On the road

[Locust]

Today I bought some equipement, some paper and a pencil.

But what was it I wanted to do?

A yes I wanted to make some notes of what I’ve encountered on my travels for my family back home so that when I do return home I have them close while I’m telling the tales of my travels to my grandchildren and the other family members.

[Locust]

Not far from Hlint I met with a dragon, small one actually. Turned out it’s name was Lila. Or was it Lilya? Hurmph, don’t remember.

Anyway that doesn’t matter a name is but a name. What matters is that it’s caretaker, Kaalid I think his name was, said he found this dragon in the High Forest. Back then this dragon was still a small lizard but the druids in Harmony Grove assured Kaalid that it was of dragon heretage.

Hurmph, should have taken notes earlier, I’m doubting whether my memory is telling me the words that where spoken then.

Apperently Kaalid noticed my interest in the dragon and offered me to take me to the place where it was found and to the druids that explained the history of this animal. Having arrived there after a long tyring journey we first decided to take some rest and regian some of our lost strength before we would search the area for these lizards and druids.

There I noticed something peculiar after Kaalid told me about his eyesight. Although I do suffer from the signs of old age as he does it is my hearing and my eyesight that have improved these last years. Hurmph, again something I do not understand.

Soon I, we?, should set out to find these lizards and share some information with the druids. Maybe I can learn to communicate with this animal just as I learned to communicate with Seb. I will prove a challange though, allthough if the ability to talk as Lila does is natural in these animals it might be easier then it looks.

[Locust]

Another name, another man, I should add him to these notes. It was late in the evening, central Hlint, and I was just filling my canteens when he showed up right beside me.

Earlier that day I had collected a lot of raspberries for that evenings diner and my arms were full with some minor, though irritating, wounds. Without any motive he whispered some words I did not understand and soon the irritation was gone. I looked at my skin and noticed that my wounds had healed only some crusts remained.

Ellenvil was his name, yes I’m almost positive of it, this time. He joined me in the short track from the village well to the pond where we spend some time on one of the benches. While the evening fell and we both enjoyed the sun disappearing behind the horizon we talked.

I soon learned we had some things in common. Ellenvil the hunter from the wood elfs who lived in harmony with the animals and I the farmer who had learned to live in harmony with the plants and the herds that occupied my fields near the farm. And we talked some more about our past experiences and why we had chosen a live on the road and we shared my raspberries. They were delicious and left a sweet taste in my mouth. Must be a good year for raspberries.

Hrumph, my memory starts to fade. I don’t remember exactly. What was it Gods, woodelfs? Did we agree to something? Hrumph. I should have noted this down earlier.

[Locust]

Katia, what a name it would have been for a girl. It brings back the memories, the scent of flowers, the pure air of the forest and the lakes or shortly after a lightning storm. Now that I find time for myself I sure do miss her. The first time we met, each time we touched the others hands or skin, each time we kissed, our marriage, our sons. The places where the sun falls on the forest floor and where light and shade are chasing each other just as we did back in our youth. That I do remember as if it was yesterday.
 
Sometimes I wish we would have had a baby girl but alas that could not be. Katia she would have it in here, the beauty, the playfulness, the serenity, the robustness, the resilience, the stubbornness and the sincerity all of the traits my wife had. I'm sure if the Gods had granted us a girl the loss of her would have been less harsh.

Who knows, she still might be out there. Joppe, Stein, Puck, would anyone of them be a match for such a girl?

But let me get back to last night at the alchemy tables. As usual I made a mess and the dripping insides and glands of bugs were splattered on the table. My friends have told me much about alchemy but it was the farm that required my attention at that time. Is it good that I do remember some of it tough. By using a press I was able to squeeze some of the essences in a bottle this time so I'm making some progression. It was only a brief moment where I lost my concentration that I dropped a empty bottle on the floor. Glass splintered but my knees were to tired, my back to stiff so I couldn't bend down to clean it. Luckily a young man in the strength of his life was able to clear it for me, help me, while I cleaned the mess from the table.
 
His name was Melkan. Melkan and Katia wouldn’t it be wonderful.