Alice shook her head. “Not sure you should be flitting around - what is this world called again?”

“Varana,” said Isa.

“Not sure you should be flitting around Varana,” Alice continued. “That Fedru guy is going to find out soon enough that you’re not dead, and who knows what he’ll do then.”

Isa shrugged. “The sooner we get this quest done, the better. The quest says we should gather supplies.” Isa gestured at the items laid out on the grass. “And friends. We’ll sure need a guide with this. ‘East’ isn’t much for directions.”

“Will more info appear as we go on? Like in video games?”

“Yeah, they should. That’s what happened last time.” Isa sighed and picked up a dagger. “What kind of weapon are you thinking?”

Alice held up her spellbook. “Magic. I want to look over these spells. And I need to pick new ones. ‘Frostbite’, “shield’, and oh yeah! ‘magic missile.’”

Isa sighed. “I should do that, too. I know shillelagh and healing phrase. Word. Healing word, I think.” Alice laughed, and Isa was glad to have her here for this adventure. “You know,” Isa held up her notebook, “quests have rewards. This one is….”

“We save the world. Worlds.”

“Yeah, but loot,” Isa said absently. “Here: ‘Reward: 500 gold and an elvencraft weapon of your class.’ Not bad.”

“And save the world. But elvencraft? That sounds nice.” Alice bent her head to her spellbook again.

“It’s like that, huh? We’re on the adventure of our lives, and you’re going to read. Fucking wizards.”

Alice held up her middle finger without looking up.

“So I’ll just pick out stuff for you, shall I, dearest?” Isa grinned and bent to look over the items that Fara had laid out. After a few minutes of silence Alice said, “So I can’t wear armor, but at least I don’t have to wear a stupid robe.”

“Don’t you want to blend in though?” Isa held up a heather green robe.

Alice snorted. “No. I want to be comfortable.” She leaned over and picked up a belt that had several compartments sewn to it. “This must be the component belt. You know how Della uses that rod for spellcasting? I can use this.” She put the belt in her lap. “This is real, right? It’s surreal, you know?”

“I know. You get used to it. Really quickly. Dangerously quickly.”

“Are you going to like being a cleric?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know how much different it will be. It’s OK, I guess.” Isa shrugged. “I like helping people. Of course, I liked the fighting, too. It was scary how much I liked it. I killed people, Al.” Before Alice could respond Isa went on, “It was always justified. I never - I mean, they always - I mean, I didn’t set out to harm anyone. You have to believe me.”

Suddenly Alice was hugging her tightly. “I know. I believe you, of course I do.” She leaned back so that they were face to face. “Isa, you are a good person. I know that. Those men today, they would have killed me, but you stopped them.” Alice put her hand on Isa’s cheek.

Isa looked at the ground. “I had help.”

“That doesn’t change what happened. You were so brave. When that man grabbed your face--” Alice pulled her hand away from Isa’s face. “Does that hurt? I forgot!”

Isa laughed. “I’m fine. The, ah, the unicorn healed me.” She shook her head. “Not everyone can say that.”

“Unicorns, magic, goddesses.” Alice nodded across the way where Ysel stood talking to 2 elves. “I don’t know why you thought I wouldn’t believe you. Although, it does explain that crazy scar on your side.”

Isa picked up the quarterstaff. “You know what’s really crazy? I have no idea when I got that. Because you’re right, Ally - this is life. And death. I have almost died a couple times. So you have to be careful. You have to learn to protect yourself.” She made a few practice moves with the staff.

“I have gifts to aid in that,” said Ysel. She stood with arms crossed watching Isa with the staff. A young woman in a white robe stood behind her with folded clothes in her arms. “That staff, for instance, it will light your way. Say my name when you desire light, and the staff will glow like sunlight through leaves. It is also, as you can see, quite well made. Use it well.” To Alice she said, “A fine dagger for my newest wizard?” She gestured at one of the daggers and sheaths on the ground.

“Oh sure. Yes, I guess,” said Alice reached over and picked one up, pulling the blade free. “I’ve never used a knife. Well, I’ve used knives but not like this, you know?”

“Yes,”Ysel nodded. “I do know. But, you will have time to learn. Fara and Mellar will guide you to the Hinterlands, and Fara is quite adept with daggers.”

“Uh,” Isa held up her hand, “I was going to go to Bywater and see if my friends want to come.”

Ysel smiled. “I don’t understand.”

“The quest. It says ‘Gather your friends.’ Those guys were great, but they are not my friends.” Isa smiled back. “So, where is Bywater from here?”

Ysel blinked. “You are serious.”

Isa pointed at the cloth in the woman’s arms. “What’s that?”

The woman stepped forward and held her arms outstretched to Isa. “Cloaks for you. Gifts from the Lady.”

Isa took the top one and let it drop open. The cloth was a thick green color that shimmered as the light hit it. A deep hood fell from the back. A silver buckle hung at the neck, and delicate embroidery traced down the front. “It’s beautiful.” She turned to hand it to Alice, assuming that they were the same.

“Oh no,” said Ysel. “That one is yours. It is an elven cloak. When you wear the hood up, your enemies will have a hard time recognizing you, and you will move like shadows in the forest. Wear it well, Isa.”

Ysel nodded at the woman, who stepped to Alice and offered the other cloak. As Alice held it up, Ysel said, “This is a cloak of magical resistance, for you Alice. If someone tries to cast a spell on you, this cloak will offer some protection against enemy magic.”

Alice’s cloak was a russet red like fall leaves just turning. It had a gold clasp at the neck and wide sleeves. Both of the women put the cloaks on. “I feel a little cosplay,” said Alice.

“I had a cloak last time. I think I sold it to Gimble. Trust me, you get used to it. And in the rain, you’ll be glad to have it.” To Ysel, Isa said, “So where is Bywater? Can we walk there from here?”

“Bywater is west,” said Ysel. “You need to go east.”

“We will,” said Isa. “I just - I didn’t think I’d get to see my friends again, and if there’s a chance they want to come with us, we’ll be lucky to have them along. Can you trust me on this?”

Ysel turned and began to walk quickly. Over her shoulder she said, “You’ll go by tree. Come.”

Isa and Alice bundled up their weapons and bags and hurried after Ysel. They found the goddess standing beside a huge tree at the edge of the glade. “When you wish to return, and make it soon, simply return to the Bywater tree, place your hand on the trunk and say my name - my full name.”

“The Lady of Lockwood?”

Ysel nodded. “Come see me when you return.”