Quest

It had always been my dream. Ever since I grew up listening to my mother tell me old Wivestales. I loved the lore of it all. The gallant fights of the brave men fighting for what they believed in, the triumph of acquiring their boon. The joy and praise they received from their home town and even sometimes the King or Queen themselves.

I always wanted to go on a quest. One full of adventure and mystery and excitement. That's what I dreamed of. Excitement. It's what my common life needed. I needed it to live fully. To live like those rogues who wandered past our little farm house at night.

The day I knew my quest began was the day I knew I was finally getting the excitement that severely lacked in my life. I heard rumors in the town's tavern when my father had asked me to deliver a cartful of ale. There was a group of rambunctious Plainspeople who were talking animatedly of what they witness out South, towards the Dead Wastes.

They were talking of great Giants, who were unexpectedly nice. Of nymphs who seduce men and women alike only to ripe out and consume your souls. Of the people-animals they referred to as Tribe of the Korah, fierce warriors and a group of very proud people. I was so enthralled in their story I hadn't even noticed I had moved forward until I was just behind them listening intently like the rest of the Traven goers’ about.

One woman caught my eye as she finished her part of the tale and raised her eyebrows at me. She looked me over as if inspecting a horse. She nudged the man next to her and gestured towards me and whispered something lost in the throws of conversation. I felt exposed all of a sudden and the need to leave. But as I turned about the woman got up and approached me. She was nearly as tall as me, taller than any woman I had ever seen before. She had the distinctive looks of a Plainswoman: White washed hair, a tanned complexion, black lips and abnormal piercing gold eyes. Her eyes were outlined in black only enhancing the fierce look in them. She had tattoos that spiraled away from her eyes and down the sides of her face, as if she were wearing a mask.

She grinned at me and from her mouth I could see the flash of sharpened teeth, glinting at me.

"Hallow Curious Un', why leavin' so?" Her accent wasn't as heavy as the others at her table but it was a bit broken.

I tilted my head and cocked an eyebrow. I was feeling uncomfortable but knew better than to ignore a Plainsfolk. It was a great insult to them. "How de'. I have to be gettin' back to work. Ale doesn't deliver itself," I nodded a polite goodbye and tried to pass her but she side stepped with me, clearly wanting something.

"Ah~! You the farm with all the sweet mintka!" Her smile (if you could call it that) brighten right up. She yelled something back to her group and they gave a roarous cheer and called a few remarks back in Tolldi, the native language of the Plainsfolk.

I could only assume 'mintka' meant grapes for our small farm house did have quiet a large vineyard growing. "Yes, that would be the farm I live on. Now if you'll excuse me I really must be going," I didn't really want to go but I felt the need to leave as soon as she had locked eyes with me. Something about it had set me uneasy and I did not enjoy it.

"Ah! Ah! Ate! Ate!" She stepped in front of me again. "Ale full tonight. Room to settle in barn for night, ah? We pay good. An tell more tales of the South. Maybe even Curious Farm Un' would like to join in travels? Makola," She gestured to the man she had been talking to about me, he gazed at me with a hard expression and gave a solemn nod. His light grey eyes quiet frankly disturbed me. And his face tattoos didn't help. It looked as if he was crying tears of blood, from his dark painted eyes. "He thinks right of you. He says you have strong an brave soul. Very good goose when moving South. Much needed!" She nodded her head.

I almost corrected her on the miss use of the word but thought better of it. Plainsfolk were an odd people. No one knew much about them but all who were invited to join them never declined. There was something about them. Something alluring and boundless that everyone sought once they met one. I could understand some of the stories now of how women just left their husbands to traverse off with a Plainsman or how a man left his whole farm for a free life with the Plaispeople.

I could feel the pull. And I knew I needed it. For if I didn't take it I know I would regret it for the rest of my life.

"Alright. Come tonight to the farm, you know where it is?" She nodded her head smiling and showing off her sharpened teeth. "Good. You all can stay in the barn and I will think about joining you,"

Her smile faltered and she looked me in the eye. Studying me hard. "Ah~ Must come. Good for strong soul. Curious Un' is much in need. Nomina the Wise has told me! No think. Just do," And with that she sutured off to her table, relaying the news to her kinfolk.

I found my way out the Tavern and stood there for a long while, wondering what just happened. My need to hear more of the tale was great but the fact of leaving my Farm was scary in a way. Going into the unknown. But it had been all I ever wanted right? What would Father think? Surely he would disagree. His oldest leaving to go with the Plainsfolk. I doubt he'd even let the people stay the night in the barn. But I had already told them they could and going back on my word was something I learned long ago to never do.

Climbing up the cart and heading back out to the Farm I wondered over what to do, what to say and how to go about it all when I got to my father. But I knew I had to go. That resolution I got to as my Farm house came into view.