Within a few weeks, they arrived at Issawast. By the time they had reached the city the air had become colder and the ground more barren, even though it was mid-spring. Such was the northernmost lands. The land was filled with hills, with the occasional flat plateau. Now and then there would be small settlements, but just as often as these Azara would spot collections of abandoned houses and barns - little failed settlements. Valerius explained that sometimes this was caused by famine, other times disease, and more rarely raiders. They encountered no such men in their travels though, and when they reached the capital of the province of Issawast Azara was ready to get off the road and into the company of people again.

The city itself was a surprise to Azara, in that it was beautiful. It was built of stone, quarried from small nearby mountains - which were more like very large and rocky hills than they were mountains. The tops of all the roofs appeared to be white, like they had been given a light dusting of snow. This white coating was a mixture of special clay found in the hills near the area, sprinkled atop tar. The result was a watertight seal that helped preserve the roofs.

What was most impressive to Azara was that the city existed at all. She had half expected a small town pretending to be a city, alone in the northern wastes, but it was quite the contrary. While Notting was not as large as either Midton or Ursus, the capital of Issawast was quite impressive and built sturdy. Azara spotted the governor’s mansion from quite a ways off, even above the small ring wall which surrounded the city.

Their welcome into the city was much smoother than that at Midton, there were no soldiers and armed guards. Rather, Valerius just strode into the large building which was the town’s central meeting place and asked to meet the governor. The attendant who he spoke to didn't believe who he was at first, but relented and went to get the governor. Sure enough, the man soon emerged.

Just like his city, the man wasn't what Azara expected. Rather than appearing regal, he was dressed more like a merchant. He was tall and had a skinny frame. He had blond hair and blue eyes, with a kind-looking face.

"Ah, hello, Prince Valerius, my goodness what a small entourage you have," he said, eyeing them with sparkling eyes. This was curiosity there, and a shrewdness that made Azara concerned.

"Yes Lord Gunvar, these are friends of mine, helping me on my current quest. You received my message about the change of plans?"

The man nodded, still scanning the group. His eyes rested upon Azara, and he squinted for a moment in scrutiny and suspicion. This made Azara even more concerned. "This one is a mage, isn't she?"

It did not seem like Valerius wanted to discuss it, and in a somewhat loathing tone, he replied. "You are indeed correct. Her name is Azara Elefthera, an ambassador from Aruslan whose aid I have recruited in this venture."

"Ah, well then, Azara Elef-" he began, and then stopped mid-sentence. He then walked up to Azara, reached out, and took her hand. He kissed it, most formally. "Elefthera. You are of house Elefthera, the Red Mage's...daughter, perhaps?"

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"Indeed," Azara replied, before lightly pulling away from her hand. She disliked the gesture, even if it was just manners. Azara felt as if she hadn't wanted this man to know who she was from the start.

"I will be honest, though I do not mean to insult, I didn't know she had any daughters. You certainly don't look...well, actually, I can see the resemblance perhaps. But, you are the most beautiful lady. Your hair is flaxen - no, like fine golden threads." he admired it a moment with a smile before he addressed Valerius again. "You should have told me about this. When you said you had decided to slay this dragon menacing us I thought you were insane. I remained steadfast in my loyalty, do not doubt that, but I still thought you were insane regardless. If you have told you were contracted with the Ignis Evigan on the other hand...that is a different story. Killing that dragon may just be possible with their help."

"That isn't the case. Azara volunteered her services. Though, I would appreciate their help in any of our endeavors."

Azara shook her head and glared at Valerius.

"Not true, you promised quite a bit to me, including favor with the cause of Aruslan in the new Ursulam you intend to establish."

"Certainly, but those were not the terms of hunting this dragon if you remember, only of...advising us in the endeavor." Valerius' eyes looked over then from Azara to Irinia.

He wasn't wrong, Azara thought. She had been asked to teach Irinia magic. She was the one that had volunteered to help with the dragon hunt. Part of her had rationalized that decision as just wanting to help the group not get themselves killed, and while that was perhaps the most driving factor, another reason had become magnified in her mind the further north they got. That was her curiosity about the dragon itself. Who were they? Why had they begun causing trouble and showing themselves?

She snapped back to reality as someone began speaking to her. It didn't matter yet. Those questions would be answered when she got to them.

"Lady Elefthera, would you be favorable to resting for a day, and attending a feast in honor of Valerius’ arrival here, before you all continue your journey?" Gunvor asked.

"Certainly," she replied, though she did not enjoy the idea as much as she had put on. She had interacted with far too much nobility and royalty to not see the possible implications of what Gunvor was doing. There could be any number of motives to the man's desire to treat them all, and his gentle attitude and compliments were warnings to her rather than pleasurable - despite how much she wanted to enjoy the latter.

"Very well. Now, I have some business to attend to, not that I am inconvenienced by your interruption, much the contrary - but I must attend to these matters. See you all tomorrow evening then! Also, you may lodge in my manor and make use of anything you need. Just ask of the servants there and they will buy you anything you need as well."

Valerius smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"He seemed like a nice person," Irinia said as the gentleman walked off.

"Yes, he is, but-" Valerius began before Azara cut him off.

"He is a very sly and crafty man, that is all," she said, almost angry. It was almost as if she was growling. "He’s one of my kind, a businessman, and he wants something from us."

Valerius recoiled a bit from her, putting up his hands between them in a mocking way. "My, when did you become so aggressive? You seem almost personally insulted. I was just going to say he was a crafty tradesman, and never did anything for anything."

She shrugged, her tone once more returning to its more lighthearted norm.

"I just don’t like him,” she said before she gave a shrug and then turned to depart the building. "And talking with him delayed me from getting a change of clothes and a nice bath."