Chapter 7 (part 2)

The sun was setting down fast and we couldn’t ride for much longer so we set up camp. We were headed north towards the river I like to call “The River with a lot of Nicknames”. I think it’s the only river in the world with so many names. It’s been called the River of Life, Mother River, Main River, The Big River, The Vein of the Continent and a whole lot more but its proper name is Barquiz River. There’s only one reason to blame for that: poets. Poets like to describe that river and everything under the sun (sun included) for that matter, in their unique, poetic, long winded fashion and then spread it around like a plague. The people who contract this plague then know the river in that poetic way too and treat it like it’s the river’s real name.

 Poets and their tangled sense of language – they make this simple world sound painful and complicated.

After we reach the river, we’ll continue going north along its length until we reach Etherion City. It may sound like a short ride but that’s actually a week and a half’s journey on horses so I have a daunting amount of spare time. Usually on an escort mission, one prays for a safe and uneventful journey but I prayed that we would be attacked maybe just once after I recover. If we were attacked when I’m not fully recovered, Noirxus would hog all the action for himself and I’ll be left with nothing but boredom and disappointment.  

I set up the tents with Lady Rascielle while Noirxus tends the fire and Captain D hunts for food. When the captain returned with a small wild boar, he passed it onto Noirxus which he prepared with expertise. If I should name one advantage of this trip, it would be eating Noirxus’ cooking. I still can’t forget the taste of the rabbit he first served me. While he was busy roasting the seasoned meat, the captain arranged the guarding shifts. I volunteered to be the first shift because I can guarantee that I won’t be watching anything but dreams if I’m interrupted from my sleep. The second shift belongs to Noirxus and the last to the Captain.

 

“There was something I forgot to ask when I took this job that I just recently remembered,” I said breaking the awkward silence that fell on our group as we ate. “How much is the reward again?”

“Well seeing that you two are the only ones who noticed our sign, the whole reward that should be split among 20 men are now yours. As for how much, that would be twenty diamonds.” D said. My mouth fell. The ten thousand gold coins we received from the tournament looks like change compared to twenty diamonds. If we receive such a prize, we’d be rich!

“I didn’t know you were rich,” I turned my head to Rascielle, eyes twinkling with excitement. “With such a hefty prize for compensation, is someone strong after you?”

“We do not know in fact who may be after her life,” D replied for her. “But the one whom offered the reward is willing to pay any price to ensure her safety. And I believe, with you two, forget twenty men. We just recruited a two man army.”

“Oho!” I exclaimed. “I am flattered you recognize my strength, sir. But flatteries will get you nowhere.”

Captain D laughed or roared. With his deep voice, I heard it both ways but his laughter brightened the mood among us.

I learned of three things – one, this lady was not the one offering the reward, which means she doesn’t have the money with her; two, whoever is offering the reward cares or wants her bad; and lastly, they recognize my awesomeness! My existence is such a bright star. I’m going to blind people at this rate.

While I was wallowing in my pride, I caught Rascielle stealing a glance at Noirxus. Oho! It seems I’m not the only bright light around. This guy attracts women like moths to a flame but that may be just me thinking too much.

After the meal, everyone eventually retired to their tents except for me. I made myself comfortable on a rock with my sword within reach and decided on recuperating. But interestingly, I wasn’t the only one recovering. I noticed that Noirxus was subtly gathering magic the whole time we were traveling and eating, only he should be full by now since he didn’t lose that much rion.

Tonight was a new moon though so I couldn’t collect much. To me, for some unknown reason, light is the most efficient source of rion. With nothing left to do, I was quickly getting bored so to pass time, I decided to practice my sword forms silently.

The day after tomorrow, we’d be entering the river’s extensive forest. By then I should be well enough to fight another dragon slayer.