As we left Everlund for home I couldn’t get Lirna out of my head. It’s a shame she’s in that profession. I liked her, but my parents would not approve. That’s when I realized I can’t tell them of Lirna. I really can’t tell my parents about most of the things I’m doing. Dad’s always telling me there’s a place working with him on the town guard when I’m old enough. Telling him I’d rather adventure with my friends than work with him would break his heart. I was deep in thought pondering these things when Dante asked me if I saw anything. “Not yet.” I told him just noticing the sun setting. We were getting close to the place we camped during that last storm.

I was very relieved when Morn Drake had agreed to traveling straight through instead of stopping to be a target in the middle of the night. We traveled for a while when we I smelled the familiar sent of burning wood. Looking ahead we all saw what appeared to be a bon fire in the middle of the road. We stopped the wagon as Tassar and Areon went ahead to check it out. From back here we could see people get up, but when they called for help I realized that it was a trap. Theona and Deitricha went up to help, while Dante and I stayed with the caravan in case the orcs attacked. It’s amazing watching these guys fight.

When the enemy ran the caravans moved forward. We were thinking about how to clear the road when the zombies came back. The fight was brief, but when the horns sounded from the mountains I knew we needed to go. I asked Deitricha if she could create water over a wagon to put out the fire, she did and enough of one was put out to move it so I tried to push. I couldn’t move it myself and in a minute others came to help. It was slow moving but after the half burnt wagon was out of the way we got on our way in a hurry. Tassar insisted on being in the last wagon as Dante drove, so I got in the second. Everyone else rode horses, except for the caravan drivers. I heard commotion behind us and looking back I saw a large orc in chain mail pick an arrow out of his shoulder and I thought, “we are going to die.”

We basically ran for what seemed like an eternity. The sun rose and noticing the road was empty behind us we slowed the horses and breathed a sigh of relief. It was like a weight dropped from our shoulders when we went through gates into Silverymoon. I practically ran home to see if the mugs were done, and my mother handed me the package and asked where I’ve been. I told her I’d explain later, but I had to go. On the way I stopped by the smith who made the silver mugs and gave him an additional 5gps for the beautiful work. Then I went to find my companions. The expression on their faces when I handed each of them a personalized pint sized silver mug: it was priceless. We went to get the rest of our pay, and then went to the bar.

Early the next day we met then went to Dante turned back into a human. I knew a few great spellcasters at the school and one was willing to help, especially since he was giving a class on breaking spells. It worked and Dante was a human again. Theona however didn’t seem happy about it. So when we got to the bar, I decided to get both of them drunk and drop them off at Theona’s house. Tassar kept saying we shouldn’t do this, but I was having fun and not listening. After that three of us went back to the bar and the next thing I knew my dad was lifting me out of the chair. He looked very angry as he practically dragged me home.

He told me one of his friends saw what we did earlier that afternoon and the only reason we weren’t all picked up right there was because of the position he held. He also told me that if I was going to stay under his roof I was to stop seeing my friends and get a steady job. He said I’ve been changing ever since I started being around “those people” and he knows something happened on that last trip. He can’t put his finger on it, but I’m not acting like the kid he raised. Now maybe it was the alcohol talking. Maybe it was because he called me a kid. Maybe I have changed. Anyway, I told my dad very simply that I was going to the tower outside of the city then when I get back I’ll get my things. I then walked out, went back to the bar and rented a room for the night. I didn’t see Tassar or Deitricha at the inn when I got back there, and I don’t remember if they were there or not when I was dragged away.

Lying in bed my mind drifted back to when I was eight. That was the first time I could control my ability. I created fire in my hand. I ran home from school to show my mother the new trick and in my hast accidentally set a wool blanket she was making on fire. I felt so bad but mother told me it was ok and after guiding me to the fire place had me repeat the trick. The next day I was taken to some special classes to learn about magic and how to speak draconic. That was the first time I heard about Bahamut. I asked a lot of questions about The Platinum Dragon. It was soon after I started to worship him. That was about the time I drifted off to sleep.

I dreamed I was flying. I had wings of gold, and golden scales. I didn’t know where I was going but the landscape seamed familiar somehow. I landed on a ledge close to the peak of the largest mountain in the area. I woke with a start and felt ok. I went downstairs for breakfast and waited for everyone else to arrive.