Preparation of a Journey|Eresserod, Talen'sul

[adris]

Konrad nodded his agreement, they were a blessing indeed for her to have gotten them. She kept hers in good shape too, so if she were to look she would catch him giving them long glances from time to time.

"Well, it isn't my place to say whether one person's home is superior to another. Ronduin is laden with the touch of artists and the creative sort. So it depends on what type of beauty you like, Ronduin is structural while Talen'sul is definately more natural. The people are so comparable too, I felt this mountain was like a second home. What do you enjoy doing while in this area Lady Holiday?"

He was like a child venturing into the unknown on this trip, having been cloistered in Eresserod for so long. He was happy there though, the monks that trained beside him were like family. All in all, looking back on his life, his choices have been good.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh I don't get too much free time these days," Holiday sighed regretfully. "But when I do get a snippet of personal time, I like to explore or sit quietly somewhere and read." She paused, then smile. "Isn't this quaint, though? You and I have both only been to one other land, and so this will be quite an adventure for us. Do you remember much of Ronduin? I'm not sure how long you've been with the monestary."

[adris]

"Well, I came to Eresserod when I was old enough to make the decision for what I want to do with my life. So, I do have a pretty good idea of what Ronduin was like before I left. It was built to not change though to tell you the truth, like, a stepping stone in the Great River."

He wanted to give her a pat on the back when she sighed, but wasn't sure if such an action would be accepted from one of his position. Instead he tried to just continue smiling so she could enjoy his energy and excitement for the trip ahead.

"I guess the next best question is what do you remember of Maelstrom? I mean, there had to be something worth remembering about it correct?"

[Kender Bard]

"Sparkstrike isn't exactly like the rest of Maelstrom, I'm told," she mused. "This might seem like a paradox, but it was more relaxed, and yet, more tense." She groped mentally to find the words. "We were all tolerant of one another in ways that our kind normally wasn't with each other. During times of relative peace, life was like in any other town. But on the other hand, when things began to heat up between Storms and Winds elsewhere, you could tell that feelings were becoming strained, and so there was an undercurrent of tenseness to the people. I suppose people, sometimes, were daily questioning their loyalties. But it was otherwise pleasant to live there. We had the luxury of Storms who would protect us instead of hunt us."

[adris]

Konrad was surprised at how little he knew of the outside world, especially his lack of knowledge of a place even as close as Sparkstrike. This entire trip truly would be a learning experience for him.

"I suppose you are a lucky one then, I am happy that you weren't subjected to the worst of the slavery movement. Sadly I don't really know the feeling from personal experience, the closest I can think of is how water people thought of fires. May I ask what your specific tasks as a noble lady are miss Holiday?"

They couldn't all be assigned to the same thing, administration needs only so many people looking over the same spot of land. Maybe she acts as a sort of governor, but he truly didn't wish to jump to conclusions again.

[Kender Bard]

Holiday smiled and contemplated, "Mostly I just oversee our handful of servants, to ensure that they're doing what they're supposed to. I make judgment on things questioned, such as how much to spend on what and when and where." She shakes her head. "I don't have the greatest head for numbers so that rarely comes to me. I find myself with a lot of idle time on my hands lately, so after my servants seemed to take offense when I began to do household chores on my own, I decided to try volunteer work wherever I could. What are your duties at the monestary?"

[adris]

Konrad hadn't really put into perspective what his duties were, as everyone did the same thing usually just on different schedules. When he met her it was his day of rest and meditation, which also means he was assigned to public relations if we need it.

"Well, as a monk there are several things we do both for training purposes and to get that little bit of copper that the monestary needs to run. Three days of the week are dedicated to physical training, where we work with the martial arts to improve the body the forces gifted us with. Two days of the week are for the mind, which are filled with either studies or some sort of craft, I usually do woodworking or help transcribe books for the libraries on the continent, and these are to help with the gift of thought that the forces bestowed on our race. The other two days are for spirituality, one for prayer and the other is a day of rest and meditation where we improve our bonds with the forces and our fellow man."

That was lenghthy but he wanted to be through, even counting on his fingers to make sure he didn't miss any days of the week in particular. The reasons for the days though were straight out of the books, he wasn't very original with that.

[Kender Bard]

"That seems right," Holiday said in an almost dreamy voice. "Yes, that's very much like I visualized. It all makes sense." Rather than elaborate, she stopped short, looking alarmed suddenly. "I saw something. Did you see something? It looked like fire in the sky."

[adris]

Konrad stopped just as Holiday did, but instead of looking where she was he observed her curiously. He hadn't seen what she described, as he was trying to make eye contact with her while she was speaking.

"No my lady, what do you think it is?"

He finally followed her gaze, looking at different points in the sky thinking it might flare up again and he could better see what it was she was talking about.

[Kender Bard]

Just then, another wave of flaming arrows shot up into the sky only to disappear from sight on the horizon. Holiday got on tiptoe and pointed again. "There! See now?"

[adris]

Konrad did see it that time, and his eyes immediately went wide with fear. All he could think of is that the worse case scenario was finally occurring, and Maelstrom was making its march on Talen'sul. He could be paranoid, it might just be people wanting to see in the fog or something, but with his job being to guard the woman standing next to him, he would rather be paranoid then to make a dire mistake.

"Perhaps we should leave now, I think Maelstrom could be charging, and a high ranking Talen'sul citizen like yourself behind enemy lines. I will give you my life if necessary lady Holiday but I don't want you risking yours."

That was the absolute truth, he has been given an assignment by the senior monk and he was bound and determined to see it get carried out. He also wasn't completely sure about the monastery's stance on the war, and certainly didn't want to be in violation of his homes interests.

[Kender Bard]

Holiday grew pale at his words and she gave a slight nod. "You're right. Should we go back into the monestary or take refuge in the heart of the city? I can't imagine Talen'sul falling to Maelstrom. We should be safe, right?"

[adris]

Konrad sighed, as he wasn't used to making any decisions like this. Perhaps the monastery wouldn't be a good idea, because if the city falls Eresserod are a well known group of fighters and probably be prime target for conscription or massacre.

"Lets go to the heart of the city like you suggested. And lady Holiday," He puts his hand on her shoulder and gave her a very serious expression, "I will put my vows at stake and promise you that you will see the light of day once this war is over and beyond."

The last part was just him formally answering her question, he didn't think much of it beyond that. Keeping an eye out, he began to lead her to the city, hoping to find a building of some sort that wasn't suspect enough to draw attention.