Part of an unconnected series of stories following a young adventurer named Journey, who gets into various amorous adventures.
The story follows our hero as he is hired as a courier. As he is on the road, he joins up with a caravan. This story started out with a different outcome in mind, but evolved this way.
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Traveling on your own was never easy, especially if you have to do it on foot. My ultimate destination, Braycastle, was still a few days travel away. To make it even worse, it was an unseasonably hot day. It didn't start out that way. I had been awake since before dawn, and I started my trip early. The day started out cool, but as the sun got higher it got hotter and hotter. It was still mid morning, and I was building up a bit of a sweat.
Unfortunately for me, there were hardly any clouds in the sky to offer me protection. Fortunately for me, the road I was following crossed over the Jules River several times. There was no lack of fresh water, and if things got too hot I wouldn't be too far away from a chance at a quick dip.
I was traveling relatively lightly. A hat provided me some protection from the sun, and I had decided early on to put my jacket away into my bag on my back. Along with the jacket, were my rations, a few camp necessities, and the book I was being paid to take to Braycastle. I had done some courier work before. Usually it was one merchant needing something delivered to another within the city. Occasionally though, I was offered a job to carry some cargo from one town to another. These usually paid well, and this job was no exception.
I had received her message earlier that day. "I hear you can be of service to me. Come to the Ivy and Briar. Five bells." A quarter till five bells I made my way down to the Marble Quarter. Just as I was told, there it was, the Ivy and Briar. It was a house of luxuries and antiquities. The building was welcoming, with large windows, and the namesake ivy climbing up over half of the building. Coming up to the door, I tested the door. It was open, so I didn't bother knocking and walked right in.
There was a small tinkiing of a bell as the door closed behind me.I looked around the establishment. Around the large room were a series of large display cases, well lit by the large windows and a large fireplace. Looking around, I didn't see the proprietor. Taking a closer look at the cases, I examined their contents. Within were a wide variety of objects: ornate blades, tapestries, prints, and one case was filled with jewels of all kinds. There were even a couple sets of armor, standing guard in the corners of the shop.
"Impressive aren't they?" a voice behind me said. I jolted, and turned around. Before me was a woman standing in the doorway leading upstairs. Older than me, she had an imposing air. She was wearing a sweeping dark dress that extended to the floor. Her hair was pulled back, and around her neck was a red jeweled pendant emphasizing a long neckline. She walked up to me with a hand extended. I shook it, as she introduced itself, "I'm Saray Briggs, owner of the Ivy and Briar. You are...?" Everything about her from her fashion, to the tone of her voice, to her sheer physical presence gave you the sense that when she spoke you listened.
"Journey," I replied.
"Good, good," she said with an assured smile, "I was hoping you had gotten my message." She went to the door, locking it. "We don't need any interruptions as I tell you what I need do we? Come. Follow me." She quickly walked to the stairs. I felt a little lost in her wake, but followed closely behind. There was a small benefit of the good view of Saray's legs as she walked to the top of the stairs.
She turned to the left into a spacious bedroom and office space whose walls were covered in bookshelves. "You may think the real value of my goods would be in the trinkets and jewels downstairs, but the real value is in books. They are very difficult to produce. They can easily be damaged or destroyed, and only the most educated...and by educated I mean richest can take advantage of them. Can you read?"
I admitted that I could manage what I needed, but had little chance to read for pleasure. Saray looked embarrassed that she had overstepped with her question. Her concern relaxed me. She continued on with the job at hand, "Anyway, what I'm saying is that I need you to take a very valuable book for me from here in Louton to a merchant in Braycastle. You've come well recommended by a number of my contacts in town including: the Merchants Guild, the Changers Guild, the...Thieves Guild. I'm hoping you won't let me down," she said, giving me a knowing look.
"I've already been paid a deposit for the book, so you wouldn't need to worry about having to handle the money. Payment will be handled through the Changer's Guild. If you accept this job, I will give you 150 pieces today in addition to some you will need for your travel to Braycastle. On your return, you will get 2500 pieces."
I blinked at that number, "That...certainly is a generous number. This must be some book..."
Coming closer, she whispered conspiratorially, "It is." She turned around, and opened up a panel hidden in her bed. She came back carrying a small book. "It may not look it, but this book is older than anyone you know, thrice as old in fact." She had come close, and I could feel her heat, her excitement. I was actually getting a little thrilled by the thought of something so old, something so...powerful?
"Now if you can deliver this for me, you can make me very, very rich." She took a moment, set the little book onto a table nearby. Leaning close to me, she whispered, "If you can do this for me I will make it worth your time." She had placed a hand on my now growing bulge. "Fail to deliver the book though," she leaned in eye to eye with me, "and you will be made to suffer." She gave my cock an uncomfortable squeeze and backed off.
The memory of the Ivy and Briar filled me with a little thrill. This little adventure could potentially land me quite the landfall...and then some. The book was currently safely in its own little bag, sealed by wax paper to protect it from the water or exposure. I didn't have to worry about the book for now though, I just had to focus on the trip to the Braycastle.
As I was walking a small caravan started to overpass me. A series of wagons and riders started to pass. It looked like a group of traders and various hangers on, musicians, and the like. "Ho there!" a friendly looking man with a gray beard called out. He slowed his wagon and pulled it to my side of the road. "Which way are you traveling young man?" he asked.
"Well, I'm making my way towards Terrydale, but my goal is Braycastle." I provided.
"We can take you along with us that way if you wish, but Bray is a bit out of the way," he lifted a box off his seat next to him, placing it into his wagon behind him. "Hop on."
I obliged and climbed up onto his wagon settling down next to him. "This is mighty kind of you sir. You can call me Journey if you like."
He nodded, and offered his hand, "My name is Nathan, but everyone calls me Natt."
"Thanks again Natt." We chatted passing the time, talking with the other members of the caravan. He told me of his travels and the other members of the group. There were a couple of families hauling the early harvest, a couple pairs of traders, a monk, an entertainers troupe, and even a trio of bounty hunters that offered their protection services. Apparently Natt had lived quite the life, working a little bit of everything. His early life was as a part of the army. He had been a sailor, tried his hand at smuggling, had a brief stint as a musician, in addition to a few other trades. Currently, he was working as a carpenter.
The bounty hunters passed us by on their horses. It turned out that they were three brothers named Jean, Olivier, and Alex. They were on the trail of a man accused of murder in Tranover, and arson in Hollygate and Morriston. The brothers had been hired on to escort the little caravan as it made its way across the countryside. It was a convenient little arrangement. The bounty hunters got where they wanted to go and were paid a little on the way there. In return the caravan got some muscle for protection. I liked their friendly and easygoing manner. They were friendly, joking with each other and the travelers as they kept watch.
Ahead of Natt's wagon was the traveling troupe's wagon. The troupe had four members, seemingly unrelated, all sharing the same wagon. The oldest, known as Alden, was a round little graybeard who would lead the caravan in popular folk songs. He would strum on a lute and sing in a wonderful baritone. His wife would accompany him singing and clapping along, though mostly she would man the reins and keep the wagon on track. Natt told me her name was Agatha. Apparently the two of them had been together for at least a dozen years if not more. After each song the caravan gave its round of applause and the happy couple would give their bows.
The other two members were a pair of young women. During Alden's songs, they would dance and tumble about showing their flexibility and acrobatics. Perhaps their most spectacular trick was a flying leap out of the back of the wagon, flipping out and landing on their feet. The acrobats were a pair of sisters, Illya and Anya. Illya was tall and thin, with light brown hair. She seemed to be especially adept at tumbling. She would occasionally do one without any notice, flipping and cartwheeling just for the fun of it. On the other hand Anya was diminutive, with darker hair. While capable of similar tumbling feats as her sister, it seemed that she was particularly renowned for her feats of balance. At times she would walk by Natt's wagon on her hands, making us laugh with her jokes. For the most part though they would dance about with each other in time to the lute, spinning and tumbling. More than once I would catch Anya looking my way. Finally, after catching one last fleeting look from the diminutive brunette I gave her a wink and a smile. Embarrassed, she blushed and looked away.
Natt noticed the flirtation, and muttered to me, "You be careful with that one. I don't want to see her hurt."
