As Peter left to go see Jarnvaror, Anna turned to Andrew. “We might as well see about restocking our provisions while we’re here,” Anna said.

  Andrew frowned. “I’m not sure we have the funds for much,” he said.

  “I’ve been here a few times as a merchant. I know the places that like to haggle, and I’m pretty sure I can get us some good prices. It might take a bit of time, though.”

  “Does this mean we can go explore around the shopping district?” Henry said, perking up a bit.

  Andrew frowned at him, and Anna decided to answer before he could. “Not explore,” she said. “If you want to go, you stay close to me while I do the shopping, understand?”

  The twins agreed. Anna glanced at Andrew, who sighed and rose to his feet. The inn was about halfway up the eastern pillar. Several floors below them was the city’s main market, taking up the nonresidential halves of three floors. “That’s why my father usually chose this inn,” Anna told the others. “It’s close enough for business. And,” she sighed, coming to the stairs, “inconvenient enough to be cheap.”

  “What is it you’re looking to buy?” Emily asked.

  Anna thought for a moment. “I definitely need a new blanket for when we camp,” Anna started. “Mine got snagged on something while we were leaving Borac, and now it’s got a huge hole in it. I could do with some new clothes as well,” she added, looking down at her shirt. It was travelworn, now, and she thought it would be better to replace it before it was totally threadbare.

  Then she looked up. “Aside from textiles, we probably should have a tinderbox for when Jarnvaror is hunting, and we may need to get new camping equipment as well. The ropes have been looking a little frayed to me.”

  “They’ll hold another season or two,” Andrew said

  “Maybe,” Anna said. “That’s not a high priority. The last thing is food, of course.”

  “Can’t Jarn just hunt for us?” Henry asked.

  Anna paused, hearing the assumption in the king’s question and she wasn’t sure if she should address it now. She decided it was better to wait till later and answered, “If all you want is unseasoned meat, then he certainly can. Although, I’m pretty sure Andrew would be doing the hunting for us. Still, I’d like to have something to go with whatever he catches. And I happen to know a place around here that’s very good at pickling vegetables.”

  “Pickling?” Henry asked, horrified.

  “Never had pickles before?” Andrew asked.

  “I did. It was awful!”

  Anna looked at the king, shocked. “What? No, they’re great! They add so much flavor to whatever you’re making. Especially on the road. I’ve kind of missed them while we’re flying.”

  “There’s no way,” Henry said. He turned to his sister for back up. By the look on her face, the queen seemed torn between agreement with her brother and not wanting to offend Anna.

  “I suppose there’s no harm in trying some again,” Emily managed.

  “Oh, yes there is!” the king insisted, and he elaborated on all the many ways it might harm him as they made their way to the market. Once they were there, he gave up, deciding it was a better use of his energy to gawk at each of the stalls as they passed. They passed one that sold rugs woven in intricate patterns. A vibrant red and violet one hung on display next to the door. The shop next to that sold women’s clothing in sizes for both Dwarves and Humans. The dress on display was obviously extravagant, a Dwarven version of something Lady Thalia would wear. A few doors down, they came to one that looked to be selling jewelry.

  “So what exactly did your family trade?” Andrew asked as they walked between the stores.

  “My father was one of the masters in the merchants’ guild,” Anna said. “He negotiated and managed contracts for all sorts of businesses, usually involving transportation from the original craftsmen to shops like these.”

  “Does that mean all of these people work for your father?” Henry asked.

  Anna shook her head. “No. Even if my father was Guild Leader, not all of these shops work for the guild. But we have done business with most of them.”

  Anna led them into a shop selling women’s clothing that looked far more affordable and practical than the one they’d passed before. She knew the shop, and not much had changed, though she didn’t recognize either of the employees. Still, she was able to find a new shirt of the same design she was wearing. She managed to talk the price down, though the store manager knew what he was doing, and didn’t let her haggle down too much.

  Their other errands ran smoothly. The royal twins joined Andrew in asking questions about the place and seemed to be in a better mood now that the shopping had distracted them. Anna suggested that they get treats. The shops were arranged almost how they would be on a true, outdoor street. Another row or so down, Anna knew a particular vendor liked to set up a temporary stall at the end which sold hot, salty snacks. These included fried pickles, though she thought she would surprise the twins with that to see if they liked it, resolving to get something else for them if they didn’t.

  As they turned the corner, she saw the stall was there, with a small group of customers around it. “What can we get again.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “You’ll see,” Anna said. “I’m sure you’ll love… it.” She trailed off as they got closer. She’d heard something that struck a chord in her head, but she couldn’t quite place what it was. She looked around, not seeing anything for a moment. Then the Dwarf who’d been purchasing his own treat turned around, and Anna saw his face.

  “Papa?” she burst, without thinking.

  The Dwarf jumped, his hand slipping, and he dropped his confection. He looked around, and his eyes lit up on Anna. For a moment, the pair stood there in silence. Then a broad grin split across his face. “Anna!” he said, holding his arms out to the side. Anna felt the smile bloom on her own face as she dashed over and embraced him.

  “What are you doing here?” Anna asked. “Wouldn’t most work be a bit farther north this time of year?”

  “Got a new contract that was too good to pass up,” he said. “But what about you? Haven’t heard to much from you, and then all these dark rumors started.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t have the chance to write as much as I wanted,” Anna said, which was half of the truth. She decided not to tell him that she hadn’t thought to write much in the midst of the discoveries she’d been making. “I did send a letter from Vulcuo. It probably went home though.”

  “Ah,” her father said, nodding. “Well, at least your mother will get the update then. But these rumors made it sound like war is brewing all over, with you and those friends of yours at the center of it. Are they with you by the way?” he added, his eyes swinging to look behind her and locking on to Andrew and the twins.

  “Hello, sir,” Andrew said. “I’m Andrew. My brother Peter travels with us, but he’s—”

  “With the dragon, I imagine,” the Dwarf replied. “Yes, Anna mentioned you in her first letter. But that was months ago!”

  “Things have been rather busy, sir,” Andrew said.

  Anna saw her father’s eyes narrow, and she hid a smile, knowing what was coming. “Now, see here, young man,” he began, and Andrew stiffened. “I don’t want any of this ‘sir’ business. I’m no knight, and frankly the formalities are a waste of time. Just call me Tomlan, or Master Tomlan. At least then the titles accurate.” He grinned as he finished. Andrew nodded, agreeing. Finally, Anna’s father looked to the twins who were standing behind Andrew, polite smiles on their faces, perhaps basking in the novelty of not being the center of attention at greetings. “And who are these tikes?”

  Anna exchanged a glance with Andrew, who glanced at the other Dwarves observing the reunion. “Maybe you two could catch up where it’s a bit less crowded while I get the twins something,” he suggested.

  The smile vanished from Tomlan’s face. He looked to Anna, gestured at the twins and managed… “They… the rumors?” before catching the look on Andrew’s face. Tomlan nodded, and followed Anna a little ways off toward the outer wall of the pillar. Something between a large window and a balcony overlooked the greater cavern, with light streaming down from the opening high up in the ceiling.

  Anna’s father leaned on the railing, looking out for a moment before facing Anna. “The rumors were that you and your friends had kidnapped the king and queen of Grealand,” He glanced back at the snack stall, where the king and queen were each trying something skewered on a stick. “And from the young Human’s reaction…” He let the line trail off.

  “We didn’t kidnap them,” Anna began.

  Her father nodded. He adopted a serious tone and a bit of a scowl. “Oh, yes. I’m sure their mother agrees with you on that.”

  “No teasing!” Anna said. “It’s stressful enough as it is.” And she described their adventures. She wasn’t as good at making the tale succinct as Andrew was, and she found herself going back and forth, explaining about the Wisp Stealers, Daniel, how the group had been searching for a spy, and how they’d fled Borac, protecting them from their cousin who’d tried to have them assassinated. When she described how she’d discovered Daniel’s intentions, she found herself also describing their discoveries about the Wisps. Her father only interrupted once or twice to ask for clarification. Otherwise, he listened in silence, his expression thoughtful.

  Once Anna finished, Tomlan sighed. “Well, that is something. High Elves... The royals…” Tomlan shook his head. “And you’re sure this Daniel isn’t shooting for the throne himself? Is he in line for it?”

  Anna shook her head. “We have no idea. The twins don’t think he’d be able to unite the Elven and Human halves of the kingdom the way they’re supposed to. But I don’t know. I can’t think of what else he has to gain. And besides, it didn’t feel like he was motivated by greed when I felt through the Wisps. It was anger.”

  Tomlan nodded. “Right, so you said.” The older Dwarf sighed. “I don’t know them well enough, and this doesn’t seem to me the situation where politics are just economics. I doubt an old merchant like me can be much help for that.”

  “You’re not old,” Anna said, drawing another grin out of her father. “And besides, just being able to talk to you again has been wonderful. It’s been nerve wracking the last few days. And you may be able to help in another way,” she added in an undertone. Seeing that Andrew and the twins were coming their way. “But maybe we should talk about that later.”

  “Don’t want the kids to hear, or the boy?” Tomlan asked.

  “The kids are royalty, and I’m not sure they’d like my idea.”

  Tomlan nodded. He reached up and rubbed her shoulder. “Well, then Kiddo, what are you thinking of doing now?”

  “We’re not sure yet,” Anna said, and this time, she raised her voice to include Andrew and the others as they arrived. “We don’t really know where to start concerning… the Stealers,” she said, deciding it might be better not to mention Daniel both for Henry and Emily and also for any passersby that might be listening. “We still don’t know why they’re doing what they’re doing, or how.”

  “Finding out their leader’s motivation is our top priority,” Andrew said. “But we don’t know how to do that without getting caught.”

  “I also want to try and stop them from getting any more Wisps,” Anna said. “Even if it wasn’t making them more powerful, it’s horrible what they’re doing to them. We know they don’t like it. It still pains me that we left so many behind with the others in Borac.”

  “At least Halcyon was able to help them before we fled,” Emily pointed out.

  “We don’t know if they’re stable that way, though,” Andrew said. “Peter’s Wisp is the only one that’s remained separated from Halcyon so long, and that’s only in a different gemstone, not halfway around the continent.”

  Tomlan nodded at all of this. “Well, what about Halcyon and the others?” he asked. “What do they think of the situation?”

  “I haven’t been able to communicate that clearly with them,” Anna said. “A few days ago, they started mimicking the feelings of others more directly, but that’s the most real change I’ve gotten since the beginning.”

  “Well that doesn’t sound right,” Tomlan said. “You just told me about how you found out they were High Elves with names.”

  “And what about the vision that sent you all to Frostlake?” Henry asked.

  “Oh, a vision?” Tomlan asked. “Well, that sounds like something.”

  “The vision was a moment when emotions were running high,” Anna said. “The names was based off of our discovery in the ruins, and Halcyon himself is the one who started the other communication.”

  “Well, sure,” Tomlan said. “Perhaps you just need to keep trying some of those steps. Feel strongly while talking to the Wisps in ruins. Easy.”

  “I doubt it will be that easy,” Andrew said. “Besides, what ruins should we even use?”

  Tomlan’s face broke into a grin. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I’d start with those ruins at the north end of this cavern.”