Eyes of the Beholder (closed to Gnarl and Root)

[Feist]

The dead man gave nothing away. Twilight brushed the sky with purple, edging out the pink on the horizon, the golden light of the sun falling beneath the treeline. The air had already turned cold, the road ahead melting into blue shadows. Her Drow eyes helped, but it didn’t matter much. No matter who came down the road, she would sit here.

Valintra had murdered him days ago, as he scouted ahead. It hadn’t been easy, waiting until he’d reported and was making his way back home. If she killed him too soon, it would cause suspicion, too late and his ghost might not tell her anything. He quietly stayed where he’d died, which was another annoyance. Rather than going back to the barracks, leading her to where the convoy would start out from, they waited on the road. He watched, dark eyes unblinking. She waited, sure there was a reason.

The Drow had enough time to memorize the patches on his coat, the ghostly wounds from when she’d dealt the killing blows. Finally, he perked up, shuffling to his feet. As the glowing form rose above her, she found her own feet, and stared down the road. The mercenary’s spirit was silent still, but he was tense, a dog watching something just outside of its fence.

Her elven eyes could barely make out a covered wagon coming up the road, surrounded by a group of four men. The spirit waved, unknowing that he would not be seen. Surely this was what he had been waiting for, the job that had been on his mind when she felled him. A grin crossed her lips, and she replaced her helm. Backing into the brush on the road, she waited. What she sought was within the wagon, and before the dawn came it would be hers.

[Gnarl & Root]

The long dark stretch of road was exactly that, nothing more and nothing less. A simple job for a meagre amount of money, transferring this, whatever it was, to its next destination. This wasn't a planned task for Gnarl, nor was it for the other two men, each happy to provide an escort for the travelling wagon. Shaded by canvas and blanked out windows, now nothing by wood in an iron frame. Sealed to keep whatever or whoever inside of it, hidden from sight and mind.

Gnarl had wondered what it might be, but in truth it was worth not knowing. His payment wasn't to be that much, he had to ensure it reached the next stop, not ask questions and say nothing to anyone. Providing things didn't get any more suspicious than they were Gnarl was happy to oblige. This wasn't about the money, this was about wasting time, finding something to do while he ventured alone, waiting for his comrade to return.

The solid wagon must have been fairly weighty, bumping over the stony path, and crushing the loose earth beneath it. Riding on horseback seemed like a good idea, the journey had been faster this way, but things felt more uncertain when sitting up high within the dark of the twilight night.

"Up ahead, were nearing our meeting point."

The leading man, the only one who knew what was within the wagon spoke as if they knew what was happening. Gnarl didn't respond, the gruff leader expected complete compliance during this time, and Gnarl felt it was worth just complying rather than getting into an argument with the unreasonable.

He was armoured as if for war, steel plated armour and steel swords to match. A red tunic hung out from beneath, and a few gold rings braced his fingers. The moustached gruff was a proud man, who was determined to reach the end with no problems. Even if nothing had happened, and as they reached their goal, it was unlikely anything would happen, he was forever stern.

Gnarl itched his rough chin, his hard leather attire doing enough to keep the cold from hitting him. Though the man in front clearly shivered, his teeth clattering together filling the silence they made for themselves.

Gnarl could not wait for this to be over, he was completely lost now, and anticipating the light of day so he could forget this bore of a journey and continue on with the more important goals of his life.

Starting to feel this wasn't even with the money...What a boring trip