A wish, and a promise 
The journey to the next village turned out to be a longer trip than any had suspected. Despite the work of Indric's spirit the carriage could only hobble along like some injured mare, with each bump in the path making it groan in protest. They had been forced to take a slower route, one with fewer bumps, but with windier pathways through the woods leading deeper into the heart of Gelerand. During their travels Freya and her temporary companion had spoken little. The Kathar seemed content to walk beside the horses, sparing few words for the dragonborn, but was pleasant enough to travel with. He certainly had shown himself capable on the first day of their trip. Once they had stopped for the evening he made quick work the camp. The tent was raised, wood gathered, and a fire lit all before Freya could even step foot from the driver's seat. He was also remarkably familiar with the land itself, spotting small streams of fresh water and capturing a few hare's for the evening's dinner. Not once did he ask after Freya's past, and nor did she press him for his. In that they both were in unspoken agreement.
Just at the edge of dusk they rounded a bend in the road and spotted the village less than half a day's journey away. It brought with it a sense of relief, and also a slight pang of disappointment as their short time together was seemingly coming to an end.
"We can rest here." Lucius said as the carriage drew near, "There is no sense in traveling in the dark."
"And I feared you had grown tired of my company." Freya said with a smile.
He did not return the smile, though he did offer her a hand down from the carriage.
"What is one more night?" Lucius said with a shrug, "We will get there soon enough, and I am in no great hurry."
"Is that so?" Freya began to untie her horse from its harness, being sure to pet it fondly before she lead it off to the small stream to drink. She had noticed that Lucius had an unhurried air about him, or that was what it seemed at first glance. When he did not think she was looking she caught him staring off into the distance, a despondent look about him that he quickly shook off when she approached.
Their camp was made quickly, and soon they sat around a fire with a pot hanging over it, contents bubbling and giving off a pleasant aroma. At first he had resisted eating food she had prepared, but with just a little urging she managed to get the stubborn Kathar to submit to her wishes. Of course he only relented after she had implied he thought her cooking seemed unpalatable. He was rather easily manipulated by a few specific words, and grew uncomfortable if he thought she might shed a tear. It was amusing in a sweet sort of way, and was in contrast to his normally stoic personality.
Asteri suddenly appeared from one of Freya's pockets, his little frog head poking out and blinking large eyes at the pot of food. Lucius stared at the spirit, as he often did whenever Asteri was present.
"He doesn't bite." Freya chuckled as she lifted the spirit from her pocket and set him on a stone next to her, "Though his words are often sharper than a dagger, so I suggest you be polite when speaking with him."
The Kathar blinked and looked at Freya, "Are all spirits able to change shape like he does?"
Curiously Lucius seemed interested in spirits, or maybe the thought of them. When they did talk he would often ask her about her interactions with the spirits in the lands she traveled. He was equally interested to learn that the closer to Imperial cities the wild spirits grew sparser.
"Some can, others cannot. It often depends on the spirits nature, and their connection with their physical form." She pet Asteri's head affectionately, "When we first met Asteri did not really have a physical body. It was not until after we created our bond that he began taking on these different shapes."
Lucius nodded slowly and fell silent once more. They finished their dinner and Freya took their bowls to clean them. Then Lucius settled himself in the tent, sitting cross legged in the center and closing his eyes, while Freya went into the carriage itself.
She sighed and sat in one of the chairs, resting her cheek on one hand as she looked out at the stars. Her eyes were drawn to the star shard that rested on a shelf below the window seal. Somehow she felt... discontent.
"We will arrive at the village tomorrow..." Freya closed her eyes, "I pray for guidance, star mother. Something troubles him, but he does not wish to speak on it."
Lucius was uncertain about something, this Freya knew. He wavered on a precipice, one that Freya could nearly see. If she focused she could feel it in her blood. There was a turning point coming, something which would affect the history of the land. She just wished she knew what it was.
14th of Ash, 124rd Year, A.o.S.
The journey to the next village turned out to be a longer trip than any had suspected. Despite the work of Indric's spirit the carriage could only hobble along like some injured mare, with each bump in the path making it groan in protest. They had been forced to take a slower route, one with fewer bumps, but with windier pathways through the woods leading deeper into the heart of Gelerand. During their travels Freya and her temporary companion had spoken little. The Kathar seemed content to walk beside the horses, sparing few words for the dragonborn, but was pleasant enough to travel with. He certainly had shown himself capable on the first day of their trip. Once they had stopped for the evening he made quick work the camp. The tent was raised, wood gathered, and a fire lit all before Freya could even step foot from the driver's seat. He was also remarkably familiar with the land itself, spotting small streams of fresh water and capturing a few hare's for the evening's dinner. Not once did he ask after Freya's past, and nor did she press him for his. In that they both were in unspoken agreement.
Just at the edge of dusk they rounded a bend in the road and spotted the village less than half a day's journey away. It brought with it a sense of relief, and also a slight pang of disappointment as their short time together was seemingly coming to an end.
"We can rest here." Lucius said as the carriage drew near, "There is no sense in traveling in the dark."
"And I feared you had grown tired of my company." Freya said with a smile.
He did not return the smile, though he did offer her a hand down from the carriage.
"What is one more night?" Lucius said with a shrug, "We will get there soon enough, and I am in no great hurry."
"Is that so?" Freya began to untie her horse from its harness, being sure to pet it fondly before she lead it off to the small stream to drink. She had noticed that Lucius had an unhurried air about him, or that was what it seemed at first glance. When he did not think she was looking she caught him staring off into the distance, a despondent look about him that he quickly shook off when she approached.
Their camp was made quickly, and soon they sat around a fire with a pot hanging over it, contents bubbling and giving off a pleasant aroma. At first he had resisted eating food she had prepared, but with just a little urging she managed to get the stubborn Kathar to submit to her wishes. Of course he only relented after she had implied he thought her cooking seemed unpalatable. He was rather easily manipulated by a few specific words, and grew uncomfortable if he thought she might shed a tear. It was amusing in a sweet sort of way, and was in contrast to his normally stoic personality.
Asteri suddenly appeared from one of Freya's pockets, his little frog head poking out and blinking large eyes at the pot of food. Lucius stared at the spirit, as he often did whenever Asteri was present.
"He doesn't bite." Freya chuckled as she lifted the spirit from her pocket and set him on a stone next to her, "Though his words are often sharper than a dagger, so I suggest you be polite when speaking with him."
The Kathar blinked and looked at Freya, "Are all spirits able to change shape like he does?"
Curiously Lucius seemed interested in spirits, or maybe the thought of them. When they did talk he would often ask her about her interactions with the spirits in the lands she traveled. He was equally interested to learn that the closer to Imperial cities the wild spirits grew sparser.
"Some can, others cannot. It often depends on the spirits nature, and their connection with their physical form." She pet Asteri's head affectionately, "When we first met Asteri did not really have a physical body. It was not until after we created our bond that he began taking on these different shapes."
Lucius nodded slowly and fell silent once more. They finished their dinner and Freya took their bowls to clean them. Then Lucius settled himself in the tent, sitting cross legged in the center and closing his eyes, while Freya went into the carriage itself.
She sighed and sat in one of the chairs, resting her cheek on one hand as she looked out at the stars. Her eyes were drawn to the star shard that rested on a shelf below the window seal. Somehow she felt... discontent.
"We will arrive at the village tomorrow..." Freya closed her eyes, "I pray for guidance, star mother. Something troubles him, but he does not wish to speak on it."
Lucius was uncertain about something, this Freya knew. He wavered on a precipice, one that Freya could nearly see. If she focused she could feel it in her blood. There was a turning point coming, something which would affect the history of the land. She just wished she knew what it was.
"Once upon a dream"
