It was fun to catch up with Vamir again after so long, though for the most part, Hump just talked about his and Celaine’s adventures over the last year. Vamir listened with interest as he led the way back down the path leading to the Temple of the Everflame, and to the main village.

“I’m surprised you and Bud went your own ways after all that,” Vamir said once Hump had finished. “It’s a shame. I’d have liked to meet him again.”

“He’d have been here if he could,” Hump said with a confident smile. Bud really was a friend he could count on. “King Henry is conscripting Chosen to fight in the Fallen Lands—Bud wanted to return home to prepare. I think he intends to represent his family there.”

“Dangerous goal. Celaine mentioned the fall of Barrowhill Fortress to the Trinity. It doesn’t surprise me. We’ve noticed a change in the Fallen Lands here too, and it’s not just the Lich Queen.”

“Oh? I kind of assumed it was always dangerous around here.”

“Not as much as you’d think,” Vamir said. “There was a time when the forests around Drakalyn were safe, even beyond Owalyn’s zone of protection. Monsters didn’t dare to come close. Now… we’ve lost almost a dozen hunters since I returned. A child was killed a few months ago playing near the outer threshold. Monsters are getting stronger, braver, and more desperate for a meal.”

“But what could cause that?” Hump asked. “Why would there suddenly be more monsters? Have some dungeons opened up?”

“Yes, but that’s nothing new. Perhaps that Three Eyed Wizard, Starick, you mentioned was right. Maybe there will be another War of the Firmament. If some dark gods have laced the world with their influence, it would explain it.”

Hump didn’t like the sound of that one bit, but it seemed plausible, especially after what Owalyn told him. If anyone could reach the power of the gods, it opened the world up for a whole lot more evil.

Hump let out a long sigh. “Has Owalyn not told your people anything?”

“Only of the dangerous times ahead. We’re as ready as we can be. The only way we survive out here anyway is that every able body knows how to fight.”

It made Hump’s stomach twist. How many people would die in a war between the gods? He thought of what he’d learned of the gorger’s past when he had sensed its memories—the destruction the war had levied upon its world. It wasn’t difficult to imagine all of Alveron being wiped out.

“Owalyn mentioned something else in our talks,” Hump said, hesitating. Vamir gave him an expectant glance, so he continued. This wasn’t Alveron. The people of Drakalyn clearly had a different take on what constituted blasphemy. “Honestly, it feels dangerous to even speak of, but she said that the gods were once mortal too.”

Vamir frowned at him. “Owalyn said that?”

“Yeah. You didn’t know?”

Vamir shook his head, a look of confusion on his face. “That… that can’t be. How could it even be possible? You must have misheard?”

“She was pretty clear,” Hump said, unconvinced, though suddenly a little nervous that he wasn’t supposed to mention it. Though if that was the case, why had she told him? “Would it bother you if she was once mortal?”

Vamir looked at him as if he was a ghost, as if he was offended to even consider it. In the end, he shook his head. “It would make no difference. Whether she was once mortal or not, she is now the Mother, the Huntress, and our protector.”

“I actually agree,” Hump said. “If anything, it just means that perhaps we’re meant to be more than what we are too.”

He kind of liked that idea. Owalyn was not a figure to be mindlessly worshipped and feared—she was a figurehead to aspire to. This made much more sense to Hump’s pragmatic view of the world, and certainly fed into his own distaste towards the deities of the Pantheon.

“Are you sure you didn’t mishear?” Vamir asked again, more insistently this time.

Hump shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe my hearing was affected in that strange spirit form.”

Vamir sighed. “Probably another thing to keep to yourself.”

Nisha poked her head out as they entered the main part of the village.

Hump scratched her head with a finger. “Come on, girly. Stop feeling so nervous.” He tapped his shoulder, urging her to climb up. “Come up here.”

She did so hesitantly, taking a seat on his shoulder where she pressed up against his neck.

Hump grunted at her sudden weight. “Not sure you’ll be able to do this much longer.”

Nisha wasn’t listening, instead casting nervous glances at the surrounding people. Hump saw people looking at her too. They were difficult to read. This wasn’t like the crowd in a village of Alveron—these were dragon blooded hunters. They were trained and gave little away from their expressions. Where before, he’d simply been unwelcomed, now something had changed. The one thing that was clear was that they were nervous of Hump.

“We’ll introduce her to the other wolf dragons soon,” Vamir said. “That will help with the shyness. There’s another hatchling that’s only seven months old. Nisha will have fun, I’m sure.”

“I think it’s because she’s not used to other people,” Hump said. “It’s been me, Celaine, and the gnolls for weeks. Before that, other than the week we spent in Sheercliff City with the others, whenever strangers were around I’ve made her hide. It’s going to take her some time to realise that she can come out whenever she feels like it.” He pressed his head into her gently. “Isn’t that right.”

She let out an inquisitive chirp, trying to bite Hump’s nose. He laughed, dodging back. She missed, licking his mouth instead.

Hump pressed her back, hushing her and getting her to settle again.

“Seems likely,” Vamir said. “They’re social creatures. Too much time spent hiding would have stunted her development, so it’s a good thing you came when you did.”

As they made their way through the village, Vamir pointed out various buildings and people along the way. Hump was interested in how much stayed the same, despite the different culture. Smoke rose toward the edge of the village where the smiths had their workshops. A river ran through one side of the village where there was a miller with a great water wheel. Hump realised he’d been expecting a tribe of people more similar to the gnolls than the civilised world. He didn’t think he’d pass a leather house with half a dozen people at work inside, and shoes for barter on the doorstep.

They passed a marketplace with all sorts of fruits and vegetables for sale that he didn’t recognise—products of the Fallen Lands. While there were a few farms toward the outer threshold, with space so limited, Drakalyn relied mostly on hunter-gathering to sustain itself.

It was there he realised something. The people here didn’t use money. He watched as people traded goods or simply gave them away.

“What are you staring at?” Vamir asked.

“You don’t have money,” Hump said, surprise in his voice.

“Did Celaine not mention that?”

Hump shook his head. “I guess it didn’t cross her mind.”

“We’re all part of the same circle,” Vamir said. “The hunters provide the food, the butchers prepare it, the tanners make the leather, the fletchers the arrows. Out here, either we work together, or we die. Not even Owalyn can protect us from ourselves.”

“But you seemed rich when you were in Bledsbury,” Hump said. “Hells, I thought you were a noble at first.”

“Well I’m flattered.” Vamir chuckled. “But no. Not hard to fake it though. Heartstones are worth a fortune to the south. It’s a simple matter to take a few with us if we’re entering Alveron and sell them off once we’re far enough from the Fallen Lands.”

They were nearing what seemed to be a sort of residential area—where rows of small houses were clumped together—when Hump heard a roar above. He looked up as three dragons flew overhead, blasting wind at the village as they swept their wings. They swooped over, so close that Hump ducked, then they swept up toward the Temple of the Everflame, landing on a large platform near the top.

“Amazing,” Hump said. Nisha wasn’t so impressed. She let out a quiet, high-pitched growl, hunching forward and staring up as the dragons disappeared into the temple.

“You’re alright,” Hump whispered, trying not to laugh. “They’re just like you, but bigger!” He looked at Vamir. “I wanted to visit the temple with Nishari at some point and show her the heartstone of her mother. Do you think I could?”

Vamir tilted his head back and forth. “It’s possible. Technically, only those that are dragon blooded or undertaking the transformation ritual can enter the temple, so you may need Celaine or I to take her.”

“I see. Why, what are you hiding in there?”

Vamir grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Hump snorted. He could imagine. Dozens of dragon heartstones… the place would be worth a fortune. It only made sense that they’d restrict access, especially to outsiders.

“The Dragon Keepers reside inside,” Vamir continued. “Pass the trials and I don’t think they could refuse you. You’ll like it, I think. The pyramid’s divided into giant rooms and corridors so that the dragons can live there with their bonded. It’s quite impressive.”

“Sounds like it.”

Vamir’s house was almost identical to his neighbours. It was a single-story wooden structure with a few rooms. It was far from the brick and stone houses of Sheercliff, but Hump was given a room to himself and a bed. He could hardly complain.

“Can I talk now?” Walt asked quietly.

“You’re awake,” Hump said.

“Oh yeah! How could I sleep with that scary lady around. I thought we were dead.”

“She ended up being quite nice,” Hump said.

“Oh yeah? I didn’t think you were the type to go for an older woman. Not a bad shout though, lad. The antlers aren’t my thing, but that’s—”

“Not what I meant,” Hump interrupted.

“You pick up ventriloquy in your time away?” Vamir asked, returning to the doorway. He tapped his ears. “Dragon blooded, remember. Ears like a bat.”

“Take her out, kid,” Walt said. “Hit her with that magma thing. You’ve got this! Oh wait, is she your type? She looks a bit mannish. No judgement here, seeing how you’re into antlers and all."

“This is Walt,” Hump said. “His soul is trapped in an essence stone. Walt, meet Vamir. He is Celaine’s teacher.”

“Ah.” Walt let out a nervous chuckle. “I was just joking with all that magma nonsense. Nothing to worry about. No sir! If you need anything, Walt here’s your guy.”

“Wish you’d warned me about the creepy ghost before I decided to let you stay,” Vamir said. “You were much easier to deal with when you were just a rookie wizard.”

The evening went quickly. Vamir served Hump up some of the local cuisine—a spicy meat dish that left his mouth burning, and then they talked over a glass of some sort of fruity spirit. Come night, Hump decided to leave some information on Drakalyn in the Book of Infinite Pages. He’d been updating it with what Celaine told him as they travelled, and today he decided to make a note on his encounter with Owalyn. Most importantly…

Of everything Owalyn said, it is that the gods were once mortal that caught me most off guard. If they can ascend to godhood, perhaps anyone can.

Hump – 936

Now that was a contribution he could be proud of.

***

Surprisingly, sleep came easily that night. Something Hump put down to exhaustion from the weeks of travel, as he certainly didn’t feel at home in Drakalyn. He rose early the next day and was surprised when Celaine arrived at the door for breakfast.

“Nice of you to stop by for a visit with your old master,” Vamir said sulkily.

Celaine rolled her eyes. “Forgive me for wanting to spend an evening with my family first.”

“How did it go?” Hump asked.

She shrugged. “It was nice. Of course, my mum made snide comments about me abandoning them the entire night, but other than that…” she nodded. “It was good seeing everyone.”

“Your sister?” Hump asked.

“She’s okay. Apparently, she’s been going out more, which is good. Taking walks around Drakalyn on her own even. That’s a step in the right direction.”

“I’m glad.”

“You’ll need to bring Nisha over to meet her. She’s looking forward to it, though you’ll need to get past my mum first.”

“Oh?” Hump asked.

“Celaine’s been travelling around with a boy for a year,” Vamir said. “Not to mention an outsider. You’re going to meet some resistance on that front.”

Hump laughed then trailed off as he saw the serious look on Celaine’s face. “What, really?”

She nodded. “Oh yeah. It’s not ‘our way’ she’s said. Not sure she believes me when I tell her we were just party members.”

Vamir winced. “Bad luck, Hump. That’ll sting nicely.”

Hump glared at him. “Brilliant.”

They chatted for the morning. Celaine told him more about her evening, and she and Vamir caught up, discussing many of the same stories Hump had already told. It was interesting to hear them from Celaine’s perspective. They told him a little of what to expect from Ado, but the gist of it was that the man wasn’t particularly social and to expect some backlash for being from Alveron. Hump decided to just see how things went. It seemed unlikely that a Chosen could teach much to a wizard anyway. It wasn’t the same as Vivienne and Dylan—it didn’t go both ways. At least, not in Hump’s head.

***

Ado’s house was nestled amidst a dense cluster of ancient trees, in a secluded spot at the edge of Drakalyn’s boundary. As they approached, the rhythmic thud of the shaman’s axe echoed in the air, a pile of chopped wood on the ground behind him.

The man hefted the axe onto his shoulder and his eyes filled with delight when he spotted Celaine. “If it isn’t Celaine! It’s been a long time, my girl. A long time!”

“So everyone keeps telling me,” she said, mirroring the familiarity of Ado’s tone. “Hi Ado.”

When Elder Rena had mentioned he was a shaman, Hump had imagined someone a little more like a wizard than the brute that stood before him. Ado was a tall and broad-shouldered man that could have been hewn from solid muscle. His opened tunic revealed a glimpse of intricate animal tattoos adorning his body.

The man gave Hump a look and then wrinkled his nose. “You brought the boy then, huh? Wizard Humphrey, right? Heard you made quite a stir.”

“It wasn’t intentional,” Hump said. “Meeting a goddess was the last thing I expected yesterday.”

“Hmm.” He turned back to Celaine. “Doesn’t look like much. Couldn’t you have found one a bit taller?”

“You’re speaking to the wrong girl,” Celaine said, pointing at Nisha on Hump’s shoulder. “You’ll need to take it up with her.”

“Ah, now she’s a beauty.” His gaze went back to Hump. “It’s fair enough I s’pose. I’ll work with what I’ve got. Leave him with me, Vamir.”

“Try not to break him,” Vamir said. “He’s not as fragile as he looks, but still…”

Ado responded with a mischievous grin, reminiscent of the one Hump had seen on Owalyn’s face. “No promises.”

There was a change to the air—a sense of some primal power.

Hump smiled back. “You wouldn’t be the first to try.”