It was midnight and Barbadd's tavern was closed and locked. From the outside, all the shades were pulled across the windows and the place seemed lifeless, other than the small glow of a dying fire in the fireplace. Inside however, the four friends of Edwin gathered to mourn their loss.

"He was a good man, and he was my friend." Barbadd said as he fetched drinks for everyone, Including Melethan who hadnt said a word since his father had been hung.

"He didnt deserve that." Guldivine added.

"No he didnt." Mage agreed.

"I'd call it murder." Barbadd said. "They took him and killed him in front of all of us. They are more savages than fanatics. And to think that half of this town is on their side now! Its perposterous! None of these folks were dragon lovers. Skorn has ALWAYS kept away from such matters that deal with the dragon and his damn mountain."

"We cannot stay here." Mage said. "They will come after us next."

"I beleive they will." Guldivine agreed.

Mage lit a pipe and puffed it alive a few times. The smoke swirled whimsicly up from his face. Then he asked, "Why dosnt the dragon just come burn the village down?"

"Food." Barbadd said bluntly. "Without us, he has no food source. A damn dragon isnt going to grow crops. He's growing us like were growing his vegtables!"

"Has no one ever tried to go against the dragon?" Asked Guldivine in disbeleif. "In the history of the island, no one has ever faught back?"

Barbadd sighed and hung his head. Then he took a long drink and refilled his mug. "No. Not any real attempts anyways. To many islanders enslaving themselves to him."

"Not enough weapons." Guldivine noted.

"Aye. There's that too. We are not fighters. We've been answering to the dragon throughout history. There's no fighting it."

Mage puffed his pipe and interjected. "Well those zealots are here looking for something. A sword or something. Thats what Mel said right?"

The three of them looked across the bar to the fireplace. There Melethan was, staring into the fading embers of the last burning log. Just a blank expression of loss.

They all noticed but were unsure of what to say. The kid had just watched his father die. Barbadd nodded to Guldivine and Mage for assurance. Then he produced a smaller glass and a bottle of dark liquid from behind the bar. He poured two small glasses and then approached the boy.

Mage muttered to Guldivine, "He did mention a sword. I am sure of it."

Guldivine nodded.

"Hey laddie." Barbadd said as he sat next to Melethan and handed him a glass. "Drink this."

Melethan took the glass in his hands but just held it and went staring back into the fire.

"No, drink it!" Barbadd said, forcing the glass up to the boy's lips. "For your father." Barbadd held up his own glass.

Together they both splashed the liquid down their throats and caughed.

"What was that!?" Melethan asked, almost cracking a smile. "It burned."

"Its a wake up call, Melethan. You're getting lost in that fire." Barbadd said.

Then without hesitation Melethan turned to address everyone. Sure of his words, he said. "We are going to slay that dragon!" The anger in his young eyes came seething.

"Haha!" Barbadd slapped the boy on the back. "I like the spirit!"

"Tell us about the sword." Mage told the boy. "You said they were looking for a sword."

"It was underneath the chapel." Melethan said."Sword of Jherrick, they called it. Im not sure if they found it yet. They were digging far down below the chapel."

"It must be important to them." Guldivine said.

"To the dragon." Mage added.

"Its a sword. I bet we could Kill him with it!" Melethan said.

"I bet he's right." Mage said. "Why else would they be after such a thing other than to get posession of it first."

"Lets assume thats right." Guldivine said. "We still cannot get anywhere near that chapel without a fight. They are well armed, and we are not."

"They will surely call in more zealots too." Barbadd sighed. "At this point we might as well be wanted men."

There was a long silence. Each of them somberly looked about the tavern, searching for what to say next. Another wave of guilt and sadness washed over them all one by one. They were trapped against their own will.

"We cant kill the dragon waiting here." Melethan finally said.

"But if they are after a sword..." Mage started to reason. However he stopped and went into deep thought.

"Leave that to me." Barbadd said. He collected everyones mug and began refilling them. He talked as he worked. "The citizens of Skorn all know me and trust me. I am the closest thing to a mayor that this town has. I certainly cannot just pack up and leave. People take note of that kind of thing. But you three might be able to slip away. The boy of a farmer and two newcomers to the island? I doubt the population would miss you much. Maybe Melethan, but I can cover for that If I remain here."

"But the zealots!" Melethan protested. "They will be after you."

"Ill handle those damn fanatics. They wont dare mess with me if they want everyone else in town complient."

"If you are staying I am staying!" Melethan pouted.

"Nonsense!" Barbadd retorted. "You cant stay. I fear they will come after you again M'boy."

Guldivine sighed and looked about the room. It was a little spooky being so empty with all the chairs folded onto the tables. He wondered if anyone outside could be listening in. He knew what Barbadd said had been correct, they could not stay here, most of all the boy.

"So where do we go?" Guldivine finally asked.

"I say head for Renric. Its the town on the eastern side of the island. seek out their mayor Felix. He's in a more formal position than my own, and he is a sympathizer to our cause." Barbadd explained. "This island is crawling with zealots. You will likely run into a few just getting there."

"How far is it?" Asked Guldivine.

"About a two day's walk." Mage answered the question. "I came to the island through that town. Its a bigger place than this, thats for sure."

"And if we had horses?" Guldivine asked.

"Out of the question!" Barbadd shook his head negatively. "That would mean going to the stables and collecting someone's attention. Best if you all slip away quietly. Tonight if possible."

"It will have to be." Mage said.

"Then its settled. We leave right away." Guldivine said. Then he turned to Mage. "We'd better head back to our campsite and toss it."

Mage nodded.

"Right now?" Melethan wondered.

"The sooner you leave the better. No one but us knows of these plans, and I intend to keep it that way." Barbadd said.

Guldivine clapped Melethan on the back. "Come on kid, up for a little adventure?"

"But... My father..." Melethan sunk his head low, new tears forming.

Guldivine crouched down to Melethan's eye level and looked him dead in the eyes. "Look, nothing I say is going to erase that sting. And it is not going to be easy moving forward. We dont get over the loss, we just learn to live with it."

Melethan nodded through his tears.

"But we have to go. Stick with me, and we'll keep you out of their hands." Guldivine assured the boy.

Guldivine and Mage then left out the tavern through the backdoor. They went back to their campsite and took it down and gathered their belongings. The four of them were going to meet by the windmill on the southern outskirts of town.

There Melethan and Barbadd waited. Barbadd had outfitted Melethan in traveling gear and a backpack with a tent and bedroll. All the things a person would need to travel cross country.

"And so it's come to this." Barbadd noted as they said their goodbyes.

"And so it has." Guldivine agreed.

They shook hands, feeling a sense of long departure. The future was as cloudy as their road ahead. . .