“Ishgard keeps most of its forces close to the city for defense,†Roen murmured as she glanced behind them for the third time, still finding no pursuers. Only then did she allowed herself a long exhale of relief, finally settling in her saddle. She could feel the lightness in Goldwind’s steps, her bird energized and happy from the unplanned morning run, oblivious to their plight. As she took a deep breath in the cool morning air, she squinted up at the shafts of sunlight spearing through the canopy of leaves above. The trees rustled quietly with the northern wind, and an occasional herd of white clouds drifting across the sky afforded them passing shade.
Even though it had been a familiar sight all her life, a wave of nostalgia in seeing that expanse of azure brushed her heart. More than a year had been spent in snow and ice, and Roen had grown used to the somber hues of grey. The recent suns spent in Costa Del Sol felt almost like a dream, and now riding through the forestlands of Dravania, every green patch of grass was a pleasant reminder that the rest of Eorzea was just as she had left it--vibrant and flourishing. Their sprint through the stream was exhilarating, and if it had not been for the possibility that they were in fleeing from soldiers, she would have considered indulging a bit longer near the fresh running water. It had been years since she had reveled in such an exercise. She could tell Goldwind was yearning for more.
“Perhaps the knights were on a particular hunt,†Roen wondered aloud, as if to refocus her thoughts back to the subject at hand. For the year that she had been serving Knight Captain Tournes, her squadron was never ordered to venture too far from Coerthas. Tailfeather was as far as she had ever traveled, and that was a rare visit, to assist merchants traveling to and from the outpost. She had never recalled as many as thirty soldiers being commissioned to anywhere in Dravania.
But having participated in the dragon hunt near the Convictory along side Ser Vaillancourt, she now had a better understanding of the numbers deployed for such a task, and how they tracked such creatures. The war party that Khadai had described fit such a group. Was there a new campaign to expand further into Dravania? Had the political canvas changed so much in Ishgard that they were willing to extend their resources and defenses this far?
Roen shook her head, chasing away the questions like annoying gnats. None of it mattered, as she was no longer serving under an Ishgardian knight. She had not heard from Idristan Tournes since her dismissal from his company, but after having spent much of her time in Coerthas serving under his strict but fair command, she could not help but wonder as to his welfare. But traveling further into the reaches of the Dravanian forelands, she doubted that she would be able to gain any news here. But she also had thought that encountering Ishgardian forces would be a rare occurrence, but now she was starting to harbor some doubts after Tailfeather.
Thought to purpose. We are traveling deeper into the land where dragons rule, the paladin reminded herself grimly. Even if they did not encounter any more Ishgardian knights, she doubted that this land would ever truly be free of the reverberations of the Thousand Year War. To even hope for such things would be folly.
“What do you know of this Anyx Trine?†Roen called out as she nudged Goldwind to hasten its stride to trot alongside the taller destrier. She gave Khadai a curious glance. “And how do you know that is where we should be heading?â€
Even though it had been a familiar sight all her life, a wave of nostalgia in seeing that expanse of azure brushed her heart. More than a year had been spent in snow and ice, and Roen had grown used to the somber hues of grey. The recent suns spent in Costa Del Sol felt almost like a dream, and now riding through the forestlands of Dravania, every green patch of grass was a pleasant reminder that the rest of Eorzea was just as she had left it--vibrant and flourishing. Their sprint through the stream was exhilarating, and if it had not been for the possibility that they were in fleeing from soldiers, she would have considered indulging a bit longer near the fresh running water. It had been years since she had reveled in such an exercise. She could tell Goldwind was yearning for more.
“Perhaps the knights were on a particular hunt,†Roen wondered aloud, as if to refocus her thoughts back to the subject at hand. For the year that she had been serving Knight Captain Tournes, her squadron was never ordered to venture too far from Coerthas. Tailfeather was as far as she had ever traveled, and that was a rare visit, to assist merchants traveling to and from the outpost. She had never recalled as many as thirty soldiers being commissioned to anywhere in Dravania.
But having participated in the dragon hunt near the Convictory along side Ser Vaillancourt, she now had a better understanding of the numbers deployed for such a task, and how they tracked such creatures. The war party that Khadai had described fit such a group. Was there a new campaign to expand further into Dravania? Had the political canvas changed so much in Ishgard that they were willing to extend their resources and defenses this far?
Roen shook her head, chasing away the questions like annoying gnats. None of it mattered, as she was no longer serving under an Ishgardian knight. She had not heard from Idristan Tournes since her dismissal from his company, but after having spent much of her time in Coerthas serving under his strict but fair command, she could not help but wonder as to his welfare. But traveling further into the reaches of the Dravanian forelands, she doubted that she would be able to gain any news here. But she also had thought that encountering Ishgardian forces would be a rare occurrence, but now she was starting to harbor some doubts after Tailfeather.
Thought to purpose. We are traveling deeper into the land where dragons rule, the paladin reminded herself grimly. Even if they did not encounter any more Ishgardian knights, she doubted that this land would ever truly be free of the reverberations of the Thousand Year War. To even hope for such things would be folly.
“What do you know of this Anyx Trine?†Roen called out as she nudged Goldwind to hasten its stride to trot alongside the taller destrier. She gave Khadai a curious glance. “And how do you know that is where we should be heading?â€
