Chapter 3 Part 2

Samson arose early the next day to help the others break camp. He told them of the previous night's goings-on and about their prospective guide. He watched Avery for some kind of negative reaction, but the halfelf showed none.
He further described what parts of the village he had observed during his walk. Tyson too recounted his actions and observations in night's events. He told them that he had followed their new guide back to an old building near the edge of the town where the man promptly retired for the night.
There was some minor discussion as to what amount of trust should be taken with a complete stranger. Also, the idea that they could pass as pilgrims of some sort on the road to the Twin Cities was discussed and was approved after some lengthy debate. They would only trust their guide as long as one of them was able to keep him under close watch for the first few days. Afterwards, if he proved to be no threat, they would allow themselves to trust him more.
Later that morning, Samson made his way into town and returned a little after midday with the guide. There was a brief introduction, in which Samson called the guide by the name of Axlea of Levaria, a village about two weeks south of Tycho. Axlea was accepted quite cheerfully by most, but Samson took notice that Avery's greeting was done through clenched teeth. Afterward, the ranger quietly walked his mount to the rear of the troop. There, he pulled his hood up over his silver hair so that his pupilless amber eyes were almost hidden from sight. Samson was pleased, and smirked. The ranger did not like stepping aside to let someone else act as guide. It would do Avery good to eat a little crow for a while.
After the restful night, they elected not to stop in the village, and by sunset, they were many leagues to the north. Axlea had assured them that this area was safe to travel by night. He recommended doing so until midnight to make up for the half of day that had passed before the commencement of their journey. No one complained, and they spent a good part of the evening riding down obviously well-travelled trails.
Around midnight, they stopped for the night and laid out their sleeping rolls. Axlea assure them that they would not need to make camp nor set watch, but some of the more conservative members of the troop insisted on the latter. Axlea just simply shrugged and rolled up in a blanket to go to sleep.
The next morning found a well rested group packing their bedrolls and on the road in about half an hour. They were in good spirits and the bright morning suns showed a light frost on the ground, which faded as the air grew warm. Their trail had led them much closer to a mountain range, which Axlea called the Upper Orkons. As the afternoon suns sank behind those batholiths, the cool days grew even cooler.
Three more days passed and the temperature continued to get get lower and it became necessary during the nights to keep several fires in addition to blankets to sleep comfortably. Their guide had announced that there was a lodge and small village two days ahead, where they could resupply before moving through a mountain pass for the meadow lands beyond.
The village was inhabited by friendly people who evidently made their income off the people who used the common route. Against the urging of Avery, the party decided to spend two days for supplies and rest with the hospitable people.
The tavern proved to be quite accommodating, and Keeneye was instantly intrigued by a local card game that was being played. It involved six suits of fifteen cards, plus an extra suit of twenty-one cards. The basic option was that of the standard games of betting, except that every time one of those cards from the long suit fell, it changed the game in some way. The elf was thoroughly amused and spent both nights watching the game.
Samson enjoyed a good drinking session with Axlea and Seymore for most of the first and part of the second night. He was presently returning to his room to sleep off a heavy buzz. As he turned a corner into the hall where their rooms were located, he saw Avery exiting the room in which Marlena was staying. "Hey! Half-breed!"
Avery stopped and turned around to face Samson then he caught the big man's fist on his jaw.
Samson watched his target fall dazed to the floor. "If you want her, at least be man enough to fight for her. But, of course, elves like to do things behind real men's backs."
"Whoa, big fella," Seymore said as he came up behind Samson. He put his arm on Samson's shoulder to help hold him up as much as to hold him back. "We've had a wee bit too much for clear thinking." Seymore pivoted Samson toward their own room. "You can beat Avery's skull in tomorrow morning, after you've sobered up enough to hit straight." As Seymore shoved Samson through their door, he glanced back to see Avery stagger to his feet and put his hand painfully to his jaw. "You okay?" he asked sincerely.
Avery nodded indicating he was, then staggering off to the room he shared with Ultrecht and Armegon.
The next morning, as the mounts were being saddled, Samson walked over to Avery and began a half-hearted apology, but the ranger cut him off and told him to forget it by saying: "Never explain your actions. Your friends don't require it and your enemies don't believe it." Samson pondered these words as they rode for some time and wondered which condition Avery fell under.