She had no intention of actually falling asleep, but Bel seemed to have that way with things.  Things that made people do what she wanted without her needing to tell them.  It wasn’t magic.  At least, not magic that Kitalia knew anyway.  It was just the way she said things in that comforting, grandmotherly voice...Read More

She wasn’t quite prepared for that kind of question.  Who would be given the context of where they were and what they were doing? “I am… probably the least able to answer that on behalf of my people,” she admitted, her eyes downcast. “I know dear,” Bel said in her most comforting tone.  How that...Read More

No matter how hard she tried, she never saw Bel actually eat.  The bowls and plates always came back empty, but she never saw the dragon actually place the food into her mouth and consume it.  Even now, Bel was pushing the pieces of the stew around idly, her mind clearly elsewhere.  “How many of...Read More

Bel put down her stew and frowned.   ‘If she comments on the burn,’ Kitalia mentally seethed, ‘I swear I’m going to leave her behind no matter what Kre might think of me.’ The admission surprised her a bit as she never once thought that she might care what the stupid farm-boy might think of her. ...Read More

Kitalia wasn’t happy.     That’s far too much of an understatement.  Kitalia was furious.     She wouldn’t ever admit that she enjoyed traveling with Kre, but she did finally, albeit grudgingly tell the blue-eyed witch that she felt responsible for him ever since the events at the cabin when she had first met him.     In her mind,...Read More

The talk of bathing reminded Kre about his visit to Red’s and the embarrassing memory of the events from that evening. It also reminded him about all the losses he suffered since that fateful night at Cooter’s house.  ‘I wonder what the old man would think of all of this,’ Kre asked himself bemusedly, and...Read More

“A truly difficult thing, indeed,” Dain agreed from a few horse lengths behind them.  “Some aren’t afforded the chance to learn from their losses.” “Master Dain,” Beleg chuckled, “always keeping us honest.  Tis true though.  Tis so very, very true.”  Again, his eyes misted over slightly as he stared out into the distance.  ‘Someday,’ Kre...Read More

“Time to go.”  Beleg’s voice cut through the fog of Kre’s sleep and his eyes snapped open, wondering what was wrong for them to be clearing out so soon after he had just fallen asleep. The slight bit of light coming in through the trees told him a different story and he wondered what time...Read More

Exhaustion overtook him before Kre had a chance to rouse his relief.  As his head slowly lowered to his chest and as his eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, a massive hand clapped down on his shoulder, startling him to immediate wakefulness. “Relax lad,” came the familiar rumble.  “It’s good you were ready to...Read More

Dain offered a few other pieces of advice as they rode in what Kre assumed was the direction of Yahaestra.  Given that it was already late afternoon, at least from what Kre gathered from hearing the others talk, they believed they would arrive at the outpost by the next evening.  A perfect time, Dain had...Read More