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Isto Arisa
....Lonely Road....

The alleyways of the fort were quiet, some of the smaller buildings had a few windows illuminated by torch or candle light, and everything was peaceful; Isto roamed her path alone for now. She figured many would still be in the dining hall to speak with the knights of recent arrival. Some to trade stories, others to gossip, but some were just biding their time...if what Gaspard said was true...

As the two stood over the table, comparing the large map of the known world and a smaller map on a scroll, there was a peaceful silence. If only for a moment, the two seemed to be relaxed, at ease with their current surroundings. Isto looked up from the map to find That Gaspard was sitting across from her, rolling up the smaller scroll.

“If what you say is true,” Gaspard began, “Then you’ll need this to help navigate your way through the Wastes.” He held up the scroll, making sure Isto knew what she needed was in his possession. “I suppose I’ll have to do a task to earn it?” Isto asked, rolling up the larger map. She put it in the small barrel that had some other large scrolls in it. “Yes.” Gaspard finally responded as Isto sat across the table from him. The two locked eyes for a moment as if to figure out what the other was thinking.

Gaspard reached into his pocket and took out a deck of cards, “Do you remember how to play ‘Chalice’?” Isto laughed, “How else do we pass the time waiting for assignments?” Gaspard smiled, and began to shuffle the cards. “This task I need done involves beating someone at Chalice.” Isto put her hand on his right wrist after three shuffles, “This is Mandor; There’s no need for someone to cheat.”

Gaspard took out the extra cards he had hidden up his sleeves. “That’s one.” Isto tilted her head to the left some, “...and the deck fastened underneath the table.” “That’s two,” Gaspard said as he grabbed the cards that were underneath the table on his side and put them on the right hand side. He had Isto deal the cards. Each of them had two cards face down; Gaspard had nine and seven of clubs. Isto dealt three cards face down on the side then three face up in between them: Knight of clubs, Lady of clubs, and eight of clubs. Isto then dealt one card up and one card down: 10 of clubs. She dealt the last card, a five of diamonds. The two looked at one another for a moment; Gaspard smirked, and turned over his cards. Isto turned her over, saying plainly, “I won.” There was the Chalice of Clubs and the Sovereign of Clubs. “And you may want to look at the backs of your cards...seeing as you cheated.” Isto staid turning her cards over, revealing the plain white back.

Gaspard turned his over; sure enough the nine of clubs had a different backing bearing the crest of Än. Gaspard looked up in disbelief. “That’s three,” Isto said with a smirk, “I beat the cheater at his own game.” She took out two cards from her sleeve, revealing the crest of Än on them. Gaspard sat back in his chair and clapped his hands a very slow three times, “I see you haven’t forgotten. Good. And now, onto business...”

Isto finally arrived at the building. It was very old, possibly as old as the fort, and very small. She called it a tavern because of the smell and look inside had reminded her of a tavern from Än. She removed her hood and went inside. It was very dimly lit, nothing but candle light. There were no torches to be seen except for the extinguished ones sitting in a barrel close to the door. Mead and cheap wine stained the air.

The tables were degrading wood; some were carved with initials while others looked like they were used for last-moment shields against a barrage of arrows. Chairs were almost non-existent; the few stools by the bar had missing legs and were wobbly. Some chairs surrounded the tables that people were playing Chalice. Only one table had a pile of coins and three players, one to witch seemed out of place and shouldn’t have been in the fort. Isto walked up to them and set a small pouch of coins on the table. “I want in,” was all she said.

~*~*~*~Meanwhile~*~*~*~

In the Dining Hall entered three figures; two were dressed similarly to Isto, but bore different side capes. And one, handsome male in plate armor bearing the side cape with the crest of Än. The three sat down and were served each a drink. The two figures that were clothed similarly to Isto were female. They both removed their hoods to reveal they looked exactly alike.

There were others that mumbled on the beauty of the two women, while some spoke of how good-looking the man in the armor was. Another guard had come to up to Sir Garo and whispered, “Sir, The three that just entered the hall, are the others from Än that arrived early this morning from Edria; The Speaker of the Council and two other knights. The Speaker wanted to speak with you as soon as you got a free moment. He says you might remember him from five years ago when he was with another.”

Dame Elenda of Mandor
....later that night....

The evening began to wind down, though many activities remained ongoing. Sir Garo excused himself from the table, leaving the nobles and knights to themselves, and shortly afterward the knights of the Errand followed suit. By unspoken concord they deemed the time right for their discussion of the route to the east. When they had exited the hall through a side door and walked some distance through the fort's corridors, Elenda pointed casually toward their rough destination. Most of the knights had been here several times before, some even more regularly, so they knew where she was heading. Ascending partway up the spiral stairs of a tower, they landed on another corridor and followed it to a close but comfortable meeting room.

A table to the side held candles, one standing upright which the servants kept lit. Elenda lit two and passed them to others, who proceeded to light some of the candles in their holders on the wall, providing enough light to see by. Finally Elenda brought two candles to the table. Eight knights stood around it: Elenda, Garum, Katria, Zuuta, Anglad, Linde, Ander and Halo. From a crate in a corner, Elenda collected a large map of Mandor and surrounding nations, and unrolled it on the table, placing the candle holders on either end. She also pulled a smaller, well-used map from her coat and set it on top, showing only northern Mandor.

"Everyone, please look at this map," she said.



"Now that we're through the Vaults," she pointed just east of the Castle, "I should like to hear your thoughts on which route we ought best to take." She dragged her finger over her smaller map, first north-eastward to the general area of Rifthaven, then east to the edge of the map. "This was my aim when we started out two days ago, but there was never time to discuss the overall plan during that time. I know a dragon who lives above the cliffs of Rifthaven, and the arc of the mountains would bring us all the way to the east. Though the road is long, the time it takes to travel the mountains would afford our reinforcements a better chance of catching us up before we reach the dragonlands. With Sir Garo's worries, though, I'm no longer certain this is the best path. What think all of you?"

Dame Katria traced a straight line from Altross to the eastern edge as she spoke: "Why not simply take the direct route eastward? Even if reinforcements from the castle don't catch us, script riders could still be sent ahead to muster what knights would join us. As one of the Trusted Knights, Dame Elenda could bring in Errand-riders from the field."

"True," said Elenda, "but that road takes us through the heart of five central duchies, each of which might react differently to the Errand and to our group. There could be all manner of hindrances, not only from nobles but from lawless forces, the peasantry, or even simple beaurocracy. Such delays might allow reinforcements to catch us, I suppose, but it may cause unrest. There is much uncertainty."

Katria acknowledged with a tilt of her head, then added, "Still, passing through populated areas would keep us well supplied. We can sustain ourselves in the mountains, I'm sure, but we could focus even more on speed if we did not need to forage in the wilds. The dragon's information might be helpful, or it might not. Unless you think the chance is worth it, I prefer the straighter road."

Lady Linde, the elf, had been pondering both sides. "What about this," she said, tracing her finger from Skyward Mount to the northeast tip of the Castle duchy. "We can keep to the lowlands to keep our speed up, and these northern duchies will be out of the way." She weaved her path between mountain ranges, keeping close to the duchy borders above the ones that Katria's route passed through. "We can minimize delays from both the terrain and the populace, while still keeping close enough to stay well supplied."

Sir Ander made a thoughtful sound. "I'm not sure I like the idea of valleys all the way. It's like the Vaults on a larger scale, a narrow path with high mountains on either side. It could turn out to be quite dangerous."
"I agree," said Lord Anglad, "but I don't think it'd be anything we can't handle. It's a good balance."

Sir Garum had had his forefinger over his mouth the whole time, pondering. Now he held the finger up and said, "There's more than just our Errand to consider. After all, what good will it do us to reach the dragons and return, only to find our words betrayed by our own people." He pointed out the central duchies on the larger map. "All these places have their own little differences. If we end up needing to negotiate with the dragons, we should know where our people stand. So, I think..." He experimentally drew across the larger map a route that followed the path of the duchy borders. "It's less direct than Dame Katria's or Lady Linde's, but this could allow us to go at a good pace while determining the stance of the people along the way. There are fewer mountains, and we keep relatively close to supplies. We'd be able to influence people without causing a great stir."

Elenda thought about it. "If we take that path, we will have wasted the time we saved coming through the Vaults... but the route has merit." Setting aside her smaller map, Elenda traced all four routes again--one a smooth arc along the northern mountain ranges that passed by Rifthaven, one a riverlike road through the valley lowlands, one a straight shot through the eastern heart of the kingdom, one a bending line formed by the borders of multiple duchies. "There are advantages and disadvantages to each path." She looked around at the knights. "Are there any further options? Anything we haven't thought of. What say the rest of you?"

"I prefer Garum's path," said Ander, "but any of the choices might move us into unforeseen events, for good or ill. And," he added, "we can always alter our course along the way."

Elenda looked to the two who hadn't spoken. "Lord Halo? Dame Zuuta?"