Inside the Dragon Chamber

Peter

I wonder if this is about that massive killing that one woman mentioned, I thought. Seems likely.

"Well, thanks again anyway," I said. "Goodbye, then."

We started making our way down the wall.

When the teenagers had arrived at the bottom, one of the guards threw the rope over the edge to them. One of them took the other's hand without saying anything.

At the bottom of the wall stood a tall and imposing figure with a sword taller than herself sheathed on her back.
"You stupid children!" she boomed. "What will your father think with his only living children gallivanting across a foreign city in the middle of the night? You're lucky your father is so highly regarded by certain members of the Dragon Chamber."
The woman handed them each a long, sumptuous, hooded fur cloak. "Put these on. I hear the winters in Erestos are warmer than the summers in Volunsvand. This way, now."
As she strode down the moonlit street, a lantern briefly illuminated the face of Kraf Nihir Dragonclaw, Lord Protector of Skatha.

Peter

I think the woman's voice made us both jump, so it wasn't hard to play our roles from there.

Sorrel brushed up against Sesria. As if the cold even matters, he thought dryly.

The Kraf led them to a very high-class hotel. "Now," she said. "Your father's condition has not improved. He is still bedbound, and only a very few people are allowed to see him. However, I think we can make a few minutes for his children, even at this time of night. Come along."
She led them up to a sumptuous suite and showed them into a dimly-lit bedroom. Behind the curtain was a seated figure, barely moving.

Peter

Wow, they're really going all-out with this, Sarah thought. Of course, they wouldn't even have to if they hadn't even bloody imprisoned us in the first place. She gave a mental huff. Or even let us go once they were done with questioning, like they ought to have!

Oh well, I thought back, what's done is done.

"It's best if you wait here until morning," muttered the Kraf, before turning and leaving. "Stay safe, children."

Peter

"Thank you," I said with a nod.

"Yes, thank you," Sarah echoed.

After the woman left the room, I turned to Sarah. "Well, let's get some rest now. We can leave later."

There came a voice from under that bed. "I don't advise sleeping in this bed, but I think there are some for you in the next room."

Peter

"We probably won't be staying the night," I told whoever was speaking, "so it doesn't really matter anyway. Thanks, though."

"If you're sure," replied the voice. "Any idea where you'll go next?"

Peter

"Not really," I answered. "We need to regroup with the rest of our team, then we'll figure out the plan from there. By the way, who are you?"

"Njalla. I won't tell you the other part of my name, though. I could be any of a thousand Njallas."

Peter

"Oh, I know a Njalla," I said. "She was a necromancer." Mentioning that she was also a wanted criminal probably wouldn't have been a good idea.

There was a moment of silence before the voice spoke again. "What did you say your name was again?"

Peter

"Peter Arkan," I answered. Come to think of it, I hadn't actually introduced myself to begin with.

A familiar face popped out from under the bed. "Did you say Peter Arkan?"

Peter

"Oh, hello," I said to her. "Yes, I did."

"Ah, I remember you!" Sarah spoke. "Hi again."

"I remember you, " said Njalla, scrambling out from under the bed. "You were in the place with the thing." She waved her hand as if trying to indicate primordial formlessness.

Peter

"Yeah, exactly," I said. "So, uh...how're things?"

Sarah excused herself to go get some more rest.

"Acceptable," she said, shrugging. "This is my second to last mission for the Restitutional Order of Skatha. I'm not looking forward to the next one."
She sat down heavily on the bed, prompting a short, moaning sigh from the figure propped against the cushions.

Peter

"Oh... Er, what is it, if you don't mind my asking...?"

Njalla shrugged. "I'll tell you, but only because you're not exactly from round here. A certain someone is giving me the plans for the IFS Red Wolf and giving me a head start to the southern border of Skatha. My friend and colleague Angfand is coming with me, but I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm never going to see Skatha again. I'm scared that I'll be spotted and executed as a spy before I can tell anyone what I'm trying to do. I'm scared that I'm never going to be able to go home, no matter what happens."

Peter

"...Ah." I...really wasn't sure what to say to that. "Well...I can empathize with the fear you'll never see home again..."

"You too, then?" She sighed a little.

Peter

"Yeah, but for completely different reasons," I answered with a sigh of my own.