Part 3 - Separation

Finally we are on our way again. Sadly we travel this time without Elrin. After almost a years time in Waterdeep we've lost him to his church, guild, and a vacuous but stunning red-headed rich girl from one of the more exclusive Waterdeep neighborhoods. I believe his quote was...

"Yeah... I think I'll settle in with this one and go for some luxury living for a while."

He put his feet up on the table and leaned back in his chair with a very contented look on his face.

"That girls family has got so much money.... hell.... I bet even the servants have servants. And they all think I'm some kinda hero for being a part of The Otherworlders. Yea... I tell ya it's nice being worshipped and boy does she know how worship IF ya know what I mean and I think you do."

Rio shakes his head smiling at that memory and the memory of the look that passed between Rio and Glow at the comment. Oh yes. Rio knows exactly what he means.

So the group consists of Rio, Glow, Dre, Raagnar, horses for the three of them, and a family of four with two horses and a covered wagon that have asked to travel with us for safety reasons. Travel isn't nearly as dangerous as it was during the Time of Troubles but still the road can be a dangerous place for a tailor, his wife and their two children. We decided that since we're not really in a hurry anyway they could travel with us for a few weeks until our paths separate.

They are a pleasant couple but keep very much to themselves. It is obvious that the children are afraid of Raagnar and Rio but they seem willing to be cautious friends with Dre and Glow. No doubt the men fit their imaginary picture of what a rough-edged adventurer/ruffian/rogue/barbarian would look like.

On their third day of travel from Waterdeep Rio remarks to Glow that they seem so unsure of him as a man but opened up immediately to Kiko, the large grey shepherd that sometimes travels with them. Glow replies saying to give them some time and that in fact, their estimation of him went up immeasurably when they discovered he had such a wonderful and intelligent dog.

"However," she cautions him, "I do not think that you should transform in front of them. They're not ready for that yet if they ever will be. They've all led very sheltered lives in Waterdeep and although Laurona (the woman) will not tell me why, she did say that their leaving Waterdeep was not something they did willingly."

During the first week we pass several small bands of traders and one large caravan complete with an armed military escort of perhaps 40 to 50 men traveling towards Waterdeep. We exchange slight pleasantries with each and get and give updates on the trail conditions ahead. Then on the sixth day there is almost a nasty incident with two highwaymen who, seeing two women, a dog and a covered wagon, get the impression of easy pickings. That is until Raagnar returns from a call of nature and invites them to either step aside or come in and meet their deaths at his hand. Seeing that the barbarian does not seem to be bluffing, indeed now he's advancing on them, they beat a hasty retreat off the path and allow us to pass. Rio stays behind to make sure they don't try to follow and ambush us, and then returns at a lope to the rest of the group.

On the ninth day the group is camped by small creek for lunch and a dip when Rio, from is vantage aloft in aerial reconnaissance, spots two horsemen approaching quickly from behind. He swirls down over the group letting out a loud cry before landing out of sight and reverting to human form. Then joining the rest he lets everyone know what's coming so we are ready for anything when the riders come around the bend and slow their approach. We eye each other warily and after the two confer for a moment one calls out.

"I am Wetzel of Waterdeep. Do I have the honor of addressing the Otherworlders ?"

"I am Rio of the Crescent Isles." the druid replies after a moment. "This is Raagnar, Dre and my wife Glowing Forest. What is it that you wish ?"

The man gets down off his horse handing the reins to the other, who stays mounted, and approaches the group. "As a member of the Waterdeep Messengers Guild I've been charged to deliver this to the Lady Dre of the Otherworlders. I'm told it is a matter of dire urgency and was bid deliver it at all haste. We've ridden three hard days and are thankful you've not diverted from the road."

Dre steps forward and accepts the large vellum envelope the man produces.

"Please place your mark of receipt on this banner." Wetzel says handing her a thin strip of cloth. "Additionally it was requested that I wait for any reply you may wish me to convey."

Dre examines the seal on the back, and then eyeballs the envelope itself carefully before attempting to open it. With a careful motion she breaks the seal, unfolds the message and begins reading.

"Oh hey Raagnar... it's from Warden. He says..." her voice trails off and her expression changes to one of dismay. "Oh SHIT !"

"What ?!? What is it ?!?" the barbarian comes over to stand behind her and looks over her shoulder but she has already finished reading and folds up the message to place it in an inner pocket.

"I'll return as fast as I can." she tells the messenger who then nods in acknowledgment and sprints back to his horse.

"We've gotta go back." Dre announces. Something has come up that requires my personal attention."

"What ?!? What ?!?" Raagnar demands. "Is it that same thing about..."

"Raagnar !" she snaps cutting him off mid-sentence. "You of all people should know that I am honor bound not to discuss matters pertaining to Warden and his... associates. Suffice it to say that my last few visits were apparently not enough to resolve the consequences of a certain... incident and that if I don't return to resolve the situation now there will be some unpleasant circumstances awaiting us when we do return."

She looks the barbarian straight in the eye and says, in a very firm voice... "Remember what I said earlier about how much trouble we'd be in if anyone ever found out that YOU know."

Raagnar shakes his head mutely.

"Well then..." She looks sternly at Raagnar who nods his understanding. Rio decides that whatever it is it MUST be serious for Dre to snap at Raagnar like that.

"Rio I'm sorry to ask you to turn around like this. Especially since I know you were about bursting at the seams to get out of the city. Hopefully I can get this resolved quickly and we can set out again soon."

The druid regards her seriously for a moment and then looks to Glow, Raagnar and the tailors covered wagon where Micah and Laurona watch the proceedings with apprehension on their faces. He runs his hand through his hair and lets out a heavy sigh.

"You and Raagnar are friends in the truest sense of the word... and I would do almost anything for you, you know that... but... THIS is where I belong." He makes a broad sweep with his hand indicating the wide open spaces all around.

"I was in that... city for so long that I've almost forgotten what it's like to tend to the wild where I am needed the most. Here I am free again to stretch my wings and ride the currents... to run with my animal brethren... to really become aquatinted with my new home. Just the thought of returning to Waterdeep, even though it means the Sacred Grove, fills me with such a loathing that I shudder even considering it. I am sorry too but I can not return with you."

He looks the lady elf steadily in the eyes ready to defend his decision against her protests but none are forthcoming. She looks disappointed but seems to understand that in this issue there will be no change of mind.

"Is this goodbye then ?" she asks quietly.

"No... of course not." Rio says trying to sound reassuring. "Go set your affairs in order. Glow and I will continue along at our current pace, escorting the wagon to their destination. Then we shall wait near the path for your return. If something comes up to change our plans Glow can contact you and let you know." He smiles and Dre is forced to smile as well.

"If you say so." she says grudgingly. "I... WE promise not to keep you waiting too long."

There is little else to say. After a quick lunch and a brief farewell Dre and Raagnar depart at a gallop. Rio watches them go and then turns back to see if everyone is ready to continue. Glow is sitting on the wagon talking with the tailor and his family, reassuring them that we'll be OK traveling without the barbarian and his sword. They don't look 100% convinced but do concede that all we can do is continue on and hope for the best.

The group sets off again and just as the sun is getting ready to set in the western horizon they top a small hill and have a beautiful panorama view of the way ahead. Rio calls the group to a halt saying that we shall stop here for the night. He sets a couple of snares in the pathway, one ahead and one behind, not so much to catch anything coming but more to make noise so we'll not be caught unawares. After doing so he returns to the small campsite and is surprised when he is approached by one of the tailors children, the youngest, as he is eating his evening meal.

"Please Mr. Rio sir." she says in a very timid voice. "Are you sure that Kiko is alright ? I haven't seen him all day and I saved a bit of my jerky from dinner for him." She holds out her hand showing the treat. "I thought he was your dog. Did he leave with the big man and the elf ?"

Rio smiles and for some reason is immensely pleased that he is no longer a big bad adventurer in her eyes to be avoided at all costs. "Don't worry little bear." he says in a quiet voice. "Kiko is the smartest dog there is and fast as the wind too. He should be back by morning... especially if he knows you've got a special treat for him."

He winks at her and looks over to Glow with a proud smile. "Now by the time you wake up in the morning I'll already be off scouting ahead so you make sure that you listen to your parents and Glow when they say it's time to go. And keep a sharp lookout for Kiko. OK ?"

The little one nods, yawns and then makes her way back to the wagon climbing in for the night.

"It's so quiet and peaceful." he says to Glow as they sit together under the stars. The sound of Laurona singing a quiet lullaby to her children filters through the canvas of their wagon and then ceases as she and Micah talk quietly before themselves settling down to sleep.

"I hope Dre and Raagnar will be alright. Did they say anything to you as to what was going on ?" Glow shakes her head sleepily and then leans over to put her head in Rio's lap. He strokes her cheeks and forehead softly and listens to the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. Soon she is asleep. He looks down at her and again the sense of wonderment and joy at their joining comes into his mind. He studies the stars for a while before gently lifting Glow's head and placing it on her partially unrolled bedroll. Then he goes to relieve himself and check on the horses before coming back. He wakes her gently and quietly unrolls her bedroll for her as she removes her leather armor and boots. Removing his as well he piles them neatly next to hers and then crawls in next to her on the soft ground cover. Sleep comes quickly to them both.

It is the scampering of chipmunks through their informal campsite that wakes him in the morning. The sun has just risen and the druid can hear Micah washing his face quietly behind the wagon. Stretching, Rio sits up and examines the new day. No clouds but windy and cool. "Should be a good day for traveling." he thinks to himself.

He nuzzles Glow and plants a kiss on her exposed ear. "Wake up my sleeping flower. It's time we got going."

He pulls his armor back on and helps her to her feet. He is reluctant to release her from their morning hug but eventually does saying, "I'm going to scout ahead for a while. I told the little one that Kiko would be around today so I'll be back nipping at your heels in a little bit."

She smiles wishing him well and then heads off for her morning relief before joining tailors for a simple breakfast. Rio waves at Laurona as she comes out of the wagon and then continues on a short way down the trail so none will see him as he transforms into the shepherd form the children know as Kiko.

The next few days pass in similar fashion. On the 13th day of travel the clouds come rolling in and by dawn of the next the sky is full of lightning and thunder. After only an hour on the road the rain starts, slowing the travel rate to a near crawl. Deciding to wait the worst of it out we take shelter under a large Balboa tree. The tailor family withdraw to their wagon and can be heard playing some type of counting and rhyming game. Rio and Glow, left outside, speak quietly of family remembered. Rio tells her the story of his crazy old uncle who, despite his grandfathers wishes, went off to become the worlds greatest illusionist.

"At least that's what he told us when he returned some few years later. I always thought he was the greatest magician in the world." the druid remembers fondly. "He could float in the air and balance 20 cat-tails on his nose without sneezing."

Glow speaks of her parents and wonders how they are doing. This catches Rio somewhat by surprise.

"I know you said your mother was a druid. I guess... I mean I just assumed that they had been killed and that's how you came to be living with your grandmother."

"No." she replies. "When I reached the age of 13 they decided that their wandering lifestyle was no longer appropriate and that I should be taken to Waterdeep to learn the ways of the world beyond that of the wandering clans. It was in Waterdeep that I first learned I had the psionic power within me and, thanks to my grandmother who made sure I learned its control from the right kind of people, I've been refining it's art and use ever since."

Rio listens with his full attention, filing each new precious bit of information about his lover carefully away.

"The first time I contacted my father using the Mindlink it startled him so badly that I almost lost the link in his confusion." She smiles at the memory. "For some reason though I've never been able to contact my mother. I guess she's just not reachable in that manner."

"Well where are they ?" Rio asks excited to find out that his family has just gotten two people larger. "I want to meet them."

"The last I knew they were in the outer reaches of the High Forest. I haven't contacted them since before I met you." she says. "Maybe now would be a good time to try."

Rio agrees wholeheartedly and promises to make sure that nothing disturbs her during the sending. He watches as she clears her thoughts and begins the initial meditations before reaching out. Her face relaxes as she shuts out the outside world focusing her energy and concentration inward. After a few minutes she smiles without opening her eyes and whispers a single word, "Papa."

Rio watches her face impatiently longing to ask questions and be let in on the mental conversation, but he knows that to do so would disturb her concentration and perhaps break the link so he remains quiet. While keeping his attention mostly on her the druid does look around every so often to make sure nothing takes them by surprise. Ten minutes or more pass before the mindlink is over and Glow stretches and rubs her temples.

Opening her eyes she reaches out to Rio and embraces him.

"My father says I am to tell you that it is a great honor for our clan that we are joined and that the Harpers tales of the Otherworlders brave journeys have reached them even within the confines of the High Forest. They are still tending to Tall Trees near the Delimbiyr River and he has given me directions starting from the old road should we ever wish to travel there. My mother has reached the Fifth Circle and was fortunate to have recently participated in a Ceremony of Observance performed by the Grand Druid himself."

She pauses, taking Rio's hands in hers. "He also says that I am to give you all the children you require."

[Continued in Part 4 – The High Forest]