“Are you OK?” Jess came running over to where I sat exhausted and worked a little magic on me. “I think you’re going to be fine,” she informed me solemnly. “You really shouldn’t be carrying all that much stuff! What is all this?”

“It’s supplies for everyone,” I told her, out of breath. “Neither you, nor Dino had a tent. It didn’t look like either of you had any sort of cookware, or even any food for the trip. Just how the heck were the two of you even planning on surviving out there?” I asked exasperated.

Jess giggled and simply hugged me slightly. “It’s OK! I learned how to create food with my magic, and Mageflame can create water. We don’t really need to carry a lot of food with us.”

“And what if you get hurt and can’t make food for us?” Crystal spoke up all at once, and then quickly smacked Jess across the back of her butt cheeks. “What if we need to use your magic for healing, and not just making meals. Are you a healer, or a cook!”

She sounded angry, and I couldn’t help my smile in appreciation. Jess simply pouted and rubbed her bottom. “I didn’t think we were going anywhere dangerous,” she said, sulking. “Mageflame said we were going to go take a walk up into the forest, and bring his roommates back. That they’d probably just broken a wagon wheel or something and needed some help fixing it.” Her lower lip quivered and she looked almost like she was going to cry.

“Dino...” Glaring daggers at him didn’t even seem to make him flinch. Either he has nerves of steel, or else he’s simply completely clueless! “Why didn’t you tell Jess that it might be dangerous where we’re going?”

He simply shrugged. “Well, we don’t know that it is dangerous; now do we? For all we know, they’re just out there somewhere partying, indulging in several nice bottles of wine that they found that someone had buried in their crypt. We don’t know that they’re in any real trouble.”

“And we don’t know they’re not!” Crystal snapped back at him. “You idiot! Always prepare for the worst, and then be pleasantly surprised when it turns out you’re wrong!”

Finally having caught my breath, I took time to do a closer inspection of my traveling companions. Dino and Jess both looked as if they might be prepared for a pleasant evening’s stroll to a picnic. Neither of them was wearing anything that even slightly resembled armor – Dino was in his normal wizard robes, and Jess’s leathers were too old and frayed to be any real protection – and neither of them seemed to have the first weapon on them. I suppose Jess, being a healer, didn’t think she needed a weapon; she was used to people protecting her in a group; and Dino probably couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag without using his magic.

Crystal, on the other hand was wearing an elegant, pristine white, pair of leather pants and tunic that clung and snugged her tightly. Sensible leather moccasins protected her feet – not sandals like Dino was wearing – and she was wearing what looked like a chain-linked robe over it all. A long sword hung on her left hip, and she had a shining metal helm tucked under her arm. The overall image she projected was one of wealth and status, and yet held an air of readiness, as if the gear was for use as much as fashion. All in all, she looked like someone I could depend on with this task, a lot more than the others.

“And where’s your packs and supplies?” I asked her, wearily. “I don’t see where you brought anything with you either, except what you’re carrying.”

She nodded slightly. “I have a few changes of small clothes over there.” She pointed some ways behind them, where a small travel pack sat up against the wall which went around the city. Honestly, it didn’t look any larger than a medium sized pocketbook that many women carry to me. “Your friend; Dino I think you called him; told me that you were acquiring the necessary travel supplies for us, or else I would’ve packed my own tent and travel gear.”

“Dino…” I said with a growl.

“What!” He tossed up his arms and shrugged. “You did say you were going to get the supplies while we got the Lady here to join us. I didn’t lie!” He declared, in a huff. “Besides, you never told us that we were looking for a Lady! I don’t know why you couldn’t find her – she was sitting at home relaxing in her own house, you know!”

I couldn’t help but blink a few times at that. “Wait a moment...” Turning to Crystal, I asked her in bewilderment, “You own a house?”

“Well yes,” she answered simply. “I just purchased it the other day. It’s not the grandest of places; with only two floors and a basement; but I did need a place to live while staying in the school here. They told me that only people with residences inside the city could pass on living in the dorms, so I purchased a place not far from here. It’s over on 8th North Street, house 8N13. It’s a small walk to the school, but not much further than the dorm building you were staying in.”

“So just how the hell do you know a Lady who buys a house, at the drop of a hat? And why the heck would she pack up, skip school, and come running just because you asked her too?” Dino was looking at me suspiciously now, and it was my time to squirm uncomfortably.

“Umm…” Think brain! Think! What the hell would be a decent excuse that an idiot like him might buy.

“Michael is an old friend of the family,” Crystal spoke up and told him for me. “His grandfather and mine fought together in some old war, back when they were younger. Gramps said that Michael’s grandfather saved his life, and that we still owed a debt of honor to his family. Is there some reason why I shouldn’t pay back the debt of my grandfather’s life?” She turned and glared at Dino. “Is there some reason why it’s any business of yours to even begin with?”

“Uh.. Err.. Not really, I don’t guess.” Dino was now the one squirming and looking all uncomfortable once again. Gods, Le’Nara had a gift for picking out a keeper! I think I could fall for this girl!

“Regardless of all that,” I coughed a few times to change the subject. “Everyone grab a backpack and carry it. It’s got food and a few basic things in it that we’re going to need. Dino, you’re the other guy here, so you grab one of those tents and strap it to the bottom of your pack and I’ll strap the other to the bottom of mine. Let’s get on out of here, while there’s still some daylight left for traveling.”

“Me!” Dino whined. “Why do I have to be the one to carry the other tent? I’m a wizard, not a packmule!”

“Surely you don’t expect one of the girls to carry it. Do you?”

“Well…” He sounded undecided for a moment and glanced over at Jess and then Crystal, who was ignoring him. “I don’t guess so.” Sighing deeply, he finally walked over and starting tying the other tent to the bottom of one of the backpacks, just as I was mine. Ten minutes or so later, I tossed my hobo pack into my backpack, worked the bundle over my shoulders and firmly planted my staff on the ground.

“We all ready to go, finally?” I asked.

“I guess,” Dino answered sullenly as he slid his pack and tent on.

“I’ve been ready!” Jess half bounced to show her enthusiasm.

“Of course, Michael.” Crystal confirmed coolly. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll follow. Lead the way.”

I really didn’t want to be any sort of leader at all, but if I wasn’t, who would be for this ragtag group of misfits? At least we were finally on the way to find out what had happened to Skeet and Mongo! As long as we don’t get ourselves killed, I guess I’ll finally get to meet my other roommates soon. Sighing, I slowly started out past the gates and up the north road.

What a start to my first grand adventure!