By the time the young courier, Xira Hezmek, found his destination he had traveled 45 days and an impossible distance for him to calculate. At last it was all coming to an end. Foot sore, travel weary and feeling as if was still wobbling the land had taken on the rolling and rocking aspect the sea so favored, he trudged along the path to the imposing structures north of Riverfall. On foot over the other and the his steps echoed by the clopping of shoed hoof on dirt.
Trees boarded his path on either side. The map called this the Fringe forest and there was no sign of logging whatsoever. It was beautiful and peaceful and it was warming with the early spring causing plants to bloom and thrive. Trees were unfurling new leaves, fresh and green while grasses burst forth to form a thick undergrowth. Snow bent down to nibble on some grass as they walked along, which was all well in good since he did not have the bit on her, just the lead. He was warned by Temur not to let a horse graze while the bit was in else they get colic. On her back was the whole reason he was here. The cumbersome glass terrarium that held the Vian sapling.
Snow had tolerated all that was thrown at her. He had only just started to get to know her before they had taken the journey to riverfall via ship. It was dreadfully boring, the only thing that made it bearable was spending time with his horse. Brushing her down, feeding her, cleaning up after her and talking at length to her kept him busy. He would have ridden her right after they got off the ship but she was needed to carry the glass object on her back.
This morning it was fogged over and one could see hints of blue and white. I was his job to make sure it survived, and so far it had. He opened the hinged top and emptied some of his waterskin. As Snow walked on a bit ahead of Xira. Each day it seemed to have grown a bit more then the day before. He was somewhat proud to have made something grown. But soon it would not be his responsibility but on some level he would miss the plant. Funny that one could be so attached to vegetation.
They were nearing this "Sanctuary" and Xira could not help but wonder what exactly they did at the compound. All he knew was what he had been told by a greeter at the docks: that Kavala owned a business and that it was on the map. She was a healer and a horse trainer supposedly but the place before him seemed far larger than a simple stable.
It appeared to Xira as a large stone wall that overlooked the Suvan. Presumably it was a square or rectangular by nature but he would not know until he was inside. The path terminated at a pair of heavy gates that were wide open and showed a little of what was inside. Buildings and what appeared to be stables peered out of their protective confines. The pair, a man and his horse, strode up to the gates and he looked around for someone to talk to. Above him there appeared to be shadowed figure but that may have been a trick of the light.
Xira couldn't help but consider just strolling in as bad form. Sure they kept the gates open and of course they probably had a sentry posted but that didn't mean he could just trespass. It was against Riverfall Law. So he waited at the gates and hailed those inside, "Hello there! I come with business for Kavala."
Words from me to you
