This chapter's a little light and feels like an interlude I know but I felt it was a necessary. I explore the idea of the overworld a little more and there's some character interactions that I feel gives some missing flavour to the characters. Character development isnt my strongest point but I hope I am doing the characters justice, making them believable and mostly likeable and/or relateable.


The following morning everyone had gathered together in the barracks at Farish's request. He wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes and he would look down at an envelope in his hand occasionally.

"Ok this morning I have good news and bad news everyone. First off we have watch on the west gate this afternoon," there were several grumbles at this. "We've also been assigned a new mission, it's not for a while still but we need to start planning and training for it soon."

"Now tell us tha bad news," Haldrun growled as he leaned on his axe.

"If you insist, the bad news is that as for tomorrow morning you're all on three day leave," he waited for this to sink in and enjoyed watching their expressions brighten before adding, "I know, it's such a horrible thought. I'll go and tell them to tear the papers up."

Haldrun stepped forward brandishing his axe, "Ye take one step in tha' direction and I cut ya in half." This drew laughs and even a half smile from Haldrun himself.

"Well what are you waiting for you, if any of you want to return to Draomar you better arrange passage with the portal guardians now, the afternoon watch is only a few hours away," there was much hurrying as Farish said this, leaving only Anrakis and Gerick behind.

Farish looked at them both quizzically, "Well I have an idea of why you haven't run off but what about you Gerick, why haven't you gone with the others Gerick?"

He could tell Gerick looked sad as he thought about it, "Personal reasons, I … I just don't want to go back up there; not till I'm done down here at least."

Farish shrugged and decided to leave it at that, "Well alright then. Anrakis, I'm guessing you're going to just lock yourself in your study for the duration."

"You guess right, without all the interrupts of our routine I can get so much work done in three days," Anrakis replied although he didn't have the usual glimmer in his eye when he spoke of his research. Farish didn't press the issue, he knew talk of the overworld reminded Anrakis of the family he'd left behind, even now it still bothered him whenever the thought of returning was brought up.

"And you sir, Are you staying too?" Gerick asked.

"Yes I will, I … I have stuff to do," Farish replied quietly.

"I know that look," Anrakis said as he watched Farish's expression.

"Now's not the time Anrakis. Please, I'll see you all later," Farish turned and headed back to the barracks. Anrakis and Gerick did the same after taking a moment to consider Farish's attitude. Gerick was confused but Anrakis knew there was something Farish wasn't telling them that was bothering him. He knew that soon enough he'd tell them all what it was, for now though he resolved to focus on his research and forget about all the things that were wrong right now.

"What will you two gentlemen be doing with your three days off?" Thesia asked as she walked beside the two barbarians.

"Not sure," Hurg said slowly.

"Maybe go visit the old arena," Thurg added.

"You two get time off and your first thought is to go to a place full of fight?" she rolled her eyes at that.

"It what we do best," Thurg replied.

"Don't you have families to visit, old friends to talk to?"

"Ma n' pa died when we was little," Hurg said, "We looked after each other, and friends come down here to fight like us. Some left for other fighting, some died."

Thesia considered this for moment then said, "I'm sorry to hear that. Well I'm going to pay the temple a visit, talk to the clergy, pray and renew myself and my faith."

"Faith get old?" Hurg asked confused.

"You not need to be new again," Thurg added, "You not old yet."

Thesia laughed at this, "That's not quite what I meant. Why don't you two come with me and you can see for yourselves, maybe you'll like it at the temple. Everyone is welcome there."

The brothers looked to each other, shrugged and then nodded. Thesia was quite pleased with herself, while these two sometimes had difficulty with their speech they'd both demonstrated intelligence beyond the dumb brutes that others sometimes might refer to them as. She knew they'd enjoy their visit to the temple.

"Phineas, ya got all yer taverns picked out yet?" Haldrun asked as he quick walked towards the gate station.

"My what, what taverns?" Phineas asked confused.

"Oh ye fool, yer drinkin' taverns. How do ya plan to get hammered if you don't know what taverns to visit?" Haldrun grabbed Phineas by the arm and started dragging him along, "Don't ya worry, I got it all planned out. I been back there enough times to know which are tha best places to visit and the ones that appreciate a fine dwarven ale."

"Oh … good," Phineas replied with no enthusiasm.

"What's buggin' ya lad? You don't sound at all excited at the prospect of dwarven ale."

"Well see, I had planned on visiting my family. I haven't seen them in almost a year."

"Ah, yer family that makes sense. Sorry lad I shoulda realised."

"Don't you have family you want to visit too sir?"

"Nay, I had three brothers, all died in this war. Me father and I aren't on speaking terms and well that leaves me mother out too since she pretty much never leaves his side."

"Oh, that's a shame," Phineas looked down, sorry that he'd brought it up.

"Ah dun worry about it, it's been over ten years since any of that bothered me," Haldrun slapped Phineas on the back.

"Ten years? How long have you been down here?"

"Hrm let me think now … well, I'm pretty sure it's been at least fifteen years, maybe more I don't quite remember."

"Wow erm, well that explains a lot, sir. I mean like the way you act and stuff."

"You callin' me old lad?" he saw Phineas stutter trying to reply and laughed loudly, "Don't ya worry this old dwarf's got a lot of good fight left in him. I wager ye be runnin' home to mummy and daddy before I give in to these fell beasts."

Phineas glared at Haldrun and almost shouted, "You'll be a long time in the grave before I give up the fight old man."

Haldrun gave a loud laugh again, "That's the spirit lad. I'll hold ya to that."

"So Alistair, you gonna be showing off to all the girls. Can't resist a hero with a war wound," Eira said with a smile that was trying to break into laughter.

"Come on Eira, you know you'd be head over heels for him if you saw him walking down the street. What's not to love?" Fredrick joined in.

"You're right," Eira paused and looked him up and down, "Look at him he's tall, handsome and he knows how to hold his fine piece of wood."

The two erupted with laughter while Alistair's face turned red in both anger and embarrassment. "Would you two cut it out already? I'm going to visit the general hospital. The healers down here are good but they focus on quick healing, wrap it in a bandage and move on. In three days the hospital could fix me up good as new."

"Pff boring, you know Leo the new wizard apprentice on morning watch? He happens to have the day off tomorrow too. He's taking me out to a fancy restaurant," Eira said.

"Oooh-la-la ms fancy's got herself a date," Fredrick jibed.

"Oh stuff it, you've got a date too," Eira retorted.

"Well yeah I do actually," Fredrick grinned quite pleased with himself, "When I was up there last month I met this cute girl who was totally into my stories and war wounds-"

"War wounds?" Alistair interrupted, "You mean that scratch on your forehead? You got that when you fell out of bed."

Eira and Alistair held each other as they laughed at Fredrick's hurt expression.

"Aaanyway. The point is I sent her a message and she said she's got plenty of things we could do together for three days," Fredrick once again had his self satisfied grin.

The other two 'oooh-ed' in mock amazement before Eira said, "Five gold says he'll come back depressed and tired."

"No bet," Alistair replied, "We both know it."

"I hate you both, and I'll prove you wrong. You'll see."