SIGILBORNE: The World Beyond

The Next Step

Two hours had passed since they left the town behind.

The carriage continued along the countryside road, its wheels rolling over packed earth as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the fields. The journey had been relatively quiet so far. Arthur held the reins, occasionally glancing at the map resting beside him, while Eiran sat back and watched the scenery pass.

Seren was seated across from them with their newest companion resting in her lap. The little creature had spent most of the journey curled against her clothes, occasionally lifting its head to observe the unfamiliar surroundings. It had become particularly interested in the pieces of bread she carried, eagerly accepting every small portion she offered.

After another stretch of road, Eiran glanced toward the horse and then at the distance ahead.

"We should stop for a while. The horse could use a rest, and there's no need to push ourselves."

Arthur agreed without hesitation. He guided the carriage off the road and toward a patch of grass beneath a broad tree. Once the horse was secured, he stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, looking considerably more comfortable now that he was no longer sitting on the uneven seat.

Eiran helped Seren down before joining Arthur beneath the tree. They took out some water and food, making themselves comfortable in the shade. Seren broke off another piece of bread for the little creature, which promptly began nibbling from her palm.

Arthur watched it for a moment. "I think you've already made it clear who its favorite person is."

Seren looked down at the creature, a faint smile appearing beneath her mask. "It was the one that came to me first."

"That's true. It wouldn't even let me touch it."

"Perhaps it simply prefers her," Eiran remarked.

Arthur gave him a sideways glance. "You don't have to sound so pleased about it."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't need to."

Seren quietly laughed, and the little creature shifted in her lap, seemingly unbothered by their conversation. Eiran watched them for a moment before turning his attention to the map. They had covered a reasonable distance since leaving town, but the road ahead would soon become less familiar.

Arthur followed his gaze. "Have you decided where we're heading next?"

"Not entirely." Eiran folded the map and rested it on his knee. "But I've been thinking about Stormhaven."

Arthur's expression changed slightly. "Stormhaven Barony?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that the territory whose ruling family has a problem with yours?" Arthur asked. "I remember hearing something about that when we were younger, but I never really understood what happened."

Seren looked between them. "Why would they dislike your family?"

Eiran took a moment to consider how best to explain it. The matter was older than he was, and although he had heard the story many times growing up, he had never needed to explain it to someone unfamiliar with the history of the region.

"It goes back to my grandfather. Before the Wycliffes became nobles, our family didn't have a title or a territory. My grandfather built Wycliffe Works from the ground up. It started as a small business, but through years of work and investment, it gradually grew into something much larger. The tools and materials he developed became valuable throughout the kingdom, particularly in construction and agriculture. Eventually, his achievements attracted the attention of the royal court."

Seren listened quietly as Eiran continued.

"The King of Aethermoor eventually granted him a noble title, the Wycliffe name, and a territory to govern. That territory became what we now call Wycliffe Barony. The problem was that the land hadn't been unclaimed. A considerable portion of it had previously belonged to Stormhaven."

Arthur looked down at the map. "So the King took part of their territory and gave it to your grandfather?"

"That's the simplest way to put it. The crown had the authority to reorganize noble territories, and my grandfather's contributions were considered important enough to warrant such a reward. But from Stormhaven's perspective, it was a loss of land that had been under their family's control for generations. They weren't particularly pleased about having a new noble house established at their expense."

"That sounds like an understatement," Arthur said.

Eiran gave a small smile. "Probably."

He leaned back against the tree, looking toward the road. "You have to understand that most noble houses are considerably older than ours. Their titles have been passed down for generations, and many of their territories have existed under the same family names for hundreds of years. Some can trace their lineage back to the early days of Aethermoor. Their position in the kingdom was established long before my grandfather was even born."

"Unlike the Wycliffes," Seren said.

"Exactly. Our family name was granted alongside the title. We didn't inherit it from an ancient noble bloodline, and Wycliffe Barony wasn't an ancestral territory that had belonged to us for centuries. It was established when my grandfather was elevated to nobility."

Seren glanced at the map again. "Is that why your territory has a different name from the others?"

Eiran nodded. "Most of the older territories already had names associated with their regions or ruling families. Those names had been used for generations, so there was little reason to change them. Wycliffe was different. There was no existing noble house for the territory to inherit its name from, so the barony was named after the family that had been granted it."

He paused briefly before adding, "In a way, the name is a reminder of how recently our family entered the nobility. Other houses inherited their positions. My grandfather built his."

Arthur gave a thoughtful hum. "I suppose that would make some of the older families look down on you."

"Some do. A few consider newly established noble houses less prestigious, regardless of how much wealth or influence they possess. Others judge us by what we've accomplished. It isn't as though every old family thinks alike."

"But Stormhaven is different," Arthur said.

"They have their own reasons for disliking us. The loss of their land is something their family has never forgotten. Even after all these years, the resentment remains."

Seren lowered her gaze to the creature in her lap, gently running her fingers along its fur. "Then wouldn't visiting their territory be troublesome?"

"It could be, but I don't think they'll recognize me immediately. I haven't been using the Wycliffe surname since we registered with the Adventurer Guild, and I'm not wearing anything that displays our family crest. As far as anyone there knows, I'm simply Eiran, a young adventurer traveling with his companions."

Arthur didn't look entirely convinced. "That might work with ordinary people, but we shouldn't assume everyone will be fooled. If someone from the ruling family happens to recognize you, things could become complicated."

"I know. We won't go around announcing who I am."

Eiran unfolded the map again and placed it between them. There was another matter he wanted to settle before they continued any farther.

"There's also the question of how we reach Stormhaven. We have two possible routes. We could return to Wycliffe first and travel from there using the established roads, or we could cross the mountain range directly."

Arthur leaned closer to examine the map. "Returning home would be quite a detour."

"It would, but it would also be safer. We'd have access to our own supplies, and we wouldn't have to travel through unfamiliar mountain paths for weeks. The range has several settlements, but we don't know how well maintained the roads are or what dangers we'll encounter along the way."

"How long would crossing it take?"

"At least a month, according to the distance marked on the map. Possibly longer if we encounter bad weather or have to change our route."

Arthur studied the mountain range for a few seconds before looking up. "Then I say we cross it."

Eiran raised an eyebrow. "You say that as though you've already decided."

"Why shouldn't we? We're traveling to see the world, aren't we? Going all the way back home just because the mountains might be dangerous seems like a waste of time."

"That's not the only reason I'm considering it. We have a horse and a carriage to look after, and a month in the mountains means a month without the convenience of proper roads. We don't know which paths are safe, how often we'll find settlements, or whether the supplies there will be enough for travelers. We can't simply assume everything will work out."

Arthur scratched his cheek, then looked toward the distant hills. "I'm not saying we should ignore those things. We can ask people who have crossed the range, prepare what we need, and avoid the dangerous routes where possible. But if we always choose the safest road, we'll spend more time going back and forth than actually exploring."

Eiran looked at his friend. Arthur wasn't being careless for the sake of it. He genuinely wanted to continue forward, and Eiran understood that feeling better than he cared to admit. He had left Wycliffe because he wanted to see what lay beyond the familiar roads. The journey had already taken them farther than he had imagined, and turning back now would feel like abandoning that purpose.

Still, the decision wasn't his alone.

"What do you think, Seren?"

She looked up, apparently not expecting to be asked. After a moment, she glanced at the map and then toward the mountain range.

"I think we should continue," she said carefully. "But Arthur is right about one thing. We shouldn't go there without knowing what we're getting into. If the journey is going to take that long, we need to be prepared for the possibility that we might not find help when we need it."

She adjusted the creature in her lap before continuing. "I don't want us to take a dangerous path just because it's shorter. But I also don't think we need to turn back if there are ways to travel safely enough. We can learn more before deciding which roads to use."

Eiran considered her words. That was a reasonable middle ground, and it was close to what he had been thinking himself.

"Then that's what we'll do. We'll cross the mountains, but not until we've gathered enough information and prepared properly. If a route is too dangerous, we'll find another. There's no point risking our lives just to save a few days."

Arthur smiled. "Agreed."

"Good. The map shows a settlement farther along this road. We should be able to reach it before evening. We can ask around there and see what the merchants and other travelers know about the crossing."

With their decision made, they finished their food and packed their belongings. Arthur checked the horse's harness while Eiran secured the map, and Seren carefully settled their little companion before climbing back into the carriage. A few minutes later, they were on the road again.

The countryside gradually changed as they traveled. Open fields gave way to scattered trees and low hills, and the road became busier as they approached the settlement marked on their map. By the time they arrived, the sun had begun its descent toward the horizon.

The settlement was not particularly large, but its position along the route made it a convenient stopping point for merchants and travelers. Several wagons stood near the roadside, and the market remained active despite the late hour. People moved between the stalls carrying provisions, tools, and bundles of goods, while merchants called out to passing customers.

Arthur guided the carriage to a suitable place where they could leave it without obstructing the road. Seren adjusted her hood and mask before stepping down. Her disguise concealed her pointed ears and most of her silver-gray hair, allowing her to move among the other travelers without drawing the attention she once would have attracted.

They found a tavern not far from the market. It was warm inside, with the smell of cooked meat and fresh bread filling the room. Most of the tables were occupied by travelers, several of whom appeared to have spent considerable time on the road. The three found an empty table near the wall, and Arthur went to order their meal while Eiran approached the tavern keeper to ask about the mountain crossing.

The man's expression changed when he heard where they intended to go.

"You're planning to cross the range?" he asked, looking Eiran over. "That's not a short journey."

"We're aware of that. We wanted to learn more before setting out."

"Then you've come to the right place, though I hope you're not expecting an easy road. It takes most caravans a month to reach the other side, sometimes longer. There are settlements along the way, but the distance between them can be considerable."

"How many settlements are commonly used by travelers?"

"Three main ones. The first is near the lower slopes, where most caravans make their initial preparations. There's an old mining settlement farther in, and another outpost closer to Stormhaven. Smaller villages exist beyond those, but I wouldn't rely on them for supplies."

Eiran asked about the roads, and the tavern keeper explained that the lower routes were generally manageable, though the higher passes became narrow and uneven. Some sections had suffered landslides, while others were difficult to cross with larger wagons. The weather also changed considerably with elevation. Travelers could expect colder conditions as they climbed, and sudden storms sometimes made the higher paths difficult to navigate.

"And the beasts?" Eiran asked.

The man gave a tired sigh. "There are plenty. Most keep to their own territories, but some areas are best avoided unless you know what you're doing. A few paths are known for dangerous creatures, and taking a shortcut through their territory can cost you more than the time you hoped to save."

"Are bandits a problem as well?"

"Unfortunately. Some groups target merchants, especially those traveling with valuable cargo. Others have established hideouts near the difficult passages. There are even stories of bandits deliberately driving travelers toward beast territories to force them onto roads where an ambush is easier."

Eiran thanked him and returned to the table just as Arthur finished arranging their food. He explained what he had learned while they ate, making sure to mention the settlements, the condition of the roads, and the warnings about beasts and bandits.

Arthur listened with growing interest, though his expression tightened when Eiran mentioned the possibility of bandits using beast territories to their advantage.

"That sounds like a particularly unpleasant combination," he remarked.

"It is," Eiran replied. "We should ask a few more people before deciding which route to take. One person's account isn't enough to judge the entire range."

They spent the rest of their meal speaking with other travelers and merchants. Some had crossed the mountains themselves, while others regularly transported goods between the settlements. Their accounts varied, but a few details remained consistent. The journey would take at least a month, the settlements were important places to restock, and certain sections of the range were dangerous enough that even experienced travelers preferred to avoid them.

By the time they finished gathering information, Eiran had a much better understanding of what awaited them. They would need food and medicine, warmer clothing for the higher elevations, and enough equipment to handle minor repairs to their carriage. They also needed to be mindful of how much they carried. There was no reason to burden the horse with a month's worth of supplies if they could replenish them along the way.

The three visited the market before it closed for the evening. They purchased preserved food, drinking water, medicine, rope, basic repair materials, and additional provisions for the horse. They also bought warmer clothes and spare blankets, choosing practical items that could be packed without taking up too much space. Eiran checked their purchases as they went, occasionally setting aside something that could be acquired at one of the mountain settlements instead.

Arthur watched him rearrange their supplies. "At this rate, we'll end up buying half the market."

"We're preparing for a month-long journey through the mountains. I'd rather have what we need than discover we've forgotten something halfway through."

"I know. I'm just making sure you haven't decided to buy the entire shop."

Seren looked at the bundles they had collected. "I think we have enough for now."

Eiran examined the remaining space in the carriage before nodding. "Agreed. We can buy more when we reach the first settlement in the mountains."

With their supplies secured, they found a nearby inn and rented a room for the night. It was a welcome change from sleeping outdoors, and the three were glad to have a proper place to rest before beginning the longer journey.

Arthur dropped his belongings beside the bed and stretched out with a satisfied sigh. "You know, there's something I've been thinking about. If we'd gotten Seren's disguise earlier, we could've stayed at inns like this much more often instead of sleeping outside."

Eiran glanced at him. "That's true."

Seren nodded. "I agree."

Arthur looked from one to the other, then slowly sat up. "Really? Both of you?"

"What?" Eiran asked.

"I expected at least one of you to disagree with me."

"Would you prefer that we did?" Seren asked.

Arthur stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "No. But agreeing with me so easily feels strange."

Eiran laughed as he began arranging their belongings for the night. Seren returned her attention to their little companion, which had already curled up comfortably beside her.

For now, they had a place to rest and enough supplies for the road ahead. Beyond the settlement, the mountain range stretched across the horizon, hiding a journey that would test their preparation and resolve.

They would begin that journey soon enough. Tonight, however, there was no need to hurry.