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24. A Road in Another World
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"It's crazy how we spent so much time trying to get out of Wallenheim just to be going back," said Bea scratching her head.
I have now learned that the territory the dungeon I started in and traveled on my adventures with Lyra through, was the human territory Wallenheim. But even at this point, all I'm still learning is some various names and places with no sense of where they're actually at...
"Oh no," Flueve interjected, "This is for Targaris. The human and beastfolk territory to the south east."
I noticed Bea tensed up, "Oh, re-really. What city?"
"Looks like Vulgus. Their main trading market there. I assume our scientist friend set up shop there for all the different things that come through."
Bea was pale, but no one seemed to take notice.
"Vulgus, huh? I've never been," said Lyra nodding her head as Flueve pointed to it on a map behind him.
"As this is guild business and an official job, we will be providing your transport. A horse drawn carriage with two horses and as long as one of you can drive it, I won't have to find a driver. That way you can be on your way as soon as you want."
"Aye. I can do er." Wexel spoke up from the ground.
"Well, we have all our stuff here. I'd say we're pretty ready to go," smiled Lyra as Flueve handed her a small paper.
"That has the address on it and the carriage rental number for you to take to the stables out back. Good luck," nodded Flueve as the group turned and regrouped a few feet away.
"Wexel, would you be willing to take this and get the carriage out front please?" asked Lyra holding out the paper to him.
"Aye," he said trotting off with his baggage.
Bea had remained quiet and it seemed Lyra finally took notice, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I just haven't been back in Targaris myself in... some years," Bea said, seemingly trying to perk up.
"Oh, of course you've been around. Do you have it mapped out?"
"Um, yeah, some. But the Great Road will take us straight there. Fastest way anyways. It should be a relatively easy thing. Drive down the road and drop off a package. Yeah, easy."
It seemed like Bea was trying to reassure herself, but Lyra nodded thoughtfully instead of prodding.
"I just wanted to take a moment and send up a letter to my father real quick. Let him at least know where I'm going and what I'm doing. Don't need him worrying more or sending an army after me."
"Understandable," Bea said nodding her head yes as Lyra went over to a counter to write.
It was just Bea and I now. I could see in her eyes that her mind was racing a million miles a minute. Sweat was forming around her forehead. She brushed it off and seemed to harden herself back to normal as Lyra came back.
"Alright, let's head out!"
"Yeah."
I followed the two outside as we all met Wexel at the carriage in front of the guild building and loaded it up to start our journey.
We rode out through the elven kingdom down The Great Road. It was a road that connected at the gates to the elven kingdom built a few hundred years ago. It spans straight south, southeast and southwest into two of the human territories while also acting as a sort of border between Wallenheim and Targaris as well.
As our carriage pulled out through the gate and onto the road, I took one last look at the scenery that we would be missing. All that vibrant nature was so well preserved within those walls. And the colors. But I shouldn't fret, because I know we'll be back again.
Vulgus was located near the end of the Great Road to the southeast. it would surely take some time to travel, but to my surprise, only 20 minutes or so had gone by since we left the elven kingdom, and the forest greenery even around the gate in the human territory, soon faded into desert and nothingness. It wasn't hot like a desert would be, but there was just nothing except the road. But there were people.
There were many carriages on the road in front of and behind us on the opposite side going the way we just came. Then there were tons of little roads on the side that connected to the great road as well where people would pull off or on.
For the moment, Lyra chose to ride upfront with Wexel to see parts of the territory she had never seen before. But again, there wasn't much to see. Right now anyways. I sat inside the carriage with Bea. She hadn't said anything since we started the journey, but the more we go on, the more she looked strained as she watched the outside pass by.
"Quack," I said, flapping a wing at her and breaking her gaze.
She's studied me for a second as if hesitating, but then finally sighed, "It's not like you can talk back, right?"
I shrugged.
"I hate it here. Targaris. This place... I honestly never thought I'd go back. But that was silly of me."
I pulled my wing up to my bill and cocked my head as if to ask 'Why?'.
"Bad things happened here. To me. To this place really. It's not a great history. Let's just say that the trade market is dominated by powerful groups of humans and beastfolk. It's been that way since before we were.. I was born. My father. He uh, made a deal with those kind of people and it ultimately lead to his death."
I jumped over to her side of the carriage and placed my wing on her shoulder.
"It's okay. That was a long time ago. That I accepted. But. Erg!" she grunted grabbing her head in frustration, "We deliver the package. We leave. That's what's best. I want the party to succeed and I understand we have to build a reputation. But not here."
The carriage slowed slightly as Lyra stepped on a side rail and got in the back of the carriage with us. She could tell Bea was upset, "Is everything okay."
"Yeah. Yeah," nodded Bea, trying to reassure herself.
"Wexel said he could handle the driving all the way there and that he was used to this kind of travel," Lyra explained, "It really is amazing how fast you can get across the territories on the great road. All the way to the most southeastern point in a day or so."
Bea laughed for the first time in awhile.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just, funny hearing that from you. You and waiting? With your teleporting dad," she explained in a giggle.
"Well... that's fair," said Lyra laughing too.
"Is something wrong Bea? It seems like something has been off since you learned we were coming here."
Bea looked down at me briefly. I didn't move to suggest anything. It was her story to tell.
"It's nothing, really. We just shouldn't stay too long in my opinion. It's not a nice place," Bea managed to get out.
"Okay. I can respect that. We do the delivery and can go back." Lyra looked at her seriously to show she valued Bea's wishes and Bea seemed to have a wave of ease come over her at hearing those words.
"Thank you."
Despite that moment, the tension never really went away and the group just sat in silence as we traveled down the great road. Day or night, the traffic never went away. There was always somebody in front of us, always somebody behind, and always somebody coming from the opposite direction. But we were making good time.
Wexel apparently had an uncanny ability to stay awake for long periods of time. Whether or not that's just a him thing or a dwarf thing, I don't know. But before too long, day became night and then night became morning. Traffic on the road had gotten thicker. Looking out you could see houses and side roads more often than before, all clustered near the great road.
"Aye," said Wexel tapping the cart, waking Bea and Lyra from a slumber, "Vulgus ahead."
They looked out down the road and there you could see it, the trade market city of Vulgus, spanning from left to right across the great road.
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End Part 24
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-𝐓𝐡𝐞 ֶָ֢ 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰ᝰ.ᐟ