The creaking timbers of The Flightless Duck came to rest against a rickety dock that leaned dangerously to one side as the vessel stopped. Ropes were thrown out and diminutive figures began tying her fast, while the anchor plunged the short distance to the relatively shallow harbor.
It was his destination, the least used stop on the ferry’s route. A rough gnomish village barely existing on the fringes of a seemingly endless wilderness. Gwyrriun had traveled much in his life already, but even the wilds of his elven homeland were nothing compared to this rugged grandeur.
He wasn’t here as a tourist though. He was here to work a burglary.
Little time was spent in the village, as there was little to see. Stocked up on trail food and waterflasks, a rain proof sheet to make a shelter and some gnomish-made hiking boots of a rare sturdiness and he was off down the trail.
The wizard had made him the start of a map, but the pixies always moved their village so he’d have to find the exact spot himself. Which of course was impossible, since the wee folk never ever let simple thieves know their secrets, be they elves or men, gnomes or whatever else came hunting. The pixies had a way of finding you, however, and making you strongly wish you’d taken a different trail.
The trees were soon thick, the forest deep and evening dark though daylight still blazed above. The trail was rough and seldom used, but it was a thoroughfare of sorts and he passed the occasional traveler headed to the ferry village he’d just left. Despite the relative business of the pathway, Gwyrriun often noticed glints of eyes in the shadows, and saw ravens flitting above, and even wolves slinking through distant shadows. He felt followed, watched the entire time.
The first night, his camp was simple but he relished the rest. His legs and feet were sore; the city walking never hurt like this. His stomach rumbled and was sore with hunger; he was carefully rationing his food in this vast and hostile landscape. Soon though the campfire burned cozily, and he curled up in his simple shelter and slept a barely restful sleep with one eye and one ear open the whole night through.
