Side Quest: Take This!

[softheartedshizun]

WHO: Shen Qingqiu softheartedshizun and Eleven bearshermark and others.
WHEN: Before the 23rd.
WHERE: Outside Taravast and then in the city streets
WHAT: Delivering magical weapons from Rigarda to foreign undead forces and interrupted by "raiders"
WARNINGS: None I can think of.

More in prompts.

Comments

On the Road

[softheartedshizun]

Shen Qingqiu was having a hard time following the train of events so far. He had been whisked away from his quarters for some sort of task that his role would supposedly be perfect for, though he was certain he was not suited for! Some sort of convoy, some kind of exchange, he was lead here and there and finally he found himself in a cart filled with weapons, off to deliver. What was his life? Did anyone even know he was here? This felt like servants just trying to make up for lack of numbers and grabbing whoever convenient was nearby...

...

Or a lazy story hook to start some sort of event....

"This isn't going to go well," he muttered, he could feel it in his bones.

[bearshermark]

Eleven glanced over at his companion. He's been apprehensive since the summons came, and the niggling observation didn't help any. He gripped the reigns of the horses he'd found himself in charge of and breathed.

"..I'm worried, too."

[softheartedshizun]

"What is so important for us to be here anyway? Isn't this routine? Don't they usually do this on their own?" he really didn't want to be part of an event, too much was already going on for his liking.

He sighed and slouched back, glad he was not in charge of doing anything in particular at the moment. He hoped they didn't get ambushed, but he was very sure they would be. All stories like this had an ambush. The only question was were they going to be the protagonist of this story or the catalyst for someone else.

[bearshermark]

Eleven frowned. He didn't get the impression this sort of run was routine. Weapons. Where were they sending weapons to? Did they have allies after all despite their attempts at isolation?

Goddess, he hoped so. But the pit of his stomach wasn't assuaged. Who then, would they be sending weapons to?

His grip on the reigns tightened, staring ahead. A small mercy that directing a horse-drawn cart didn't seem to be too terribly different from regular horse-riding because he'd never done so before. His cover would have been in tatters almost instantly otherwise.

"I wonder how far it is we're going.."

No one had bothered to tell him where it was they were going- only pointed in a direction to trod. Not that it likely would have mattered all that much, given his lack of familiarity with the region. And that, he decided, would be remedied just as soon as they made it back to the city.

"Did it sound like we'd make it back before evening?"

If not, he'd have to find a way to explain to Lily without panicking her. Goddess, perhaps he should warn her ahead of time actually. Although that would be difficult to do privately until they stopped for a break.

[softheartedshizun]

"They haven't really shared that much information, maybe, maybe not," he felt like they were probably meant to do at least overnight, these sorts of deliveries were like that, right?

Though, if they were going to be done for a while, they could have brought them snacks, right? This wasn't fair!

"Either way... we will know when we get there," though, maybe they could chat up some of the other people a bit casually to get some ideas.

[bearshermark]

Eleven breathed a quiet sigh. That wasn't helpful, but at least they were in the same boat. After a few more tense minutes of quietly rehearsing his phrasing, he leaned over to ask the nearest guard-merchant.

"Ah, excuse me, but how late will we be returning?"

As he'd half-expected, his question wasn't met with much grace but rather a terse command to mind his horses and stay on course.

Eleven settled back with a shake of his head. "..Well, it doesn't seem as though we're supplied for too long."

Which.. could mean something altogether more unfortunate, but surely they wouldn't.. Goddess, he needed to stop thinking.

"..You're a person of some import, aren't you?"

Or rather, pretending to be.

[softheartedshizun]

"More or less," oh wait, was he supposes to embellish it more? "Down with the establishment!" it wasn't a shout, it was a quieter and incredibly subdued impression of one for indoors and late at night.

"Let's assume at least tomorrow, usually things with horses take a day or two," did he say it like he was some sort of expert? Yes. Was he pulling it out of his ass with no reason to back his judgment up? Yes.

[bearshermark]

'Things with horses'.

Eleven despaired. The man sounded about as knowledgeable as Faris had been. Was it possible they were both expendable? ..Well, if a fight broke out, at least no one was going to be expecting him to be armed or particularly dangerous.

His leg bounced with nerves as he attempted to think through solutions. If they took a break, he'd get word to Lily, who could get word to anyone else if needed. The trouble was not knowing their location- a direction to come looking if they lost contact would have to be enough.

"..What's your name? I don't think we've met before."

[softheartedshizun]

"Shen Qingqiu," was he supposed to have a fake name? A fake name would make more sense. But so far he really didn't know what made sense in this world. He should really go back to the library and try and read as much as possible. "I admit I haven't really gone around to meet everyone that diligently."

To be honest he had gotten a bit overwhelmed with the number of people he had to meet and then just stopped bothering... it was fine. Revolutionaries needed... planning time? Or something.