As the group marched to Daggerhall, Armondo shoved a small bag infront of Gerald.

"What's this?"

"Your share of the magical loot that Tig detected. There's not much, but go pick something out of there, " said Armondo reluctantly. "Not my idea, but Tig said you two helped out so you deserve something. Myself I would have defined 'helped out' as killing more than one bugbear."

"Wow, thanks," said Gerald. "You're all heart."

"Hey, I have wives and kids to support. We half orcs are quite fecund."

"Wives? As in more than one."

"Don't ask. Let's just say, I travel a lot," sighed Armondo." Just pick something, and pass that bag back."

Gerald looked into the bag, and saw a couple of daggers that glowed slightly, a large stylized feather made out of stone, and a men's weapon girdle. "Hey, Mina mentioned something about cursed girdles, you think that's one of them?"

"You want the girdle? Not my first choice, but it's all yours," said Armondo as he snatched the bag and tossed the belt to Gerald.

"What, I didn't," protested Gerald." Hey this, item is cursed!"

"Then I suggest you don't wear it," said Armondo as he took his leave from Gerald. He tossed the bag to Ceto for his brother to make a pick before heading forward to trail blaze through the woods for the group. The town wasn't that far away, but they would need to make haste if they were to get there before the army.

While Gerald enjoyed the stocky half orc's company, he felt uncomfortable with their previous conversation.

"That's a shame." Was Armondo's comment when Gerald admitted he harbored no feelings for Mina. After all, they had only met yesterday. She was a sorceress from some minor noble family or rich merchant house, while he was just bard from a small town that barely eked a living singing about two headed ogres and pixie riding wolves. They had nothing in common, but….

He couldn't help thinking that maybe he was too hasty to comment. Maybe he did have feelings for her? Considering he was a bard, he must believe there was a chance for love at first sight? That belief comes with the job description didn't it?

After the wolf attack he did stick around to try to rescue her, and she did the same for him, though they were both clearly incompetent and only ended up in the same spot due to crazy Lady Tessa's plan to rescue the Prince. He jabbed a bugbear with a spoon for her, while she smashed him with her fist.

How did she do that anyways? Was it magic? She could summon horses and go invisible, so it didn't seem that outrageous to boost her strength and fling bugbears aside. She was clearly shaken up about it, and though she acted like nothing had happened, Gerald saw how troubled she was after her strike.

Gerald considered simply asking her about it, but Tig interrupted the march as she consulted with Armondo.

"That banner, are you familiar with it?" the gnome asked from Ceto's wicker basket.

"Only one house has the vulture turkey as its emblem, and that is the house of Alak Dool."

Gerald had heard of Baron Dool. He or his children, he wasn't sure who was in charge anymore, had a small territory to the north of Westholding, and swore fealty to the ancient and mostly fallen kingdom of Norwold. While Gerald had heard of his lands, he knew very little save that they were strange folk and kept to themselves. Very little trade or visitors came from those parts.

"Do you think this dragon and these goblins are under his employ? That would explain why they want this territory. It's a simple land grab," asked Tig.

"That doesn't explain why the dragon would work for the man. A dragon seldom works for another unless it's his equal or greater. Small ones, maybe but I doubt a Red thirty footer would treat Baron Dool as an equal," shrugged Armondo. "If he had something the dragon wanted, it would simply take it."

Gerald noticed that Mina seemed interested in the conversation, and he could see her scribble something down under the light of her small glowing orb.

"Unless of course Gerald and Mina are correct. That it isn't really a dragon," said Tig. Once again she revealed the dragonstone and once again it shone brightly. "Nein. It says the dragon is close, but I don't see it. Acht. You would think it would be furious that someone sack his tower and stole his Prince. You would think it would set everything on fire in his vexation."

Gerald noted that Tig still believed that Tessa somehow escaped with the Prince, and felt no need to correct her. As a bard, he knew a thing or two about rumors and gossip. It was something to be kept secret, unless you need it.

"The banner might simply be something they stolen. Perhaps they raided the Dool lands before coming here," shrugged Armondo.

"Ja. Possibly," said Tig as she considered his statement. After a few minutes of contemplation she simply shrugged with no answer. Armondo took this as a sign to forge ahead scouting once.

After a few minutes Tig pointed to Mina's belt.

"Miss Mina, may I inquire about your dagger?" asked the gnome as she sat in Ceto's wicker basket. Gerald saw Tig point towards the blade with the wolf pommel he had spotted earlier at the inn. "I'm a gnome, so naturally I'm curious about all things interesting."

"Oh, this is from my mother. I rarely use it. I keep it to remind me who I am and where I came from."

"The insignia looks like that of the Order of the Hound."

"Yes it is. Are you familiar with it?"

"A famed house of knights that reaches from the Land of the Northern Orders, to Grom City, to even the Western Freeholds. Their Matriarch is said to lord over their Freehold keep, the last in a long line of dragonslayers," recited Armondo from ahead.

"Oh, you are familiar with my mother."

Tig stood up on the basket and almost fell out of it. "Wait..What? You are the daughter of Lady Kit? The Mistress of Dragons? "

"My mother is Lady Kitahria von Custeinson, yes. And mistress of dragons is a bit of an exaggeration."

"She slew Magda the terrible did she not? One of the last great dragons? A one hundred and fifty footer!"

"She fought Magda, along with her liege Sir Jose von Custeinson. They defeated and even blinded Magda, but did not slay her, though she was present at her death. It was a terrible battle that devastated all the Western Freeholds. Many children were left orphaned, including my siblings and myself. Lady Kitahria took us in, and taught many of my brothers and sisters the ways of chivalry. As you can see, I'm a little small for that particular endeavor, and I cared very little for violence, so instead I concentrated on the art of sorcery, " sighed Mina with a weary voice. Gerald could tell she had been questioned and had told this story many times.

"Acht! She's one of my heroes! Wait…that was over a hundred years ago…for a human you don't look that old," said Tig as she appraised the sorceress. Gerald noted that while the gnome attempted to look upbeat, she could not hide her disappointed look.

"I'm not a human,"said Mina in a small voice as she fell back from the group.

Ceto grunted, while Tig stammered. The gnome attempted to apologize or something, but said nothing as she sat back in her wicker basket with a sullen look.

Not a human? Gerald thought it an odd comment. He doubt she was a gnome. If she was, then Tig would be the first to detect it. While she was short, she was still a good foot and a half taller than Tig, who was already tall for her race. She wore tall leather boots, so Halfling was ruled out. Gerald had met a lot of the weedsmokers in his travels, and although not all of them were short and chubby, some were short and thin, and almost all of them walked around barefooted. She didn't have pointy ears, so she wasn't an elf. While she wasn't fat, she didn't possesses that lithe elven physique either. And since she was pretty small, half elf was immediately ruled out. Gerald could not imagine little Mina a part of that large ponderous race. Perhaps Mina was a dwarf. Gerald knew that dwarf men all had beards, but Mina wasn't a male so she was exempt from that trait. He also recalled attempting to shove her earlier, and found that she was unmovable. Weren't dwarves very sturdy on their feet or something? Also didn't she just mention that she was from the Western Freeholds? An orphan from those parts. Gerald knew many dwarves hailed from that area. Was she an orphaned dwarf? They've been moving there steadily from the other dwarven kingdoms for the last few centuries due to the wealth of minerals and ores there. So it wouldn't surprise him that she could be a dwarf maid.

As Gerald pondered Mina's racial origins, Mina stepped back and kept pace with Gerald.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

Gerald was mesmerized by her large saucer eyes, and almost tripped when she asked.

"I talked to Tig while you were talking with Armondo earlier, and she gave me her blessing."

"Eh? Blessing for what?" asked Gerald suspiciously.

"She said she won't hold it against me if I leave. I agreed to summon mounts when we reach the edge of the forest, and there I will part paths with the rest of the group."

"What? Why? We could use you…."

Mina's large eyes turned downwards.

"I am not a warrior, or a killer. I took a vow of non-violence years ago to help strengthen my convictions."

"Eh? That's not true. I saw you kill that bugbear in the tower with your bare hands."

Mina's gaze returned back to Gerald, and the bard could see the wetness in them. "I know. I broke my vow in the tower. I didn't want to do it, but it was instinct. I don't regret what I did, but it terrifies me that I could kill so easily. I don't blame you for forcing my hand, but …it….it was going to smash your head in. I could not let it do that…and I lost control…."

"I…I….thank you…" was all Gerald could say.

"There's a beast, a demon inside me. You can see through my illusion, you know what it is. You know how terrible it is…"

Gerald nodded. He didn't think being a dwarf was that bad. He had heard of dwarves that were berzerkers or that craved nothing but battle, but he was sure that wasn't the type of dwarf Mina was. Even if she used her illusions to hide her big and probably lumpy red nose, she was basically a good person. The world's a tough place, and even good people have to kill once in a while to survive.

Oblivious to Gerald's thoughts, Mina continued. " …It feeds on violence and death, and I'm afraid to release it. Afraid to embrace it. Afraid of what I might become if I do. It's not just the power of my magic, it's the realization that I might enjoy hurting people, even if they are goblins. I can't accept that. I'm better that that. I can rise above my species. Do you understand Gerard?"

"Err…my name is Gerald…not Gerard," corrected the bard. Mina looked stunned at how her speech was so easily derailed, but laughed at the comment.

"So you are, so you are," she smiled giving a break to her brooding.

Gerald looked at the small smiling sorceress. Were dwarves really that violent? He had heard of the mountain folk and their eternal wars against goblins, orcs, and giants, but Mina didn't seem too concern with them. She didn't seem to have a problem with Ceto and Armondo, and didn't seem particularly eager to fight the goblins and giants of the invading army. He didn't think that she would have to worry about being consumed by a battle fury or something like that. Still, every dwarf that Gerald had ever met had an axe, hammer, or sword ready.

"I'm not sure what to say Mina," said Gerald. "I was hoping you would fight alongside with us, but I understand your reasons for leaving. Hells, if it wasn't my town I would be leaving with you."

"You still can Gerald. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Eh?"

"Don't make me say it….I …I think….look…you don't owe this town anything. You might think you are a big part of the community, but from the little I've seen, they treat you poorly. They trample you into the dirt, and grudgingly feed you. You deserve better than that. Come with me. Travel with me. I admit I was foolish coming here. I didn't find anything I came here for. Love, romance, or even someone like me to learn from. I didn't find any of that, but I did find you. Besides Lady Kit, and my siblings, no one has treated me like you when they knew who I am. You've seen through my illusion and it didn't even faze you. Most people would flee in terror. I don't know if you are too stupid to know the danger, or if you are too brave to care."

Flee in terror? That seemed a bit of an exaggeration. Gerald examined Mina's face. She seemed quite sincere, but he still wasn't sure what the big deal was. Sure dwarves were outsiders, and considered a warrior race, but they weren't that bad. He's shared a pint of mead with them on occasion when they passed through town and they weren't that terrible. Maybe's Mina's nose was a lot worse than he imagined. Maybe it was the size of a cucumber or something, and she was really ashamed of it. She seemed shy, but she didn't think her self-esteem was that low.

"I don't care about how you really look, I just know you're a good person," shrugged Gerald. He looked at her large saucer eyes and wondered if they were fake too. He had met a few women mages and sorceresses in his time, most were small time adventurers and entertainers but those that dabbled in illusion often did so to give themselves flamboyant hair or larger chests, he never knew one that concealed their nose before.

Mina smiled. "Yes, I know that. That's why I want you to come with me. Keep me company, travel a bit, see the world. Don't stay here amidst the death and slaughter that is sure to come."

Gerald was tempted. Really tempted. Every fiber in his body said go with the girl. He only just met her, but that didn't matter. She just felt right. Who cares about her nose, you'll never see it since she hides it under an illusion anyways. She was personable enough, and she had that shy girl charm to her. She was also rich which was never a bad thing since he had grown up poor. He remembered the gold she was throwing around in town, and he heard the stories that she told about her mother. It would be a great time, something he always dreamed about, travelling the world with a beautiful girl.

Still….Daggerhall was Daggerhall, despite all its faults and the way it treated him. It was a miserable mud hole, but at least it was his miserable mud hole. He would love to leave it and never see it again, but not like this. Not as an army was ready to raze it to the ground.

"You know, I can't fight that well and I'm terrified of battle," said Gerald. "….but it's my town we're talking about. Even if I can't fight alongside Tig, Ceto, and Armondo at last I can put out fires, drag the wounded away or build barricades or something. I can't do much, but I have to do something."

Mina sighed. "I knew you were going to say that. I guess that's the reason I admire you. Fearless even if you are in over your head. Here, the gold I owe you. I hope you live to spend it," she said as she handed him a sack from her satchel.

Gerald should have been over joyed. 100 gold was more money than he had seen in a lifetime, but the bag might have been lead for all he cared.

After a few minutes, the group reached the edge of the forest. It was daybreak and the flickering lights of the town could be seen in the distance.

"This is where I part ways," said Mina. She waved her hands several times in succession summoning three mounts for the group. "Are you sure about this?"

"Well, the three of us like to fight, and we have unfinished business with a dragon," said Tig as she held up her glowing dragonstone. The two half orcs then mounted their steeds, with the gnome in Ceto's basket.

"The dragon is a wizard," repeated Mina once more as she smiled and hug the three dragonslayers. "And you Gerard? "

Gerald didn't even bother to correct her. He simply bent down and kissed the girl with the wide saucer eyes on the head. He then turned to his horse and attempted to quickly mount it like a swashbuckler, but faltered and almost fell on his face. " A little help here?"

Ceto rode up easily, and the big half orc hefted Gerald up with one hand and plopped him on his horse."Aren't you going to summon yourself a mount?"

Mina shook her head. "You should know that I can fly, but I have to drop my illusion to do so. I seldom do that because it sows panic when people see me."

"If I live through this, I'll come looking for you," said Gerald.

"I'm counting on it," said Mina, but he could tell that she didn't believe he would survive.

As the group rode towards the village, Tig turned to Gerald."Illusion, what did she mean by illusion?"

"Oh, its nothing. She just likes to cover her big nose with a glamer spell," shrugged Gerald.

"So what makes her able to fly without her magic covering her nose?"

Gerald scratched his head. He had absolutely no idea.