The red headed Dwarf was braiding her hair in front of the stables.

“Velt!” I waved at the shorter person as I approached. “Sorry for just disappearing on you last time.”

The Dwarf tied off the braid that she was working on so she could look at me. “Trouble caught up to you.” Her grin split her face. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

“How did you..?”

“Doesn’t take a Sphinx to be able to tell that you were runnin’ from something.” The short woman held out her hand. “Besides, it’s a small town.”

I shook the offered hand. “Still, I’m sorry for reserving the Drakes, then disappearing on you like that.”

“You weren’t the first and you won’t be the last!” The jovial Dwarf chuckled. “Actually still have the pair if you want them.”

“You hung on to them?” I felt a little bad if she had. I knew she said that my father had helped her out once, but I didn’t want her to hurt her business waiting for me to show up.”

“Not like you’re thinking.” Velt shrugged and started walking inside. She gestured at the empty stalls. “Humans in these parts only want horses. Most of the travelers from the forge have their own, so these are kept as extras to trade off.” She nodded at the stalls with the drakes. “I’ve got three more besides those that haven’t been touched since you were…” Her voice trailed off. “By the ore!”

I didn’t have to turn around to know that my brother had just walked in. Around the coastal towns it wasn’t as big of a shock to see a Camadt walking around. They mainly kept to their island, but they still had merchants and traders who interacted with the ports on the mainland. But anything inland was a rarity.

My brother took advantage of that novelty and thrived on the attention, whether it was reverence or fear. In this case it looked like a little of both.

“I heard Irongut had took in a stray, but I thought that was just people telling kraken stories.” Velt shook her head. “I’d shake your hand, but…”

“It’s okay, I’m used to mages keeping their distance.” Vin glared at Starna. “Most mages…”

“You didn’t have to follow me.” Starna folded her arms. The rest of whatever she was going to say to my brother vanished as she turned to Velt. “A mage?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Velt Soberthinker, at your service.” The Dwarf spread her arms as she bowed.

“THE Soberthinker?” My mage companion was starting to gush.

“You’re thinking of my ancestor.” Velt straightened and shrugged. “No one from my family has been that strong since we were exiled.”

“What am I missing?” I looked between the two. “I know there aren’t many Dwarf mages, but what’s so special about this person you’re both talking about?”

“Derf Soberthinker. Hero of the Camadt War. Was the only Dwarf Elder to survive the draining, but vanished during the Triftion Wars.” Starna was close to hyperventilating. “Why are you here?”

“I don’t know exactly.” Velt shrugged. “I’m still in my sixties, but I know my family has been here for over five hundred years. The whys tend to be close to the same though. Too much power to keep around, but enough that those afraid of it don’t want to completely get rid of it.”

“But you are a mage?” Now that I was looking, I could sense some magic emanating off of the Dwarf, though they were doing a good job of keeping it suppressed.

“If by mage, you mean that I can use some magic, then yes.” Velt shrugged. “But getting any training in this place is nearly impossible.” She turned to Starna. “Ammabus only takes Elves.”

“You went to the Ammabus school?” I looked at her. “I thought you were with Alessa since she was little.”

Starna blushed. “It isn’t like that. My mother paid Ammabus to teach me magic to help me guard Alessa better. I never went to the tower.”

I hadn’t realized just how much pull her mother had. Ammabus Tower was just a little to the north of Hepool, but the mage who presided over the school was rumored to be almost Elder level. For someone that strong to come and give personal lessons to her, Ambassador Shellock had to have a lot more pull than just a regular ambassador.

“A princess guarding the princess.” Vin teased.

“I never said..!” Starna bit off her response. “It was only a couple lessons a year. Nothing that major.”

“As you say.” Velt chuckled. “But enough about magic and parents. I’m guessing you need Drakes for three?”

I nodded and fished out three gold coins.

Velt only took one of them. “How soon are you wanting to leave?’

“As soon as we can.” I glanced over my shoulder. There were people in front of the building across the street gathering to watch us. The sooner we left, the less awkward I’d feel. Besides, the barn was the only place I wasn’t feeling vulnerable, but it smelled like the galley after Phlek gutted fish. It wasn’t a place I was looking to spend the night.

The Dwarf picked up a harness and nodded at another one. “You can get on your way faster if you lend a hand.”

Vin beat me to the other saddles and took two of them off the rails they were on. I stepped back to give him room to work. It seemed like he was just as eager as the rest of us to be out of the town.