Pushing to Cutter’s Edge had been the right choice, in my opinion, even if it meant riding in after midnight.

  Waking up to blue skies felt amazing.

  Half of the border city was still covered in black clouds, but the inn we were staying at wasn’t, and that’s all that mattered. The southgate was spared the torrential onslaught, and I awoke to warm light from the window.

  Lish was still asleep, and would be for some time unless otherwise roused. Technically, she'd asked me to wake her up first thing… but she needed a full eight hour [Rest] cycle to recover her mana. I could tell she'd pushed herself hard. Not enough to suffer any concerning debuffs, mind, but enough that I could notice her exhaustion.

  Getting some alone time with Bastian was a bonus. The drakin was already waiting in the hallway when I came out.

  “Why don’t you tell me more about your family over breakfast?” He said, slipping my arm into his. Yep, definitely worth it - even if it meant facing an unhappy Lish later.

  “My father is the prime minister, as you know, and mother is the queen's clothier wardrobe keeper - that means she's in charge of the palace liveries. Who wears what and the like.” I launched into explanation as we headed down. “My brother Howl is at the royal academy right now, so I don't know if you'll get to meet him.”

  Breakfast was simple fare, bread and butter and gooseberry jam.

  When we were seated with our plates, Bastian asked, “How do you think they’ll react to the proposal?”

  “I think my mother might approve. She enjoys travelling and encouraged me to visit North Sumbria.” I said, “It’s my father you’ll have to convince…”

  Bastian nodded, “I’ll do my best.”

  “What about you? How did you become a ward?”

  “My father came out from somewhere near Mount Arai to sire a child,” Bastian explained, “He wanted to find a mate, but after flying around the continent a few times he didn't and then gave up.”

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  I shoved a slice of toast in my mouth, enjoying the sweet flavour even as he told me a decidedly unsweet backstory.

  “When that didn’t work, he had a one night stand with a beastfolk seamstress in Peldeep and then flew back to his caves.”

  “Ah.”

  “My mother raised me,” The drakin’s voice softened, “But she died in a fire when I was thirteen.”

  “Oh no.” I reached out and put one hand on his. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.” He turned his hand up to hold mine.

  “What did you do after that?”

  “My mother’s closest living relative was a lizardkin living in the Dark Enchanted Forest.” He said, “But twelve is the legal age for lizardkin, so there wasn’t much point moving… honestly I could’ve picked up my mother’s old work… but I didn’t want to do anything that reminded me of her.” Bastian shrugged, “So, I became an adventurer and tackled the dungeons instead.”

  I was so enrapt in his story that I didn’t realize Lish had come down the stairs. And in a bit of a panic too.

  “Thank goodness you’re alright!” My maid hurried over, worry slipping into a frown, “You didn’t wake me!”

  “You needed the rest.” The look she gave me elicited a wave of guilt, and I added, “I’m sorry.”

  Bastian was smart, and chose to remain silent. We finished up quickly after that and headed for the gate.

  “You’ll have to take the ravine to get to Sumbria.” The guard at the gate informed us, pointing towards the rocky slope heading down into the long winding canyon. “We got word last night that the high road is closed.”

  “What’s happened?” After fighting magical weather all day yesterday, my first worry was a landslide on Tusk Mountain, but I shouldn’t rule out a monster surge this close to the Dungeon Valley Crest. Depending on the monster, we could help clear it…wait. “The stampede!”

  “As you say miss… Sumbria didn’t send anyone to clear out them poachers after Madame Potts so kindly warned ‘em… and now their border crossing is overrun.” The guard scratched one long ear.

  That sounded like my home alright.

  “If I may,” Lish pulled up her horse next to mine. “Should we head towards Kith Bog and charter a ship instead?”

  Sumbria touched the sea in three directions; the eastern coast where the underwater kingdom lay, south into the open sea, and west - where Sumbria, Servalt, Nilheim and Drendil all circled Kith Bay. This side of the bay was rugged terrain and sharp cliffs, so there were only small bog-boats delivering peat and medicinal herbs to the larger ocean shipping vessels in the bay.

  “I’m good on a boat,” I replied, “and I’m good in the canyon - I’ve been to Dungeon Valley Crest enough to know the way with my eyes closed.”

  “Then let’s stay on land.” Bastian tossed a coin at the gate guard, who happily caught and pocketed the silver. “Thank you for the head’s up."

  “You all stay safe now.” The guard waved them off.

  Behind us, the sky was still black and cloud covered, yet the valley was bathed in the morning light. There was a cool spring breeze that carried dust across the wide road as we descended down a slope into the pass.