“So,” I began as we trudged out of the city gates. “Tell me why we’re going to this hamlet?”

  “El'Kedah is not a hamlet,” Gex said, as she was walking in the front of the group. It was explained to me, after I had fully woken up, that this location was a few days’ travel from Aulganna, and we were going to have to walk most of the way there since no merchants or caravans were traveling that way right now. “It’s a self-ruled city. It doesn’t listen to the council,” the Orc said. “So, that means it’s nothing like Aulganna.”

  “So, if it doesn’t follow the council why are you and Titan here?” Bel asked. “Wouldn’t you be treated better at this other town?”

  "Simple," Titan said with a sigh. "El'Kedah doesn't really work for us." He shot a meaningful look at Gex.

  The woman cleared her throat, green cheeks darkening slightly. "Look, it was a long time ago. They've probably forgotten... maybe." She took a few steps, then added under her breath, "I don't want to push my luck."

  "Besides," Titan continued, steering the conversation back, "The guild there is pretty small, which means we'd have to get real jobs. Lot of low rank guildies means too much competition. And can you imagine us doing actual honest day-to-day work? Sure, I can carry a barrel or plow a field with the best of them, but our skills don't go in that direction."

  The roads around Aulganna were well tended cobblestones for several miles with the constant clatter of horse hooves and wagons creaking to and from their destinations. I recalled that Gex had said that the city we were based out of was the capital of the Human city. The amount of traffic certainly spoke to how important its status was at least.

  “We should have tried to get in on a caravan going to El'Kedah,” I said, already feeling tired of walking on the cobbled path.

  “I looked to see if there were any convoy jobs in the guild,” Gex replied looking back towards me. “No such luck, most merchants don’t normally hire adventurers to act as wagon guards unless it’s a dangerous area. They’ll have one or two folks they poached from adventuring or somewhere else to guard the loot.” Her eyes gleamed. “Which works out for Titan and me cause then we get to go make an example of the bandits and take a bit off the top.”

  “Sounds cushy,” I replied. “Still, we could have bought horses or something.”

  “If you’re going to complain the whole way,” Gex warned. “I’ll tie your snout shut.”

  “Well unlike you guys, I don’t have shoes. Remember?”

  This statement seemed to catch Gex off guard. “Titan’s got hooves, how do you expect him to wear boots?”

  I looked at the big man’s feet, shaking my head. “You’re right. Sorry Titan.”

  “It’s alright,” he said. “I’m used to walking everywhere. Still, maybe I can see if someone would make me a pair of boots for the winter. Traction can be a real problem when it’s icy out.”

  “Well, I’m glad you are,” Bel complained. “I know I’m new to this life,” she leaned on her wizard staff lifting a booted foot up. “But these are killing my feet.”

  “You can walk in the mud and dirt, you know,” Gex pointed out at the well-worn muddy path on either side of the cobblestones.

  “But then my robe will get muddy.”

  “The sacrifices one makes for fashion, am I right?” I asked, grinning up at Bel.

  “Hush you,” she said. “You’re the one who opened this can of worms.” With a sigh she moved to start walking in the tracks on either side of the cobblestone road. Reluctantly I joined her. I just hoped she had a cleansing spell for my muddy scales when we rested.

  Relieved of the pain, mostly, of walking on the road meant for wagons, the air was crisp, and the sky stretched wide and clear, a good omen if I ever saw one. The capital slowly fell away behind us, the road winding down through hills and forests. The forest that I was quite sure was where Gex and Titan had found me. Which made me wonder if they made a living killing bandits. Why would they keep setting up in the area when they knew they were likely to be routed or killed by a group of adventurers? Was this area just filled with potential targets that the bandits thought this area was worth the risk? There had to be a reason they kept coming back.

  Still as we proceeded even the forest and minor hills gave way to countryside sprawling out like a neatly stitched quilt, each patch an orderly field or a cozy farmhouse. It was a picture so perfect; you'd half expect to see it framed on some grandma’s wall rather than live and breathing under our feet. The road beneath my claws was solid and reassuring, hugging the contours of the land as if it were giving the hills a gentle squeeze. Still the surface was harder than I would have liked. When I’d been in my own world the only times I’d been barefoot were when I was naked or in the training hall. Otherwise, it was foot conforming supportive shoes and the difference between walking around constantly on hard wood and stone was starting to be a real pain.

  "Kinda makes you want to throw a picnic, doesn't it?" I quipped, trying to take my mind off my feet while I watched a farmer lead his oxen in the distance. Their synchronized steps were hypnotic.

  "Perhaps," Bel murmured, her blue eyes scanning the horizon. Bel had never been one for being outside if she didn’t need to be. As far as she was concerned everything she wanted could be simulated in a lab given enough time. Including plants.

  We trudged on, the rhythm of our steps a mismatched dance to the hum of the countryside. But as we reached the outskirts of what the map said was Aulganna we started to see an improvised fence of sorts. It was nothing like the tall walls of the city we had just left, but it was enough to keep out the casual encounter. The logs were picketed away from where we’d just come, giving an impression they were protecting the kingdom from whatever was in or from El'Kedah.

  "Checkpoint ahead, stay sharp,” Gex warned. She clenched her fist, the blue chain coming from the ring and magically appearing around my collar. I’d almost forgotten how good it felt not to have her constantly yanking at me as we walked.

  "Customs? Out here?" I wrinkled my snout in disbelief. "What are they guarding against, rogue cabbages?"

  "Or maybe just rogue Kobolds," Gex chuckled, pulling me lightly.

  “I told you,” I hissed. “Not a Kobold! Keep it up and I’ll kick you.” Gex’s response was to grin wider and pull on the chain again, daring me to do something. And if we weren’t so close to the checkpoint I might have taken her up on that option.

  The checkpoint loomed ahead, and there were just as many guards here as there were at the entrance to the city. Which I found odd but didn’t say anything. Most of the guards looked fresh-faced, like this was their first job posting. Standing by the gate were a couple of hard-looking Elves that clearly had the marks of commanders. From the manner of their clothing looking more well taken care of and expensive to the fact they seemed to take this much more serious than the Humans at the gate. And at least one of the Elves looked as if he could have been a cleric or some other divine class, wearing a large heavy symbol around his neck, like Titan and carrying a shield and short sword, his armor didn’t look nearly as heavy as the other Elves. I noted on his collar he had a symbol like pin as if to denote a specific rank or order.

  "State your purpose," one of them demanded, his gaze flicking over us like we were items up for auction.

  "Passing through to El'Kedah," Gex said, keeping her tone light. "Just a bunch of adventurers chasing tales and trails."

  "Documents," he insisted, extending a hand.

  "Right here," Bel said, stepping forward as she produced a set of papers. Her scholar's precision had every I dotted and t crossed. The Elf inspected them with scrutiny that could've found any counterfeit document. He stared and obsessed over every detail that I felt for sure that we had a forged document, and we hadn’t even known it. While he examined us, his friend stared dagger eyes at the other three of us.

  Finally, after a tense few heartbeats he handed the paperwork back to Bel. “The papers seem in order.” He looked at his cohort and inclined his head slightly. “Scan them for contraband,” he ordered.

  "Hold still," the other guard ordered, he held up his hand, in the palm of his glove was an eight-sided clear crystal. He moved to Bel first, running his hand in front of her. He frowned and turned to Gex and me, waving it a few times before shaking his head. He pulled the glove from his hand and put it in his belt. A second later a beautiful slender cane appeared in his hand. He said a few words while pointing the cane at us.

  "Clear," the Elf grunted, stepping aside. "Proceed."

  "Keep to the law, and there won't be trouble," the first guard warned, his eyes lingering on me a second longer than I liked.

  “Law abiding is our dogma,” Titan said, moving to usher us through the checkpoint.

  We’d made it through the checkpoint and were well out of sight when Gex relaxed her grip, and the chain vanished from the collar front. “What were they scanning us for?” she mused.

  "Don’t know,” I said with a shrug.

  “Angel,” Bel’s voice said. “Did you steal that guy’s glove?”

  I blinked looked at her and then shook my head. “No, why did you ask?”

  She pointed at my tail. “Apparently your tail has a mind of its own.” She leaned down grabbing the glove from my tail.

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “I don’t recall doing that. Honest.”

  “Uh huh,” Bel murmured but she was looking at the clear crystal that she’d pried out of the glove and thrown on the ground. Her interest was in the spell crystal.

  “Naw, Scaly Butt’s right, sometimes a Kobold’s tail acts independently of the rest of their brain. That’s why she has that gold collar, her tail grabbed it.”

  “Not helping, Gex,” I fumed. “And not a Kobold! I’m a Dragon-Kin!” I swiped at her, nothing too rough but I saw her wince nonetheless.

  “Careful with those claws, or I’ll trim them for you.”

  Even on the outskirts of Aulganna the land had been tended and kept from becoming overgrown. Not even two hundred yards beyond the checkpoint and the manicured fields and neatly pruned trees quickly gave way to a tangle of nature that looked like it had been growing wild for centuries. Vines snaked up the trunks of gnarled trees, and the grass beneath our feet felt more springy, untamed. It made sense why so close to the checkpoint they’d culled and tended to the area. It would make it that much harder for people to sneak up on them from this side.

  I shuddered as we walked into the shade, the already cool air was that much colder without the sun. “Looks like the planet decided to declare a free-for-all here. Last tree left standing wins.” Some of the trees even this close to the edge of the forest were bigger than any I’d seen in Central Park.

  "Nature often reclaims what civilization leaves behind," Belladonna mused, she’d put away the crystal for now and had taken out her staff. She looked every part of a wizard now that she was using the staff to help support herself while walking. The roots had become dangerous. “I see why no wagons come this way.” She carefully began to feel her way forward using her staff to probe through the undergrowth and fallen leaves for tree roots to not trip herself on.

  "Reclaims? Is that what you call this?" I chuckled, stepping over a root that was as thick as my foot.

  "Indeed," Titan rumbled, his black eyes scanning the surroundings with cautious curiosity. "Though we should remain vigilant. Wilder environments may harbor unseen threats."

  "Unseen threats, he says," Gex grunted, flexing her arms as if itching for a scrap. "Let 'em come. I could use a good stretch."

  "Careful what you wish for," I quipped, but secretly, I was with Gex on this one. A little action wouldn't be the worst thing, I yawned, it’d help me wake up some.

  We walked on, the sounds of our passing being swallowed by the forest and its inhabitants. Like all forests there were the tattletale calls of birds as they went about their day. But try as I might, I couldn’t scent any larger creatures. Tasting the air all I had was damp and musty leaves. An experience that wasn’t great to keep on my tongue.

  “Titan, Gex, you smell anything living?” I asked, stepping over a particularly large log.

  “Nothing,” Gex agreed. “Normally you’d smell scat or urine. But this place is just dead. What about you, Big Guy?”

  Titan stopped moving, cupping his hands to his nose and did a few deep breaths before dropping his hands and slowly starting to inhale and exhale. After a time, he shook his head. “Nothing. Wish we had a Gnoll, their sense of smell is rather good.”

  A sudden rustling in the brush that had us all turning towards the sound. Both Gex and Titan had their weapons out before they’d even fully turned in that direction. Out popped the most bizarre little critter I'd ever laid eyes on. It was in the shape of a rabbit, but it was unnatural looking. The ears were petals from some tree or flower, it had a fluffy tail, big dewy eyes that blinked up at us, but the most startling thing was the singular spiral horn coming out of the center of its forehead.

  "Guys, did a tree drop a rabbit?" I asked.

  The creature twitched its nose, gave one more curious look, then bounded off into the foliage, leaving a trail of sparkles in its wake.

  "Should we follow it?" Bel pondered aloud, her gaze lingering on the sparkling trail.

  “No,” both Titan and Gex said.

  “We don’t know what that is, for all we know it’s going to lead us into a trap,” Gex said.

  “Should have brought someone familiar with this forest,” Titan muttered.

  As we pressed on through the forest, the strange unicorn plant rabbit kept popping up, always just at the edge of our vision. It was like a game of peek-a-boo, the critter would appear, blink its big dewy eyes at us, then vanish in a puff of sparkles before we could get a good look at it. Only to reappear when we’d stopped thinking about it or looking for it.

  "Is it just me, or is that thing following us?" I asked, narrowing my eyes to the spot where it had last been seen.

  "It's not just you," Bel confirmed, her brow furrowed in thought. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s watching us. Notice how it’s always at a distance that Gex can’t get to in a few bounds?"

  "Maybe it's curious," Titan suggested, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "We are strangers in its forest, after all."

  "I still think it’s trying to lure us into a trap," Gex countered, her hand never straying far from her weapon. "Best keep our guard up."

  As we walked, the forest seemed to shift and change around us. The trees grew taller, their canopies weaving together to form a living roof that filtered the sunlight into a soft, green glow. Mushrooms of every color and size sprouted from the rich soil and all looked like they’d make a fine meal, if you trusted random mushrooms in a magical forest in another world. The air hummed with the buzz of insects and the melodious calls of birds I'd never heard before, but still no other sounds of wildlife. Despite the beauty, there was an undercurrent of unease. The shadows seemed to flicker and dance at the corners of my vision, and sometimes I swore I could hear whispers carried on the breeze, too faint to make out.

  The sun began its slow descent, painting what we could see of the sky in hues of orange and pink when they peeked through the leaves. "We should think about making camp soon," Titan said, eyeing the lengthening shadows. "And the sooner the better."

  We veered off the path, pushing deeper into the underbrush. The ground grew softer under my feet, cushioned by layers of fallen leaves and moss. Finally, we came upon a small clearing nestled between the roots of an enormous tree. The trunk was so wide, it would have taken all four of us linking hands to encircle it.

  "This should do," Gex said, dropping her pack. "The roots will provide some cover, and we can set up watch rotations." She looked at me and then at Bel. “Titan and I can do the watch.”

  “I can watch,” I said.

  Gex gave me a flat stare. “You’ve been shivering off and on all afternoon. The only thing keeping you awake was us moving. Soon as you’re resting you’re going to hibernate.” She shook her head. “Too bad we couldn’t get your cloak enchanted to help with your inability to manage cold weather.”

  As we set about making camp, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig had me whipping my head around, expecting to see those curious eyes peering out at me. But there was never anything there. Soon the night was there and outside of our clearing it was complete blackness. We huddled around our small fire, its flickering light casting eerie shadows on the surrounding trees. And worst of all the sounds had vanished, there were no crickets, owls, or anything one would expect.

  As I huddled by the fire, trying to soak up every bit of warmth, a sudden movement caught my eye. At the edge of the clearing, just beyond the reach of the firelight, a pair of luminous eyes glowed in the darkness, just over Titan’s massive shoulder. They were a vivid shade of purple, like amethysts reflecting the moonlight. And they were at a level that implied they were at least Human head level, which meant whatever it was big.

  I nudged Gex, who was sitting beside me, her own eyes scanning the tree line. "Hey, Gex. We've got company."

  The Orc woman's hand was already resting lightly on her weapon as she stared in the direction I was looking. Titan and Bel, noticing our reactions, tensed, readied themselves. Titan swearing silently to himself as he realized he had his back to whatever the threat might be. He couldn’t make any active motions, or it might make whatever was out there aware we knew it was there. It had been so silent as it approached that there would have been no way to detect it. And where I was sitting all I could smell was the fire.

  Slowly, cautiously, the creature emerged from the shadows. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. At first glance, it appeared to be a deer, with a slender, graceful body and long, spindly legs. But as it stepped into the light, I could see that its coat was not fur, but a shimmering array of iridescent scales that shifted colors like a living rainbow. Its antlers, instead of being made of bone, were crystalline branches that seemed to pulse with an inner light.

  The creature took another step forward, its hooves making no sound on the soft forest floor. As it moved, a trail of bioluminescent mushrooms sprouted in its wake, casting an ethereal blue glow behind it. And if those mushrooms appeared with every step it was either intelligent enough to not create those with each step, or it had appeared from nowhere to stand on the edge of our camp.

  "What in the nine hells is that?" Gex breathed, her eyes wide with a mix of wonder and wariness, her fingers slowly curled around one of her weapons.

  "It's magnificent," Bel murmured, her scholarly curiosity overriding her caution.

  The deer-like being regarded us with ancient, amethyst eyes. When it spoke, its voice was a melodic whisper, like wind chimes tinkling in a gentle breeze. "I am Illyria, guardian of this forest. You carry something that does not belong here."

  Well, that was direct. I'd half expected a speech about destiny and chosen ones, that seemed to be how things worked in this world. Instead, the guardian's gaze cut straight through our group to settle on Bel's pouch.

  "The Unicornet sensed its presence," Illyria continued. "It sought to keep you contained until I could arrive. You were wise not to follow it deeper into the woods."

  "We thought it was trying to trap us," I said.

  "It was." There was no judgment in her tone, just fact. "For the protection of my forest. The magic you carry is... unwelcome here. It watches. It reports. Such things do not belong among my trees."

  Bel's hand moved to her pouch. "The crystal from the Elven guard? He said ‘No Contraband’."

  "Its magic is different than what was reputed," Illyria stated. "It was meant to track and report what you do outside of the kingdom." She moved closer, and I noticed how the grass seemed to lean toward her, how the night insects had gone quiet in reverence. "There are forces who spy and use what they learn for ill intent. This crystal serves them. It cannot remain."

  I looked at Bel, saw the scholarly hunger in her eyes, she wanted to study it, understand it. But some things weren't worth the risk.

  "Toss it, Bel," I said quietly. "You don't get to study this one. Sorry."

  Bel hesitated for just a moment, then fished the crystal out and held it toward the guardian. Illyria touched it with one crystalline antler. The crystal shined brilliantly for a second and then crumbled into dust, vanishing into the thick vegetation at Illyria’s feet.

  "My thanks, Child of Dragons," Illyria said, and for a moment those ancient eyes held mine. There was recognition there, but not worship. Just... acknowledgment. Like she was noting a fact about the weather. "You will be safe this night. The forest will guard you until dawn."

  The beautiful creature turned, began to walk into the woods. At the edge of the shadows, she paused.

  "Stay to the path come morning. My woods are not meant for extended wandering."

  With that, she was gone, dissolving into the darkness between the trees as if she'd never been there at all. The night sounds slowly returned, crickets, rustling leaves, the distant hoot of an owl.

  We sat in stunned silence for a moment. Gex and Titan still insisted on keeping watch despite Illyria's assurance, and honestly I didn't blame them. I wanted to talk to Bel about what had just happened, but as I lay down next to her, I heard her soft, even breathing and realized she'd fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Soon I curled up beside her, my eyes closing as I listened to her rhythmic breathing.

  I struggled to wake up the next morning, until Gex was more than happy to pour some fire-warmed broth into my mouth. The warm liquid ran through my body, helping my sluggish blood. “Thanks,” I mumbled at the grinning woman.

  “Don’t thank me. Thank Bel, she was the one who suggested we just stock up on Solar Brew. But we should really save those for emergency. You know how expensive feeding you those is going to get? It’s just as easy to warm up some of last night’s beef broth and force feed you that. Cheaper too.”

  “Could be gentler,” I mumbled, yawning. My hands cupped the warm cup of steaming liquid. I let the wisps tickle my nostrils and help to wake me up.

  Gex snorted, shaking her head. “I can be, sure. But you’ve got jaws meant to crunch through bone. With your mouth closed it’s a fight to open it. You’re surprisingly strong. For a little kobold,” she teased.

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  I yawned again and stretched, leaving the tent to see that Gex and Titan had already cleared the camping equipment. “I feel bad not being awake to help with the clean up,” I muttered. “Where’s Bel?”

  “Oh, she wanted to try and entice that rabbit thing to follow us.”

  “How long?” I asked.

  “About an hour,” Titan said, he was already halfway through taking our tent down.

  As Titan continued with his chores, I decided to join Bel in her quest. The forest was alive with morning sounds, but the elusive creature was nowhere to be found. We spent a good part of the hour searching, our efforts ending in disappointment, whatever Illyria had suggested to the rabbit thing it had decided to play it safe by hiding. With a sigh, we returned to camp, packed our remaining belongings, and started out for the morning. We didn’t know how far it was to this other city, but we figured it would be a half day at least.

  It was with some surprise that when we rounded a bend the forest had vanished replacing it with a city. The city itself wasn’t terribly impressive but there were no walls that I could see that separated the city from the surrounding farmlands like Aulganna. But what was more interesting was that in the middle of these standard-looking homes you’d see in the dark ages were buildings that were something else, like they'd been dreamed up by a committee of wizards on a bender. Spires twisted skywards, some braided like hair, others spiraling like unicorn horns. Walls shimmered with iridescence, as if built from giant opals. And the roofs, well, they defied gravity, curling and looping in ways that made my brain itch.

  "Looks like an architect's fever dream," Gex chuckled, her voice echoing my thoughts.

  "Artistically fascinating," Belladonna murmured, her eyes already trying to dissect the magic at work.

  "Definitely not your cookie-cutter suburb," I added, giving Titan a nudge. “Looks like they could collapse from a good sneeze.”

  "Indeed," Titan rumbled, his blue eyes reflecting the wonder of the place.

  We continued our walk towards the town trying to piece together the mundane with the whimsical buildings. I knew there were places in the world Bel and I came from that were purely designed as works of art and placed great emphasis on the way they looked, but these looked like some designer had been told the laws of physics didn’t apply to their building and they’d gone wild. Some of the structures hurt my head trying to determine how the roofs could bend and twist as they did.

  But, as with all good things, our contemplation was rudely interrupted. There were a pair of Centaurs who approached us, a long spear or lance-like object in one hand and a shield in the other. On their backs were what looked like children dressed in armor and holding bows as large as they were. The two Centaurs stopped a few feet in front of us, and one of them was massive, like those huge workhorses that pulled beer wagons in commercials, all muscle and power. His hooves, even from a few feet away, looked bigger than my head. I gulped, thinking of being trampled or kicked by this one.

  "Who goes there?" The challenge came sharp and sudden, like a splash of freezing water.

  "Easy now," I called out, hands raised.

  "Travelers, seeking entry into El'Kedah," Gex stated boldly, stepping forward and resting her hand on her sword. Her shield was already attached to her other arm. When had she slipped that on? Probably when she noticed the guards approaching.

  "Your business?" one of them pressed. The point of the spear leveled at us.

  "Exploration... and, uh, academic pursuits," said Belladonna, her voice steady.

  “And where do you hail from?” The giant Centaur asked.

  “Aulganna,” Titan said, simply. “We’re adventurers.”

  "Illyria mentioned that a group would be coming, an Orc, a Minotaur, an Elf, and a Kobold," a small voice piped up from the back of the smaller Centaur.

  Figures she’d report me as a Kobold. So much for that ‘Child of Dragons’, never catch a break in this world.

  "Very well," the lead guard finally said. "You may enter but know that El'Kedah does not suffer fools or ill intentions."

  “We appreciate your warning,” Titan said. “May we ask for a recommendation to stay?”

  "Try the Beast's Respite," one of the small children responded as the Centaurs turned and moved back towards the city.

  I watched them go, waiting until they were well out of earshot. "Cops are assholes no matter where you are, I see," I muttered.

  Gex gave a perplexed look. "Cops?"

  "Guards. Law enforcement. Whatever." I shook my head. "What were those on their backs?"

  "Burrowfolk," Titan answered. "They're not generally in one place for very long, so it's weird that they are serving as guards." He scratched his chin in thought. "Been awhile since I've seen one of their kind, let alone two."

  As we made our way across the lush fields towards the city, I could see that this place, just like Aulganna, had a constant flow of traffic coming and going. But unlike Aulganna, there were no walls. Yet people weren't just wandering in from any direction, they all funneled toward specific entry points. As we drew closer, I saw why. Before us was a large arching gateway, larger than any I had seen, with chains that went up into the stonework and down the other side. Some sort of drawbridge stretched between the city and us.

  “Oh, now that’s curious,” Bel said.

  “What?” Gex asked.

  “Those don’t look like a typical drawbridge,” my girlfriend mused. “Normally when a drawbridge is created, at rest its chains are down like you’d see. These ones however are taut. I think the drawbridges here are designed to drop downwards when at rest.” I looked at the bridge as we got closer examining things with a careful eye and still not seeing it. The bridges looked like normal to me, but as we grew closer my heart began to flutter as I looked down. I closed my eyes and looked away. And making matters worse as we got closer there were giant gusts of wind blowing upward, nearly knocking me off my feet. So much for sliding your own bridge across. If it weren’t anchored that wind would catch it like a sail and hurl your soldiers into the sky. I moved from the edge to stand next to my traveling companions. “Do we have to cross that?”

  “If you want to find this other Mage’s Guild,” Gex said. “You’re going to have to cross. But I bet Titan could hurl you across the bridge if you’re too good to walk it.” She grinned at me as she started walking across the wide bridge. Even from the middle of the large bridge, the wind that was blowing made it impossible to have a conversation as we walked across it. This close to the bridge I could see what looked like hundreds of hands along the edge. I wanted to go explore the stone looking hands but I didn’t dare get too close.

  Plenty of travelers of different makes didn’t seem to have a problem walking back and forth across the bridge. And it made sense if they lived close or traveled across it daily it was just another occurrence for them. But for me it reminded me of being on the lip of one of those rollercoasters that pretended to be a free fall experience, and I did not like it. I grabbed ahold of Bel’s hand as we walked.

  “You probably should have grabbed your master’s hand,” Bel teased. I could feel my tail wrapping around my leg, trying to make myself smaller than normal and thereby harder to be picked up and thrown by the wind. “I love how expressive your tail can be.”

  I didn’t say anything, merely squeezing her hand tighter as we walked across the bridge with Titan trailing behind us. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reached the other side of the expansive bridge. I let out a sigh of relief as my feet touched solid ground once more, the howling wind now a mere whisper behind us. Bel gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go, a small smile playing on her lips.

  “Did you notice the hands on the edge of the bridge?” she asked.

  “Yeah, but I wasn’t about to go look.”

  “Wait here,” she said, she pushed my hand to Titan. “Watch her, will you?”

  “Not a kid,” I pouted, watching as she marched with a purpose to the very edge of the bridge and then down onto all fours and peered over the side. My heart jumped into my throat watching that. She stayed there for several moments, her long hair blasting backwards occasional from the gusts as she looked at the underside of the bridge. Finally, her sense of curiosity was sated and she got up, making her way back to us.

  “There’s like golems or gargoyles or something tied to the bottom of the bridge. I bet when the bridge is down they flap their wings and help to pull it upwards again.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hardly efficient, but I suppose it works for them.”

  “Can we go now?” I asked, glancing back at the death bridge.

  Bel nodded. “Let’s.”

  As we ventured further into the city, it became apparent that El'Kedah was a melting pot of races and cultures. The streets were a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of diversity, each strand contributing its own unique pattern to the overall design. Humans, who had dominated the population in Aulganna, were a minority here, lost in a sea of faces that would have been considered exotic or even monstrous back in the capital. Occasionally I would notice a Human who seemed just slightly off, like their nose was more animal-like, or they had animal ears. Reminding me of the servers in the inn Titan and Gex would frequent. But they were in much higher quantity than their Human counterparts.

  Centaurs clopped along the cobblestone streets, their equine bodies adorned with intricately braided blankets and what I would have called a poncho. They carried baskets filled with goods, their Human torsos swaying with each step. The Burrowfolk scurried underfoot, their small stature belying their quick and nimble movements. They darted between the legs of the larger races, and for the first time since I’d been here they were the only race I could look down on. It was a bit of a weird feeling that I hadn’t been here that long, but I was already normalizing looking up at most everyone.

  Lizardfolk strode with a regal bearing, their scales reflecting the sun now and then. Some were adorned with elaborate headdresses and jewelry, while others wore simple robes that accentuated their sleek, muscular forms. All the Lizardfolk carried with them ornate looking stone weapons, generally a sword or a knife, belted to their waist. Orcs, with their green skin and tusks, laughed boisterously as they haggled with merchants, their voices carrying over the bustling marketplace, or the hauled loads of goods around like porters.

  I caught a glimpse of a large Hyena looking creature prowling the streets on digitigrade legs, his fur a patchwork of earthy colors. As I watched a few others come from the alleyway, their faces were set in a scowl, as if they were about to do some tasks they didn’t want to do. They were about as tall as Gex was, but they didn’t have the muscled figure she cut. There were other races I couldn't even put a name to mingling amongst the crowd, driving home that we were really in a different land.

  But what was most noticeable was the absence of Elves. In a city where there seemed to be so much diversity, their absence was conspicuous. It made me wonder about the history and politics of this place, and what had led to such a stark contrast with Aulganna. “So, Gex,” I finally asked as we stopped to ask for directions for the third time. “Why aren’t there any Elves? And I think I saw one Dwarf.”

  “Gnome,” Gex grunted, she signaled us to keep moving and moved down a side street. “You probably won’t find any Elves but our girl Bel,” she said casually over her shoulder. “Elves don’t like monsters, remember? So, they’re not going to be coming here for just a day visit.” I nodded, looking around. Noticing that when people were looking at us, they were looking more specifically at Bel.

  “Not to say there aren’t Elves around,” Titan supplied. “Most likely Dark Elves, they’re the offspring of an Elf and either a Human or a Dwarf. They’re commonly mistaken for Elves by those who don’t know better.”

  “How do you tell they’re not Elves?” I asked.

  "Hair is the quickest but not most sure way," Gex supplied, pressing against a wall as a Centaur pulling a cart came through. "Elves have wood-colored hair, blondes and browns, and green eyes. Though I've heard rumors the High Council Princess has blue eyes, but not many people get close enough to see for themselves. Dark Elves have silver or white hair, sometimes platinum blonde. But their eyes are never green. And they're Human sized, so if you see an Elf that's as tall as a Human then you're talking to a Dark Elf."

  As we navigated the winding streets, following the directions given to us by the Gnome, the architecture continued to astound. Outside many of the buildings had twisted, turned, and just existed however they seemed to want. But now that we were in the city some of those same buildings were nowhere to be seen. Seeming to have vanished into the very fabric of the city itself. And magic was woven into the very fabric of the city, as there were soft glowing orbs that floated lazily above the streets, providing light. During the night it would be easier to see them in the alleyways but once you knew what you were looking for they were everywhere.

  We passed through an area that was almost plain when it was compared to the rest of the place just a small collection of buildings with a few symbols on it. I recognized Titan’s holy symbol on one of the doors as we walked by. I realized that the reason for this rather simple area was because it was the religious quarter or whatever they wanted to call it. Unlike in Aulgunna this seemed more simplified and transient than the rest of the city. I wondered if this was because unlike with most of the other classes the divine tended to stay more in line with their people expected. In Aulgunna it was such a massive city the people expected more grand buildings and place, here in this Demi-Human town they were expecting a more modest affair.

  Enchanted signs danced and shimmered, advertising wares and services in a dizzying array of languages. Some of the signs seemed to be having conversations with each other, their letters rearranging to form witty retorts or playful jests. One sign caught my eye, it was a wooden placard hanging above a sturdy oak door. The sign depicted a majestic beast, perhaps a lion or a griffin, curled up in peaceful slumber. Beneath the image, in flowing script, were the words "The Beast's Respite".

  "This must be the place," Gex said, eyeing the sign with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Let's hope they have room for a ragtag bunch like us."

  As we approached the door, it swung open of its own accord, revealing a warm and inviting interior. The common room was spacious, with a high ceiling supported by rough-hewn beams. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of fantastic creatures and heroic deeds. A massive fireplace dominated one wall, it’s hearth large enough to roast a whole boar. The flames danced merrily, casting a cozy glow throughout the room. I shuddered as I thought about sitting in front of the fire, soaking in the heat.

  Scattered around the room were tables and chairs of assorted sizes, accommodating the diverse clientele. A group of Burrowfolk huddled around a low table, their small hands wrapped around steaming mugs of some fragrant beverage. A pair of Centaurs lounged near the fireplace; their equine bodies stretched out on plush rugs. And in one corner, a Lizardfolk sat alone, nursing a tankard, watching the room with inscrutable eyes. Here and there were much smaller lizard people carrying mugs and trays. Were those actual Kobolds?

  As we stood in the doorway, taking in the scene, a figure emerged from a back room. A large imposing figure with scales of a pure, unblemished white, like freshly fallen snow. They almost seemed to glow in the warm light of the common room. Her eyes were a striking red, like twin rubies set in alabaster. She wore a form-fitting black dress that hugged her curves, accentuating her sleek, muscular form. On her hips was a nasty looking dagger. She stood in the doorway to the backroom for a moment before starting towards us with a grace that was almost hypnotic, her tail swaying gently behind her. As she approached, she smiled, revealing a row of gleaming teeth. "Welcome to the Beast's Respite," she said, her voice melodic. "I am Verth, the proprietor of this establishment. How may I assist you weary travelers today?"

  Gex, who was usually the first to speak, seemed momentarily at a loss for words. She cleared her throat, her green cheeks darkening in what I could only assume was a blush. "We, uh, we're looking for lodging," she managed to say, her eyes darting between Verth and the floor. “If you have any vacancies.”

  Verth's smile widened, and she inclined her head in a graceful nod. “Long time, Gex,” she purred.

  Gex looked a little taken aback having been surprised at Verth's greeting. "Verth? Is that really you?" A grin spread across the Orc's face as recognition dawned. "By the gods, it's been ages!" She turned to look at us. “Verth and I used to—”

  “Work together,” Verth chuckled cutting off the brash Orc warrior, her chuckle sounded like it could have some steel behind it if she so chose. "Indeed, it has, my dear. I see you've found yourself some new companions." Her ruby eyes appraised us each in turn, lingering a moment longer on me. "And an intriguing group at that. Did you get yourself a Kobold?"

  Titan stepped forward, bowing his head respectfully. "Greetings, Mistress Verth. I am Titan, and these are my companions, Belladonna and Angel. We are honored to make your acquaintance."

  Verth inclined her head in acknowledgement, though I noticed that her eyebrow had arched as she took in Titan’s holy symbol and Bel. "The honor is mine, gentle giant. Any friend of Gex's is welcome under my roof." She gestured towards the common room with a sweep of her clawed hand. "Please, make yourselves at home. We have plenty of room, and the hearth is warm."

  As we followed Verth into the common room, I leaned in close to Gex, my curiosity getting the better of me. "So, you and Verth have a history?" I whispered, my tail twitching with anticipation of juicy details.

  Gex chuckled; her green cheeks still flushed. "You could say that," she murmured back. "We had some...adventures together, back in the day. Before I teamed up with Titan. Just take what she says with caution."

  I grinned, my imagination running wild with the implications. Bel, overhearing our exchange, rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a smile. "Focus, you two," she chided gently. "We're here on a mission, remember?"

  Verth led us to a large table near the fireplace, gesturing for us to sit. The chairs, I noticed, were sized to accommodate a variety of body types, from the diminutive Burrowfolk to the hulking Centaurs. I settled into a chair that seemed custom-made for my draconic frame, sighing with contentment as the heat from the hearth washed over me.

  "Now then," Verth said, taking a seat at the head of the table. "What brings you to El'Kedah? Gex mentioned a mission?" She snapped her fingers and several of the smaller lizard creatures came forward. Now this close I could see they looked similar to myself, though I had red scales their scales were a soft blue. They each had horns with adornments on them and the same type of collar I wore around my neck, indicating that they were properly owned.

  Titan nodded, his expression serious. "We're here seeking information about a Mage’s Guild that is more accepting of monsters. We were told we might find answers in this city."

  Verth leaned back in her chair, steepling her clawed fingers thoughtfully. "A Mage’s Guild, you say? Intriguing. El'Kedah is indeed a hub of magical knowledge, with many scholars and practitioners making their home here. But a specific guild..." She trailed off, her ruby eyes distant. “They don’t normally take just anyone. Who’s looking for the Circle of the Unbound?”

  “That would be this one,” Gex said patting me on the back. “Our Scaly Butt is pretty special.”

  Verth arched her eyebrow again considering me, her tongue snaking out of her mouth to flick the air in my general direction. “Is she? She seems large for a Kobold, but nothing special.” She snapped her fingers again. “Tinder, Trigger,” she ordered. “Thoughts?”

  The two smaller lizard creatures approached closer to my chair. Their eyes curious as they looked me up and down and their tongues darted outward, coming surprisingly close to my scales as they scented the air. I suspect had there not been other people around they would have put their hands on me to continue their quest for sensory information. Finally, they turned away from me, walking back around the table to stand by their mistress.

  "Sister big," one of the blue skinned reptiles said.

  "Sister not sister," the other said.

  Verth gave the two of them a long look. "Explain."

  "Sister smell like Dragon and something else, but not Kobold. Tinder state she not Kobold."

  "Tinder wrong," the other said. "Sister smell like human and something else, but not Kobold."

  The two seemed to regard each other for a moment and then nodded. "Sister is sister," both Tinder and Trigger said with a smile. "Not Kobold Sister but Sister."

  "Uh, Sister?" I asked, looking at Verth. "I'm not actually a Kobold."

  "Kobolds identify every Kobold as a sibling," Verth supplied. "The fact you don't know that proves you're not a Kobold. Or at least not one raised by other Kobolds, like Tinder and Trigger. Your trade is surprisingly good as well." The lizard woman turned to look at her servants. "Bring us cider. Not the alcoholic kind."

  The two started toward the door, then hesitated. Their tongues flicked rapidly between them before they turned back and dropped into low bows, foreheads nearly touching the floor.

  "Sister is Dragon Sister," Tinder breathed. "We serve—"

  "You serve me," Verth interrupted coolly. The red chains flickered into existence, a brief reminder. "Or have you forgotten?"

  Both kobolds went very still. "No, Mistress Verth," they whispered. "We serve Mistress Verth."

  But when they rose, their eyes lingered on me with an expression I couldn't quite read. Hunger? Hope?

  Verth noticed. Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Cider. Now."

  The two kobolds scampered off, the red chains dissolving into mist as they went.

  Verth turned to consider us for several long moments. Her eyes didn't leave mine as she seemed to weigh my appearance in her life. Was I a threat to her and her servants? Would I take away her help?

  "I can assure you," I said, holding up my hands. "I don't want to come between you and your… helpers." I didn't know what they were to Verth, so I wanted to be careful.

  "Their Dragon was killed and they didn't know what to do. By the time I got to the lair, Tinder and Trigger were..." Verth trailed off, her claws tapping against the table once. "The Council sent their Blade to deal with a dragon they deemed 'problematic.' They didn't care about the colony that depended on him." Something flickered behind her eyes, old anger, maybe, or grief, before she shook her head slightly. "Why don't we start with why you want those foolish mages? Aulganna has a respectable Mage's Guild you could have joined." The tone of her voice made it clear she did not hold those particular mages in any real esteem. Perhaps they'd double-crossed her in the past.

  "We were going to get Angel a mage class," Bel said. "But they won't deal with her type, because they're racists."

  “There are other classes available if the mages have closed the door,” the white scaled woman said. Her eyes searching our own. Verth leaned forward, her ruby eyes glinting with curiosity. "So, not a Kobold, you say? How intriguing." She studied me intently, her gaze seeming to pierce through to my very core. "There is indeed something different about you, little one. Not a Kobold, yet looks like one?" She leaned back, her eyes fixed on me. Studying me.

  I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, feeling exposed and vulnerable, it was like being in the vice principal’s office all over again. "I'm not entirely sure what I am," I admitted. "I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

  Verth nodded sagely, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "The path to self-discovery is rarely a straight one," she mused. "But it is a journey worth taking, nonetheless," she mused, her claws tapping thoughtfully on the table. "As for the Circle of the Unbound, I may be able to point you in the right direction. For the right price.” Her eyes seemed to flash with something when she said it.

  “And there it is,” Gex said, chuckling to herself. “You never give anything away for free, Verth.”

  “I did once,” the woman said, fixing Gex with a hard look. “Never again.” She held Gex’s gaze a few moments longer before shifting back to me. “Don’t make a mistake, little one,” her voice was soft.

  "Name it," I said, bracing for something unreasonable.

  "A favor." Verth's claws tapped the table once. "To be called in at a time of my choosing. Nothing that would violate your conscience or put your companions at risk. Simply... a favor, owed to me by a dragon-kin who smells of actual dragons." Her smile showed teeth. "I like to invest in interesting people."

  I glanced at Bel, who gave a small shrug. It wasn't like we had a lot of options.

  "Deal," I said.

  "Wonderful." Verth leaned back, satisfied. "Then let me tell you about the Circle of the Unbound. The Circle will challenge you. They aren’t as finicky as the Mage’s Guild in Aulganna. They don’t have to bow to the whims of the Elven elite. But they only care about one thing.”

  “What do you mean challenge you?” Bel asked. Her eyes turning hard as her protective instincts kicked up.

  “Oh, na?ve Elven child,” Verth laughed. “Gex have you not explained the way the world works?”

  Gex was about to answer but before Verth turned to look at Bel. “Yes, challenge. The guild in Aulganna may not say it, but they answer to the Elven Council. Those pricks run most everything and they do not give others a chance to gain power.”

  Verth let the statement hang in the air for several heartbeats before leaning forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The Circle of the Unbound is not like that Mage’s Guild. They want only unbridled magical potential. They'll assess you, push you to your limits and beyond. If they sense that spark within you, they'll stop at nothing to draw it out, to mold it to their purposes."

  I swallowed hard, a shiver running down my spine that had nothing to do with the chill in the air. "What kind of purposes?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

  Verth shrugged, a fluid, feline motion. "That depends on the mage, and on the student. Some seek knowledge for its own sake, delving into arcane mysteries better left untouched. Others crave dominion, the power to bend reality to their will. And some..." She trailed off, her eyes distant. "Some are driven by darker desires, by a hunger that can never be sated."

  Belladonna leaned forward; her brow furrowed. "You speak as if from experience," she said softly. "Have you had dealings with the Circle before?"

  Verth's smile turned wistful, tinged with an edge of bitterness. "Let's just say that I've seen firsthand the allure and the danger of unbridled magical ambition. It's a seductive path, one that can lead to ruin if one is not careful."

  Tinder and Trigger chose that moment to return, bearing trays laden with steaming mugs of cider. They set them down before us with a flourish, their tails wagging with pride as they stood within arm’s reach of their mistress.

  "Thank you, little ones," Verth said, her tone softening. She reached out to give each of them an affectionate pat on the head and a rub between the tiny horns on their heads, eliciting happy chirps from the Kobolds. They bowed low and moved back to helping others in the tavern with their tasks.

  As I wrapped my clawed hands around the warm mug, inhaling the spicy-sweet aroma, I mulled over Verth's words. Did I truly want to walk this path? To submit myself to the uncaring tutelage of the Circle of the Unbound? I thought of the power that already coursed through my veins because of Kar's intervention. I didn't even know the extent of what that was capable of, and here I was contemplating more. Could I harness that potential without losing myself in the process? Did I really want more power? A part of me knew that I could do it, and what was more frightening was that it was my right to have as much power as I could desire. I was part Dragon, after all. And Bel and I had been summoned to this world for a reason, to fight the Demons. I'd need every trick I could get.

  I sighed and nodded. “I guess we’ll go see these guys in the morning.”

  Our host gave a laugh. “Morning?” she chuckled, grin widening. “No, little friend, I don’t think you understand. If you want to see The Circle of the Unbound, you’re heading into the sewers. The guild is in the under sewer where the predators are most active.”

  I gulped. “When are the predators most active?”

  She gave an arched smile and made a circle with her finger. “Always, why do you think they set up there? Better to only get the strongest and most resolute into their order.”

  I glanced at Gex, who seemed unsurprised by this revelation. "So, when do we leave?"

  "Tonight," she replied, finishing her cider. "Best to get this done while you're still warm from the fire and the drink." She nodded to Verth. "I assume you can watch Bel and Titan while we're gone?"

  "Of course," Verth purred, her ruby eyes glinting. "Though I must warn you, the sewers have changed since our time together, Gex. The predators have grown... more interesting."

  "Good thing I've got backup then," Gex said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Ready to prove you're not a Kobold, Scaly Butt?"

  I drained my mug, savoring the warmth that spread through my body. "As ready as I'll ever be." I turned to Bel, who looked worried. "I'll be fine. Gex won't let anything happen to me."

  "Just remember what Illyria said," Bel replied softly. "Destiny moves at its own pace."

  As Gex and I stepped out into the cooling evening air, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises awaited us in the depths below El'Kedah. But with the warmth of the cider in my belly and the memory of Kar's power flowing through my veins, I felt ready to face whatever challenges the Circle of the Unbound had in store for me.

  After all, I wasn't just some Kobold, I was something more. And it was time to prove it.