Chapter 4

They arrived at Allister's cottage early in the evening.

The mage's wooden cottage was nestled near a meadow. It was small with two rooms, a kitchen, and a single window. All over his walls were books on Krynn's history. Upon entering Allister's home, Timber remarked that it was the most unlikely place for a wizard to live.

Allister shrugged. "When the gods left Krynn," he paused, seeing the scowl Roxi was giving him. "Sorry, what I meant to say, was when the world was stolen by Takhisis, there was very little magic left in the world. I chose to hide from the dragon overlords, and do some research to see if there was any explanation about how to defeat the dragon overlords. When the gods return and many of the overlords defeated, I chose to continue to hide from the rest of the world. I feared that the Knights of Solomnia, or the Knights of Nereka would try and gain my service, though as you look upon my attire, you would see how unlikely that would be."

"So you're saying you're a hermit," Dorm remarked as he placed a fallen book back on its shelf.

Allister nodded. "Now I won't have the spells prepared until tomorrow, so I suggest you take a full nights rest.. Eat and drink anything you like." Timber's eyes lit up as he ran into the kitchen. Roxi smiled as she grabbed a book off of the shelf and began to read. Jaina stood up and walked outside.

Dorm watched her leave. "I wonder where she's going?" he asked.

Allister shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps you should go outside and asked her yourself. I'll make sure the elf doesn't choke on his food."

"Are you talking about me?" Timber asked in a muffled voice. His mouth was full of bread, cheese, and ham.

Jaina was sitting on the grass, staring into the early night sky. A butterfly was flying in circles around her. She looked over, seeing Dorm approaching her.

"Nice night to look up at the stars," she remarked casually. Dorm nodded and took a seat next to her. He saw the exhaustion in her eyes. "Do you think we should trust the mage?" she asked.

"I don't think we should look forward to eating any of his food if that's what you mean," Dorm answered. "Timber has probably eaten all of it by now. As far as trusting him as concerned, then yes I think we can trust him."

Jaina laughed and laid back. "You know Dorm I never got to thank you for helping me."

Dorm shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry about it," he said as he laid back.

Jaina nodded, then laid her head on his chest. "I'm just tired right now. You wore me out today." Dorm's face turned a shade of pink. His heart began to race. Jaina giggled. "Why are you so nervous? I can feel your heart beating through your chest."

Dorm took a breath, trying to relax. "Do you think the stars are going to be out tonight?" he asked her. Jaina didn't answer. She had already fallen asleep.

Dorm smiled and kissed her forehead, then closed his eyes and drifted off into dreamland.

Everyone was alert the next morning. Allister gathered everyone into the kitchen, then chanted some words in the draconic language. A flash of light engulfed the cottage, and the next moment, everyone was standing in the desert of the Northern Waste. Timber turned to see Jaina standing close to Dorm. He flashed his friend a smile, then winked.

Allister asked Jaina if she had the Goblet of Maridoc on her person. When she presented it him, he told her to keep it with her, and then pointed west. "Far into the desert if the city of Lost Names. We should get there by tomorrow." With the mage in the lead, they traveled west. The desert was hot, with cool drafts, and there were cacti plants everywhere.

They continued to endure the hot weather until nightfall, which brought a dramatic drop in the air's temperature. Allister quickly conjured up a small magical hut and motioned everyone to get inside. "This should hold us until morning," he declared in a whisper.

Dorm looked ahead, seeing the entrance into the City of Lost Names. Jaina smiled as she gently laid a hand onto his shoulder. "The stars are beautiful tonight," she said softly, remembering his last words to her the night before. Dorm smiled and looked up, seeing the white moon of Solnari and the red moon of Lunitari. He also saw the many constellations of the stars.

"Yes they are," he added as he gently took her hand. Together, the two rangers gazed at the stars until it was time to go into the hut.

Grimall gritted his teeth as he stared into the sky. Nuitari's black moon (which can only be seen why mages wearing the black robes) was gazing down at him.

He wondered why the efreeti was so content on having the goblet. He knew nothing about the Goblet of Maridoc, just that it was one of the artifacts that supposedly taken by the Kingpriest of Istar. Yet he didn't think too much about it, for sleep beckoned him like a beautiful woman offering to share her room.

Grimall looked at the stars one last time, then went to bed.