"Shadow-Part Three" by Jess Hanna

Roan stopped in front of the alchemist shop. "Just a minute Kay, I want to check on something here." Roan explained. Roan ducked inside and waved at Kayligh to follow. The alchemist was a funny looking gnome. He was about 3 feet tall, and had little hair except what little clung to the top of his head. He wore special lens on his face made for examining intricate details. The alchemist wore a dark robe long robe probably meant for someone twice as tall as he. It was adorned with runes and stars, and many pockets for whatever you may need, and then some. "YeshowcanIhelpyou?" He spurted out quickly. Luckily he was used to the pause while his customers tried to figure out what he said. "Uh, oh yes, can you look at this and tell me what it is?" Roan said a little shaken and handed over the golden brooch. The old gnome took one look at it and laughed, "Youdontknowwhatthisis?" "Ithoughteveryoneknewabouted" he continued. "Ifyoureallywanttoknowaboutthem," he paused slightly, "besttogoaskthedwarvesthatlivesouthof," again he paused, though this time just to get a rough dwarven accent, "C'Tark." The gnome grinned, and thought, they will find what they think they want to know, but not with the dwarves. Kayligh still lost quickly said, "Umm, thanks, I think. Take this gem for your troubles please," and handed him a rich blue stone craved perfectly round. The old gnome's face lit up at the sight of that and he began muttering to himself as they left the building.

A bit later and a while up the road Kayligh broke the silence, "So now to C'Tark? That's where we're going, huh?" Roan didn't turn as she spoke, "That's where I'm going. This has nothing to do with you, Kay, you don't have to come." She did turn though when Kayligh started laughing, "I thought you knew me better then that!" she moaned with mock hurt, though she couldn't hide the sylvan smile in her eyes. "Oh, come on Roan, you really think that I wouldn't come?" "Never," Roan simply said.

Kayligh and Roan joined a merchant caravan for the first leg of the journey to C'Tark. The main road left Triaklor and then took a round-about route to Secbaue. After a weeks of uneventful travel they came to a fork in a road. Here Roan and Kayligh left the caravan. The path here was narrower and rugged. The forest seemed to push in around them. Roan didn't seem to notice anything and was determined to get to C'Tark as soon as she could. Even so it was Roan, not Kayligh, who suggested they set up camp

"You alright, Roan?" asked Kayligh. "What do you mean?" Roan said confused. Kayligh sighed to herself, she wasn't quite acting like herself is what she meant, but she couldn't say that. "You've been acting kind of, uh strange sinse Triaklor." Confusion again flew across Roan's face. This sight was welcomed by Kayligh. Maybe I was just imagining things, she thought. Kayligh shook her head as if that said everything was okay.