Set Forth

[Thomas]

10th Glade, 4623

Thomas and Zilrud reconvened in the courtyard. Thomas had started packing and only briefly had to wrestle with the clotheshorse inside of him. He enjyoed such things, but the fact of the matter was he was accustomed to not having much of anything, so packing light was second nature, even if it pained him to leave some of his nice things behind. Part of him, the part that had grown up in poverty, warned him that if he didn't keep them in his possession he may never see them again.

This was true, after a fashion. If he handled himself poorly on this trip, Wendell might decide he was too much of a liability and ask for a divorce. Even so, Thomas doubted he could do something so repugnant that the man would refuse him his clothes. They were tailored for him, and Wendell was more than a head taller than him. What use would he have for trousers that went no further than his shins? Thomas took a deep breath and didn't ransack his wardrobe. He'd be back for it, he told himself.

Then, he packed up the belongings he would need in case things got dangerous: ammo pouch, gun, gun oil and maintenance kit. He intended to dismantle, oil, and polish it while en route. The Hollows could be commanded to follow the road until they came to a turning point, and there weren't any for quite some time, so he wouldn't have to be his own coachman. For that matter, he couldn't countenance bringing one. Wendell operated with such a small staff here on his estate that taking one for the duration of this journey would be selfish. Thomas was perfectly capable of being his own servant.

He was proud, all in all, that he'd kept himself to three bags: one of camping supplies, one of personal effects, and one of rations from the cook. He could have packed lighter, but he saw no reason to.

"Ready to go, Big Man?" He said to Zilrud with a grin. He was a little nervous to be heading out like this, but it was exciting, too.

[Zilrud]

Zilrud had the opposite problem that Thomas seemed to be having regarding his wardrobe. Zilrud didn't want to take extra clothes. Mostly, he hated the layers, but also he did not plan on taking part in anything that would require him to dress up in anything outside of casual attire if even that. But, at Thomas's request, he had made sure to put something that Thomas would consider nicer and fancier than the typical adventuring attire. Once, he had packed clothing and some leftover healing things left to him after his injury when he first came to the estate. Zilrud did not need anything else to bring with him other than himself and Thomas, so when he was finished packing in a simple sack, he found himself wandering back to where Thomas had wanted to meet up. Tilting his head when the question was offered to him, Zilrud's hand lifted and swatted Thomas on the backside. "Ready. Do you have everything you need?"

This, of course, was asked as his eyes began surveying the multiple sacks that Thomas had brought with him. Some of it seemed necessary if Zilrud had to really think about it. He could not fault the boy, though. He knew enough about Thomas's past that he did not have much for a long time, and then he was thrust into a society that afforded him some things. The Orkhai could understand, to a degree, of not wanting to part with something that he could potentially be afraid to lose. After all, Zilrud met Thomas in that same society, and he was also found he was fearful of losing something, although he was less vocal and expressive about it as Thomas was with his clothing.

"Let's go, Little One. The longer we wait, the longer it will take to leave. You will be back, and I will promise you that. Do not be afraid. Think of it like a camping trip. Enjoy the experience, then come back to your everyday life."

It was almost palpable, the feeling he could sense coming from Thomas. Although Zilrud was unsure what Thomas regarded so cautiously with leaving, it did not matter. Even if Thomas said he did not need the assurance or was capable of doing things on his own, Zilrud would not make him do anything on his own. Not unless Thomas specifically requested the time to do whatever was on his own.

"How long will it take for us to get there?" He asked this as the more prominent green hand wrapped about Thomas's neck and slid up into the back of his hair, holding to the back of his head, the clawed fingers rubbing their pads at the boy's scalp for a moment before dropping his hand to help get things ready so they could leave.

[Thomas]

Thomas' brow furrowed as he thought through maps and Hollow land speed, as well as various contingencies.

"Well," he said after a pause, "there are two potential routes, I think. If we stop to take a rest overnight, we should arrive by tomorrow evening -- quite late, mind you, after everyone has had supper. However, Hollows, unlike horses and oxen, don't need to rest. If we are willing to sleep in the carriage while they convey us overnight, we could be there by tomorrow morning. If you wish to stop for the night in an inn, that is fine with me, but if the interior of the carriage doesn't prove too cramped for the two of us to take our rest in there, I think that might be better. No sense in letting whatever is happening have another day to do... whatever it's doing," he finished, feeling a bit silly.

What he didn't know could fill a library, and what he did know could barely fill a thimble. All he knew were the effects. He had no idea who, or what, was doing this. For that matter, he had no idea if it was deliberate or accidental on the part of the responsible party, or parties. Assuming that whatever was doing this was sentient at all. Maybe it was just an unsafe mine with bad footing or poor ventilation. He didn't think so, but mundane things could cause tragedies, certainly. The manufactories in Grisic were proof enough of that. It wasn't anyone's fault when someone's hand got crushed by machinery, but it was still horrific.

"But, ah. Yeah. I'll abide by your decision, Zilrud."

With that said, he loaded his bags into the carriage and stepped inside.

It was a small conveyance, big enough for four normal sized people or one Argent and two normal sized people. Perfect for him, Wendell, and Taelian when the all three of them had somewhere to be, though Wendell's legs often ended up on either side of Thomas so that the taller man had enough room to stretch. With just two of them, Zilrud would hopefully not feel too cramped. The seats could be converted to benches which allowed for a sort of reclined position that Thomas found quite conducive to napping, though he had lots of experience sleeping in claustrophobic quarters that many lacked. There was a small conductor's box to one side that allowed the coachman, if there were one, to directly oversee and command the Hollows. For their part, the Hollows attached to the conveyance looked unperturbed about the prospect of laboring in the cold, though Hollows rarely looked anything but unperturbed, so it was hard to say what they were thinking.

Thomas motioned for Zilrud to join him. "Ready to head out?"

[Zilrud]

It seemed that Zilrud had a choice to make that would involve whether or not that they were going to rest and prolong the trip. The idea of staying in the carriage was not a terrible idea. Sure it would be cramped, but at least he would be in good company. The other option was to stay in an inn. Although that would perhaps be the better, more sensible option, there was something that put the Orkhai off from finding an inn and staying there rather than figuring things out on his own. As Thomas worked through it and left the decision up to the Orkhai, he turned to watch Thomas loading his bags into the carriage and watched him as he stepped inside. Glancing down to the sack that held his clothing and what few items he deemed necessary to bring with them on the trip, Zilrud looked back to the carriage, figuring what would be the best. He knew Thomas liked his fine things, and an Inn was nice, but, Zilrud could not think of any other choice as with the carriage open, he tossed the sack without care into it and moved to step inside.

Once inside, it was a bit cramped. The Orkhai was a prominently built man that took up quite a bit of substantial space. As he lowered himself down into a seat, he looked to Thomas, scooting this way then that to get comfortable. Taking in a breath, he let it out and made sure he could get as comfortable as possible and looked to Thomas with a raised brow. "I don't mind sleeping in the carriage. We get there faster and we don't have to worry about figuring out where we will sleep." Regardless of what Thomas said, he cared about the Hollows and the workers that had gone missing. So the fact that it would be quicker, but also he would be able to spent some more time, uninterrupted with Thomas which would also be a good thing for the pair. Once everything had been said and their things were packed away, Zilrud nodded to Thomas.

"Let's go."

Sitting in the clothes felt a bit different, especially in an unfamiliar environment. So as their trip would begin , Zilrud would fidget this way or that, trying to get himself used to the feeling of the clothes and how they rested on his body. Although the sensations were newer to him, he could not deny the fact that he felt... Different. It was not a different that was bad, in fact, wearing the clothes made him feel different to the point that in a way, he was regaining something he had lost when he was forced into coming to Lorien. It was almost as if he was developing a new sense of security with the clothing he was wearing.

[Thomas]

Thomas gave the signals to the Hollows to start their conveyance. In truth, it was warm enough at this point in the season that they could probably have done with horses, and he would have loved to get Horse and Carrot out on the road. He had a feeling they were a bit bored, though Carrot was always in good spirits and Horse never was, so it was a bit hard to tell. If they had taken the horses, though, he would have to be up front with the reins, leaving Zilrud in a rolling box by himself for hours, and they would need to stop nightly to give the beasts a proper rest.

He had briefly considered just riding, but dismissed it. He was barely capable of riding a horse and he wasn't sure if Zilrud knew how at all. Perhaps more importantly, they would have had to pack light. Thomas detested that idea. Even when he'd traveled for a living, he had done so with an entire wagon's worth of possessions, and that was how he was comfortable.

He couldn't sit directly across from Zilrud unless he wanted to crowd into the man's leg room, so he sat next to him instead, sidling up next to him on the long bench style seats. If they knew each other less well, sitting diagonally would be more proper, but considering that they were quite friendly, this seemed okay. Minor breaches of etiquette that went unobserved by third parties were of no consequence.

He was aware of Zilrud fidgeting beside him, but did not correctly guess its cause.

"Carriage rides can be rather boring," he said aloud, sympathizing with the activity he misattributed to restlessness. "I did bring a few simple games we can play to pass the time, if you like. There's food, as well, if we get hungry. And if all else fails, I suppose you can count on my chatter to sustain you."

[Zilrud]

The fidgeting that the Orkhai was feeling was a bit different. He was not nervous about the trip that they were embarking on, nor was he worried for either himself or Thomas. What he was fidgeting for was the feel of clothing against his muscular body. So when Thomas started to offer him ideas and how things were boring in a carriage, Zilrud could not really answer that, aside from saying the obvious. "I have never been in a carriage before. It feels like a smaller wagon." With that said, the Orkhai lifted his gaze upward to look at the ceiling of the carriage, comparing it to the last wagon he had ridden in and then lowering his gaze down to Thomas, who was sitting beside him. Raising a muscular arm, he draped it over Thomas's shoulders and allowed it to rest there unless Thomas moved it. Zilrud did not care if people saw; in fact, he hoped they did. Not because he wanted to cause an issue but because he felt Thomas deserved it.

"What... Games did you bring?" Zilrud had not played many games, so when the idea of a game was offered, he was trying to imagine what that could mean, especially with such limited space and range of motion. Leaning back in his seat as best as he could, he adjusted himself a bit for comfort and continued to look down at Thomas. Despite his discomfort in the clothes and feeling different while sitting, he was quite... At ease with being in a cramped space with Thomas being so close. Hearing food, a dark brow rose in curiosity to see what had been brought with them. "What did you bring to eat?"

Was it weird that Zilrud started to like the idea of their journey the more it went on? At first, he had been apprehensive other than wanting to do something for Thomas. But the more he was away from the inside of Thomas's home, the more he was intrigued and wanted to be back out in the elements... Even if it meant being in a carriage for the time-being.

[Thomas]

Thomas knew better than to think of Zilrud as young or childlike just because he was unfamiliar with aspects of the finer things in life that the human considered customary. He'd never asked how old Zilrud was, but he was rather certain the man had been on this planet for longer than he had been, and that it wasn't close. Still, despite himself, it was amusing to see Zilrud look curiously at him about the idea of games, and positively perk up about the idea of food.

"I'm hardly going to embark on a journey without anything to do. And I know better than to get into a little box with an orkhai without some snacks to distract him," he teased.

In truth, he'd be the one who would grow bored and discontented. Zilrud was far more used to enduring discomfort than he was, and was inclined to stoicism, besides. Thomas was more inclined to complain, at least at this point in his life.

"I've just brought some simple games that are good for travel. Checkers, for instance, The kind with the felted pieces that stick to the board so that if there's a bump in the road you don't have to go looking for the pieces. Food is simple stuff: roasted smoked chicken legs, bread, cheese, pickles. Good for sandwiches. Or, if my mighty warrior prefers, he can have the smoked chicken and I can make a serviceable vegetable sandwich from what remains."

The last was said with a smile. He was, despite what may await them on the other end of this carriage ride, in good spirits. With Zilrud's arm around him, it was hard not to be.

[Zilrud]

It was a good thing that if anyone ever thought of Zilrud to be childlike, they kept it to himself. He lived a much more basic life than many others would. He knew how to fight, explore, survive, and do many other things. Unfortunately, his life had not been gracious enough to allow him to indulge himself in some of the more frivolous aspects that life could offer him. As Thomas mentioned the games, Checkers to be exact, Zilrud red eyes slid off to the side, trying to remember if he had ever played a game called Checkers, let alone if he had ever heard of it. As his thoughts were trying to go deeper than they really needed to at that moment, Thomas mentioned food. Zilrud knew food, enjoyed food, and could even cook food, though he was much more partial to raw or roasted meats than anything else. So, the mention of smoked chicken legs, bread, cheese, and pickles was mentioned, and there was a noticeable dribble of Orkish drool around one of his dusks. When he felt the slickness on his lower lip, he quickly drew the forearm of his unused arm across his face to mop it up.

"Yes." That was all he would say regarding the chicken, but he went silent as he looked down, entertaining a thought with a smirk. He had to look away from Thomas during that smirk as he was momentarily lost in thought. "Your mighty warrior can share a chicken leg with his Little One." Even then, with the idea of smoked chicken, he was more inclined to enjoy the moment. Lifting his hand, he stroked his fingers over Thomas' forehead and into his hair, where his sharper nails gently scraped and scratched at the other's scalp. It was pretty cozy in the carriage. And although it was particularly cramped, he was okay with the level of discomfort, as Thomas may have noticed, primarily because of the company with him.

"Are you bored or hungry now?" He asked, glancing down at Thomas, happy to continue talking or changing their current activity. He was excited to get away from the estate with Thomas... As much as Zilrud was finding he did enjoy some of the softer things humanity could offer Orkhai-kind, he still enjoyed being out and about in the wild... Even if that meant he was in a carriage with a handsome Lordling.

"...And do you know anyone where we are going or who or what to look for?" Zilrud had never really asked if Thomas had been to the mine or the area to know exactly what they were looking for. He didn't mind exploring, but he knew that Thomas was going there for a reason, and it was sensitive to timing to get it looked at sooner rather than later, so he wanted to keep his Little One's needs in mind, rather than just his own.

[Thomas]

This was unexpectedly nice. Thomas had expected Zilrud to be restless or annoyed about the carriage ride. The man was ill used to sitting still for long periods of time, and in Thomas' observation he mostly did so when he'd temporarily exhausted himself and needed to eat or sleep. Otherwise, he tended toward action. Zilrud wasn't necessarily fast or frenetic, though; he was a deliberate sort. From observing him, Thomas had gleaned that this was a man who knew the strength and power of his body, and who didn't use more energy than was necessary.

"I'm not particularly hungry, and being here with you isn't boring," Thomas said. "There aren't that many things to do during a carriage ride, however, so a game might not go amiss. With checkers, we can sit side by side like this and still play. With cards, I'd have to sit opposite you, which might be annoying for you -- there's not a lot of room in here, and you've got a lot of legs. If you're hungry, however, I would join you. Having food in a carriage is kind of fun," he said with fondness tinging his voice.

"It reminds me of being on the trains in Grisic. They have them in Lorien, too, I suppose, but I'm partial to the ones in my home country. If you are wealthy enough, there are even private cars and the like. I only entered one of those when I was accompanied by someone else who could afford such things, but I enjoyed them quite a bit. I felt bad about it, at the time," he looked away, and used that as an opportunity to take out the checker board.

"I thought that liking things that the rich and powerful had made me like them, or, or complicit in the things they do, I suppose. So I felt guilty. Still do, sometimes."

Them, he'd said. Not us, as he customarily said about the wealthy, but them. He wondered if Zilrud would pick up on that, or know what to make of it. He'd discussed his past before -- that he'd not been born into this life, but had forced his way in with what means he'd had at his disposal -- but previously when discussing the upper class he'd tried to take pains to show that he felt he belonged, or that if he didn't it was only due to his nationality.

"Anyway, checkers is a marvelous game, and rather simple, if you've never played. I'm not a novice, but I'm never been an expert at such things, so while I will be at an advantage for a bit, I imagine you may catch up quite quickly."

Thomas began to set up the board, which was still halfway through what had clearly been a bruising match. The board itself was a simple black and white felted square stretched over a light frame of wood. Each square had a notch in it that the pieces locked and twisted in to, preventing them from going flying if the carriage hit a bump. One set of the round discs was blue, the other red, each little wooden discs with the same notch carved into the top to allow for easy kinging.

As he set up the board, he gave Zilrud abit more information about what awaited them on the other end of their journey. "I've corresponded with the overseer for the mine -- a woman, name of Gretchen. I've let her know that I'd be coming out to inspect the mine and try to determine the source of the danger and contain her operational costs. I sent that letter out via express post this morning, and it should arrive about a half day before we do. I've never met her in person, however. I did go on a tour of a mine with Wendell several months ago, because he wanted me to understand all the holdings as real things and not just pieces of paper -- smart move, that -- but I haven't been to this particular mine, so I confess I'm not sure exactly what it will look like other than it being a big hole in the ground."

"It could be fun, no?"

It was unclear if he was encouraging Zilrud to play checkers or speculate about what awaited them in the mines. Perhaps both.

[Zilrud]

He was cramped, and it was partly uncomfortable, but it was also an exciting thing. He had been in a carriage once before, and that was to go and get shown off. It was done for showmanship, revealing the beast rather than dragging him behind the carriage. But this particular carriage ride he did not mind, due mainly to the company that was with him. The Orkhai had been listening to Thomas, even if he had not responded immediately about what he was saying. It was not until the checkerboard was set up that Zilrud responded. "It is because you are better than them. Some have never known what it is to struggle or fight to have a sort of safe space to close their eyes for five minutes, and even fewer have had to fight for their next meal. Pretend, if it gets you a comfort that your life denied you; lie if you must. As long as you remember who you are in your heart, you must be strong and fight for what you desire. Hm?" He asked for verification at the end of his comment and lowered his gaze to the checkerboard.

He had, indeed, understood the inflection. Even if there was another meaning, Zilrud understood the basic concept of the social cue. "Besides, Little One. If you were not pretending or enjoying their riches, you would not have been on the estate when I was near taking my last breath. Do not think I have not forgotten how attentive you were." A lopsided, Ork-toothed grin was given, and he nodded here and there regarding the mine and this Gretchen woman. "Can she be trusted, this... Gretchen?" He asked, mostly because he hadn't met anyone he trusted nearly as close as he did Thomas. He was finding it hard to believe there were other trustworthy souls in Lorien.

The cave, though, was an intriguing part of it all. What was making people go missing? What was happening to these... Beings that Thomas felt emotion for that no other person did? Was it a creature? A selfish man? Some magical malfunction? Zilrud enjoyed exploring, which gave way to an instinct to be nose and look into things where something was unknown. "It will be fun. Though I will not remain soft in anyone's presence if anything or anyone threatens you. I will remove their head." There was no questioning it, and Thomas would not be able to stop him unless he somehow directly attached Thomas to stop him.

Either way, he was looking at the felt board toward the end of the conversation and poked a clawed nail at one of the pieces.

"...This is... Checkers? How does it work?"

Thomas wanted something to do; playing a game of strategy with a rage beast in an enclosed space was what he had to do in the meantime.