The 23rd Day of the Season of Winter, 509 AV. Bohdai and Veral had left Syliras on the date promised, the very morning after they left. Fortunately, Bohdai preferred the wilderness, any wilderness, to the chaos of a city. He felt at ease with trees around him. Ice crunched beneath the hooves of the Dhani’s horses as they forded a stream, nay, a mere brook, Veral ever on the watch for ruins, or even a likely cave. Bohdai was more concerned about threatening creatures, though bandits were more likely. The horses, their saddlebags bulging, passed through a clearing in the trees, affording Bohdai and Veral a view of cloudless winter sky. The pale blue spread as far as the eye could see, until it touched upon mountains days to their north. The Cobalt Mountains lived up to their name, a deep blue, almost purple blotch, against the sky. Soon, the trees hid the view again. Bohdai reached into a saddlebag, withdrawing two apples. He checked the fruit for bruises before offering one to Veral. Remarkably, the Viper accepted the apple. Bohdai shrugged and faced forward again, taking a bite from the juicy fruit. Veral surreptitiously checked the apple for any tampering before taking his own bite. “Do you have no skill with weapons, Veral?” Bohdai was curious, they barely knew one another, yet already had a business arrangement. “I have no proficiencies with weapons. Thus, why I sought a companion,” Veral took another bite from his apple, and brought his mount level with Sidewinder. “And if you have to defend yourself while I am otherwise occupied? Blades do not listen very well.” "My Dhani form will have to suffice. If not, then due to my Viper upbringing, I am agile and fast, and I'm sure I can outrun many things!" Bohdai offered no reply. Instead, he allowed the silence to hang. The only sounds were those of nature, and the crunching of twigs and leaves beneath the metal-shod hooves of Sidewinder, and Veral’s mount. |