[CHAPTER TEN]

Sloane was half asleep as she saddled Regal. It had been a mind-numbing couple of days trying to explain to the inhabitants of Steinnthorpe what had happened to their village. Some residents outright refused to believe they had been brought to another dimension. Others were accepting but insisted it must be a bridging of Midgard with another realm. Very few actually accepted or understood the truth. And it wasn't that the people were lacking intelligence, it was simply so foreign of an idea that they couldn't accept it. But finally, she had made them understand. And after explaining what travelers were and that the guild would likely come to set up an office in the village she could at least be sure that they would better understand what was coming, when it did come.

The most difficult thing had actually been getting the villagers to stop calling her a daughter of Thor.

Sloane stepped into the stirrup and hauled herself into the saddle. Regal wasn't entirely happy about being on the road so early in the morning. But Sloane was eager to reach Fort Langton as quickly as possible. She had left Steinnthorpe a few days ago and was now about half a day from Fort Langton. She was tired, Regal was tired, and she just wanted a warm bed and a hot bath. Jarl Toke had been quite accommodating, but she knew her presence was a stressor for the village.

The day stretched on, Sloane tried to organize her thoughts about how to relay the information regarding Steinnthorpe to the Travelers Guild. Regal listened to her ramblings with a patient ear. They crossed a stone bridge, recognizing familiar terrain, Regal picked up the pace. Sloane felt some of the tension release from her shoulders and fingertips.

Sloane rode into town at a gallop and practically leaped off Regal's back in front of the Traveler's Guild. She pushed the door open and was mildly surprised to see a room full of Travelers. She had expected more of them to be out on missions. Moving directly to the counter she alerted the attendant.

Seeing the urgency in her eyes, and knowing her well enough to know that panic was not normal for her, he motioned her to follow him into the small room behind the counter. She had never been inside before but had expected something other than a set of filing cabinets, a cot with a trunk at the foot, and a desk and chair.

"Tell me," he sat at the desk and pointed to a box for Sloane to sit on, "what is so urgent?"

"There is a new village," Sloane began, "and I think we are in trouble."

After several hours of explaining and telling everything she had observed from the moment the barrier appeared the attendant nodded and turned to his desk. He pulled out a metallic device and activated the beacon. 

"I'm sure the guild is already aware of the newly arrived village, but it's always best to notify the guild of new information. It has been centuries since a new arrival has appeared, well in any of the segments. It could be nothing, but it could also indicate a problem."

Sloane ran her hands over her head, she felt overwhelmed and anxious.

"You always make things interesting." he chuckled, "take a rest, I will summon you if more information is needed."

Sloane chuckled, "Maybe this is all just an excuse to come back for a hot meal and a warm bath."

The attendant eyed her suspiciously as his hand hovered over the device.

"I'm joking," Sloane chuckled dryly, "I promise."

"Go eat," the attendant ordered, "you are not funny when you are hungry. Actually, you just aren't funny."

"Ouch," Sloane pretended to be hurt, but she rose and exited the room, "I'll be around. I promise."

In the dining room, Sloane was greeted excitedly by the young man she had met on the way out. He waved her over and motioned for her to sit across from him.

"You're back," he chirped happily shifting in his seat. "I'm so happy to run into you again."

"Maybe we can exchange names this time?" Sloane smiled and extended her hand, "Sloane Anderson."

"My friends call me Wally, but I'm Walter Fitzgibbon." 

Sloane chatted with Wally while they both enjoyed a hot meal. After eating she went to the market to stock up on rations for herself and Regal. She had run quite low during the blizzard and was uncomfortable not having more in reserve. A lean man caught her attention at the far end of the stalls. It was his attempts to not be noticed that made him stand out. He turned away from her, his posture was very straight and he had a way of moving that made her wonder if he had been in the military. He vanished in the crowd but Sloane couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she had seen him before. Maybe during the adaptation process? Or was it at her arrival?

Sloane pushed the thought from her mind as a woman approached. She was a traveler from the lobby. Her expression was sour as she approached.

"The attendant wants to see you." was all she said before turning on her heel and marching away.

Sloane returned to the Travelers Guild. The lobby was even more crowded. She pushed her way through and the attendant grabbed her wrist and dragged her behind the counter when she reached the front. Angry stares followed her.

"I'm not popular here," she observed.

"With the residents you are, but not with the other travelers who have come after. You set quite the precedent for them to follow and didn't leave them with much to level up."

"They should have worked harder in Ohiris then." Sloane replied flatly. Sloane followed him into the small room again. This time there was a large window displaying another Attendant's face.

"This is the one who witnessed the addition of the village." the attendant said, "Sir, what would you like us to do from here?"

"Nothing," the man on the screen replied, "an attendant with supplies will be dispatched shortly and arrive within the next few days. Just rest up and get ready to travel once the new guild is established. I will send a message informing you when Sloane should return to Steinnthorpe and introduce the new attendant."

"Understood." the attendant turned to Sloane when the screen went black, "I guess you have time for a hot bath after all."

Sloane headed outside to Regal and brought him to the livery stable. She knew he would be in good hands there. Then she returned to the Traveler's Guild and registered a private room. After bathing and catching a nap she went back down to eat dinner at the hotel.

After a couple of lazy days, with a few run-ins with other disgruntled traveler's, she got the message to depart. It came in the form of an automatic acceptance request early in the morning. The notification chirp from her bracer woke her.

Introductions to be Made

Target: Arrive at Steinnthorpe before the Traveler's Guild attendant arrives.

Status: Accepted

Sloane headed to the livery stable to collect Regal. Within ten minutes she was on the road. She was glad to be working toward a goal again. It was a beautiful morning, clear, crisp and invigorating. Regal slowed as they approached a stone bridge. He was anxious, but he went across anyway. As soon as he stepped off the other side he accelerated into a trot. Sloane chuckled and let him have his way.

The path here followed the river for a short while, Sloane listened to the voice of the water as it roiled and rebelled against the banks, while watching the ripples on the surface as it flowed on then away. A sound, something unknown and out of place, barely audible above the rushing water, made her turn. Twisting in the saddle she looked back toward the bridge. A silhouette leaned against the dark stone railing. Something was off, Sloane raised a hand to shield her eyes, straining to make out the figure's face.

A flash of light and something invisible knocked her from the saddle, her fingers clawed at the pommel sliding off as she tumbled. The last thing she heard before hitting the water and being swallowed by the current was Regal's panicked scream and the rolling echo of a rifle shot.