Dragon's Key

Chapter 4: On Their Way

"It's the only way though, for me to get home?" Gwen asked.

"Yes," Max confirmed.

"Then I have to take that chance."

"Where is this Great Library," Gabriel asked Max.

"Well, it is to the East and South of here, past the capital of this country," Max stated, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a device the size of a smartphone.

Tapping the surface of the device brought it to life and Gwen saw that it appeared to be some kind of GPS with a map of the planet. Zoomed out this far Gwen was again reminded that this was not her Earth as the continents were quite different from what she knew.

"You luckily arrived at an opportune time, the global positioning satellites are still operational for another hundred years, so this device is still useful, although the map was last updated over a hundred years ago," Max told her as he zoomed in on the map. "It is about 423 miles away as the dragon flies. I would assume it is a bit further than that on horseback. I'm not actually sure how long it would take, the last time we were there we flew."

"FLEW?!" the brothers both exclaimed.

"Yes, that was around two hundred years ago, powered flight technology still worked back then."

"Two Hundred Years ago?!," this time Gwen joined the boys in shock, "You look eighteen, twenty-five at most!" Gwen finished.

"Oh great, now you went and did it," Marigold piped up from Max's shoulder. "Why don't we just tell everyone we meet that you were biologically modified to not age and have the lifespan of a dragon," the sarcasm in the fairy's voice was palpable.

After a few seconds of awed silence, the trio came to grips with the true age of the magician.

"Well, the most expedient way to reach the library would be to go East, pass through New Roanoke, and then head Southeast towards the Great Library," Max explained to the group. "The trip will be perilous. Which is why I am coming too."

"What?!" Marigold exclaimed, flying in front of Max to face him.

"I was thinking it was about time we went on a vacation anyway, and don't you want to see how the Library has fared after all these years?" Max responded to the annoyed fairy.

"So, I guess we will be accompanying each other a bit longer," Tristan smiled, "since we are all headed to New Roanoke."

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The journey back to the main road was uneventful. As Maximus did not have a horse, the group had to walk to back through the forest. Gwen, having gotten more accustomed to being in the saddle, rode on Gypsum while Gabriel led the horse. It was a peaceful walk as they advanced along the wooded trail, Max constantly pestering Gwen for information on her home world. She told him about cars, planes, atomic bombs, electric toothbrushes, and everything in between. The two brothers paid little attention to the conversation between the Displaced and the magician, opting to remain silent, wary of any danger that might be lurking in the forest around them.

By the time they had reached the road, Max had exhausted all of his questions.

"So, why are you two headed to New Roanoke?" Gwen asked the brothers, eager to get the conversation away from herself.

"We finished our scouting of possible trails on which to build a new road, so we are heading back to New Roanoke to find a new job," Tristan explained. "Stoneroost was great for the month that we stayed there, but there isn't much work for people like us in small towns like that."

"What exactly do you do, if you don't mind my asking?" Gwen inquired.

"Oh, different things. We scout out territory, protect travelers, kill creatures, and other small things," Tristan replied. "Basically, anything where we can use our skills to make money."

"So, you are mercenaries and bounty hunters, wonderful" Marigold sarcastically responded, speaking up for the first time since the group had left the keep.

"We do not like the term mercenary as we do not kill people for money under any circumstances," this time it was Gabriel who responded.

As they approached the city, Gwen was struck by how tall the city's wall really was. It wasn't any skyscraper, but it was at least 30 feet tall.

While Gwen stared in awe at the size of the wall, Gabriel spoke up, "I do not know that having a fairy flying around us in the city is the best idea."

"Of course, I won't be flying around in the city. The only one you have to worry about drawing attention is the Displaced girl," Marigold retorted. "I'll just turn invisible and sit on Max's shoulder."

"You can do that?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, I can bend the visible light around me. And don't worry about me not being able to see, I can see a broader part of the electro-magnetic spectrum than you can."

The two brothers just looked at each other, not entirely sure about what the fairy had said after the invisible part.

With that matter settled, the group ventured onwards towards the city gate.

The guards gave Gwen a short quizzical look but did not appear entirely shocked at her appearance as the party entered the city.

The first thing that hit Gwen after she passed through the gate was the noise. The city was bustling with people talking and yelling. The city of New Roanoke was smaller than Gwen expected. While the massive stone walls were imposing, the city itself was relatively small compared to any of the cities that Gwen had been in. The buildings were close together and the streets branching off from the main thoroughfare were barely wide enough for two people. The main street was wider. The roads were cobbled and every so often there was a lamppost with an extremely large candle sitting atop. Gwen was surprised at the tents of merchants that lined both sides of the street.

"I know that this is probably your first time in a place like this, but if you keep stopping and gawking at everything, we are going to get separated," Gabriel nagged Gwen. "The first thing we need is to find a stable for the horses and an inn for us to sleep."

Gabriel paused a moment and then inquired "Maximus, do you have money with you?"

"Why of course I am carrying currency, I may not have left the area around the keep for fifty years, but I haven't forgotten that one needs money to function in the outside world," Max responded. "I have a bag full of gold coins."

"Gold coins?" Gabriel asked, "That is quite a bit of money. So, you are more than capable of covering the costs for yourself and Gwen."

It wasn't long until the group found a stable to house their horses. Gabriel paid the man running the stable and they headed to the inn across the street. This inn was different from the one in Stoneroost as it did not have a tavern on the base level, it only had a corridor leading to rooms. The inn owner was curt and businesslike. The group reserved three adjacent rooms, the brothers paying for their room and Maximus paying for the other two rooms.

Once the group got their rooms, they all met in the center room to discuss what to do next.

"Next we should find Gwen some more protective clothes," Tristan suggested.

Gwen looked down at the blue t-shirt and jeans that she had been wearing since she appeared in this world. She knew that in this medieval setting she stood out.

"Alright, Max and I will take the girl shopping. You boys just do whatever it is you do," Marigold told the group sassily.

"Mari, you could have worded that more kindly," Max chastised the fairy.

"I think one of us should also accompany Gwen," Tristan interjected, seemingly unfazed by the fairy's remark.

It was decided that Tristan and Maximus would take Gwen to purchase her garments and equipment, then the brothers would go to find work.