angry about their relationship, then why did you insist that Shirk accompany us to the Elven Islands?" Raven asked in confusion.
"It's a long way to the Elven Islands." The old wizard shrugged. "Tormenting Shirk should help keep me occupied while we're stuck on the ship."
"That's horrible!" Raven exclaimed, unable to keep the amusement from her voice. "Why would you do that to your own daughter? You saw how heartbroken she was when we were leaving!"
"She'll be fine. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. By the time we return, Skie will demand that I give them my blessing."
"You're an evil old man, you know that, right?" Damion chuckled, shaking his head.
Damarius smiled. "Thank you."
They continued to make their way north along the trade road until the sun began to set, then set up camp in one of the fortified encampments constructed by the work crews who maintained the trade road.
"So did you enjoy your visit to Sevria?" Raven asked Delilah as she put the finishing touches on a savory stew that she had whipped up from their provisions.
"It was quite pleasant, thank you." The elven woman smiled. "I'll confess that I had expected to find Sevria to be a city like any other human settlement, with sewage overflowing into the streets, and refuge piled everywhere in great stinking heaps, but it was very neat and orderly. The people were friendly and well mannered, and everyone seemed to take a genuine interest in their neighbors. It was quite unlike other cities that we have passed through."
"The people of Sevria take great pride in their home." Damion nodded. "After the city was destroyed, they worked day and night to rebuild it. Then, when it was attacked again by an army of dragonspawn, they banded together to drive the beasts off and save the city. Those kinds of hardships bring people together."
"I, too, was impressed." Etha Brody murmured, taking a bowl of stew from Raven with a nod of thanks, and then sniffing at it with a doubtful expression. "I had envisioned the home of the Dragon Lord to be far more..." He glanced at Damion hesitantly. "primitive." He finished, obviously choosing his words carefully. "The tales of your exploits led most of us to believe that you were a complete savage, and I had expected your city to reflect that. I guess the tales were wrong."
"Don't be so sure about that." Shirk snorted in amusement. "I've seen Damion when he gets angry, and savage doesn't even come close to describing him." He made some show of thinking it over. "I think that bloody nightmare is a bit closer."
"Damion is as gentle as a lamb." Raven defended her husband, casting him a fond look. "He may look big and scary, but underneath that armor is..."
"A short tempered manic who enjoys using his magic to turn people who displease him into various different plants and animals." Shirk finished her sentence with a barking laugh.
The sudden rustling of feathers drew their attention to Snowfeather, who appeared from the darkness on silent wings and landed gently on Damion's broad shoulder.
"Wha...?" Etha Brody jumped up from his seat with a startled expression. "What, in the name of the gods, is that creature?"
"This is Snowfeather." Damion introduced the huge owl, who began to preen his gleaming white feathers fussily. "He is a snow owl. He is my familiar, and one of my oldest friends."
"There are a pair of goblins slowly making their way in this direction." Snowfeather reported with a hoot. "I don't think that they know we're here yet, but it's only a matter of time before they catch our scent."
"How far away are they?" Damion asked aloud, drawing strange looks from the pair of elves.
"They're about a mile or so to the north, moving through the underbrush at the side of the road in an effort to remain hidden."
"What is it?" Raven asked with a worried expression.
"There are a pair of goblins moving this way." He relayed Snowfeather's discovery to the others. "They're certain to pick up our
"It's a long way to the Elven Islands." The old wizard shrugged. "Tormenting Shirk should help keep me occupied while we're stuck on the ship."
"That's horrible!" Raven exclaimed, unable to keep the amusement from her voice. "Why would you do that to your own daughter? You saw how heartbroken she was when we were leaving!"
"She'll be fine. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. By the time we return, Skie will demand that I give them my blessing."
"You're an evil old man, you know that, right?" Damion chuckled, shaking his head.
Damarius smiled. "Thank you."
They continued to make their way north along the trade road until the sun began to set, then set up camp in one of the fortified encampments constructed by the work crews who maintained the trade road.
"So did you enjoy your visit to Sevria?" Raven asked Delilah as she put the finishing touches on a savory stew that she had whipped up from their provisions.
"It was quite pleasant, thank you." The elven woman smiled. "I'll confess that I had expected to find Sevria to be a city like any other human settlement, with sewage overflowing into the streets, and refuge piled everywhere in great stinking heaps, but it was very neat and orderly. The people were friendly and well mannered, and everyone seemed to take a genuine interest in their neighbors. It was quite unlike other cities that we have passed through."
"The people of Sevria take great pride in their home." Damion nodded. "After the city was destroyed, they worked day and night to rebuild it. Then, when it was attacked again by an army of dragonspawn, they banded together to drive the beasts off and save the city. Those kinds of hardships bring people together."
"I, too, was impressed." Etha Brody murmured, taking a bowl of stew from Raven with a nod of thanks, and then sniffing at it with a doubtful expression. "I had envisioned the home of the Dragon Lord to be far more..." He glanced at Damion hesitantly. "primitive." He finished, obviously choosing his words carefully. "The tales of your exploits led most of us to believe that you were a complete savage, and I had expected your city to reflect that. I guess the tales were wrong."
"Don't be so sure about that." Shirk snorted in amusement. "I've seen Damion when he gets angry, and savage doesn't even come close to describing him." He made some show of thinking it over. "I think that bloody nightmare is a bit closer."
"Damion is as gentle as a lamb." Raven defended her husband, casting him a fond look. "He may look big and scary, but underneath that armor is..."
"A short tempered manic who enjoys using his magic to turn people who displease him into various different plants and animals." Shirk finished her sentence with a barking laugh.
The sudden rustling of feathers drew their attention to Snowfeather, who appeared from the darkness on silent wings and landed gently on Damion's broad shoulder.
"Wha...?" Etha Brody jumped up from his seat with a startled expression. "What, in the name of the gods, is that creature?"
"This is Snowfeather." Damion introduced the huge owl, who began to preen his gleaming white feathers fussily. "He is a snow owl. He is my familiar, and one of my oldest friends."
"There are a pair of goblins slowly making their way in this direction." Snowfeather reported with a hoot. "I don't think that they know we're here yet, but it's only a matter of time before they catch our scent."
"How far away are they?" Damion asked aloud, drawing strange looks from the pair of elves.
"They're about a mile or so to the north, moving through the underbrush at the side of the road in an effort to remain hidden."
"What is it?" Raven asked with a worried expression.
"There are a pair of goblins moving this way." He relayed Snowfeather's discovery to the others. "They're certain to pick up our
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