"Escort, look after... babysit... it was felt by some that you might need additional protection given the new dangers that we face.  Others felt that you might need protecting from yourself since you are not very experienced in "roughing it" out here in the wilds." Breylyn laughs as you try to hide the mixture of emotions this explanation triggers. "Personally, I've always thought you were a lot tougher and smarter than those people give you credit for!  However, it seems that I too am something of a family liability at present.  I fought in the war, so I can be questioned.  If captured, I could be used to apply significant pressure upon the head of our family.  My choices were to marry in haste or make myself scarce - and useful.  I chose the latter!  So here I am... if you will have me.  I have travelled east before, a long time ago, so I can be of some use to you. Mostly, my weapons and my family name should be sufficient to keep us safe until this storm passes."  She pauses and gazes at you for a moment. 

With shock, you realise she is actually nervous about whether or not you will agree to her coming with you.  Breylyn has never appeared uncertain or nervous about anything before. Quite the opposite.  As youngsters, she was unquestionably the leader of your little gang of three (Feamal would dispute this, but in practice he rarely disagreed with whatever Breylyn said. Most ideas involving adventure or mischief started with her).  She is a fiercely independent spirit (and a loyal friend) who must be doubly frustrated to find her freedoms curtailed by family tradition and now this new external threat.  Looking closely, you see that behind the laughter and habitual teasing there is a sadness behind the eyes.  It's a common enough sight in those who fought in the north, but slightly disturbing to see it in Breylyn. You had assumed she was sufficiently far behind the front line to avoid the worst of things.

Whether or not Breylyn would support your service to the Lady, or not, is something you will need time to think about. You know from experience (some of it bitter) that Breylyn has little interest in following the rules when a more interesting alternative presents itself.  If your new mission is to take you places other than where you are meant to be heading, she is unlikely to object!

I gave it a moment of thought, wanting to appear as if I was really considering it instead of outright accepting her aid. I knew deep down I needed as much help I could get. I also knew how rebellious Breylyn was, and maybe gently pushing into that nature of things might get her more willing to aid me than I could ever hope for. Either way, though, I needed her here and now. 

"Breylyn...you should know by now that I am always needing help. Any help you could give I would more than welcome. Especially with how dire the situation has become."

"That's settled then!"  She reverts immediately back to her cheerful, confident self.  "We're still a good way outside of Quelimarien but I'm in no great rush.  I'll hear those red-cloaked oafs long before they get close enough to bother us.  Are you ready to travel or have you not eaten yet?  It is still early - well for a librarian!"

Breylyn has always categorised your arcane studies as "library-work", in contrast to her own calling which is far more practical and physical in nature.  That said, she has always shown respect to any Lore Masters she has met, so you rather suspect this has more to do with teasing you than a reflection of her true attitude towards magic.  At the mention of food, it is as though your stomach suddenly remembers that it has not eaten in some time.  A strong gnawing hunger makes its presence felt and the idea of food seems most appealing!

My hand goes down to my stomach, the growling from it being so loud that Breylyn could hear it rather clearly and easily. That realization of not having food for some time starts gnawing at my mind, distracting me from the memories of the song and my new patron for the moment. "Food...Food first. Then travel..." I say, giving a bit of a nod in agreement. Breylyn's teasing for the moment I just let slip by, showing rather clearly how much help I needed in the moment.

"A wise choice!" Breylyn agrees moving further into the clearing and heaving her pack off her back.  You can almost feel the "thud" as it strikes the ground and you fancy the ground sinks slightly beneath it (a trick of the light... probably!)  "I've got the same rations as you unfortunately. We can eat better when I get a chance to hunt. However..." she pauses dramatically and reaches into her pack.  "...I DO have this rather fine vintage from the family collection to help wash the food down!"

She settles herself down, expertly unstoppers a wine flask and takes a deep swig.  Then politely sets it within your reach and goes rummaging for some rations to eat.

I grab the bottle and take a less dip swig, just enough to wet my palate. I then turn my attention back to the rations, pulling them out of my much lighter pack as I begin eating away. Suddenly, compared to how I saw Breylyn at the event, I feel much more relaxed around her. Less of the nobility and everything else that will always startle me about such and events and much more casual. It feels like now I can actually talk with her again.

"What happened after I left?" I ask, giving her a concerning look. "Is my family OK or has there been any...executions or such?"

"No, nothing like that; at least, not yet.  And yes, everyone was quite well when I last saw them."  Breylyn's cheerful manner abates and her voice becomes far more serious.  "There was what my mother would call "a fearful row", which I imagine the diplomats would call "a frank exchange of views".  Violence was avoided mainly because ten red cloaks did not feel that taking on the entire Rienmari nobility at once - most of whom are serving military - was a particularly wise plan from a survival point of view."  She smiles but there is no humour in her eyes. "I'd have to say there are a few among the families who rather wish they HAD tried their luck!  However, the diplomatic exchange was every bit as fierce." she sighs heavily.  

"Our families reject the authority of the Crown to proceed according to the declaration and have denied the Red Cloaks any authority or access to our lands.  They are to leave Rienmarien immediately.  They also stated that they regard any attempt to question or detain any Rienmari as a hostile act - which is pretty strong wording between so-called friends and allies.

De-Veer stated that the northern edge of The Breech is a protectorate of the Crown and under its authority. He also said the same applied to the Great North Road and that any restriction of movement along it would be deemed a hostile act by Belanior.  We can expect a lot of armed soldiers upon the North Road - many in red cloaks - unless we decide to close it to them." Breylyn shakes her head.  "That would provoke a war.  Besides, we actually need Belanior to garrison the north.  We can't manage it by ourselves.  The difficulty is, we cannot safely leave the defence of the north entirely in the hands of Belanior - which means placing our troops and some Allanyri within what De-Veer states is the Crown's jurisdiction.  It's a shocking mess."  She frowns, takes the flask and has another swig.

"From our point of view, we would do well to stay away from the North Road and the northern edges of the forest in general.  I fear that Greendale may prove risky as time goes by and it goes without saying that the same applies to the southern border with Belanior itself.  Still, the forest is a big place and we should find it easy to stay out of trouble - especially if we can gain entry to Quelimarien west of here."  She drinks once more. "Not that I especially appreciate being told where I can and cannot go within my own home."

I nod slowly, considering all of Breylyn's words. I did nothing to hide my overall concern over the situation. It feels like the world continued to spiral out of control, with little to nothing that anyone could do at this point. However, I knew that Breylyn was right about the need for us to move further westward, so I tried to stay positive. At the same time, I raise an eyebrow at the amount of wine she had drank so far, not recalling what her tolerance was to it. "How long do you think it will take us to get to Quelimarien from here? If you plan to keep drinking that wine, we might be a bit longer on us moving and such..." I say to her, trying to sound a bit more lighthearted as I hoped we could try and keep the situation more light. The thought of it made me long for the woman's voice and presence again, certain that even Breylyn would be put at ease to hear it.

"I have outlasted many of my elders and betters when it comes to drinking much stronger stuff than this!" Breylyn assures you with a broad grin, pleased to see you returning the favour with some verbal sparring of your own.  "I managed four flagons of something called Dwarf Spice-Ale once, which was two more than the rest of my squad managed.  Mind you, I can't rightly recall what happened afterwards, but I'm here to tell the tale so it can't have been all that bad!  Bit of a headache the next day.  To answer your specific question, we could make the border in 2 days if we push hard.  At a far more civilised pace, we can do it comfortably in 4."  She looks at the flask, hesitates then stoppers it up and stows it away. "I should be a little more careful I suppose, though I'd wager I could take on a red cloak or two even with a couple of bottles of this inside me!  Of course, we do have to cross the North Road unseen - which could prove troublesome and might slow us down.  That challenge we will face tomorrow night, if we time things right."

It is odd for you to see Breylyn switch between the headstrong, rebellious girl of your childhood to serious and experienced soldier with so little effort.  Much of her old character remains, yet is now tempered and layered with experience and a more mature confidence.  You wonder how much you must have changed in her eyes.  Whilst you frequently feel no different, part of you knows that the period of Arcane study alongside Carthriel must have had some effect upon you.  You sensed as much from the way your parents treated you at the meeting; they spoke to you as more of an equal than has previously been the case.

"When you are ready, I'm happy for us to make a start," she adds.

I watched her with a sense of awe and also a sensation of emptiness within my gut. How much the world seemed to have changed for all of us, to not really see how each of us were now so different from what we once were. I kept silent for a bit longer as I thought on her words and what she had revealed with how different she was. I let out a bit of a depressing sigh as I thought of how everything felt so different and it had changed, but then slowly got up to my feet, giving a nod to Breylyn. 

"Seeing as we're in your area of knowledge, I think it would be best for you to decide when we go. I trust you to guide us, though I'd maybe say shooting to get there within 3 days seems the most reasonable. Balance between caution and speed."

Breylyn nods. "We can travel at that pace without attracting attention I'd say.  I'll take a quick scout around before we head out - just to be sure. Probably worth refilling our water flasks if I can find some - if you'd like me to take yours as well?  Then we can move out in about half an hour."

It occurs to you that half an hour's quiet meditation by yourself might be no bad thing.  Although you have been tasked with heading East by the Family, you have much to contemplate in relation to your other, more recent, quest.

"That sounds like a plan to me," I reply, holding out my water flask. "Thank you again, Breylyn. For everything. I cannot put into words how much I appreciate you coming and helping me out."

Once she left, I head back to the spot that the Lady from before was at, sitting in the same spot and pulling out the strange stone that was the 'key,' trying to study it more to gain a better understanding of what secrets it might hold.

At first, concentration yields nothing but frustration.  It feels as though the more you stare and focus, the more distant the memory of the Lady becomes.  Only when you allow your mind to drift, eventually, thinking of her voice and presence.  Without realising, you slip into a deep meditation, allowing thoughts and images to form.

You see the stone, except it isn't, it's a great iron key that you somehow know is the stone.  You see the dell in which you are seated, at the centre of which is a great dark keyhole.  You place they key into it but it will not turn.  You sense that there needs to be power activated for it to work.  Words, a ritual, maybe even the song you heard that drew you here in the first place?  Now it is like a fireplace without a fire. Cold, inert, without purpose.

You find yourself now in the library of Master Menarius.  Your desk is covered, as ever, with books and scribbled notes.  It was always said that you were a "messy learner", yet the Master never tried to change this.  "We learn how we learn," he used to say.  You glance across to Carthriel's desk which could not be more different; a single great tome and a single parchment with neatly formed notes.  The title upon the tome's cover leaps out "Enchantments and Summonings: Rituals, Runes and Portals"  Glancing at Carthriel's notes you see he has written:

With the right key, any portal may be opened to any place. Some portals open at will with a single key.  Others may require a different key to re open on each attempt.  Other portals open but once and once alone - though their key may grant access to the same destination from an alternative portal or location. Always beware that any portal may open - or be closed - from the other side irrespective of your own actions. Strong wards of guarding and protection should be enacted around any portal/summoning activity (re-read Ch12)

An inert or "used" key should never be discarded. With an Incantus Divinar, it may be used to guide you to another key.

With a start, you open your eyes and return to the present.  Carthriel had made a far greater study of such matters than you.  The discipline and meticulous research appealed to his character - whereas to you it appeared a dry and dull subject compared to Invocation and Abjuration.  It is only now that the arts and secrets around portals seem far more important to you!  Alas, Divination, including the Incantus Divinar, was also not an area you deemed worthy of study.

With my eyes now reopened, the path before me became much more clear. For me to identify the best use of the key, I need to find somewhere I can study and research Divination. The issue was if we could find any books on researching the subject. 'Guess we'll just have to see if we can find it wherever we go,' I said to myself, getting up to my feet from where I had been sitting. I brush myself off, and then wait for Brelyn to return before saying to her,  "As we are traveling, if we come across any civilization, there are a few topics I'd like to try and find some books to study on. Things that will help us keep a look out for the things we cannot see and beyond."

Breylyn frowns. "I'm pretty sure the idea was to stay away from civilisation."  I assume there are settlements in Quelimarien - I've never actually been there - but it is said they are not scholarly.  At least, not compared to ourselves or the Teomari.  There might be a small library in the settlement of the Woodsmen in Greendale.  That's not the greatest diversion we could take I suppose, though it does take us nearer to danger from Vencarrion and the soldiers of Belanior.  Not that I'm worried about them too much.  I know that part of the forest well."

I nod in reply to her, being reminded how much we need to stay away from civilization. "You're right. I'm simply saying that at some point, I want to try and get some more research done. I feel as if there is something that I've not seen before that can aid us in trying to undo what all is happening here," I explain, my mind running with so many thoughts now as I try to juggle it between both the current circumstance with this new patron of mine & my own sense of self preservation. However, something about her made me feel like she could help undo what has happened here, so I needed to find the soonest opportunity to try and connect with her again.

Another idea came to me as I look to Breylyn, gripping the key. "With how you know these woods, do you think that you might be able to help us find another place like this one?"

"A dell?"  Breylyn looks confused for a moment. "A well-hidden dell?  It is true that I had a job to find this place." She narrows her eyes. "Did you use your arts to hide it? Or is there some secret about the place that I have missed?"  She casts her eyes about more carefully but appears to find nothing out of the ordinary.

"I would certainly be a poor soldier if I couldn't hide us from unwelcome eyes most of the time.  You have a good eye for location, it seems, so perhaps I should be the one following you, when it comes to encampments!  In any case, between us I think we can certainly remain hidden, wherever we choose to roam.  Even," she adds with a smile "if we roam to places that were not intended by our parents.  To be fair, if there are any tasked with searching for us - and I have no reason to suppose there are - they will look first to the wild, remote areas rather than those places we have been told to avoid.  If it is research you need, then Teomarien should be your choice.  The libraries and lore of the Teomari elves are without match, I am told, and we would be among friends there."

I give a nod, taking one final brief moment to consider the options. “Alright. Let’s head for Teomatien, and we can keep an eye out for these like dells on the way. They might be some good spots to rest and recover as we go.”