From the teachings of The Radiant Path, the Book of Comrades, written in the Pure Tongue
Melinyel, nai elenath, i eleni lirimaer ar i lairelosse naa esselya
Listen, my elves, for the music is a sparkling gem and a golden treasure of our world.
Eira passed the time by either reading, playing her violin, or conversing with Montgomery the Magnificent. After their first night, the Lindalumë had been out of sight, but she had felt drained regardless.
As the carriage jostled over a rough patch of road, Eira was jolted out of her book. While Montgomery was very adept at conversation, as she had found out, he seemed to have a talent for finding even the smallest bump in the road as they traveled.
She glared up at Montgomery's position at the head of the carriage. She opened the window so she could talk to him.
"Could you be more careful?" she snapped. "You're going to give me whiplash!"
Montgomery let out a long-suffering sigh. "My apologies, Princess," he said. "But this is hardly the smoothest road I've ever traveled."
"I don't care," Eira retorted. "Just try to avoid the bumps, will you?"
Montgomery chuckled. "Of course, Princess," he said. "Anything for your comfort."
Eira pinched the bridge of her nose, and let out a sigh. "Don't call me Princess," she said. "I don't use that name anymore. Call me something else."
Montgomery turned his skeletal head back to her, vibrant green eyes seeming surprised. "Something else?" he repeated.
"Yeah," Eira said, warming to the idea. "How about this? You can call me Eira, and I'll call you something else, too. Like... Monty."
Montgomery looked slightly taken aback. "Monty?" he repeated.
Eira shrugged. "Yeah, why not? It's short for Montgomery, and it's a lot easier to say. Plus, I like it."
Montgomery chuckled. "As you wish, Princess--Eira," he corrected himself when she glared at him. "From now on, I shall be known as Monty."
"Monty," Eira said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Do you have any hidden talents? Maybe something you've been hiding from me?"
Monty chuckled. "I don't know about hidden talents, but I do have a love for animals. Unfortunately, for some reason, they always seem to run away from me, even the little rabbits."
Eira laughed. "Maybe they're afraid of your magic. Or maybe it's just your face," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Hey now, my face is my best feature," he said, sharp teeth flashing in a grin.
Eira only patted his shoulder. "Sure it is, Monty. Sure it is."
They both laughed, and the carriage rattled on down the road.
After their third day of traveling, the forest slowly but surely thinned out as they approached. Stonehold was situated at the base of the towering mountain range of the Glacial Spine. She knew that the town's strategic location has made it a frequent target of bandits, raiders, and even occasional monster attacks that came down from the peaks of the mountains.
As they approached the town, Eira decided that was not an appropriate term for the place. Stonehold was heavily fortified, evident by a high, battle-worn stone wall that surrounded the township. She could see a towering keep before they passed the great wall, impressed by its sheer size which almost seemed to compare to the peaks of the Glacial Spine in the background.
The carriage rumbled to a halt in front of the gatehouse, and Eira could see two guards standing watch. They were both heavily armed and armored, with stern expressions that made it clear they took their duties seriously.
One of the guards stepped forward, eyeing the skeletal familiars driving the carriage with suspicion. "Who goes there?" he demanded.
Eira cleared her throat and leaned out the window. "Greetings, good sirs. I am Lydia, a traveling musician from Caladrielle, and this is my escort, Monty."
She gestured towards Montgomery, who was trying to look as unassuming as possible.
The guard frowned. "What brings you to Stonehold?"
"I am on my way to the capital to play for the King of Aerindir in the annual competition," Eira explained. "But my journey has been long and arduous, and I was hoping to find some rest and shelter for the night."
The guard seemed to soften at this. "Ah, I see. Well, we're always happy to welcome a traveling bard in our town. But you should know that we're under constant attack from the north, and we don't have much to offer in the way of luxury or safety."
Eira smiled gratefully. "I understand, good sir. We are not seeking luxury, only a warm bed and a meal to sustain us on our journey. I assure you, we mean no harm."
The guard nodded. "Very well. I'll let you pass. But I must warn you to be careful. There are many dangers in these parts, and not all of them come from without."
Eira thanked the guard and the skeletal familiars drove the carriage through the gates and into the town. As they passed through the streets, Eira couldn't help but marvel at the lack of fear the townspeople seemed to have toward Montgomery.
No one gave him a second glance, as if they couldn't see his true appearance. It was almost as if skeletal familiars driving a carriage were a common occurrence in this township. She would have lingered on that thought, but the sight of everything that lay within the walls demanded her attention. Everything about the stronghold had been designed for strategic advantage.
The keep she had spotted earlier was a towering stone structure overlooking the town from atop a small hill. It is surrounded by a second high stone wall and was further reinforced by guard towers and other defensive structures. The town's streets were narrow and winding as they continued through the town, and Eira was sure this was to make it more difficult for attackers to advance in a large formation.
Finally, they arrived at a small inn on the outskirts of town.
The innkeeper greeted them warmly and showed them to their room, which was small but cozy. They were served a simple but hearty meal, and Eira regaled the innkeeper and some of the patrons with her violin and occasionally sang along with the music.
The patrons who had been there for dinner had stuck around longer than she had expected, and soon her music turned from lovely to jovial, and they joined in with her singing. The tavern became rowdy, and some who passed by came in to join in the revelry.
As the night went on, Eira and Monty found themselves in the midst of a boisterous crowd. Monty had joined in the singing and dancing, his normally reserved demeanor melting away in the infectious energy of the tavern.
Eira couldn't help but smile at the sight of Monty's usually serious expression replaced with one of pure joy. She had never seen such a sight—a robed skeleton dancing with mortal men, and it had caused her to laugh.
As the night wore on, the crowd began to thin out, and Eira felt a sense of relief. As much as she enjoyed the music and the company, she was tired and ready for some rest. She had been playing for hours, and her fingers were starting to ache.
Eira put her violin down, panting, and sat back in the chair she had been playing in. The music had been a welcome distraction from the impending doom that coiled within her heart, as well as good practice.
She stood up from the table after resting for a few minutes, ready to make her way up to their room. As she turned to Monty, she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of his bony fingers still tapping away at the table in rhythm with the now-silent music.
"Are you heading to bed, Eira?" Monty asked, his voice hoarse from all the singing.
"Yes, I am. I'm exhausted," Eira replied with a yawn but then added. "Monty, I think you might have missed your true calling. Perhaps you should have been a bard instead of a familiar."
Monty let out a deep chuckle, the sound rattling his bones. "I'll have you know that my musical talents are not limited to just the simple pleasures of mortal taverns," he replied with mock indignation. "In fact, I once played a hauntingly beautiful requiem that moved an entire kingdom to tears."
Eira raised an eyebrow skeptically and began walking away from the tavern. "I find that hard to believe, Monty. I mean, you do have a bit of a... bone-dry sense of tune."
Eira glanced back at Monty to see if he was following her and saw that he had a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, ye of little faith," he said with a sly smile. "I have been around for quite some time, you know. I have played for kings and queens, and even the gods themselves. I assure you, my talents are not limited to just the taverns of mortals."
Eira chuckled, shaking her head. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Monty."
"As you should, my dear Eira. As you should." He then added with a grin, "Although, I wouldn't mind showing off my skills again sometime."
Eira couldn't help but smile. "We'll see, Monty. We'll see."
***
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Okay, so Monty has definitely been my favorite character to write so far, aside from Lynden, which I guess shouldn't be as surprising as it is. Let me know what you think of this chapter!
Enjoy this picture of Monty and a rabbit. Maybe one day Monty can make friends with the little animals he loves so much!