“This is the last one!”

“About time,” Jim growled and took the box from me. “How many bloody books did that witch have?”

“Seven thousand six hundred and eighty-two,” answered Beldrak with measurable contentment. “Add to that the three thousand volumes we brought from Durgeddin’s fort, and you will find that this has been quite a profitable expedition. Have you paid the driver, Arnold?”

“Nice try, but both of us know, if I do it, I will never squeeze that money out of you.”

Trueanvil clicked his tongue, but even this remark couldn’t suppress his happiness. The man was giddy as a goat.

“All right, I will take care of this then. You know where to put the box.” He walked towards the exit.

Carrying the three thousand volumes we took from Idalla’s library was barely possible after we bought two more mules in Blessingdale, but when Trueanvil looted Ysabel’s house in the chaotic aftermath of her arrest, we had to give in and get a cart. The man, who had it did not want to part with the vehicle, so we hired him as our driver.

“Do you want to come by at Elizabeth’s place? See if they need some help with moving in.”

“Dw’yllan might take ill your interest in his fiancée,” teased Jim.

“But Elizabeth’s mother thinks I am the better option,” I grinned back. “I am quite a catch with all that money, you know.”

“How is that that you get all the female attention?” complained the tiefling.

“Well, have you ever tied looking less scary and more handsome by human standards?”

“I am a firm believer that in romance, it’s the inside that counts more.”

“The inside of your wallet, that is.”

“What a thoroughly cynical worldview!” stepped Rhodarr into the room. “Incidentally, I wholeheartedly agree.”

“If it’s money the girls would be after, I would be showered by kisses every time I step out on the street,” Jim sighed.

“You must not be frequenting the suitable streets for that sort of thing,” waved Rhodarr dismissingly. “I have experienced quite a few kiss-showers in my time.”

“Have you decided?” I asked the tiefling in a more serious tone. “Will you be coming with us, or stay here with Beldrak?”

“I will come to Golden Grove, but not right now. Maybe in a few tens time.”

“Well, it seems it will be just the two of us on the road then,” said Rhodarr. “Quite a melancholic feeling to have our merry company beak up like that after all the adventures we have been through together.”

“You have ditched us at every opportunity though,” I pointed out.

“I have been there with you, in spirit,” he shrugged.

After ordering the books to Beldrak’s satisfaction, I did visit Elizabeth and her mother. They were all set by now, Dw’yllan helped them with moving the little furniture they brought with themselves. In fact, the two women were already working on a dress.

“That’s already your first order?” I asked.

“Yes,” Elizabeth’s mother smiled. “Mr Trueanvil has been good enough to introduce us to a good few potential customers yesterday.”

“You certainly aren’t wasting your time.”

“There would be no sense in that. I have certainly wasted enough of my life. I have lost five whole years, and I want to make the best of my remaining time, no matter how short it might be.”

“Mother!” said Elizabeth indignantly. “Don’t say such awful things!”

But her parent just smiled and shrugged.

“What is Dw’yllan doing?” I asked to change the topic. “Has he decided to take Beldrak’s offer?”

“Yes, he did,” answered the girl, her face reddening a shade. “He says he will be running the smithy half of the time when Mr Trueanvil will be occupied in the library. He says that maybe he can take over the business wholly after a while.”

“A human smith master in a dwarven city,” I remarked. “That will be something to see. Hopefully, he will be up to the task.”

“He better will be,” grumbled Elizabeth’s mother. “He will have to take care of a family now, after all.”

“All of you are so busy that I start to feel bad about not doing anything,” I laughed. “Well, I will be on my way then, and leave you to your work. Madame, Miss.”

“Take care, Arnold,” said Elizabeth. “Visit us anytime when you are in Sky Hall.”

And so, I was on the road again. It was the 26th of December in my own personal calendar.

The snow-covered road was deserted. We have not seen any other travellers for hours. There were only three of us, too. Beldrak, with his new smithy starting up, and his library expanding, had no time for Draconic lessons. Thus Rhodarr was free to come with me. Naturally, my faithful mule, Gaius, was also keeping my company.

“Winter is the worst time for travelling,” I mused. “But at least we will be in Golden Grove by the New Year.”

“That would be nice,” answered Rhodarr. “I always wanted to see the fancy fireworks all those mages can make when they work together. Must be quite a sight.”

“We will see it soon.”

All in all, this half-year hasn’t been as terrible as I thought it would be, back in Quinctilis. Losing my home and my family still hurt, and I was still planning to find my way back some time. But I didn’t just stay alive in this strange, alien world: I gained friends, knowledge, wealth. And Lora is waiting for me; just a few days march ahead. No, this hasn’t been a terrible year at all.