The Father of Withering

Chapter Two: Fyar, Lord of Flies

Relma spent the day gathering together everything Estela had asked for. She remembered how Ronald and she had drawn up plans during this time. Plans on how to plan different kinds of trips. She took two rope sets, one to use and one to lose. In fact, she made sure they had two of everything they might need. There were also extra knives because you needed a knife. Extra rations and some bread and cheese for a nice breakfast early on were purchased and bought.

Also, Estela had a spare sword from the armor, given in case her one broke. And, of course, there was a spear and extra arrows from the fletcher, which Relma would carry for Estela. On and on it went until Relma realized her pack was getting pretty heavy.

But then, they would be gone for quite some time. These packs were going to get a lot lighter soon. Things got lost on the road, and you never knew what you might need. After consideration, she added an extra canteen and supplies and made a pack for Ajax.

It took far longer than Relma would have liked, and she only managed to get the rest in time to go to bed. That night, she slept fitfully, not sure about leaving Gel Carn. Now and then, her thoughts turned to her home back in the lands of Lord Anton. She and Ronald had grown up there together.

Now Ronald was gone off with Sir Frederick, questing. She wondered what adventures they had been having and if he would tell her about them later. Though, who knew when he'd actually get back. It could be months or even years, depending on what demanded Sir Frederick's attention. By the time Relma met Estela the next day, she wasn't feeling very well rested. The upcoming journey had weighed on her mind, and she'd hardly slept a wink. She felt quite miserable, actually.

Why had Ronald had to leave? They'd been a group before, but now the group had broken up. It just didn't feel right going off without him. But he was off in Blackfear, having adventures keeping the roads safe from the undead. An important task with the blessing of Steward Benarus and Baroness Saphra Delenay. It was helping people. Ronald had promised to do it in her name.

It was important, and it could do a lot to both shores up Relma's support and help her.

The meeting place was on the road just outside the gates of Gel Carn. It had been set up near some old stones erected to appease local fairies long ago. No fairies dwelled here now, but the markings had gone cold, and the glow disappeared. Aunt Pan had told her that once they had glowed constantly with the power of Isriath. But as her power faded, magic departed this place, and other spirits came to replace them.

Estela sat by an ordinary stone near the shrine and polished her shield. Her helm was at her feet, and her armor was on her while her bow was propped up against the shrine. She looked beautiful in the sun, with her hair falling around her shoulders. She looked up as Relma and Ajax drew near. "Do you have all the supplies?"

"Yes, of course I do," said Relma, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "We had to spend most of yesterday looking for them, but we found them."

"Easy for you to say. I carried most of it," muttered Ajax. Ajax was about twice as strong as any of them put together. Relma had seen him in action personally. She and Estela had been throwing around like ragdolls when they'd fought last.

"No, you didn't," said Relma, who had a lot of endurance over short distances. "I carried just as much as you, and you're a quarter-demon. Where's Aunt Pan?"