day 4: Duel at dawn
The Spine opens up considerably about a third of the way into “civilized area”, I use that term loosely of course as I was still fairly far from any resemblance of a town or outcropping community. As noted in the book “Exploring the Wilds”, there are three categories of land in all realms. They follow the same pattern, concentric “rings” that circle each major settlement. First is the Civilized Land, this is a settlement, farms, outcroppings, and areas trekked frequently by tradesman and traveller. Then there are the Explored Lands, these are areas that have been studied and have been impacted by man in some variance. They are still fairly odd, with a spattering of magic and mystery, but have been somewhat tamed. Then there are the Deep Wilds, these are ever changing, ever mysterious areas that only few dare to go, and even fewer return from. I just so happened to be traveling along a well worn popular path, through an Explored area, the path was quite safe, the exterior, not so much. At least that is what I thought before the commotion ahead changed that notion.
First came the smoke, large billowy plumes of stark white clouds canvased the path, then the impact came. The trees sook on either side, the red clay ground tumbled beneath my feet. Out from the rubble, leaving a large hole in the ground a body came rocketing into the sky overhead, followed closely by another, slimmer figure. Two quick snaps could be heard in the deafening silence as the bodies seemed to float in midair. Two small sprites of flame sprouted from the fingertips of the pursuer. They landed on the back of the first igniting the black coat, a snap from the leader resulted in a spurt of water that extinguished the flames as quickly as they appeared. The on leading the circus of smoke and fire landed without a sound and quickly, slammed hate ground with his foot and launched himself into the air over the canopy and took off to the east. The other followed. The duo left, a turned over caravan, a large pothole, and a small brush fire in their wake.
It was the first time I had seen a Duster in action. The power, the grace, the speed was something special to behold, though a bit terrifying if I am being honest.
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