"What do you think of this one?" Kai asked Elise, looking down at her. They were now looking at wagons, having decided that a carriage would be less practical for long periods on the road. The wagon was very sturdy looking, built from hardwood, with a white fabric top of it providing protection from the elements. The back held plenty of room for supplies and for sleeping, with a spot to sit at the front to steer the horses.
"Oh I like this one a lot! This will definitely be better for what we need." Elise replied with a firm nod of approval as she surveyed the wagon.
"And it is not so big that we need to get multiple horses if we get a strong one." Kai muttered to himself before adding, "Let's go talk to the gentleman inside and see about how much this wagon as well as a horse strong enough to pull it would be."
Inside the stablemaster's building was quiet, with only a few other people coming inside to pay to drop off their horses and what the horses drove. Behind the counter sat a man pouring over a log book, writing furiously on the lined pages.
"Hello sir, we were looking at purchasing the small wagon outside, and were hoping we would be able to acquire a horse strong enough to pull it on it's own." Kai said politely as he walked up to the stablemaster.
"That shouldn't be a problem at all sir, a wagon that size most horses can pull on their own long as they are full grown." The stablemaster replied with a smile as he set the log book down on the table, "I do want you to know I only have two horses for sale, the rest have been being rented out, it's been much more profitable in this town. But the two options I have are more than capable of pulling a wagon on their own."
The stablemaster ushered them back outside and led the pair to the stables where the horses were kept. Many looked strong and healthy, their mains and coats gleaming, obviously well taken care of, there were some smaller ones mixed in but they still looked healthy, most likely just younger in age or a smaller breed.
"Alrighty, here they are. My strongest males, either one could pull that small wagon you want loaded up with the two of you with ease." The stablemaster said condifently as they stopped at the last two stalls.
They were magnificent creatures, and with their size it was hard to believe they were a horse, almost half a horse bigger than the rest. Their muscles rippled under their gleaming coats and they somehow had their own quiet confidence. The one on the right was slightly taller, and was more muscular than the behemoth horse next to it. The horse's coat was a pure, pitch black while the mane matched but with additional strands of silver in it. The horse on the left was slightly smaller but still massive, it's coat was mostly white, but had some deep brown blotches scattered on it, the mane matching that same brown color.
"Which one do you like?" Kai turned his head to ask Elise, who was looking at them with child-like wonder.
"I know this one isn't the largest but he's beautiful.." She replied in quiet excitement as she pointed at white and brown horse, an excited smile still plastered on her face.
Definitely can't say no to that face..
"Okay then, how much for the mixed horse here and the small wagon?" Kai turned towards the stablemaster.
"Well the horse, the small wagon, and if I provided you a substantial amount of feed for the horse, I'll charge you 35 Silvers, a slight discount because the poor guy is infertile." The stablemaster chuckled softly as he set his price.
"Can you break 1 Gold Coin?" Kai responded confidently behind his visor.
A short time after the pair were ready to depart, the horse attached securely to the wagon, and all the necessary supplies for the trip. Kai had purchased two bedrolls from the System's Shop and laid them out in the back for sleep.
"Wanna sit up front or ride in the back?" Kai asked Elise as he sat up front, reins in his hands.
"I'd like to sit up front with you for now, if you don't mind." Elise murmuted back shyly as she climbed up onto the seat on the front of the wagon.
"Alrighty then, let's go." Kai replied as he began to slowly drive the wagon, the horse adjusting to his commands under the reins.
The pair continued to drive the wagon quietly down the cobblestone roads, towards the main gate. Some people looked towards them with questioning eyes, a man in full plate armor riding beside a woman, while others paid no attention.
So if we go East as soon as me exit the gate, we should reach Meridan in about a day and a half by wagon, at least by my estimation from when I looked at the Map earlier...
Kai's mind drifted quietly as they passed through the guard checkpoint, the guards doing a quick onceover before sending them through.
"You're good to go you two, now please move your cart." The guard inspecting their wagon said, snapping Kai back to reality.
"Of course, will do." Kai responded as he drove the wagon through and they were now outside the town, on the well-worn dirt road.
"Tell me Commander, have the preparations been made yet?" A mysterious, dark voice came out from under the hood of a tall, broad figure, "The Master demands we find the key now matter the cost. We must not let any stone remain unturned."
"Yes my lord, we have begun to mobilize our troops in search of the key." The hooded figure's companion responded fluently, a fully armored Orc that stood an entire foot above his counterpart, "May I ask what this key is for?"
Two red orbs glowed dangerously up at the orc and the hooded figure extended it's hand, the field directly ahead of them incinerating to nothing but barren ground, "The key is for the Master's will, do not ever be mistaken of your place, Commander. We all have our part in the grand plan."
"Yes, my lord, I understand." The orc nodded it's head, taking the hint to not ask further questions on the 'key', "Are the other lords assisting us in our quest, or will it just be our forces on this part of the expedition?"
"Like I said, Commander, we all have our own part in the Master's plan, but your question is not entirely stupid. As of current, we are the only ones tasked in finding the key." The hooded figured responded, the glowing red orbs visible under the hood dimming slightly, "Tell me Commander, how has the objective of bolstering our forces gone?"
"Well my lord, my troops have managed to subjugate a great number of goblins, lower beings, and has grown our manpower to about twenty times our previous strength." The orc responded proudly, it's chest puffing out slightly.
"Very good Commander, now make haste, I expect you to continue as planned and await further orders from me." The hooded figure responded as it held out a dark hand, a pitch-black doorway appearing just above the ground, "I expect to hear good news very soon, Commander." The figure added as it stepped through the door, before it quickly vanished into nothingness.
"Yes, my lord." The orc bowed it's head reverantly in the direction where the hooded figure disappeared.
The road seemed to go on forever, it had been only a few hours, but for some reason it felt like days. There were very few people seen on the road to Meridan since the pair started, which felt odd to Kai as this was a major roadway. Half slumped on his armored shoulder, Elise faded in and out of sleep.
I should tell her to go in the back and get some real sleep instead of laying her head on this metal..
Kai thought to himself before he was stirred from his thoughts but the sudden silence coming from the trees around them.
"Kyahkeke!" The familiar shriek could be heard as several goblins bursted out of the tree line, however they were mounted on rather large creatures that resembled wolves.
Direwolves?
"Malakai what's going on?!?" Elise now fully awake from the sudden noise looked in a bewildered state at the goblins, mounted on wolves, "Wait, goblins aren't supposed to be that smart..." She murmured, her voice quivering.
"Leave no survivors!" A bellowing yell could be heard as an orc, fully dressed in armor barreled out of the forest on top of what had to be a direbear, as it was able to carry the orc with ease.
Shit, withdraw Lightblade and Aegis, use Multi-Shield and Sword of Light!
Kai's sword and shield appeared from his inventory into his hands, the edge of his blade glowing that ominous blue, and his shield hummed as it created a barely visible field of energy around Kai and Elise.
"Elise, I need you to take the reins, and drive as fast as you can!" Kai shouted at Elise as he stood up on the small platform they were once sitting on, shield raised in front of Elise.
The goblins advanced towards the cart, one was holding a bow, knocking back an arrow before releasing, the projectile aimed towards Elise. Kai attempted to move his shield to block it, but was unable to guess where the arrow would land with the wagon moving so fast, and it found it's mark.
Chnk! The arrow hit where Elise's knee would have been, but it bounced dully off the faint shield around her body, falling limply to the ground.
Thank God...
Kai sighed mentally but before he could celebrate two more goblins not holding bows jumped off of their mounts and onto the wagon.
"M-Malakai!" Elise exclaimed nervously as she continued to drive the wagon, their horse pulling with all it's might.
"Kyahhh!" One of the goblins screeched as it lunged towards Elise.
Why can't you buggers stop trying so hard to stop this wagon!
Kai raised his shield, slamming it directly into the lunging goblin's abdomen. Crunch! It cried patheticly as it was launched off the wagon, which jerked violently as it ran over the goblin's body. Before the other goblin could make a move, it was split cleanly by a swing of the young man's glowing sword.
Now for the archer.. Sweeping Blade!
Kai swung his sword in the direction of the goblin with the bow, which had already knocked an arrow back. The arc of light left his blade, meeting the direwolf the goblin was on fully, cutting it cleanly, causing the goblin to be violently knocked out.
"Kyahkeke!" The goblin shook it's fist angrily as it shot an arrow at the retreating wagon, missing by a wide margin.
"Useless." The orc that had stayed back to watch after giving orders rode up to the dismounted goblin, grabbing it by it's skull. The goblin squirmed futilely as the orc casually squeezed until a Schlck could be heard, the goblin's skull crushed and it's squirms turning to nothing but dull twitching, "I must tell the Commander, that human may be a threat to our plans. His abilities are most troublesome..." The orc muttered to itself as it watched the wagon disappear, before mounting the direbear, and riding off into the woods once more.
"Elise, are you hurt?" Kai finally asked after letting his guard down, watching the orc disappear into the woods in the opposite direction.
"N-no I'm okay, thank you for protecting me.." Elise murmured quietly, her knuckles still white while holding the reins, "I promise I won't be useless next time."
"You weren't useless, someone had to drive and you sure showed a goblin what happens when it goes under a speeding wagon." He chuckled softly as he sat heavily back down next to her, leaving his sword and shield resting on his hip and back respectively, instead of in his Inventory.
I thought that was odd, just how coordinated they were. Mounted goblins, but also an orc ordering them? We were lucky there was only four of them, that may have been way worse if they had more numbers with us driving this wagon.
Kai thought deeply to himself as the pair continued to drive down the road, his gaze remaining fixed on the woods.