It was evening with only an hour or two left of daylight as Arlen wondered where this city of Petrøvya was and when they would arrive. The instructions Lynde gave to Arlen to help remember were to go to a large lake—which was named Tüdosten Lake—and then head to the right, following the shoreline until they caught sight of the city. Right now he thought that these instructions were poor.

As the wind blew past them Arlen spoke to Artsanna. "You know, I'm really impressed with your flying," he said.

Really? Artsanna replied.

"Yeah. You've carried us for an entire day farther than I could go in about a week. You've become strong, Artsanna."

Thank you, Artsanna said proudly.

"And big. How big can you grow?"

"No clue," Lynde noted. "Rose said that Dragons don't die of old age, and grow bigger in that time."

Arlen looked at the sun briefly and suggested jokingly, "What if the sun is a Dragon?"

Both Lynde and Artsanna were silent for a while. When the silence was broken, it was Artsanna speaking. If so, I hope it does not get hungry and try to gobble up the world. We saved the world once already and I think that is quite enough.

"You were barely involved in that fight," Lynde noted.

Perhaps I was not in the room, but I certainly drained them with my struggling. If I had not, then perhaps Arlen's new sword would have broken to Tyra's spell, or Vras would not have been so drained as to let Arlen sneak up on him. And I helped you get from place to place time and time again. If you are about to demean my involvement, then at least point out a time worth demeaning.

Lynde lowered her head. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

I know. If you were, then I would at dunk you in the lake down there. It would only be fair.

"No, I don't think… There it is!"

Arlen looked to where Lynde was pointing and saw a city on the horizon. It looked small, but soon it was much larger. Eventually it became a massive city-fortress, with perhaps tens of thousands of people in it. They went in to land in front of the castle in the center of the city and a man went to meet them at its gate. This man wore chainmail, had a tough but refined look to him, and looked at them with nearly unblinking eyes. "Welcome to Petrøvya," he said with an attempt of warmth in his voice, though his warmth was as cold as a winter storm. "I am Lord Cathair."

As they dismounted, Lynde introduced herself. "I am Lynde of Cathalorn."

I am Artsanna, the one bonded to Lynde.

"And I am Arlen of Cathalorn."

Lord Cathair chuckled. "You like reminding people you're from Cathalorn, don't you?" he said

"Where we come from it's a title," Arlen explained.

Cathair looked vaguely interested. "What does it mean then, other than the obvious?"

"It either refers to someone who dedicated their life to the protection and wellbeing of Cathalorn, as I once had, or one of unusual parentage like Lynde," Arlen explained.

He soon realized that perhaps he shouldn't have put it like that, as Lynde embarrassedly said, "I was raised by someone who wasn't either of my parents."

"That's nothing to be ashamed of," Cathair said. "I was adopted as well, but by the lord and lady of Petrøvya. It doesn't compare much, but it's something." Looking to the gate he said, "Let's go inside. I have a meager feast prepare. Most of the food is being saved up for the siege, but I don't think this will hurt too much."

Looking to Artsanna, Cathair said, "We even have a place for you, though please don't burn or break anything." Artsanna seemed to chuckle at that, though he didn't know why—perhaps something unspoken except between her and Lynde.

Cathair brought them into the castle, into the keep and through many hallways, into a great hall. Of course, Artsanna had to fly around, but the hall had several large open windows. Artsanna managed to crawl through one of the windows, which looked difficult to do. Arlen thought that she would find the reward well worth the trouble.

In the center of the hall was a long table laden with ham, breads, and vegetables. One half was well portioned between meats and other things while the other just had meat. Arlen and Lynde sat on the half with the bread and vegetables along with the meat while Artsanna sat near the other half. It soon became clear to Arlen that no one else was coming. Lynde seemed to have as well as she asked, "Is it just going to be us?"

Cathair sighed. "Yes. Most of my noble friends who lingered in these halls left to aid in the war. I sent my wife and child away when I learned of the impending attack. They should be safe in Lithgow." Cathair picked up a pitcher and poured water from it into a silver goblet. He gave the goblet to Lynde and as he began to pour another one he said, "I apologize for the lack of wine. There was a group of warriors who came here through much peril, and I thought that they should be rewarded for their loyalty. I sent them the wine I set aside for tonight—I hope you don't mind."

As Arlen looked around the table he said, "Believe me, it won't ruin this meal."

The food was great, and made him feel somewhat nostalgic. It reminded him of some the feasts he and his family had back in Cathalorn. Though they didn't compare to the sort of feasts that he had heard of, they felt like kings when they had them. The feast Cathair had provided for them was—in his mind—better than all the feasts of kings and lords that had ever been served across the earth.

Near the end Cathair asked something. "Why have you come to Petrøvya? The war is coming here, but I do not think you would join in the fighting. And this is not exactly a vacation spot."

"We came to help the soldiers find their courage to fight the Empire in open combat," Lynde said.

Cathair scoffed. "Good luck with that," he said. "We have only a token number of magicians, less than seven thousand men to their ten thousand, and a commander who has only fought one battle. The idea that we could win open conflict is absurd."

Lynde seemed surprised. "King Orrin spoke very highly of you."

Cathair frowned. "One battle doesn't prove a person's worth. I don't want to risk the lives of my men on the assumption that I can fight this battle."

"But why would he think so?" Arlen asked.

"I defeated a counterattack by the Empire," Cathair began. "Shortly after the battle of Belatona, the Empire tried taking Petrøvya to draw the Varden's attention to the home front. I, with only five hundred men at my command, managed to beat a force of two thousand in open combat."

Arlen was impressed, and so was Lynde. "That's amazing!" she said.

"It seemed simple to me," Cathair said. "I used the lake to my advantage and sent a hundred men in boats to flank the enemy. They were to be garbed in clothing that would help them blend into their surroundings. Another hundred were to stay behind a series of hills near an open field along with several magicians. My remaining three hundred waited for them in that field.

"When the Empire engaged us, my two hundred hidden men waited a bit before attacking. They snuck up on the enemy and shredded them to pieces. Their magicians and archers were all in the rear, and thanks to my boaters they were dispatched easily. It was simple then for our magicians to destroy many of their soldiers in a single spell. It was amazing they never saw it coming."

Arlen was very impressed with him. Lynde seemed confused though and she said, "If you made a plan that guaranteed victory over a much larger force, then why don't you use it again?"

"Because they'll see it coming, and take steps to prevent it," Cathair said.

"Then make up another one," Lynde said.

"But it might not work."

"That's a chance you'll just have to take," Lynde said.

Cathair sighed gravely. "I wasn't looking forward to a siege, and if I could, I would stop it before it begins." He looked Lynde straight in the eyes and said, "I have a plan, but it will be difficult. I will need some time to narrow down the details. The siege must begin before I put it into motion."

"I suppose that's all we can hope for," Arlen said.

"Yes, well, Jörmundur will rue the day he came to Petrøvya." Cathair stood and raised his goblet. "To the rebellion and to Lynde helped me see that perhaps I can win the day."

Lynde seemed to have succeeded, much to Arlen's surprise and relief. He was surprised that Lord Cathair would bend to Lynde's wills and relieved that she managed to do it. His father had once told him how terrible a siege can be, and from just that description he wanted to do all he could to spare Petrøvya and all who lived there that fate.