To Roads Less Traveled

[Iorran (Tirion)]

Tirion bid farewell to his boon companions of two days as he rode his new mare north. Selibas told him he would be able to find the Kutolah tribe to the north. He was aware that the Kutolah were among the three largest tribes in the plains so it seemed like a good place to aim for. Tirion hummed a song of travel as he bounced on the chestnut hide of his mount. The road was difficult to follow. It was uneven and grass had since grown over it. It was obvious that the path hadn't been serviced in some time. However, he had to keep on it. Any deviation would surly have him lost considering the poor quality of his map.

Nearly half a day of riding had gone by with stops to water and feed his horse and feed himself. The sun began to set and Tirion spotted a large tree just off the road to set up camp under. Being alone like he was at the time saddened Tirion. He missed his home and his friends. Sitting against the tree, Tirion took to his pipe and smoked, thinking of the fun Cray and Erie must be having at the Dancing Blade until he felt tired enough to sleep.

A rustling in the grass next to him slowly forced Tirion awake.

"What is it, horse? I suppose I really should name ye..." Tirion said, half asleep. However, he was stopped mid sentence as he noticed a figure going through his things. As if spurred by the wind itself, Tirion drew Harflgar and placed the tip of the blade at the person's throat.

"I wouldn't be doin' that if'n I were ye, lad." finally able to see who it was that was stealing his belongings, he noticed it was a young woman. Her skin tone and eyes reminded him of Selibas' people, yet her long auburn hair was almost exactly like his own.

"A... a lass?" The girl looked as if she'd seen a ghost. She dropped the things she was holding from Tirion's bag.

"Papa? No... you look like my papa, but not as old."

Tirion was wildly confused by this. Papa? He looked like her father?

"You even talk like him! I'm sorry, sir! I had no idea you were Norric!"

She knew his tribe? Tirion was so utterly confused by this that he had to put his sword down and slump back against the tree.

[Iorran (Tirion)]

"Um, sir? Are you alright?" the girl now stood over Tirion with her face practically pressed against his. Tirion noticed her eyes were a brilliant shade of emerald green. They reminded him so much of his father's eyes. He politely pushed her to the side and shifted a bit so he was sitting rather than slumping against the trunk of the tree.

"Aye, lass. Ye just gave me a bit o' start there. How... how do ye know of the Norric?" Tirion seemed to have forgotten the girl's attempted theft earlier. He was too confounded by this girl's appearance and knowledge.

"Well, my papa told me of them. He said he came from the Norric tribe. It's so weird. You look like you could be his son! Do all the Norric look the same or something?"

Tirion suddenly got a lump in his throat the size of his fist. The odds of what he was thinking of were astoundingly low, but he had to find out.

"No. We look as different from one another as any... Lass, can ye maybe take me to yer da?"

"Da? Oh. You mean papa? He should be back from the morning hunt by now. Sure! Maybe you two know each other!" Tirion picked himself up and gathered his things.

"I certainly hope so." The girl looked at Tirion's belongings and hung her head.

"I'm sorry for trying to steal from you. It's hard in the Kutolah right now. Some of our tribe are even serving Araphen right now to make money." Kutolah? So this girl is from the tribe he was riding to find. This day was turning out to be vary fortunate.

"No worries, lass. Yer young and the young are allowed ta make mistakes. Just don't be doin' it again, aye?"

"Um... yes, sir." Tirion took the reins of his horse and led her as he followed the girl north.

"My name's Kaela, by the way!" Tirion looked up at the sky as he answered.

"Tirion. Me name's Tirion."

[Iorran (Tirion)]

"This way! The men should be back here!" Kaela led Tirion through a bunch of tents similar to the ones at Selibas' settling. Eventually, they arrived at a large fire where several people were found sitting. They conversed about things such as how many antelope and bison they felled and how one apparently took down a bear. Tirion knew this was ludicrous since he had never even seen a bear on the plains. Women surrounded them skinning and cooking the morning's hunt. This confused Tirion. Why didn't the men help with the meal? Did they seriously just hunt the food? Of course, he decided that he shouldn't be so shocked. It was a different culture, after all. However, his thoughts were halted by an old man approaching him from behind.

"Kilur! What are you doing up and about? You should be --" When Trion turned around, the man looked shocked beyond what he should have been. Kaela walked to him and whispered something in his ear.

"By the wind... Talia!" a young woman only a few years older than Kaela ran up to the man.

"What is it, Grand Elder?"

"Tell Kilur that he has a visitor." The girl ran towards a large tent. Tirion looked around as more came to see him, "Daen! You have found your way here!"

"Daen? No. No, me name is Tirion." Tirion was curious as to why this old man was calling him by a different name - and who this Kilur was. The latter question was quickly answered. The front flap of the large tent the girl ran into was swung open. Out limped a man about the same build and height as Tirion. His long auburn hair was graying and his beard nearly covered all of his neck. He peered at Tirion with brilliant green eyes that welled up with tears. Tirion's blue eyes mimicked the man's green ones and his chest staggered as he held back a river of tears.

"DA!" Tirion ran to his father.

"Me son! Me boy!" The two embraced for the first time in four years. They held each other for what seemed like hours and finally let go. Tirion's father Aez twinged a bit after releasing his hold, "You'll 'ave ta forgive me. I hurt meself huntin' this mornin'."

"That's okay, Da. It's several time better 'an tha condition I thought you were in. All o' Mullingard thinks you're dead!"

"I know, I know. Come inside, me boy. I 'ave lots to tell ye."

[Iorran (Tirion)]

Tirion followed his father into the large tent. It was adorned with animal pelts and trinkets from Mullingard. The most noticeable of which was a large suit of armor set up on a stand made of wood from the Jolsafa tree found around his home city. The wood was unique in that it still held it's scent even after being cut and Tirion was immediately able to recognize it by smell. He looked intently at the suit of armor. It was the very same that his father kept in his room, now Tirion's room, in their home in Mullingard. The iron was polished and revealed intricate scrolling on the metal's surface. The tabard draped over the chestplate was adorned with the head of a proud lion, beasts that no longer roam this land. It was the symbol of the Aonghal family. The leather and chain under the plate had obviously seen use, but was still in good condition. On top of the stand sat his father's helm. It was fashioned of iron and bronze with a chain coif in the back. This suit had seen many a battle, retired after his father found his own reason to not war with the Gauls.

"That old suit brings memories for ye, don't it?" Aez asked. Tirion was shocked out of his trance. It did. He had dozens of fond memories with his father running through his head when he was examining the armor. He noticed something was amiss, however.

"Aye. But... were's yer shield?" Tirion looked over to his father as he asked. He sat on a cushion by an incense burner, tending to his leg.

"Me shield? Well if ye'll turn yer head a bit, ye'll see it. T'ain't much of a sight at tha moment, though." Tirion looked in the direction his father gestured to. He was right. The large shield his father used to take into battle had a large chunk taken out of it. The lion head on the front was missing a good deal of it's mane and the ironwood that made up the main body of the shield, normally as strong as most metals, was splintered like it were made of oak.

"What in Elibe happened? I cannae think of a single force man or creature that could do this!"

"These... I don' know how ta describe 'em. They looked like wolves, but... their strength was unimaginable. Me huntin' party an' me barely made it out this mornin'." Tirion's eyes widened.

"This mornin'? That's what hurt yer leg?"

"Aye. We had ta leave behind a good man, but we got away. But let's not dwell on that, Tirion. I 'ave things ta tell ya 'bout." Tirion wanted to find out about the creatures his father nearly perished at the hands of, but he supposed that he didn't want to talk about it. He made his way to the cushion next to his father and sat down. His father had his pipe out and was putting some sort of purple leaf into it. Tirion quickly got his out and stopped Aez from continuing.

"Ye know. I 'ave some sableweed an' plenty of it. Ye wanna join me?" Aez's tired eyes lit up at the mention of sableweed. He emptied his pipe and gestured for Tirion to open his bag of pipe leaves. Tirion filled his pipe and so did his father. Both lit their bowls and took long draughts.

"Ah... this is a dandy piece o' home, it is. I been longin' fer the sableweed fer years. It don't grow out here. Is this our... er... yer home grown stuff?"

"Aye. I dried an' packed tha whole crop before leavin'."

"Leavin'... that's somethin' that's been buggin' me. But first. I need ta let ye know of a few things."

[Iorran (Tirion)]

"Alright. What is it ye wanna tell me?" Tirion asked after letting out some smoke rings. The tent quickly filled with the robust yet sweet smoke of the sableweed leaves. Tirion was put in a state of ease he had not felt in a long time. It truly felt like he was back home in Mullingard before his father disappeared, smoking on the front lawn of his home while trading stories with Aez.

Aez took a long draught and let out smoke rings equally as well formed as Tirion's.

"T'was four years ago that I left. As ye know, that rat bastard Halford was bendin' the council ta his design. He loved tha war an' wanted it ta go on 'til tha Gaul were little but a pile o' headless bodies on our lawns." Tirion's grip on his pipe tightened at the thought. He wasn't a hateful person, but he knew that he truly hated that man.

"Aye, I know that."

"Well I was tha only one on tha council ta challenge him. You an' I pushed fer peace, an equal understandin' between Mullingard and Faerderic. He wouldn't 'ave it. I confronted him directly one night an' it came ta blows. Bein' off me guard, I was struck out an' left fer dead." Tirion's eyes widened and then contorted into a scowl of contempt.

"That good fer nothin'..." Tirion was quickly interrupted by his father.

"O' course, yer ol' man ain't no pushover. An' I see that neither are ye." Tirion looked up at his father with surprise. What did he mean by that?

"Well no. But just 'cause I been out on tha plains fer a few days don't mean I can take Halford." It was Aez's turn to look surprised.

"Ye mean Halford didn't try ta kill ye?"

"Well no. I was sent on a mission ta introduce the Norric to the bigger Sacae tribes. There's a peace treaty in effect, a rather flimsy one, between us an' tha Gaul. We're offerin' our help to the war effort against Etruria. I also heard talk o' helpin' Bern. Tha latter'll be tough given how close we are ta Illia, but I like tha idea."

"Well I'll be damned! Seems thing's 'ave work thenselves out. It still seems a bit odd. Is Halford still in charge o' the militia?"

"Aye. 'Tis very odd that he's goin' along with this. In fact, he was tha one who suggested I take the job o' envoy." Suddenly, Tirion began to think on his final night in Mullingard that he could barely remember. Like waves of agony, pain wracked his head and he hunched over, howling. Flashes of people, singing, dancing, the Dancing Blade, Erie, Cray, a figure, pain, blackness.

When Tirion finally came to, his head felt as if a great fog had been lifted from it. He lay on the floor of the tent, sweat covering his body and breathing heavily. His father, Kaela, the grand elder, and Talia kneeled over him. Tirion laid there, barely able to move and eyes so wide his brow ached.

"Tirion! Are ye alright? Talk ta me, son!" The old man placed a bony hand on Aez's shoulder.

"It may be best to leave him be for now, Kilur."

"No!" Tirion bellowed, mustering what was left of his strength, "Da... you we're right. Halford did try ta... try ta kill me." After that, his energy was spent. Tirion drifted away into slumber, hearing traces of people saying things he couldn't make out.

[Iorran (Tirion)]

"Sorry, boyo. But I need ye out o' tha picture. Say hello to yer da in tha afterlife, will you?"

Tirion lay on a wooden cart, lifeless. His head throbbed with pain. He tried his hardest to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He couldn't see anything, either. All Tirion could make out was Halford's voice rambling on about finally getting rid of the only people to openly oppose his plans.

"Halford, ye bastard! This wasn't what ye told me! Oh, Tirion..."

That was Erie's voice! She was sobbing and it made it difficult to make out exactly what she was saying, but Tirion could figure it out.

"Oh, please, lass. Ye expected me to keep me word? Yer not as smart as ye look. Still... too bad yer boyfriend's dead. I got quite a broad shoulder ta cry on of ye want one. Maybe we could do some... less depressin' things aft--"

Halford was cut off by a loud smacking sound. It seemed to Tirion as though Erie had slapped Halford across the face. He wasn't able to smile, but if he could a very large one would have been displayed across his visage.

"The thought o' me... with you! Yer a daft fool, Halford! I hope Tirion an' Aez haunt ye fer the rest o' yer life!"

"Listen 'ere, wench!

A scuffle was heard and it sounded as if Erie was in pain. Tirion fought to get up and beat Halford tot he ground, but his body still lay lifeless.

"If ye don' do as I say, that wench of a ma o' yers is good as done fer! Am I clear?!"

"I... I understand... please... just don' tell me ma."

Erie's dejected words felt like daggers in Tirion's sides. It was torture having to hear this and not be able to do anything about it! He writhed and wailed in his mind, but nothing happened in the physical world. Eventually, the cart stopped.

"That's a good lass. Ah! We're finally 'ere. Just dump 'em, boys. He's good as dead."

Tirion felt a falling sensation as the cart was tipped and he slid off of it. The air rushing past him was suddenly replaced by freezing cold water as his body plunged into the river, Tirion wasn't sure which river it was, below.

Light peered through the gap in Tirion's eyelids as he slowly awoke. Realizing he was finally able to move, he jerked up with a howl.

"Erie! No! Don' do it!" sweat covered Tirion's body and every one of his muscles ached. Eyes wide and breath heavy, he looked around and found he was back in his father's tent.

"It was just - just a dream. Or... no! That's what happened that night! Erie... poor Erie." Tirion spoke to himself as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He finally knew everything. He also knew what he had to do, now.

Tirion slowly stood up and headed to the mouth of the tent to let his father know.

[Iorran (Tirion)]

Tirion stepped out to the collection of tents he was standing in what seemed like nary an hour ago. However, it was dark outside and the bulk of the tribe, or what he assumed to be the bulk of them, was sitting around a roaring fire. Slightly dazed, Tirion slumped over to a nearby pile of bags holding various food stuffs. Picking up an apple from the bag at the top of the pile, he looked around for his father. Finally spying a head of auburn hair darkened from age, he shuffled to his father, taking a bite from the apple along the way.

"Da. How..." Tirion stumbled back a bit. He was still weak from the previous events, "How long was I out?" Aez turned to face Tirion. The look on his face was a look of concern as he pulled Tirion upright.

"Nearly two days, son. What did ye get into that took such a toll on ye?"

"Well. Until now I couldn't remember. Halford. He... he's got Erie. He had her get me drunk and then he put me out on tha ground. I think he had somethin' on Erie's ma. Then he just left me fer dead in a river."

"Aye. Sounds like ol' Halford. What'll ye do 'bout it?"

"I need ta get back ta Mullingard. Confront Halford and take Erie back. But... I need help." Tirion felt another person walk up to him and Aez. He looked behind him and saw Kaela there.

"Papa? Is there something wrong?" She seemed concerned.

"No, Kaela. Run along. I'm havin' a private talk with yer brother."
Kaela looked a bit disappointed, but obeyed, "Such a curious lass, she is. Anyway, that sounds like a bold plan, but it's somethin' that needs doin'."

"Aye... um. Did ye say brother?"

"Oh! I never explained. Kaela is yer half sister. Half Kutolah an' half Norric. I met a bonnie lass 'ere an' we did as folks in love do. I sure do miss her ma. You shoulda seen her, Tirion. Legs that went on fer days. An' those lips--" Aez was interrupted by Tirion.

"What... what happened to her ma?"

"Huh? Oh. Well she..." Aez struggled to continue. He took a deep breath and continued, "She was taken from us last year. Nasty disease."

"Last year... wait. Kaela ain't that young. She's almost o' courtin' age. If you met her ma out 'ere, then. How is she..." It began to dawn on Tirion.

"Ah! I can see ye figured it out. Well ye know me. Always havin' troubles with tha womenfolk. I found my way out here years ago when ye were fightin' fer Halford. Had a nasty spat with yer ma and decided ta leave an' collect me thoughts. Well, long story short, I wound up stayin' with the Kutolah here for a few months. I think ye were stayin' at some war camp durin' then. Ye were so young then. I didn't 'ave the heart to tell ye."

"Oh. Well I understand why. I bet I woulda hated ye fer that back then." Tirion looked down at the ground trying to take this information in. Aez let out a mighty chuckle and grabbed his son around his shoulders.

"Aye ye would! Ye were a bit of a ma's lad back then! My! Yer shoulders are quite the broad ones! I forgot how much like yer ol' da ye are." This put a bit of a smile on Tirion's face. He figured he really should be too upset by what happened in the past. His mother basically abandoned the two of them, anyway.

"Aye. But I'm just a bit taller!" Aez's brow squinted a bit.

"That's just yer da shrinkin' in his old age! I was a giant in me prime!"

"I'm sure ye were, da." Tirion was startled a bit as he was suddenly moving forward. Aez was walking over to the fire with his arm still around Tirion.

"Come on, Tirion! Share a drink with me an' the tribe! The wine 'ere 'taint no brandy or cider, but it's passable!"

"Sure thing, da. I could go fer a sip o' the creature."

[Iorran (Tirion)]

Tirion awoke the next morning. Head pounding and body aching, he sat up in the tent the tribe elder had arranged for him.

"Ugh. What a night. I... I..." Tirion tried to complete his sentence, but he couldn't thanks to a child outside his tent being very loud. Having a nasty hangover, Tirion didn't much appreciate the noise.

"Hey! Could ye take yer playin' elsewhere? I got a doozy of a hangover..." It was then that Kaela ran in the tent.

"Sorry Daen! I'll try to be quieter." with that, she ran back out.

There was that name again. Daen. Tirion pondered why everyone in the tribe called him that except for his father. He figured it would be a question for Aez.

About an hour passed before Tirion felt he had the fortitude to step outside. Of course, the daylight hurt his head quite a bit, but he braved through it as he made his way to his father's tent. Right as Tirion was opening the tent's flap, Aez stepped out and slammed directly into Tirion. Almost in unison, the two shouted at one another, not noticing who it was they bumped into.

"AE! Careful with yerself! I got a hangover, 'ere!"
"Ye clumsy braggart! Watch where yer goin' 'round a sick man!"

Both opened their eyes and noticed who it was they were yelling at. Both erupted into laughter and again, in near unison, cringed from a massive headache.

"Yow! Herlar jan den torivansil!" Aez cursed in an ancient Norric tongue. The man disliked severe curses so he would instead say them in Graalic so only others who studied the language would know what he was saying. However, Tirion did understand him.

"Da. I don' think that yer headache's mother would appreciate that." Tirion said with a slight chuckle.

"It deserved it. Blasted hangovers. Only thing keepin' me from divin' into the bottle an' never comin' back."

"Well I suppose I could thank it, then." Aez looked a bit annoyed, but shrugged it off.

"So what do ye want, son?" Aez asked as he slowly stood back up.

"Huh?" Tirion couldn't remember what it was he wanted to ask. A few seconds of very painful thinking later, he remembered, "Oh! I was wonderin' why everyone calls me Daen. Peculiar thing ta name someone who has a name already."

"Oh. Well they give Kutolah names ta members o' the tribe. Since I was married inta the tribe, you're part of it as well. They asked me what our names meant in Graalic. Mine means mountain and their word fer that is Kilur. Yer name means salvation. Their word fer that is Daen." Tirion staggered as he stood up and placed a contemplative thumb on his chin.

"I see. Well that makes sense." Aez turned to his son as he stepped out of the tent.

"So! When do ye wanna get ta that Halford? I'm rearin' fer some father son tag team!

Tirion hadn't planned on taking his father, actually. He figured he was needed with the Kutolah. However, Aez was sure to have some fort of vendetta against Halford.

"Well, da. We cannae just stroll inta Mullingard an' take down the man. He's got an army at his side. I know Cray an' Erie would be willin' ta join us, but that's all I can think of as far as any possible troops. We'll need to make our way to another tribe or find a city on tha plains and draft some sword arms."

"I see. Well I know someone who could help, at least. Kaela!" Aez called to Tirion's half sister.

"Yes, Papa?"

"Get Talia and come back here. Make sure ye tell Talia ta bring her book. I've a task fer the two o' ye."

Kaela ran off at her father's word.

"Kaela and Talia? They can fight?"

"Sort of. Kaela's good with a bow, her ol' man taught her." Aez stood as if posing for a painting after saying that. It was clear he was proud of making a hunter out of his daughter, "An' Talia. Well she's got some sort o' magic at her disposal. It scares me a bit, though. It's so... dark. Nothin' like the magus back home."

As Aez finished, Kaela returned with Talia.

"Good girls! Now, Talia. Show Tirion yer trick."

"Um... alright, Kilur." The timid girl stepped forward and flipped to a page in her book. She held a hand out and a scar was slowly drawn on her palm which was faced at Tirion. Tirion almost jumped back from surprise. This was bizarre to say the least. When the design on her palm was finished, it began to emit a sort of anti-light. It shone like light, but it was black. Tirion couldn't make sense of what it was or how it was possible, but before he could think more on it, the light formed a sphere the same color that travelled underground. Tirion stood wodnering what was going to happen. Moments later, a dark tendril burst from the ground and flicked him on the nose. Tirion doubled back dumbfounded and nearly fearful of the girl. Aez simply burst into hearty laughter.

"Oh! The loo... The look on yer face! Ooohahahahahaha!" It took a bit for Aez to calm down, Tirion too, but he eventually stopped laughing, "See? Young Talia's a talented lass! You should see what she can do when she wants ta hurt somethin'! So. Ye wanna bring 'em along?"

"Y-Yeah. I would love to have... er.... that whatever it is on me side. An' a good bow as well." Tirion nodded to Kaela.

"Then it's decided! I'll fill in these two on the details. Ye go talk with the elder about tha four o' us leavin'. I know tha perfect place ta look fer soldiers." Aez seemed a bit too chipper for such a grave mission. But he was kind of always like that. At least as far back as Tirion could remember he was.

[Iorran (Tirion)]

After Aez pulled Kaela and Talia to the side, Tirion strode to the largest tent in the encampment. A large ornament was hung on the top post in the tent's framework. It resembled a wolf's head devouring a circle that was mostly black with a white crescent on the left portion of it. He recalled a legend about the wolf and that it howls at the moon for it's previous actions against the wolf god. It seemed this tribe favored the wolf's side of this conflict. Tirion bowed his head as he stepped into the tent.

"Excuse me, Grand Elder, but I've somethin' ta discuss with ye." Looking at Tirion was the elder and two capable looking warriors. He figured that they were leaders of some sort. The elder looked at his "generals" and dismissed them.

"I know what you come to ask, Daen. Your father has told me much of your need to leave this camp. I sympathize. I, too, was once a strong man such as yourself. I even had similar goals. I wrested control of this tribe from my corrupt father not fifty years ago." the elder motioned for Tirion to sit. Tirion complied and sat on a silk cushion, "I know there is no changing a man's mind when his loved ones are involved and I have no intention of doing so. Know that you are a member of this tribe as you are of your own. The Kutolah agree to accept the Norric as fellow brothers of Sacae and I will do my best to pass this to the Lorca and D'jute. Also know, that when the time comes, you can count on full support when you take your city back." the elder's words lifted Tirion's spirits immensely.

"Ye mean..."

"Yes, Daen. When you return from this mission to recruit warriors, return to this place and you will be supplied with a full pack of my finest warriors. Do with them as you wish." the elder exhaled as if just returning from a run and coughed loudly. Tirion got up and tried to help him somehow, but the old man simply held out a hand and looked at the Norricman.

"Do not worry for me. I have seen many winters. This is nothing. Go to your father, Daen. You two need to get ready."

Tirion nodded and left the tent. He was so excited to get going that he headed directly to his tent. He frantically gathered his things and put on his chain mail, armor, and cloak. However, when it came time to tie Harflgar to his waist, he paused for a second and looked at it. Slowly drawing the blade, he remembered countless men slain by it. If Cray had not been such a skilled smith, he probably would have broken it. Running his fingers down the etchings on the blade he read the Grallic.

Talvir hel an, tael Harflgar il raug.

With blade in hand, I protect those I love.

Hoisting his shield up, he took a stance he hadn't felt he needed for some time. Legs wide and sturdy, core strong, back arched forward, shield in front, and blade at his side, almost hidden by the shield. Taking a step, he made a mighty backhand swing to the left arcing upward followed by a slash downward. He imagined three opponents in front of him. As he came down on the previous swing, he spun around the first and sunk his blade deep in their chest. The second came in with a downward strike which Tirion "blocked" with his shield and countered with slash to their face with Harflgar, freshly ripped from the ribcage of the previous opponent. Finally, the third came directly at Tirion, charging with a raised blade. Tirion quickly thrust his shield upward, catching their chin, and spun around, slicing the vision in half.

Tirion stood, breath slightly heavier than before, and sheathed Harflgar.

"Aye. 'Tis a good blade, Cray. Always will be." Tirion told himself. Suddenly, his ten't opening flung open. Aez stood in a suit of chain mail with various plates in odd places on his body.

"Ae, son. Could ye help me with this blasted armor? I think I've shrunk a bit too much fer it. Tirion chuckled a bit and sighed as he went to strap on the plates properly.

"So yer all ready, huh? Well just wait 'till we get where I have in mind. 'Tis quite a sight. I mean, I like the thatched styles o' Mullingard as much as anyone, but this place is beautiful!"

"Just were are we headed, da?"

"Wouldn't ye like ta know? I'm gonna make it a surprise fer ye." Tirion scoffed a bit. He should have known. It was foolish to think his father wasn't going to make him guess. However, he knew how to push Aez's buttons as well.

"Well I'll leave it ta when we get there, then." Aez shook a bit, making it tough for Tirion to get one of Aez's pauldrons on.

"Oh, yer no fun! At least guess a bit!"

"I don' think I will. I'm fine with waitin'." Tirion had just strapped the last plate on, "There. How is it?" Aez walked around a bit and swung his arms.

"Cozy! Well. Let's be off, then, aye?"

"Aye!"

Tirion followed his father out of the tent to find most fo the tribe gathered at it's mouth. Tirion walked thorough a crowd of Kutolah tribespeople and finally reached his horse. Looking back at the elder's tent, he finally knew what to name her.

"I have the perfect name fer ye. How about Galn? It's Grallic fer wolf." the horse somehow seemed pleased by this. Tirion smiled and patted Galn. Kaela and Talia rode up on a mare of their own followed by Aez on a rather large black stallion. Tirion hoisted himself on Galn and turned to face the Kutolah.

"We will return after gathering soldiers! And the next time we return, Mullingard will be free of the stench that Halford has filled it with!" the Kutolah cheered and Aez smiled with pride. The four rode off with Aez at the head of the convoy.