ou can't go and I wish that to be my
last word to you on the subject!" said
Glendoryn with passion.
ou can't go and I wish that to be my
last word to you on the subject!" said
Glendoryn with passion.
"But Father, you have to understand that I am no longer in your control. I have been away studying for the last 5 years and it's far to late for you to tell me what to do" replied Galranwyn. Despite the fact that Galranwyn was over 60 years old, because she was of the long lived Elvin race, her parents still regarded her as an adolescent. Galranwyn considers this just as unjust as any human teen.
"And you must understand that it is not from any need of mine that I wish you to stay. You have been schooling at Harpell's for years and this has given me plenty of time to get used to the fact that my days as your directing force are at an end. To tell the truth, ever since your mother and I split up and you took to spending half you time with me and half with her, I have been reconciled to an ever-decreasing role in your life. But this is different. This is a threat to your life!"
"Of course it's dangerous if that's what you mean. I understand that. I welcome it! So far my life has been coddled, protected and guided It's driving me crazy. I have obtained many skills from the Mage School at Harpell's and without being able to go out into the world this knowledge will do me no good other than to light the cook fires for my husband and other mundane tasks."
"The life of our people isn't like that and you know it."
"I don't care. I have always wanted the excitement that neither you or mother desired. Tell me father, why did you start this trading post. I think it was because you couldn't take the life Mother chose; one where little or nothing different happened. I feel the same about the life you want me to follow."
This gave him pause. He remembered the same arguments he was using used against him when he desired to leave his people for the first time. The Gray Elves were as a rule insular and few mixed with the other races. It was not just the gray color of their skin and the variation of the elvin tongue that set them apart; they tended to set themselves apart by their arrogant attitude. This attitude tended to make their relations with other races difficult and infrequent. The Gray elves thought that desiring to leave the society of other Gray elves was indicative of emotional problems.
He paused and took a look at Galranwyn. She had changed little in the years she had spent in the Mages School, but it seemed a long time since he had really observed the appearance of his daughter. She was of average height for her race, which was about 5 feet and two inches. She was physically not impressive. In fact, there was little about her appearance to distinguish her from any other member of her race. It the powers of her mind that made her different. She was easily the smartest person he had known in his very long life.
"Hmm. I hear you daughter, and I will consider what you say. But how do you think your mother will react to the news you have left me to go adventuring."
"As with all other news she finds distasteful. She will retire to her holy grove and begin a lengthy series of devotions to Mystra and by the time they are complete, she will have found a way to cope with the news."
"That is somewhat unkind Gali, but probably true. Still, she will be upset."
"And she will get over it"
"It might help if you were to go see her."
"She would want to ask for portents and I would be forced to tag along after her as she went from one fortune teller to another as she attempted to discover what this course of action would bring. I could take weeks, maybe even months. I have waited years at school to begin my new life and I would not be so much delayed."
"What is the rush? You have all of your life ahead of you. Go see your mother. Talk to her and take her counsel. If she agrees to this, I will not object."
Instead of the effect Glendoryn wanted, this seemed to inflame her. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her angry, but he could recognize the signs well enough.
"You just want to delay me. You think that if enough time passes that I will forget about the life I plan. You are so wrong! You have only seen me for a few weeks in the summer and think you still know me. You don't. You can't imagine why I want to go out into the world and find glory and riches and have my name recognized by all. I frankly don't care if you understand it or not. I didn't come here for your advice or your help. I came here to say goodbye. So GOODBYE!"
Galranwyn turned to walk out the door. Glendoryn would always be grateful that at that moment a customer entered his shop.
"Hello Glendoryn. I was wondering if you had any more of the Aeilmanry lotion. It works wonderfully well on my knees. In fact it's the only think short of .. oh hello Galranwyn! When did you get back?"
Despite her rage Galranwyn was to polite to be abrupt with Mrs. Snulgers. She was a kind soul and had always been willing to give Galranwyn a cup of lemonade when delivering goods to her inn.
"Just yesterday actually" replied Galranwyn.
Not one to allow this opportunity to head off Galranwyn's precipitous departure to pass him buy, Glendoryn said "So how is business these days Mrs. Snulgers?" He found the lotion she had asked for after a lengthy search (although he knew right where it was all along) and kept a steady stream of small talk going to insure that she would not move away from the door and allow Galranwyn to escape.
"Thank you for the trade Mrs. Snulgers. Hope to see you soon. I'll make sure to keep the lotion in stock for you" he said as the elderly woman left the shop.
As she walked out, she turned and said to Galranwyn, "I hope you'll come see me and we can have a nice talk about your schooling. I've heard many strange things about the Harpells and I would like you to sort it out for me. Bye!"
For several moments, the two of the looked at each other and said nothing. Then Glendoryn smiled and was releived when Galranwyn smiled to.
"Come daughter. Whatever happens we shouldn't quarrel. I say, we take Mrs. Snulgers up on her offer and go to the Horn and Hoof for dinner. I can close up now if you're hungry."
"Getting angry always gives me an appetite father. Could we go now?"
It took only a few moments to close up the "Sixhorns Select Wares" shop which Glendoryn had owned and run for forty years. He held out his arm to Galranwyn who took it with a smile. It was only a short walk across the street to the Hoof and Horn. As always, the sound level inside the inn was very high. As they walked over to take one of the few remaining tables, Glendoryn was greeted by almost everyone there as they were most of the patrons were town folk. A few even remembered Galranwyn and greeted her warmly.
"This place hasn't changed a bit" though Galranwyn. "Just as noisy and crowded as always." Looking around, she tried to put names to the faces she saw and was pleased that her memory served her well enough to identify all but 3 or 4 of the diners. Of those she didn't recognize, two of them were rather remarkable. They were obviously Northmen as they wore thick furs and their long hair and beards were slicked down with some greasy substance. One was middle aged with graying hair and a grizzled face. The other was much younger, obviously his son, but looked to be much stronger than his father. They were eating with long hunting knives and keeping a close watch about them.
They ordered and as they waited for their food to come, Glendoryn tried once more to talk to Galranwyn about her plans.
"If you do go, what will you do?"
"I can't say for sure as I don't know what I will find in Waterdeep. I guess I'll try to get into the Mages guild. Master Harpell gave me a recommendation and said he would stand for me if necessary. I will have to find some other folks to adventure with and see what turns up."
"Not much of a plan, but good enough for a start I guess. But how about getting to Waterdeep? You aren't thinking of traveling alone. You know how dangerous the Long road is."
"I'm not defenceless you know" replied Galranwyn a bit archly. "I won't deny that I would welcome some company, but you can't leave and who else would go along?"
"We will never know without asking" replied her father. He rose from his chair, and Galranwyn instantly regretted saying she would like company.
"My daughter Galranwyn is going to Waterdeep to further her studies. I wouldn't have her travel alone. Do any of you know someone going south who could take her along?"
She scrunched down in her seat fervently wishing her father was not so outgoing. He had always embarrassed her like this. Gods, what if one of the old men was going or worse, what if she had to travel with a load of pigs going to market! Such a grand entrance to the City of Splendors that would be. To her relief, no one spoke up and after seeing heads shake in the negative, her father said "If you hear of anyone, come by the Sixhorns. I'l make it worth the while of however is willing." He sat back down again.
"You know I hate it when you do that father!" He just smiled. In a few more moments, their food was served and the spoke about the recient gossip about the people they saw around them. It was comfortingly routine and the food was as good as she remembered it.
When they were finished, they pushed themselves away from the table and walked out onto the street. Galranwyn noticed that the two Northmen came out of the inn just after them. And, they followed them across the street and into the shop. The young strong one had to bend over somewhat to walk in the door.
"G'day sir" said the older one. "I heard you asking for an escort for your daughter in the inn. I know you don't know us, but just the same, I thought that I ask about it."
"Many thanks for your kind offer, but I was looking for one of the local folks."
"I understand that, but it seemed you had no takers. My son and I are traveling Waterdeep as it happens. We are also more than usually hard up for gold and so if you could see your way to ... well trust us, we would be sure to see that she arrived safe and sound."
"I thank you for the offer my friend, but I don't think it would be a good idea."
Listening to this, Galranwyn had several thoughts at almost the same time. First, here was her father again, trying to run her life by choosing who would be her road companions. Next, she thought that these two were certainly tough looking and would probably be good fighters. She was not normally impulsive, but spoke up suddenly.
"My name is Galranwyn. What are your names?"
"They call me Cappy and this is my son Krom".
"What brings you to Longsaddle?"
"Just passing through miss. We are 2 months out from Icewind Dale and would like to make Waterdeep in another month."
"Why are you going to Waterdeep?"
"Looking for work. I've heard that the pay is good there for a couple of strong arms such as you can trust. And you can trust us miss. Why you might say my middle name is 'Trustworthy'."
She considered for a moment. There were two of them and one of her. If they were not trustworthy, she might be walking into a lot of trouble. But then again, as an adventurer, it was likely there would be many such times when she would have to trust her intelligence and instinct to make quick decisions. She decided they would do.
"Well enough then! Could we leave tomorrow?"
"Now just a momen..." interjected Glendoryn.
"Father, you have absolutely nothing to say about this. I believe these men are honest and they certainly look like worthy fighters. I shall pay for them myself and that is that." She turned to the pair and said "If you would come fetch me in the morning when you are ready to leave, I would be grateful."
Cappy looked a little ill at ease and said "If it's all the same to you miss, seeing as how your father has this lovely shop and as I said our supply of gold is quite low, could you see your way to put us up here for the night? We'ld be much obliged."
Glendoryn frowned, but seeing the threatening face of his daughter he nodded and said "Thats fine. You may sleep in here tonight. In fact, business hours are now over. Make yourselves comfortable gentlemen."
"That's kind of you sir. Many thanks."
Cappy swung his large backpack to the floor and gestured to his son to do the same. Krom shrugged the straps off and as he was lowereing the pack to the floor, it brushed against one of the tables full of merchandise, tumbling a few carved figurines to the floor. Krom quickly bent to pick them up just as Cappy bent down to do the same. Their heads smacked together with the sound of two melons smashed together.
"Ow" they both said at the same time.
"Damit Krom, watch what you're doing." Said Cappy heatedly.
Cappy bent down to retrieve the figurines and put them back on the table. Krom's first word was a mumbled "sorry". As if mistrusting himself to move any further, Krom sank to the floor where he was and sat tailor style.
Never one to stint on his hospitality, Glendoryn made sure that both men soon had glasses full of mead from the Kryptgarden forest and kept small digestibles nearby them through the rest of the evening. This was somewhat difficult, as they both seemed to have appetites more suited to bears than mere men. As both Galranwyn and her father were very interested in knowing more about these two before she went to Waterdeep with them, it wasn't long before their history was known.
The only thing they were evasive about was why they left Icewind Dale. They said they left "to get work", but Cappy talked about the cabin he had built, the richness and plenty of the furs he trapped and the good feelings he had toward the people of that area. If he was doing so well as that, why look for work elsewhere? Galranwyn vowed she would find out sooner or later.