LIZARA
Maybe coming to Valhalla wasn't the best idea, I thought, shivering in the Pub in Gato's Village. I'd wanted to get out of Altours, and I had. I got as far away as I could. Now I was freezing my butt off.
The door opened, and someone walked in. He looked as out of place as I was. Blonde and blue-eyed could have signified either Valhallan or Rosalian equally. He sat by me at the counter and asked the bartender for a hot drink.
"Lizara," I said, smiling and reaching out my hand.
He took it with a tired smile. "Albert."
"You're not from around here either, huh?" I ventured.
He laughed a little sadly. "What gave me away?"
I smiled. "You look cold." We laughed. "No one around here looks as cold as they should."
"I hadn't noticed, but now that I think about it you're absolutely right. Where are you from?"
"Altours, in Rosalia. It's a tiny little place with maybe three shops and some fruit. What about you?"
"Isthmus Keep. It was attacked by an army of monsters and somehow I ended up here when the only place I really want to be is Crystal City. Might I ask what you have heard of the fate of the Isthmus?"
"I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything. I've been here for a while not, and news travels slow in Valhalla." I did feel very sorrhy for Albert. I had heard that Lord Rudolph was a kind and fair ruler, and it must be painful to know that there was a possibility that you had lost your family, but you couldn't be sure.
"Do you know how to get back to Rosalia?" he continued hopefully.
"Of course! I make maps; that's why I'm here. I can get you back to Crystal City without a problem," I replied, very happy to be able to do something for him. "Really?" he said, his eyes bright and hopeful.
I grinned. "Yeah. We can leave tomorrow morning; Shiverland is much nicer when the sun's out. We'll head up through the Knight's Dominion and catch a boat from Mirsaburg. That'll bring us to Yeovill, and from there it's an easy journey."
"Thank you," he said, and I knew that he meant it profoundly.