Darren searched through the cave when that guy fell asleep and took the food he could find before heading out. The poor guy looked like he was going to make it, and Darren was glad he could help, but beyond that was not his problem. He felt his chest tighten up as he looked at the piles of burned bones and ashes scattered throughout the cave and felt the tears coming on. No time for that though, I have to get back home.

With a last look back at the cave, Darren headed out into the forest. Stumbling through the maze of trees and bushes back to Starstone was tricky. He had to spend a night perched up in the branches of a tree but eventually he made it back to the mountain village.

Darren thought about heading in, but who would he go talk to? He didn’t know anyone in the village and with all his friends gone, there was no one to do the talking for him. Instead, he turned down the road and headed back toward Baybreach. I really hope they’re all still there. Auntie Anna wouldn’t leave without us, Dad was too important for that.

As he walked down the road to Baybreach, Darren’s thoughts went back to his father. The way the dragon attacked… there was no chance for anyone to make it out of there. In just a moment, everyone was wiped out completely. He idly wondered about the young man he’d found amongst the ashes. How did he make it out when even Dad was burned up?

The boy strode through the main gate at Baybreach in the mid afternoon and made his way down to the docks. The large, wooden ship he called home soon loomed before him. Darren sucked in a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be easy. He’d tried to work out what to tell Ana on the way here but choked up every time he started. He knew she’d have no patience for any of that.

Darren climbed up the rope ladder that led to the main deck and made for the Captain’s Quarters. The door was shut, so he knocked and waited. Some of the crewmen noticed him, and stared but none bothered him. When the door opened, Elisabeth stood in the entryway while Ana lounged on a couch further in the room.

“Little Darren! What brings you back all alone again?” asked Elisabeth sweetly. Darren liked Elisabeth, she always smiled and smelled good when he hugged her. He ran up and latched on to the young woman.

“Where’s your father, boy?” asked Ana bluntly, as she filed her nails. “Did he send you along with another message?”

Darren sniveled and pulled away from Elisabeth. He screwed up his face and tried to stand up straight. The tears were close, but he would hold them back this time.

“He’s dead, Auntie Ana,” Darren said, his voice shaking slightly. “The whole crew is dead.”

Ana looked up at this, and made eye contact with Elisabeth. “Alright boy, tell me what happened. How did you survive?”

Darren did his best to retell the story. He mentioned the guy in the cave and the dragon egg, and how his father planned to kill the guy and take the egg. The plan fell apart when the dragon swooped in and attacked. After that, Darren broke down. He latched back onto Elisabeth and sobbed uncontrollably.

Eventually, the young woman peeled the boy off and led him to bed. When she was sure he was asleep, Elisabeth returned to the main cabin of the ship. Ana was going over the plans for their departure, a scowl plastered across her face.

“Poor thing, had to watch his father and his crew burned alive by a dragon,” began Elisabeth as she closed the door behind her and settled in across the desk from Ana.

“These things happen, it’s a cruel world,” replied Ana, glancing up from their plans. “As it stands, losing Clive is a big blow. Between the information he sent back and losing his crew, we’re going to need more men to carry out the job.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” said Elisabeth. “Do we try to recruit here?”

“Even if there were enough fighters here, no one is ditching good dock work this time of year,” replied Ana. “The merchants will all pay good coin to move things quickly after the festival. By the time all the moving is done, the port will have iced up for the year.”

“Back to our benefactor then…” said Elisabeth, trailing off at the end.

“Still don’t like him?” teased Ana, settling back in behind the desk. “It’ll be fine. We’ve gathered the information he wanted and then some. I’m sure he’ll want to know about the hidden smith in the mountains. Rumor is an old smith named Tobias forged the original swords. If this guy is the same man, picking him up is worth a dozen Lazeruses.”

“I guess that’s true,” Elisabeth replied sheepishly. “I just think he’s creepy. The sooner we finish this contract, the better.”

Ana nodded in agreement. “I look forward to the day you and I can glide back to the capital free women,” she said wistfully. “Soon, we’ll have enough money to coast for the rest of our lives.”

The two women sat in companionable silence, each day dreaming about all the fun two gorgeous, young, rich women like themselves could have in the biggest city on the continent.

After a while, Elisabeth sighed and stood up. “I’ll talk with the men and have them start collecting supplies to head back out. I assume we have nothing to wait around for now that Clive’s group is dead?”

“Nothing comes to mind,” replied Ana. “Just try not to get into any trouble while we wrap things up here. I know how you just love ensnaring men when you get bored.”

“I would never!” scoffed Elisabeth, feigning shock. “I am an upstanding woman of high regard! I would never head to The Wall or the unsavory establishment next door!”

“I’ll see you in the morning,” said Ana, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t be late, I’ll leave without you if our boys finish things up before you do.”

“Such a slave driver,” Elisabeth responded, tossing her hair over her shoulder and heading for the door.

Ana watched her friend saunter from the room. I get what the men see in her, I’d chase her ass through a brothel too. As the door closed, she returned to the plans on her desk and began preparing her report to their benefactor.