Carson, the innkeeper, had just finished feeding the fire when the front door blew open revealing two small figures framed in the dying light of day. Carson squinted at them and waved them in. “Shut the door, damn ya! The wind’s gonna pick up soon as the sun goes down. In or out. I don’t care which.” But even as he spoke he rushed to the door and practically pulled the 2 travelers inside.

They were both short, Isa could tell that much, but they were wrapped up in so many layers that she couldn’t have said if they were male or female, children or wizened elders. They both had goggles over their eyes, and the first one pulled them off and down so they dangled around his? her? their? neck. A set of light green eyes met Isa’s, and the person nodded. Isa lifted her mug of mead in welcome.

“We’re not the only travelers about this evening,” said Mery.

“They’re not children, right?” Alice asked softly.

“Nah, probably gnomes. Maybe halflings.” Lund gave a brief glance over his shoulder. “Gnomes, I’m pretty sure. This far from fields and valleys? Gnomes. It’s the rare halfling that travels far.”

“Calling Bilbo Baggins,” Alice said to Isa and smiled.

Isa thought about the gnomes she’d met. “They seem tall for gnomes.” As she watched, the newcomers stripped off 2 outer layers and dropped them in a heap by their backpacks. The one who’d locked eyes with Isa removed their hat and long black hair spilled out. The other one did the same and revealed a bald head ringed with dark stubble.

“A gnome and a halfling.” Lund kept his voice low. “That’s interesting.”

“Which one is which?” asked Isa.

“Ya didn’t just say that?” Mery shook her head. “What a thing, Isa Chamberlin, what a thing.” She tipped her chin toward Alice. “You know, don’t you?”

“Well it’s not polite to stare, and I--”

“This world of yours, it gets more and more boring with every crumb of knowledge you drop, Princess. No little folk? Huh.” Mery stood and grabbed 2 more chairs, placing them close to the fire and pushing her own chair to the table. “We’ll discuss distinguishing features and how to tell the Augwaith apart at a later date.”

Lund tugged at his ear lobe and mouthed “It’s the ears.”

Mery raised her voice and said, “If you’ve a mind, friends, the fire is burning well. Plenty of room, and we’ll not press you if you want quiet with your warmth.”

The black-haired one raised her hand in acknowledgement but didn’t turn from her negotiations with the innkeeper. A few minutes later the two approached Isa’s group. They’d shed several more layers of outerwear to reveal bright blue jackets, white shirts, and brown pants. They were of a similar height, but the black-haired one was a slender female, and the balding one was a stout-chested male. He had a scar on the left side of his face that ran the length of his jaw.

“A fellow campaigner, it seems!” Lund stood and held out his hand to the male. “Lund Subash, Battalion of the Southern Reach, now a civilian of Bywater.”

“You’re far from home, Subash. Throm ka-la.” The bald fighter gripped Lund’s hand and looked up to meet his eyes.

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“I am Dockma Nimnor,” said the female. “Gnome of the Rulnor. This is Flanor Underbough of Riverwind.” She sat down and Flanor followed her lead.

“I’m--” Isa and Mery both started talking at the same time. They laughed and looked at each other. “Go ahead,” said Isa. “No-no,” Mery said. “It’s your quest.”

“A quest, is it?” Dockma looked from one to the other. “This far north? This is a vast region and not well mapped.”

Isa looked from Mery to Lund. Why hadn’t she thought of maps? Ysel hadn’t given Isa anything like that, and it would have been helpful.

“Dock’s a mapmaker,” said Flanor. “The brain’s of the outfit. I’m just the brawn, you understand.”

“That’s not exactly true,” Dockma said mildly, but Isa had a feeling that she was pleased by her companion’s words.

Carson arrived with another jug of mead and basket of bread. “Evening meal is ready, if you’d like to take your seats at the table.”

“Shall we eat all together?” Mery smiled at the newcomers. “I’m a bard, by trade, a collector of stories.” She bowed.

Dockma inclined her head. “Roadside treasures are new friends found, with bright eyes and helping hands.”

“Talus’ The Wedding, if I’m not mistaken,” said Mery. “Billgully’s speech. I played Petunia most often, although I would have made a fine Falinda.” She pulled two tables together and sat down. Alice and Isa sat beside her. The newcomers sat opposite, and Lund sat at the end of the table closer to Flanor than to Isa.

“A bard and a fighter,” said Flanor. “And what else?” He smiled warmly at Isa and Alice.

“I’m a wizard, I guess,” Alice blushed. “Of Lockwood. The Lady of Lockwood, I mean. She is my patron.” She covered the copper bracelet on her left wrist with her right hand.

Isa noticed Dockma noticing Alice’s movement. Why had Alice done that? All she did was draw attention to the bracelet, and why did it matter if she had jewelry, magical or not? “I’m Isa Chamberlin. I’m a fighter and a cleric.” She shrugged.

“Tell me about your bracelet, ah, I didn’t catch your name.” Dockma’s light green eyes stayed on Alice’s face.

“Alice, Alice Fondel. It’s just...” she said, turning her hand back and forth. “I got it secondhand.”

“So you make maps.” Isa smiled at the gnome. “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever met a mapmaker in my whole life. And it’s funny, you should mention--”

“It’s an interesting design,” Dockma said to Alice. “Elven, I assume, but it’s not their usual--”

“What’s your quest then?” Flanor smiled at the three women. “What’s got a soldier out of retirement? Not that you’re wrong to bring along a…. What’s your weapon?”

“I like a greatsword, but I’m comfortable with about all your basics.” Lund shrugged.

“So a bard, a wizard, and a fighter all decide to come along at the behest of a fighting priestess. And an outlander, too, unless I’m mistaken.”

Just then Carson placed 2 small platters at each end of the table. They held slices of meat and heaps of roasted potatoes. He put a large plate of green beans in the center of the table.

Dockma placed a slice of meat and a spoonful of beans on her plate. “If they do not wish to discuss it, Flanor, we should not pry.” She took a small bite. “We have had an exciting journey so far, and I am not hesitant to share a good tale with well-met traveling companions. We have been - that is I have been mapping the northern-most borders of Varana. Most cartographers leave the area north of the Hinter blank. ‘The Hinterlands,’” Dockma waved one hand in the air, “Uncharted, unknowable, impassable, impossible. But we knew better, didn’t we, Flanor?”

The halfling nodded, his mouth full of food. He held a finger in front of his mouth and chewed. Finally he said, “Not much treasure up here - shame, really - but plenty of raw materials. Is that what’s drawn you north?”

Isa hadn’t expected to meet a mapmaker just where she’d need one. Was this Ysel’s doing? Although maybe it made sense that such a remote area would attract explorers. “We’d gladly pay for some advice,” she said to the gnome.