After I announced the contest winners, things began to die down in the tavern. The excited chatter gradually faded into a pleasant hum as patrons finished their drinks and started heading home. I made my way over to Celeste and Kenton to discuss the finer points of our new arrangement.

Celeste and I talked about her Frosted Wheat ale becoming a regular feature on the menu. I couldn't help but smile at her infectious love for brewing. We discussed the quantities she could provide and how often, as well as the possibility of expanding her cellar to ensure consistent quality.

Next, I turned my attention to Kenton Blackmore. His Ravencloak Amber had impressed me with its rich flavors, no doubt due to the oak barrel aging process. As we ironed out the details of our contract, I found myself appreciating not only his skill as a brewer but also his professionalism and attention to detail as he wrote down everything we discussed in a small, worn leather notebook.

With Celeste and Kenton's exceptional brews on the menu, I had a feeling the tavern's patrons would continue to grow.

Later, Lady Churl came out and shared a beer with me and Seraphina, though she didn't care for it much. I got her a Dragon's Breath Brew. She took one sip, and her eyes lit up.

"Reckon that's the best I ever tasted," she said.

"That good, huh?"

"Got the burn. Chases after them bubbles right nice."

"Good news," I told her, "I'm going to start stocking it. Maybe I can get Urzan to bring some of his troop down here."

"Ain't they gonna wreck the place? Grondak's young. You get them big orcs worked up on brew, they gonna break the pretty furniture."

I hadn't considered that.

Ophelia and Sir Garin had been pushed out of their chairs near the back of the bar and now hovered near the hearth.

"Can you believe the ruckus in here tonight?" Lady Ophelia said, her see-through hands gesturing towards the crowd. "I haven't seen this tavern so packed in weeks. I've enjoyed the quiet."

Sir Garin chuckled as he shifted his stance. "It's a welcome change, Ophelia. The Shadow's Respite has been too quiet for far too long."

"But the noise! It's enough to wake the dead, and that's saying something coming from me."

Garin chuckled and shook his head.

Jessara and Milo looked worn out, but they came out of the kitchen to help me clean up. Old Man Guslan was still busy adding to his tab. I'd have to chase him out soon, or he'd start rambling off stories for a few more hours while he nursed some ale.

A group appeared at the front door, and I was happy to see them. Mira, Alic, Doan, and Triolux strode in, looking slightly disheveled but pleased with themselves.

"Where have you all been?" I asked. The last time I'd seen them, they’d been taking the three ruffians to the village jail, a place I'd never visited. I couldn't imagine it was a pleasant place. In the back of my mind, I'd hoped they would have confessed to being hired by the Baron, but I knew it was a long shot.

Mira, her hair windswept and a smudge of dirt on her cheek, grinned. "You won't believe what happened when we marched those three off to the jail."

Alic, his uniform slightly askew, put in. "The thin guy with the greasy hair managed to slip away."

"Slippery as a snake, that one," Mira added. "I had a firm grip, and a hand on my sword. Didn't think he'd be that dumb."

Doan, who had a small tear in his sleeve, continued the story. "I pounced on the big one when he made a move. Held him down. Alic got the other one, and we secured them while Mira and Triolux went after the escapee."

Triolux, seemingly unfazed by the excitement, nodded. "It was a most fascinating pursuit. The agility and speed displayed by both the pursuer and the pursued were quite remarkable."

"I can't believe you kept up, Triolux."

"Ah. My short stature. We ferrokin have a number of tricks." Triolux grinned broadly.

I tried to imagine Triolux taking off in pursuit, and nearly laughed. More than a few mouths would no doubt waggle about the strange sight in Everspring tomorrow.

Seraphina leaned forward. "So, what happened next?"

Mira laughed. "We chased him through the streets, and down alleys. I thought I had him cornered at one point, but he managed to squeeze through a narrow gap between two buildings."

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Triolux interjected, "The architecture of your town is quite intriguing. The way the buildings are arranged creates a complex network of paths and hiding spots."

Seraphina, who had been listening intently, chuckled. "I bet you never expected a tour of Everspring's back alleys, Triolux."

"Indeed not, but it was most educational," the ferrokin replied with amusement.

Mira continued. "Eventually, we caught up to him near the edge of town. He would have reached the woods, but I tackled him to the ground, and Alic secured him."

"I must admit, I found the entire experience quite thrilling," Triolux said.

I couldn't help but laugh at the image of the usually stoic ferrokin caught up in the excitement of a chase. "Well, I'm glad you all made it back safely. What will happen to those three?"

"I'll let them cool off in a cell for a day or two. If the magister comes by, he can deal with them. Otherwise, we'll put them in a wagon, drive out fifty or so miles, and dump them."

"You could put them to work with the orcs," I suggested.

Mira laughed, lowered her voice, pumped her fists up and down, and said, "Urzan like free labor!"

An hour later, I was dead on my feet, about to pass out from a few too many ale samples and a couple of Frosted Wheat Ales, not to mention last night's activities underground. I finally had to usher my friends out the door. Mira looked thankful and noted that she couldn't keep her eyes open much longer.

Kieran had left but promised to stop by tomorrow to discuss the night. I was already thinking about asking him how much it would cost to keep him on for a week or two, a bard residency if you will. If I could afford him, I'd happily offer him a room, a few drinks per night, and food to further entice him into performing.

Lady Churl said she'd lock up the tavern. I thanked her and asked Seraphina if she was ready to call it a night.

"Thought you'd never ask," she said, rising to her feet. We'd napped, but still needed about a dozen hours of sleep.

Seraphina and I climbed the stairs to my room. I was dog-tired but also excited to have Seraphina spend the night and stay with me for a few days.

"You're awfully quiet," she noted as she pushed open the door to my room.

"Honestly, I was just thinking about you. I'm so glad you're here," I replied, stepping into the bedroom after her. I closed the door and locked it.

She chuckled softly, settled on the edge of the bed, reached out, caught my shirt, and tugged. I went to her and put my arms around her.

As we started a passionate kiss, the faint, rhythmic thumping sound filled the room. It wasn’t loud, but it was insistent.

"That's the sound I heard a few times earlier. Thought it was a woodpecker."

Seraphina turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if trying to place the source. "It's coming from above us," she said.

I craned my head back and looked up at the ceiling where I kept a few items hidden. "Could that be the aether beacon?" I muttered, rising from the bed.

"One way to find out," Seraphina said.

I climbed onto the bed, ignoring the slight creak of the wooden frame beneath my weight. Reaching up, I slid my hand along the beam where I'd tucked the beacon weeks ago, hidden among the wood and dust, but before I grabbed hold, my skin grazed another object.

Morthisal's old staff.

The chill that coursed through me was startling. It wasn’t just cold, it was a sensation that burrowed deep and felt unsettling. A faint, eerie hum filled my ears, carrying with it the mournful voices of the dead.

I yanked my hand back instinctively.

"Varix?" Seraphina asked sharply. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I said, "'You know who's old staff is up there. I hate touching it."

I tried again; my fingers closed around a small leather pouch, and I carefully pulled it free from its hiding spot and sat down on the bed. Opening the bag, I dumped the aether beacon in my palm.

"I should have had this with me when I fell into the Ferrokin city. Might’ve saved us all some trouble."

Seraphina smiled. "True, but then you wouldn't have made a dragon your new best friend."

I chuckled softly. "Fair enough." A thought struck me. "Earlier, a strange woman was walking around the Shadow's Respite. She wore rather plain clothes and ran her hands over everything like she'd never touched wood or glass before. Do you think…"

"Frostfire? It's possible. Legends say dragons can be shape-shifters. I guess we'll have to seek her out and ask her."

"After we sleep. But first let’s see what the king wants. How do I activate this thing?" I asked and lifted my hand.

The aether beacon bounced in my hand. I slapped my other hand on top to prevent it from falling.

"Are you there?" King Alister's voice echoed from the object.

"Uh. Hi, your kingship," I said, and my eyes locked with Seraphina's because I suspected we had the same thought. How was he walkie-talkieing us?

"Varix? Is Seraphina with you?" His voice sounded distant and tinny.

"She is. What, eh, what can we do for you?"

"Please use the silencing stone."

Seraphina already had her hand in her pouch. She withdrew the large gem and placed it between us on the bed. Her eyes closed, and the familiar feeling of being placed in a vacuum descended around us.

"It's safe to talk, your Highness," Seraphina said.

"We have a problem," King Alister said.

"How did you already hear about the dragon and the lost city?"

"Pardon?"

"Varix sort of met a dragon. He freed her from a long hibernation. It's in a long underground city, one that was hidden before the cataclysm. You're not calling about that?"

King Alister was quiet for a moment, then said, "I didn't reach out to you about a dragon and lost city. Pre-catacalysm? This is most unusual. Most! But it gives me even more reason to ask you both to come to the capital as soon as possible. I need to hear everything."

I looked at Seraphina and asked, "Want to go on a road trip? How far is this place?"

"Crownforge is a couple of day's ride," Seraphina said.

"We might be able to cut that down," I said. "I do know a dragon, after all."

"What in the world have you two been up to?" Alister asked.

"We'll tell you all about it when we see you. Oh. We're bringing a friend. His name is Triolux, and he's a ferrokin. He kinda looks like an old, rusted dwarf. But he's cool." I hiccuped. Damned ale. "That reminds me. I need to talk to the tavern guild, anyway. Another reason to go to Crownforge."

King Alister was silent for a moment.

"Uh. Your lord kingship or whatever?" I tried not to burp. Note to self. Don't talk to the king of the land when you're drunkish.

"How soon until you will be here?" Alister asked.

"Soon, I hope. What was the problem you, er, called about?" I shrugged at Seraphina because I couldn't think of anything else to call it. We apparently had Mythralon’s version of an iPhone.

"It's Thanlindra. She's gone."

"What?" Seraphina exclaimed.

"How did she escape?" I asked.

"She didn't escape. Her body is still here. It's who is now in her body that is the problem. I could use your help."

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?"