TheShingPen
A Journey of Trust
Silver Tier
Zarin and the half-giant returned to the merchant’s cart, the heavy thud of Torvin’s footsteps making the ground tremble slightly with each step. Torvin—Zarin learned his name during their walk—still looked uneasy, constantly glancing around as if expecting another wolf to leap out from the shadows.
As they neared the cart, Zarin spotted Marlen perched nervously in the driver’s seat, his fingers twitching around the reins. The moment Marlen saw them approaching, his eyes widened, and his face turned pale as he saw the massive figure beside Zarin.
“Bandits! I knew it!” Marlen shrieked, scrambling to grab the reins to make a quick getaway. “They’ve tricked you! They’ve sent one of their big guys to take the caravan!”
Zarin hurried forward, waving his hands to calm the merchant. “No, no, it’s not like that! This isn’t a bandit, Marlen. This is Torvin, and he won’t hurt you or steal anything.”
Marlen froze, still eyeing Torvin warily from behind the cart. “Are… are you sure? He looks like one of those thugs!”
Torvin, looking thoroughly embarrassed, raised a massive hand in a shy wave. “Uh, hi,” he said awkwardly.
Marlen’s eyes darted between Zarin and Torvin, his face still pale. “He’s huge! Look at the size of him! And that scar… I don’t trust it. He’s definitely a bandit in disguise!”
Zarin sighed, rubbing his temples. ‘Of course, this would happen.’ “Look, Marlen, I get it. He looks intimidating, but he’s not a bandit. He’s just a traveler trying to make his way to Ridgeview. I already, uh, tested him. There were no bandits—just a misunderstanding.”
Marlen frowned suspiciously. “Tested him? How?”
Zarin glanced at Torvin, who looked confused, then back at the merchant. “Let’s just say there was a wolf involved. But the wolf’s gone now, and Torvin here is coming with us to Ridgeview. He’s not going to cause any trouble.”
Marlen was still unconvinced. “A wolf? What kind of wolf?”
Zarin sighed. “Does it really matter? The point is, we’re safe, and Torvin will help us with the caravan if needed. He’s strong, and if anything happens, he could be useful.”
Marlen hesitated, his eyes flicking between Zarin and Torvin. “Are you sure he’s not just waiting for the right moment to ambush us?”
Zarin stepped closer to Marlen, lowering his voice. “I swear, if he was a bandit, he could’ve taken the whole cart by now. Did you see the size of him? If he wanted to rob us, we wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Marlen considered this momentarily, his grip on the reins loosening slightly. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, sitting back down. “But I’m keeping my eye on him. One wrong move, and we leave him behind.”
Torvin, overhearing the conversation, rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Don’t worry, sir. I’m not here to cause any trouble. I just need a ride to Ridgeview, that’s all.”
Marlen shot him a wary glance but said nothing more, signaling Zarin to get into position as they prepared to continue their journey.
---
The road was a bit less peaceful after meeting Torvin. After about an hour of travel, they encountered a pack of wild beasts—large boars with sharp tusks and an aggressive temperament. They had rushed out from the underbrush, catching the group by surprise.
“Look out!” Zarin shouted, drawing his sword and positioning himself between the cart and the oncoming threat. Marlen, of course, immediately panicked, ducking low in the driver’s seat and yelling about bandits sending wild animals to ambush them.
The boars charged, and Zarin braced himself. “Torvin! Get ready to help!” he shouted, knowing full well that the half-giant wasn’t precisely confident about fighting. But in this situation, Zarin needed the brute strength Torvin could provide.
Torvin hesitated initially, fear flashing in his eyes as the boars barreled forward. But with Zarin in the lead, distracting the beasts with quick strikes and keeping their attention focused on him, Torvin managed to step in when necessary, using his massive hands to shove the boars away or knock them off balance.
Under Zarin’s guidance, they worked together—Zarin delivering precise blows while Torvin handled the physical aspect of the fight. The half-giant’s raw strength significantly saved them time and effort as they dispatched the boars. Though Torvin wasn’t comfortable with combat, his presence alone gave them the upper hand.
When the last boar was dealt with, Zarin wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Torvin, who was panting heavily. “Good job,” Zarin said, giving him a nod. “You handled yourself well.”
Torvin gave a sheepish grin. “Thanks, but… I wouldn’t have known what to do without you telling me. I’m not really much of a fighter.”
Zarin chuckled. “Doesn’t matter. You helped, and that’s what counts.”
As they resumed their journey, Zarin couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them. Several times, he caught glimpses of movement in the trees, the subtle rustling of leaves that didn’t quite match the wind. But no attack came.
‘Bandits?’ Zarin wondered, glancing at the shadows in the trees. ‘If they were planning to strike, they probably would’ve done it by now. Maybe they saw Torvin and decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.’ He smirked at the thought. Having a half-giant as a traveling companion might’ve scared off any potential attackers before they even had the chance to strike.
---
As the hours passed and Ridgeview came into sight, Zarin felt a wave of relief wash over him. The road had been rougher than expected, but they were finally nearing their destination. The tension from the journey—between Marlen’s paranoia, the beast encounter, and Zarin’s constant vigilance—began to ease.
“Not far now,” Zarin said, glancing at Torvin. “We should reach Ridgeview before nightfall.”
Torvin nodded, looking slightly more relaxed now that the journey was nearly over. “Thanks again for letting me come along. I really appreciate it.”
Zarin grinned. “No problem. Just try not to throw anything else into a tree.”
Torvin chuckled nervously. “I’ll do my best.”
Marlen, still suspiciously eyeing Torvin, muttered, “Let’s hope we get there without any more surprises.”
Zarin let out a small sigh of relief as the city gates loomed ahead. ‘Finally, we’re here.’
---
Marlen finally broke the long silence after passing through the city gates and into Ridgeview’s bustling streets. “Well, I’ll be. You two really did save my skin back there,” he said, glancing at Torvin, this time with less suspicion in his eyes. “Maybe I misjudged you, big fella.”
Torvin, still awkward and unsure of himself, gave a sheepish grin. “I just did what Zarin told me to. I’m not really good at fighting.”
Marlen chuckled. “Good at fighting or not, you’re strong, and that’s more than enough. A man like you could make a fortune as security for someone like me.”
Zarin raised an eyebrow at Marlen’s sudden offer. ‘Well, that’s a change in tone,’ he thought, hiding a smirk.
Torvin, however, shook his head. “I don’t think guard work is for me. I’d rather help carry things than fight.”
Marlen shrugged. “Suit yourself. But if you ever need a job, come find me. I could always use someone with your kind of strength.”
Zarin felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him as they made their way into the city. ‘Not the action-packed quest I was hoping for, but we made it without any real trouble.’ The encounter with the beasts and having Torvin on hand had proven useful.