulder. Somehow, her presence settled him down. The churning in his stomach dissipated, and the only thing that parted his lips was a small burp.

"Did you just use magic on me?" Tibby asked without looking up.

"Of course. I have no desire to see, hear, or smell what was about to come out of you. Besides, I understand how you feel. I'm not used to all this jostling either."

Falling back from the edge of the wagon and leaning against the tall basket, Tibby rubbed his forehead and looked over at Boo just as Boo looked back at him.

"You alright back there?" Boo asked, half amused and half concerned.

"I've been better," Tibby confessed, pouting from his misery.

"I'm sorry," Boo replied, sounding genuinely apologetic. "We have to keep the pace up for just a little bit longer. River said he's leading us to a hidden glade on the shore of a lake. He used to camp there with friends as a kid."

Nodding to acknowledge Boo's update, Tibby leaned over and reflected back on his meeting with Garthia the Forest Giant at the lake in the swamp. He smiled and chuckled quietly at the memory of Deemo throwing a rock at the giant's head. She'd been so nervous after Garthia rose from the water. Not that Tibby hadn't been nervous. But at that moment, he was more determined to do right by his friend than anything else. He wondered what the odds were of there being a giant in the lake they were riding to.

While the journey carried on, Tibby looked up at the afternoon sky to see a flock of long tailed crows flying over them. He wondered if it was the same flock that had watched him leave the marshlands. Probably not. They'd have no reason to fly this far away from the swamp. The birds currently circling overhead hung around for a few minutes before turning east. Watching them fly away, Tibby wished he had his own pair of wings. That way he could fly above the wagon and still be able to keep up with Boo and River.

Another hour went by before they arrived at the Lake. Getting the wagon to the glade was tricky since the route wasn't exactly made for a cart and horse. Once they finally stopped, Tibby jumped out and laid face first on the ground, hugging the grass as if greeting an old friend. The grass was bright green and soft, tickling Tibby's cheeks and nose. Looking side to side, he noticed that the trees surrounding them were tall and thin, with plenty of space in between. Good for keeping an eye out for anyone trying to sneak up on them.

"Wow, was my driving that bad?" Boo asked with a laugh, climbing down from the wagon and leaning against the side with his arms crossed.

"It wasn't your driving," Tibby answered, a relieved smile on his face as he rolled over and sat up. "I promise. The bouncing was just getting to me."

Dismounting from his horse at the glade's edge, River came up leading the animal by its bridle. He looked at peace, or at least more so than he had back at the manor. A gentle smile was on his face as he approached. The caliper wound was still visible along his jaw, and would probably leave a permanent scar. Just seeing it made Tibby angry. To think that his father was capable of doing such a thing....

"So, we have a few options," River said, patting his horse's neck. "We can camp here for the night and sleep under the stars."

"Or?" Boo spat out, sounding like he had zero interest in staying outside. Tibby laughed quietly at his grumpiness.

"Or, we can rest for a bit before heading to a town called Witterton a few miles up the shoreline. It's slightly out of the way, but offers a few benefits. First, beds and shelter. Second, better food than we can cook out here. Third, it's a town where everyone is welcome - human and demihuman alike. I used to go there with my friends when I was younger. Infuriated my dad."