The sound of running water never really stops.
It fades in and out, muffled by the wind, drowned by our footsteps or overshadowed by us talking. But it's always there.
We've been walking along the river after leaving the forest for two days now. Its curved gently to face more directly into the mostly open plains surrounding Esmourne.
Aric has taken to calling the river 'our flowing guide'
I think he's just romanticising things like usual but I can't deny that we would be lost without it.
Aric: "Are you ever gonna talk for more than a few minutes at a time?"
Kareth: "More like do you ever shut up?"
Aric: "Why would I? You don't talk enough to fill the silence."
He grins, skipping a rock across the lake as we walk. It skips twice before sinking.
Aric: "damn that was terrible. You try."
I don't respond. Just picking up a rock and toss it
It skips four times, then sinks into the river.
Aric: "That's just showing off."
I chuckle at his pouting, he taps my arm lightly in response.
The banter is light, calming even. Constant.
It becomes part of the rhythm, almost as natural as walking is.
Aric hums to himself periodically to fill the silence. Other times opting to scribble something in that journal of his. Whether it's writing or drawing I can't tell. But either way he seems to think I don't notice him doing it and is still incredibly protective and secretive of it.
Around midday the river grows faster, angrier. The path widens a little and veers slightly apart from the river, setting some distance so somebody doesn't accidentally fall in.
Kareth: "Are you still sure this is the right way?"
Aric: "The map seems to say so. And the river hasn't betrayed us yet."
He wasn't even sure of his words as he said them.
Kareth: "Yet."
Aric: "Besides, the village should be just ahead. Over that hill over there."
Kareth: "That's assuming the village still exists. Or even existed in the first place."
Aric shrugs
Aric: "Some things only become real when you see them."
We don't speak for a while after that, just focusing on walking up the hill
It's dusk when we hit the top. Looking forward to seeing it.
Aric: "See? The map wasn't lying."
He's right. Not too far ahead is a village. Small homes made of wood, not too dissimilar from the cabin we came from. A small bridge over the river, smoke trailing from the chimneys. A quiet and cozy little village.
Aric: "I told you it was real."
Kareth: "I guess you're right."
We cautiously walk down the hill, following the now cobbled path into the village
Some people glance at us as we walk through the opening in the fence and into the small village, others don't even bother to look.
We don't say anything. Just waving back at the people who wave at us.
Eventually we see an old woman sitting on her porch. She ushers us over.
Old Woman: "Are you two adventurers?"
Her voice is old and raspy, her age evident in more than her appearance.
Aric seems more ecstatic than I've ever seen him
Aric: "mhm. We're adventurers. Is there any inn or something like that in this village?"
The old woman chuckles slightly
Old Woman: "oh no on, this little village isn't big enough to warrant an inn. But you can take my spare room tonight if you don't mind helping cook and move in some firewood."
Aric looks at me, smiling ear to ear at the offer. I nod, knowing that even if I decline I'll somehow end up sleeping in her spare room anyway because of Aric.
After some chores, helping out the woman. We settled in the room. Bantering slightly before settling in to sleep
Kareth: It's not a bad bed. Worse than in the cabin, but better than sleeping in the wilderness.
Aric: "Maybe we are headed somewhere afterall. Maybe we do belong out here."
Kareth: "Ever the optimist."
We both share a light laugh before saying goodnight and attempting to fall asleep
Kareth: Maybe we do belong. Maybe we are actually headed somewhere.