Snippet #2697134

It was assumed that everyone would go along with the quest out of their good nature. Huo asked that the group pause before setting out too soon, on the pretense that they plan the trip a little bit further.

Huo spoke skepticism, and that left him surprised and thinking. He wanted to wait before deciding, but everything that built up to that very point contrasted with that notion. He boarded Eiraendar’s ship on a whim. He agreed to work for his fare on a whim. He walked the steps to the tavern on a whim. Did the sisters of fate guide his steps? Or did he possess the faculty of choice? These questions left him up that night.

If he could not sleep, then he would do the next thing he knew.

The sun had barely risen, but the Osu fighter found himself within the courtyard of the caravansary that he stayed at. Bertholdt secured them decent lodgings in the Foreign Quarter with little expense to their travel funds because he knew the owner of the inn as a friend. Huo valued the mouse’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. Whether the Osu trusted him yet, that was another matter.

Huo found himself some space among the tiled ground. Colonnades spanned the length of the rectangular courtyard. A small fountain sat in the center, water gushing in near silence.

The fighter threw a punch at the air, followed by successive half fists.

Then a swift uppercut.

A southpaw followed.

A smooth jab.

Three sharp crosses.

More light half fists at an invisible target whose head bounced back after each hit.

“Care for a spar?” a voice interrupted Huo’s little session.

Surprise overtook the Osu, he thought everyone to be asleep now. He turned to see the face of the orc Jolloc. He leaned against one of the columns with folded arms as though he had been watching for a time. Huo exhaled and popped his neck.

They spent minutes trading fist for fist, neither of their attacks landed for both proved quick and agile against the other. Kicks and more advanced moves followed.

-

Though it seemed clear to any observer that Huo held the upper hand near toward the end, Jolloc asserted the fight to be inconclusive. Huo cared not, he succeeded in his objective. Quieting his mind.

They rested as the sun rose, letting their sweat dry.

Jolloc loosed a half chuckle, “You fight well with your fists…for a human. Though we tied, rest assured things would be different with swords.”

“I bet,” Huo replied.

The orc shook his head, “Cocky bast-“

“So you’re not an orc, I’m guessing,” Huo took a swig from a canteen while leering at Jolloc.

“What gave it away?” Jolloc brushed his hair, “My hair? Or my facial bone structure? Or the fact that my fangs are better off stuck into cheese than rocks?”

Huo shrugged.

Jolloc continued, “I’m a half orc, but I prefer to be known as an orc. My father left my mother, so I surrender all claim to my human side. Besides, humans disgust me,” when Jolloc noticed Huo had arched his brows, “Some humans disgust me. The kind that sees me as nothing more than a savage,” he stared off at the sun.

The Osu fighter nodded.

Jolloc glanced at Huo, “You don’t have the least bit of an aversion to me.”

Huo gave it some thought, “I’m no different than you are. And if by savage, you mean mindless or bloodthirsty? You don’t need green skin to be a monster.”

Jolloc nodded with a smile, “I can drink to that.”

A voice called to the both, “Gents,” and they turned to see Lir.

“We’re having a group meeting in the main courtyard. Did you both sleep well?” the mage smirked.

“No thanks to you and Antius,” Jolloc replied with a grin and sprang to his feet.

Lir groaned, shook her head, and rolled her eyes and left them.

-

Their little group gathered around a table beneath some palms planted in the airy courtyard of the caravansary. Antius, Bertholdt, Caspian, Danairia, Huo, Jolloc, Lir, and Sanvi.

The group agreed, by majority not unanimity, to let Bertholdt measure the coin for the group to use over the span of the expedition. Before setting out, they also required a proper plan lest their supplies and currency dwindle before they reached their destination. In addition, they needed to consult a map to determine the approximate location of the oasis. Bertholdt acknowledged, with insight, that the whereabouts for a near-mythical oasis was not common knowledge. The likeliest place to possess any inkling of their destination should be a repository of information, the library.

At Bertholdt’s suggestion, they first decided to spend a day or two in Khi’ir to plan accordingly. Given the desert to be home to thieves and cutthroats, they needed to understand the guarded trade routes. Knowledge of rest stops were necessary, for the further inland they went, the lesser the hospitality of the land and its natives. None of these provisions, had Huo given thought to, and it seemed a wonder that he made it this far on his own.

Bertholdt stood on the table, so that he was at least chest height to everyone there, “We will need to seek out the nearest library to search for maps and atlases. I trust official published work more than the word of street vendors. The deserts can be tricky, I’ve...”

“Wait, so you’ve never gone into the desert before?” Lir placed a hand on her hip with a cocked brow.

“I have gone to real places in the desert. We’re talkin’ about a mythical oasis here,” Bertholdt’s crisp reply elicited sideways glances, their journey seemed trickier than they thought.

Lir pursed her lips, “Fair point.”

Bertholdt spoke, “I think so. At any rate, maybe one or two of you could tag along. Three heads are better than one at researching. Mister Antius? Miss Lir?”

“May I tag along as well,” Caspian suggested.

The mouse shrugged, “Eh, sure kid, if you know how to read,” to which Caspian nodded.

“We’re settled then?” the mouse sprang from the table and onto the floor, a display of dexterity and balance.

“So are we to leave Sanvi, Jolloc, and Danairia in the same place then? I think Huo would have his hands tied trying to babysit all of them,” Lir gestured to them.

“Whoa, hey now, I actually managed to put some pants on today,” Jolloc half-grinned, he looked at Sanvi for a reaction, “And I consider myself a firm believer in pantless holidays.”

Bertholdt smacked his face with his hand and groaned.

“She’s right though,” Huo said with nonchalance and folded arms, which by this point, everyone realized to be his usual disposition, “I don’t babysit.”

Everyone looked at him.

Huo glanced around, “That wasn’t like…a punchline.”

“Hah! Punch. Good one,” Jolloc jabbed him on the shoulder, “That’s your thing.”

“Maybe it would be better if Danairia went in my place,” Lir offered.

Bertholdt almost recoiled, “To a library? Her? No offense, er- Miss Dana?” the Muscum cleared his throat and massaged his forehead, “Okay, I could only take you if you promise to stay out of trouble…and based off yesterday, that seems…just please don’t have the town watch chase after you again. We’re lucky they didn’t have a squad mage with them.”

Jolloc spoke, “In the meantime, though, maybe the rest of us can at least buy some provisions for the road? Grab a camel or two? Or at least, breakfast?” and as he said that his stomach growled.

“After we come back, maybe we can decide then. In the meantime,” Bertholdt glanced at Sanvi, uneasiness in his eyes, “Try not to break anything.”