A New Plan

As Bard entered, Ruegar’s intake and then whistle made Bard pause.

“So ye did accept. O’ thank da suns, sky, or whate’er be out dere,” Ruegar cheered, softly. Bard realized he had seen the bracers on his arms and he still didn’t know how to react to that. He still had his worries, but Elvira had caused a thought to come in that might give them a way to do both.

“Ruegar. We need to chat. Can the kids have an early nap?” he asked and Ruegar did a goofy bow before ushering the kids out. While he did that, Bard went out and retrieved their gear from Kai’s resting spot. Kai was on alert, patrolling around the property and Bard made sure to hide the bracers. He didn’t need that attention right now, while he was still processing it.

Inside, he laid out the map and then grabbed a few twigs of varying lengths. He then started to shift across the map. Elwood had said this was fairly accurate and as he checked, he was sure that it was accurate enough. Judging how long it took them to get here from the ruined city, and how long it took to Elder Perspective, then he would need to account for many things. Sen stayed by his side, handing him different twigs and letting him think.

Elvira assisted Ruegar, and when they returned, they stared at the map with them.

“What ye be thinking about lad?” Ruegar asked and Bard looked up at Elvira and then down at him.

“I know a place we could seek refuge. The problem is getting there with a large group. It wouldn’t be too far off the path that Sen and I need to go, but… I don’t think I can have you stay until our return,” Bard commented. Elvira sat her hand on the table as she leaned to look over the map in more depth.

“Impressive map. Looks like you are well traveled. But we can’t offer much input unless you explain what is going on, and what we are looking at.”

She was right. Sen pointed out the forest she came from and where they had already been. Using some twine to draw very rudimentary paths. Bard showed the route to Perspective, and explained how he wanted them to seek guidance under her and shelter. He would need the people to be familiar with forests if his dream was to come to fruition.

“Dream?” Sen asked.

“Father and I always lamented the war. I’ve been isolated because of it. I had dreamed of coming across a village that had all the races present. Humans, Dryads, Catfolk, all living together and working out their differences. I just hadn’t thought of building one…”

“Well, you have willing Humans. The only question is; are there Dryads who would be willing?” Elvira asked. They looked at Sen and she bit her lip.

“I don’t know… my father isn’t exactly happy that I’m marrying a human… however, my grandfather is, and I’m sure I could talk some of my people into it. I don’t know of any others…”

“In all my travels, Sen’s people are the most friendly I’ve met towards humans. And that is saying a lot, seeing how some want to kill me.”

“But not all. That is an improvement,” Elvira said, focusing on the possibility.

“Oh!” Sen shouted. “You’re going to make them Elders so my people have to respect them a bit, right? Show them that they aren’t typical Humans?”

Bard chuckled. “That is the idea. Though, we would still need to figure out where to establish this place…

“How about here?” Elvira asked, pointing at the map. It was the edge of the forest.

“There are already warring tribes over there, human and Dryad. Our path goes this way on purpose to avoid them.”

“There still be fight’n?” Ruegar asked, astonished.

“Sen?” Bard turned to her, ignoring the exclamation. “How far can your people move?”

“Well, our normal routes cover from here, to…” her eyes wandered until she caught sight of a notable shape on the map. “Here.” She pointed out.

“That be quite a bit of travel,” Elvira said. She looked at Ruegar who ducked his head. Bard didn’t bother guessing what that was about.

“Is it possible, knowing what we do about our trip that they could make it over, say… here?” Bard asked. Sen’s jaw dropped. She stammered for a bit and paused.

“I… it might be possible? Grandfather said that War, I mean Defender, used to be from a far distant land…”

“Why do you recommend this location?” Elvira asked.

“We would benefit from the Catfolk that travel nearby, and it has mountains like you are all used to for resources and construction. It’s also has a similar forest structure to the silver woods that Sen is from.”

Sen seemed to ponder on it, but shook her head.

“It is about halfway between everyone in one sense, but there are too many warring tribes to break through.”

“It is winter. If we ask Elder perspective, I’m sure we can find a path through that your people can come,” Bard answered.

“Where else do you need to go for this engagement?” Elvira asked, and Ruegar finally caught on that his wife knew. She gave him a withering glare and he ducked, nearly below the edge of the table.

Sen chuckled, but even she didn’t know. As Bard began to point out all the locations, he placed a simple rock down for all that were left and Sen moaned.

“No wonder you were worried…” she mumbled. Bard smiled wanly and touched her hand. It helped that she understood the situation now.

“I was planning on going in a full circle, but it might be wise to travel back and meet with these Elders after we get everyone situated since we will be nearby. Then we can travel the other way and make a mad dash home.”

“How many days is it?” Ruegar asked.

“The rest of the journey?” Bard asked. He grabbed the twig that was about a day length of Kai’s travel and moved it across the map. As the number count grew, Sen’s neck began to disappear as she ducked. One hundred fifty nine more days of journey, including only seven days at each of the eleven elders they still needed to visit. Of course, those numbers were including traveling back and forth for getting the villagers to their next locations, and bringing the Dryads along. With the One hundred twenty three days they had already spent on their journey, it was doable, but didn’t leave a lot of time in case of injury, unforeseen troubles like they were already dealing with, and so on.

“I see why you would be worried about taking on this, and fulfilling your original task. In short, we would be taking at least forty days and that is assuming the best case scenario.”

“If the groups traveled slow, then it could be double that. And seeing how we would likely get mothers, children and elderly, then it is very likely we will be slow.” Bard pointed out.

“So… dat leaves ya about just under fifty days to finish. Eh? What be the matter? Dat be plenty of time,” Ruegar said and Elvira and Bard groaned. Even Sen looked astonished.

“Ruegar. It took us about eighty days to get my first four tokens and approvals. And the last forty I haven’t gotten any. With those numbers, I need to get four more in the next eighty to stay on time and return home the day the Pledge is due. So when we need to spend forty days to take care of your people here, then it does make it a bit of a squeeze, let alone if they need all eighty. Granted, some Elders are more clustered, so it shouldn’t be impossible… right?” she looked to Bard for confirmation. Bard nodded. It was the only way to make this work. But… would the Dryads agree to it?