Outside Ashly sees the horse, its grey and looks young. The horse is eating some hay and it looks up to Ashly. "Well it's staring at me, that must mean it likes me right?" Ashly says as she looks at Lucas, he is smiling and pets the horse "Well at least it won't be slow and pathetic." she says which upsets Lucas "Fine, I mean she isn't fast enough for me."
"Well I guess we all have our preferences, I didn't mind its speed at all. I could give you that she was too old for us and she needs a place to stay." Lucas says as he keeps on petting the horse.
"Lucas we didn't have that horse for a week and you're this attached already?" Ashly sighs, she can't comprehend why he is so caring for an old and useless horse "Let's just go, I want to be as far away from Gael and his idiots as possible."
"Alright then, you got everything we need?" Lucas looks back at Ashly who is carrying the bag "Good, then we are ready to leave. We ate, we have all our stuff and I already spoke with Mr. Norman and the others."
"Great, I don't want to be here any longer, I felt bored here." she hands him the bag and gets on the horse "Lucas, lead the way." she says as she waits for him tog eat on the horse l.
Lucas gets on the horse and they begin to move "There's this forest called Brown feather, I was told that we should visit this place. It's not too far away and it's a safe place to go." Lucas points to the east "I read books about the place, I'm not going to bring you somewhere that's dangerous." Lucas smiles.
"It's not too far away, it's an hour away Ashly. Listen Ashly this forest is more of its own thing as the government and most people have left it alone. The reason the forest is called the Brown Feather is because of the owls who inhabited the place. They were described as having Brown feathers, and there was an abundance of them. The people who live inside the forest are called Quill makers, and their name is a giveaway as to what they do. It was when Iriage was in its early stages that this forest was used for its wood and quill making. One of Iriage's main trading was Quills, the forest used to be much bigger but that was before they used it for Quill making." Lucas says excitedly.
"Oh gosh, you're going to kill me of boredom Lucas. Keep your history facts to yourself, I don't want this journey to feel like it's going to take forever." Ashly says
"Come on, it's just a way to pass time, it's not going to be a long explanation anyways. Like I was saying, Iriage was rich in resources and the problem was that most of it was used for the funding of Ethneal. Well that was later on, but the Quill makers weren't native people. They were ordinary folks who were in extreme poverty and were offered a job in making quills for the government. The Quill makers lived there for about 47 years before Iriage decided to try and cut it all. He says that the forest rapidly started to be destroyed but the Quill makers made a deal with the government. They promised to make quills for cheap and often free in return to make the forest sacred and illegal to cut. There is some sort of border where if the forest was to pass, the people can cut it. The problem is that people take advantage of that, and don't let it grow further than the border." Lucas says as he turns to look at Ashly.
"Wow, those were bunch of words I do not care to remember. Why did you waste your breath and time one that? I said I didn't want to hear it." Ashly is now bored and annoyed.
"Sorry but I just wanted to inform you on what we are getting into. The Quill makers are calm and very nice people. They aren't as hostile as a lot of people thought they were, I find this strange as they are still like us just in a forest. The newest recorded documentary of them was written 60 years ago, they have lived in that forest for 129 years. What was recorded was that there were only 32 members, but I believe that there must be over one hundred by now."
Ashly stays silent as she stares directing at the back of his neck. The silence is awkward and Lucas feels as if he should of stayed quiet. The wind has picked up yet the silence persists "Is there anything else you have to say or are you done?" she says.
"Well, as long as we are respectful to them and their land. We wil be fine, they are friendly most of the time so we don't need to be cautious at all." He takes a deep breath and continues "The only times they get confrontational is when outsiders decided to cut past the border. Even then all they do is yell at them to leave and nothing more than a few threats. It's a very rare occurrence of curse as they don't see outsiders as disrespectful or evil."
"Well in that case I'll try to not to anger or annoy them then. You will have to help me on that of course, you did promise you will help me." she smirks knowing he can't see her expression. "I promise you that I won't try to anger them for as long as I could." she says.
"Good Ashly, I'll try to tell you the many things that we can't do alright. Well that's if the rules aren't outdated any more." he says a bit worried, he keeps on looking forward thinking on the many scenarios. "I hope what I learned isn't biased or wrong. That will definitely be awkward if we follow them."
"Well if that isn't reliable I will just stay quiet then. You will do all the talking, isn't that great Lucas. To have you do all the work while I just lay back and relax." she says teasingly, she pokes his head "That would surely help me a lot."
"Don't worry Ashly, I believe in you. You can change if you try your best." Lucas smiles which Ashly thinks makes him look stupid "Don't only think negativity Ashly."
"Are you only saying these words to reassure yourself, aren't you having some problems yourself?" Lucas stops smiling and Ashly knew that she was telling the truth "Well we both have problems so we can learn together. Doesn't that sounds exiting and amazing Lucas?"
"Yeah you're right, I was also saying that to reassure myself. I can't lie to you Ashly, I still feel worried." Lucas tries to laugh but it sounds a bit too forced and awkward "Sorry Ashly."
"What an absolute moron, I didn't think Lucas was this stupid. That's what happens when you only see someone not so often." Ashly thinks to herself. After passing a few hills they finally see it. The forest is not too far away and the size surprises Ashly "That's the forest? It's much bigger than I tough it would be."
"Well you should of seen the book, it was definitely twice this size before the deal was made. I should of brought it with me so you can learn a bit of the stuff Instead of me teaching you." he says.
Ashly hits Lucas head hard, Lucas lets out a silent "ouch" "Lucas have you forgotten already, I don't know how to read. I thought I told you that." she says and all Lucas can say was "sorry." in a low tone.
Lucas stops the horse just shy of 34 yards from the nearest tree "We are here." Lucas rubs the back of his head "You're strong Ashly, you should be careful. It felt like I got hit by a rock." Lucas gets off the horse with Ashly, "We should bring the horse as well, they really love animals." he says.
"Of course we are bringing the horse, where else would it stay? It's not like it could wait for us with out running away." she says which Lucas agrees "Don't tell me you're this much of an idiot, I hope you're just messing with me."
"I'm sorry Ashly, I'm not trying to act stupid at all. It's the nerves ok, I need to take a rest. It's been a very fun few days and I guess I'm letting myself loose a bit." Lucas says as he takes the bags "Were these bags this heavy beforehand?"
"No they were not, I guess my punch is affecting you." Ashly says as she tries to hold in a grin "I'm strong enough to not need to be protected, so there's some weight lifted from you. If you thought you could defend me of course."
In the distance a man appears, he seems to be looking at them. "May I ask you fine people why are you here?" The man says which Lucas turns to see, the man is pale skined and is wearing a long black coat made out of fur. "I don't mean to scare you two, I am not hostile." he says.
"We are travelers, and we need to go somewhere. My friend over here is facing some troubles and we hope that this forest will keep us safe for the meanwhile." Lucas says, he pulls out the wooden carving of a sad man and points it at him, the man immediately recognizes it and smiles.
"So you are friends with Sir Brandon, is that right?" the man said in a more softer voice "I am happy that he has send in his friends for a visit. No, it was for a runaway from some problems is that correct?" the man is smiling at them.
"Yes you're right and by the way, my name is Lucas my friend over here is named Ashly." Lucas says with an excited tone.
"You must know by now that I am a Quill Maker." the man says as he steps out of the forest and he is wearing a large coat made from a bunch of different animals "My name is Silas, I hope I didn't present myself as hostile."