“Here,” Hump said, holding out the letter Countess Daston had given him to Celaine. They’d set up camp that night along the road, the two of them sitting on their bedrolls by a small fire. The evening was warm and the ground dry—it made for easy travelling.

“What’s this?” Celaine asked.

He explained the conversation he’d had with the countess, and how she’d wanted to open the possibility of an alliance with Celaine’s people. How she’d indicated that they would need each other for the days ahead.

“That sounds foreboding,” Celaine said.

“How do you think your people will react to the letter?” Hump asked.

“Depends who reads it. Some of the elders despise southerners and blame them for the appearance of the Fallen Lands. Others are more… reasonable.”

“Why’d you hesitate?”

Celaine grimanced. “Reasonable may be a stretch.”

“Brilliant!” Hump leant his head back against the tree behind him. “I’m going to die in Drakalyn. I just know it. This was a terrible idea.”

“We’re not savages!” Celaine snapped. “You’ll be just fine if you can keep your mouth shut. If I thought you’d end up dead I wouldn’t have suggested it.”

“We both know I can’t keep my mouth shut,” Hump said dramatically. “I’m screwed.”

Celaine rubbed her face. “Owalyn help me. Travelling with you is going to be exhausting, isn’t it?”

Hump grinned. “Not just me.”

He searched through his food stores, taking out a piece of jerky and tearing it in two.

“Nisha!” he called.

The dragon’s head peaked out from inside his bedroll, eyes wide. He tossed the first half and she snatched it from the air, her lithe neck twisting like a snake. She smacked it between her lips, eyes bright and purple, staring eagerly at Hump for more. He could sense that eagerness through their bond.

Hungry. Hungry. Hungry.

“Good girl.” Hump laughed, tossing her the other half. She caught it, then climbed out from the bedroll yawning widely. He ran a hand over her back, her scales warm and smooth, the gold-tipped spines along her back soft points.

Play.

Before he could react, Nishari flapped her wings, leaping through the air and biting at the sleeve of Hump’s battle robe, growling as she shook her head from side to side.

“Now you’ve done it!” Celaine groaned. “She was asleep. Has nobody ever told you not to wake a dragon?”

Hump gently ushered her off his sleeve, distracting her with a nearby stick. “Strangely, that never came up in my master’s lessons.”

***

Two weeks passed slowly on the road, though Hump didn’t dislike his time with Celaine. He’d expected some awkwardness between them—tension even—but it turned out, they didn’t need the others to get along.

He’d told Vivienne he knew how to travel as a hedge wizard. That was the truth. This trip, however, went very differently to those he was used to. They had the coin for lodging, good food, and proper stabling. But it was more than that. People looked at him differently. They saw his and Celaine’s high quality equipment, and jumped to be of whatever service they could, even before the coin purse came out. It was a far cry from Hump’s usual travels.

The closer they got to the Fallen Lands, however, the more that changed. People became used to travellers with wealth and experience, and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. As they entered Suncrest, a large town surrounded by flower meadows and farms, Hump couldn’t help but feel watched. The townsfolk didn’t make it obvious, but he caught their side eyed glances. He noticed the kids go quiet as they passed by. He understood it. This close to the border, they dealt with either soldiers, traders, or adventurers, and anyone else was likely bad news. Two well-dressed teenagers really didn’t fit that bill.

Stay quiet, Hump said in his head, directing his unease and caution at Nishari. A sensation of nervousness came back, but he didn’t correct it. Right now, it was best she was nervous. It might keep her still long enough for them to find themselves a place to stay.

They stopped at the first tavern—a small, half-timbered house with a frame of wooden beams and white painted walls. A faded sign over the door read: The Wanderer’s Rest. It had a large stable down the side where the two of them dismounted.

The stableboy stepped out from one of the stalls, pitchfork in hand.

“Look after our horses,” Hump said.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Hump took a copper from his purse and flicked it his way. The stableboy caught it. “There’ll be another in it for you if they’re clean when we get back.”

“You got it!” the kid said happily.

It was mostly quiet in the tavern. The afternoon was still young, and the occupants within were keeping to themselves. That was apart from the four guards around a table in one corner, jeering and shouting over what must have been their fifth rounds.

Hump and Celaine ignored them, walking up to the bar where the owner was sorting through her inventory. She was a stocky woman that wore a shirt without sleeves, showing off muscled, scarred arms that spoke of someone that could handle themselves in a fight.

She eyed them suspiciously. “What can I do you for?”

“Two rooms and stabling for two horses,” Hump said.

“And dinner and breakfast,” Celaine added.

“Just the one night?”

“Just the one.”

“I can do that. Be ten coppers for the both of you. The names Rosa by the way.”

“Good to meet you Rosa. I’m Hump, this is Celaine.” Hump didn’t bother to haggle, handing over the coin and a couple of extra.

“That’s more than ten coins,” she said dryly.

“I don’t suppose you’ve heard news from the north?” Hump asked. “We’re bound for Vonhold.”

It was the final stop before they’d be leaving the towns and villages of Alveron behind. After that, it was the Dead Marshes, Charred Heights, and the Fallen Lands awaiting them.

She raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous place, Vondhold. What would two young travellers want from a place like that?”

Hump pulled his bronze adventurer’s medallion out from beneath his shirt. After their actions in Sheercliff, they’d been promoted to Bronze 3. Certainly, more than enough to give them some credibility. It was funny to think about, a year ago, he’d looked at the Bronze 3 adventurers Lantheer and Joslin as adventurers to look up to. Powerful members of powerful guilds. Now he numbered amongst them.

“We have a quest I’m not at liberty to discuss,” Hump said. “We’ll be in the area for a while though, so anything you can tell us would be a great help.”

“I see,” Rosa said, not pressing further. “Certainly heard a few things these past weeks. We’ve seen more monsters in the area round here, but Vonhold’s got it worse. There’s been attacks on the road. Lots of dead, not so many bodies. Word is a gnoll pack slipped past the hold’s defences and has set up somewhere in the area.”

“Vonhold haven’t sent out soldiers to take them out?” Celaine asked.

“Don’t have the manpower. There’s been more monsters than ever these last few weeks, and the undead are back. Whatever you're doing is your business, but I’ve seen more than one adventurer turn back this past week. Veterans at that.”

“Appreciate the warning,” Hump said. “And the information.”

She nodded. “There will be food from five. Just give me a shout when you want it. We’re serving beef and mushroom pie. Is there anything else for now?”

“Could I get a drink?” Celaine asked.

“Sure thing, hun. Apple cider alright for you? It’s a local specialty. Won’t get you drunk, but it’s good.”

Celaine smiled. “Please.”

“I’ll let the kid know the horses are staying,” Hump said.

Hump gave the stableboy his extra copper, then unloaded their saddle bags to bring inside with him. As he stepped inside, the four guards had moved from their table and now surrounded Celaine. They’d put their tankards down now.

“You’re a looker, ain’t you?” one said. He was a balding man with a leathery face.

“What you doing here, pretty lady?”

“Back off,” she growled.

Hump set the saddle bags on a table beside him.

The man grinned. “Well you’ve got some fire to you.”

The others laughed.

He reached for her shoulder when Rosa stepped in, grabbing his hand.

“I think you’ve had a few too many drinks, Cordric.”

“Get off me!” He shoved, pushing Rosa back into the bar hard.

She grunted as she fell part way on it, anger on her face as she stood again. She stepped forward, but the three other guards joined Cordric.

“Stay out of this Rosa,” another warned.

Hump started walking forward, when Cordric tried to put his arm around Celaine shoulder. Big mistake. She twisted, moving in a blur of darkness as her shadowcat cloak flowed around her. Before he knew it, she’d grabbed Cordric’s hand and twisted, forcing him to the ground in one jarring motion. He screamed.

She held him there with one hand, looking completely relaxed as the three other guards stepped back from her.

“Let go, girl,” one said, taking a step closer.

Celaine twisted Cordric’s arm slightly more, making him scream even louder. “Another step and I’ll break his arm. Another after that, and I’ll break something of yours.”

The three looked nervously to each other when Cordric cried, “We’ll leave. Get off me!”

Celaine gazed down at him coldly for a few seconds then shoved him off. She nodded toward the door. “Off you go then.”

The guards hurried out fast.

“Now you’ve done it,” Rosa said. “They’re a bunch of good-for-nothings in this town, but they’re still the guards. The mayor doesn’t like it when her town’s disrespected.”

“Not sure I care what she likes if her men are like that,” Celaine said.

“You should. She’s a Chosen of Astrea.”

“We’ll watch out,” Hump said.

They were heading up to their rooms when Celaine asked, “Who’s Astrea?”

“Goddess of Justice and Law,” Hump said. “Sticklers for the rules, so I don’t see us having too much trouble, though it’s probably best you try to avoid fights where you can.”

“Not so easy when four arseholes decided to surround me.”

Hump furrowed his brow. “Maybe we could cover you up a bit. Scrub some dirt over your face or something.”

She glared at him. “Funny.”

***

The next morning, Hump and Celaine went to the local market to stock up on supplies. It was much easier now that they had Celaine’s Belt of Holding. Each of the twelve stones in the leather could store most normal items. So far, they’d managed to fit both a saddle and a large sack, though it hadn’t fit the table they’d tested it on. While items still spoiled, they lasted longer than they did in a travel sack, and it meant they could take heavy equipment with them without burdening the horses. That meant they could travel faster but with extra rations, a luxury Hump wished he’d had sooner.

They were prepping the horses to leave when trouble found them. Ten guards showed up in the stable gateway, blocking their exit, a woman in armour leading them. She had a sigil on her chest—a striking hammer—Hump took her to be a Chosen of Astrea.

“Are these the two?” the woman asked.

“That’s them, milady,” one of the guards said. It was one of the men that had been with Cordric, though Hump didn’t recognise any of the others amongst them.

She nodded. “Greetings, travellers. My name is Brianna Pemdrake, and I’m the mayor of Suncrest. I’m told you assaulted one of my guards.”

Hump stepped out of Prancer’s stable, closing the gate behind him. They’d been saddling them to prepare to leave.

“That’s not what happened,” Celaine said. “My companion and I were booking rooms in the tavern when they surrounded me. I was only defending myself. You can ask the tavern keeper—she’ll confirm it.”

“I have done so already,” Brianna said. “I apologise for their actions, but I’m afraid I must still ask you to come with me. We have some questions.”

Hump didn’t like the sound of that. Not only did they have Nishari with them, but also their journey to the Fallen Lands was not exactly legal.

“I’m sure we can answer your questions here,” Hump said. “We were just preparing to continue on our way, and our business is urgent.”

“Be that as it may, I still require you to come in for questioning. You must know of the restrictions on travel in these trying times.”

“I’m not sure you understand,” Hump said. “I am Wizard Humphrey. We ride from Sheercliff City on an urgent quest from Countess Daston.” Hump pulled the letter from her pocket and showed her seal. “You may contact her yourself if you need more proof. And here.” Hump removed his adventurers’ medallion, revealing his rank. “We’re both bronze adventurers.”

Brianna scowled. “As if I would trust the word of a wizard. Do not make this more difficult than it needs to be, blasphemer.”

Well shit, she was one of those Chosen.

“Lady Pembroke, we’re just passing through,” Hump said, trying to remain diplomatic. “The ones you need to speak to are your own guards.”

She was red faced as she snapped, “Their actions will not go unpunished, but that does not make the two of you any less suspicious. If you are who you say you are, it will not take long to prove. Come with me willingly and I’ll send a letter to Sheercliff immediately and prepare a ritual to confirm you are not warlocks.”

Celaine scoffed. “He is not a warlock. We fought in Sheercliff! This is no way to treat us.”

“You will be inconvenienced for a few days, but I hope you see the necessity of such restrictions. You are, after all, travelling with a wizard. You have not identified yourself yet, girl.”

Celaine clenched her jaw, and Hump crossed his fingers she wouldn’t reveal herself as a Chosen of Owalyn. He suspected Brianna would not react well to a ‘heretic’ in her town. Not only that, it would reveal their destination. His eyes fell over the guards, noting the hands that had gone to their weapons, a nervousness amongst them. Clearly room for diplomacy was quickly fading, yet he didn’t know what else to say. Brianna was not looking to cooperate—she was on a witch hunt. He was no longer a warlock, and would pass her tests if submitted to them, but the situation would only get worse if Nishari was discovered. That could not be allowed to happen.

“Lady Pembrake, I apologise for any misunderstanding we’ve caused, but we cannot go with you. We’ve acted in self-defence and broken no law, and our mission is imperative. You must let us pass. I can show you the letter, and prove to you that we are bronze adventurers, but other than that I only have my word.”

“I won’t ask again, Wizard.” She all but snarled the last word. “A letter can be faked, and I hear even Lord Ferrand of Sheercliff has fallen to the warlocks—your guild medallions mean nothing. Submit yourself to the tests or you will be forced to.”

Hump sighed. It seemed there was no easy way out of this. He didn’t want to kill anyone. The guards might be pricks, but they’d not gone for their weapons, and most of the ones here hadn’t even been involved.

“Last chance to let this slide,” Hump said. “We’ll leave Suncrest and you’ll not hear from us again.”

“To arms!” Brianna commanded, drawing her sword. “You are to be detained on authority of King Henry. Lay down your weapons or face the consequences.”

Hump took a breath, reached inward, and manifested his soul. Essence rippled through him, filling his body with strength, expanding around him with the presence of a dragon.

If he couldn’t avoid a fight, the next best thing was to end it quickly.