Strangers

The two men met each other at a roadside tavern; both having boarded for the night in private rooms. The younger man was already seated, drink in hand, when he spied an elder gentleman nervously pacing across the tavern floor. It was obvious he was travelling alone.

“Sal’way!” The scholar called out, waving his hand. “Come share my table?”

The older gentleman darted his head toward the scholar. Confusion was written all over his face, but he nevertheless made his way to the scholar’s table and sat down.

“Sal’way... Scagliola, I appreciate this seat at your table.” The gentleman introduced himself softly, “I’ve not met many people fluent in the old tongue this far north.”

“Sallus, and it is no worry at all!” The scholar responded, “… You just said this far north, you wouldn’t happen to be traveling from Vermis?”

“…Aye…” Scagliola responded flatly, watching Sallus’ reaction.

“Oh do not worry, your people are kin, though I have never had the opportunity to visit.” Sallus said, picking up on Scagliola’s concern.

A barmaid dropped a second mug on the table. Scagliola peered inside, an amber small-beer. It passed the sniff test for him, though the first taste left much to be desired.

“Weak and bitter,” Sallus whispered, leaning in toward Scagliola, “I’m sure we both know someone like this drink.”

Scagliola couldn’t stifle the snorting that followed, nor the smile that crept across his otherwise sullen face. Beyond this brief interaction, the two shared their drinks in relative silence before Sallus finished his. After wiping his mouth, Sallus pulled a folded cloth out of his coat pocket and revealed a map.

“If I may probe you a little further, Scagliola,” Sallus started, “ I would like to ask if you happened to pass through this village, and if it is close enough to the Salt Road for me to simply head south from here?”

Scagliola looked at the map where Sallus placed his finger.

Fahbur

“I am afraid I did not pass through this place on my way here,” Scagliola responded, “But I have heard of it. It is technically off the Salt Road, but there should be signage where you will want to head off.”

“That is fantastic news!” Sallus said, “I am afraid I must head out, but I truly did enjoy your company. Sal’way and safe travels north, my kin.”

“Sal’way,” Scagliola raised his mug, “and safe travels…”

Sallus folded the map and returned it to his coat before grabbing the haversack under the table. He made his way towards the front of the building and left two gilds on the bar. Exiting the tavern, the early morning sun greeted him as a light haze shifted across the ground. Orienting himself, Sallus began to head south on the Salt Road to Fahbur.

The solitary journey down the road was an all too familiar affair; Sallus’ role at the Brightharbor academy required him to travel around the surrounding areas whenever a prospective student was discovered. Today was no different. A young girl with exceptional aetherical control lives in the village marked on his map and he must visit her in person to confirm the reports before offering her sponsorship.

With the sun high in the sky, Sallus headed under a large oak for shade. He pulled out the cloth map and placed it on the ground after making sure to orient it. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small wooden figure. Sallus rubbed the bottom of the figure against the dirt before placing it on the map.

“Loquus”

Sallus uttered an incantation, his palm covering the figure.

A small spiral of aether trickled down into the wood, causing it to shake and slide around the map. The figure settled on a spot halfway between the tavern and Fahbur after a handful of movements. Sallus was relieved at the progress he was making, and took a few extra minutes to rest under the tree before packing up his effects and heading back on the road.

The rest of the journey down the Salt Road was uneventful, and with the sun hanging low in the sky the roadside marker Scagliola had mentioned revealed itself. Spying a dirt path heading west, Sallus trekked into the wilderness. The path was well traveled, if not as well maintained, and he found himself at the village by sundown. Checking into a room at the tavern, Sallus checked his documentation regarding the potential student.

‘Licia, born under an overcast waning crescent.’ Sallus pored over the report, ‘First manipulated aether at age 3 to try and dry clothes, almost burned down the house.’

Chuckling at the mental image, Sallus began to wonder the kind of prodigy he’d found himself meeting tomorrow morning. Changing to his small clothes, Sallus retired to his bed and awaited the new dawn.

____________________________________

Sallus woke from a very uncomfortable slumber, shoulders aching right below the neck. He immediately knew something was wrong; The light was shining in from the wrong side of the room, and the door was right next to his bed.

‘This is the room I was at last night…’ Sallus thought as he looked around the room, ‘There’s no way I dreamed an entire day… right…?’

On the bedstand lay a folded note. Sallus opened it up, expecting it to list the meal available for the day.

KEEP THE TALISMAN ON ITS FOREHEAD

The message appeared scratched into the paper with no evidence of the original message remaining. Sallus scanned the room a second time, but nothing was obviously out of place. He changed into his traveling clothes, now cleaned from his previous day’s travel, and headed down to the ground floor. He found the same table was open and sat down as the barmaid placed a small-beer next to him. The taste was identical, bitter and weak. As Sallus attempted to make sense of his situation, he noticed a familiar figure heading down from the

“Sal’way!” Sallus called out, “Come share my table?”

Scagliola shared the same confusion as the first time Sallus encountered him as he made his way over to the table.

“Sal’way…” Scagliola started, but Sallus took the opportunity to interrupt.

“Forgive me, friend,” Sallus started, “but we have met before, no?”

Scagliola’s eyes widened with understanding.

“Yes, Sallus.” Scagliola replied, “This is actually our third meeting.”