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The kids practically rioted with excitement, even at this relatively small display of magic. They hopped up and down, splashing water everywhere and demanding to see more.
"Do something bigger!" they shouted. "Make the whole pot of water float!"
But at that moment, Corin's voice drifted from beyond the door. "Oh Tanrial! Tea is ready, if you're not terribly busy in there!"
"You can go," Willow said. "You've been a great help, thank-you."
Tanrial let the orb of water disappear, standing up and dusting herself off as she did so, "Maybe next time. It was lovely to meet you all." She turned to Willow, offering the woman a smile, "No problem, always happy to help out." With a small wave she headed for the door, closing it shut behind her with a sigh.
Mike and Bernon were there waiting with Corin, eyeing the door curiously after all the screaming and yelling they'd just heard.
"Ah, good, you survived the children," Corin said brightly. "I expect you'll all be wanting some fresh air, yes? Come with me, I'll take you to the lookout tower with the most lovely view. Tea will be waiting there for us."
As they followed him towards the exit, Bernon leaned over and whispered to Tanrial. "You did survive, right? Sounded like a war was going on in there."
Tanrial chuckled softly, nodding to Bernon's question, "No injuries, no fights. I showed them a little trick is all and they got too excited. Thank god Corin came back with tea." Having to be stuck in there for a moment longer, even though she didn't mind helping out, would have sent her mad. She wondered how Willow dealt with them all.
"Those kids seem like total maniacs compared to Ryker's kids and the younger villagers," Mike remarked under his breath. "I wonder what it's like here for them, being raised by a bunch of bandits."
"They don't seem to be mistreated," Bernon said hopefully. "But yeah, I'll bet their actual upbringing is….unique, to say the least."
"Here we are," Corin interrupted, having led them outside and over to the base of one of the rickety towers nearby. "Up the stairs, and carefully now. I can't wait to show you the scrumptious meal the cook has prepared for us! You all like lake food, I hope?"
"Oh, of course," Tanrial replied quickly, diverting her attention from Bernon and Mike back to Corin and the unstable stairs that led to their destination, "We were staying with some friends not too far from here that love by a lake, we're quite accustomed to the food, now."
"Excellent!" Corin started up the badly-patched wooden stairs without a hint of concern. Then again, he did seem quite thin and lightweight underneath his loose cape. "If you like, while we're up there, we can discuss this easier second route across the Mississippi I mentioned, perhaps show it on your map. You must be eager to make as much progress across the country as possible while summer still lasts."
Once they reached the top of the stairs, and the relatively stable ground there, she replied, "Sounds good. This route you've mentioned, it's quicker and safer then the one we were already traveling on, yes? It'll get us across the Mississippi without so much as a wink of trouble? No bandits, nothing?"
"Ah, well, nothing is certain in this world, my dear. But yes, this route is likely to be much safer. As I said before, the most common place to cross the great river is currently under siege from a band of unfriendly Southern Clansmen, and is often tolled as well. It could take you days, even weeks to convince them to let you pass. The second path, however, is something few know about or use except the odd trapper or Canadian trader. I can have one of my bandits guide you there this afternoon. In the meantime….tea!"
He swept aside, revealing a small table with four chairs around it, carefully set with chipped cups and dishes. The teapot was steaming gently, and a shallow serving bowl in the center of the table held a medley of boiled crayfish, shellfish, and small lake trout. There was a certain…..aroma to the meal that made Bernon give it a well-hidden dubious look, but it seemed hot and relatively fresh.
"Have a seat," Corin invited cheerfully, pouring them all some of the dark and gritty tea. "It's been so long since I've had proper guests over. Would any of you like sugar with your drink?"
“I’ll have one sugar, thanks,” Tanrial said, sitting across from Corin, “So if this path is hidden, and only like one person knows about it, how did you and your tribe come across the path way? It can’t be so hidden then, surely.”
"You might be surprised," Corin responded, taking out a mint tin of slightly old sugar cubes. "You learn to notice the unnoticed around here, if you want to survive. We use that trail to access more comfortable, bountiful areas of land during the winter, and to avoid the wrath of our fellow tribes now and then. Of course, that means I'd prefer if you kept this pathway our little secret, understood? It won't be of much use to anyone if the word gets out."
"I doubt we'll be meeting anyone along the way West that will be needing the information. The trail is safe with us, right guys?" She gave them both a pointed look, though was still somehow smiling.
"Of course," Bernon said quickly. "You have our word." Mike nodded as well, not smiling but looking like he meant it.
"Thank-you," Corin said, sitting back and holding his teacup but not actually drinking it. To do so, he'd have to remove his mask, and he didn't seem to want to show his face. "A guide will take you three to the path right after this, if you like. It's a bit of a journey by canoe, but the trail itself is high and dry. Oh, and you don't mind a few wild animals, do you? We sometimes see coyotes and mountain lions skulking around in that region."
Tanrial shook her head, leaning back in her seat with the cup in both of her hands. She crossed one leg over the other, taking a small sip of the drink, "We've dealt with a lot worse then a few coyotes. I feel like large monstrous forest beasts are worse and we've had no trouble getting past them."
"Oh, you've run into forest beasts?" Corin sat forward with interest. "Do tell! We don't get them around here very often, thank goodness. How do you manage to survive your encounters with them?"
"Well, we met one on our journey to find a… business partner we were working with for a time," She said vaguely, "A child who tagged along with us, fairly harmless. We met another who lived in the lake further east who was peaceful for the most part. However when looking for supplies we met another who didn't take too kindly from us being in their territory. It was a combined effort of well.. magic and other weapons to.. dropabuildingonitshead?"
"Heavens above, how exciting! You three really are adventurers from the golden age, aren't you? Why, you should advertise yourselves as monster-tamers!"
"Well, we didn't really tame anything," Bernon began, but Corin talked right over him.
"My beloved Elmira used to be able to soothe the rage of any beast….well, not forest beasts, of course, we weren't aware they existed back then….but all manner of dogs, cats, wild animals, none were too fierce to fall for her charms. She was rather like a princess in a fairytale that way, you know. I never could figure out how she did it." He sighed and gazed off across the wetlands to the massive lake far beyond. "I do wish you could have met her, she would have no doubt been far more entertaining than I am."
"You're plenty entertaining, don't beat yourself down, Corin," Tanrial said, "You know, she might have had some ancestors who were able to use magic, if she could calm any animal, I've heard of people who can do the same. Maybe the trait got passed down to her, you never know these days."
"I suppose that could be true, couldn't it? I'd never thought of that before." Corin tapped his teacup pensively. "I used to firmly believe that humans could never practice magic, but over the years I've been proven wrong many times. If it hadn't been for the young man in our tribe who can sense other magic-users, we might not have noticed you three passing by at all. Tell me, was magic common in your families? Or were you more rare, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Ah well," She scratched at the back of her neck, letting out a soft chuckle, "See I'm not.. human, Evyn to be precise. We reside more up North and prefer to keep to ourselves. Most, if not all of us have some form of magic, I haven't met one of my kind who hasn't. Some have powers more prominent and stronger then us, mainly in royals but all of us have a little magic, even if it's just being able to talk to animals, for example."
"Fascinating. I've never heard of these Evyn people before. Are you all of that race, then?"
"No," Bernon replied. "Mike and I are both human. This food is delicious, by the way, we appreciate you sharing it with us."
"Oh, it's nothing at all! Eat as much as you like! Do you like it too, Sir Mike? You seem….preoccupied by something."
Mike had been gazing down at the rest of the base and eating very little, his expression unreadable. When Corin addressed him, he nodded at a half-flooded shack sitting several yards from the other buildings. "Does anyone live in there?"
"Hm? Ah. No, that is our little community jail. We keep prisoners of war and rebellious bandits there sometimes, but I do believe no one's there at the moment."
"I see." Mike looked away and took a small sip of the tea. "It's about time we got back on the road," he said quietly so only Tanrial could hear.
Tanrial nodded, the mention of the 'jail' putter her more on edge then she should have liked. Clearing her throat and putting down her tea, she looked to Corin, "Well, we thank you for your hospitality however we must be getting back on the road. We have to make it out of these parts before nightfall and utilizing all our time would be wise."
"Oh….." Corin's shoulders slumped in disappointment and he set down his untouched tea. "I suppose you're right…..It's such a shame, I would have been more than happy to host you longer. But I won't keep you if you need to hurry." He stood up and shook some crumbs from his cape–how they'd gotten there when he hadn't eaten anything was anyone's guess. "Come with me, I'll find you a guide to show you the hidden path."
She loosed a breath, giving Corin a sympathetic smile as she stood, “That would be lovely, thank you. If we could stay longer we would however unfortunately that day is not today. Maybe sometime soon we can come back and visit for longer.”
"That would be lovely." Corin guided them back to solid ground and over to one of the wooden side buildings, which he stuck his head into. "Hello in there—Tab? Are you available for a little chore?"
A younger man appeared, wearing a red mask with a stitched-up smile and carrying an ancient rifle wrapped in rags. "What do you need, cheif?"
"Do you mind taking our guests up northwest, to the mouth of the secret path? I owe them for a spot of tea."
"Uh….sure." Tab sounded a bit like he didn't want to go to the trouble, but wasn't going to actually argue. Turning to Tanrial and the others, he nodded at the docks nearby. "Let's go, then. The little blue boat's mine, we should all fit if nobody rocks it around too much."