Name: Becka
After an hour or so, they finally arrived at the small town of Tentro's Circle. It was maybe half a mile wide with tall two story buildings fitted close together. They stopped at the Inn, showing that they were there and left through the back door. That would make sure if their parents came inquiring where they were, the innkeeper would say that had stopped by. They had decided they would ride the entire night out in hopes of getting to the border of Murandy by noon the next day. When the light of dawn started to creep of the small woods surrounding them, they were nearly falling off their horses. Riding for an entire night had definitely taken a toll on them, but they wanted to make the first leg of their journey as quickly as possible. They had kept their horses on an average of a quick walk the entire time, making two short stops by streams. Creedence guessed that they were about twenty miles from the border of Murandy, and if they could keep at the pace they were going, they'd make it in three hours.
They eventually came to a town just inside Murandy's borders that had a fair sized Inn. They rented out a room and nearly collapsed on the floor. Creedence planned to sleep that they could sleep half of the day and then make an appearance in the common room for dinner, perhaps explore the town and then get a good night's sleep.
The next morning, Creedence woke Beth up bright and early, who was groaning loudly about the time.
"I want to get out and make it as far as possible today. I think we have about ten good riding hours which should give us about 90 miles." she said firmly. They rode out of the small town as quickly as they could and started out at a fast pace with high hopes of making another leap in their journey.
Lugard was definitely the biggest city they'd been to. Creedence changed her plans slightly and decided they would stay there for two nights.
"It's our first time in a city this big, I think it's high time we enjoyed ourselves." she said on high spirits. They spent the two days, watching their money closely and enjoying as much as they could. Both nights at the Inn, dancing and drinks was held for everyone in the common room. Creedence had danced with a quite a few young men and one particularly with pretty eyes. By the time Creedence and Beth had made it to their room that night, they were ready to be on their way. They set out from the Inn late in the morning having slept in. It took them a while to get out of the city, for the streets were packed with people. They evenutually made it to the north-east road and decided they would cross the River Storn and follow it northwards to the Four Kings in Andor. Creedence estimated they could make it to the Four Kings in two days if they were lucky.
They spent the first night camping out about twenty miles from the Andoran border. They decided they would travel harder the next day and just take that night to rest. Late in the middle of the night, the next day they arrived at the gates of the Four Kings.
Creedence leaned a hand on the table in the room they occupied, and flattened out the map she carried. She pointed with her middle finger to the red dot that labled the city of Four Kings. She was explaining to Beth the route for the second half of their journey.
"We have made considerable time. Much more than I thought." she pointed to the outskirts of the woods in Altara.
"This is where our farm is," she dragged her finger along the paper. "We traveled along this road to the border where that little town was, then to Lugard here... and see this river? It forked into three parts and we took the middle one north-east to here... the Four Kings. You see that?" Beth nodded slowly and Creedence continued.
"Now, I think instead of taking the road to Caemlyn and then turn North, we're going to go in a straight line to the Braem Wood..." she pointed the squiggly marks that marked a forested area.
"There we can meet up with the road the runs north from Caemlyn and then the rest of the way is easy. We just follow the road all the way to Tar Valon... and... we're there." she said and smiled broadly.
"We're probably only going to make it to the southern edge of the Braem Wood tomorrow. That's fine... because the rest of the way will then be on road. " she nodded firmly and Beth imitated her. The closer they got to Tar Valon, the more excited Creedence and Beth became.
They didn't go as far as Creedence would have hoped the next day. Perhaps the ever reassuring idea that they were half-way there made them more lazy, or perhaps the terrain was just more difficult to cross. They had to hunt that night and all they caught were two fish and a rabbit. The cooking over the fire took them a while to figure it out, but they finally managed how to set it up. Creedence slept well that night, as well as Beth and they were ready to go the next morning. The sun had only just risen and they was a thin layer of dew over the horses and their sleeping blankets; they had no tents. That day, they urged their horses slightly faster and made it to the road that ran north from Caemlyn. They were surrounded by the woodsy terrain, but the road was flat and wide, well padded from the number of merchant trains and the like passed. They had passed two carts coming the opposite way and they were coming up close to what looked like a considerably large merchant train. Creedence decided that they could probably follow the merchants north to Tar Valon the rest of the way, therefore getting protection for they were drawing near to the borderlands. One merchant allowed them to sleep in one of his carts, open sympathy of two young women on the road.
"Ya'll shouldn't be travlin' alone, ya'hear? Wher're yer parents, yung chillun!" he shook his fat head roughly, but his plump wife who traveled with him, settled him down. She was very kind to them, treating them as her own children for she had none.
The wife of the merchant named Shanellean, served them dinner every night and gave them extra blankets against the cold. The merchant train traveled slowly, but Creedence and Beth found it such a wonderful place that they'd rather travel with them instead.
The arching bridges and shining white walls of Tar Valon were beyond wonder. All Creedence could do while riding her horse was gaze with her mouth slightly open. She had received a number of smacks from Beth to pay attention, but the younger girl had finally given up and taken to gaping also. Shanellean had smirked at their faces and given them sweet rolls to enjoy as they road. She thought it wonderful that they had deserted their home to come to Tar Valon, but her merchant husband thought it ridiculous. Shanellean tried to explain to him that it was the idea of pursuing their dream that she admired, not that they had left her family. She had even offered for them to join her in her travels with her husband to keep her company while he was selling and doing his own. They had to refuse, though, for they wanted to stay in Tar Valon. She understood and gave them both big hugs. Creedence thought it so interesting that a woman they had only spent a week with would take such care into them. She shook her head in wonder and gave a farewell.
Creedence held the reins to her horse, Hepta, and gazed upwards at the White Tower. She turned around and could see the Black Tower rising over all the bridges, mirroring the glory of the White Tower with its beautiful blackness. Creedence shook her head slightly, turned and walked up the steps to the White Tower, Beth following closely behind.
Character Name:Creedence Lintrada
Rank: Novice
Email: [email protected]
Age: 17
Physical Description: Creedence is a tall and slim girl of about 5'6" and 110 lbs. She has light brown, very highlighted hair that reaches to the middle of her back and is somewhat wavy. She has deep green/gray eyes with colorful specks and pretty features. She has tan skin and very highlighted hair from her days in the sun and although she appears thin, muscled body from her constant work on the farm and hours in the rivers. Creedence is good-natured and very open-minded. She always listens to what someone else has to say and is very social and open with others. She likes to say and play jokes and altogether cheer up those around her. She is not easily angered but holds what she believes in to her heart and is willing to fight for it.
History:
Creedence sat at the table, sitting nervously in her seat and eating carefully. Her eyes scanned the others at the table trying to see if anyone suspected. She decided to speak up.
"Father.." she said hesitantly. Her father took a moment to realize who was speaking and looked slight surprised.
"Uh, yes... Creedence?" he asked in his normal bellow.
"Beth and I are going to town tonight to spend the night in the Inn. She's doing it as a gift for my birthday." she said and her voice did not shake!
"Erm, okay... that's fine, dear. Have you saddled horses already?" he asked and Creedence nodded.
"Alright then... now you be careful. I realize you are sixteen now, but that thing 2 is still two years your junior." Creedence nodded sadly and looked to Beth who was looking slightly wide-eyed at their father. She kicked her to get the look off her face and Beth quickly looked away, swallowing her food. Creedence had already received her gifts right before dinner. She had gotten a few articles of clothing, some precious items, quite a bit of Altaran coins, and the usual ten marks of silver. Her mother had made an extra dessert for dinner that night for a small celebration. Her brothers acted as though it were a night no different from any other night. All she received from them other than gifts was a murmured "happy birthday...". She sighed deeply, and once finished with her food, went up to her room.
Creedence and Beth quickly got dressed in fine dresses and Creedence suddenly realized how much younger Beth looked to her. Creedence was already half-way developed into womanhood and Beth had not even started. She shoved the sudden realization away and threw the rope ladder down from the window. They had trouble climbing down the ladder in their high-heeled riding boots, but finally reached the ground. Her parents were in the sitting room talking over chilled wine about the day's work, while her brothers were off gambling somewhere. Pegga was no where to be found and they thought nothing of it. Maybe she was finally engaging with another man.
Beth and Creedence walked into the barn nonchalantly. With a final check of all their belongings were strapped tight and they had everything needed, Creedence glanced outside the barn to see if anyone was there. The lights in the house flickered out, and darkness swept over the farm. Creedence and Beth lead their horse outside the barn. All that could be heard was the faint creaking of a sign swaying in the wind and rumble of their father and brothers snoring from the house. Creedence lept onto Hepta and rode down the road, closely followed by Beth. They were finally on their way.