"Boy! That's the last I'll hear of it! You are to guard the caravan, I am your father, and you WILL listen to me do you understand?!" There went Caelyn's dad on another power trip. He always had to feel like he was in control. It was his smug arrogance that made Caelyn detest the man so much in the first place. He knew it was his own flesh and blood, but the man hid behind Caelyn's abilities since he was 16. He would get into an argument with customers and make Caelyn do the "enforcing". Caelyn respected his father because he knew he owed everything to him. But now that he had gotten older and smarter, he saw just how brash and overbearing.
"Caelyn, are you listening to me?! Where do you go?'' "Uh, yes father sorry." "Damn right you are sorry. Wished your brother would have lived so I could at least have ONE competent son." Caelyn felt himself getting choked up. His father knew that the subject of his older brother was a very dear subject to Caelyn and just used it as another tool to keep him broken down.
Their caravan had recently arrived in Patet when Caelyn's father heard about a great shortage on supplies due to the Red Plague. His father saw an opportunity and tried to cease it. What his father did not forsee is the quarantine that went along with the disease. Upon trying to leave the border, they were informed that a mage would screen for the disease. An idea popped into Caelyn's head. In the dark of night when the guards all slept, Caelyn slipped into the mages tent. "I am sorry to disturb you at so late an hour, but I have a proposition for you. I am being held captive by a man against my will who is using the alias of being my father. I am in dire need of getting away from him." "What does this have to do with me?" the mage asked. "Simple, I have 25 gold coins I will pay you if you lie and say the man is inflicted with the disease. You also will inform him that with the quarantine goes no contact from the uninfected. That will give me my out away from him. Do you accept?" Caelyn proposed. The mage stroked his chin seriously contemplating the offer. "Make it 35g and you have a deal." After a quick scan of Caelyn, he nodded. "It appears you do not have the disease so the plan is good to go."
The next day, Caelyn's dad was scurried off by the guards back to the church to go along with the other quarantined people. Caelyn was making for the checkpoint that had a large rock wall. A few guards stood in wait for travelers. "I am here to go to Flavus. My family is all infected and my dear father wants me to flee this cursed place, so that I may bring him back a cure." Caelyn said. "That's fine and all my lord, but the mage is away for a short while." the guard replied. "He has already scanned me and said I was cleared I assure you of this!" "I'm very sorry sir, but until we have his actual word we can not let you pass." "Bloody hell!" Caelyn kicked the dirt and slung a rock which came very close to hitting a young woman.
"Terribly sorry," he said bowing low in a sincere apology. "I don't normally act like this I am just on a schedule." Just as he finished his sentence a familiar cry let out and Seabhac landed on Caelyn's shoulder. "Ah where are my manners, my name is Caelyn and this is Seabhac (Shah-wack)." Seabhac's head jolted around to take in all the scenery. Caelyn lifter her hand and kissed it softly. "Are you awaiting the mage as well?"