The not-immortal Blacksmith

26th of Kusha,

The fire has passed. We can still see the smoke in the distance. The wagon survived intact due to the fireproofing spells I added, the horses were okay thanks to Bri's quick thinking with the scarves. Everyone, animals included, ate a small loaf of healing bread this morning to get rid of any future problems.

I wonder how much land the flames devoured?

28th of Kusha,

The burned area continued for a long way, but we made it out this morning. We didn't come across any villages or farm holds that had been burned out; or any at all, for that matter. On the other hand, we did come across a herd of, what I assume were, wild cattle, as there was no evidence of anyone watching over them.

31st of Kusha,

Grendel had grown bored with running ahead to fish. Finally. A rainstorm came past around noon today, and the clouds have been somewhat ominous. The damp has risen in the air as well. I expect a storm by morning.

32nd of Kusha,

We are bundled up tight in the wagon, as a storm rages across the plain. The rain should keep any fires from happening.

34th of Kusha,

There may have been a light frost last night, will winter be early this year?

40th of Kusha,

It has taken more than a month to travel what has turned out to me the almost 400 miles from Turk to Botford, a town I have never heard of. 400 miles should have only taken us twenty to twenty-five days. Oh well, such is travel.

We have two choices at the moment: Number one is going SSW to the port town of Giragzdum, some five hundred miles; or Number Two, continuing cross country to the edge of the continent, a trip I am told is some three thousand or more miles.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The windswept plains in the winter are terrible to travel, but the ocean is also a terrible mistress in the winter as well.

Either way, we will end up having to cross the ocean to reach the western continent, our cradle of civilization, and a place where nobody knows my name.

I have discussed it with Bri and Grendel, and we are going to sleep on it tonight and make our decision in the morning.

41st of Kusha,

The decision was made over breakfast; we are heading to the southern coast. It would take some thirty days of travel, barring incident, on good roads; these roads, after getting a few miles from town, are little more than a pair of tracks on the ground. I fear a broken wheel, or axle. The Green Man, years and years ago, mentioned springs on wheels to make rough terrain easier to traverse…I still have no idea what he meant.

On the other hand, he also mentioned wheels made of a stretchy substance caller "rubber" that were filled with air, that also helped travel on rough terrain. I tried making some once with sealed silk balloons, but I couldn't make it work. I think he was pulling my leg.

Any which way, we need to find a way to move faster. I will keep thinking on it while we travel.

45th of Kusha,

Sixty-four miles in four days. The "road" is bumpy and broken. We have passed a few long-deserted villages, but nothing of any real interest. I'm still thinking of a way to move faster, but nothing comes to mind.

I could use spells to make the horses go faster, but even if I reinforce the wagon, it will break faster from the strain.

I could make a walking house from a clump of trees, but they are very slow, slower than walking. Less than a mile in an hour.

I could make the wagon fly and add sails to it, but by the time I got the enchantments and such done, we could have almost already arrived. Not worth it.

I'll figure something out.

46th of Kusha,

Bri asked me over supper why I don't move the big rocks out of the way with magic. I'm an idiot.

47th of Kusha,

Moving the rocks is harder than crumbling them into gravel which takes just a moment of thought to do. There's now a better road behind us.

55th of Kusha,

The air is getting much cooler. There is frost in the grass. I give it a couple of weeks before the first snow comes.

1st of Anael,

We went past a clump of lilac bushes today. Grendel went out of his way to walk around the back of the wagon to the other side to avoid the bushes. Strange. Is he allergic or something?

We have hit about the halfway point. Another two week, if the weather holds, and we will arrive.