A Journey

The three of them set out while the suns rays were still just cresting over the mountaintops. Dragonbridge was too close for the carriage fee to be worth it, and renting a horse was simply to expensive for Adaliz to bear. Besides, he thought, he'd soon own one of the stable-houses, and it'd be a moot point then, since he'd just pick whatever horse he liked. In the meantime, they'd just have to trudge the distance, or so they thought before Adaliz began a complex incantation. The Breton's knowledge of spellcraft allowed him to mitigate the pain and weariness of a long journey, turning what would have been an arduous slog into a pleasant stroll through the countryside. Mostly. If the enchantment held long enough. Which it didn't. Thus resulting in all three of them marching through the deceptively scorching countryside as the sun beat down from above and cold breezes battered them from the sides. Adaliz marched ahead of the other two, mostly because he would be damned before he let them saw how tired he was and how much he regretted this decision. A leader can't make mistakes, after all. Yvenn, on the other hand, had no such qualms about revealing his fatigue, and stumbled footstep by footstep just behind his master, while the exposure to the harmful rays of the sun leaving him feeling as through the very unlife-force of his body was being sapped away. Serinal too seemed to be feeling the effects of the journey, but was in truth perfectly fine and was simply feigning tiredness, so he could stay off to the side of the two and watch them suffer, being the weak mortals that they were.

Yvenn's inner monologue grew increasingly querulous as he stumbled along. "By Azura (I hope I'm allowed to swear in your name, I hope its not something you'd be mad about, I'm sorry if you're listening) I think I'm going to faint. Can vampires faint? I don't know. Oh, I wish I had drank a blood potion before going out. I think I'm still good for the next few days, but I don't know how this journey might affect me. I could collapse from exhaustion, or worse-" The slender Nord's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Are you fancying a drink? You look like you're practically dying for one."
Unbeknownst to Yvenn, Adaliz's other companion had sidled over to him, and now was practically looking over his shoulder.
"What do you mean by that? You mean am I thirsty? Um yes, I would enjoy water and juices and other things like that, yeah. I mean, who wouldn't, right? Its pretty hot out, so people would definitely want water. So I do, and-" Yvenn continues to stammer on for a few agonizingly long seconds more while Serinal tries to stifle his laughter, until the two of them are interrupted by a barking and haughty voice a few feet ahead.
"Would you two be silent!? I'm trying to think! This is an important errand you know, or I wouldn't be out in this horrid climate."
"Oh, sorry master, I'll be silent from now on, sorry to trouble you, sorry." Yvenn mutters a series of hasty apologies and bends his head down, looking ashamed. Serinal, however, continues so speak.
"Eh, your concentration? 's not like there's much to think about out here. Hey, I got an idea, why don't you just relax, eh? I got just the thing." The Dremora takes out a flask that reeks of hard liquor. Judging by the sloshing sound, it's been partially drained already. Ada's face turns a bright shade of crimson and he comes to a sudden stop, his hands balled into fists as he ineffectually attempts to chastise the creature. He cranes his head up to look at the taller figure as he speaks.
"Y-y-y-y-you can't just get drunk during a job! Do you have any idea how it would make me look if I can't even keep my staff in order? Get rid of all that at once! At once you understand me?!"
Serinal grins wickedly and bows deeply, his free hand placed right on his heart. "As you wish, my lord." His voice drips with barely restrained glee, as though he had been waiting for this very command. With a swift and well practiced motion, he places Yvenn in a firm headlock, and forces the contents of the flask down his throat as he sputters in protest. A few moments later, he releases his grip and the nord staggers forward, gasping and coughing. But already his step is a bit unbalanced, and he can already feel the heat rising to his face as his weak constitution allows the drink to rapidly spread through his system. Adaliz stamps his foot down in anger and unleashes a torrent of curses at the smug demon, who's very essence seems to suggest that regardless of what happens next, he's already won.
"All right, that's IT. We're making camp right now, and I am going in my tent. You two set it up right now, you hear me? No no, just my tent. You are both sleeping outside until morning. You're lucky I'm letting you keep your cloaks with you."
After some searching, the trio found a small outcropping of rock, and set up underneath it. The three of them just barely finished making camp as the sun began to set once more. Ada quickly crawled into his tent and within moments, fell asleep, exhausted both emotionally and physically by the (by his standards) rough journey. Yvenn scooted to the rear of the rock formation and curled up into a ball, with his back to the wall and his body shivering in the cold night air, until he too fell into a fitful and unpleasant sleep. Serinal was the last one awake. Making sure they were not being observed, he gestured with his hands and a shimmer of magic shimmered in the air. From the outside, the alcove vanished, replaced by a smooth wall of rock as the illusion spell concealed the travelers from any prying eyes. His task complete, the dremora looked about his surroundings before finally settling his gaze on the shivering and restless vampire. Sighing and muttering an oath as he gazed at the pitiful sight, the creature loped over and plopped down next to him, draping his own cloak over the both of them and scooting close enough to lend his own internal body heat (enhanced by his infernal nature) to his exothermic comrade. Eventually, Yvenn's shivering ceased, but by then Serinal had already fallen asleep himself. When dawn broke, the demon's eyes snapped open and, after looking around to make sure the other two were still asleep, carefully got up and away from Yvenn before lying down on the opposite side of the cave and falling asleep once more, only to be woken roughly by Adaliz about a half hour later. After breaking camp and eating a hastily thrown together meal, the three resumed their journey.