Chapter 255: Three’s a Crowd

“Two is company, but three is none; two’s a couple, but three’s a crowd; four’s too many, and fives are not allowed.”

Dictionary of Proverbs

Njordson had been waiting in ambush for us to leave. “Before you go, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind me accompanying you at least as far as Drangskoll.”

“Why not travel with your family?” Namir sighed at the complication.

“You’ve inspired me. I rarely travel without them. This is a small trip without all the fanfare of travelling with family.” He answered, still keen to accompany us.

“We are trying to make as much distance daily as possible,” I added, as it would be impossible to hide our flight from him if he were to accompany us.

“I won’t slow you down, and I’m ready to go.” He shouldered his pack as he approached to meet us at the door.

“What about your family? What do they think? Do you have permission?” I asked, not keen for the added complication this might cause if, having just been pardoned or at least excused for murder, we were to then depart with the heir to the valley.

“Father said it was fine.” He answered defensively and somewhat put out that we seemed to be objecting or just disappointed we were not as keen as he was about the idea.

“And your mother?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I only need my father’s permission.” He stated.

I could tell we would not convince him to abandon his idea. The question was whether it would be worth attempting to run away from him, especially when we had already planned on leaving the town in our boat before switching our method of travel. “Fine.” I sighed. You can come with us.”

“Thank you,” He stated simply.

While Namir added, “Don’t make us regret this.”

We stepped out into the early morning. We saw the sun rise above the horizon and light up the town. It was quiet in the morning, and we made good time down from the bluff and went through the slowly stirring town. With our goods already stored in my spatial vault, there was no need to return them to our inn. We had a habit of not sleeping in the first room we rented in each town so far. However, if we made it to Drangaskooll without incident, I was sure that Njordson would welcome us to his family home. Still, it was a worrying trend. We made it back to where our boat was docked and pulled out into the stream. Namir was up front, Njordson was in the middle, and I was in the back, steering the boat.

“You’re steering?” He questioned our order.

“Namir isn’t really a boat kind of person,” I politely pointed out.

“This is fine.” Namir objected. “It's only when I can’t run ashore that I start to feel a little nervous; besides, Kai is the better sailor.” He stated.

“The better sailor?” Njordson questioned. Surprised by my age and skill with the boat.

“Well, I did grow up on an island.” I pointed out. “Not only that, but my father loves to sail, and Namir grew up on the plains and savannahs of Ostro. Not a lot of sailing was done there, whereas I have been on or in the water most weeks since I was born.” I boasted a little.

“I didn’t mean to pry, and a river is a little different to the open ocean.” He commented.

“No offence taken. But it is truly time to get going, and river or ocean, and it seems to matter little to my skills as long as they have water to work with.” We had had enough complications in the last 24 hours; I wanted to be gone before the world could work out what to throw at us next. We edged out into the middle of the river and were soon heading through the town to exit on the west, opposite where we had arrived.

“So much for avoiding trouble.” Namir finally said in an I told you manner as we exited the town.

“It's not my fault,” I objected, referring to the fact that it was Nyx who got into trouble, not me. I avoided mentioning Fortuna and her playing with my fate as much as she was adding new skills to my skill list.

“Nyx is a beautiful beast. You can hardly blame people for getting excited, especially when she arrived uncollared in the market square.” Njordson added his two coppers-worth of commentary.

“Thank you for your family’s present,” I said, stroking Nyx’s brows, head and then scratching down her spine. The collar was nestled tight against her skin, fitted to her size. It might prove a little troublesome if Nyx continued to grow, but most dragonlings did not grow much bigger than she currently was.

“It was Mother’s pleasure to defuse the situation with a gift. Besides, you, statutes were surely worth far more.” Njordson shrugged off the gratitude.

Settling into a rhythm with the paddles, I began to apply my skills, [Sailing] netted little improvement when we were rowing but helped a little. [Cruising] though kept the boat moving as quickly between strokes as when we were pushing ourselves through the water, the momentum magically retained. [Perfect Timing] one of my newest skills subtly improved the timing of our strokes as well as hinting at the optimum moment to adjust course. Of course, it helped that I could fully visualise our path with [Sonar] and avoid any rocks long before they came into sight or blocked our course. [Racing] though really kicked our boat up a gear, though [Seafaring] did nothing, seeing as we were on a river. But the combination of the five skills saw us shoot along as I added each one, to Njordson’s surprise.

We roared our way down that river, its snow-covered banks pristine on either side. Travelling with Njordson would take a little longer, but the distance to Drangaskoll was half that of the other towns, and we should make it in a day regardless of our method of travel and our company, especially with all my skills applied. Some skills I would have to keep hidden, but there was plenty of information we could ask Njordson about, and the valley was so distant from the Western Isles that any information we gave him about our own home was unlikely to have any impact on us at home.

“What is it like being the future Chief of Drangar Valley?” I asked intrigued as we settled into our current speed down the river. I was watching carefully and adjusting our course as needed but I had time to talk now.

“Much the same as being Lord Silversea of the Wester Isles, no doubt.” He shrugged, attempting but failing to do so nonchalantly; he still looked a little alarmed at the pace we were making down the river.

“I doubt that,” I objected. You are inheriting the position, but I am still attempting to build mine. I am the first of my line. How many generations have your family controlled the valley?” I asked as we were still building our traditions and house from the ground up while he would be inheriting one already long established. There was no reason we could not incorporate a few of his ideas if he divulged any of worth.

“Eleven generations have held the title uninterrupted,” Njordson answered proudly after a moment's thought. “First of your line?” he questioned. “Who controlled them before your house?” he asked.

“We are pioneer islands,” I explained. There were no noble families before mine, and we obtained the writ of nobility at no small expense, and it has cost us no small amount of danger.” I remembered back to the early days before we had received the questionable protection and support of the crown.

“If they are pioneer islands, I am surprised that anyone is interested.” He seemed surprised that we were new and that others coveted our position or, at best, objected to it.

“I cannot say that I completely understand the situation, but it sounds like there is a rather finely balanced division of power within the Principality of Ponente, and our existence might shift things in favour of the coastal lords, which the landlocked lords are not particularly enamoured of the idea. While it appears the crown might be supporting the confusion.” I attempted to summarise the situation as Lady Acacia had broken it down for me. It affected this Chiefdom of Drangar in Tramontana, which was not at all removed as they were with the Kingdom of Maestro between them and the Kingdom of Ponente.

“I can see how that might be the case.” He said after a moment of quick contemplation. His main focus was still on the rushing water and, at this particular point, the rapidly approaching rapids. We continued to travel with the flow of the current. Paddling only a little to keep the boat centred in the middle of the river. When it curved or had rocks in the middle of it, it made my steering necessary, and [Sonar] ensured enough warning to maintain the skill-induced speed of our passage. “You’ve never travelled this river before?” He asked, a little panicked by our brief passage through the rapids.

“No, but as Namir said, I’ve been on the water most weeks since I could walk. I could do this blindfolded.” I boasted, closing my eyes to his consternation. [Sonar], [Mana Sense], [Echolocation] and [Danger Sense] ensured my momentary tomfoolery did not put us in actual danger.

“I believe you,” Njordson quickly shouted, seeing the some more rocks approaching, “But I’d feel more comfortable if you kept your eyes open.” I wondered whether he regretted his decision to travel with us to Drangaskoll yet. I was tempted to take the rocks with my eyes closed but opened to ensure he did not attempt to take control of the rudder and cause our crash.

“So what’s it like?” I asked once more after I had manoeuvred our way around a series of rocks and reached a smoother section of the water, to Njordson’s relief. Namir was not so bothered by my childish actions, capable of clearing the water in a single leap to the shore should I actually capsize the boat.

Once Njordson’s heart had returned to a reasonable rate, he answered. “Well, my father insists I follow him everywhere to learn the ropes and see our valley in operation. He instructs me in the politics of Tramontana along with the flow of taxes from our valley, ensures I keep up with my arms instruction should we need to defend ourselves from others, and we embark on regular hunts to keep the surface of the compass continent clear of the monsters that spill forth from the depths of the lodestone.” He outlined a few of what he considered the main duties of his position.

“People? Monsters? Are there many attacks?” I asked surprised that anyone would contest the valley.

“People, no. Our hold is long established and easily defended; no one challenges the Valley. Monsters, on the other hand, are a constant thorn in our side. The cold kills most before they can establish a foothold and reproduce, but those who survive are even more ravenous and more likely to attack travellers along the river or even the towns. In fact, I am surprised we have not seen at least one this morning. Perhaps it is our speed.” He answered.

“There’ve been signs of at least three that I noted,” Namir interjected. He had ignored our conversation for the most part and been focused at the prow of the boat on the paths ahead and the banks of the river while I was focused mainly on the river itself and our passage along it.

“Signs?” I asked, as I had not sensed any monsters in the area I could keep track of despite my focus on the river itself.

“Tracks,” he answered. “Not the monsters themselves. It is possible that Njordson was correct, and we have passed through their territories before they could attack or even notice our presence.”

“You saw three sets of tracks?” Njordson asked, surprised by the beastkin's ability to differentiate three sets of tracks from the middle of the river when we passed down it so swiftly.

“Everyone needs to drink at some point, and snow makes it easy to spot the tracks.” He shrugged, explaining where and how he had been able to note the tracks.

“You’re sure they weren’t . . .” Njordson started but was interrupted by Namir.

“Yes, I’m certain they weren’t rabbit, hare, ermine, fox, wolf, or bear prints if that is what you are asking,” he declared confidently.

“Do you know . . .” Njordson started to ask, worried about what he was hearing.

“Yes . . .” Namir started before I suddenly sensed an impending problem with the river ahead. Two trees had fallen across the river, blocking any passage we could have hoped to make by boat.

“Guys,” I shouted, turning the boat so swiftly that we were nearly swamped. “We have a  . . .”

“Troll problem.” Namir finished my sentence for me.