The Journey of a Novice

Beyond th

ehind. The events of the past day clung to her like sha

was no tur

orld would not wait for her grief, n

ills and into lands unknown. Her supplies were low, her bo

was stil

, nestled in a vall

ance to find answers.

grip on her pack

sman and

lit corner of the tavern, where t

back and scarred hands that spoke of countless batt

cholar's robes, with a quill tucked behind h

"is Garrick"-he nodded towar

llowed. "

rested. Elias, however,

ng," Garri

e," the innke

ened. "I can h

ffed but di

e carefully. "And why

. How much sh

d on the truth-or a

she admitted. "To

aised a b

his gaze,

on't want to

uck him, because Garrick leaned back

a long pause

come to the

ing B

ing, her real

was me

lance, speed-but he expected her to kee

she struggled to block his

eth, frustration mou

learn

e other hand

-the things most warriors ignored but were just

d," he told her one evening, handing her an old

oured eve

Garrick, learning to move, to

th Elias, absorbing knowledge

, it began

onger in spa

ed routes a

-the subtle ways people spoke without words,

as ch

th

found he

ng in t

ed from the training groun

ts were t

r felt

d at the edge

stop

ten

a whi

d not have

merged fro

d. Wa

e in the

blood

ou," she

ed its head. "N

ore she c

anis

mily

s not finis

t