Hjardur had called Davorra a frontier town, and I could easily see why as I descended towards it. It looked disorderly and haphazard, with low wooden rickety-looking buildings in the center and tents and shacks sprawling around it. It looked crowded - from a distance it looked slightly like an anthill, with motion everywhere. Smoke rose from a hundred chimneys and from makeshift stoves and open fire pits among the shacks, covering the whole town in a smelly haze.

I followed the muddy road through the sprawl. My belly began to growl - people were cooking their evening meals, and I hadn’t had hot food since breakfast. So, I thought as I entered the town proper, what now? Should I try to find my companions, or - get food? My belly growled again. Food it was. I looked around, and found a rough-looking tavern right at the next street corner.

As I stepped into the smoke-filled main room, I briefly considered looking for another place. This was dirty and rowdy, and there were two large carcasses spinning slowly across open fires along the back. I had gotten used to eating much more simply than I’d done back home, but this looked downright medieval.

I found I really wasn’t in the mood for being dainty, and they got me a slab of meat and something that looked like overcooked potatoes readily enough. I found an empty corner of a long table and sat down and tried to look uninviting.

My mood had slowly soured during the day. I’d been happy as I set off with the rangers, but as we walked, I kept thinking about what Lecander had said. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed Tiriel’s claims rested on nothing but air. Which was perhaps fitting, for an elf, but rather annoying, for me. I was an engineer, I needed facts.

I felt a bit stupid to have just accepted their story, and to have gone along with it without questioning anything. No longer, though. Once I found them, they had some explaining to do.

That left me with the problem of how to find them. I finished the food and sat back with my mug of weak beer. I didn’t know that they were still here, of course. They might have left for the mountains already, if they’d thought I was gone. I doubted that. They might have secrets, but they had proven themselves to be good, reliable friends.

So, my best bet was probably to look for rangers. They should know about Arndrir, at least, and probably the rest. Another option was to let them find me. I remembered Serah’s claims back in Ambor - that she could sense things in the air, from people’s thoughts. It didn’t seem impossible that she could sense me, if I just went around town for a while.

I decided to combine the two. I’d explore the town, keeping an eye out both for my companions and for rangers, and also give them a chance to find me. I downed my beer, and headed out into the deepening twilight.

Davorra only had three large streets, which ran in parallel along the valley, and lots of small streets and narrow alleys cutting between them. The central street was the largest, and even had a relatively fancy-looking hotel. I made note of that, in case I didn’t find the others. The town was really crowded, but Lecander had given me a fairly large bag of gold and I thought a fancy hotel wouldn’t be able to resist some extra gold, even it was fully booked.

I began walking more or less at random, looking carefully at the people I met and at all the buildings. Too bad the rangers didn’t have any special insignia, as far as I knew. I saw some people who might be rangers, but I wasn’t sure. I would go up and ask one of them, later.

There were more elves and dwarves here than I had seen at any point since the Dwarven Hall in Ambor. They looked purposeful, as if they were all going somewhere. There were a lot of humans too. Most looked like wilderness people, but there were a lot of bedraggled families with kids. I thought of the family I’d met earlier, who were fleeing from the brewing war. It made me even more determined to find my companions and find out what they were really up to.

After an hour of determined but aimless marching around, I was ready to give up and find an inn. The sky had darkened and it was getting hard to see properly.

The crowd on the streets was changing too, from the very diverse mix including families and children, to a tougher-looking lot. I decided it was time to stop walking around and look for a place for the night. I’d head out again, and see if I could find any rangers to talk to, but I should find a room first. Preferably at that fancy hotel.

There was a dark, narrow alley right to my left, leading to the central street. Too dark and narrow - I decided to take the next larger street instead. I had no desire to be robbed.

I was a bit disappointed at my failure to find the party. I’d really hoped I’d run into my old friends by now. Maybe they had left. If so, should I try to follow? If Lecander was right, they were part of an evil plan to enslave all the humans in Lumaria. That could not be allowed, of course. On the other hand, they were - or said they were - heading into the mountains to kill a dragon, in order to make an amulet that would help them find the Dragonblade. Which didn’t exist, also according to Lecander. That didn’t quite make sense.

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As I reached a slightly larger street and turned into it, I tried to sort out the different claims. It didn’t work, this time either. I had already concluded I needed more information. Which meant I probably had to find them, even if they had left.

I’d gone about halfway along the street when suddenly, Tiriel’s voice sounded right in front of me. I’d been lost in thought and looking down at the street, but now I looked up and stopped, shocked. There she was, standing in the middle of the road. I hadn’t heard or seen her appear, but I’d seen her move through the air before. She must have jumped down from one of the buildings.

“Peter,” she said again, and only then did I notice she had her bow out, with an arrow cocked and aimed straight at me.

“I’m sorry,” she continued, “but we can’t take any chances.”

Before I could answer, I heard fire crackling behind me and saw orange light dance on the buildings on either side. So Caveria was here too, and behind me.

“What do you mean?” I said. “Is this a way to greet a lost friend?” I grinned at her. She did not grin back. She looked determined and impassive, but very focused. If she loosed her arrow, I wouldn’t have time to react until it was stuck in my chest.

Behind her, Arndrir stepped out of the shadows, sword drawn. He nodded towards me, but he looked troubled.

“I’m sorry,” Tiriel said again. “I need to ask you to remove your amulet.”

“What?” I said. “My amulet? No. It’s mine.”

“See?” Caveria said behind me.

“Let’s stop this now,” I said, getting annoyed. “You know me. We need to talk.”

“Yes,” Tiriel said, her arrow pointing steadily at my chest. “We need to talk, in private. Take off your amulet.”

“What’s the matter with my amulet?” I said, raising my voice. “It’s just a protective amulet.”

“Peter,” Caveria said sharply. “Hold out your right hand. Do it!” she snapped when I hesitated.

“Fine, fine,” I muttered, “but you better explain this nonsense very soon.” I held out my hand, and suddenly, a thin strand of red-hot flame shot out from behind me, and sizzled across my hand.

“Ow!” I yelped and pulled it back. “What the hell are you doing?” I half-turned towards Caveria. I wanted to punch her.

“Peter,” Tiriel said in a quiet, commanding voice. “Do you remember how your amulet works. It protects you from magical fire. That was magical fire. Did it protect you?”

“What?” I said and turned back to her. “Caveria just tried to burn me, and you’re going on about my... amulet.” I fell silent as my brain caught up with her words. I looked down at my chest, where the amulet hung under my tunic.

“Exactly,” Tiriel said, nodding. “It didn’t protect you. Because it’s not your amulet. It’s been replaced, somehow. We can talk about how, later. Right now, we need you to take it off.”

I crossed my arms and glared at her. “You know everything, as usual, don’t you. Elven princess.” I tried to sound condescending. I was getting really angry at her. At all of them.

“Enough of this nonsense,” I said as firmly as I could. “I need to talk to you.”

Tiriel didn’t react, although I thought I saw a flicker of pain in her eyes at my tone.

“We will only talk if you remove your amulet. Or let us do it. Serah?”

Serah emerged from a doorway to the right. She didn’t greet me, she just looked at me as if I was a stranger. I was getting confused. Why were they acting like I was their enemy?”

“Hey,” I said, in a more conciliatory tone. “I don’t want us to argue or fight. I’ve been looking for you. I wanted to get back to you.”

“We want you back too,” Tiriel said, “but we don’t trust your amulet. Please, Peter, if you won’t remove it, let us do it. You’ll get it back afterwards, if you want it.”

I stared at her suspiciously. I didn’t understand any of this, but I knew I really didn’t want to take off the amulet. On the other hand, it seemed to be - not working. Maybe it wouldn’t harm anything to let them have it.

“Okay...” I said slowly and made to lift it off. Then I changed my mind.

“You’ll have to take it. If you can.” For some reason, I didn’t think they could.

Tiriel just nodded, and glanced at Serah. Serah walked up to me and held out her hands. Her expression was neutral, but I could see in her eyes she was actually happy to see me.

“Peter,” she said. “Hold my hands, please. Just take them and hold them. That won’t hurt anything, will it?”

“I guess not,” I muttered and took her hands in mine. She smiled, and I felt a wave of warmth flow from her hands into mine, and up my arms.

“Hey,” I said, “are you using magic on me?”

“Yes,” she said. “A gentle healing magic.”

It felt good, I had to admit, as the warmth spread, and abruptly, my anger dissipated. I blinked and stared at her. “What... what are you doing?”

“Sh,” she said. “Caveria will now remove the amulet. Just stay calm.”

I felt fingers on my neck, reaching below my tunic and finding the clasp to the amulet. The anger surged and I almost pulled free of Serah. She grabbed my wrists and held my hands tightly.

“Stay calm,” she urged me, and despite my sudden fury I decided to do what she said. I bent my neck forward and gritted my teeth, but let Caveria unclasp the amulet and lift it out of my tunic.

The anger snapped, like a broken twig, and went away. It was so sudden I stumbled, but Serah supported me. I looked up at her, and at Tiriel behind her. It felt like - like I’d been wearing a filter, making them out to be my enemies, or at least antagonists.

“It’s good to see you,” Serah said softly and squeezed my hands. The warmth still flowed from her. Behind me, Caveria cursed.

“This is a really ugly thing,” she said. “Where the hell did you get it? It stinks of you-know-who. But I can...” She grunted, and I saw white light flashing from behind, as if she was making lightning. It faded, leaving bright streaks as afterimages in my eyes.

“There,” she said, sounding very displeased. “It’s no danger now.”

Serah let go of my hands as Caveria stepped up beside me. She held up a small leather pouch.

“Thank you,” Tiriel said. She sighed deeply and lowered her bow. “I’m sorry Peter. We will explain, but we really couldn’t risk it.” She finally smiled at me, but it wasn’t her blazing, happy smile. She looked tired, and a bit sad.

"Let’s go back to our rooms,” she said.