[T'lainya]

T'lainya smiled as she saw Endelia and Xivaril waiting by the city gates. Endelia was wearing chain mail and a weather stained cloak. She looked at ease in her travel gear, a contrast to the younger elf beside her. Xivaril was wearing his robes, a new soft elven cloak and polished new boots. Endelia followed T'lainya's gaze and grinned.

“At least it's not a long journey south.”

T'lainya grinned back and said. “I took the liberty of bringing some healing salve, just in case.” She looked at the heavy pack, stuffed to the brim with each and every item Xivaril thought he might need and grinned again. “Are you sure you have everything? You seem to be missing the fireplace.”

“I think I saw him toss it in the bottom of his pack.” Endelia said mischievously.

Xivaril blushed and said sheepishly. “I wasn't sure what I might need.”

T'lainya laughed and patted his arm. “I was teasing. You'll want to have a few familiar things around you.”

Endelia agreed. “Let us be off then, the day is young and we have many miles to go.”

The guard saluted the trio as they passed through the stone arch. “May the Seldarine protect thy path.”

“May the day bring peace and joy to thee brother.” T'lainya raised her hand in blessing to the guard. The path out of the city was winding, passing great boulders and imposing statues. T'lainya was explaining to Xivaril how they would animate if the unthinkable came to pass and Evereska was besieged. Endelia smiled, enjoying the warm breeze and faint scent of pine. Xivaril looked up once, his sensitive ears had caught the faint sound of a footfall.

“Did you hear that?”

“Aye, it's one of the regular patrols. You did well to hear it.” Endelia said. Suddenly she frowned. “Do you smell that? It smells like apples.”

“I smell it too.” T'lainya looked around but just as suddenly the faint fruit scent was gone. She murmured a few words, as did Endelia, but the divination spells revealed nothing. “Xivaril, perhaps you could cast a few protective wards for us.”

Xivaril nodded happily, feeling useful for the moment. He chanted low and melodious, casting the proper wards. He finished and looked over to see T'lainya gathering a few leaves from a small green plant with small lavender blossoms.
“What's that?”

“Catnip. It's used for fever reduction, toothache, allergies and is a main ingredient for the Cat's Grace spell.” T'lainya smiled. “Perhaps you should harvest a leaf or two.”

Xivaril bent down and carefully plucked a few leaves, wrapping them tightly in a small herb pouch. “Maybe I can learn more herb lore from Dermondil.”

“He'll teach you the use of every plant in Fearun.” Endelia said. “You're lucky to study under him.”

The mountains were giving way to foothills now, the trees replaced by grass and scrub. The air was warmer, heavy with the droning of bees. Rabbits played in the distance, disappearing when a hawk circled overhead casting a shadow over the plains. They walked on, aware that the elven patrols were less frequent here. The trees were thicker now, stands of beech and maple, great oaks and chestnut. They had decided to travel south, near the western edges of the Stormhorne mountains. They would avoid the marshes of Tun and continue south.
T'lainya and Endelia were poring over a map of the region, pointing out various elven settlements and points of interest to Xivaril.