The Gift of Courtesy

Fawnlum and Lucas traversed the city and found their way to the Plavence – – the estate of Henbrace’s wizards. The buildings inside the fenced perimeter were old, but did not show deterioration. Not many people were gathered, but the Plavence was still a popular place this morning. Messengers came and went, as if the…


A Very Different City

As Fawnlum met travelers and caravans on the road, the news was always grim.  She pushed her friends faster to their destination. Even motivated Sienna admitted to fatigue, when they trudged up to the northwestern edge of Henbrace, many days later. “I thought it would be bigger,” Fawnlum said. “It’s more quality than quantity,” Lucas…


The History of the Coast

The sun rose over Dumian, and Baneck walked into Morgy’s store, as she was tallying a merchandise log. “Good morning, darling,” she called out.  Then she made a few more marks with her quill, and sent her worker out, leaving the two of them alone. “Do you have the orgite?” he asked her. “This way,”…


The New Recruit

“Why?” he asked, bewildered. “I want you to join us as our wizard,” she calmly answered. “You’ll earn your way by fighting alongside us, and get a share of the bounties.  When you’ve built up your stake and I deem it time, I’ll release you from my service.” “Find someone else,” he quickly argued, tenseness…


Now We find Ourselves in This Situation

“Right here!”  Caitlyn chirped.  “Compliments of the captain’s cabin.” The oldest of the men, who was actually younger in the face than the white of his hair suggested, came up to Fawnlum after the cages were open. “Good Lady, thank you for – “ “Wait,” Fawnlum told him, then looked at the youth. “You were…


Careful Who You Ride With

As night fell, Caitlyn and Dreighton were awakened to eat.  The captain told Fawnlum’s party to go first, in the galley space in the hold.  Steadying themselves as they climbed below decks, guided by the swaying lights of the lanterns, they let the ship’s cook serve their stew and soft-tack. “Begging your pardon, miss,” the…


First Time Overseas

After jogging northeast for four days and making good time, Fawnlum reached the port town of Rijult. Now she and the rest of her company walked briskly along the docks of the trade city, to keep up with Sienna, who had secured passage across the Brierren Channel. “You’re not putting us in a leaky rowboat,…


The Bargaining Table

She looked at him, still light-hearted.  “You’ve wanted to ask me that for these many months, haven’t you? “You do know that when I give my word, it’s good,” she answered, still pleasant in her tone, but serious in her eyes, being very tolerant, in dragon terms, of someone asking such a question. “I know…


The Local Dragon’s Past

She took a sip of her ale.  “I was involved in a certain conflict in the land of Calador, as some of the current generation knows.”  She spoke slowly, without a hint of her usual good humor. Maybe it was because she had powers of persuasion, or because it was a chance to learn something…


The Idiot Hero

After nightfall, Baneck and Torsar entered Morgenferrin Copprin’s tavern – – The Watchlight. Easily the biggest and swankiest place in Dumian, or the continent of Khostead, for that matter, it was right next to Lady Copprin’s inn and store. She had many other such businesses; but these she personally worked as her base of operations….