“You're going to meet with Master Wayland. He's the only person I know that can give you a step in the right direction without much cost to yourself,” said Baldric with a sigh.
This took some time to register. From what I'd heard from Baldric, Wayland and the rest of his clan were eccentric to say the least. “He agreed to see me? Tell me you didn't need to promise anything terrible to get him to agree.”
“What? Oh, no, nothing of the sort. I just need to bring the children along to visit next time I go to them for iron. He likes seeing how they're doing and such.”
“Should I bring the Merlot? Would that help?”
Baldric shook his head. “Not really. Wine as a gift doesn't impress him much. A cask of beer might, if you had some.”
“Alas, I do not. No matter, I'll think of something. Thank you for this, if nothing else. I'm sure that I'll come up with something.”
“Don't thank me until you get back from your quest. You may have a silver tongue, but he has a mind of iron. He will not be easily swayed.” Baldric got up from his chair and stretched. “But enough of that. I've been traveling all day and I would very much like to sleep in my own bed. I'll see you off in the morning, Derek. Until then, good night, sleep well.”
I nodded. “Good night, Baldric.” I went to lay in the bed they'd prepared for me and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
The next day started off just as uneventfully. I woke up and ate with the family, same as the day before. I told jokes and entertained the nieces and nephews, and they laughed. When it came time for me to leave, I said my goodbyes and Baldric guided me to a worn spot in the woods.
“This will lead you to them. Don't be surprised if they find you on the path before you get there.”
“Thank you again, Baldric.” I hesitated for a moment, and then went on. “You know, if it does come down to it, I've left everything to you and yours.”
Baldric scowled. “Don't say that. You'll be back. You're too stubborn to die.”
“Nevertheless. Think of it as my last gift to the King. A parting present for his having sent me on this quest.” I said with a grin.
He laughed. “Alright, alright. I'll be sure to tend it if it comes to that, but remember to take it off my hands again once you return.”
“I will,” I said as I mounted up onto Sen. “Do well, Baldric.”
“You too,” he replied. With that I set off into the woods. The path that Baldric set me on looked as though it was well traveled, but only after I had started on it. The beginning looked like nothing more than a large clearing in the woods. It wound and wandered deep into the woods, surrounded on both sides by a wall of greenery. As I went further along the path and the woods grew thicker and darker around me, I began to realize that if I left this path and the tried to find it again on my own I would succeed only in becoming lost in the woods.
It seemed to be nearing nightfall and I began to look at the trees around me to see what might make for a good shelter when I felt a prickle in my neck. I reached up and pulled out a small, feathered dart. My vision began to go fuzzy and I feel to the ground. As I drifted into darkness I saw strange shapes descend from the trees, things that looked as if they had been born in a nightmare. Then everything went black.
When I woke up again I was tied to a chair in a dark room. “Forgive the bonds, Sir Derek, but we are aware of what you are capable of. Consider it a sign of respect.”
The figure in front of me was massive. He would tower over even the tallest man in the King's court and he was covered in bulging muscles. His neck was as thick as my waste and I imagined that he could break me in half with just two fingers. “I am honored then, for I think that if we met on the field of battle the advantage would be yours.”
