Taraborn sat atop his horse, Thunder, looking along the East-West road, the sun rising in the distance. A gentle breeze ruffled through his thick, black hair and he sighs with content. He was heading off on a new journey, not knowing where it might end. The road was enticing, and he itched to get moving once again.
He looked back at the clip clop of hooves on the road behind him, the creaking of a cart axle, and the straining of the leather reins. A wagon was coming towards him, lit by the yellow glow of the morning sun, Bree in the distance just starting to wake up. He waves to the driver of the wagon, hailing him.
“Good mornin’ lad.” The merchant Edward answers, pulling up beside him. He pulls out a large bag of coins. “Your first payment, the rest you’ll get in Dale and maybe another couple of jobs.” He chucks the bag down to Taraborn who deftly catches the bag. Opening it, he rummages through to check its contents before pulling out a coin to inspect the quality of the money. Satisfied, with the bag he nods to Edward.
“So what we carrying tha’s worth do much?” He asks, nodding to the wagon.
Edward stiffens a little bit at the question, “You remember the agreement, no questions. Just know I got you, and me two sons in the back.”
Taraborn’s eyes narrow a little, and he stares up at the older man, trying to read his expression. A few moments he just nods, “I guess it’s worth the money.”
Edward chuckles and nods, “Aye, it is worth it. Now let’s get going, I want to make the Forsaken Inn by nightfall.” With that, he gives the two horses hauling his wagon a command and gives the reins a shake and sets off along the road.
Taraborn holds back a little, watching the wagon for a few moments. The road was calling him, and he couldn’t wait to ride it. To see where it might take him. He knew Dale, an unknown land to him, but where might he go from there? Further East? South to Rohan or maybe to his homeland? Maybe he could try and find jobs with the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain or the Iron Hills. The possibilities were endless.
Only one thing kept him from riding just yet. Narys. The thought of the red headed huntress had been in his mind for a while, he hadn’t found her to say farewell, and perhaps it was for the best. Maybe some time away from each other would be good for them to clear their heads and decide what it was they wanted from each other. Still, he would miss her.
Shaking his head, he pulls himself out of the reverie and spurs Thunder on, digging his heels in with a shout, “Ya!” He rides after the wagon; away from Bree, familiarity, Narys and into the unknown, adventure, danger. This was the life he had been born to live.
