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Red Nail · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008

North of the castle, near the river but a good distance from the travel worn bridge, Ary stretched and roused himself out of his slumber. Nestled next to him was the bulk of his mount and friend Rigyry. The chocobo had chosen to snuggle up during the night when it had gotten colder than usual.

Ary smiled and patted his over sized bird before getting up and grabbing a towel and some soap from his traveling pack. Being so close to the river had it’s advantages. One was fresh water and the other was a place to wash both himself and his clothes. Although it was understandable that he’d get dirty on the road he decided last night, when he cleared the last of the mountains, that he’d need to wash up if he was going to impress any clients at the festival.

He’d left his armor and sword behind with Rigyry and once he got to the edge he simply swam in clothed. When he and his clothes were soaked he disrobed under the water and just enjoyed the feel of the water on his skin before he went strait to work scrubbing the dirt off himself and scrubbing the travel stains out of his clothes. It was well into the morning when he finally finished and left the clothes out on a rock to dry.

While he floated in the water, he found it hard not to think back to younger and better days. Before Zeromus and the death of Baron’s true king. Those were good days. Much to his surprise, memories of swimming in this very spot came back to him.

Back in those days Ary and his older brothers and sisters would sneak away from the castle to swim in the rivers. They had to mind the current and watch out for monsters that liked to stalk the forest, but when they reached the water their cares just floated away into nothing.

Other memories came back too. Ones of the war and the deaths of his family either in attacks or while in service to the fake king. He suppressed those memories with a shudder. It had been so long since he’d been home, but the memories still stung like fresh wounds. He didn’t want to be back here. He wanted to be anywhere but here. Life and a lack of money had just forced him back here. The carnival offered the chance of work.

With airships becoming more and more common the land bound caravans were dying out. Ary had made a decent living three years ago by protecting those caravans. With all the common routes turning to the air, Ary and Rigyry were out of jobs. The only things that came his way were the crazy explorers with crackpot theories and no money or the jobs that only needed his and not his constant companion. Ary wasn’t about to leave his chocobo behind. Most times it was Rigyry’s speed that saved the day, not Ary’s sword.

With his clothes sun dried and his skin thoroughly pruned, Ary climbed out of the water and dressed. It would be an hour to get to Baron and probably another to get past the guards and traffic. He found Rigyry awake at the camp, scratching the ground for any roots or greens.

“Don’t worry pal,” Ary patted Rigyry’s beak reassuringly, “There’ll be plenty of gryshal at the fair. If I’m lucky I’ll be able to eat too.”