"Hey, Gracie! We're still waiting for our drinks!"

Grace rolled her eyes at the sound of Morgan's jovial tone. She finished serving the husband and wife pair near the back of the Inn, then made her way to the bar where Irons was waiting with four filled mugs. The Black Dog Lieutenant had been trying to get her attention all night. She had done what she could to stay away from the rough looking man. Namely by always having another customer to deal with right when she had to go over to his table.

Unfortunately, judging by how Irons frowned at her as he prepared another drink, that wouldn't work anymore. With a heavy sigh, she put the four tankards on her serving tray and made her way to the front of the Inn where the five Black Dogs sat. Silently, she wished Lily was there with her. While she didn't agree with the strange woman scaring away the customers, she couldn't deny the affect her presence had on Morgan. As long as she was somewhere in sight, Morgan toned down his cajoling and attempts at seduction with her. He still stole glances or tried to grope her when she wasn't (and sometimes was) looking, but not as much as he did when Lily wasn't out.

Her gaze went to the stairs when she reached the Black Dogs' table. She frowned, ignoring the calls and cheers of Morgan and his men. It wasn't strange for Lily to spend long periods of time in her room with, Grace assumed, that strange person she brought with her. After a month it kind of became a routine. Lily would guard the Inn until the afternoon, switch with Morgan, head off to do something or other in the town, come back at night, then wait in her room until it was time to switch back.

Thing is, Lily would usually come down early to just hang out until it was time to switch. She's never stayed in her room for this long before. Grace sighed while standing up and ignoring the Black Dogs cat calls. When Lily didn't show, Anne went up to get her. But she hadn't come back either. Thankfully this was on of the slow nights so it wasn't that big a deal, but Grace was still worried. Maybe Lily was upset because of what she said earlier? She had meant to apologize but Lily went straight up the stairs the moment she came back today. Maybe she could-

Her thoughts, and those of everyone else in the room, all came to a stop.

Because they all suddenly became aware of a powerful presence coming down the stairs. One that called the attention of all in the room. The steps creaked as two people slowly walked down from the second floor. The first was Lily, the Silver Armored bodyguard now a common sight in the Inn. She walked with her arms behind her back and head held high. Her gaze quickly swept across the room, lingering on the Black Dogs and Grace before she reached the landing. Then she stepped to the side to make way for the second person.

The one who everyone's eyes were on.

To say he was tall was an understatement. Compared to everyone else in the room the man was a giant. His head was high enough to reach the top of the Inn's entrance door. The baggy brown garb he wore did little to hide the man's muscles. His posture was relaxed but any warrior could see that he was always on guard. Morgan took his attention away from Grace to examine the newcomer with a critical eye. He brushed the black strands of hair out of his eyes to get a clear look at the giant of a man. He frowned as he peered into the bearded face of the man next to Lily. He couldn't help but feel something...familiar as he stared at him.

A feeling that reminded him of...Vault.

Like his Leader, the newcomer had this "air" about him that made him seem larger than life. As if he was somehow above the world through the nature of their existence. But the difference was their eyes. When Morgan remembered Vault's eyes, he remembered a man brimming with ambition. Someone with big plans, and the will to see them come to fruition.

But this newcomer...he saw someone who just looked tired.

The man's hard black eyes examined his surroundings stopping on Grace. The dark elf yelped and took a step back, hitting the Black Dogs' table and making it shake. Usually, the mercenaries would get upset at some liquid spilling from their drinks. But they were all frozen in place by the newcomer's gaze. He stared her down for a moment, making Grace gulp nervously.

She recognized this man. He was the person Lily carried with her the first night they met. Back then he was completely unconscious with wet clothes that stopped her from getting a good look at him.

Now?

Now she could see him clearly.

And couldn't help but feel intimidated by him.

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Gwyn's eyebrow raised as he beheld the trembling dark elf. He turned to Lily and leaned down to whisper into her ear, "That is the dark elf you spoke of, yes? Grace, I believe."

"Indeed, my Lord," Lily confirmed while nodding towards the woman in question.

Gwyn's eyes narrowed, "And you are certain this is an Inn and not..." He let the implication of his words hang in the air.

Lily shook her head, "It is not, my Lord. The owner of this establishment requires his barmaids to where such garments. He attempted to coerce me into doing so as well, but I made myself explicitly clear that I will not do so."

Lily turned her gaze towards the bar where Master Irons stood. Gwyn followed her stare and Irons jumped back from their combined gaze. Gwyn could see the pudgy Innkeeper's adam's apple bob as he swallowed nervously. Sweat beaded down his pasty skin while his eyes did everything they could to avoid Gwyn's gaze.

"I see," was all the Lord Of Sunlight said. Then he stood up and moved over to Grace. Morgan stood up in his seat but Gwyn ignored him. He instead stopped in front of Grace and looked down at the dark elf. He could see her teeth chattering away as she stared up at him, her arms hugging the platter she carried for dear life. He looked her up and down, then knelt to one knee to be eye level with her. It was at this point Anne finally arrived, rushing down the stairs and stopping next to Lily. She was out of breath but still managed to speak to the armored woman.

"Lily...who...who is that?" the high elf asked while keeping her eyes locked on Gwyn.

Lily looked at the high elf and simply said, "He is Lord Gwyn."

"Lord?!" Anne shook her head, eyes widening in disbelief at the Silver Armored woman's words. She went silent as Gwyn began to speak to Grace.

"Grace, I must thank you. Lily informed me of what occurred when we first arrived. If you hadn't given us shelter that night, I'm certain an ill fate would've befallen us. I, Gwyn, shall be in your debt," Gwyn bowed his head to the dark elf.

Grace was completely speechless. Her mouth opened and closed without making a single sound. An awkward minute passed before she realized that he was waiting for her to say something. She sputtered for a bit before saying, "Y-y-you're welcome! I-I-It was nothing!"

Her words seemed to have the desired effect. Gwyn stood to his full height and turned towards Lily, "Lily, I am going out for a time. I shall return by sunrise."

"Understood, my Lord. Be safe in your travels," Lily lightly bowed to Gwyn. He waved at her before exiting the Inn.

The tension in the room left with him. Grace fell to her knees as her breathing finally caught up with her. Most people in the Inn stared at the door where Gwyn just left.

The first to break the silence was Morgan. A nervous chuckle came from the Black Dog Lieutenant, "Heh, heh. Uh, Lily. Who was your friend? Don't think any of us have seen him around."

"His name is Gwyn. And he is my Lord," she answered plainly with no hesitation.

"Lord?" Morgan asked, still chuckling, "What, is he like a King or something?"

"Yes."

Morgan shut his mouth.

Everyone in the room turned their heads towards Lily.

The armored woman looked at the eyes upon her. Then she elaborated, "He is Lord Gwyn. Lord Of Sunlight. God King Of Anor Londo. And he is who I have sworn fealty to."

----------------------------------------

Gwyn didn't know where to begin.

His head swiveled from side to side as he marched down the cobblestone road of Baskerville. The cool night air had little effect on his overall body temperature. Yet it still felt foreign and strange to him. As did everything else that he beheld.

Buildings were given their own space rather than be stacked on top of each other. The streets were easy to navigate instead of being a labyrinthine maze of interconnected areas. Though no one was out at this time, the people he saw in the Inn looked healthy, happy, and completely care-free. There was no fear of a horrible Curse or the Abyss coming to take them anywhere to be found.

Gwyn stopped walking. He had arrived at the edge of the village, standing right on the threshold that separated it from the forest beyond. There were no walls here. No large spiraling towers or gatekeepers to stop people from coming in...or leaving. There was no great conflict or responsibility that tied him down to one place.

Not anymore.

For this, truly, was not his world.

He took in a deep breath. Then he slowly sat down on the soft grass beneath his feet.

He stayed there.

For how long he doesn't know.

He simply stared out at the shaking trees, rolling grass, well worn dirt road out of the village, and everything else in the wilderness beyond his vision.

Eventually, the sun rose and covered the world in its warming embrace. As its rays reached him, he took in another deep refreshing breath of air. Then he let it out in a calm sigh. He let the warmth of the sun suffuse his frame, soothing his muscles and massaging the bones beneath his skin. A light shone in his eyes as the grand star in the sky that he takes his title from. He sat there, bathing in the sun's rays, until he started to hear it.

The sound of people waking up and going about their day.

The sound of a village coming to life.

At first, it was a quiet noise. One that you had to strain yourself to hear. The sound of all the early birds getting up before everyone else. Then, gradually, it became a cacophony as people filled the streets with greetings and the sounds of life.

Only then did Gwyn rise from his seat on the edge of the village. He felt his joints pop back into place and heard his bones creak as he got to his feet. He took another breath, turned around, and began walking through the city once again. This time he had a destination.

He had to see the blacksmith Lily spoke of.

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"Velina! What have I told you about foolin' around with Artur?!"

The woman in question rolled her eyes at Clamor's outburst. The two stood inside his forge, a stone alcove connected to his two story home. There were no doors nor windows, just a single stone roof with a chimney in it to help get the smoke out of the room. Clamor was standing next to his work bench, reaching for the hammer on the rack of tools above it. Outside the sound of people walking down the street filled the air.

Velina took sometime to straighten her hair and skirts from her activities last night. She was in a similar dress to the one she met Silver in the day before. However, this one's skirt was cut short and the hem only reached her upper thighs. The chest area had more room to breathe which had the side effect of emphasizing her cleavage even more.

Her response to the frowning blacksmith was to flip her hair, smile, and say in an innocent tone, "Why, Clamor, whatever could you mean? I haven't seen your son in quite sometime. How is he doing these days?"

"Oh, I think you know well enough how he's doing," Clamor pointed his hammer at the woman, "Here's a tip, don't leave your undergarments behind after you're done. And try not being so obvious when you step out from behind someone's house."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Velina flinched as her smile disappeared. She placed her hands on her hips, "Oh, fine. Maybe I did go to your son's room for little fun last night. There's no harm in it."

"He's a strong, kind-hearted lad that just turned 18 last month, Velina. He hadn't slept with anyone till you came along. Boys like that don't forget their first time. And while I'd like to have some grandkids, I don't want the lad to be having them just yet. Not until I'm sure he can take care of a family of his own and earn a decent living," Clamor turned around and grabbed his gloves, black with ash from his work, from the rack.

"Pfft, you know I'm more careful than that," Velina waved off his concern.

"Not to mention that being with you makes the lad distracted. He's always lookin' out the window, waiting for you to come back like a puppy."

"I don't see what-"

"And when that happens," Clamor interrupted the woman, "He doesn't feel like working. He just sits in his room all day looking sad and waiting for you. Which stops me from being able to teach him the family trade, and stops him from watching over Olivia. Which means she can go gallivanting off to that Black Dog she's sweet on while I'm stuck here making sure we have enough gold to make sure we don't go hungry."

He shakes his head and walks over to a barrel filled with broken metal items, "I hope that helps you see why I don't want you sleeping with my son. Unless you're willing to get serious with him?"

Clamor looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the woman. Velina's response was to start laughing.

"Ha, ha, ha! That's...that's a good one, Clamor!" her laughter stopped as soon as it started, "But, no. This girl's not getting hitched for a lllooonnnggg time. Anyway, can I have my underwear back?"

"No, I burned them."

"WHAT!?" the woman's yell made some of the villagers stop to look at her and the blacksmith. The man and woman waved them off with smiles on their faces. They waited until the onlookers were gone, then Velina continued in a lower voice, "Why did you burn my underwear?!"

"Consider it punishment for not heeding my warnings," he took a few bent nails out of the barrel and brought them over to his workbench, "Besides, it's not like you don't have a bunch of them."

"That's not the point! The point is you destroyed something that was mine."

"Only cause you're getting in the way of me helping my kids!"

"They're grown adults, Clamor! Let them do what they want!"

"Not if that means letting them waste their lives away and turn into you!"

"Um, excuse me?"

"NOT-"

The tailor and blacksmith went silent as their heads turned to see a strange man. Both had ceased their outburst for a different reason.

Clamor stopped because of the man's size. He was so tall he had to stoop to get into the forge.

Velina stopped because this was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life.

The newcomer looked between the two with confusion clear on his face. He scratched at his beard as he spoke, "Um, am I interrupting something?"

Clamor regained his composure first. He looked at Velina to see if she had anything else to say to him...and soon concluded that she didn't.

Why?

Cause she was currently drooling while staring at the newcomer with a dopey grin on her face. Her body swayed back and forth while her hands were held behind her back.

"Not anymore," Clamor turned his attention back to the newcomer, "Name's Clamor. Don't think I've seen you around. What's your name, and what do you need?"

The newcomer smiled at the blacksmith, "My name is Gwyn. I believe you know a certain Silver friend of mine?"

Clamor tilted his head to the side in confusion. Then he snapped his fingers, "Oh! You mean...wait...are you the owner of that giant sword Lily brought in?"

"Indeed," Gwyn nodded while walking deeper into the forge. He found a spot against the wall that would fit him without getting in Clamor's way and sat down, "I must thank you for assisting my friend."

Clamor waved his praise off while moving to the chair in front of his anvil, "Nah. I didn't do nothing. Just touched up the edges of the blade a bit. Wherever you got it from, the metal's nothing I've ever seen before. Might serve you better to take it up to the halflings in Rad."

"You speak of Luu Luu of the Seven Shields?" Gwyn asked, remembering what Lily had told him at the Inn. She had informed him of all that Grace told her as they made their way to the first floor of the Inn.

"Not necessarily, but it'd be your best shot," Clamor shrugged, "She's the best smith in all of Eostia bar none. If anyone could get that sword of yours back in working order, it'd be her. But I'm guessing you didin't just come her for smith recommendations?"

Gwyn nodded, then reached into a pocket in the side of his trousers. From it he produced the ash covered crown and held it out to the blacksmith, "I would ask that you clean this as best you can, Smith Clamor. If you do, I can promise actual compensation."

Clamor took the crown gingerly in his hands. His lips pursed as he turned the circlet over in his gloved hands. He stood up and walked towards his workbench, "Hmm, not sure what this is. But it shouldn't be too hard. The thing just needs a bit of cleaning. Don't even know if I should charge you for that. Let me get my brush."

Gwyn thanked the blacksmith then leaned his back against the wall to wait. He soon felt a warmth against his left side. He looked over to see Velina laying next to him with his arm in her hands.

"Wow," Velina said as she ran her hands up and down Gwyn's arm, "you're arm's so big. I can hardly put my hands around it. And your muscles are so firm. I bet you could carry whatever, or whoever, you wanted with these. Huh, big guy?"

She smiled up at Gwyn, who simply nodded at her questions, "Indeed. Thank you for the compliments Lady...?"

"Velina. I'm the tailor in this town. Make a lot of clothes for a lot of people. Including myself. Can you tell?" she answered, leaning forward until her chest pressed into Gwyn's arm. To his right, Clamor scoffed while pulling out a clean brush and beginning to dust off the crown. Velina sent an angry glare at the blacksmith before quickly shifting back to a flirty smile.

Gwyn raised an eyebrow at the woman, "Velina? Are you perhaps familiar with the same person I spoke of to Clamor?"

"You mean Silver? Yeah, I know him. I was trying to help him fix up this really big outfit for someone. Guessing that someone was you?" Velina's right hand when from Gwyn's arm to his chest. Her breath hitched as it fell on his left bicep. She swooned with a smile, "Oh my~. So you're like that all over. Say, Silver probably told you about our deal, right? Well, I have some new designs that I'd like to get a man's perspective on. You want to be that man?"

Throughout Velina's obvious flirting, Gwyn kept his expression as neutral as possible. He let out a sigh, gently took Velina's hands into his, and then placed them in her lap. He let her go and spoke in a gentle but flat tone, "While I am flattered, Lady Velina, I must decline your invitation."

"What? Why?" Velina sounded genuinely shocked at the rejection. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Gwyn's face, as if he would suddenly take back his words.

"I...already have someone."

"Uh, oh," Velina instantly scooted away from Gwyn, "I am so sorry. I...I didn't mean-"

"It is alright," Gwyn nodded, "I accept your apology."

The two lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. The only sound in the room was Clamor working on the circlet.

Three minutes later, the blacksmith lifted the crown up to the light, "I think I got it. What do you...wait a minute."

Clamor's eyes narrowed as Gwyn rose from his position. The blacksmith's eyes widened as he realized what he held in his hands, "This...this is a-"

Gwyn gently grabbed the circlet from the man's hands. Then he lifted it to his face. The crown was indeed completely clean. The sun's rays hit the gold, reflecting off it in multiple directions. It looked almost good as new.

Gwyn nodded, grabbed the right edge of the circlet in between two fingers...then snapped it off as easily as one would a twig.

Both Clamor and Velina gasped at the man's actions. Gwyn payed them no mind. Instead, he placed the piece he had broken off down on the workbench. He lightly bowed to Clamor, "Thank you, sir. Please take this as compensation. If it is not enough, then please come find me at the Half-Moon Inn. I'm afraid I must now bid both you and Lady Velina farewell. I have responsibilities I must see to."

Gwyn left before either human could ask him any questions.

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"Lily, we've got questions!" Grace said, her hands slamming onto the table in front of her. The dark elf's eyes were focused solely on the Silver Knight before her, doing her best to bore into Lily and break down her will.

She met with little success.

"I am sure you do," Lily responded. Her head was pointed at the two elves sitting across from her, but her eyes kept glancing towards the rest of the Inn. Morgan and Irons had tried to get her to tell everyone more about Lord Gwyn, but she had refused to say anything else. The rest of his past was his to tell or keep secret as he wished.

...And she didn't particularly like Brandon and Morgan.

So, she wouldn't reveal anything more to either of them.

This proceeded until Morgan finally left alongside his Black Dogs when the sun came up. From there Lily took up her bodyguard position once more.

Or, at least, she tried to.

But she was intercepted by Grace and Anne. The two elves brought her to a quiet table in a corner of the room that still afforded a complete view of the rest of the Inn.

This is how Lily arrived in her current situation. About to be interrogated by two elves with burning questions they want answers to.

Well, interrogated was too strong a word.

Pestered would be more accurate.

Knowing they wouldn't let her go without at least a few answers, Lily placed her hands on the table and nodded, "Fine. Ask away."

Grace, being the instigator of this situation, was the first to ask, "Who was that man?"

"He was Lord Gwyn. My liege."

"We know! You've said that multiple times!" Grace rolled her eyes, "I mean, who is he? Where did he come from? Where did you come from? Why do you call him 'Lord'?"

"You should know the answer to the last question. He is my King."

Before Grace could continue, Anne spoke up with a slight tremble in her voice, "Actually, you said he was a 'God King'. Does...does that mean he's like Celestine? The Incarnation of a God?"

Lily frowned behind her helmet. She was silent for a minute as she tried to think of an answer for Anne. The two elves shared a look as they awaited Lily's response. Eventually, the Ashen One spoke, "Not exactly. While Celestine is the Incarnation of a Goddess and uses her power, Lord Gwyn is a God himself."

The elves sat in stunned silence. Anne's eyes widened and her face went pale as the implications behind Lily's words set in. Grace shook her head in disbelief and said, "No...that's not possible."

"I have no reason to lie to you about this," Lily said, even thought that was a half-truth. There was plenty of reason to lie about to the two, even if she didn't enjoy it. But there was no need to lie about this fact, "In the land I come from he is known as the Lord Of Sunlight. For that is his Domain and one of the sources of his power."

"The Sun?!" both elves said in unison.

Anne shook her head, "That..that can't be! I've never heard of any God like that. Not even among the elves or monsters. And I'm certain I'd know about a God with such a wide reaching and powerful Domain!"

"Lily...you said he was King of 'Anor Londo', right?" Grace narrowed her eyes at the armored woman, "Is that where you're from? Where is it?"

Lily cursed under her breath. She forgot she had said that when Gwyn came downstairs with her. She had let her elation at her Lord's recovery blind her to the situation. She looked at the dark elf and nodded, "Yes. We both came from Anor Londo. It is a land...far, far away from here."

"Is he the only God there? Why have we never heard of this place?" Anne asked while tapping a nervous finger on the table.

Rather than answer, Lily chose to turn the tables on the two, "Why are the both of you so interested in this? You've never pried this much into my past before now. Why suddenly do it after you meet Lord Gwyn? Am I suddenly not allowed to have secrets?"

The two elves recoil at Lily's words. They stare the armored woman down...then both look away from her. Lily notices her mistake the moment she sees the hurt and shame in their faces.

"S...sorry. We were just curious. You hardly talk about your past and...well...we just wanted to know a bit more about you," Anne answered, one hand going to her hair and pulling at it.

Grace nodded at her friend's words, "Yeah. And we say how differently you acted towards, Gwyn, was it? Calling him 'my Lord' and all that stuff. Considering you showed up with him...well we just thought that maybe we could...talk about the guy and learn a bit about both of you."

"But I understand if we overstepped. We didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," Anne bowed her head in apology. Grace soon followed with an apology of her own.

Lily looked towards the ground, the pain at realizing her mistake filling her. They were just curious. They didn't mean any harm. And she was the last person to become cross with someone for being too curious for their own good. While she couldn't tell them everything, she at least owed them an explanation as to why she didn't.

"I...apologize as well," her words made the two's head jerk up in surprise. When they remained silent, Lily continued, "Please understand; I hold no ill will towards either of you. But I wish to refrain from saying anything about both my his and my pasts. Mine because there are certain things I don't want others to know, the same as the two of you, and his because it is not my story to tell."

A silent conversation passed between Anne and Grace as they looked at each other. Then they both nodded to Lily in confirmation. Lily thanked them, happy that she managed to both fix her mistake and get their minds off Gwyn, and prepared to stand and go to her post.

Then the door to the Inn opened.

While there weren't as many people in the Inn this early, the ones that were there all turned their heads to stare at Gwyn. The Lord Of Sunlight waved a greeting to all in attendance while making his way towards the bar. Brandon Irons immediately began cleaning the bar of all empty mugs and platters, even pulling out a rag and cleaning it until it was spotless.

Lily excused herself from the table and rushed to Gwyn's side. When she spotted the crown in his hands, she gasped, "My Lord! Your crown!"

"It is fine, Lily. I inflicted this damage to pay Clamor for his services."

As Lily's mind tried to process the thought of Gwyn damaging his own crown, the two of them reached the bar where Irons stood. The pudgy Innkeeper opened his arms wide, "Greetings, King Gwyn! What can this humble Innkeeper do for you? Perhaps you would like to be served by one of our fine barmaids? I did notice that you took particular interest in-"

"Innkeeper Irons," the man in question sputtered to a stop as Gwyn interrupted him. The Lord of Sunlight continued in a serious tone, "Lily here has informed me that the two of us owe you a debt for allowing us to stay here for a month in return for her services."

Irons began to sweat under Gwyn's gaze. He used the rag in his hand to pat the droplets that had gathered on his face, briefly wondering if the temperature had risen. He cleared his throat before responding, "W-w-well, yes, Lord. Um, our fine rooms are rather...expensive. And it is not good business to let others stay for free without rendering, um, services. However, I assure you that the debt shall be paid quickly within a few more days!"

"Truly?" Gwyn asked in mock surprise, while Lily rolled her eyes behind her helm. Gwyn looked at the circlet in his hand, "Then, perhaps, we could expedite the payment. Here."

He held the golden circlet out to the Innkeeper.

Aghast, Lily shouted, "Lord Gwyn!? What are you doing?! That is your crown. A symbol of your authority and a relic of Anor Londo!"

"No, Lily. No it is not. Not anymore," Gwyn said as Irons took the crown from his hand. He waited for the merchant to ensure its authenticity before speaking, "I assume this will be enough to pay off Lily's debt?"

"Yes, yes, yes it will my Lord!" Irons quickly said while placing the crown behind the bar, "However, she is free to continue working for us if she wishes. And, if I may be so kind, I would gladly allow your magnanimous self to stay for another two months completely free of charge!"

Gwyn nodded, "An interesting proposal, but I must decline. I shall not be remaining in Baskerville for long. Instead, give it to Lily should she choose to remain here."

"What?!" Lily asked as Gwyn shook hands with Irons to seal the deal. Then he turned to Lily as she looked up at him. Confusion, worry, and fear all came to the forefront of her mind as she tried to make sense of her Lord's actions. Eventually, she spoke, "Wh-why are you-Lord Gwyn. What is the meaning of all this?"

"Lily," Gwyn placed a firm hand on Lily's shoulder, "I am planning to leave this village tomorrow and begin traveling across the land to see what this New World has to offer. You are welcome to come with me if you wish."