SJ sat in the inn. Cristy, opposite her, eating lunch. Now that the inns downstairs were open again for food and drink, the inn was busy. That morning, she had been to see Zigferd after informing the two guards who had been standing watch at the cottage about Darren’s disappearance. It was the most furious that SJ had ever witnessed of Zigferd as he turned the air blue and swore that he would have the hides of the guards who were supposed to be watching him. It took SJ a long time to calm him down as he screamed and bellowed his frustrations. He was missing his second and one of his closest and most trusted friends.

Eventually, SJ left him, as Ballentine had come to see him to receive a berating from him for his inept guards. To Ballentine’s credit, he had not responded and just taken the abuse hurled at him by Zigferd. As SJ had left, he had seen the dwarf walk over to where Zigferd sat in a chair, holding his head in his hands, placing his hand on his shoulder, and whispering to him.

SJ had promised to see Cristy, and after lunch, they would visit Patch to check on him and the pack. They had not been out there since the wyvern had arrived, and Cristy was worried about them. An hour later, they arrived in the south of town and crossed the cornfields to the forest. As soon as they reached it, Cristy called, and within moments, the form of Patch had appeared bounding through the brush. SJ could have sworn Patch had as much of a worried look on its face as Cristy had had on her own. Seeing each other, SJ felt relief from the pair. Cristy gripped Patch around his enormous neck, squeezing tightly.

SJ knew the wolves were predatory animals but also was aware of how well wolves could track. “Cristy. Do you think Patch could help find Alice?” SJ asked. She had told Cristy about Alice’s disappearance, and Cristy had been upset about finding out.

“I don’t know. I can ask him,” Cristy said, looking at Patch. Patch’s eyes held clear intelligence, and SJ realised he could understand the common tongue from their previous interactions. “You know the lady who came and healed Dark Paw?” Cristy said. SJ had never known that the other wolves had names.

Patch lowered his head in response and let out a low growl.

“She is missing. Do you think you could help find her?” Cristy said.

Patch growled again in response and turned his head, looking into the forest.

“I think he can help,” Cristy said, turning to look at SJ.

“That would be amazing if he could,” SJ said.

Patch suddenly let out a howling sound, and a couple of minutes passed before the remainder of the pack arrived. SJ now recognised the grey wolf called Dark Paw. Across the wolf’s side, where the rock gobbler had struck it, there was a break in the fur, showing where it had received the damage. Apart from the missing swathe of fur, he looked fit and strong. Patch growled at the pack members before they all moved off again into the forest area. Turning to look at Cristy, he let out a low, huffing sound.

“Patch says it may take time,” Cristy said.

“What do you mean he said?” SJ said in shock.

“He said,” Cristy replied, looking at her.

“You understand him?”

“Yes. I never used to, but recently, I have begun to understand him when he speaks.”

SJ stood staring at Cristy and then at Patch in amazement, unsure how to respond. Patch tilted his head sideways, looking as though he was smiling.

“He likes you, by the way,” Cristy added.

SJ’s eyes went even wider at the comment. “I like him too.”

Patch walked forward and pushed his head towards SJ’s hand. SJ stroked the top of his head.

“There isn’t much we can do now, but wait. The guards are also out looking, and the mayor has ordered one of the hunting parties to see if they can help track Alice’s whereabouts. We should head back to town now that we know Patch and his family are okay. There is still a wyvern in the area.”

Cristy looked at SJ with sad eyes. “We have only just got here.”

“I know, but I don’t want you to be in any more danger out here.”

Cristy’s eyes narrowed as she replied to SJ. “I am not a baby. I am growing up and can defend myself,” she replied as a short dagger appeared in her tiny fist.

“Where did you get that from?” SJ asked, surprised.

“Uncle Gary,” she replied.

“Uncle Gary?” SJ frowned. “You mean my friend Gary, the orc guard?”

“Yes. He gave it to me to protect myself.”

“When did you see Gary?” surprise etched on SJ’s face, not knowing that Gary had been to see her.

“I see Gary nearly every day when he passes the orphanage on his patrol. He always stops to talk to me.”

The thought of Gary stopping to speak to Cristy regularly made SJ break into a smile. “I did not know,” she said.

“He has promised me when I am older that he will teach me to fight. Like he does,” Cristy said, stepping forward and thrusting her small dagger out in front of her.

“So, you plan on joining the guard?” SJ asked.

“No. I will be a hunter, like Dad.”

“I know someone who may be able to help train you in archery. If he ever returns.”

“You do?” Cristy replied excitedly.

“Yes. Hopefully, when we have some time, I can bring you to meet him.”

“That would be amazing.”

“We better head back.”

“Okay,” Cristy said forlornly. Turning, she spoke to Patch. “If you find anything, can you howl and tell us?”

Patch lowered his head again in response to her comment, and Cristy grabbed him around his large neck again, hugging him tightly. “I will be back soon,” she promised as she turned to leave with SJ.

Dave had been adamant that she must focus on her quests rather than getting involved in Alice’s disappearance. After arguing that she would see if Patch could help locate her, she had agreed with Dave. After SJ returned Cristy to Madeline’s care, she focused on trying to find out more about Bellakiy today. Kerys had informed SJ about the office that Bellakiy used. It was a single-story building near to the docks area and close to where she believed he lived. As SJ approached the building, a tall elf, who she recognised as a councillor, was leaving.

“Hello, SJ,” the elf said as he saw her approaching.

SJ couldn’t remember the councillor’s name, feeling embarrassed, “Hi,” she smiled. “Is Bellakiy in?”

“Yes. He is finishing a requisition, and I believe he plans to leave again tomorrow.”

SJ did not know what his normal plans were, and the councillor acted as though it was normal behaviour. “That’s great. I wanted to catch him before he left. I didn’t have the pleasure of speaking to him before they voted me in.”

“Ahh. That doesn’t surprise me. He is always on the road,” the elf responded, wishing SJ a good day as he walked off.

SJ walked to the door, knocking before trying the handle and walking in. The draconian sat at a large desk, which was strewn with paper and parchments, and held a quill in his hand as he wrote in a ledger. Looking up from his paperwork as SJ entered, he smiled at SJ. The office had extravagant decor. The main centrepiece of the office was a large stone-carved desk, with intricately detailed legs that portrayed several of Killic’s races. Tapestries adorned the walls, with various scenes and several paintings showing Bellakiy. To SJ, it felt like a pretentious setting. Compared to Zigferd’s office, it was a league above. Zigferd’s was stark and practical.

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“SJ, isn’t it?” he said, placing the quill in a silver holder and pushing back from the desk. He stood, walking around his desk with his hand outstretched in a friendly greeting.

“It is, and you are Bellakiy,” she smiled.

“I am indeed. What may I do for you?”

“I came to introduce myself and was also seeking some advice.”

“I am glad to be introduced formally,” he replied as he offered SJ a seat and returned to his on the other side of the desk. “What advice were you seeking?” he replied as he offered SJ a seat and returned to his on the other side of the desk.

“I’m not sure if you are aware of my new position on the council?”

“I am not sure, no. I am not in town often, and when I am, I am usually too busy to catch up with what is happening, apart from meeting several merchants before heading back out again.”

“They have assigned me as an ambassador for Killic.”

The draconian tried to hide his surprise from SJ’s comment but didn’t entirely manage it. “Really? That is amazing,” he said, his smiled slightly delayed from his initial response.

SJ could sense that he didn’t appear genuinely pleased with her comment. Her ability to read people’s behaviour had always been a strong trait she had used in her previous life, and it seemed to be the case now.

“He doesn’t look happy and is nervous,” Dave said.

“As part of my new role, I am required to make relationships with the outer villages, and from what I am told, you are the one to speak to.”

Although SJ was not 100% confident in her ability to read draconian expressions, it still didn’t pass that his look appeared to change to that of smugness.

“I have been building relationships with all the local villages and towns for years. I have great relationships with them all. As you correctly state, I do have an uncanny ability,” Bellakiy replied.

SJ had stated nothing of the sort, and his arrogance to his own ability was sickening. “It would be fantastic if you could please introduce me to the various settlements over the coming weeks.”

“I would be delighted to. I am due to leave in the morning on a route around four of the closer villages. Would you like to join me?”

“How long will you be gone, as I will not be available immediately?”

“The route takes me three days to complete, with two overnight stops on the way. There are several villages that I frequent regularly with the trade caravan.”

SJ had assumed that peddlers would visit most villages rather than trade caravans. Several peddlers regularly came to Killic and set up stalls in the market square alongside the regular traders. SJ had never considered the use of a specific trade caravan. She had seen wagons and carts coming and going through the streets of Killic but had not realised what they were doing or where they were going. It made sense with the regular movement of food and goods to the villages.

“I don’t like or trust him,” Dave said.

“Unfortunately, with Alice currently missing, I don’t want to be too far from Killic,” SJ said.

SJ could have sworn that Bellakiy had to hold back a sneer at her name being mentioned. His eyes narrowed slightly. “It is a shame she is missing. I have always held her in such high regard,” he said.

“He is such a liar!” Dave shouted. Dave was getting more annoyed at Bellakiy than SJ was.

“It is more than a shame. She is a rock for Killic,” SJ said, still holding her smiled. “I will see you again on your return if that is okay, and hopefully, by then, I may be free to accompany you.”

“That would be lovely,” Bellakiy said.

Saying farewell and thanking him for the time SJ left his office.

“What a pompous self-centred ass-hat he is,” Dave blurted as soon as they were outside.

SJ couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “I agree. His office is all about his wealth and showing off. It is completely impractical.”

“What were those paintings all about? Why have paintings of yourself plastered around the walls? Do you think it is so he can remind himself who he is?”

SJ could not hide her laughter as she returned to the town centre this time. The next place on her list that afternoon would be the Wandering Ogre. She wanted to talk to Newiq about his thoughts about being absorbed into the town’s borders once it expanded. It was now mid-afternoon, and she didn’t fancy going there in the evening, knowing that was when it received its main clientele.

“Okay. Time to see Niweq. I want to see if I can get an eye on this kobold that Harrietta has mentioned.”

“You are on a mission today,” Dave said.

“You scolded me earlier, so I better do as I am told,” SJ replied sarcastically.

“And have you listened to me before?”

“I always listen to you, and I have no choice.”

“Hmph. I mean, really listen.”

“Yes. My dark overlord,” SJ chuckled.

“Oooo. I like that. Dave the Dark. Dave the Destroyer, Dave the…”

“Douchebag?”

“Oi,” Dave said.

SJ laughed heartily, getting some strange looks from others on the street.

The stark difference in its appearance surprised SJ, who had never visited the Wandering Ogre in daylight. The building was plain-looking, and its architecture seemed cold and clean, looking more like a warehouse than an inn. This was more because of the lack of windows that the building had. The front door was open, and no trolls were standing outside, as there had been on her first visit. SJ could also not hear any noise coming from inside. Reaching the door, she entered.

Her eyes took a few moments to adjust to the dimly lit interior. There were no acts on the stage, and only a couple of patrons sat at tables drinking. Looking towards the long bar, SJ recognised one of the trolls and walked over to him. He was leaning on the bar with a huge tankard in his hand, talking to the scantily clad human barmaid.

“Hi,” SJ said as she neared him.

The pair turned to look at her.

“Can we help you?” The troll asked, frowning deeply.

“Is Niweq around?”

“He should be in his office if he is up yet. It is still a little early for him. The shows don’t start for another couple of hours,” he replied.

“I assume I need to go around the side?”

“Yeah. Use the stage entrance,” the troll replied before turning back to its conversation with the human. The human girl giggled at something the troll said, and SJ assumed it was about her as she turned and left through the main entrance, walking around the side to the stage door.

The door was closed. SJ tried the handle, but it did not open. Rapping on the door sharply.

Several moments passed before she heard a bolt being withdrawn, and the previous orc she had met stood in the doorway, yawning and rubbing at his eyes with his free hand.

“Hello again,” Pethtu said, recognising SJ.

“Hi. I have come to see Niweq.”

“Not sure he’s up yet. You just woke me from my afternoon nap.” Pethtu replied grumpily.

“Apologies. I thought you would be preparing for the evening’s entertainment.”

“There isn’t much to prepare for,” Pethtu replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Why?”

“Since that damn wyvern arrived in the area, the number of patrons has dropped significantly. If it keeps going like this, there won’t be much point in being here,” Pethtu said, stepping to the side and holding the door open. “You know where his office is. Feel free to go and see if he is there yet.”

SJ walked past Pethtu, thanking him, and headed down the corridor. When she visited the club, for the better of a word, for the first time, the place was lively, with music playing and the dressing room full of acts. As she passed the changing room doors, she glanced in to see that there was only a lone half-elf sitting at a large mirror doing her hair. SJ nodded towards her as she looked at her in the mirror. Continuing down the corridor until she reached Niweq’s office door. Composing herself, she knocked loudly, waiting for a response.