occasional horse and carriage. People were busy picking fruit and bread from the outdoor markets, children were running about laughing, dogs were running about barking, and Gentry was certain he saw a few wayward chickens scattered around. Loud singing could be heard from a nearby tavern where some men (and women) had already enjoyed their fair share of ale for the day, though it was not quite noon yet. Gentry made note of the tavern and decided he might want to visit it later.
He made his way to the Cornerstone Inn and Tavern, one of the many inns that housed visitors to Bartow. The inn had a nice stable, and after Gentry saw to it that Casper was well taken care of, he dropped his satchel off in his room and headed for the university. Along the way he grabbed some cheese and bread. He had not realized how hungry he was until just then.
Gentry was curious to see if the university’s library held any more detailed maps of the Stratford Region, particularly in the areas to the east and north of Norman, the areas that were not well delineated on his father’s maps. A kind librarian guided him to the right section and he spent the next few hours poring over the maps.
It had been a somewhat worthwhile exercise. One of the maps showed a series of streams between Norman and Yukon, causing the path between the two villages to be somewhat jagged, presumably jutting north and south as needed to find the narrowest stream crossing. Gentry also noted that there was in fact one main path that led north from Yukon to the area where his father believed Mt. Xavier to be. There were cautionary notes about rockslides being prevalent in that area, but nothing that mentioned Mt. Xavier or Lady Dinah’s castle specifically.
He could see that the sun was starting to go down and he decided it was time to leave. Though he did not make it back to the lively tavern he had spied coming into Bartow, the Cornerstone Inn and Tavern had a nice little pub inside where he was able to enjoy a pint or two (or three) of his favorite beverage before heading to bed. The next morning he stocked up on some food for Casper and himself, some rope and extra blankets, and he headed out of town.
*************
The road north to Colton was in the shadow of the Atlian Mountains; the wind was ferocious and although it was spring, it was dreadfully cold. Both Gentry and Casper were miserable but they trudged forward through this barren land of rocks and wind. Each night they took shelter near the largest outcropping of rocks they could find. Gentry had the benefit of a small tent. Unfortunately Casper had nothing but the shelter of the large rocks and a few extra blankets that Gentry had purchased in Bartow. Gentry gave Casper a good rubdown at the end of each day and this seemed to satisfy the horse enough to tolerate the blustery night. “We shall find you a good stable in Colton,” Gentry promised.
After two long days and nights, the Village of Colton finally appeared as a distant spec on the horizon. The wind was merciless and the going was slow, but Gentry and Casper fought their way to the village, arriving just before noon. There was only one inn in town, the Settler’s Inn. It was a far cry from the rather posh Cornerstone Inn and Tavern back in Bartow, but it had a stable, and a pub conveniently located on the first floor.
Gentry brought Casper back to the stable. The stable boy seemed fairly competent albeit quiet and somewhat nervous. He was a slight boy, barely over five feet tall, and Gentry guessed that he could not have been more than ten years old.
There had been another man, a local, in the stable barking orders at the boy when Gentry arrived. The boy flinched when the man raised his hand to make a point. This caused the man to laugh and he proceeded to taunt the boy. It was all Gentry could do to hold his tongue. The last thing I need is to cause trouble for myself , thought Gentry, keeping his head down as the man finally left the
He made his way to the Cornerstone Inn and Tavern, one of the many inns that housed visitors to Bartow. The inn had a nice stable, and after Gentry saw to it that Casper was well taken care of, he dropped his satchel off in his room and headed for the university. Along the way he grabbed some cheese and bread. He had not realized how hungry he was until just then.
Gentry was curious to see if the university’s library held any more detailed maps of the Stratford Region, particularly in the areas to the east and north of Norman, the areas that were not well delineated on his father’s maps. A kind librarian guided him to the right section and he spent the next few hours poring over the maps.
It had been a somewhat worthwhile exercise. One of the maps showed a series of streams between Norman and Yukon, causing the path between the two villages to be somewhat jagged, presumably jutting north and south as needed to find the narrowest stream crossing. Gentry also noted that there was in fact one main path that led north from Yukon to the area where his father believed Mt. Xavier to be. There were cautionary notes about rockslides being prevalent in that area, but nothing that mentioned Mt. Xavier or Lady Dinah’s castle specifically.
He could see that the sun was starting to go down and he decided it was time to leave. Though he did not make it back to the lively tavern he had spied coming into Bartow, the Cornerstone Inn and Tavern had a nice little pub inside where he was able to enjoy a pint or two (or three) of his favorite beverage before heading to bed. The next morning he stocked up on some food for Casper and himself, some rope and extra blankets, and he headed out of town.
*************
The road north to Colton was in the shadow of the Atlian Mountains; the wind was ferocious and although it was spring, it was dreadfully cold. Both Gentry and Casper were miserable but they trudged forward through this barren land of rocks and wind. Each night they took shelter near the largest outcropping of rocks they could find. Gentry had the benefit of a small tent. Unfortunately Casper had nothing but the shelter of the large rocks and a few extra blankets that Gentry had purchased in Bartow. Gentry gave Casper a good rubdown at the end of each day and this seemed to satisfy the horse enough to tolerate the blustery night. “We shall find you a good stable in Colton,” Gentry promised.
After two long days and nights, the Village of Colton finally appeared as a distant spec on the horizon. The wind was merciless and the going was slow, but Gentry and Casper fought their way to the village, arriving just before noon. There was only one inn in town, the Settler’s Inn. It was a far cry from the rather posh Cornerstone Inn and Tavern back in Bartow, but it had a stable, and a pub conveniently located on the first floor.
Gentry brought Casper back to the stable. The stable boy seemed fairly competent albeit quiet and somewhat nervous. He was a slight boy, barely over five feet tall, and Gentry guessed that he could not have been more than ten years old.
There had been another man, a local, in the stable barking orders at the boy when Gentry arrived. The boy flinched when the man raised his hand to make a point. This caused the man to laugh and he proceeded to taunt the boy. It was all Gentry could do to hold his tongue. The last thing I need is to cause trouble for myself , thought Gentry, keeping his head down as the man finally left the
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