We all awoke around a dead campfire the barest of embers still burning down. I helped pack up everything and then attended to my own belongings as they hooked Bess back up to the wagon.

Gerald approached, “So, quite the sad tale last night. Always a good warning but I thought the Fae hadn’t been seen for decades.”

I smiled, “They are mysterious and long lived. I don’t have any other tales about them of late. I’m not sure whether they exist,” I lied. I knew what happened and that they were a growing threat that’ll have to be dealt with in the next few centuries.

Gerald nodded and looked at Mary, “We lost my wife a year ago. I’m hoping to find a kind woman that’ll look after my daughter and be a new wife. Only proper for a girl to have a woman to guide her.”

I gripped his shoulder and nodded, “We are headed to the same town. I’ll ask around if there are any eligible women of marrying age. A minstrel is good at finding the gossip.”

“Just for those words you will have to ride with us. No point in leaving you behind now.” Gerald hauled the last of their supplies back into the wagon and we all boarded.

Bess required no snap of the reins to know when to move. The wagon began to trundle onto the road and I pulled out my lute and began practicing some of the songs I heard through the runes I’d left behind. It wasn’t as smooth as I wished and would require a flew hours to master. Soon dark gray clouds filled the skies and a light rain began to drizzle.

Mary retreated into the covered area of the wagon and sat down across from me. She listened intently and watched my fingers dance across the strings. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the symphony of nature and played songs that plucked the strings like raindrops falling on the canvas cover.

“Sir Dolan, where did you learn to play?” Came Mary’s quiet voice.

“It took me a year of apprenticeship with an older minstrel who was hired to be in a Duke’s court. I am not ready to settle down for that kind of work just yet. Well maybe for the king.” I slowed my playing and looked out at the world. “I used to mail him coin as thanks. However, news of his passing reached me about a year ago.”

Mary nodded, “What could I do to learn a song?”

I rubbed my chin and an idea came to me. I stripped off my boots and fished out the oils to rub onto leather to make it resist the waters. I showed her a quick demonstration on how to use it and handed her the boots. “Take care of those and I’ll teach you.”

She dutifully attended my boots and I walked up to Gerald. “You don’t mind if I show her a song. It’ll be from a lullaby. Might be a little out of tune.”

Gerald glanced over at me and nodded, “If she earns it sure.”

I nodded and stretched out my arms until the canvas stopped them. Returning to Mary I waited for her to finish. I handed her a clean rag and instructed her to wipe her hands best she could.

The rest of the morning it was teaching Mary to play a lullaby. She was a quick learner like most children and I remembered struggling to learn myself. I ate my dry goods at midday as the wagon halted for my companions to eat as well. Technically speaking I didn’t need to eat, fueled by my collection but I had grown fond of the activity when I began assuming the form of a human. Gerald was sore and paid me another bit for a treatment of my unguents. He made a show of stretching out his legs and shamelessly rubbed his backside.

When we headed back on the road the lessons continued. Soon though we were approaching the next town. I packed up my things and donned my boots. Approaching Gerald I had to speak with him. “I’ll need to take care of business in town. How long are you planning to stay?”

Gerald kept his eyes on the road. “Two days, then we have to depart. You?”

“I have to deliver some missives and then maybe stay at an inn, tell some stories. I think this is where we will part.” We shook hands and I bid goodbye to Mary as I grabbed all my gear. Hopping down off the wagon I took a deep breath and approached separate of the wagon. I had guards to talk to.

I waited for the cart to finish being inspected and then approached, thankful the rain had let up. “I have missives for the duke.”

The guards looked at each other and someone stepped forward. “You’ll have to come meet the captain and get a more thorough inspection before we can grant you audience to the Duke.”

I nodded and submitted myself to being guided into town. I looked around at the place. The buildings were more stone than wood and the lack of fields truly spoke of how affluent the people here could possibly be. The tithes of food from the nearby towns kept everyone well fed and able to focus on what kept the monarchy running. I was guided to one two story building. The lower floor was filled with cells and a few places for guards to rest. Several overly drunk people were singing incoherently and uncoordinated. I was led to a set of stairs and up into the second floor. My guide knocked on the most official door.

“Come in,” came a gravelly voice. The door was opened and I was motioned inside. The man behind the desk had gray hair and one eye covered by a patch. The wall behind him had an ornate sword hung upon it. His armor was made of chain over padded clothes underneath. He eyed me critically as I approached the desk, “I can’t decide if you look like a minstrel, messenger, or holy man.”

I smiled and nodded, “A little of all three. Mostly minstrel though, the symbols are just in hopes the gods watch over a humble man on the roads. However, the keeper of Gromstome gave me some missives and coin to pay for it being delivered. I have a letter of introduction.”

The man stroked his chin. Then waved at the chair across from him. “Sit down and give me this letter.”

The chair was uncomfortable and poorly crafted as it creaked under my weight. I took out and handed the letter to the captain of the guard and put down my belongings on the floor. The man slowly read over it, taking his time. Reading was a relatively rare skill in this kingdom. There were others that strive to educate everyone to that basic level but I no longer wanted to meddle in the world. After some time the man nodded and folded the letter back up.

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Setting it aside he began going through all my things looking for anything suspicious. He sniffed my unguents and salves. He gave me a look as he set them aside in a separate pile. Soon my things were separated into two groups. The letter pack, clothes, lute and scroll in one, everything else in the other.

“This pile you can take with you when you meet with the Duke. I’ll keep hold of the others as I can’t tell what you’d need them for when seeing our lord. You can reclaim them when you return from his manor.” I could tell from his tone there was no negotiating with him.

He gave me a poorly written tag and called a guard to put it safely away. “Keep this tag with it all.”

The captain stood and grabbed a much more battered and worn sword. I stood and grabbed what little I was allowed to take and prepared to follow. Time to meet the duke.

It felt a little strange to leave behind most of my belongings. It had been many years since I was separated from them. The guard was a little shorter than myself and was heavily muscled. Two other guards flanked me and I wondered if there was a recent attempt on the Duke’s life. The town looked at our little entourage with curiosity and probably would be full of gossip by the end of the day.

A wall of stone rose well above our heads and four heavily armored guards stood by a wagon-sized gate. My guides and the men protecting the Duke’s land traded many words that seemed to have nothing to do with why I was here and I waited patiently keeping my ears open for any info that might be relevant.

I was searched once more for weapons and given the go ahead. The gate opened and we continued. The road was lined with short, well tended grass. Flower beds and benches littered the grounds with gardeners tended the grounds. A rare fruit bearing trio of trees were starting to bud and I wondered what kind they could be.

The manor stood three stories, the ground floor seemed to be of stone and the small windows near the ground told me there was some basement work as well. Dozens of people could live comfortably inside and with servants and lesser nobles probably did. Guards patrolled inside, this time more relaxed than the outside ones. The smells of a cooling lunch being cooked wafted through the air and I could smell hints of pork throughout it. The doors were not as large as the gate had been and a man in black clothes and frilled garb came to greet us.

“What may I help you with gentlemen?” His voice was posh and curious. His back was impeccably straight and one arm was tucked behind his back. His heels were pressed together with his feet making a rather harsh v shape.

The captain spoke for us all, “This man has missives for the Duke and a strong letter of introduction. It states he should be given a short audience should it please the Duke.”

“May I see it. You’ve misread letters before.”

I could see the back of the captains neck grow flush and he waved me forwards. He muttered under his breath barely audibly, “Who does this butler thinks he is.”

I pulled the letter free and bowed while offering it. It was taken from me with a snatch and I stepped back. The butler skimmed through it so quickly it spoke of years of education. I was critically scanned and he cleared his throat. “I can’t present you like this good sir. Do you have more proper clothes?”

I nodded and produced my minstrel's garb and offered for them to be inspected. “These are the most proper clothes I possess.”

The butler glanced and barely touched them, “These will do.” He waved dismissively at the guards and turned without addressing them.

I followed him inside and was guided through some halls and down stairs. I was led to a quiet room with a tub of steaming water.

“I expect you to wash up, there is scented soap on that shelf. Let’s see how presentable you can make yourself. And leave those disgusting leathers and rags you're wearing in here, one of the maids will tend to them properly.”

I stepped inside and the door closed behind me. I stripped down and folded my clothes into a nice bundle. Stepping into the hot tub with a sigh of comfort and knelt in it. I scrubbed my skin with the scented soap and rinsed as much dirt from my hair as possible. I scrubbed my feet until they were truly clean and fought off the urge to lounge in the hot water and instead used the towel they left to dry myself off, a luxury for the well off people in the world. I pulled in my nicer clothes and made sure to make myself as presentable as I could. The wafting scent of roses from the soap wafted through the moist air.

I stepped outside and waited to be collected as a plump woman pushed her way inside and collected my things, another woman coming for the used tub and they departed with a nod.

“You look halfway to truly presentable but it'll do, come follow me.” The butler barely waited for me to grab the letters and lute and catch up to him. The halls of this manor were not so labyrinthine that I had seen before and we went up two sets of thin servants stairs and soon we were in front of an ornate set of oak doors. The butler gently knocked.

A few moments passed and a surprisingly young voice called out, “Enter.”

As we entered the office I looked upon the Duke. I fought off the great surprise that he must only be about eight years of age. His hair was a coiffed collection of black curls, his eyes a deep brown. He kept proper posture and I bowed with the butler.

“What is it, Geoff?” His voice was soft with youth and a solid tenor that some boys had before becoming men.

“A minstrel was given missives by Sir Mays of Gromstome. His letter of introduction is quite glowing of this man’s skills. His name is Dolan, as the letter introduces.” Geoff stepped forward and placed my letter of introduction on the desk.

The young Duke nodded and spoke, “you are dismissed Geoff.” He read the letter and then addressed me, “Dolan, have a seat.”

I sat and pulled the pack of letters out from the satchel and set them upon the desk. The Duke nodded and placed them aside.

“Your letter says you were quite entertaining for Samuel. It says to offer you a room for the night. Would you play for me and tell me a tale after dinner?” There was a childlike hope in those woods that reminded me of Eric lifetimes ago.

I nodded deeply, “it would be an honor Duke…” I froze, I forgot to find out the name of the Duke, “I’m so terribly sorry. I never caught the name of this duchy. I’ve traveled long and far.”

“Duke Ursal, that’s quite the mistake to make. My father would have thrown you out.” He leaned back relaxing and looked away. “My mother tells me to be more merciful.”

“I thank her grace for your understanding.” I kept bowing, keeping my head down.

“For my forgiveness I ask you to play songs as I parse through the missives. Please take your chair to the corner and begin.” He waved one hand as gracefully as he could and I set up in the corner.

The day melted by and I was guided to the servants corner and ate a humble meal with the others before being guided to a fireplace room. Two plush seats sat looking at the flames and a graceful woman not more than twenty five years of age and Duke Ursal. A stool sat beside the fireplace just in line of sight.

I sat upon the stool and prepared my lute. “Any requests for the night?”

The woman spoke up, a voice like honeyed tea, “Surprise us.”