A handful large wagons sped through a dusty and poorly maintained road. An unusual sight for this area. There were too few wagons to be considered safe against monsters and bandits. However, the occupants were confident in their safety. The reason would be obvious to anyone with a sharp eye. Only a fool would choose to attack this group.

In fact, if one were to look up, they could spot such a fool. A fully equipped imp and harpy flying behind a some travellers is suspicious no matter how you put it. Luckily, nobody saw them. Or if they did, nobody cared.

[] Stay put you fool. You shoot at them and we’re as good as dead. Don’t you see that crest? That’s the Sakillen family crest. They’re heavy hitters in the political world. There’s no way any carriages bearing their mark doesn’t have a way to shoot us down. We don’t have enough lives for that.

[] Eh? Are they that dangerous? It looks like just some carriages to me. I bet we can get high enough that they can’t hit us.

[] I said no you damned dolt. Still. I wonder where they’re heading. It’s strange that they would pass through such a remote location, with so little accompanying them too.

[] Maybe we should follow them? It might lead us to something valuable we can take after they leave!

[] Hm. I really don’t want to get involved with them but this could be something. We might be able to sell the information as well if it’s something big…

The passengers inside the centermost carriage remained oblivious to the argument happening above their heads. There was very little doubt in their minds that they would make it to their destination unharmed.

Staring out the window was a dragonkin. Peeking out of his simple yet clearly expensive outfit was light grey scales running up his wings and arms. He sighed. Again.

[] Come now Lasarim. You’ve been sighing all trip. With all due respect sir, this isn’t quite like you.

The dragonkin, Lasarim, turned and looked at the man sitting across from him in the carriage. Drosum was a friend and confidant that has served him ever since they were children. Despite choosing to remain human, he had never failed to keep up, physically or mentally. Being a little older than himself, Drosum should be around sixty, yet his jet black and unchanged physique hinted at the true strength hidden beneath.

[Lasarim] Come now Dro. There are few places I can ever relax. Even at home, every day I must act my part and grind the gears in my head down to a nub. Once we leave this carriage the act must return.

[Drosum] Surely you jest. You are one of the most disciplined and intelligent person I know. And I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the capital.

[Lasarim] Fighting with my brothers and the other families may have sharpened my mind and raised my endurance, but even I need rest sometime. Those fools would never dare to change the current system, but I must and I shall. They are satisfied with their power and land slowly withering away. I may be the third son of the Sakillen family, but I shall prove to them that they have been constrained by the past for too long.

[Drosum] Of course. The fight to control the dungeon city has been short but tough. I suspect you managed to come out on top only by the seeds you have already sown. Now you have the best possible base for your goals. However it still does not explain why you were sighing so much on this trip. It is hardly befitting of someone who wishes to shake up the system that has existed for so long.

[Lasarim] Hah. Well, the thing is I still have not reached an answer. I simply have not grasped the right picture for the future yet. That aside, do let me rest. It is only the three of us in here. You and I certainly won’t gossip, and this fellow is unlikely to as well, isn’t that right Bilt?

The two men looked over to the final passenger. Upon hearing his name, the gnome looked up from his papers for, what was likely, the first time today.

[Bilt] Hm? Yes yes. Secrets loyalty all that. We architects aren’t known for talking. I’ve already sworn an oath of loyalty to you in front of the Temple of Satsi. We know full well what happens otherwise.

With a grin and a shrug, Lasarim reached for some of a paper from across the gnome. The papers were stacked up on the seat opposite Bilt and overflowed until it covered the floor too.

[Lasarim] The architects and workers would be the only ones that knows the secret passages and rooms after all. It’s easy to understand why action may be necessary. That said, you sure are coming up with a lot of designs for the mansion and the dungeon town.

[Bilt] Eh. Just ideas. Just ideas. I can’t really start until we get there. All these maps are clearly out of date and we have no information about the land and terrain. We’ll have to see the condition the land is in ourselves.

[Lasarim] Well. I did choose you so I shall trust your judgement. We have already discussed the important points at any rate. Dro, do be sure to burn these drawings when we leave the carriage.

[Drosum] Of course my lord.

It was Bilt’s turn to sigh now.

[Bilt] So many designs and ideas, never to be shared or used.

[Lasarim] They could give away your tendencies in design or contain ideas that you will use in the future after all.

And so the days passed. Idle chatter and ideas never reaching fruition. It wouldn’t be until after they arrived at the dungeon that everything will fall into place.