It appeared to be a glass jar with clasps at the bottom attached to what looked like a small pot. The glass was fogged over but through the fog hints of blue and white could be seen. It was a perplexing proposition this one. Wholly unique and potentially lucrative. Before Xira sat a sapling in a terrarium of a very exotic plant: a Vian Tree. The courier tapped the glass, shaking beads of water off the side. "So the courier came here all the way here from Mura?" Xira asked. The tavern keeper nodded,
"Tarrus came down with the plague somewhere along the way and so the knights quarantined him. He and I go way back so when he asked me to find someone to complete the job I had to agree. The healers say he is going to make a full recovery but the plant won't surivive long in Syliras, too cold, too dry he says. Heh. Never knew him to be much of a plant person." He turned and gazed at the glass container,
"Never seen anything like it. The plant or the glass box." It was not actually a box, it was closer to a cylinder with a domed top. Xira couldn't say it was too large, about as tall as his shoulder to his finger tips and his forearm's length in diameter. At the top there was a metal chain handle to hold it by and a hole cleverly designed to close on a hinge. In any case, it was a lot of effort and appeared to be hand crafted for the plant. At least that is what Xira guessed; maybe this was common for transporting exotic plants?
"Did Tarrus say how much it paid?" Xira asked.
"No, but he did say that you will get paid the half he was supposed to get from the gal who its meant for." the owner of the tavern tossed Xira a pouch. "He said that this should get you there at least, ship or by land is up to you. He also said that is part of the half that they gave up front, the rest he is going to keep so you get the majority of the commission." The courier peeked into the pouch and the glint of gold winked back at him. He would have to count it later. Kind of presumptuous to think he was going to take it, but who was he kidding. He was waiting for a legitimate reason to leave the city. "When do I need to get this package to its destination? Speaking of, where do I even have to go?"
"Ah yeah, about that. You need to get this" He gestured to the innocent plant "To Riverfall. The woman that gets that beauty is named Kavala, a konti, and the letter said they want it there as quickly as possible. The Vian tree needs warmer clime then this... Oh that reminds me, you will need this letter." The one armed barkeep and brewmaster pulled a crisp, opened envelop out and handed it to the courier. Something else to read later. "Alright. I'll do it, give me a couple days to get ready and I'll be back to retrieve the tree." Xira said with a respectful nod to the ex-knight.
With that they parted ways. Xira left the Vian tree with Kevith Aargon, who said he would keep it in his home until he was ready to leave. It was a wonder he kept his composure throughout that. Now alone and walking down the main corridors to his home at the Traveler's Row he shivered with excitement. He was going to go on an adventure. This time he wasn't going to be left behind, he was going to be the one leaving. It was well and good that it was late, for Xira's giddiness made him walk faster than would be safe during the bustling day. He wanted to run. And so he did.
It wasn't a long trek, but he dashed along as fast as he could. Wind rushed past him as eagerness lightened his feet and heart. Freedom, he was even to be paid for this. Ah, but he had to focus. One couldn't just pick up and leave, surviving out of the walls require skill, money and supplies. Running burnt off the loose energy he had and let him think. He would need rations for him and his horse, something to keep his mind occupied for the long journey, and, well, all the other things he could not think of at just that moment.
The big concern for him was weather to travel by sea or by land. By land was the most direct, but that meant he would have to brave the wilderness. Not to mention he had no idea where Riverfall was in relation to Sylrias anyways. He ran and ran that evening, passing by couple walking close to each other and a knight doing some errand, all the while pondering over the predicament.
Next morning he would go and start rounding up supplies and letting his landlord and the taverns that he would be out of town for while. As for the mode of travel, he would have to sleep on it.
"Tarrus came down with the plague somewhere along the way and so the knights quarantined him. He and I go way back so when he asked me to find someone to complete the job I had to agree. The healers say he is going to make a full recovery but the plant won't surivive long in Syliras, too cold, too dry he says. Heh. Never knew him to be much of a plant person." He turned and gazed at the glass container,
"Never seen anything like it. The plant or the glass box." It was not actually a box, it was closer to a cylinder with a domed top. Xira couldn't say it was too large, about as tall as his shoulder to his finger tips and his forearm's length in diameter. At the top there was a metal chain handle to hold it by and a hole cleverly designed to close on a hinge. In any case, it was a lot of effort and appeared to be hand crafted for the plant. At least that is what Xira guessed; maybe this was common for transporting exotic plants?
"Did Tarrus say how much it paid?" Xira asked.
"No, but he did say that you will get paid the half he was supposed to get from the gal who its meant for." the owner of the tavern tossed Xira a pouch. "He said that this should get you there at least, ship or by land is up to you. He also said that is part of the half that they gave up front, the rest he is going to keep so you get the majority of the commission." The courier peeked into the pouch and the glint of gold winked back at him. He would have to count it later. Kind of presumptuous to think he was going to take it, but who was he kidding. He was waiting for a legitimate reason to leave the city. "When do I need to get this package to its destination? Speaking of, where do I even have to go?"
"Ah yeah, about that. You need to get this" He gestured to the innocent plant "To Riverfall. The woman that gets that beauty is named Kavala, a konti, and the letter said they want it there as quickly as possible. The Vian tree needs warmer clime then this... Oh that reminds me, you will need this letter." The one armed barkeep and brewmaster pulled a crisp, opened envelop out and handed it to the courier. Something else to read later. "Alright. I'll do it, give me a couple days to get ready and I'll be back to retrieve the tree." Xira said with a respectful nod to the ex-knight.
With that they parted ways. Xira left the Vian tree with Kevith Aargon, who said he would keep it in his home until he was ready to leave. It was a wonder he kept his composure throughout that. Now alone and walking down the main corridors to his home at the Traveler's Row he shivered with excitement. He was going to go on an adventure. This time he wasn't going to be left behind, he was going to be the one leaving. It was well and good that it was late, for Xira's giddiness made him walk faster than would be safe during the bustling day. He wanted to run. And so he did.
It wasn't a long trek, but he dashed along as fast as he could. Wind rushed past him as eagerness lightened his feet and heart. Freedom, he was even to be paid for this. Ah, but he had to focus. One couldn't just pick up and leave, surviving out of the walls require skill, money and supplies. Running burnt off the loose energy he had and let him think. He would need rations for him and his horse, something to keep his mind occupied for the long journey, and, well, all the other things he could not think of at just that moment.
The big concern for him was weather to travel by sea or by land. By land was the most direct, but that meant he would have to brave the wilderness. Not to mention he had no idea where Riverfall was in relation to Sylrias anyways. He ran and ran that evening, passing by couple walking close to each other and a knight doing some errand, all the while pondering over the predicament.
Next morning he would go and start rounding up supplies and letting his landlord and the taverns that he would be out of town for while. As for the mode of travel, he would have to sleep on it.
My words
Your words.
