Chance awoke this time feeling much better. Although he was a bit stiff from being in bed for so long. As he lay there he realized that he had a small dragon laying across his neck and shoulder, which made it a bit difficult to move. Laying there he could hear her snoring softly in her sleep.

Alyssia love… He called as he reached up and gently ran his finger down her side.

She twitched a few times and her hind leg jerked. He slid his finger along her ribs again ever so gently. Her back leg began to kick again, although a bit more vigorously this time. While he could not see it, he could feel her foot tapping his shoulder. He had to suppress his laughter as he could vaguely feel through the bond that the action was tickling her.

He ran his finger down her ribs a third and she suddenly whipped her head back and latched onto his finger. And what do you think you are doing? She growled. That tickles!

It does? I am sorry. I was just trying to wake you up. Chance answered innocently. He tried to contain his laughter but a small chuckle broke loose.

Ohhh! I am so going to get you! She turned her body a bit and darted inside his tunic. Once inside she began sliding her tail back and forth across his ribs gently and flicking her tongue lightly across his skin as well.

Chance tried to catch the little demi-dragon as she darted around inside his shirt finding all of his ticklish spots until finally he was curled up in a ball laughing so hard tears were rolling down his cheeks. Alright! Alright! I surrender! You win!

Suddenly his door swung open wide and his mom rushes into the room. “Chance! Are you ok? Is the pain still that bad?” She asks as she kneels by his bed where his curled up in a fetal position with tears rolling down his cheeks gasping for air.

“I am alright. I am just getting my paybacks.” As he relaxes and wipes the tears from his eyes. All of a sudden Alyssia’s head pokes up from the neck of his shirt. Chuckling to himself, he answers the questioning look in his mom’s eyes. “I awoke to Alyssia sleeping on my neck and shoulder. So I could not get up without waking her. I decided that the best way to wake her up was to drag my finger down her ribs a few times. Well, apparently her ribs are just a tad ticklish.”

A TAD! I thought I was about to die it tickled so much! Alyssia responded.

“Well, she decided that she needed revenge and proceeded to dive into my tunic and find all of my ticklish spots until I surrendered. You came in while I was recovering from her revenge.”

Standing up his mom responded, “Well serves you right! Awaking someone tickling them. Come along Alyssia I have some bacon in the kitchen for you.”

Alyssia darted out of Chance’s tunic and with a short run, leapt off the bed. Catching a hold of Janice’s dress and proceeded to climb up to her shoulder as they left the room. “Go take a shower Chance. It will help you feel better and smell better.” His mom called over her shoulder as she left the room.

Chance gathered up his shower and shaving kit along with a fresh change of clothes and headed out toward the shower room off of the forge to get cleaned up for the day.

As Chance was walking to the shower his father stepped out the door to the forge and waved for him to come inside.

“How are you feeling Chance? I am so sorry that happened. Do you realize what happened and why you were out so long?”

“Yes sir. Alyssia shared some of it with.” Chance responded.

His Dad exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair. “I never imagined something like that could happen. I was so worried. I had been studying one of my old notebooks and then noticed the glow begin on the runes. It took me a moment to realize what was going on and then another moment to overcome the shock. In that time, you could have been killed and it would have been all my fault for letting it happen.” His dad reached over and pulled him close into a tight hug. He felt his dad let out a slow shuddering breath.

“It is ok Dad.” Chance wrapped his arms around his dad and squeezed him back. “I am alive and well. I learned a few things and won’t make that mistake again.”

“True. I made sure to add a comment into all of the training books about it to. ‘Always make sure any incantation cast in the circle is resolved within the circle.’ Now go take your shower boy. You stink.” He shoved Chance back towards the door outside and laughed.

As much as Chance wanted to, his father would not hear of him practicing his Ard for another three days. So Chance spent the time studying and practicing the runes. While they were not needed to control Ard if one could cast the incantation and picture them in your mind when casting then less Ard was required. His father had explained that the runes provided a focus and a path for the Ard to flow and manifest in the world.

Once the three days had passed, they once again went to the little room off of the secret forge. This time though it was decided that when Chance was in the circle his father would stop what he was doing and focus on Chance to ensure that nothing went wrong.

“Alright now. Let’s try this again. Alyssia dear? Can you summon a light again up on the ceiling?” Harold asked.

Alyssia nodded her head while sitting on Chance’s shoulder. Then she leapt off and gently glided over to the far side of the room and the workbench. Turning she glanced at the ceiling momentarily and then a shining yellow ball suddenly appeared in the air and rose to the ceiling bathing the room in a warm glow.

“Now your turn Chance. Take your place in the casting circle.” Harold indicated the smaller circle Chance had sat in almost a sevenday ago.

Sitting down and crossing his legs so that he fit entirely within the circle Chance tried to relax. Truth be told he was anxious about trying again. He could sense the apprehension coming from Alyssia and his mother had been fighting back tears when she closed the hatch to the tunnel.

“Now relax Chance. This will be nothing like the last time. We are going to do it the way I was taught. Ok? After I am comfortable that you have a better grasp on what you are doing then you can test out Alyssia’s way.” His dad encouraged him.

“Alright.”

You can do this Love. Alyssia whispered across their bond.

Thank you Little One. Your faith means a lot to me, Chance whispered back.

Reaching into a satchel that he had brought down with them Harold pulled out a thin piece of polished metal about a span square. He held it up so Chance could see a rune marked on it. “Now what rune is this?” He asked.

“Light.” Chance answered.

“Good. Now focus on seeing this rune in your mind. Picture it floating in the air just in front of you.”

Chance closed his eyes and relaxed. He tried to picture the rune but suddenly drew a blank as to what rune he was wanting so he had to peek out of one eye and remind himself. Once he remembered it, he settled back down and imagined the rune floating in front of him in the air.

After a few minutes, Harold continued on with his instruction. “Now I want you to picture a ball of yellow light like Alyssia’s floating just on the other side of the rune. Picture it casting a soft glow over the room. Nod when you have that as well.”

It took Chance a few minutes but he finally had the two items pictured in his mind. Once he had the image he nodded his head.

“Now I want you to push Ard through the rune and into the image of the ball of light. The rune will add in shaping and forming the Ard into light and the focus on the ball will tell it where manifest and how it should appear. The rune is not necessary once you become more adept at casting, but for now it helps you to focus and keeps the manifestation to specific type.” His dad instructed. “It will also assist in holding the Ard in the sphere after you release the flow.”

“Alright. Here we go.” Chance reached out to the Ard in the circle, but there was not much that he was able to use. He could feel that there was more there, but could not grasp or make use of it. “Well if it is not outside of me and somehow I used an incredible amount of Ard the other day, enough to hurt myself. Then it must have come inside of me.” He thought to himself.

Turning his focus internally he located the Ard he could feel earlier but not grasp. He was no judge of how much was a lot really but it seemed to be quite a bit. Remembering his previous lessons, he reached out to the Ard and carefully began bringing the Ard together and directing it to flow through the rune and into the ball as his Dad had instructed. He did his best to keep the flow of Ard into the ball at a trickle so as not to overdo it. At first there was no change in the area where he pictured the ball of yellow light but slowly it began to form. It was not very bright at first but that gradually changed until the light was glowing the same as Alyssia’s. He then released the flow and saw the rune flash briefly then sink into the ball of light.

“Well done son! Relax for a moment and then I will talk you through how to remove the rune and release the Ard.” His Dad told him.

Well done Chance. I told you that you could do it. Alyssia congratulated him as well.

Chance relaxed and took a deep breath. Glancing up he saw the result of his first casting and could not help but grin and wonder about the changes that had taken place in his life. Getting up he walked over to the fountain and dipped two cups of water. Taking one over to his Dad he offered it to him.

“Thanks Chance.” He said as he took it.

Chance then walked over to Alyssia and took a small drink and set the cup down next to her. Have a drink Little One.

Thank you. She responded and dipped her head down to the cup to take a quick drink. Mmmmm…That is refreshing.

It is, isn’t it? Chance commented as he picked up the cup and finished off the water once she had her fill.

“Now Chance, if you would like we can talk about how to release Ard held in place by a rune.” His Dad offered.

“Sounds good Dad” Chance said as he lifted himself up onto the workbench next to Alyssia.

“Alright. There are two ways to remove the rune holding the Ard in place and two ways to handle the Ard being released. You can counter the rune, think of it as peeling off the rune, or you can create another path for the Ard to exit. That one would be similar to taking a knife to a water skin. Both take Ard and one is more dangerous than the other and one takes more Ard than the other. If you think of it as a water skin which one will tend to get you wetter?”

“I would think stabbing the full water skin with a knife, it could pop and go everywhere or it might just puncture and drain.” Chance answered.

“Correct. To counter the rune, you would basically overlay the existing rune with the opposite run or one as close to the opposite as you can find. To puncture the container, you would focus your Ard and push it through it. Understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“Alright. As for handling the remaining Ard you can either allow it to dissipate back into your surroundings or you can put it to some other use. Reusing it takes a lot of skill and a fine touch, which will take some time to develop and I don’t recommend trying it anytime soon. Now how do you want to handle that floating ball of light above you?”

“I think the safest bet would be to counter the rune and allow the Ard to dissipate.” Chance responded.

“Alright then take your place in the circle. What rune do you think would be best?” Harold asked.

“Well, if I used the Light rune to seal the ball would a Dark rune counter it?” Chance thought out loud.

“Yes. That is a common counter to a light.” His Dad responded.

“Alright then.” Chance settled down into the circle and began to focus. He reached out for Alyssia and her knowledge of runes. As before numerous runes came to mind but one stood out from the rest as the one he needed. “You said I needed Ard to counter the other rune right? So I just need to picture the rune with the sphere of light and the push the Ard through the rune to the sphere.”

“That is correct.” His dad told him.

Chance pictured both the rune and the sphere together and then reached down into his internal pool but then thought of something else. Alyssia, if there is Ard already up there in the light, can’t I picture the rune with the light and pull the Ard from the light through the darkness rune.

Yes, love you can do it that way. That is the repurposing your father spoke of but in a much simpler manner. Most often the Ard is used to power something else not as something to negate what it was being used for. That is a very clever solution. While I am intrigued as to whether it would work let’s try it another time. Alyssia responded.

Alright Beautiful. I will do it the way I agreed with my father on but I would like to try it that way sometime. Chance could feel the pleasure Alyssia took from his complement flow through their bond.

Taking a moment to focus again and placing the darkness rune and the sphere in his mind he reached out his Ard and pushed it through the rune and into the sphere. He was looking at the sphere as the darkness rune began to fade and saw the light rune flare and then break apart. Then he watched as the Ard slowly began to leak out and dissipate into the surroundings and the light slowly dimmed to nothingness.

“Another task well done Chance! I was getting worried there for a second when it took you a bit longer than I thought it would but you ended up doing quite well. Now let’s head upstairs and call it a night. I need to be up early for a meeting with a customer at the market and want to be well rested.”

“Sounds good Dad.” Chance said as he got up. As they walked to the door, Chance turned and summoned Ard and set the rune on Alyssia’s ball of light and pushed the Ard into the darkness rune. Her light slow began to fade as well.

Chance! Was that you?

Yes. I did it the same way but wanted to try it again to make sure I had it right. He responded.

“Was that you or Alyssia that took down the light Chance?” his Dad asked.

“It was me. I just wanted to try it again and did not think it would be that dangerous to try it.” Chance responded.

Shaking his head at the progress Chance was making, his dad continued down the tunnel after extinguishing the torches in the forge area.

Alyssia hurriedly launched herself from the workbench and flew across the room to Chance’s shoulder, before he exited the room. Together they headed down the tunnel to head up into the house and off to bed.

Over the next couple of weeks Chance continued to practice channeling Ard and working on basic runes and some minor incantations. He refrained from exploring the vast storehouse of incantations that were written in Mage Alexander’s journal and that Alyssia knew from her ancestors. Intent to learn what his father had to teach him. There was one practice though that he did learn from Alyssia that he adopted as a nightly routine. He learned that through focus he could channel his internal Ard into the gems on his belt or the ring on his finger. The gems had been enchanted to have incredible storage capacity. So every night he would channel some of his Ard into the gems for later use or be able to make use of the incantations built into the belt. At first he would not keep enough Ard for himself and he would end up being tired and sluggish the next day as his personal reserves rebuilt. After a few times doing this though, he learned to better gauge what his levels were and how much he had to spare. He continued with his daily routine in the forge and with the militia, but was even more focused than normal knowing that soon he would be leaving on his own to make his way to the Ard Academy.

“Dad?” Chance called out to his father from the doorway to the smithy. “I was wondering if I might have the morning off to go to Market Day. I would like to gather supplies for my trip.”

“Okay… you have been doing really well. Your focus with Ard is really coming along nicely, as is your control. Take the day off from the forge and we will forgo the practice tonight as well. You will need to go to the drills this afternoon though as I can’t excuse you from those.”

“Thank you Dad. I am worn out. The past few weeks of working with Ard, training with the militia, and working in the forge with no break except to eat and sleep has been exhausting. Do you think I could take Alyssia with me when I go?” Chance asked.

“I know son, you have been working hard but I want you to feel comfortable with how to feel Ard and to be able to use a few incantations before you leave. As for going to the Market, you may go but I would prefer Alyssia stay out of sight at home. We can’t have you causing a panic in the streets.” His Dad warned.

“What if I take my satchel and she stays in there? She would be out of sight then. Would that be okay? We would just like some time together relaxing” Chance asked.

“Alright. I guess you two will be traveling in that manner soon enough and you will probably need to get used to it somewhere safe where we can handle the repercussions if she was seen better than in some strange place.” His father agreed.

Chance went back up to the house and gathered his satchel and decided to leave the enchanted belt and pouch at home. He did get a pouch of fifty silver and fifty gold out of the enchanted pouch. He doubted he would need more than the silvers but did not want to come up short if he found something he really liked.

Chance, why don’t you place the belt and pouch in the satchel with me? Then you could use the pouch for storage and also have additional coin with you in case you need it. Alyssia asked. The coin could also be kept in there so that there would be little chance of it being lost or stolen.

Are you sure that you won’t be too cramped with the belt and the pouch in there? Alyssia had grown from about three quarters of a span in total length when she hatched to just over a span and a quarter in length.

No, I think it will be fine. Although as I continue to grow I do not think it will be possible. She responded.

They got a shopping list from his mother as well as encouragement to keep Alyssia hidden before heading out. With that Alyssia popped her head out of the satchel and then quickly tucked it back in. His mom laughed, “Ok… Ok… you are hiding. Take care you two and don’t have too much fun.”

Then they were out the door and heading to the Market. Mern had become fairly good-sized since the goblin raids. People that previously lived outside the city limits and had come into town to work, had moved inside of the walls for more security but had never moved back outside the walls once the goblins were dealt with. The increase in population had caused more and more merchants to come to the area. The area just outside the wall had quickly become a hub for trading. Merchants from the surrounding villages all brought their wares to the area and the crafters with shops in town opened booths to sell their items there as well as in their shops inside the walls.

Chance wandered through the booths listening to the merchants hawking their wares. One merchant apparently had the finest leather this side of Farringdon, wherever that was, and that one had the most flavorful spices. Looking down at his old worn out boots, Chance decided that the first order of business would be to find a new pair. He had realized that if he was to be traveling he probably would need a backpack, a groundsheet, and some spices for cooking. It probably would not hurt to look at a new bow and maybe some new arrows. He could get any metal weapons and armor that he might need from his father, and it would be a lot better quality than he could find here. As time grew closer he planned to get some traveler’s food as well. He could hunt but some dried vegetables and hardtack would be good to have as well.

There was a cobbler just down the street from the Chance’s home and yet his father for some reason always bought their footwear elsewhere. He was not sure why but figured his father had a good reason. So he began wandering the area looking for a cobbler.

What is that delicious smell? Chance heard Alyssia gasp. He could almost feel her stomach rumbling. Suddenly he caught a whiff of it too. It was a savory smell, one of meat and herbs. He followed his nose and found a street vendor selling meat pies. He bought two and passed one to Alyssia on the pretense of saving it for later. It was amazing and Alyssia whole-heartedly agreed. They decided to buy the man out and under the premise of taking them home to his family. He placed them all in the enchanted pouch, remembering what the scroll had said about food staying the same as when it went it. Now, when he took them out later they would still be hot and fresh, so he and Alyssia could eat them on the road. This was going to make traveling much nicer.

They wandered around the market for the rest of the morning, buying the things that were needed. He found a cobbler and was measured for a new pair of boots. The man also knew his parents and had their shoe sizes and patterns in his records. He ordered a pair of fine leather boots for each of them as well. He bought his mother a fancy silver brooch of a dragon in flight. He asked if the jeweler could fit a small amethyst into the eye socket of the dragon. The jeweler assured him it was possible and said she would deliver it on the morrow. He also bought himself a new dark green cloak. He had the tailor modify it with a large pouch on the inside that was big enough to hold Alyssia. He also contracted with the leather merchant to place a piece of hardened and weather-proofed black leather across the shoulders and upper back. When asked he said he had read about it in a book and thought it would like quite nice as well as aid in keeping the weather off of him. He really wanted it for when Alyssia got bigger and would be riding on his shoulders, he figured the leather would not wear out as fast as the cloth.

With his purchases in hand or scheduled for delivery, he turned into the crowd to go home when he felt a slight pull on his satchel. Thief! Alyssia shouted out in his head. There was a squeal of pain and the pull on the satchel released. He reached back quickly, catching the small arm that was rapidly withdrawing from the satchel. Turning around he saw that it was a small girl holding her hurt hand and starting to cry. Alyssia what happened? He asked.

The hand slipped into the satchel and had grabbed what was left of my pie. I reacted and bit the hand, I knew it wasn’t your hand. I am sorry. Did I do wrong? She said.

No Little One. What you did was fine. The person should not have had their hand in my satchel. Chance told her.

Chance knelt down in front of the would-be thief, she looked to be no older than nine or ten. She was filthy and covered in rags that looked to be hand-me downs from someone much older. She was also under fed and stank. “What were you doing young one?”

Sniffling and holding her hand, “I wasn’t doing anything. I promise. You’re not going to smack me are you?” She whimpered fearfully.

A stern voice behind Chance boomed, “What is going on here? Is she causing trouble again? Here give her to me. I am sure it isn’t anything a good strapping won’t fix.” Chance turned and saw that it was a Market guard. The man was a brute and from the look in his eyes he would take pleasure in giving the punishment. The guard reached for the girl, who cringed and backed away from his hand, “P-p-please, No!” the child cried.

Chance responded quickly, “No sir, there is nothing going on here. The child simply fell when I bumped into her. I was making sure that she is alright.”

“Come with me young one.” Chance said turning the little girl and walking them away from the guard, when Chance glanced back the guard was still glowering at them. “What is your name?” Chance asked once they were away from the crowd that had formed.

“Wh-wh-what are you going to do with me mister?” the girl asked fearfully.

“Well, for now my plan is to feed you.” Chance said reassuringly, “That is if it is ok with you. If not, then I guess I will let you go once we get away from the guard.”

“I was stealing from you.” The girl whispered softly. “I am sorry.”

“I know, but I think were you doing it because needed to do so, am I right? I don’t think you did it because you like stealing, do you?” Chance asked in a voice that he hoped was calming and would set her at ease.

“Oh no, I would never steal because I liked it. I always feel ashamed when I steal, but if I don’t bring something back to the boss will tell the men to not give me any food.” She answered.

“The boss?” Chance asked.

“Yeah. He runs the house, but there are more men too. Are you really going to feed me?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes. I am going to feed you. I would also like to help you if you will let me.” Chance told her. “Can you tell me more about the men?”

“Well, I really shouldn’t, but if you can help me get away it won’t matter. You promise you will help me with what I need to do get away from them?” the little girl begged.

Nodding, Chance agreed, “I promise.”

“Well, there are two men that stay in the house and send us kids out to steal for them. If we don’t then they won’t feed us or they will beat us. They say if we tell on them that the guards won’t believe us and will throw us out of the city so the goblins will eat us.” She answered and she could hear the fear in her voice and see the tears once again welling up in her eyes.

“Shhhhh. Shhhhh. It is ok. The guards would never do that. I can promise you that. Are they your parents? Or relatives?” Chance comforted the distraught girl.

“No they find us kids on the street and bring us to the house telling us that it is a wonderful life we will live and that there will always be food for us and a warm place to sleep. Then once they get us, they lock us up, and force us to work for them.”

Chance thought back to a similar incident several years back when Horace and he had stopped three boys from abducting a small girl about this girl’s age. “Can you describe the men to me?”

The small girl began to describe the two men to Chance and he could picture them in his mind and thought back to the fight in the alley so many years ago. The description matched up to his memory of two of the three thugs pretty well. He tried to remember what the guards had told him about them back then. He could not remember much but recalled their names at least. “Are their names Rupert and Mitch?”

“Yes.” She paused and glance at his clothes and how clean he was. “How do you know about Rupert and Mitch?”

“My older brother caught them trying to take a little girl that had gotten lost. He stopped them and got in a fight with them and another boy. He was fighting them alone and one tried to sneak up behind him and I joined the fight to keep him from being hurt when one of them tried to hit my brother in the back with a plank.” He told her, then went silent as they continued walking toward a park.

“Here we are.” Chance spoke finally. They were in an out of the way area under a tree. They sat down on the grass and Chance asked, Alyssia, can you open the pouch so I can reach in and get a pie. He reached into his satchel and slipped his hand inside the enchanted pouch whispering the incantation and keyword to retrieve a pie. Then taking the still warm meat pie and handing it to the girl he asked again. “What is your name, young one?”

She took the pie and without answering started eating rapidly. The pie was quickly half gone. “Slow down young one. If you eat too fast you will make yourself sick. There is plenty more where that came from.” Chance said calmly. “How long has it been since you have eaten?”

Around a bite that was way too big the girl whispered, “Two days, sir. I did not steal enough yesterday and was late getting back the day before and the food was all gone.” He noticed as she tried to then slip the remainder of the pie into an inner pocket of her filthy tunic.

“You do not have to call me sir young one.” Then he realized that he had not told her his name. “My name is Chance, by the way.” He reached into his satchel again pulled out another pie and set it on the flap.

The girl glanced at him then at the second pie. “My name is Mallory. Do I get that one too?” she asked.

“A pleasure to meet you Ms. Mallory and yes, you do and you can finish the rest of the one you stuck in your pocket too. Eat until you are full. I will give you more for later if that is what you are concerned about.” As he handed her the second pie he said, “Now Mallory can you answer a few questions for me?”

Nodding she pulled out the remains of the first pie and finished eating it and started eating the second pie, much slower this time though.

“From the way you talk it sounds as if you lived on the streets before meeting up with Mitch and Rupert. Is that correct?” She nodded her head and continued eating, her head hung down slightly and she would not look him in the eyes. “Do you have anyone to take care of you that is concerned for your well-being not what you can do for them?” She paused and then shook her head briefly. He could see a small tear roll slowly down her nose and fall on the pie that she had stopped eating. “What about someone that you take care of?”

Sniffling slightly, she nodded her head and whispered, “Jessica.”

“Is she a friend or your sister?” Chance asked softly.

“She is my little sister, she is six. She stays back with Rupert while I go steal things for him.” She answered. “May I have a pie for her? She has not eaten either.”

“If you will let me Mallory. I would like to help you and Jessica. I would like to get you both away from these men and off the street and into a warm home with a soft bed, plenty to eat, and someone who cares for you.” Chance offered.

Being wary and wise to the ways of the world. “What’s the catch? Why would you help us?” She eyed him warily and glanced around for a path to escape quickly if needed.

“It turns out that I was adopted by someone and it changed my life. Also, I had my own run-ins with Rupert and Mitch when I was younger. If I can help someone get away from them then I would happily do so. There is no catch. You would be able to leave when you wanted, although I don’t think my mother would be happy if you left. She has always wanted a daughter or two.” Chance said grinning.

“I don’t think Rupert will let us go.” She said. “I have tried to take Jessica out to play and he won’t let her leave the building. He says she is insurance to keep me working.”

“You leave that to me little one. He will let you leave and willingly. Actually I think it is about time that he and Mitch leave.” Chance answered and gave her a wink and a mischievous grin. “If I am going to get her out I will need you to show me where they are. Then we can work out a plan on how to get you and Jessica away. You will probably need to go back to the house for a day or so until we can work something out. Ok? When do you need to be back, Mallory? We do not want them to get suspicious or hurt Jessica.”

She nodded and set about finishing off the last of her pie.

“Here take this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pouch containing the remainder of the silver coins he had used for shopping. He had spent a few of the gold coins as well so a majority of the silver was still there. He handed it to her. “Tell them you nicked it off of me when I was making sure you were alright.”

She glanced inside and her face went pale. It was more money than she had ever seen. “I can’t take this. You might not get it back.” She said as she tried to hand it back to him.

“If it will ensure that you and Jessica are safe tonight until I can get back to help you then I consider it well worth it.” He responded. “Now if you are done eating, can you show me where you live?”

She led him back into town and down a few dark alleys to a building across a field from a run-down house that had at some time in the distant past been fairly nice, but now was in a state of disrepair. “We stay in there.” She said pointing at the house across the vacant lot. “Mitch and Rupert are usually up on the top floor in the back corner away from the gate. They have a ladder set up under a window at the back of the house and there is a gate in the back wall behind some vines. That way they can get away if the guards come looking for them.”

“Ok young one. I want you to go and turn in the money to them. Then I want you to find your sister and get as close to the front door as you can without getting in trouble. I will be back as quick as I can.” He watched as she went out the back door of the building and disappeared down the alley. She appeared several houses down and headed across the field towards the house. She was confronted by someone acting as a guard and then escorted into the house.

Alyssia, would you mind making your way across the field in the tall grass and try to find a way in the house. I need to know that Mallory and her sister are safe. If they appear to be in danger let me know and then do what you can to protect them without revealing yourself. I do not want you hurt Love. Chance asked.

Of course, we demi-dragons can be very sneaky. Don’t worry about me. I can sense your need to protect these two. I am not sure I understand but you can count on me to do everything in my power to keep them safe. Alyssia responded.