The Hero’s Right Hand

We traveled a couple months before the first snowfall. It was a sign of the coming new year. According to many beliefs, the heavens provided a white sheet to clear away the marks of the previous ten months. But an intriguing idea didn’t excuse the annoyance we felt. The roads we traveled were not maintained. The route provided privacy due to the lack of use but as a result was more difficult to navigate.

The thin wooden wheels of a normal carriage were especially slow in inclement weather. While I worried about how we could traverse the perilous roads, Sariel created a solution. During one of our breaks she examined the tires and firmly grasped one. Her draconic arm glowed as vines emerged from the central structure and wrapped around each spoke. Simultaneously, the wooden pieces grew thick and wide. Each magical component hardened until the tire was twice its original size. Every wheel was individually upgraded but I couldn’t help but be mesmerized each time Sariel got to work. Finally, she crawled under the wagon and thickened its base to protect from corrosion.
“The engine will fail if we do not lower our speed to compensate for extra weight,” Sariel explained.

“I believe slim tires would have caused a delay regardless. It’s a worthwhile trade off,” Vofric said.

Sariel smirked. “Correct.”

She’d begun teaching Vofric how to handle the mechanical carriage. According to him, it wasn’t possible to challenge his dwarven blood. He was no blacksmith but machinery inexplicably drew his interest. In theory he could operate the carriage like a beginner. In practice, however, the carriage became an extension of his body. Regardless of weather or road conditions, Vofric could pilot the vehicle as if he’d done it all his life.

Most nights we would pull off the road and set up camp. While we had tents, they often went unused as we piled into the carriage. Due to Sariel lacking a need to sleep, she often began driving in the middle of the night. Darkvision worked well enough and if it failed she waited until sunrise. When no safe camping locations could be found Sariel would drive with light from Vofric’s hammer. Unfortunately, it made us obvious targets for anything hiding in the night. Fortunately, we could handle them with ease.

After one encounter Vofric stated, “It’s odd that you cannot make a pillar of flame to deter assailants.”

“I’ve tried but my flames refuse to leave me. Even my astral arms can only pass a fire upon contact,” I said.

“Why not keep stamping the ground in front of us then?” Aisha asked.

I huffed. “Either you get the nice warm wagon or I attempt to use my astral arms. But I have to ignite for that and I doubt we want to set the carriage on fire.”

Aisha scanned the group. All of us wore light armor without the need for warm outerwear. Through meditation I could produce heat from my body without burning anything. It tempered the wagon and gave us respite from the increasingly cold weather. I’d long been able to do it but wanted to avoid ruining our food. Dawncaster had given us plenty of goods, but it was unrealistic that it would last the entire trip. By now it had dwindled to a few preservatives. 

“We’ll keep the warm wagon. It helps us conserve energy so fighting and hunting isn’t as rough,” she explained. I didn’t need convincing since producing heat had become second nature after our tribulations.

I nodded. “Even when we do, Avant handles the tough part.”

The owlbear tilted his head at me and chirped softly. I’d come to understand the motion as his acknowledgement. As the months passed we expected the cub to grow physically. Even in Dawncaster I’d noticed him getting larger. Vofric was surprisingly excited that he’d soon be outgrown. By now I had to use both arms to lift Avant. However we were all shocked by the change in his coat. During his seasonal molting we were surprised to see it go from dark auburn to white with gray specks. Only his white undercoat remained unchanged. I couldn’t help feeling pride in the growing cub.

People often scoffed at the idea of domesticated owlbears. They were considered too aggressive and prone to bestial rampages. Those exact qualities made Avant the perfect adventurer. His calm and playful demeanor belied a focused warrior. It was the very reason he led our hunts. Vofric and Aisha stayed with the carriage at our encampments while Sariel and I accompanied the owlbear. In order to avoid giving ourselves away, I stopped emanating warmth and equipped myself with a coat.

With his beak in the snow the owlbear blended in perfectly. Soft layers covered his fur as he tracked our prey. Though Sariel could hear creatures in the forest it wasn’t as precise as Avant. Together, their skills allowed for pinpoint accuracy. Silent and specific movements were all we used to communicate on the hunt. Some were undefined but we caught on; such as how fast Avant moved. Once he caught the scent of something he moved quickly, pushing through the snow without a care. When we got close he was much more deliberate. Slow steps carved a path for me to follow to avoid disturbing anything. The most innocuous sound could scare off our prey.

A group of deer grazed on leaves and plants amongst tightly packed trees. If not for Avant’s sudden stop I wouldn’t have noticed. Cold air escaped my mouth as I readied myself for the next signal. The snow near Avant’s back legs shifted and he prepared to lunge. He leapt into the crowd and roared. Such a display scattered our prey but some were ready to attack. To their knowledge, they outnumbered the owlbear. That was my signal to move.

Using the trees for leverage, I quickly closed the gap with the closest beast. Innocent doe eyes dilated as it focused. Antlers were far too threatening for the docile nature deers displayed. Head down, it charged at me. Avant was ready to fight. Their size difference would cause issues even with his growth. If I dodged, the deer could skewer or trample the cub. Snow crunched with each furious step. Several more and it would be within reach. There was no reason to wait. I opened my palm and slammed it to the ground. Midmotion my body ignited. Instantly, an astral palm appeared over the deer. The beast’s head was in the dirt before it had a chance to hit me.

A messy pattern appeared around me where snow had rapidly melted. The beast fought against my grasp. I didn’t wish to needlessly kill it. But if the final signal didn’t occur in a few seconds, I would. My attention turned towards the sound of a whistle from a flying arrow. A moment later it made contact with something that yelped. It alerted me to Sariel’s presence and a successful hunt. The deer in my grasp was relatively unharmed and upon release dashed away.

Avant chirped for my attention and led me to our ally. Sariel examined a dead deer closely to confirm it was safe for consumption. Since it was, we were allowed to return to camp. Being the owlbear’s backup wasn’t the reason I joined our hunts. Rather, he and Sariel requested I come along to transport our quarry.

“As a physical combatant, you must train your muscles,” Sariel said as she stood aside and petted Avant.

Originally I complained about the comment but she was right. Rage and large movements could only empower me a finite amount. Through our numerous hunts I could finally lift each beast with ease. But I still moved slowly while we returned to camp. Along the way, Sariel and Avant sought out firewood. Aisha suggested using me as a fire but the idea of smelling like an inviting meal was problematic. The chances it would attract predators was astronomically high. We already risked it when camping, there was no reason to do so while traveling.

Fortunately, any adversary we encountered on the road had to contend with the Hero. I should have realized how strong her magic had gotten during the attack on Dawncaster. Lightning bent at impossible arcs to collide with targets. Regardless of the speed of their dodges, they could not escape. Though it didn’t make Aisha complacent. Her accuracy at mid-range was nothing to scoff at. Even with her back turned she could fire a bolt through an enemy before they reached her. To accommodate our leader’s needs Sariel built a grid of foot high rails across the wagon roof. With precise movements Aisha locked herself in place to retaliate even while the carriage sped through the forest.

“Are you sure you can’t warm me up while I’m out there?” Aisha asked as she returned to the wagon after an attack. She tossed her snow covered coat into the corner with the rest of ours.

“For the last time, no. I’d have to go up with you and that’d make me a hindrance. Not to mention the rest of the carriage would get cold,” I protested. 

Aisha pouted and sat down. “Avant, help me since your father refuses.”

The owlbear trilled and cuddled with her. I grumbled and continued watching our back for any remaining enemies. Vofric chuckled while stepping into the cart from his perch out front.

“Intriguing that you don’t contest being called Avant’s father,” he said. “You have my respect.”

“I know what I am,” I replied absentmindedly.

“Kargon, we’ve escaped. Shut the door and sit. I’d like a brief moment to drive smoothly,” Sariel complained.

“Right.”

Once I was situated I unfurled our map. Sariel marked where we’d stopped to camp. While I didn’t have her natural sense for navigation I was quickly learning the lay of the vast land. Aisha couldn’t be bothered. While she could understand a city map with ease, outside its gates her capabilities were a wash. The roads stretched for hundreds of miles in every direction. Some towns and forests sprinkled the continent in inexplicable ways. Gromsev was still far from reach.